John Stewart of Amherst: A Key Figure in My Stewart Line
In my search for the origins of my immigrant Stewart ancestor, I find myself pausing to focus on the first John Stewart in my lineage who is known with certainty. For clarity, I will refer to him as John Stewart Jr., distinguishing him from his likely father, John Stewart of Fighting Creek (aka John Stewart Sr.). John Jr. resided in Amherst County, Virginia, and his presence there is firmly established by his 1784 will.
Here’s an excerpt from his will, written on April 14, 1784, in Amherst County:
April 14, 1784. In the name of God Amen, I John Stewart of the parish & County of Amherst Co. make and ordain this my last will and testament. In manner and form as followith, Viz.: I lend unto my well beloved wife Ann Stewart as long as she liveth three Negro women, Sharlotte, Molley and Esther and it is my desire that my youngest children may be educated from the labour of the above mentioned slaves, Sharlotte, Molley and Esther my son Samuel Stewart is have three years schooling also my son David Stewart to have three years schooling Richard Stewart to have three years schooling my daughter Salley Stewart to have two years also it is my desire that my wife Ann Stewart should have peaceable possession of all my stock of horses, goats, hogs & sheep as long as she lives and also of my household and kitchen furniture as long as she lives and it is my desire at her death that all the estate both real & personal should be equally divided among my children, Charles Stewart, John Stewart, James Stewart, Robert Stewart, Mary Stewart, Thomas Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, Ann Stewart, Samuel Stewart, David Stewart, Salley Stewart, Richard Stewart & William Stewart to them & their heirs to share & share alike after I give to my son John Stewart Three thousand seven hundred & fifty acres of land lying & being in Kentucky to him & his heirs forever to have immediate possession. I constitute, nominate and appoint my two sons Charles Stewart & John Stewart executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills. In witness here of I have set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of April 1784. Wiatt Powell John Stewart Wm Chappell Thomas Stewart. Probated August 2, 1784 [Amherst Co., Virginia. p. 190-191. Exors. bond rec. 2 Aug. 1784, p. 192. Will pro. 7 Aug. 1784, Will Book No. 2, 1780-1786]
This will not only confirms John Stewart Jr.’s residence in Amherst County but also reveals the names of his wife, Ann (likely Ann Haw), and their thirteen children: Charles, John, James, Robert, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth, Ann, Samuel, David, Salley, Richard, and William. My direct line descends through their daughter, Ann Stewart, who later married John Burford Floyd. I plan to delve into that lineage in a future post.
Land Transactions Linking John Jr. to Cumberland County
Digging into Amherst County records, I uncovered several land transactions connected to John Stewart Jr. The earliest of these dates to 1775, which gives us another piece of the puzzle regarding his movements:
June 17, 1775. John Stewart bought land from Carter Braxton and his wife Elizabeth, of King William Co., to John Stewart, of Cumberland County for £346, 520 acres North side Rutledge and Crooked Run.’ Part of tract. Lines: Lynch Road, Henry Gilbert, James Menees, Daniel Gaines, Higginbotham, Capt. Henry Gilbert at Crooked Run. Witnesses: John West, Thomas Lumpkin, Joseph Cabell, James Callaway, Robert Burton, W. Cabell, Samuel Cabell. [Amherst County Deed Book D, page 294]
This transaction is critical because it refers to John Stewart as “of Cumberland County.” As discussed in my post about John Stewart of Fighting Creek, the Stewart family held land in Cumberland County during this period. This transaction supports the idea that the Stewarts migrated from Cumberland to Amherst County around 1775.
The Geography of John Stewart’s Land
I suspect that the Crooked Run mentioned in the 1775 land transaction is what is now known as Buffalo River, located just outside the town of Amherst, Virginia. This location is approximately 70 miles from Fighting Creek, where John Stewart Sr. held land. Additionally, there is a Braxton Ridge Road south of Rutledge Creek and Buffalo River—further evidence connecting the Stewart land to this area.
Interestingly, John Stewart purchased this land from Carter Braxton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Braxton, after suffering financial difficulties, began selling off land, including the tract sold to John Stewart. However, Braxton’s wife, Elizabeth, had not relinquished her dower rights, leading to a chancery suit in 1802.
This is a suit in Chancery brought by Elizabeth Braxton, widow of Carter Braxton, the signer, to recover right of dower in part of 25,000 acres of land granted to George Braxton, November 25, 1743, at which time the land lay in Goochland, in that part which later became Amherst County, and devised to his son, Carter Braxton, by his last will and testament. She claimed that her deceased husband, Carter Braxton, transferred land to different parties in Amherst County without her releasing her right of dower in the same. The suite was begun 1802; dismissed 1809, “The Plaintiff not further prosecuting.”
John Stewart’s Kentucky Connection
John Stewart Jr.’s will also contains an intriguing detail: he bequeathed 3,750 acres of land in Kentucky to his son, John Stewart. This Kentucky connection raises new questions about the family’s land holdings and movements, which I plan to explore in a future post.
For now, while there are still unanswered questions about the origins of John Stewart Sr., tracing John Stewart Jr. and his life in Amherst County provides a clearer picture of the Stewart family’s journey through 18th-century Virginia. The exploration of the Kentucky land will certainly open up more paths to follow in the search for our family’s deeper roots.
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