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Family of Richard Stockton

(This person can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)

1. RICHARD³ STOCKTON (D AVIS¹) was born 1710, and died July 21, 1775 in Albemarle County, Virginia. He married AGNES ANN ANTHONY 1732 in Goochland County, Virginia, daughter of JOSEPH ANTHONY.

Notes for RICHARD STOCKTON:

29 Mar. 1749, Richard annexed 12 Shillings to the Orthodox Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Richard Stockton lived at fork of Mechum's River, near the old Black place, in fact, that was a part of his land, he and his wife Agnes having sold 400 acres to Rev. Samuel Black in 1751.

Augusta Co., VA Court Records, 20 Nov., 1761, pg. 133-John McMahon and Richd. Stockdon (sic), bail for Rob. McMahon, probably John McMahon's brother. On 10 Mar., 1756, Richard patented 200 a. of land on the N. Fork of Mechum's River, Albemarle Co., VA. Patent Book #54, 1756-1762, Pg. 60.

His will was dated 21 July 1775 and proved in October 1775. His will read:

In the Name of God, Amen. I, Richard Stockton, of Albemarle County and parish of St. Annes, being sick of body, but of sound and perfect memory, do constitute this to be my last will and testament. That is to say, I bequeath my soul to the lord that gave it to me, trusting in his mercies that he will preserve it again, and as for my worldly goods, I bequeath as in form and manner following:

Unto my son Thomas Stockton, five shillings sterling.

Unto my son John Stockton, five shillings sterling.

Unto my son Robert Stockton, five shillings sterling.

Unto my son David Stockton, five shillings sterling.

And to every one of my daughters, five shillings apiece.

I bequeath unto my son Richard Stockton my land and Negro Simon, after his mother's death, and all the rest of my goods after my just debts are paid I bequeath unto my well beloved wife and that (they) be at her disposing after my death.

I appoint Alexander Black and John Dollings to be my executors.

July 21st, 1775

Richard (his X mark) Stockton (L.S.)

John Davis Francis Davis Lucy Davis

At Albemarle October Court 1775, the will was presented and proved by the oath of John Davis and Francis Davis, two witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded. Teste.

John Nicholas, Clerk.

Obtained a grant of 400 acres in Albemarle County on 23 July 1754 and other grants later.

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Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia

Volume I

AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS.

ORDER BOOK No. VII.

NOVEMBER 20, 1761.

(118) James Holles, juryman. George Woolridge, juryman. Lazarus Inmace, juryman.

(119) Wm. Griffith exempted from County levy.

(124) Craven Taylor, an infant, to be bound to John Dickinson.

(125) Dated 20th but probably 21st, as 20th is on page 118.

(129) Elizabeth Waters vs. James Littlepage--abates by plaintiff's marriage.

(133) John McMahon and Richd. Stockdon, bail for Rob. McMahon. <============

(140) James McKeachey vs. John Mason, eldest son and heir-at-law of John Mason--abates by death of defendant.

(141) Cornelius Cain returned no inhabitant.

(145) Jacob Peters admitted defendant in ejectment. Certificate of freedom of Edward Tarr.

(146) Sarah Newman, a servant woman of Sampson and George Mathews, came into Court and agreed to serve her masters three years after her present time by indenture is expired on their consenting to her marrying Hugh Conner, but it is further agreed that in case she should not have issue that her said masters are to pay her the sum of £5 per annum, deducting only her clothes.

(147) Jane Barren, a servant woman of Andrew Smith.

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More About RICHARD STOCKTON and AGNES ANTHONY:

Marriage: 1732, Goochland County, Virginia

Children of RICHARD STOCKTON and AGNES ANTHONY are:

i. DEBORAH⁴ STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1733, Orange County, Virginia; d. Aft. January 23, 1784, Sevier County, Tennessee; m. JOHN MCMAHAN, Bef. 1752; b. 1731, Orange County, Virginia; d. 1784, Augusta County, Virginia.

Notes for DEBORAH STOCKTON:

Deborah McMahan and at least some of her children made the trip to Tennessee with the Shields family. John McMahan had died in Virginia.

Notes for JOHN MCMAHAN:

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia

Volume I

AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS.

ORDER BOOK No. VII.

NOVEMBER 20, 1761.

(118) James Holles, juryman. George Woolridge, juryman. Lazarus Inmace, juryman.

(119) Wm. Griffith exempted from County levy.

(124) Craven Taylor, an infant, to be bound to John Dickinson.

(125) Dated 20th but probably 21st, as 20th is on page 118.

(129) Elizabeth Waters vs. James Littlepage--abates by plaintiff's marriage.

(133) John McMahon and Richd. Stockdon, bail for Rob. McMahon. <============

(140) James McKeachey vs. John Mason, eldest son and heir-at-law of John Mason--abates by death of defendant.

(141) Cornelius Cain returned no inhabitant.

(145) Jacob Peters admitted defendant in ejectment. Certificate of freedom of Edward Tarr.

(147) Jane Barren, a servant woman of Andrew Smith.

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More About JOHN MCMAHAN and DEBORAH STOCKTON:

Marriage: Bef. 1752

ii. ELIZABETH STOCKTON, d. Aft. 1816, Surry County, North Carolina^5,6; m. LT. THOMAS LOCKHART⁷, Abt. 1747, around Albemarle County, Virginia⁷; b. Abt. 1705⁸; d. Bef. May 30, 1791, Henry County, Virginia.

Notes for ELIZABETH STOCKTON:

Julia Wood shows Elizabeth as born abt 1749, died aft 24 NOV 1790 , Henry County, Virginia.

More About THOMAS LOCKHART and ELIZABETH STOCKTON:

Marriage: Abt. 1747, around Albemarle County, Virginia⁹

iii. NANCY STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1739, Goochland County, Virginia; d. Abt. 1805, Sevier County, Tennessee; m. ROBERT SHIELDS, 1761, Harrisonburg, Virginia; b. July 04, 1744, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Notes for NANCY STOCKTON:

Description: Gravestone says "In memory of Nancy, wife of Robert Shields, Daughter of Richard & Agnes Stockton Shields, came to Sevier Co. in 1784"

Bill Navey gives Nancy's birth date as 1749

More About NANCY STOCKTON:

Burial: Middle Creek Cemetery, near Sevierville, Tennessee

Notes for ROBERT SHIELDS:

Christine Brown says Robert was born Nov 9 1749 near Harrisburg, Virginia.

In addition to children listed here, Bill Navey and Joe Funderburk show; Ezekiel b:1778, and Joshua b:Mar 10 1782 at Harrisonburg VA d:16 Sep 1848 in Indiana.

Robert Shields was a private in Francis Lang's Company in Rev War (Christine Brown says he was a captain).

John A. Shields put Robert's birth at 1740. He says there were 11 sons, one died in infancy. Another source says that there were 12 sons and 2 died in infancy.

Court records indicate that Robert acquired land in 1781 on Smith Creek, a branch of the Calf-Pasture River in Augusta and Rockbridge Counties, Virginia. As heir to his brother John of Botetourt County, Robert conveyed land to William Shields in 1782.

John Shields says the family settled in the western wilderness near Pigeon Forge because the government of North Carolina was offering cheap land and tax exemptions and because the were pressed in Virginia by high taxes, poor markets, ruinous competition of slave-labor plantations (the Shields were not slave holders), hard times and increasing needs of a large family. Daniel Boone, described as a kinsman, and other hunters and explorers had brought back glowing accounts of the fertility of the land, abundance of game and beauty of the country, all of which was added to by accounts of the eldest son, Thomas, who had spent three years exploring the unsettled region of East Tennessee.

In 1784, the Shields and McMahan families (Mrs. Deborah McMahan was Nancy Stockman's recently widowed sister) loaded their possessions in three wagons and embarked on the long trail down the Shenandoah Valley. At Big Lick (Roanoke), the party divided. One wagon, in charge of Robert's son James, 13 with Nancy, Janet and the smaller Shields boys, went to Yadkin Settlement in North Carolina, where they remained with Robert's cousins a year before proceeding to Tennessee. The other two wagons proceeded as far as the settlement on the Watauga where the McMahan and Thomas' and Richard's wives remained until the following year. In 1785, the McMahan and the Yadkin party of the Shields family went on with the pack animals via the old Traders Trail.

At the Watauga Land Office, Robert Shields bought a tract of land on Middle Creek, a tributary of the Little Pigeon River in what is now Sevier County, Tennessee. This was far beyond the most remote frontier settlements. The most remote settlement up until then was at Big Island in the French Broad River, about 20 miles northeast of Robert's land. From Watauga to Middle Creek was about 100 miles as the crow flies and more than 200 miles by the pack-animal trail or 150 miles via forest footpaths.

In 1784, Robert and his five older sons, carrying on their backs such scanty equipment as was absolutely required, proceeded on foot by mountain paths known by Thomas. They often traveled for days without seeing a settler's cabin. Once, two Indians with flintlocks and tomahawks stalked them. Thomas, becoming aware of the lurking danger, took two long-rifles, going some distance ahead of the others, and hid until the trailing Indians past him. He killed them both.

After about two weeks, they reached the mouth of the Little Pigeon River. Leaving the regular trail, they turned south up that stream to their new location. On what is now the old T. D. McMahan place on Middle Creek, a branch of the Little Pigeon River, they built a temporary cabin at the foot of Shields Mountain, started a clearing and began erection of Shields fort.

On the frontier, a fort was a prime necessity for protection from hostile Indians. Following the Revolution, Spain claimed the land west of the Alleghenies and bitterly opposed settlement from the United States. The Spanish incited the Indians, especially the Cherokees, offering large bounties for white settlers' scalps. Some accounts say that between 1780 and 1795 half of the male settlers were killed by Indians.

Shields Fort, when completed was 16x100 feet with low ceilings and attics. It was constructed of heavy logs with a fireplace at each end. There were four outside doors, several small window openings without glass and numerous portholes with convenient places upstairs and down. The original building contained living quarters for six families with a large common kitchen at one end and a common living room at the other. The building was in the midst of an oblong yard of about a quarter-acre, surrounded by walls 12 feet high. The walls consisted of double rows of logs standing on end, closely spaced and sharpened at the top and fastened together with wooden pins. A high sentry box at each end of the stockade gave a commanding view of the clearing for several acres. The spring was within the enclosure, as were stables for the stock and all the other buildings.

It took nearly four years to complete the original structure. It was in this fort that Robert Shields lived with his children and grandchildren for almost 20 years. Seven of his sons brought their brides to the fort. As the family grew, the size of the stockade increased. Eventually, the McMahan and some of the Shields boys moved into their own separate quarters nearby.

John A. Shields says Robert and Nancy Shields died at the fort about 1805 and were buried in unmarked graves on a nearby hillside. In 1976, the Spencer Clark Chapter of the DAR marked Robert and Nancy's graves, which are now part of a small cemetery at the rear of Middle Creek Methodist Church. Other members of the Shields and McMahan families are buried there as well.

More About ROBERT SHIELDS and NANCY STOCKTON:

Marriage: 1761, Harrisonburg, Virginia

iv. THOMAS STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1740; m. MARY GOLDEN, October 28, 1775; b. Abt. 1742.

More About THOMAS STOCKTON and MARY GOLDEN:

Marriage: October 28, 1775

v. JOHN STOCKTON¹⁰, b. Bef. 1741, New Jersey; d. Abt. 1810, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; m. MARY MORTON¹¹; d. Aft. 1811.

Notes for JOHN STOCKTON:

John Stockton was a signer of the Albemarle Declaration of Independence.

John and Mary "Polly" Stockton were on record in Pittsylvania County as early as 24 August 1775, when Thomas Herget of Pittsylvania County granted power of attorney to John (Index to Wills and Deeds, 1767-1848, Vol. 4, p. 157).

On 26 Nov., 1777, John Davis of Henry County sold John Stockton 500 acres in the Commonwealth of Virginia and on Turkey Cock Creek in consideration of 250 pounds "current money" (Pittsylvania County Deeds and Wills 1767-1780, Vol. 5, p. 2).

On October 21 1811, Mary Stockton is signing alone, so John had probably died by then. Mary and her children and her children moved to Cumberland County, Kentucky after John's death.

vi. ROBERT STOCKTON, b. November 11, 1743, Goochland County, Virginia; d. September 21, 1824, Henry County, Virginia; m. CATHERINE BLAKEY, September 07, 1768.

Notes for ROBERT STOCKTON:

Two separate entries appear in the 1782 Personal Property Tax List of Henry County, Virginia for Robert Stockton, as follows:

Stockton, Robert - Tithes 1, Negroes 6, Horses 5, Cattle 23.

Stockton, Robert - Tithes 0, Negroes 8, Horses 13, Cattle 24.

Very likely the above represents two different Robert Stockton's who happened to reside in Henry County at that time. However, "tithe", as I understand it, indicates the taxability of 1/10th of ones annual income. Could it also be possible that two entries are made for the same individual if, for example, the person had two farms (an entry for each farm)? Then, it would seem the individual would only be counted once, as appears to be the case, above.

1790 Personal Property A for a Robert Stockton in Henry county, VA appears as:

White Tithes - 2, Blacks over 16 - 7, Blacks 12 to 16 - 4, Horses - 4

More About ROBERT STOCKTON and CATHERINE BLAKEY:

Marriage: September 07, 1768

vii. SARAH STOCKTON, b. Bet. 1744 - 1749; d. Aft. January 1787, Albemarle County, Virginia; m. HUGH ROSS, Bef. 1764.

Notes for SARAH STOCKTON:

Joe Funderburk reports that Sarah married Benjamin Jones.

More About HUGH ROSS and SARAH STOCKTON:

Marriage: Bef. 1764

viii. RICHARD STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1745; m. ELIZABETH COPELAND, January 04, 1781, Henry County, Virginia.

Notes for RICHARD STOCKTON:

A Richard Stockton is shown in the 1790 Henry County, VA Personal Property A Tax Roles on page 14 with:

White tithes - 1, Blacks over 16 - 2, Blacks 12 to 16 - 2?, Horses - 4.

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Will of Richard, Franklin Co., VA WB 2:297-299, 1 0 AUG 1819; "In the name of God, Amen. I, Richard Stockton of the County of Franklin & Stat e of Virginia being of sound disposing mind & memory and calling to mind that it is appointe d for all men to die, do hereby constitute this as my last will & Testament, revoking all oth er will or wills by me heretofore made. First i recommend my Soul to God who gave it existan ce and that my Body be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix and Executors hereaf ter named.___? My will and desire is that all my just debts be paid also that my loving wif e Elizabeth Stockton have the use and benefit of the Land and plantation whereon I now live , including the lands I purchased of Samuel Luttrell and Willis Luttrell with all the appurte nances thereunto beloning, also the following negroes, namely, Simon and his wife Aggy, and t heir daughter, Anly(?), also Gilbert and Letty, with all the Plantation tools, household furn itre and Kitchen furniture with all Stock of every kind, also my Still except as hereafter me ntioned, all which I lend to my beloved wife during her natural life. ITEM I give to my Daug hter ELIZABETH COPLAND the land I purchased of Dennis Marshall and the Title conveyd to me b y Elisha Arnold and Joseph Pedigo also a Negro man named David, which land and negroe my sai d Daughter has already in

possession. ITEM I give to my Daughter CHRISTIANA KING two negroes namely Hercules and Edic e and which she has already received.. ITEM I give to my Daughter NANCY WINGFIELD the follow ing negroes towit, Siney and her 2 children named George and Aggy, also a girl named Jimmey , all of which she now has in possession and with their future increase. ITEM I give to my D aughter MARIA CRAIG, two negroes, namely Lucy and Malinda with their future increase, which s aid negroes she now has in possesion. ITEM I give to my Daughter SOPHIA STOCKTON, three negr oes, namley Delila & Frances and a boy named Simon (son of Aggy) with any future increase o f the said Delial or Frances, and after my wifes decease, a half dozen table and tea spoons o f silver now in my possession, also a horse, saddle & bridle out of my Estate after my wife' s decease and upon her arriavel to lawful age or marriage to have a feather bed & furniture a nd a cow and calf. ITEM I give to my son PETER C. STOCKTON our negroe man named Tom, also on e hundred and thirty pounds, and which said negroe and money my said son has already received . ITEM I give to my son CHARLES STOCKTON a negroe man named Patrick and hundred pounds in ca sh, also one abligation on Joseph Collins of South Carolina for one hundred and five pounds , Virginia Currency, also after my decease my negroe man named Will and a female negro name d Caroline with her future increase. ITEM I give to my son COPELAND STOCKTON a negroe man na med Stephen also a horse out of my stock, such as he may choose also a feather bed and furnit ure and a cow and calf to go into his possession on his marriage or on his arrival to lawfu l age. ITEM I give to my son PRESTON STOCKTON a negro boy named Ben, also a horse, such as h e may choose also a feather bed and furniture, and a coww & calf out of my Estate on his marr iage or arriving to lawful age. ITEM my will is that the whole of the Land I now own in Fran klin County be after my wifes decease divided by the following lines towit, Beginning on a to ped red oak in the line between me and William Campbell and 7 poles north west from where Cam pbells line crosses a branch, flowing down from Campbells field and running from thence, Nort h 7 degrees East 20 and poles to a persimmon tree, thence north 7 degrees West 47 poles t o a stake, thence North 30 degrees 105 poles crossing a branch to the line dividing my land f rom Benjamin Cooks, and I give to my son COPLAND after my wife's decease all the land lying s outheast of the above mentioned line and to my son PRESTON after wifes decease the residue o f my land lying Northwest of the before described line. And I further desire and direct tha t during my wifes life the said Plantation be cultivated in the manner that I have of late pr acticed viz that no part be tended in corn of lesser than once in every third yeard and afte r my wifes decease I give to my son COPLAND my Desk and Bookcase, and to my son PRESTON, my s till and Cupboard. And my negroes not herein named are to remain with my wife during her lif e, and after her decease, all those negroes loaned to her with any owned by me or belonging t o the Estate and not herein bequeathed all the stock of every description and every species o f property which may remain of my Estate is to be equally divided amongst by before mentione d children or their legal representatives in any manner that a majority or them or their lega l representatives may agree on, but should any of my aforesaid children or their representati ves enter into any lawsuit about the distribution herein made or directed, in that case I d o hereby most solumnly revoke all legacy herein given to such child or children, except one d ollar to each of such individual child or children or representative or representatives. Las tly I hereby appoint my beloved wife Executrix, and my son Peter C. Stockton, Christopher Win gfield, Robert innes and Benjamin Cook Executors of this my last will and testimant. In Witn ess whereof I have and do hereunto set my hand & seal this 10th day of august 1819. Witnesse s, John Cook, P. Dickenson, Willis Luttrell, Peter Campbell and Zachariah Finney.

More About RICHARD STOCKTON and ELIZABETH COPELAND:

Marriage: January 04, 1781, Henry County, Virginia

ix. JAMIMA STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1747, Albemarle Co, VA; d. July 10, 1833, Franklin Co, TN; m. WILLIAM SHARP, SR., VA; b. Bet. Sep - Oct 1751, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia; d. Feb 9, 1838, Winchester, Franklin Co, TN.

x. DAVID STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1750, Albemarle Co, VA; d. Union Co, SC; m. MARGARET HADEN.

xi. MARGARET STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1754, Goochland Co, VA; d. 1797, near Fayetteville, Illinois; m. JOHN PULLIAM, SR., Abt. 1775; b. June 1, 1757, Richmond, Henrico Co, VA; d. Bet. 1812 - 1813, Fayette, St. Clair Co, Illinois.

Notes for JOHN PULLIAM, SR.:

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The Pulliam family moved to Kentucky when their oldest son was a boy, then to Illinois in 1796, finally settling in St. Clair Co., in 1802.

Information from Jerry McClure, Carthage, MO jmac23@ipa.net

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More About JOHN PULLIAM, SR.:

Burial: the family farm on the Kaskaskia River near Fayetteville, Illinois

More About JOHN PULLIAM and MARGARET STOCKTON:

Marriage: Abt. 1775

xii. WINNEFORD STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1754, Virginia; d. Sevier County, Tennessee; m. JOHN RANDALL.

Notes for JOHN RANDALL:

A John Randall is shown in the 1782 Personal Property Tax List of Henry County, Virginia. The entry is, as follows:

Randall, John - Tithes 1, Negroes -, Horses 3, Cattle 12.

xiii. SUSANNAH MOURNING STOCKTON, b. Abt. 1755, Virginia; m. ALEXANDER WILKEY.