Matthias Steelman

Apparently Matthias Steelman was a grandson of Johan (John) Hansson "Hance" Steelman & Maria Steelman, but we have no records for his parents

DAR Patriot #A108330

http://www.steelmangenealogy.com/matthias-steelman.html

The Parentage of Matthias Steelman

Who were the parents of Matthias Steelman? This is a question that has plagued Steelman family researchers for many years. This essay will examine the presently known information concerning Matthias Steelman and the early members of the Steelman family in America. It will also examine any existing theories on this issue to see whether they are supported by known information.

Part One: Matthias Steelman

The best place to start this inquiry is with established facts about Matthias Steelman, and conclusions that can be drawn from those facts. Any theory about his parentage must be measured against these known facts.

The earliest record of Matthias Steelman is a land warrant dated November 26, 1747. It was issued by the Proprietaries of the Colony of Pennsylvania for there to be surveyed 100 acres between Benjamin and Hourglass Marshes in Kent County (Delaware). The warrant states that Matthias Steelman was of Kent County, Delaware, indicating that he was already living in Kent County. On November 30, 1748 a survey was returned for 253 ½ acres of land for Matthias Steelman in the "forest of Murtherkill" in Kent County. There is a recitation that this was pursuant to a warrant dated November 26, 1747.

From 1751 through 1768, Matthias Steelman appears each year in the Assessment Levy List for Kent County, Delaware, Murtherkill Hundred. During this period of time, there are several land transactions, the last of which was in 1770. From these records we know that Matthias Steelman resided in Kent County, Delaware for a period of approximately 23 years. Murtherkill Hundred is located in the southern part of Kent County, Delaware.

On August 16, 1770, Matthias and Ruth Steelman sold their lands in Kent County, Delaware (Liber S-I, pp. 350-351), and apparently headed south for North Carolina. It is interesting to note that this deed was certified by Cesar Rodney, who would 6 years later be Delaware’s signatory to the Declaration of Independence. Rodney was selected to be the symbol of Delaware on the First State’s quarter-dollar coin, which was issued earlier this year.

The next reference to Matthias Steelman is in the 1774 tax list for Surry County, North Carolina, where he is shown to have 2 taxables. However, Matthias may well have been in North Carolina earlier than 1774. His eldest son William is shown in a tax list for Rowan County (which then adjoined Surry) in 1772. There are several possible explanations as to what happened to the family between 1770 and 1774. The family may have settled briefly at another location on the way to North Carolina. If there truly is a four year gap, then this is a possibility. William may have preceded the family to North Carolina to assess the situation, and the family followed later. It is my belief that the family proceeded directly from Delaware to North Carolina, and simply was not recorded in the frontier records until 1774.

Matthias appears regularly in the records of Surry County, North Carolina, through November of 1793 when his will was admitted to probate. The will mentions his wife, Ruth Steelman, along with the following children:

• Sealah Cain
• William Steelman
• Elizabeth Speer
• John Steelman
• Charles Steelman
• George Steelman
• Ruth Speer
• Rachel Creason
• James Steelman

born ca 1747, died September 8, 1827 born May, 1750, died March 7, 1836 born ca 1753, died ca 1853 born ca 1754, died after 1800 born ca 1755, died ca 1845 born ca 1755, died 1800

born ca 1760, died ca 1813 born ca 1765

Not mentioned was another child, Matthias Steelman, Jr. who died in 1782. Matthias Steelman was the administrator of this estate.

Based upon the affidavit given by Matthias Steelman in 1755, we now know that he was born in 1728, a date that is five years later than originally estimated. Thus, he was only 19 when he had lands surveyed in Kent County, Delaware. 1747 was also the year in which his eldest child, Sealah was born. This would indicate that he had not been married for a long period of time. The age span between the youngest and the oldest child of 18 years is consistent with a marriage to one woman, who would have borne children from her late teens or early twenties until her late thirties or early forties. Matthias would have been about 65 years of age at the time of his death, and about 42 at the time he sold the lands in Delaware, and moved to North Carolina.

We actually know a good deal about Matthias Steelman, especially once he moved to North Carolina. The size of his land transactions, in both Delaware and North Carolina indicate that he was a farmer. In 1753 and 1755 deeds, Matthias is referred to as a yeoman of Murtherkill Hundred in Kent County. In the account ledger of the Hunt Store, in 1792 Matthias purchased a sickle, and paid for his account by hauling loads of tobacco to Fayetteville, and hauling grain to Salem. Based upon the areas where he lived (Delaware and the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina), Matthias was a farmer, and his primary crops were tobacco and grains.

In looking for the parents of Matthias Steelman, the above information allows us to set some criteria that individuals would have to meet, as follows:

If Matthias was born in 1728, his father would most likely be between 20 and 45 years of age. This would mean the father would have been born between 1683 and 1708. While certainly his father could have older than 45, if this was the case, then Matthias would probably have been the product of a second marriage, rather than a first marriage.

As we will see below, this means that Matthias would have either been a son of one of Hans Mansson’s younger children, or a grandson of one of the older children.

For nearly 45 years, Matthias was engaged in agriculture for his livelihood. This would seem to indicate that he was raised on a farm. It seems unlikely that he would have come from a city or tradesman background, and then have gone into farming. We should look for a farming background in possible candidates for Matthias’ parents.

Matthias was a resident of Kent County, Delaware in 1747. It seems logical to look for his parents first in Kent County, and in New Castle County, Delaware, the county lying north of Kent County. However, since we know that the Steelmans at this time were also in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and in New Jersey, those areas should also be examined. It is a possibility that Matthias migrated to Delaware from one of those areas.

Part Two: The Theory of Dr. Arthur Adams

All Steelman researchers owe a great debt to Dr. Arthur Adams and Ross Cook for their pioneer work on the Steelman family during the first part of this century. Through diligent research and deductive reasoning, they were able to connect the Steelman family to Swedish settler and soldier, Hans Mansson.

In his article entitled "The Steelman Family", published in the journal of the Atlantic County Historical Society, Vol. 3, No. 1 (October, 1956), Dr. Adams asserts that Matthias Steelman of Surry County, North Carolina, was the son of George Steelman, son of Peter Steelman, son of Hans Steelman. Specifically Dr. Adams stated:

"Matthias(4), George (3), Peter (2), Capt. Hans(1) Steelman. He removed to the Surry-Rowan counties of North Carolina. His first land grant is dated 4-4-1788. His will was dated in Surry County 16 Feb 1789 and was proved in 1793. He mentions his wife Ruth, son James, the principal legatee. He mentions, without specifying relationship, doubtless children, William Steelman, Sealah Cain, John Steelman, Ruth Speer, Rachel Creson, Charles Steelman, Elizabeth Speer. The executors are William and James Steelman." Adams, supra. p. 62.

Adams says the following about George Steelman, who he asserts was the father of Matthias:

"Again, we have no documentary proof of his parentage, but there can be no doubt of his place in the family. He married, by license dated 12 Dec. 1737, Phebe, daughter of Jonathan and Barbara Adams, sister of Sarah, wife of his brother Matthias – brothers married sisters." Adams, supra. pp. 53-54

Adams goes on to state that the only known children of George were Matthias and George Steelman, both of whom settled in North Carolina.

On page 53 of the article, the children of Peter Steelman of Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey are listed as follows:

• Charles Steelman, who married Margaret Scull on 5 January 1731.
• Matthias Steelman, who married Sarah Adams on 14 September 1730.
• George Steelman, who married Phebe Adams on 12 December 1737.
• Gatara Steelman, who married Daniel Lake on 14 September 1730.
• Mary Steelman, who married Elias Champion on 15 December 1735.
• Maria Steelman.
• Peter Steelman.

Can Matthias Steelman be the son of George Steelman and Phebe Adams? If George and Phebe married in 1737, then it would be impossible for Matthias to have owned land in Kent County, Delaware in 1747, and for him to have fathered children in the late 1740’s and early 1750’s. Adams’ assertion simply does not fit with known data on Matthias.

If we examine Adams article further, there are several errors and omissions as to Matthias Steelman of Surry County, North Carolina. In discussing other members of the Steelman family, Adams is careful to discuss where they lived, and lands owned. Note that with respect to Matthias Steelman, there is no mention of him having lived in Kent County, Delaware. The only mention by Adams is of him living in Surry County, North Carolina. Adams was unaware that Matthias Steelman lived in the State of Delaware.

Adams then asserts that Matthias’ first land grant in North Carolina was dated April 4, 1788. This is simply incorrect. Matthias’ first land entry in Surry County was on July 28, 1778. His first recorded land grant was dated September 20, 1779 for 400 acres on Deep Creek, and the Mulberry Fields Road. There are several land grants to Matthias Steelman, dated April 3, 1780, which may be the ones referenced by Adams. There are no grants to Matthias Steelman dated April 4, 1788.

The next problem is that Adams asserts that George Steelman was the brother of Matthias. In fact George was the son of Matthias, and is specifically identified as such in Matthias Steelman’s will. How did Adams reach such an incorrect conclusion? He obviously had either copies or abstracts of the wills of Matthias and George Steelman because he correctly lists their children. The will of Matthias was probated in 1793 and the will of George was probated in 1800. Adams must have assumed that since there were only seven years between the two wills that the men must have been brothers. The Court records of Surry County clearly state that, with the exception of the oldest child, Mary, all of George’s children were minors at the time of his death, and a guardian was appointed for them. The minor children clearly show that George and Matthias were of different generations, and were father and son.

Why did Adams assign Matthias Steelman of Surry County as a child of George Steelman, son of Peter. It appears that the basis was simply the names of the people involved. He saw the names Matthias and George in the North Carolina Steelmans, which were names that he had seen before, in the family of Peter Steelman of southern New Jersey. Surely, these people must be a part of that family. Of Peter’s children, both Charles and Matthias left wills, and Peter died in 1720. This left George Steelman, as the only possible person in the Peter Steelman family that could have been the father of Matthias Steelman.

It should be noted that Dr. Adams never held himself out to be an expert on the Steelman family of North Carolina. His primary focus was upon the Steelmans that settled in southern New Jersey. His assignment of Matthias Steelman to the Peter Steelman family was made in good faith based upon the limited amount of information that he had available to him at the time. We need to remember that genealogy is not an exact science. The body of knowledge continues to grow daily, and assumptions made in the past based upon available information may be disproved by later discoveries. For this reason, researchers should always state clearly the basis of assumptions that are not based upon documented facts, so not to discourage later researchers from scrutinizing those assumptions.

Does this analysis mean that Matthias Steelman could not be a descendant of Peter Steelman of southern New Jersey? Absolutely not. It simply means that Matthias could not have been the product of the marriage of George Steelman and Phebe Adams, who married in 1737. If this was a second marriage for George, then he cannot at this time be excluded as a possible father of Matthias Steelman.

Comments

From Susan Avery 27 August 2022

Thank you so much for the great article about Matthias Steelman's ancestry. It's very true that George Steelman and Phoebe Adams could NOT be his lineage back to Hans Mansson and Ella Stille. However, in determining which son of theirs could be Matthias' grandfather, it is necessary to look at (the very little) what we know about where those sons lived during their lifetimes and the names of any of their known children. Because of the Kent Co., DE location of Matthias prior to coming to Surry Co., NC it needs to involve living in DE. The only son known to have lived at some point in his life in DE was John Hansson Steelman and wife Mary Stalcop (lived in New Castle DE among other locations and as you have proposed Christiern and wife Mary Cann? for whom very very little is known) So I'd like to have you include in your article the possibility of John being his ancestor (we know of course through YDNA testing that Hans and Ella are his ancestors) So as a descendant who has had my autosomal DNA testing done I have many many DNA matches to the Steelmans and because of lack of any records to be found - even Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig could not find any) I have been trying to look for Stalcop DNA matches that DON"T come down through the Steelman line but are part of Mary's line of Stalcops and also have looked for Toy and Nilsson matches as well. So far I have found about 6 Stalcop matches and no matches for Toy or Nilsson of Adams for that matter and surprisingly I have found Keen DNA matches as well - Peter's wife. We know that Peter had a son named Matthias but he was born in 1705 in NJ and is NOT our Matthias. Anyway, I am leaning heavily to believing that John Hansson Steelman and wife Mary Stalcop are Matthias' grandparents and one of their sons - possibly Charles?? John Jr.??? or others of his sons - they were ALL in DE & MD - was the father of Matthias. Since no records are available to solve this mystery, I suggest to others who have had their autosomal DNA done to also look for matches on the known wives - It's OK to use Christiern as a "placeholder" but right now I prefer to use John Hansson Steelman as the "placeholder" because it is the only one that I've had ANY DNA matches to his wife. I descend through 2 of Matthias Steelman and Ruth (NOT Thurston!) children - so have a double dose of Steelman ancestry in me! I've worked on the Steelman genealogy with my cousin Judge Sanford Steelman who has his YDNA proven back to Hans & Ella, for about 30 years now. I'm very glad to see your article about our mystery and hope that you can maybe include my possible theory as well.

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• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=marciamcc...

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256. Mathias STEELMAN was born in 1723 in Kent County, Delaware. He died in 1793 in Surry County, North Carolina. Mathias is thought to have migrated from Kent County, DE to Surry County, NC in the 1770's.

• Mathias Steelman's Ancestry: Earliest ancestor of Mathias is thought to be John Hance Steelman, b. in "New Sweden" in 1655. John Hance's parents came over on the same ship, in 1641; his mother was 7 years old at the time. "Steelman" seems to be a combination of the name "Stille", surname of Olaf Stille, grandfather of John Hance Steelman and "Mansson", from Hans Mansson, second husband (m. 1654) of Ella Olafsdotter Stille, the 7 year old who came with her parents in 1641 to New Sweden. She died 1718 in Gloucester County, NJ. Ella's brother kept the family name STILLE and the son of her first husband ended up as a YOCUM instead of JOACHIMSON.

Married

1. ABT 1744 to Ruth Thurston b Abt 1724. 10 children.

• From Surry County, Book 3, Page 12, will of Mathias Steelman: I also leave to my beloved wife Ruth Steelman all my stock and household furn iture during her widowhood or natural life and when she either marries or dies then to retur n to my beloved son James Steelman all the said two hundred and thirty acres and all the good & chattles before mentioned and if my son James Steelman should die without issue, then the whole of my land and estate to be sold at public auction & the money to be equally divided between my son William Steelman, Sealah Cain, John Steelman, Ruth Spear, Rachel Creson, Charles Steelman, George Steelman, and Elizabeth Spear. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of Feb 1789. Mathias (HIs X mark) Steelman.

comments

Cannot have been the son of George Steelman & Phebe Steelman Disconnected May 2017

Reference:

http://www.steelmangenealogy.com/matthias-steelman.html

George Steelman only married Phebe Adams in 1737, but Mathias Steelman was already 19 years old in 1747, attested by land deeds.

"Can Matthias Steelman be the son of George Steelman and Phebe Adams? If George and Phebe married in 1737, then it would be impossible for Matthias to have owned land in Kent County, Delaware in 1747, and for him to have fathered children in the late 1740’s and early 1750’s. Adams’ assertion simply does not fit with known data on Matthias.

If we examine Adams article further, there are several errors and omissions as to Matthias Steelman of Surry County, North Carolina. In discussing other members of the Steelman family, Adams is careful to discuss where they lived, and lands owned. Note that with respect to Matthias Steelman, there is no mention of him having lived in Kent County, Delaware. The only mention by Adams is of him living in Surry County, North Carolina. Adams was unaware that Matthias Steelman lived in the State of Delaware."

Links

• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/k/o/t/Evelyn-Kotouc/WEBS...
• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~stelly/d47.htm#P83
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=steelman1...

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Mathias Steelman was born in New Jersey and migrated to NC by way of DE.

GEDCOM Note

Mathias was a Revolutionary War Patriot. (Source: "Descendants of Mathias and Ruth Steelman of North Carolina")

Ruth and Mathias lived in Kent County, Delaware and moved to Surrey County, North Carolina.

Mathias Steelman's Ancestry:

Earliest ancestor of Mathias is thought to be John Hance Steelman, b. in "New Sweden" in 1655. John Hance's parents came over on the same ship, in 1641; his mother was 7 years old at the time. "Steelman" seems to be a combination of the name "Stille", surname of Olaf Stille, grandfather of John Hance Steelman and "Mansson", from Hans Mansson, second husband (m. 1654) of Ella Olafsdotter Stille, the 7 year old who came with her parents in 1641 to New Sweden. She died 1718 in Gloucester County, NJ. Ella's brother kept the family name STILLE and the son of her first husband ended up as a YOCUM instead of JOACHIMSON.

New Sweden was established in 1638, when Peter Minuit, rebuffed by the Dutch West India Company, for whom he had earlier established a colony, cooperated with the members of the government of King Gustaf of Sweden, to establish a colony on behalf of that government. New Sweden was, between 1638 and 1655, Philadelphia, Lower Delaware County, PA and Wilmington, DE.

John Hance was a fur trader, respected by William Penn and by the commissioners of the colony of Maryland as well. He was quite helpful to William Penn in obtaining from England a judgment against Lord Baltimore involving the "lower counties", which both colonial managers claimed as their territory. John Hance was one of the signers of the William Penn Pact with many Indian chieftains. Certain Maryland Commissioners had met with the chieftains and in John Hance Steelman's home. John Hance built a home on "Little Elk Creek" in Maryland in 1697; the stone structure still stands as of 1988.

Mathias is thought to have migrated from Kent County, DE to Surry County, North Carolina in the 1770's.

The following is from "The Year of the Swedes (and the Finns) by Dr. Ralph K. Turp; South Jersey Magazine, Spring 1988 issue, pp.8-12 & Summer 1988 issue, pp.15-19:

"Hans Mansson arrived in 1641 aboard "The Charitas" in company with Eric Mollicka, a Finn who was described as being a wealthy young man of 15 years. Also on board was Olaf (William) Stille who had two daughters...One story to account for his [Hans] presence in New Sweden, was that he was arrested for stealing apples from the orchard of the abbey at Varnhem and for which crime he was sent to New Sweden. In Varnhem (the author) was the guest of Arne Strang, head genealogist, Berit Hange Persson and Sven Axel Hallback, an historian. They produced records which verified the tale.... "

The name Steelman, at least in this family, happened after Hans died around 1692 and his sons and wife anglicized their name, as was common in that era, by taking his wife's maiden name, Stille and Mansson and making Steelman.

Source: http://bolamfamily.0catch.com/gen_stellmon.html

GEDCOM Note

STEELMAN, MATTHIAS Ancestor #: A108330
Service: NORTH CAROLINA Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Birth: CIRCA 1723 NEW JERSEY
Death: 10- -1793 SURRY CO NORTH CAROLINA
Service Source: WELLS, SURRY CO NC LAND ENTRIES, 1778-1781, P 31
Service Description: 1) TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO MAKE LAND ENTRY, SURRY CO, 29 JULY 1778

On August 16, 1770 sold 253 acres in Kent County, DE and moved the NC.¹

Occupation: Farmer: Tobacco and grains.¹

Census 1790 1st Census of the United States

Land purchase: Purchase of 300 acres on waters Hunting Creek, 7 May 1779, Surry, NC

Earliest ancestor of Mathias is thought to be John Hance Steelman, b. in "New Sweden" in 1655. John Hance's parents came over on the same ship, in 1641; his mother was 7 years old at the time. "Steelman" seems to be a combination of the name "Stille", surname of Olaf Stille, grandfather of John Hance Steelman and "Mansson", from Hans Mansson, second husband (m. 1654) of Ella Olafsdotter Stille, the 7 year old who came with her parents in 1641 to New Sweden. She died 1718 in Gloucester County, NJ. Ella's brother kept the family name STILLE and the son of her first husband ended up as a YOCUM instead of JOACHIMSON.

There is some question as whether Phebe Adams is Mathis's mother due to the date of marriage of George & Phebe which is a matter of record. No other wife is found for his father.

Married

ABT 1744 to Ruth Thurston b Abt 1724. 10 children.
From Surry County, Book 3, Page 12, will of Mathias Steelman: I also leave to my beloved wife Ruth Steelman all my stock and household furn iture during her widowhood or natural life and when she either marries or dies then to retur n to my beloved son James Steelman all the said two hundred and thirty acres and all the good & chattles before mentioned and if my son James Steelman should die without issue, then the whole of my land and estate to be sold at public auction & the money to be equally divided between my son William Steelman, Sealah Cain, John Steelman, Ruth Spear, Rachel Creson, Charles Steelman, George Steelman, and Elizabeth Spear. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of Feb 1789. Mathias (HIs X mark) Steelman.

Will: In the name of God. Amen. – I Mathias Steelman being weak of body but of sound and perfect sence and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament

First and foremost I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me and my body to the earth to be decently buried after the discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned as for what worldly goods it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath as follows. my Will and desire is that all my debts and funeral expenses be first paid and discharged.

Item. I lend to my beloved wife Ruth Steelman two hundred & thirty acres on Turners Creek beginning at a White Oak saplin on the East side of Buttens branch runs North thirty-five chains to a black oak thence West fifty-seven chains & twenty links to a pine thence South thirty-five chains to a post Oak thence East to said Creek thence down the same as it meanders to the mouth of the Green branch & thence North At an East course will go to the beginning.

I also lend to my beloved wife Ruth Steelman all my stock and household furniture during her widow hood or natural life, and when she either marries or dies to return to my beloved son James Steelman all the said two hundred and thirty acres and all the good & chattles before mentioned and if my son James Steelman should die without isue then the whole of my land and Estate to be sold at public auction & the money to be equally divided between my son William Steelman, Sealah Cain, John Steelman, Ruth Speer, Rachel Creson, Charles Steelman, George Steelman, and Elizabeth Speer.

I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloveing sons William Steelman and James Steelman hole and sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and disallow and make void all former will by me heretofore made or spoken.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of February 1789.

Mathias (X) Steelman (SEAL )
His Mark

Witness Present
H. Speer
John Bruce