| Notes |
- Appears that John was born while his parents were en route to VA from Ireland. They entered via Philadelphia. Died on 22 May 1865 in White House, Johnson Co., KY [S6,S4]. He had more than 3 children, but I am not sure by which wife. Born in PA, in 1779, his parents brought him to Giles Co., VA, in abt. 1785. He moved from Giles Co. VA to Floyd Co., KY, sometime between 1811 and 1820, and between 1820 and 1830 to Lawrence Co.,
KY and to Johnson Co., KY between 1840 & 1850, based on census reports (Roberts, p. 251). John Stafford and his 2d wife, Mary, & their 4 small children, moved in 1808 from Giles Co., VA, to the Big Sandy River Valley in Kentucky, settling on White House Branch of the Levisa River, abt. 20 mi. above the forks of the Big Sandy. There John acquired much land and became very wealthy. Roberts gives a list of the tracts he acquired (Roberts, p. 251). He was quoted as writing in a family record book in 1810: "John is my name, America is my nation, Walkers Creek, my to dwelling place but Christ is my salvation." He settled in the Big Sandy Valley of Ky. at White House, and became wealthy, with many descendants in
region. He was "a distinguished old time Methodist" and most of his ancestors were Methodists or Christians. The Stafford mansion was a "great stand for the early itinerant preachers, who preached in the house." Census of 1860 for Johnson Co., KY shows John Stafford, 81, Mary, 71, and the following grandchildren: Sarah Stafford 21; Lydia Stafford 16; John Stafford 20; Thomas Stafford 16; Jefferson Stafford 16; and John Burgess 24. ANNALS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINA, by Summers, show that on 2 Dec. 1794, John Stafford was appointed constable, and that on 21 Apr 1798 he sold to James Stafford 120 acres on W. end of Buckeye Mtn., on Whitleys Branch bordering on Walker's Creek. W.W.Stafford points out that he was Methodist Minister. Also says that source for birth of his children is Vital
Statistics of Johnson Co., KY.
He was a well-known old time Methodist who allowed early itinerant preachers to preach in his home.
He also married Mary (Polly) DAVIS on 9 Apr 1809 in Giles Co., VA [S6,S18,S4]. After first child, they moved to White House, KY. Mary (Polly) DAVIS [S6,S4] was born on 8 Dec 1789 in Montgomery Co., VA [S6,S4]. 1810 census for Giles Co. VA shows her age as under age 26. (Record dated Feb. 1811) (Roberts, p. 251). Died on 25 Aug 1877 in White House, KY [S6]. The Stafford family chart which I have in my possession shows only 2 wives, the second being Mary Mollett. Roberts, p. 252, on the other hand, shows also only two wives, with Mary Davis being the second. It also, unlike the Stafford chart I have, shows which children belonged to Nancy Munsey (1st wife), with the remainder belonging to Mary
Davis. I will need to get some verification on this point, although it is clear that my own ancestor is his 1st wife, Nancy Munsey. It appears that the chart may be wrong about Mollet (should be Davis). Stafford and Davis, according to Roberts and W.W.Stafford, moved to Whitehouse, KY, where they had several more children and prospered.
Census:
- Listed as John Stafford, a farmer, with wife Mary and children David, Lydia, Calistia & Amanda and a Julia Stafford age 10 b. KY.
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1779 - 1865 (86 years)
