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Robert Stafford Born between 1780-1784 probably in North Carolina;1 died summer of 18332 probably on 29 August 1833.3 He was the son of William and Fanny Stafford2 [maiden name not known at this time]. Robert was born shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War. Documentation has not been found to be certain where in North Carolina Robert was born, however, a biographical sketch indicates that Robert's father William and his siblings, Jonas, James and John, left Guilford County, North Carolina in about 1804 and migrated into Ohio and settled near Buckskin Creek in what is now Ross County.4 It is certain that conditions there were still very primitive since Ohio had just become a state in 18035 and the region was generally an unsettled territory. There were no roads in the area; there were no conveniences; and settlers had to cut their way through the heavy timber just to find and get to the property they had bought from the Federal government. There was still an abundance of wild life including: bears, wolves, foxes, deer, elk, buffalo and much more. Within 9 years, James, Robert and Jonah Stafford moved their families again into the adjacent Highland County settling between Fall and Hardin Creeks on land owned by Benjamin F. Barrett, John Morrow and Jacob Tompkins. 4
Robert Stafford married Sarah Bullock in North Carolina in about July 1802.6 The only evidence found to date documenting Robert's marriage to Sarah is the marriage bond of 500 pounds that he and his brother, James, filed in Guilford County.7 In 1810 Robert and his family are enumerated in Guilford County, North Carolina. It is possible that his primary residence was still North Carolina and that he had left his family behind to make a home for them in primitive Ohio.7 The 1820 census provides evidence that Robert had moved west again, this time settling in Morgan County, Indiana.8 Again he moved to an unsettled area and into a region that had just become a state again. Indiana was the 19th State admitted to the union on 11 December 1816.9
There are 3 land patents that issued to Robert Stafford in what later became Morgan County on 13 November 1822.10,11,12 Robert was not satisfied that this was the best place to make his home. Within two years, he and his wife, Isabella Stafford, signed the warranty deed transferring ownership of these parcels of land to Thomas Watson, from Jefferson County, Tennessee on 16 June 1823.13 This time the Staffords did not travel far to make their new home and it was the last time he moved any great distance. In April 1825, Robert purchased an 80-acre tract of land in Johnson County, Indiana.14
Robert Stafford died in the summer of 18332 probably on 29 August 1833.3 He left no will to help with the settlement of his estate, yet he left four minor children and his adult sons, who were all living in Indiana in Morgan and Johnson Counties.2 The probate records list the following adult heirs for Robert Stafford:
Sterling Stafford - Morgan County, Indiana
Allen Stafford - Johnson County, Indiana
Benjamin Stafford - Morgan County, Indiana
Andrew Stafford - no place of residence listed on this page
The probate file states these heirs are all adults suggesting that they were all born prior to 1812, which would make them all over 21 years of age when he died in 1833. It continues on to list his minor heirs and their residence:
Grant Stafford - Johnson County, Indiana
Robert Stafford - Johnson County, Indiana
Lydia Stafford - Johnson County, Indiana
James Stafford - Morgan County, Indiana
Although it is not certain that the children are listed in chronological order, they are listed by their status as adults or minors. Using dates in the the probate file, it is possible to narrow the year of birth of his children. The minor heirs would all have to have been born after 1812 in order to be less than 21 years of age when Robert died with the exception of his only daughter Lydia, whose age of majority may have been 18 years rather than 21. Further research for Lydia documents her year of birth as 1832.20
One additional person expected to be an heir to Robert Stafford's estate is his wife, Isabella Stafford. Although no marriage record has been found to date for Robert Stafford and Isabella, the Stafford - Watson warranty deed documents that Isabella Stafford was the wife of Robert Stafford.12 Census records indicate that there was only one Robert Stafford living in Morgan and Johnson Counties at the time this deed was executed.
It is interesting to note that Isabella Stafford was not listed as an heir to Robert Stafford's estate. Johnson County Civil Court records document troubles between Robert and Isabel Stafford16 as well as another incident between John Gaunce and Robert Stafford.17 It is possible that these troubles led to a divorce, however records documenting a divorce for Robert Stafford have not been found in Johnson or Morgan Counties. It is possible that they divorced elsewhere. A little more than a year after Robert Stafford's death, Isabel [sic] Stafford married Albert Walle in Johnson County, Indiana.18
Four of Robert Stafford's children worked together to try to save as much of his land possible during the final settlement of his estate. Apparently, there was not enough personal property to settle debts incurred prior to Robert's death so when the land was sold, Sterling, Andrew, Benjamin and William purchased the land.2
Comments and hypotheses:
Evidence I uncovered while researching Robert Stafford's life caused me to draw different conclusions than those published by other genealogists. The bullet points below list my hypotheses. The evidence for my conclusions is shown in the table below listing the evidence I have collected for Robert Stafford with links to the documents.
Robert Stafford married 2 times (1st) to Sarah Bullock in 1802; (2nd) to Isabella [surname unknown]13 - she may have been the daughter of Hezekiah Davisson, but this has not been proven.
Robert and Sarah Stafford migrated from Guilford County, NC to Ross County, OH in about 1804.4
Robert and Sarah migrated from Ross to Highland County, OH in about 1813.4
Sarah died in Ohio about 1814-1816; based on information about the status of Robert Stafford's children listed in his probate file.2
Robert left Ohio with his children by 1820.7
Robert married a woman with the given name Isabella. The evidence for this conclusion is provided in the warranty deed for the sale of the Morgan County land.13
Robert Stafford's children did not all have the same mother.2 Note the gap in the ages of his children as were stated in his probate file. It lists the children that are minors and those that are adults also specifying their places of residence. The combined evidence presented in the documents below that support these conclusions. The biographical sketch for his son, Benjamin, lists Sarah Bullock as Benjamin's mother.22
Documentation for events in Robert Stafford's life:
Robert and Sarah Stafford nee Bullock
Census 1790 <../images/Cen_1790NCGuilfordSTAFFORDWilliam.jpg>- not listed by name; father's household consistent with his Will24 1800 - did not find in Guilford; no census available in Ohio 1810 <../images/Cen_1810NCGuilfordSTAFFORD-Robt.jpg> - Guilford County, North Carolina6 1820 <../images/Cen_1820INDelawareCoSTAFFORDRobert.jpg> - Delaware County, Indiana7 1830 <../images/Cen_1830INJohnsonSTAFFORDRobert.jpg> - Blue River Township, Johnson County, Indiana22
Marriage Record Marriage bond for marriage of Robert Stafford to Sarah Bullock <../images/MarLic_Stafford_Bullock.jpg> filed in Guilford County, North Carolina by Robert Stafford and James Stafford on 14 July 1802.5 No marriage record has been located to date for a Robert Stafford and Isabella, however, legal documents list her as his wife.
Land Patents Certificate No. 1312 <../images/LandPat_STAFFORD_Robt_1_IN0370__1312.jpg> - US to Robert Stafford of Delaware County, Indiana - W1/2 of the SE 1/4 Section 15 in Township 13 of Range 2 in the district of Brookville, Indiana, containing 80 acres, (13 Nov 1822).9 Certificate No. 1324 <../images/LandPat_STAFFORD_Robt_2_IN0370__1324.gif> - US to Robert Stafford of Delaware County, Indiana - E1/2 of the NE 1/4 West of the White River of Section 22 in Township 13, Range 2 in the district of Brookville, Indiana, containing 80 acres, (13 Nov 1822).10 Certificate No. 1325 <../images/LandPat_STAFFORD_Robt_3_IN0370__1325.gif> - US to Robert Stafford of Delaware County, Indiana - W1/2 of the NE 1/4 West of the White River of Section 22 in Township 13, Range 2 in the district of Brookville, Indiana, containing 55 acres, (13 Nov 1822).11 Certificate No. 5874 <../images/LandPat_STAFFORD_Robert_Johnson%20County%205874.jpg> - US to Robert Stafford of Johnson County, Indiana - W1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 3 in Township 11, Range 5 East in the district of Brookville, Indiana, containing 80 acres, (20 April 1825).13
Deed Records Stafford-Watson warranty deed (18 Aug 1825) - Book A:109 [Page 109 top <../images/Deed_STAFFORDRobert_BkA_109_a.jpg> / Page 109 bottom <../images/Deed_STAFFORDRobert_BkA_109_b.jpg>; Page 110 top <../images/Deed_STAFFORDRobert_BkA_110a.jpg>].12
Court Records State of Indiana vs Robert Stafford <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBk2_4.jpg>, Order Book Civil Circuit Court Book 2:4 - Indictment for Assault & Battery; appointment of Jury.16 State of Indiana vs Robert Stafford (22 September 1830), Civil Circuit Court Book B:61-62 - Indictment for Assault & Battery case summary. [Page 61 top <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBkB_61a.jpg> / Page 61 bottom <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBkB_61b.jpg> / Page 62 top <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBkB_62a.jpg>].17 John Gaunce vs Robert Stafford, Civil Circuit Court Book B:9-10 [Page 9 top <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBkB_9a.jpg> / Page 9 bottom <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBkB_9b.jpg> / Page 10 top <../images/CivCourt_STAFFORDRobert_CivilCtBkB_10.jpg>].18
Death Date of death 29 August 1833, Johnson County, Indiana.15
Burial Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana <../images/Cem_INJohnsonFreeman_STAFFORDRobert.jpg> <../images/Cem_INJohnsonFreeman_STAFFORDRobert.jpg>Robert Stafford <../images/Cem_INJohnsonFreeman_STAFFORDRobert.jpg>
Probate File Johnson County Probate Record Book AA:15 <../images/Prob_STAFFORDRobert_BkAA_pg15.jpg> - establishes Robert Stafford's death date prior to 16 September 1833; names heirs, their status (adult or minor) and their places of residence. Johnson County Probate Record Book AA:16 <../images/Prob_STAFFORDRobert_BkAA_pg16.jpg> Johnson County Probate Record Book AA:17 <../images/Prob_STAFFORDRobert_BkAA_pg17.jpg>
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1780 - 1833 (53 years)
[1] 