John Stevens, of Richmond

There's still much about James Stevens life that has to be properly documented. There are some discrepancies relative to the dates of birth for his first children and the date of his marriage to Rebecca Lawrence. Some Stevens family researchers contend, for example, that James and Rebecca were married in 1769, but that their first child, Abraham, I, was born in 1767 and died in 1768 and that their second child was Isiah, born in 1770. These dates of birth and the date of marriage have yet to be proved by any official hard documentation.

1734: "Orange County was established in 1734 from Spotsylvania County which was established in 1720/1 from Essex, King and Queen and King William [counties].

1739: Compiler's Note: An individual who's researching the Trapp family in Orange County, Virginia, noted that one of Martin Trapp's neighbors on the 1739 Orange County Tithables List in Constable James Picket's precinct was James Stevens. While that couldn't have been this James Stevens, who was born in 1746, the James Stevens from the 1739 Tax List may have been an Uncle, Great Uncle or cousin who may have functioned as a harbinger, so to speak, for the migration of the Stevens family from New York. Source: "Thoughts on the Martin Trapps," D. Mitchell Jones, <http://dmitchelljones.org/trapp.htm>

1739: There's also a James Stephens listed on the 1739 Tithables list in Constable Henry Rice's precinct as having four tithables, which appears on page 25. He too couldn't be this James Stevens, born in 1746. Source: "Orange County Tithe Lists," 1734 - 1739, transcribed by Kathy Merrill for US Genweb Archives, Posted by Sam <SSAntient@aol.com> at: <http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/orange/court/orange.txt>

David N. Decker Notation: Caution. There was another Stevens family in Orange County, Virginia, during this period that has neither been proved as a part of James Stevens family, nor as one distinctly different from his.

1746: James Stevens is born to John Stevens and Martha Cregier, on Staten Island, Richmond County, New York.

1767: James and Rebecca Lawrence Stevens' first child, Abraham, was born, location unknown.

1768: The first-born Abraham Stevens dies. (contested)

1769 Compiler's Note: Some Stevens researchers believe that James and Rebecca Lawrence were married in Richmond County, New York, while others believe they were married in Pawling, Dutchess County, New York, or Orange County, Virginia. This compiler (DND) has not seen documentation to support any of the three locations mentioned, but tends to lean toward Orange County, Virginia.

1770: Isaiah Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1771: Lavina Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1773: William Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1775: John W. Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1776: James Washington Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia. Compiler's Note: James' son, also James, born in 1776 is often listed as James Washington Stevens, Jr., by family researchers, however, no documents have been discovered by this compiler (DND) that verifies James (Senior) also was James Washington.

"Probably no other county in the state of Virginia furnished as large a percentage of its manhood to fight for the United States in the Revolutionary War as did Amherst County which then included Nelson County. Many of the names have continued prominent through the history of the county and readers will find it interesting to search the list for possible forefathers and relatives. Here is the list: . . . John Stevens, James Stevens, Richard Stoneham. Thomas Stevens . . . ." Source: “Ancestors of David Allen Long,” http://www.chrisanddavid.com/LongGenealogy/longfamil/pafn11.htm

1778: Thomas Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1780: Jacob Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1780 - 1781: “James Stevens served in the American Revolutionary War from Orange County, Virginia, for more than three years. In the militia, he was appointed as an ensign in Captain Caleb Lindsey's company, November 23, 1780 and took his oath February 6, 1781. (page 12)" Source: "Descendant Line of James Stevens," Johnny Curry, <Repcurry@bellsouth.net>, Citing: “The Stevens Family Record,” Albert Clyde Stevens, unpublished manuscript, 1959.

1782: Elizabeth Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia.

1782: The only Stevens that appears on the 1782 "Heads of Families" list for Orange County, Virginia, is Benjamin Stephens. He's included on the list of William Moore and has four whites and one black in his household, however, a disclaimer notes that the list is not comprehensive.

1783: In 1783, he moved his family to Kentucky as the record shows in Book A, page 271, Court House, Louisville, Kentucky, and the Kentucky Historical Register. Land grant records show that James Stevens entered 2276 acres upon Treasury Warrant # 12688 to include the quantity of vacant land in the bounds marked out for John Brooks entry of this same date, March 28, 1783.

"[In Kentucky,] . . . he became one of two chainmen for frontiersman, Daniel Boone. (page 12)” Source: "Descendant Line of James Stevens," Johnny Curry, <Repcurry@bellsouth.net>, Citing: “The Stevens Family Record,” Albert Clyde Stevens, unpublished manuscript, 1959.

c. 1783: James Stevens was reportedly one of two chainmen for Daniel Boone when Boone was a government surveyor and pioneer in East Central Kentucky, which is substantiated by the following entry in "Index of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, 1981-2007" "Stevens, James: surveys with Daniel Boone, 102:540," page 456." Source: http://history.ky.gov/pdf/Publications/Index%20of%20The%20Register%...

Compiler's Note: James Stevens' association with Daniel Boone may have afforded him more than a chainman's experience. Boone demonstrated a certain level of wisdom when speaking about his 1769 capture by and subsequent escape from the Indians. His brother, Squire Boone, searched for and found Daniel after his escape from the Indians. Daniels companion and fellow captive, John Stuart, was killed after the escape. When recalling the incident, Boone wrote:

"Soon after this, my companion in captivity, John Stewart, was killed by the savages, and the man that came with my brother returned home by himself. We were then in a dangerous, helpless situation, exposed daily to perils and death amongst savages and wild beasts, not a white man in the country but ourselves.

"Thus situated, many hundred miles from our families in the howling wilderness, I believe few would have equally enjoyed the happiness we experienced. I often observed to my brother, You see now how little nature requires to be satisfied. Felicity, the companion of content, is rather found in our own breasts than in the enjoyment of external things; and I firmly believe it requires but a little philosophy to make a man happy in whatever state he is. This consists in a full resignation to the will of Providence; and a resigned soul finds pleasure in a path strewned [sic] with briars and thorns." Source: "The Adventures of Daniel Boone," Chapter One, Accessed at: <http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/boone/chapt3/>

1783: He moved to Kentucky about 1783. Source: "The Stevens Family of Harrison County, Indiana," Steve Kirkham, Grafton, Virginia, 1992. 929.273 St47ks - FHL FAM HIST Book

Compiler's Note: The infamous "Boone's Defeat" [Squire Boone, brother of Daniel], also known as "Long Run Massacre" occurred just two years before the Stevens families moved to Shelby County, Kentucky.

"At any rate, it was a Boone who began the settlement of Shelby County Territory; for most accredited historians agree that the first of Shelby's peculiarly large number of Stations was that of the 'Painted Stone', established in 1779, by Squire Boone, a younger brother of Daniel and that his and his associates' lives are those which etched in Shelby soil the first tragic traces of its start toward civilization."

DND Note: Squire Boone subsequently moved to Harrison County, Indiana, as did James Stevens. Both men lived out the rest of their lives in that county.

"Among the other frontier land seekers who visited Shelby County was Daniel's brother, Squire Boone. He deposed that: 'In the summer in the year 1775 I this deponent came to the place where Boone's Station on clear creek was since built I then made a small Improvement about one quarter of a mile North of where the old mill at said Boone's Station now stands in the spring of 1776, I came again to the same place and took a stone out of the creek and with a mill pick picked my name in full and the date of the year thereon, and with red paint I painted the letters & Figures all red from which stone this Tract of Land Took the name of the painted Stone tract, the said stone is about one Inch thick and eighteen Inches Long & wide.'" - excerpted from "The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky" published by the Shelby County Historical Society." Source: "Shelby County [Kentucky] History, George Willis, 1929, (excerpt). Accessed at: http://www.kykinfolk.com/shelby/history/history.html

1783: Some family researchers note that Mary "Polly" Stevens was born in Orange County, Virginia, while others suggest she was born in Shelby County, Kentucky.

1783 - 1784: “The winter of 1783-4 was a very severe one. The weather was bitter cold, and a deep snow covered the earth for many weeks. The settlers in the dreary wilderness lived in small, rudely constructed cabins and tents covered with the bark of fallen trees. Their supply of clothing was scant and of a quality that illy [sic] protected them against piercing winds and driving snow. Much suffering was inevitable. But the severity of the season brought with it at least one inestimable blessing: It prevented the inroads of the Indians, and thus gave the settlers a sense of security against their most dreaded ill. With this sense of security, they were able to give attention to necessary work, and occasionally assemble in each others cabins to worship God. Source: “The Baptist History Collection State Histories A History Of Kentucky Baptists,” Volume 1., J.H. Spencer, The Baptist Standard Bearer, Inc. Version 1.0 © 2005.

1788: There were two Stevenses on the 1788 tax list for Fayette, County, Kentucky, who were James and Joseph. It's not clear if these men were part of James Stevens (b. 1746) family or not, but we do know that James Stevens' (b. 1746) families were in Shelby County, Kentucky by that date as demonstrated by "Elder" Abraham Stevens birth in that county.

1789: Compiler's Note: There are no Stevenses listed on the 1789 Jefferson County, Kentucky Tax List - Shelby County was part of Jefferson County - or on the 1792 Tax list for Shelby County, Kentucky. Also, there are no Stevenses listed on the 1797 Shelby County Tax List. The name Stevens appears in the index, page 218, for the 1810 Shelby County census and on page 148 of the 1820 census, but specific information has yet to be obtained. There are Stephenses listed in the index for the 1830 census, page 198, and Stephinses on page269, but specifics are still unknown. Stevenses are listed in the index for the 1840 Shelby County census on page 152. There are no Stevenses listed in the index for the 1850 Shelby County, Kentucky census.

"Revolutionary War Public Service Claims Virginia

"This collection relates to claims for compensation made by Virginia citizens for materials, supplies and personal services provided to the Virginia militia and the continental armed forces during the Revolutionary War. The collections consists of several types of materials: court booklets, certificates, lists, and commissioners' books.

"PSC = Public Service Claims; CB = Court Booklet; C = Certificates; L = Lists; Com B = Commissioner's Book

"Benjamin Stephens, PSC: Orange Co., CB: pg. 23, C: 1, L: pg. 21. "James Stephens, PSC: Orange Co., L: pg. 4.

"John Stevens, PSC: Orange Co., CB: pg. 2, C: 3, L: pg. 1, 16, 20. Source: "Revolutionary War Public Service Claims, Virginia," Compiled by: Jackie Shepherd, Contact: Tom Stevens <stevetho@datastar.net>. <http://www.gulfcoastplus.com/stephensj/rwpsc.html>

1791: Benjamin Stevens is born in Shelby County, Kentucky.

1791: Benjamin Stevens is born in Shelby County, Kentucky.

1794: "The parents of William Stevens (Thomas Stevens -- son of James and Rebecca Lawrence Stevens -- and Dorcas Dorr), the father of Henderson Stevens, came to Kentucky in 1794 and suffered the hardships of many Indian battles, as well as other difficulties of the early settlers." Source: Warder W. Stevens was the author of the Centennial history of Washington County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families. Illustrated 1916, B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.

DND Note: One can't help noticing that Thomas Stevens appears to have moved to Shelby County much later than his parents, but he also is believed to have married his wife, Dorcas Dorr in Shelby County, Kentucky.

1810: In the Thomas Stephens household we find two free white males under the age of 10, one free white male over the age of 45, one free white female under the age of 10, one free white female between the ages of 10 and 16 and one white female between the ages of 26 and 45. Source: 1810 Shelby County, Kentucky census, sheet number 227A, reel number M252-8, page 668, enumerated by Robert Thurston, transcribed by Suzanne Davis for USGenWeb. <http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/shelby/census/1810/p223a.txt>

1810: The William Stephens household includes: two free white males under the age of 10, one free white male between the ages of 10 and 16, one free white male between the ages of 26 and 45, two free white females under the age of 10, one free white female between the ages of 10 and 16, one free white female between the ages of 16 and 25 and one free white female between the ages of 26 and 45. Source: 1810 Shelby County, Kentucky census, sheet number 224A, reel number M252-8, page 726, enumerated by Robert Thurston, transcribed by Suzanne Davis for USGenWeb. <http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/shelby/census/1810/p223a.txt>

James Stephens / Stevens is noted as being among the earliest settlers in Harrison County, Indiana, by E.W. Perrin in his article, "Early Settlement, Harrison Co.," found at: <http://genealogytrails.com/ind/harrison/earlysettlers.html> Other early settlers of interest in the county include: General William Henry Harrison, who was known as "Bill" among his fellow settlers, Squire Boone, brother of Daniel, Joseph Decker, the Pennington family, George Gresham, Benjamin Brown and John Harbison. Some time later, Josiah Lincoln arrived in Spencer Township, Harrison County, which is where the larger portion of the Stephens / Stevens family settled.

1811: Compiler's Note: The dates of the land purchases, below, notwithstanding, it should be noted that Abraham and Rebecca Crandall Stevens' fourth child, Crandall Russell Stevens, was reportedly born in Spencer Township, Harrison County, Indiana in December of 1811, which suggests the Stevens family was in Harrison County some time before the 1838 land purchase was made. Another online post suggests an even earlier date of 1809 for the Stevens family's arrival in Harrison County, evidenced by Jacob Stevens' land purchase in that year [this information came without documentation]. Jacob is believed to be either a son or brother to James Stevens.

1820: James Stevens, Sr., and family were on the 1810 Shelby County, Kentucky census and subsequently on the 1820 Harrison County, Indiana census. The Stevens heads of households and their respective ages reflected on the 1820 Harrison County, Indiana, census include: Abraham (age 26 - 45), b. 1788, age 32, spouse Crandall, James' son; Benjamin (age 26 - 45), b. 1791, age 29, spouse Arnold, James' son; Benjamin, Sr. (age 16 - 26), 3 males, unidentified; Benjamin, Jr., (age 26 - 45), unidentified [previous two names and relative ages are not a compiler's typo]; James, (age 45 and up), b. 1746, age 74 in 1820, spouse, Lawrence; John, (age 26 - 45), unidentified; John W. (age 26 - 45), b. 1775, age 45 in 1820, spouse, Lake; Williams, (age 45 and up), unidentified. Williams, (age 45 and up), unidentified Williams, (age 45 and up), unidentified.

It's important to note that there were Stephens and Stevens families on the 1820 (pages 134 and 148 for Stephens / Stevens and page 173 for Lawrence) and 1830 (pages 198 and 269 for Stephens / Stephins [sic] and page 259 for Lawrence) census returns for Shelby County, Kentucky -- both of which also included a Lawrence family -- that were undoubtedly part of this Stevens family group. There is a Stevens family included on page 152 of the 1840 Shelby County, Kentucky census return. Unfortunately, this writer didn't have access to the detailed enumerations of these census returns.

1822, Sep 3: James Stevens, a Revolutionary War Veteran, died in Harrison County, Indiana. Submitted by David N. Decker 25 Sep 2014.

Special Note to all Geni.com Member: I'm new to Geni and when I saw auto-generated instructions to merge the three Mothers and two Fathers of James Stevens, I didn't know some data would be lost in the merge. My deepest apologies to all who contributed to the "About" section for James Stevens, et. al., whose data is no longer included. I very much regret my ignorance caused a loss of data. I hope it can be replaced. I won't ever do that again! Sincerely, David N. Decker