Two Stewart Lines in Central Virginia: A Conjectural Split
This post organizes the known parish notes, deeds, surveys, and processioning entries into two distinct Stewart branches that operated in overlapping geographies in 18th‑century Virginia. The split below reflects how the records cluster by place, time, and neighbor networks. It is offered as a working hypothesis to guide ongoing research and may be refined as new evidence turns up.
Ashen Swamp Stewarts (Not My Line)
John Stewart & Mary Bowman of Ashen Swamp (West Creek & Amelia County Branch of Deep Creek)
These entries group tightly around West Creek and the Amelia County Branch of Deep Creek and show recurring ties to Dupuy, Jackson, and Jefferson, among others. I attribute this entire cluster to the Ashen Swamp Line of John Stewart & Mary Bowman.
- 1734 — Bristol Parish: baptism note for John Stewart, son of John & Mary Stewart.
- 31 May 1735 — Formation of Dale Parish from Bristol Parish north of the Appomattox (locality context for later “of Dale Parish” deeds).
- 9 Feb 1738 — Joseph Jackson patents 188 acres in Amelia County in the fork of West’s Creek, opposite Richard Jones.
- 10 Jun 1740 — Field Jefferson, Gent. granted 390 acres (Amelia) on Bearbone Branch of West Creek by the old Church Road; bounds with Worsham, Watson, Richard Jones Jr., Osbourne, Benson, Hall, Robert Taylor.
- 30 Jan 1745 (ack. 21 Mar 1745) — Joseph Jackson of Dale Parish sells the same 188 acres (patented 1737) to John Stuart of Dale Parish; witnesses include Ralph Jackson (brother) and Mark Jackson (nephew), with Thomas Franklin.
- 1749 — Chesterfield County formed from Henrico (jurisdictional shift for “of Dale Parish, Chesterfield”).
- 18 Aug 1750 — Field Jefferson sells 300 acres in Amelia on a ridge between Deep Creek and West Creek to John Stewart of Dale Parish, Chesterfield.
- 30 Oct 1762 — John Stewart & wife Mary deed 180 acres on West Creek (Amelia) to Peter Dupuy Jr.
- 18 Feb 1763 — John Stewart deeds 300 acres in Amelia to his son, Charles Stewart.
Why this cluster sits with the Ashen Swamp Stewarts: Shared waterways (West/Deep Creek), the Dupuy/Jackson/Field‑Jefferson chain, and a recurring Amelia County footprint create a cohesive, earlier‑century neighborhood best explained by the Ashen Swamp branch.
Amherst Stewarts (My Line)
John Stewart Sr. & Mary (later John Stewart Jr. & Ann; later John Stewart III & Mourning) of Amherst (Cumberland County Branch of Deep Creek → Amherst → Kentucky arc)
Beginning in the mid‑1760s, the trail shifts into a sequence that moves from Deep Creek in Cumberland County into Amherst acquisition and ultimately Kentucky expansion. I attribute the following to my line.
- 27 Feb 1765 — Processioning between Muddy Creek, Carters Ferry Road, the Middle Road, and Chappell Road; adjacency with Thomas Walton, William Flippin, James Hudgens (orphan), Thomas Montague, Leander Hughes, Orlando Hughes, Boler Cocke (administrative presence in the Deep Creek corridor).
- 1 Jun 1767 — Robert Walton (Charlotte) to John Stewart of Prince Edward: 135 acres on a branch of Deep Creek (Cumberland) for £80.
- 26 Feb 1770 — John Stewart appointed surveyor from the Fork above Peterville Church (near Deep Creek) to Charles Woodson’s Quarter.
- 1 Nov 1770 — John Stewart & wife Mary sell 250 acres in Prince Edward (on Bush & Meherrin Rivers) to Robert Walton (Charlotte) for £100.
- 29 Jul 1771 — Orders to procession and renew lines spanning Deep Creek, Middle Road, River Road, Solomon’s Creek, Stewart’s Road, Widow Chandler’s, etc. (reinforces ongoing responsibilities in the Deep Creek district).
- 17 Jun 1775 — Carter Braxton (King William) sells to John Stewart of Cumberland 520 acres in Amherst (north side Rutledge & Crooked Run). Neighbors: Lynch Road, Henry Gilbert, James Menees, Daniel Gaines, Higginbotham, Capt. Henry Gilbert; witnessed by W. Cabell, Samuel Cabell, and others.
- 14 Mar 1781 — Processioning near Deep Creek with Thomas Bolling (eastern ties persist as Amherst holdings mature).
- 13 May 1783 — Braxton v. John Stewart: jury finds the debt unpaid; judgment £361 12s, dischargeable by £180 12s + 5% from 15 May 1777 (financial context for the period).
- 28 May 1783 — John Stewart purchases a Kentucky warrant for 3,121.75 acres for £4,995 (western expansion step).
- 14 Apr 1784 (prob. 2 Aug 1784) — Will of John Stewart of Amherst: life use to wife Ann; schooling directives for younger children; bequest of 3,750 acres in Kentucky to son John; children named Charles, John, James, Robert, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth, Ann, Samuel, David, Salley, Richard, William; executors Charles & John.
- 6 May 1787 — John Stewart & Richard Young survey 3,121.75 acres in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
- 1 Jun 1789 — Deed of Trust (Richard Chandler to Joseph Richeson): includes 114 acres bought of John Stewart & Paul Tillman, with two tracts (414 & 700 acres) on the Tye (Amherst‑area follow‑ons).
- 5 Oct 1789 — Jno. Stewart & wife Mourning (Amherst) convey 414 acres on Rutledge Creek to Richard Chandler for £300.
What ties this together: A coherent Deep Creek administrative role (surveyor and processioning responsibilities), the Walton/Chandler chain, the Amherst acquisition from Braxton, the Kentucky warrant & survey, and the will naming Ann then later transactions naming Mourning — all hallmark features of my Stewart line’s westward arc.
Takeaways & Next Steps
- Treat West/Deep Creek (Amelia County) + Dupuy/Jackson/Jefferson as an Ashen Swamp‑branch neighborhood.
- Treat Deep Creek (Cumberland County) → Amherst purchase → Kentucky warrant/survey as the through‑line for my branch.
This is a living hypothesis. Corroborating parish notations, juror lists, witness sets, and chain‑of‑title language will either tighten or refute the split. For now, it offers a clear scaffolding for future posts that deep‑dive each branch’s chronology and kinship network.
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