| Notes |
- James was 15 years old when his father died.
In 1763, James' uncle, Patrick Stewart, dictated a detailed family tree, which was subsequently added to by by Dr. James Caraway in 1789, in which James is described as: "James married Catherine Knowlan, of Wilmington, N. C., by whom he had William and Knowlan, living near Woodville, but not known to whom they married."
James and his brothers Charles and Duncan went to Montgomery County, Tennessee in 1797. They located in Clarksville and had extensive land holdings on the West Fork of the Red River. Duncan and Charles later moved to Wilkinson County, Mississippi, while James remained in Montgomery County.
In 1810, James was residing in Wilkinson, Mississippi, USA.
On 23 Feb 1814, James Stewart, Esq., was listed as an agent for Natchez Gazette newspaper, in which he is identified as residing in Woodville, Wilkinson, Mississippi, USA, at the time.
James' first wife, Catherine Knowlan, died at an unknown time. James married secondly to Jane Dickson (nee Moulton), widow of Joseph Dickson.
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The following article pertains to brothers Duncan, Charles and James Stewart. It incorrectly names Duncan and James as twin brothers when, in fact, Duncan and Charles were twins.
From the Archives: Founder of Our County
Bryan Saunders for the Stewart Co. Archives, October 27, 2016
Duncan Stewart, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, traveled across the Smokey Mountains into middle Tennessee in 1794 - two years before TN actually became a state. Many former Revolutionary soldiers were paid for their service to the country by being awarded 640 acres of land by state governments. North Carolina, at the time owned all land to the Mississippi River, including our county. They paid many of their soldiers' with tracts of land in the new frontier for their service. Stewart and brother Charles, eager to come West, bought land from soldiers who wished to remain in the Tar-Heel state. At one time, Duncan owned over 30,000 acres in middle TN. He lived in Montgomery and Stewart Counties while he surveyed and helped settle the frontier. Duncan built a fort, called Stewart Station, close to Wells Creek in the southern part of Stewart Co., in what is now Houston Co. The following is a letter from his brother Charles Stewart about life on the frontier:
"Duncan and myself left that country (North Carolina) and located ourselves in then a territory, now the state of Tennessee. There, we soon got an appointment as surveyors...We have encountered all the hardships that could be conceived from the Indians who were at open war with us...In 1796, we got a peace with the Indians...In 1797, we returned to North Carolina and took wives...we then moved back to Tennessee, a distance of 700 miles away...We subsidized our families out of the woods with our guns and feasted our delicately raised wives with the flesh of bear, buffalo, deer and wild turkey...They never complained."
While some people might be discouraged to stay on the edge of the wilderness, Duncan continued to buy and sell land throughout middle Tennessee. Some of the land sales have been found in the Stewart County Archives. Through the use of the Archives, Stewart County Library and the Stewart County Historical Society and their museum, many Stewart County residents are researching their past. At the recent Literacy Night at Stewart County High School, many Stewart County students learned how Stewart County got its name. In 1801, Duncan was a state senator, serving Robertson and Montgomery counties. In 1803, with a lot of people moving into the western part of Montgomery County, the state decided these residents had too far to travel to conduct business in Clarksville. They decided to split off the western part of Montgomery County and form a new county - and they named it Stewart County, after Duncan. So our county was formed on November 3, 1803. The town seat was named Monroe after (future president) James Monroe. But two years later, the citizens voted to rename the town Dover, because the high bluffs reminded many of the townspeople of similar bluffs in Dover, England. As more and more people moved into Middle TN., Duncan began to feel over crowded...he was hearing of a new frontier open for settlement in southern Mississippi. In 1811, he moved to Woodville, Mississippi, and started cotton farming. Most of his family (wife, kids, siblings) all moved south, except his twin brother James. As James' health started to fail, he decided to move from Clarksville to Mississippi in 1818. Duncan and James had always promised to be buried in the same cemetery. So James, knowing the time was near, had quite the elaborative sendoff in front of his Clarksville friends. He invited them all to the pier for his goodbye, complete with music and food. He placed his belongings on a boat, and to the surprise of many, workers loaded a substantial coffin on the boat also. A local preacher, possibly the Elder Reuben Ross, then preached brother James' funeral - while James sat on his coffin listening. It took years before the citizens of Clarksville ceased talking about this strange transaction...When James arrived in southern Mississippi, he found Duncan to be a rich man, living on a large plantation and also Lieutenant-Governor in the state. James didn't live long after he made the trip and was buried in a spot he picked out on a hill a mile from Duncan's house. Duncan was very successful and well liked in all three states...a Revolutionary War veteran in North Carolina, a frontiersman and trailblazer in middle Tennessee and a business man and politician in Mississippi. Duncan had six kids with his wife Penelope and his plantation home in southern Mississippi, (Holly Grove) is still standing today and is on the National Register of Historical Places. One side note, many people remember the movie Braveheart, with William Wallace (Mel Gibson). At the end of the movie, the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, led the Scottish troops against the King of England. The Scots were victorious and Robert the Bruce became king of Scotland. Robert the Bruce was Duncan Stewart's ancestor. (Say the word great 14 times, then grandfather and you get the idea.) In closing, Duncan Stewart passed away on November 27, 1820, at his plantation home. He chose to honor his 50 year-old agreement to be buried next to his twin brother James. The two are buried at the Stewart Two cemetery with four other people out in the woods in southern Mississippi.
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Stewart Clan Magazine, in a 1936 article, says:
"James Stewart was a son of William by his first marriage. He went with his brother Duncan to Clarksville, Tenn., about 1797. He was perhaps the James Stewart* who married his cousin Elizabeth (sic), daughter of Patrick Stewart of Brown's Marsh." (Edson, George, Stewart Clan Magazine, Tome C, August 1936, vol. xiv, no. 2, p.189.)
In a later 1957 article, Stewart Clan Magazine says:
"James Stewart, born about 1755, married (1) about 1792 Catherine Nolan (or Knowlan), according to accounts.
He was given a share of his father's lands in William's will in 1778 while perhaps a minor.
He lived for awhile in Sampson county, for in a deed dated Apr. 28, 1798, by Charles Stewart, attorney for Duncan Stewart of Montgomery County, Tennessee, to George Devan, it described the land being conveyed as a 200-acre farm in Sampson County "whereon James Stewart formerly lived" on Jumping Run, which had been patented Dec. 22, 1770, by William Stewart when it was in New Hanover County.
James went to Montgomery County, Tennessee, about 1800 with his brother Duncan and "a large number of immigrants from North Carolina." He bought Oct. 20, 1800, of Charles Stewart, for $500, 800 acres of land (on the West fork of Red River), part of a 1000-acre grant made Dec. 15, 1783, to David Jones for his services as a corporal in the Continental line of North Carolina, and sold Jan. 20, 1797, by William Jones of Glasgow [now Greene] County, North Carolina, brother of David, to Charles Stewart of Bladen County "for a valuable consideration."*
* This meant some kind of a trade. David Jones was probably related to Tingnall Jones of Wake County, N.C., father-in-law of Duncan and Charles Stewart. David Jones of New Hanover County, N.C., gave power-of-attorney Feb. 23, 1809, to Duncan Stewart, esq., to sell some land near Spring Creek in Montgomery County. A David Jones was an early settler of Calloway County, Ky., =E:152.
James bought Mar. 14, 1809, of Charles Stewart of Montgomery County, for $100, 136 acres of land along the West fork of Red River, adjoining the land of Charles G. Stewart. Charles G. Stewart was a second cousin (sic, first cousin once removed) of James and Charles, as shown here:
Alexander Stewart, laird of Lecreich
| m. Catherine Stewart
______________________|________________
| |
Patrick William
________ |_____ _______________|__________
| | | | | | |
Charles James Elizabeth Patrick Duncan James Charles
| m. James Stewart
_______________|__________________
| | | | |
Catherine James Elizabeth Margaret Charles G.
Catherine, wife of James, died, and he married (2) Jane ______. He died in 1818 while on a visit to Mississippi and was buried near his sister Elizabeth on the Ventress Plantation in Wilkinson County. Later most of his children located there.
(Edson, George, Stewart Clan Magazine, Tome G, March 1957, vol. 34, no. 9, pp.189-192)
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The Last Will and Testament of James Stewart, transcribed by Russell B. James, Houston Co. TN. Will posted on the Montgomery Co, TN web site.
Will of James STEWART, deceased
In the name of God, Amen.
I, James STEWART of Montgomery Co. and state of Tennessee, considering the uncertainty of the mortal life and being
of sound mind and memory, blessed to Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament,
in manner and form following:
First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Jane, one negro man named Harry, and one negro woman named Betty, to her and her heirs forever. Also the tract of land whereon I now live, being on the East side of the West fork of Red River in the county and state aforesaid, for and during her natural life, but the poplar timber not to be used otherwise than for the necessary use of the farm. Also three cows and calves, four sows and pigs, all of my flock of sheep, two of my best steers, four head of young cattle, two thousand pounds of pork of the prime of the fattest hogs next winter, all my household and kitchen furniture (except three feather beds and furniture which will be hereafter devised), one horse called Peter, one plough and harness, together with one hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jennet Dixon, twenty dollars exclusive of the property I have heretofore given her.
I also give unto the children of my daughter, Mary HAMPTON, deceased, two hundred dollars.
I also give and bequeath unto my son William STEWART, fifty dollars.
I also give and bequeath unto my son Nolan STEWART, fifty dollars, together with two negro girls, one named Mariah and one named Almira, to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rolina E. STEWART, fifty dollars.
I also give and bequeath unto my son, James STEWART, one negro woman named Phebe.
I also give and bequeath unto my grandson, James DIXON, one negro boy named Colbert.
It is also my will and desire that my negroes Charles and Ned and Deborah, Ned’s wife, shall be hired out for the purpose of educating and supporting my son James STEWART, and daughter Rolina E. STEWART, and when my son, James STEWART, shall arrive to the age of seventeen years, the aforesaid negroes, Charles, Ned and Deborah, to be equally divided among my aforesaid sons, William, Nolan, and James.
It is also my will that the monies arising from the sale of my half of the tract of land whereon William WHITE now lives (which I wish to be sold, but the whole of said tract will be sold to GEARTHER) and after paying said WHITE, five hundred dollars, then said WHITE to draw one half of the proceeds, the residue to be equally divided among my three sons, William, Nolan and James and my daughter, Rolina.
It is also my will that part of the tract of land whereon I now live, lying on the West side of the Fork of Red River, shall, after my wife’s decease, be equally divided between my aforesaid sons, Nolan and James STEWART.
It is also my will that the whole of my perishable property and farming utensils, which shall be remaining on hand, after
my wife draws her part, be sold on a credit of nine months (except my daughter Rolina’s sorrel horse), and the proceeds
of which sale to be paid to my son, James, and daughter, Rolina, share and share alike.
It is also my desire that my negro man, Frank, be sold by my nephew William S. WHITE to the best advantage, and the
money arising from the sale, be appropriated for the purpose of paying my just debts and legacies abovementioned.
I also give and bequeath the three feather beds (before excepted), one feather bed and furniture to my son, William; one
featherbed to my son Nolan, and one feather bed and furniture to my daughter, Rolina.
It is also my desire that my son, Nolan, will to be particular care of my old faithful slave, Harry, as long as he may live.
It is also my desire that my corn be sold (retaining a sufficiency for the purport of the family), as also my superfluous bacon.
I constitute and appoint Henry SMALL, Bryan WHITFIELD, Esq., William S. WHITE, Charles BAILEY, and John HAMPTON, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills made by me.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Signed: James STEWART
Witnesses: William TRIGG, Jr., Reuben CHISENHALL, John RIGGINS, Matt BOYERS.
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The transcriber, Russ James, offers the following comment:
"I am quite certain that his daughter Jennett DIXON is the wife of Alexander DICKSON who lived on Yellow Creek and the slave named Colbert given to the grandson, James DIXON, is confirmed in a 1833 deed record involving Alexander DICKSON in Dickson County in which Alexander mentions the slave of the same named owned by his son.
I am not as certain, but suspect that the wife, Jane STEWART, is the widow of Joseph DICKSON who died in Dickson
Co. ca. 1803/1804. Her maiden name was MOULTON. We know she remarried after her husband’s death to a STEWART but have been unable to find her until I read this will yesterday. I can not prove it but believe it highly likely that Jane was the second wife of James STEWART. I suspect all the children named in the will are children of his first wife.
Joseph DICKSON’s 1803 will is the first one recorded in Dickson County and the witnesses were: Duncan STEWART, John STEWART, James STEWART and Joseph STEWART.
Then in 1811 James STEWART of Montgomery County bought a slave and one of the subscribing witnesses was Jane DICKSON.
Alexander DICKSON of Yellow Creek was a nephew of Joseph and Jane DICKSON."
-- Russ James of Houston Co. TN.
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1763 - 1818 (55 years)
