Johann Bernhardt Stagner

Johann Bernhardt “John Barney” Stagner BIRTH 1714 Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany DEATH 22 Jun 1777 (aged 62–63) Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA BURIAL Fort Harrod Pioneer Cemetery Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA PLOT In unmarked grave MEMORIAL ID 58756056 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 6 FLOWERS 6

• **Birth year is a Guesstimate. John Barney moved his family to the fort at Harrodsburg because of constant conflict with Indians. Captain James Harrod named Stagner as keeper of the fort springs that were located about a half mile from the fort. His task was aggravated by the young boys who liked to throw rocks and gourds in the spring to tease "old man Stagner" (he was in his sixties). John Barney apparently believed that he led a charmed life, often bragging "the Indians can't kill me, I'm too old". One day during an Indian attack, he made this remark to James Ray who suggested that they hoist John Barney to the top of the fort to see what would happen. John Barney begged to be excused and quickly changed the subject but probably didn't change his mind. A short time later on the night of 22 June 1777, he took his horse outside the fort to graze against Harrod's instructions and repeated warnings. He was killed by Indians at the springs, they cut off his head and placed it on a pole outside the fort. It was 3 days before his body could be recovered for burial. For years after that superstition had it that old Barney's headless ghost could be seen around the old fort spring on moonlight nights. John Barney was buried in the Old Fort Cemetary about one eighth mile from where he was killed. The will of John Barney Stagner, written 10 October 1775 and on file in Rowan County, North Carolina names his wife Elizabeth, two sons and six daughters. His entire estate was left to his wife and youngest son, James Barney. The oldest son, John and the six daughters were left, "one shilling, lawful money, Great Britain".

Was captured by Indians and beheaded near the Big Spring, 1/2 mile from the Fort. Buried in an unmarked grave near the fort. Brought his family to Harrodstown settlement in the Spring of 1775. He was probably in his 70's when he died as he was too elderly to help clear the land so was put in charge of watching the children. At the time of his death, the area he died in was known as Kentucky Co, VA, which is present day Mercer Co, KY. His daughter Mrs Hugh Wilson, supposedly gave birth to the 1st white child in KY, named Harrod Wilson.

• *the following info submitted by Linda Smith, F.A.G. # 48115952:

Barney Stagner was born Johann Bernhardt Steigner in Oberaurbach, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany and thus the nickname 'Old Dutchman', Dutch referring to Deutchland (Germany) not Holland. After arriving in America he became known as Barney and that name has been passed to many generations. It is believed that his father's name was Johan Bernhard Steger and he had a younger sister, Anna Maria Catharine Steger. His wife was Anna Elizabeth Findler, who died in Iredell, North Carolina.

His children are: Elizabeth Steigner 1733-1803 John Barney Stagner 1734-? Johann Jacob Steigner 1737-1737 Christiana Stagner 1741-1804 (md James Berry and Hugh Wilson) Sara Steigner 1743-? Barbara Steigner 1747-? Dorothy Steigner 1749-? Mary Steigner 1752-? James Barney Stagner 1754-1821 ∼ John Barney Stagner was born in 1714 from Nikolaus Stagner and Margaretha Dengel. He arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738. He was a tax collector for the king. Eventually, he traveled with Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap to Fort Harrod. He was later scalped by the Shawnee Indians. He had married Anna Elisabetha Findler, which he came over with to the United States. They had 9 Children, 3 males and 6 females.

Family Members Spouse Maria Elizabetha Findler Stagner 1715–1777 (m. 1732)

Children James Barnett Barney 1754–1821

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58756056/johann-bernhardt-stagner

---

The origin of the Stagner family is not precisely known. The Stagners were residing in the village of Oberauerbach, County of Zweibrucken, State of Rhineland-Pfalz in 1737, the year prior to their immigration to America. The Stagner's had a son Johann born in the village of Winterbach July 25, 1737. Johann was sponsored by Maria Margretha Findler of Mittelbrunn. Johann died October 22, 1737.The Stagners arrived in Philadelphia aboard the small merchant ship Thistle on October 28, 1738. The Stagner's whereabouts between their arrival and about 1753 is not known, but they were among the earliest settlers in Rowan County, North Carolina. On July 13, 1763, John became a naturalized subject of the British Crown and was also appointed one of the commissioners with Daniel Boone to lay off a road from Shallow Ford on the Yadkin River to Salisbury. Johann Bernhardt Steigner, or John Barney Stagner as he came to be known, was born in he Palatinate region of Germany in 1714. He was married about 1732. Due to religious wars and famine, John Barney Stagner, his wife Elizabeth and at least one child, decided to come to the American Colonies. They sailed from Rotterdam aboard the ship Brillander Thistle and arrived in Philadelphia in the winter of 1738. By 1753, the Stagners were residing in Rowan County, North Carolina. He was a planter. They were among the earliest settlers of that area. John Barney Stagner's name is found among the court records of Rowan County as early as 1757 when he was appointed tax collector. Two items appear in the court minutes which greatly determined his future. July 13, 1763 proved to be a fateful day for John Barney Stagner, for on that day he became a naturalized subject of the British Crown. Also on that day, he was appointed one of the commissioners with Daniel Boone to lay off a road from Shallow Ford on the Yadkin River to Salisbury. Because he refused to pledge allegiance to the colony, and because of his close friendship for Daniel Boone, his neighbors became hostile toward him. In 1775, the Stagners with a few settlers went with Daniel Boone and family through the Cumberland Pass into Kentucky. John Barney Stagner was beheaded by Indians June 22, 1777, and his head stuck up on a pole above the big springs. Richard (Or Richmond) P. Stagner (10/3/1800 - 12/26/1878), son of James Barney Stagner, and grandson of John Barney Stagner, married Elizabeth Harris June 21, 1821 in Kentucky. There were eight children. Elizabeth died and he married Mary Catherine Snavely, December 31, 1844. Eight children were born to this marriage. This family lived in Howard County, Missouri for a while before settling one mile south and four and three-fourths miles east of Dawn, Missouri. Children of Richmond and Elizabeth Harris Stagner were Jefferson, James, Thomas, Nancy, Sally, Mary, Dianah, and David. The children of Mary Cathern Snavely and Richmond Stagner were Robert, Byrd, Susan, Richard, William, Albert, Alimeade,and Charley. Jefferson Stagner (1/17/1822 - 3/27/1874), married Nancy Allen Shrewsbury (5/6/1823-8/29/1862) on July 22, 1841. Their children were: Margaret Ann, John James, born in Kentucky and Sarah Bell, Speed Richmond, Lytle Jasper, Amanda Catherine, Armilda P. Allie Jane,Marandaville (Rannie), and an infant son, all of whom were born in Livingston County, near Blue Mound. Jefferson married Emily F. A. Martin May 15, 1864. They had one daughter, Mariah. Margaret Ann Stagner married Charles McAlear about 1862. The Blue Mound post office was located in the McAlear home. On June 10, 1883 a destructive tornado swept through the community leveling the McAlear farmstead as well as others. The McAlears gave three-fourths of an acre in north east corner of their farm for the purpose of building a church. (see churches).Speed Richmond Stagner(12/25/1847-4/19/1903) went to South Dakota, and married an Indian girl and became a rancher. Lytle Jasper Stagner(8/21/1850 - 1/24/1913), went to St. Joseph, Missouri at age fourteen, got a job with a freight company. He made two round trips to Denver, Colorado walking all the way.WILMETH STAGNER BROWN

In the last half of the 1760's interest was increasing in the hunting and farming lands beyond the Alleghany Mountains in Kentucky. Daniel Boone was one of the early pioneers to follow indian trails through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky in 1769.

After two years, he returned to Rowan County to make plans to move his family to Kentucky. Barney, as he was called, was impressed with Boone's stories and in 1774 refused to take the oath of allegiance to the colony. He traveled with Boone to Kentucky, arriving about September 26, 1775.

Captain James Harrod named Barney "keeper of the fort springs" at Boonesborough. The indians were frequently shooting at the fort, and Harrod warned people to remain inside the fort. Barney left the fort against these warnings to graze his horse and was killed at the big spring, one half mile from the fort. The indians cut off his headand stuck it on a pole outside the fort. History of Kentucky by Lewis Collins, Volume II, pages 520-521: "The first families which reached Boonesboroughwere-Daniel Boone's on Sept. 8, 1775; Col. Richard Callaway's, Wm. Poague's and John Barney Stagner's, in company, about Sept. 26, 1775. Wm. Poague, in Feb., 1776, removed his family to the fort at Harrodsburg; John Barney his, within a year and a half---for on June 22, 1777, he was killed by Indians and beheaded, half a mile from Harrodsburg." History of Kentucky by Temple Bodley, Volume I, page 143:"June 22nd. Linn and Moore arrived from Kaskaskia with accounts favorable as could be expected. This evening, the Indians killed and cut off the head of Barney Stagner,above the big spring. (Stagner had taken his horse out to graze, and had been often warned not to venture so far from the fort.) June 25th. Expresses arrived from Logan's and Boonesborough,....."The diaries of Capt. John Cowan and Gen. George Rogers Clark, kept in 1777 at Fort Harrod. Capt. Cowan's entry for June 22nd; "Indians killed and beheaded Barney Stagner at the upper end of town" Clark's entry is essentially the same except that he added "Sen" after Barney's name.

(Johann Jacob Stegner. Born 25 July 1737; baptized 28 July 1737 Died 22 October 1737 - child died before immigrated to America) Father: Johann Bernd Stegner, Oberauerbach. Mother: Anna Elisabetha Findler. Catholic. Sponsor: Maria Margretha Findler, of Mittelbrunn. This family was not shown on either the 1731 census nor the 1742 census for Zweibrücken district. The surname Stegner is found in near-by Grossbundenbach. Oberauerbach, Battweiler, Winterbach, Mittelbrunn, and Grossbundenbach and are all located within a ten kilometer radius.

The Stagners arrived in Philadelphia on 28 Oct 1738 aboard the small merchant ship Thistle. The listing shows:

Hans Bernhart Steigner, age 24 (thus 1714 birth) Marelis Tiganer, age 23 (thus 1715 birth)

No children for this couple are shown. However, ship passenger lists usually omitted young children. Therefore, it cannot be proven at this time whether or not the Stagners had any other children born in Germany.

It is not known where the Stagners resided between the time of their arrival in Philadelphia in 1738 and their arrival in Rowan Co., North Carolina about 1753. The Stagners were among the earliest settlers in Rowan County, North Carolina, and may have settled there in 1753 or 1754. The earliest documented evidence of John Barney Stagner in Rowan Co. is 18 Jan 1757 when he was appointed tax collector. In 1759 he is shown on a tax list in that part of Rowan Co. that later became Davie County. For the next ten years, he is shown in the Rowan County court minutes as serving on juries, witness in various cases, etc.

John Barney Stagner applied for a land warrant, 23 October 1760, for a tract described as follows:

Seven hundred acres of vacant land, lying in Rowan County, in the Fork Between Third Creek and South Yadkin River, Including an Improvement Purchased of Claus Thompson.

No land records have been found for John Barney Stagner, but on 12 June 1778 Richmond Pearson entered 640 acres “on South Yadkin River on the north side of it a little above the mouth of Third Creek, including a former survey which he got of Barney Stagner.” On 24 December 1778 Lawrence Thompson entered a claim for 100 acres on the waters of Barney Stagner’s Branch, adjacent to John Hunt Prather’s entry.

On 13 July 1763, Barney Stagner—as he was generally known—appeared in Rowan County court. He became a naturalized subject of the British Crown and was also appointed one of the commissioners with Daniel Boone to lay off a road from Shallow Ford on the Yadkin River to Salisbury. This proved to be a fateful day for Barney Stagner and these two events would have far-reaching results in Barney’s life.

There is a court case, dated 10 April 1765: Barnet Stagner vs James Wilson. The nature of the case is not stated. Not quite two weeks earlier, on 30 March 1765, James Wilson had been found guilty of petit larceny. The records do not indicate whether or not these two cases are related. On 17 October 1766, there is a case: “King vs Elizabeth Stagner.” Barney Stagner was excused from the jury. Elizabeth was found guilty and fined four shillings. The nature of the case was not stated, but four shillings represented a minimum fine, generally in the category of blasphemy, etc.

On 7 January 1771, John Barney Stagner was one of the residents of St. Lukes Parish who signed a petition in support of Theodorus Swaine Drage, an Anglican clergyman.

On 3 Feb 1773, Joseph Hughes was chosen guardian of Winnifred Morgan, orphan of William Morgan, lately deceased, under £200 bond with securities Abraham Anthony and John Barnet Stagner. It is not known what relationship, if any, John Barney Stagner had with the Hughes, Morgan, or Anthony families.

At this time settlers were becoming interested in hunting and farming lands beyond the Alleghany Mountains in Kentucky. Daniel Boone was one of these early pioneers who followed the Indian trails through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky in 1769. Boone explored and hunted for two years, then returned home to Rowan County to get his family. His accounts of the rich vast wilderness must have impressed Barney Stagner.

In 1774 John Barney Stagner refused to take the oath of allegiance to the colony. His reason for refusal was probably based on the fact that only eleven years earlier he had sworn allegiance to the King. He no doubt felt he could not go back on his word. Stagner now found his once-friendly neighbors hostile towards him. When he learned that his neighbor Daniel Boone was preparing to leave for Kentucky again, old Barney Stagner decided to accompany him to the frontier. John Barney Stagner's allegiance to the King, his friendship for Daniel Boone, together with the hostility of his former friends, prompted him to throw his lot in with Boone.

According to one history of Kentucky, among the first families from Rowan County to reach Boonesborough was Daniel Boone’s on 8 September 1775. Col. Richard Callaway’s family and William Poague’s family arrived about 26 September. Mrs. Boone and her daughter, Mrs. Hays, must have been gratified with the addition of Mrs. Callaway and Mrs. Poague, with their young daughters, to the domestic circle of Boonesborough and that gratification was increased by the arrival, about the same time, of Squire Boone.

In the early 1840s, Dr. Draper interviewed Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, the daughter of William Poague. Elizabeth was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 4 September 1764; went to Kentucky at age eleven; and died near Harrodsburg on 8 October 1851, in her eighty-eighth year. When Dr. Draper interviewed Mrs. Thomas about the settlement and early events surrounding Harrodsburg, she had the following to say:

“Hugh Wilson and family had passed the Callaway and Poague Company on the Wilderness Road in September of 1775. The Poague and Callaway party subsequently went to Boonesborough while the Wilson party settled at Harrodsburg.”

The families of Hugh McGary, Thomas Denton, and Richard Hogan had settled at Harrodsburg on 8 September 1775.

Mrs. Thomas stated that her father had removed from Boonesborough to Harrodsburg in February of 1776. Mrs. Thomas further stated:

“The Hugh Wilson family was then living in one of the cabins about half-way from the fort to the head of Town Branch. Mrs. Hugh Wilson had, a month or two before, given birth to the first white child born in Kentucky who was named Harrod Wilson and grew up to be a worthless man. Barney Stagner, the aged Dutchman, father-in-law of Hugh Wilson, was the keeper of the fort spring.”

From Mrs. Thomas’ statements, it would appear that John Barney Stagner accompanied his son-in-law, Hugh Wilson who had married Christiania Stagner, to Harrodsburg. Mrs. Thomas does not indicate that any others of John Barney Stagner’s family were present at Boonesborough or at Harrodsburg. In fact, Dr. Draper gives a list of these pioneer women at Boonesborough and at Harrodsburg. The women at Boonesborough were: Mrs. Daniel Boone, Mrs. Hays, Mrs. Callaway, Mrs. Squire Boone, and Mrs. Poague. At Harrodsburg were: Mrs. McGary, Mrs. Denton, Mrs. Hogan, and Mrs. Wilson.

John Barney Stagner was not a part of this first group to settle at Harrodsburg. As previously stated, John Barney’s son-in-law, Hugh Wilson, settled at Harrodsburg in the Fall of 1775. John Barney probably made preparations to join his daughter and son-in-law, for on 10 October 1775 he wrote his will in Rowan County, North Carolina. However, John Barney’s arrival at Harrodsburg was to be delayed by a little more than a year.

In the Fall of 1775, a large military force had been assembled under the command of Col. William Christian to deal with the Overhill Cherokee problem in the Shenandoah Valley. Col. Christian was part of the regular Continental Army and had set up a commissary system to feed and house the 1,800 troops to be used against the Indians. Capt. Thomas Madison was appointed to requisition provisions from “almost all the farmers along the roads” in the Holston and Clinch River areas. On the North Branch of the Clinch River was Fort Blackmore, about twenty miles north of the standard stopping place for many out of North Carolina, which was near present-day Kingsport, Tennessee, and was known as the Long Island of the Holston River. Near Fort Blackmore was Fort Russell where William Poague and Daniel Boone were active. Col. Christian noted on his march to assemble troops at Long Island that this staging area had some 3,000 people housed in or around the forts with many of them being sick or dead from close confinement and lack of decent rations.

There seems to be no doubt that John Barney was one of those who got delayed at Fort Blackmore while attempting to locate in Kentucky. The situation suggests that many were in this area with the intent to move to the great settlement area. This was the seat of government for West Fincastle County, Virginia, and it served as the jumping off place. Records from the Montgomery County, Virginia, courthouse that have been mixed with earlier Fincastle County records prove that John Barney was located at, or near, Fort Blackmore:

“Received of John Barnett Stagner one beef for the use of part of the militia drawn into actual duty under the command of Colo. William Russell at Blackmores Fort appraised to two pounds seven shillings and nine pence (£2-7-9) per me this 2 day November 1776. (Signed) Thomas Foster, directed to Capt. Madison.”

Thomas Foster was an agent of Capt. Madison.

Christian accomplished his mission of pacifying the Indians quickly and by December of 1776 the majority of the force was disbanded to return to their families. In is quite likely that as soon as it was possible to pass through the Cumberland Gap Wilderness Road without Indian problems, Barney joined with others anxious to be with their families before Christmas.

It would seem, based on the above, that John Barney did not come to Harrodsburg in September of 1775 as stated by Ranck, Collins, and others working from the Draper manuscript. John Barney’s will was written 10 October in Rowan County, North Carolina, and he was given a receipt for beef near Fort Blackmore on 2 November 1776. Since he was along the Wilderness Road at that time, it is likely that John Barney arrived in late November or early December of 1776 at Harrod’s fort.

It is concluded, also, that John Barney Stagner’s wife did not accompany him to Kentucky. There is no proof that his son, James Barney, accompanied him at this time. However, James Barney Stagner was listed, in 1779, in Captain John Holder’s Company at Boonesborough.

John Barney Stagner, in 1776, “raised a crop of corn” on both sides of Cartright’s Creek on the waters of Beech Fork of Salt River, about eighteen miles from Harrodsburg, as stated in an affidavit by John Barney’s son. However, the affidavit was made many years after the event and it is more likely that John Barney Stagner raised his crop of corn in 1777.

The settlers, expecting attacks as part of the everyday lives became so accustomed to the ever-present dangers that some of them took unnecessary chances, and there were many deaths due to out-right carelessness. Certainly this was true in the case of John Barney Stagner. Details of John Barney Stagner’s death were related to Dr. Draper in 1843 by General Ray’s son. [see Draper Collection 12C16; 12C26-29; 26CC55m 4CC30]

“Captain James Harrod had named this little Dutchman as keeper of the fort springs, and while this was not a lofty appointment, it was an important one which Barney took seriously and, in Teutonic fashion, performed thoroughly. The boys, particularly the younger ones, liked to tease the old fellow by throwing gourds and rocks into the water, mainly to hear Barney scold.

Stagner had an idea that he led a charmed life. ‘The Indians can’t kill me,’ he often boasted, ‘I’m too old.’ He boasted that they had often shot at him unsuccessfully. James Ray, who was standing near Stagner one day, happened to hear Barney make this remark. Indians were firing away at the fort and bullets were popping like hail on the clapboard roofs, so Ray suggested, ‘Now, Barney, you say the Indians can’t kill you, suppose we hoist you on top of the fort and see what will be the consequence.’

Barney begged to be excused and quickly changed the subject. But he had not changed his opinion of his own powers, because a short time later, on the night of 22 June 1777, he carelessly took his horse outside the gate to graze, against Harrod’s instructions and often-repeated warnings, and was killed at the big spring, half a mile from the fort, by the Indians who cut off his head and stuck it upon a pole outside the fort.”

For years after that, the boys living near the fort used to say that at night when the moon was full they could see Barney’s ghost around the old fort spring. John Barney Stagner was buried in the Old Fort Cemetery, about two present-day city blocks from the place where he was killed.

John Barney Stagner’s will is on file in Rowan County, North Carolina. It was written 10 October 1775 . His will follows:

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Barnet Stagnor, of the County of Rowan and Province of North Carolina, planter, being in perfect health of body and of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God; calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament; that is to say, principally and first of all, I give and renounce my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body recommend to the earth, to be buried in decent Christian burial, at the discretion of my executors; nothing doubting but at general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by Thy mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:

First, I give and bequeath to Elizabeth, my dearly beloved wife, one third part of my real and personal estate during her life or widowhood, and at her marriage or death, it shall fall to my beloved son Barnet Stagnor, to whom I give and bequeath all my lands and all and every of my personal estate such as cattle, horses, hogs, and all that I should die possessed of, only paying such legacies as I shall hereafter mention:

I give and bequeath to my son John Stagnor one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Christiania one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Barbara one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Dorothy one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary one shilling lawful money of Great Britain.

Likewise, I constitute, make and ordain my son Barnet Stagnor, William Frohock sole executors of this my last will and testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests, and executors, by me in any ways before named, willed and bequeathed; ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1775.

Signed, sealed, published and declared, by the said John Barnet Stagnor as his last will and testament, in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names.

Wit. /s/ John Barnet Stagnor

Mary Frohock Abrilla Dedman Benjamin Denney

The will was proved by Mary Frohock on 5 November 1777 and letters of administration were granted to Barnet Stagner.

The wording of the will suggests that John Barney Stagner’s removal to Kentucky was not considered by him to be other than a temporary condition. Note that he calls himself “... of the county of Rowan...” and that he leaves one-third of his estate to his wife and the remaining two-thirds to his son James Barney Stagner. John Barney Stagner, aged about 61 years, made the arduous trip to Kentucky; his wife of nearly equal age remained in North Carolina. The will also suggests that his children—other than James Barney—had established their own families by 1775.

No record of John Barney Stagner’s marriage has been found nor has the birth of his wife been found. The Lutheran Church register gives her name as Anna Elisabetha; the ship passenger list gives her name as Marelis. Marelis is probably a variant of Maria Elisabetha. Either the church register is in error or else her full name may have been Anna Maria Elisabetha. Her surname was Findler. She was born about 1715. It is not known what happened to her after her husband's death in 1777. She is not shown on the 1778 tax list of Rowan County, North Carolina. If still living, it seems probable that in 1778, at age 63, Elizabeth was residing in the household of one of her daughters. Women never appeared as a taxable unless there was a male of taxable age in her household or a slave of taxable age.

John Barney Stagner’s Children:

In his will, John Barney Stagner names eight children. Unfortunately, he does not provide his daughters’ married names. There has been considerable speculation regarding the daughters.

1. Johann Jacob Stagner

Johann Jacob was born 25 July 1737 and died 22 October 1737 at Oberauerbach or Winterbach, in the county of Zweibrücken, state of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.

2. Elizabeth Stagner

Elizabeth’s date of birth cannot be determined; it is not known if she was born in Germany or in America. One researcher has suggested that she married John Callahan, as his second wife. The basis for this suggestion may come from the following document:

14 January 1767, John Barnet Stagner, William Luckey and John Johnson are security in sum of £300 when the widow, Elizabeth Callahan qualifies as admx of her dec'd husband, John Callahan.

Further proof is needed that John Callahan’s widow, Elizabeth, was indeed a daughter of John Barney Stagner. It is known that Elizabeth married again, for on 21 July 1768, she and her husband, David Duncan, were appointed executors of her former husband’s estate:

21 July 1768, William Callahan, David Duncan and wife Elizabeth are to be executors for John Callahan, dec'd.

It is also known that Elizabeth and John Callahan had at least one child, Rosanna, born about 1762:

8 August 1769, David Duncan and wife Elizabeth Duncan bind his step-daughter and her daughter, Rosanna Callahan, seven years old, as apprentice to Henry Robeson.

A similar record is found to show that Rosanna was a daughter of John Callahan:

7 August 1771, Rosannah Callahan, orphan of John Callahan, dec’d., nine years old, bound to Hugh Jenkins for nine years.

The word “orphan” did not necessarily mean that both parents were deceased; in instances similar to the above, it indicated that one parent had died.

There is a record of an Elizabeth Callahan in Madison County, Kentucky, in the 1820 census. This is not John Barney Stagner’s daughter, however. Elizabeth Callahan gave consent, 30 December 1817, for her daughter, Sarah, to marry Joseph Cannafox. This proves Sarah was a minor in 1817. Her mother, Elizabeth, could not have been born before, say, 1755.

3. Christiania Stagner

Christiania married, first, Hugh Wilson. After he was killed and scalped by the Indians, on 18 March 1777, she married, at Harrodsburg, four weeks later, 19 April 1777, James Berry. One of Christiania’s descendants has suggested she died about 1804 or 1805 in either Mercer or Garrard County, Kentucky.

Regarding Christiania’s second marriage to James Berry, Mrs. Maria T. Daviess wrote in the 1880s:

“She had neither protection nor help, and was forced by the need of both and sense of propriety to secure it in this repugnant way, and it is probable the young man married as much from compassion and a rude, chivalrous sense of honor as from tenderer motives.”

4. Sarah Stagner

Nothing is known of Sarah, other than she was still living in 1775 when her father wrote his will. On 26 March 1778 a Sarah Deadman claimed 640 acres on Reedy Branch in the forks of the Yadkin. This land is described as unbounded and already including her own improvement. A few months later, on 16 July 1778, a Benjamin McCulloh claimed 500 acres on the south side of the Yadkin River adjacent to James Andrews, John Eastub, and the widow Deadman. The following month, 8 August 1778, Jesse Knighton claimed 400 acres on the north side of widow Deadman’s land adjacent to widow Murphy and Richmond Pearson. The description of Sarah Deadman’s land, as shown in the above records, places her in the vicinity of John Barney Stagner. It has not been determined if there is a connection between this Sarah Deadman and the Abrilla Dedman who witnessed John Barney Stagner’s will.

5. John Stagner

John was born about 1745. He is not listed on the 1759 census for Rowan County, NC. There is a bill of sale, dated 18 April 1767, from John Stagner to William Frohock and proved by Thomas Frohock:

One Gray Mare Branded on the Near Buttock thus O & One Daple Gray horse Branded BS on Near Shoulder & one White Horse Branded on Near Shoulder T & Seven head Cattle one Sow 1 Iron Kitle 1 frying Pan one madock 1 hilling hoe one Pare Plow Irons & Gears 7 Knives & forks Ten Puter Plates one Puter Dish Two Puter Basons one Bed & Two Blankets one Bed Quilt & Small Improvment Joining Barney Stagners Place where he Now Livs.

He is listed on the 1768 Rowan County census, in that portion of Rowan County that became Davie County. On 17 January 1769, a suit was filed against John Stagner by Robert Tate. Nature of the case not stated. A John Stagner signed a 1773 petition to establish a courthouse in that part of Rowan County that later became Guilford County and is now Stokes County. He was still living in 1775 when his father wrote his will.

6. Barbara Stagner

Nothing is known of Barbara other than she was still living in 1775 when her father wrote his will.

7. Dorothy Stagner

Nothing is known of Dorothy other than she was still living in 1775 when her father wrote his will.

8. Mary Stagner

Nothing is known of Mary other than she was still living in 1775 when her father wrote his will. She is not the Mary Frohock who witnessed John Barney Stagner’s will since devisees could not witness the will in which they received a bequest.

9. James Barney Stagner

James Barney Stagner, called Barney, was born about 1753. He was at least twenty-one years of age in 1775, but under 16 years of age on the 1768 tax list.

There may have been other children who died before John Barney Stagner wrote his will. It would not be unreasonable to learn that John Barney Stagner and Elizabeth Findler married as early as 1732, in which case they might have had one or two children born in Germany before Johann Jacob. Elizabeth may have been the first-born, named after her mother. If so, then she may have been born between 1733 and 1735.

Curiously, Rowan County deeds show a Henry Stagner, born before 1765, residing on Swan Creek from 1786 to 1810. Also shown is a George Stagner, born about 1770. George Stagner married, first, Sarah Hillard, 16 March 1793; married, second, Catherine Hendricks, 1 June 1805. Catherine Hendricks was a daughter of James Hendricks who died in Warren County, Kentucky, in 1812. James Hendricks had four children who married Stagners: (1) Catherine Hendricks who married George Stagner, 1 June 1805, Rowan County, North Carolina; (2) Jacob Hendricks who married Sarah Stagner, 5 January 1809, Warren County, Kentucky. This family removed to Simpson County, Kentucky, where Sarah died 16 June 1855; (3) Ann Henricks who married John Stagner, 30 November 1818 in Warren County, Kentucky. This family removed to Dent County, Missouri; (4) Mary Hendricks who married William Stagner about 1819. This family removed to Butler County, Kentucky. These four Stagners have not been identified. There was also a George Hendricks at Boonesborough.

---

GEDCOM Source

@R-2139892811@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=15538148&pid...

---

• Residence: Pennsylvania, United States - 1738
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jun 18 2022, 3:25:21 UTC