| Notes |
- More proof is needed to confirm that John is the son of James & Mary Stafford.
Believed to be the patriarch of the "South Fork & Kernersville Stafford. Also believed to be the father of Robertson Stafford Sr.
Early Guilford Co., NC Land Grants
Guilford County, NC, Entry 2248, Aug 19, 1783, William Stafford enters 1 50 ac. in Guilford County on Ryans Creek; border Thomas Major's survey, Pa trick Mullen, James Frazer & Moses Craner.
These are for ties to the above William Stafford's land grant:
Guilford County, North Carolina land grants, File 1522, Majors, Thomas, gr ant 1480, entry 530, entry date 11 November 1778, issue date 16 May 178 7, book 65, page 151, by Ralph Gorrell to Thomas Majer for 400 acres on t he waters of South Buffaloe Creek, begins at John Ryan's corner hickory, r uns East with Ryan's claim to his East corner, South to Frazer's claim, th en West to compliment, including his improvement; 400 acres surveyed Ju ly 27, 1779 by Risdon Moore for Charles Bruce SGC; (no chain carriers ment ioned).
Guilford County, NC, Land Entrys: Entry 1951, Dec 27, 1779, Moses Craner e nters 150 ac in Guilford Co on waters of S. Buffallow Creek; border his o wn land, Samuel Sulivant, Thomas Mager, James Frazer & Patrick Mullen.
SOURCE: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncguilfo/GuilfordLandEntries&Grants.html
Guilford County, North Carolina, Deeds of 1786-1799, Volume 4, pages 362-6 3; entry dated 10 October 1787, Thomas Majers of Montgomery Co., Virgini a, to John Hignut, of Guilford County, North Carolina. Land on South Buffa lo, adj Edward Ryan, containing 400 acres, being the tract that Majers obt ained from the State of North Carolina. Signed: Thomas Majers, Ann Majer s. Wit: Robert Majers, William Sillaven, recorded Nov. 1787. (Note: Robe rt Majers is son of Thomas and Ann Majers/Majors)
SOURCE: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncguilfo/GuilfordDeeds1781-1790.html
ORDER THE FOLLOWING ESTATE RECORDS FROM N. C. STATE ARCHIVES:
Guilford Co. NC Estates
Box # C.R.046.522.131
A.J. STAFFORD 1867
David L. STAFFORD 1902
Frederick STAFFORD 1859
James STAFFORD 1819
John STAFFORD 1854
John B. STAFFORD 1853
Sarah STAFFORD 1829
Research the following interment: Could this be another child/nephew of J ohn Stafford? Could Stockton Stafford be a female and another wife of Dou ghty Stafford...?
This entry is incorrect. There is NO Stockton Stafford.
Interment Record for STOCKTON Stafford
Name: STOCKTON Stafford
Born: 5 Oct 1776
Died or Buried: 29 Dec 1855
Buried: Muddy Creek
County/State: Forsyth, NC
Notes: Doughty
SOURCE: http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/cgi-bin/cemetery.cgi?id=3853 09&database=Cemetery%20Records&return_to=http://userdb.rootsweb.com/ce mete ries/&submitter_id=
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For research purposes only...England ties:
Middlesex: - Rolls, Books and Certificates, Indictments, Recognizances, Co roners' Inquisitions-Post-Mortem, Orders, Memoranda and Certificates, 1667 -1688, vol. 4
Errata.
Middlesex Sessions' Files, Rolls, Bundles & Books:--
Further Particulars Taken from Gaol Delivery Books Temp. Charles 2nd.
County: Middlesex
Country: England
07 Nov , 4 James 2nd.--Recognizances, taken on the said day before ...of J ohn Stafford of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields gentleman, in the sum of five h undred pounds, and of Thomas Hoskins of St. Andrew's Holborne gentleman a nd George Stafford of St. Buttolph's Aldersgate gentleman, in the sum of t wo hundred and fifty pounds each; For the said John Stafford's appearan ce at next Gaol Delivery of Newgate "after his Majesties pardon for convic ts shall be sealed, then and there to plead his benefit of the said pardon ."--Also, on the same file, the certificate of Sir Humfrey Edwin knt. a nd John Fleet knt., sheriffs of Middlesex, certifying that the said John S tafford appeared before the court at the appointed Gaol Delivery and, by t he name of John Stafford and also of William Stafford, pleaded the King 's conditional pardon of the murder of which he was attainted, the main co ndition of the pardon being "quod idem Johannes transportaret se ips um in aliquam partem Americe, inhabitatam per subditos domini Regis, ac ib idem moratur per spacium septem annorum &c."="that the same John should tr ansport himself to any part of America, inhabited by the subjects of the L ord the King, and there remain throughout the space of seven years ." G. D. R., 06 Dec , 4 James 2nd.
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....May have been the JOHN STAFFORD who purchased land in Randolph Coun ty in Dec. 1788. May have been the JOHN STAFFORD who was listed as H /H in the 1800 Guilford Census. The JOHN STAFFORD who I'm searching h ad a number of sons, e.g. ROBERTSON (b 1777),JAMES(b Mar 2, 1786), SAMU EL (b ?) and GABRIEL) and daughters (all unknown).
SOURCE: Tom Stafford (Thomas L. Stafford
Research the following for early settlement in NC of the Staffords:
SOURCE: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mwellis/book/chapter2.html
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THE OLD PLANK ROAD
Near the middle of the last century [c 1850], various companies in North C arolina began to construct plank roads in an effort to improve transportat ion. One such road, the Graham and Gulf Plank Road, was laid out from Sn ow Camp in Alamance County to the village of Gulf in Chatham County, whe re it intersected another plank road which ran from Salem to Fayettevill e. The original plan to extend the plank road from Snow Gamp to Graham w as apparently never carried out.
Construction of the Gulf and Graham Road began at Snow Camp in 1853, a lo ng and laborious job which took several years to complete. The road bed w as first graded by a method similar to that employed in constructing the m odern highway. Light timbers were then placed lengthwise of the road b ed on each side of the grading, over which planks from the nearest sawmi ll were laid crosswise, two inches in thickness and of varying width. So me of the roads of this period were called "washboard roads" because the r ounded and bark-covered side of poles formed a jolting surface
John Stafford was president and H. W. Dixon, vice-president of the Gulf a nd Graham Plank Road Company. Both of these men lived at Snow Camp. Many l ocal citizens owned stock in the road. The old plank road met a very re al need of this time by affording a good, solid surface over which heavy l oads of flour, pork, tobacco and other products could be hauled to marke t. Nevertheless, with the collapse of the South's economy during the War B etween the States, the Plank Road could not pay expenses, and it was nev er repaired.
Numerous farms, like E. M. Holt's, relied heavily on wheat flour for ca sh income, so grist mills sprang up, as a matter of course. These mills wh ich turned the grain harvest into barrels of flour were built on convenie nt streams and operated by water power. Each mill served several farms.
The oldest grist mill still in operation in Alamance County is Dixon 's at Snow Camp, built in 1753 and used as the headquarters of General Cor nwallis during the Revolutionary War. Although the original beams and sto ne work of this mill still remain, the old wooden overshot wheel and wood en shaft have been replaced by three turbines which develop about forty-fi ve horsepower.
Fire in 1947 destroyed the 150-year-old [1797] Stafford Mill at Kimesvill e, but it was reconstructed with the lumber from the first Alamance Cott on Mill which was more recently dismantled on Alamance Creek. A steel over shot wheel is used by the Stafford Mill to generate about twelve horsepow er for the grinding of grain for local farmers.
SOURCE: ANTE-BELLUM ALAMANCE <http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mwellis/book/ chapter7.html>
RE: The above Stafford Mill:
THE NORTH CAROLINA GAZETTEER, by William S. Powell:
Stafford Mill: community in NW Guilford County near Oak Ridge. Called Sau nders Mill during the American Revolution. Cornwallis' troops ground co rn here.
NOTE: Check out a Thomas Saunders living about this time and an Alexand er Stafford.
______________________
JOHN and his brother SAMUEL are believed to have been born in Sussex Count y, Delaware or in Maryland. The evidence suggests they may have migrated ( circa 1780-1800) to Guilford and/or Randolph County, NC before settli ng in that part of Stokes County (Salem District, redesignated the South F orks District in 1820) which later became South Forks Township, Forsyth Co unty, NC on January 16, 1849. Could JOHN be the "JOHN STAFFORD" who purcha sed land in Randolph County, NC in Dec., 1788 and was listed as "head of h ousehold" in the 1800 census for Guilford County ?
The evidence also suggests that JOHN was married at least three tim es He is known to be the father of JAMES (1786-1849) and probably the fat her of at least seven other children, including ROBERTSON A. (1777-1854) a nd GABRIEL (abt 1791-after 1820).
JOHN, along with SARAH, LYDIA and other family members, was buried in t he STAFFORD Family Cemetery situated on the first-known STAFFORD" home pla ce" established by JOHN. It was located in Stokes (later Forsyth) Count y, NC. The cemetery is described in Vol. V, ForsythCounty, NC Cemetery Rec ords compiled by D.W. Stanley et al. The "homeplace" was located in the s outhwest quadrant of present day Forsyth County. It lay along South Fo rk Creek and comprised approximately 1000 acres.
The STAFFORD Family Cemetery was relocated in 1970 to make way for a landf ill on part of the "home place" which had been purchased by the City of Wi nston-Salem. The new cemetery site, on the north side of Winston-Sale m, is located on Winston Lake Road, on the east side of Winston Lake Go lf Course, 0.5 miles east of New Walkertown Road (US311). The remains of a ll persons buried at the original site are presumed to have been reburi ed at the new site.
Both JOHN and SAMUEL are listed in the Stokes County 1810 and 1840 censu s. In 1810 JOHN was listed as living in the "Salem District" and SAMUEL w as listed as living in the "Peters Creek District". A 1998 map of Winston -Salem, NC shows a " Peter's Creek Parkway" and "Stadium Drive". The latt er comes in at the back side of Salem College which is located in the ar ea known today as "Old Salem".
Apparently, the Salem and Peters Creek Districts were located adjace nt to each other.
JOHN also is listed in the 1830 Stokes County census. Neither JOHN nor SAM UEL are listed in the Stokes County 1820 census (they either were not coun ted in Stokes or were living elsewhere). Samuel is known to have purchas ed land in Stokes County in 1803 and 1810. He is listed in the 1815 Stok es County Tax List as owning 180 acres in the Quaker Gap District valu ed at $180.00.
JOHNS' 1810 listing (#135-10-582), in the Salem District, includes:
eight males ( one over 45; four - 26 to 45; one - 16 to 26;one 10 -16; o ne - up to 10 )
two females ( one - 26 to 45; one - 10 to 16)
Note: In addition to JOHN, then 54, two of the males may have been t wo of JOHN'S sons-- JAMES, then 24, and GABRIEL, then believed to be und er 19. The other five males, unknown at this time, may have been JOHN'S so ns or grandchildren from a marriage prior to his marriage to LYDIA. Some m ay have been hired hands.
The two females are believed to have been JOHN'S second (or third ?)wif e, LYDIA, then 45 and JAMES' wife, ELIZABETH MONROE, who was then 21 but w hose age may have been listed erroneously.
JOHN'S 1830 listing (# 272- 15) includes:
two males ( one - 70 to 80; one - 20 to 30)
two females (one - 60 to 70); one - 15 to 20)
JOHN'S 1840 (# 168 - 4 ) listing includes:
one male - 80 to 90 (JOHN died on Aug. 1, 1846)
two females (one - 70 to 80; one - 20 to 30
ROBERTSON is listed in the STOKES County 1820, 1830 and 1840 Census.
ROBERTSON'S 1820 listing (#368 - 41), which names him as ROBINSON, m ay be incorrect since it includes NO adults (males or females). It lists o nly five minor males (two - 10 to 16; three - up to 10).
ROBERTSON'S 1830 listing (#296 - 26) includes:
four males ( one - 50 to 60; two - 15 to 20; one - 10 to 15)
four females (one - 50 -60; one - 20 to 30; one - 10 to 15;one - 5 to 10)
ROBERTSON'S 1840 listing (#162 - 25) includes:
four males ( one - 60 to 70; one - 20 to 30; one - 16 to 20;one - 5 to 10)
three females ( one - 60 to 70; one - 15 to 20; one - 5 to10)
JAMES is listed in the Stokes County 1820, 1830 and 1840 census.
JAMES' 1820 (# 368- 26) listing includes:
six males (three - 26 to 45; three - up to 10)
no females (this may or may not be an error)
JAMES' 1830 (# 291 - 13) listing includes:
five males (one - 40 to 50; one - 15 to 20; one - 10 to 15;two - infa nt to 5)
two females (one - 40 to 50; one - 5 to 10)
Also listed are four slaves: one male; three females
JAMES' 1840 (# 168 - 3) listing includes:
four males ( one - 50 to 60; two - 10 to 15; one - 5 to 10)
four females (one - 80 to 90; one - 50 to 60; one - 15 to20; one - 5 to 10 )
Also listed are seven slaves: four males; threefemales
GABRIAL (GABRIEL) is listed only once in the Stokes County census. His lis ting (# 370 - 9) in the 1820 census includes: one male - 18 to 26 and thr ee females ( one - 16 to 26; one - 10 to 16; one - infant to10)
SOURCE: Ann S. Bernard
Research the following John Stafford's Rev. War Pension Application: (ti es to Joseph Robson of Dorchester Co., MD)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~familyinformation/transcrp/j_ staf ford.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~familyinformation/transcrp/j_ staf ford.html
More research on the following interment:
Interment Record for Elizabeth Stafford
Name: Elizabeth Stafford
Born: 5 Oct 1778
Died or Buried: 27 Mar 1857
Buried: Muddy Creek
County/State: Forsyth, NC
Notes: (H: Doughty) ---does this mean her husband's name was Doughty Staff ord?
SOURCE: http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/cgi-bin/cemetery.cgi?id=3853 03&database=Cemetery%20Records&return_to=http://userdb.rootsweb.com/ce mete ries/&submitter_id=
Who are these Staffords buried in Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 3 00 Knox Road,McLeansville, NC 27301 (Guilford County)
Stafford, Henry B. Jun 6, 1798 Jan. 12, 18??
Stratford, Jane Cooper Aug. 10, 1813 Jan. 6, 1889 75 yrs 4 mos 26 das (wi fe of H. B.)
Stratford, Lee Trollinger Sep. 6, 1888 Jan. 1, 1891 son of W. D. & B. D.
Stratford, Lurrane 1848* May 13, 1859 *11 yr. 1 mo. 14 da., d au of W. D. & B. D.
Stratford, Mary Lois 1882* Jun 4, 1888 *6 yr. 4 mo. 11 da.
Who is this Adam & William Stafford who was born in NC and died in TX?
ADAM STAFFORD
[609]: Route to Texas: from Tennessee Flags: Original 300=Y
BEF 1806 - BEF 1884
BIRTH: BEF 1806, N.C.
DEATH: BEF 1884, Victoria, Tx. [610]: He was age 78.
EVENT: 1 Labor (177.1 Acres)
LAND GRANT: 24 Aug 1824, Waller Co. TX
Father: William Stafford (Is the below William Stafford this Adam's fathe r?
WILLIAM JOSEPH STAFFORD
[611] Farmer and stock raiser; 1826 Census: 40-50 yrs. old; wife, son, dtr ., 2 servants, 8 slaves;Flags: Original 300=Y
BEF 1786 - BEF 25 Sep 1840
BIRTH: BEF 1786
DEATH: BEF 25 Sep 1840
EVENT: Misc event: 1822
EVENT: 1.5 League's and 1 Labor (6819.7 Acres)
LAND GRANT: 16 Aug 1824, Fort Bend and Waller County, Texas
Family 1 :
+Sarah Stafford married Clement C. Dyer 5 Jun 1824
Notes for Clement Dyer:
[324]: pub.ser.: jp Ft Bend Co. 1843; chief justice 1843 - 56;l childre n: 12. More information is on file at the BCHM Library in Angleton, Texa s. Flags: Original 300=Y
[325]: Taken From History Bend County By: Clarence R. Wharton
[326]: hbt.v.1,p.530
BIRTH: 29 Jan 1800, Dyersburg, Tenn.
DEATH: 1864, near Richmond
EVENT: Misc event: 1822
EVENT: 1.5 Labor's (265.65 Acres)
LAND GRANT: 24 Aug 1824, Waller County, TX
EVENT: 1 League (4428.4 Acres)
LAND GRANT: 10 Aug 1824, Colorado Partner James McNair
Family 2 : Martha Stafford
Stafford: Married C. C. Dyer then William Neal
Notes from Tom Stafford 12/6/07
JOHN STAFFORD (born, 1756 - died, Aug. 1, 1846) is believed to have been born within a triangular area encompassing a portion of northern Dorchester County, Maryland (e.g., Williamsburg or Gales Town), a portion of southern Caroline County, Maryland (that was formed in 1773 from Dorchester County, e.g., Federalsburg and Dessard) and a portion of south-western Sussex County, Delaware (e.g., Oak Grove). The boundary line between DE and MD was long disputed. Maryland claimed much of what is now present day Sussex County, DE until the 1760s and completion of the Mason-Dixon Survey.
The evidence strongly suggests that JOHN may have descended from one of two lines which descended from William Stafford (b. abt 1660 -- d. unknown) through his son, John Stafford (b. abt 1683 -- d. before Feb. 20, 1755). One of these two lines included some of the sons and daughters of Henry Stafford (b. about 1725 -- d. June 2, 1776); the other line included at least five sons of James Stafford (b. after 1702 -- d. 1771), i.e., Jarius (Jarvis), John, Trice, James,Jr. and Reveal (Revel). The evidence suggests that James' son, John may be JOHN (1756).
The evidence also suggests that JOHN (1756) may have migrated from Maryland (circa 1775-1800) to Guilford and/or Randolph County, NC before settling in that part of Stokes County (Salem District, redesignated the South Forks District in 1820) which later became the South Forks Township, Forsyth County, NC on January 16, 1849. Note: Guilford County was formed from Orange & Rowan Co., NC, 1771; Surry County was formed from Rowan County, NC, 1771; Stokes County was formed from Surry County, NC, 1787 and Forsyth County was formed from the southern half of Stokes Co., NC in 1849.
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Could JOHN (1756) be the "JOHN STAFFORD" who received an NC State grant (No. 1447) on May 16, 1788, for 100 acres of land adjacent to land owned by Nofes (Moses ?) Mendenhall and Matthew Coffin located on the waters of Deep River in Guilford County, NC (Register of Deeds, Guilford County, NC - Deed Book 5, page 3) ? The grant reads (in the original) as follows:
"A grant from the State of North Carolina to John Stafford No 1447 To all to whome these presents shall come greeting...
Know ye that we for and in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into our treasury by John Stafford have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto the said John Stafford a tract of land containing one hundred acres lying and being in our county of Guilford on the waters of Deep river begining at a persimoon on Nofes Mendenhall's line running thence south sixty seven degrees with his line ninety seven poles to a oak thence north one hundred and ninety six poles to a black oak thence east ninety poles to a oak on Matthew Coffin's line thence with his line to the for-station as by the plat hereunto annexed doth appear together with all woods, waters, mines, mineral herditament and appurtenances to the said and belonging or appurtaining to hold to the said John Stafford, his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us such sums of money yearly or otherwise as our General Assembly from time to time may direct provided always that the said John Stafford shall cause this grant to be registered in the Register's Office of our said county of Guilford within twelve months from the date hereof otherwise the same shall be void and of none effect. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent and our great seal to be hereunto affixed. Witness Richard Caswell Esquire, our Governor Captain General and Commander in Chief at Kinston the sixteenth day of May in the eleventh year of our Independence and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.
By His Excellys Comly F. Glasgow Secretary Rd. Caswell
Recorded in the Secretary's Office I. Martin D. Sec."
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NC land office records (File No. 1489, John Stafford) shows that the 100 acres on Deep River was entered by JOHN STAFFORD April 6, 1779 and the grant was issued May 16, 1787.
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Abstracts of Guilford Co., N.C., Land Warrants 1778 - 1932, by Dr. A.B. Pruitt:
John Stafford 100 ac; warrant # 1569 issued Apr. 6, 1779 by Ralph Gorrell to Reese Porter[? top part of warrant missing; see shuck #2436] for 100 ac on waters of Deep R, between Moses Mendenhall & Matthew Coffen, on Mordicays Cr, runs "round", & includes James Porter's [or Pender] improvement; [on back of warrant] warrant sold Feb. 22, 1785 by Rees Porter to John Stafford for £18 (signed) Rees Porter (no witness); 100 ac saurveyed Jun. 9, 1786 by Robert Brattain; James Gilleland & James Henderson, chain carriers; grant # 1447 issued May 16, 1787.
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Could John also be the "JOHN STAFFORD" who, for 125 pounds, purchased 360 acres of land from John Stanfield in Randolph County, NC on Dec. 17, 1788 ( Deed abstract, Randolph County - Bk 5, p. 16 ? This land was described as being "on waters of Big Creek and Poplar Branch" in Randolph County south of Asheboro.
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JOHN is believed (but has not been proven) to be the JOHN STAFFORD who married SARAH WILLIAMS (discussed above) on December 13, 1783 in Guilford County, NC ( Bondsman: "Given Name Unknown" Stafford; Witness: Will Dent - Record # 03 418; Bond # 000059874); LDS Record: Batch No. 7733415, Sheet 75. Was "GNU Stafford" a brother of JOHN, possibly TRICE, REVEL or JAMES STAFFORD who (with their brother JOHN) were believed to have been in Guilford County circa 1783?
A. "Will Dent", listed as a witness for JOHN's marriage to SARAH WILLIAMS, is believed to have be William Dent, Guilford County surveyor who was a large land owner, tavern keeper and a commissioner of Martinville (later named Greensboro) and location of the Guilford County Courthouse. William Dent bought land from Thomas Low on Reedy Branch in 1773. He had a number of transactions after that, including eleven grants totaling 2759 acres, all confiscated from Henry Eustace McCulloh. His total land acquisitions were 3686 acres, plus a town lot in Martinville. Dent laid out the lots and streets of Martinville, Guilford County circa 1779 - 1780. He is listed in the 1790 census for Guilford County, NC.
Note: In the Marriage Records of Guilford Co., NC there is a Sarah Stafford who married Barnabas Pain 25 Feb. 1786 (BM Smith Moore; Witness: Will Dent ). A "Will Dent" was also the Bondsman for John Stafford who married Sarah Williams in 1783. Who was this "Sarah Stafford" ? Was she the "Sarah" who was a sister of Trice and John Stafford, sons of James Stafford (b. after 1702 -- d. 1771) who are known to have been in Guilford County, NC during this period? If so, could "Sarah's" brother John be "JOHN STAFFORD (1756)"?
B. SARAH WILLIAMS is believed to be the SARAH (maiden name unknown) who was buried with JOHN in the STAFFORD Family Cemetery located on the first-known STAFFORD "home place" (see below) established by JOHN. According to the cemetery records, this SARAH was born about 1746 (place unknown) and died in October 1807 in Stokes County, NC. The evidence suggests she may have been the mother of JAMES (also buried with JOHN). If this is true, she then would have been JOHN's second wife (if ROBERTSON A., born in 1777, also was JOHN's son). JOHN is believed to have married LYDIA (maiden name unknown -- also buried with JOHN) after SARAH's death in 1807. It also has been suggested that SARAH may have been JOHN's sister rather than his wife.
C. It also is possible that if SARAH, as stated above, was JOHN's sister, then LYDIA (born on Sept. 15, 1765) may have been the mother of JAMES (born March 2, 1786). She would have been 20 years, 5 months and 17 days old when JAMES was born.
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Is JOHN (1756) the "JOHN STAFFORD" who is listed as "head of household" in the 1800 census ( 0676.gif) for Guilford County? That household (01110 00001) coincides closely with info collected pertaining to JOHN STAFFORD (1756) who is believed to be the patriarch of the "Kernersville -- South Forks, NC Stafford's". JOHN STAFFORD (1756) is positively known to be the father of JAMES STAFFORD (b, 1786); he also is believed to be the father of ROBERTSON STAFFORD (b, 1777).
1. The 1800 Guilford County JOHN STAFFORD household lists:
one male (26-45): Could this male be John Stafford, above (b,1756) who would have been 44 or 45 yrs old in 1800.
one male (16-26): Could this male be Robertson Stafford, above (b,1777) who would have been 23 in 1800.
one male (10-16): Could this male be James Stafford, above (b,1786) who would have been 14 in 1800.
one female (+55): Could this female be Sarah Williams or "Sarah Stafford", noted above [b, 1746], who would have been 54 or 55 yrs old in 1800. The evidence, also noted above, suggests that a "John Stafford" married a "Sarah Williams", in Guilford County on Dec. 13, 1783. Note: If the above listing is determined to pertain to JOHN STAFFORD (b 1756), Sarah (Williams), his wife, and his two sons, Robertson and James, that would indicate that Robertson was his son from an earlier marriage and that Sarah, possibly his second wife, was the mother of James. It also raises the question, "Did Sarah have children prior to her marriage to John in 1783? If so, why were they not listed in JOHN's household?
a. It also should be noted that another Stafford researcher has offered the opinion that the 1800 Guilford County listing pertains to an entirely different JOHN STAFFORD who [listed as 16-26] was born circa 1779 and was about 21 in 1800. He suggests that that one of the other males (listed as 10-16) was probably this JOHN STAFFORD's younger brother, JAMES, and the oldest male (listed as 26-45) was the different JOHN's father, WILLIAM, who was then about 45 years of age. He also believes the female (listed as +45) probably was the different JOHN's mother. This researcher also suggests that this different JOHN STAFFORD [listed as 16-26] probably had assumed the role of "head of household", perhaps because of his father's health was failing. Dave Teague, another very reliable "Stafford" researcher, disagrees and observes "it's rather fishy to have a 21-year-old man as head of household while both his parents are listed in the same dwelling. Not only that, Grant #1447 (see above) puts a "John Stafford" on Deep River in the 1780s -- in pretty much the same place as Robertson appears 20 years later. To me, that sounds like one John, father of Robertson, who signs over/sells the land to his son when he moves across the county line into Stokes. The persons enumerated in John's household in 1800 fit this model also".
b. Notwithstanding the different opinion expressed above, the evidence strongly suggests that the "John Stafford, b 1756", above, is the same JOHN STAFFORD listed in the 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840 Stokes County enumerations. He appears, first in the Salem District, later renamed the South Forks District, Stokes County. This district, upon transfer to Forsyth County in 1849, became known as South Forks Township. The 1810 Stokes listing may explain why no "John Stafford" was listed in the 1810 Guilford enumerations.
c. Both a JOHN and SAMUEL STAFFORD (wife: Abigail Cosand) are listed in the Stokes County 1810 and 1840 census. I have no evidence concerning their possible relationship and believe . In 1810 JOHN was listed as living in the "Salem District" and SAMUEL was listed as living in the "Peters Creek District" of Stokes County. JOHN also is listed in the 1820 and 1830 Stokes County census. During the Stokes County 1830 census John's neighbors were reported to be Abraham Wood and Daniel Faw (b. 1795 - d. 1842-1850). Daniel Faw was said to have been living in the Muddy Creek area close to the southern ridge or southwestern boundary of the Wachovia tract.
Note: According to a map of census enumeration districts which appears in the front of the printed transcripts of both the 1830 and 1840 censuses of Stokes Co.(published by the Forsyth Co. Genealogical Society), the "Peter's Creek District" was NNW of Danbury, on the Virginia State line, whereas the "Salem District" was in the southern part of Stokes County that later became part of Forsyth County in 1849 -- and, more specifically -- part of Winston-Salem.
d. A number of JOHN's known descendants, i.e., his grandson JOHN MONROE STAFFORD and his family are buried in the Pleasant Fork Church cemetery located on W. Clemmonsville Rd. between Peters Creek Parkway and Old Salisbury Road, Winston-Salem. In 1980, several direct descendants of JOHN MONROE STAFFORD (his grandson, Thomas James Stafford; his grand daughter, Laura Stafford Terrell; two of Thomas James Stafford's children, i.e., Thomas Lee Stafford and June Stafford Zink) visited this cemetery. While there, Thomas James Stafford ordered and paid for the replacement of all STAFFORD Family tombstones in the cemetery which had badly deteriorated over the years.
2. JOHNS' 1810 listing (#135-10-582), in the Salem District, Stokes County, NC includes:
a. eight males (one over 45; four - 26 to 45; one - 16 to 26; one 10 -16; one -- up to 10 )
Note: In addition to JOHN (who would have been 54 years old in 1810), the one male (16 to 26) may have been JOHN'S son, JAMES, who would have been 24 in 1810. It is noted that John's other possible son, Robertson, also is listed as "head of household" in the 1810 Guilford census. The four males (26 to 45), all unknown at this time, may have been JOHN'S children from an earlier marriage (e.g., to SARAH who died in 1807) prior to his marriage to LYDIA. More likely, the other males probably were relatives or hired hands.
b. two females (one - 26 to 45; one - 16 to 20) Note: The two females are believed to have been LYDIA, then 45 years old (who JOHN is believed to have married after SARAH's death in 1807) and JAMES' wife, ELIZABETH (MONROE), who then was approximately 20 years old in 1810.
3. JOHN'S 1820 listing (# 370-35) includes:
a. two males (one -- over 45; one - 18 to 26) Note: JOHN was 64 yrs old in 1820. In light of the fact that Robertson and James also are listed as "heads of household" in the 1820 Stokes County census, it is possible that the other listed male (18 to 26) may have been a hired hand.
b. one female (one -- over 45) Note: LYDIA was 55 yrs old in 1820.
4. JOHN'S 1830 listing (# 272-15) includes:
a. two males (one - 70 to 80; one - 20 to 30) Note: JOHN was 74 yrs old in 1830. The other male is thought by some researchers to have been John's grandson, Zadock, age 23 (son of Robertson) or, possibly, a hired hand.
b. two females (one - 60 to 70; one - 15 to 20) Note: LYDIA was 65 yrs old in 1830. The other female is believed to have been John's granddaughter or a household servant.
5. JOHN'S 1840 listing (# 168 - 4 ) includes:
a. one male - 80 to 90 (JOHN died on Aug. 1, 1846 - he was 84 yrs old during the 1840 census)
b. two females (one - 70 to 80; one - 20 to 30):
The one female, age 70 to 80, apparently was LYDIA who was 75 yrs old in 1840. She died on Sept. 3, 1840 probably just after the 1840 enumeration. The other female, identity unknown, may have been the same female who was living in John's household during the 1830 census.
Note: John's listing indicates he was living in the Southfork District, Stokes County, possibly south of Highrock & Hollow Road. Could this be near present day "Old Hollow Road"? Source: * Repository: National Archives Microfilm, Washington, DC; Title: 1840 United States Federal Census, North Carolina, Stokes Co., Southfork District (Page: p. 168, line 3-4. Note: In left-hand border of Census sheet it reads, (Southfork District, Stokes County, South of Highrock & Hollow Road)
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LOCATION OF FIRST - KNOWN STAFFORD "HOME PLACE" AND FAMILY CEMETERY (not to be confused with the Pleasant Fork Church cemetery mentioned
JOHN STAFFORD (born, 1756 - died, Aug. 1, 1846) , together with nine other members of his family members plus six other individuals (total: sixteen, all listed below) were buried in the STAFFORD Family Cemetery noted above. It appears, based on the 1850 Forsyth County, NC census, that several of the non-Stafford's buried in the cemetery, including their immediate families, e.g., the SWAIMS, lived next to the STAFFORD home place. Other non-Stafford's, e.g., the WHICKER's, WALKER's and HESTER's lived not far away. The "home place", thought to have been comprised of approximately 1000 acres, is believed to have been located along South Fork Creek (near present day Clemmonsville & Old Salisbury Roads, Winston-Salem) in the Southwest quadrant of present day Forsyth County which, earlier, was part of Stokes County, NC. In the Stokes County 1840 census the Southfork District was located South of Highrock & Hollow Road.
The STAFFORD Family Cemetery is described in Vol. V, Forsyth County, NC Cemetery Records (#21, page 1165) compiled by D.W. Stanley et al. The cemetery was relocated in 1970 from its original site to make way for a landfill (located on a part of the "home place") which is now owned by the city of Winston-Salem. The cemetery's present location is on the East side of Winston Lake Road, on the Winston Lake Golf Course, 0.5 mile east of New Walkertown Road (US 311) on the North side of Winston-Salem. The remains of all persons buried at the original site are presumed to have been reburied at the new site.
Note:
a. Stephen Pate (a direct descendant of JOHN STAFFORD, 1756) and Harry Carpenter (a Stafford researcher) visited the Stafford Family Cemetery at the Winston Golf Course site on separate occasions circa 1998/1999. They both observed headstones for each of the individuals listed in the NC Cemetery Records referenced above. They also found a headstone fragment for an individual who was NOT included in record compiled by Stanley et al. That stone appears to read "Abhgy Monroe" (b May 20, 1780-- d Sept 15, 1839). It is believed this individual may have been a relative, possibly a brother (Abner?) or sister, of Elizabeth Monroe (wife of James Stafford). Harry Carpenter also observes that the Stafford Family Cemetery was moved from the proposed site of a landfill to its current location at the golf course. The landfill was controversial. The presence of the cemetery was just one more issue. The main issue is that some of the land had been purchased as a park(?). Seems like several headstones were intact and were probably still intact when Stanley wrote his book. Now just fragments have been placed in a wall at the golf course.
b. Actually, the location of the original cemetery was not part of the landfill proper, but part of the buffer zone. At this same time, the North Carolina law dealing with cemetery preservation was being revised. Harry Carpenter stated that he has seen the current law at the North Carolina State Archives. The question is what was the prior law? The cemetery may have been moved under the current law or the prior law. Depends upon the month. Under the current law, significant documentation of the graves should have been generated. Relative positions would be very useful. Harry states he called the Forsyth County Register of Deeds and got nowhere. The manager at the search room of the State Archives thought that the records may be have been transferred to the State but probably not in that building and may not have been processed.]
The STAFFORD Family members buried in the cemetery (whose names, birth &death dates are listed as stated the above cemetery records) are:
1. ELIZABETH STAFFORD, b. Aug. 26, 1789 - d. Sept. 7, 1849:
She was Elizabeth Monroe, wife of James Stafford, # 3, below.
2. FRANCIS STAFFORD, b. Apr. 2, 1838 - Nov. 28, 1851:
He was the son of Andrew J. Stafford (the son of John Stafford, # 4, below) and Sarah (Trantham) Stafford, # 9, below.
3. JAMES STAFFORD, b. Mar. 2, 1786 - Aug. 3, 1849:
He was the son of John Stafford, # 4, below. He also was the husband of Elizabeth Monroe, # 1, above.
4. JOHN STAFFORD, b. 1756 - d. Aug. 1, 1846:
He is believed to be the patriarch of the "South Fork & Kernersville Stafford's". He was the father of James Stafford, # 3, above. JOHN also is believed to be the father of Robertson Stafford Sr. (1777 - 1854).
5. LYDIA STAFFORD, b. Sept. 15, 1765 - d. Sept. 30, 1840:
She was possibly the third, if not the second, wife of John Stafford, # 4, above.
6. MARY JANE STAFFORD, b. May 7, 1840 - d. 1842:
She was a daughter of Andrew J. Stafford (the son of James Stafford, # 3, above) and Sarah (Trantham) Stafford, # 9, below.
7. SAMUEL H. STAFFORD, b. Dec., 1818 - d. 1823:
He was a son of James Stafford, # 3, above, and Elizabeth (Monroe) Stafford, # 1, above.
8. SARAH STAFFORD, b. 1746 - Oct. 1807:
She was the second, if not first, wife of John Stafford, # 4, above.
9. SARAH L. STAFFORD, b. Dec. 5, 1816 - d. Oct. 7, 1855:
She was Sarah L. Trantham, first wife of Andrew J. Stafford - who was the son of James Stafford, # 3, above.
10. MILFORD (?) STAFFORD, b. Apr. 5, 1823 - Oct. 20, 1825:
He is believed to be Homer Milton Stafford, a son of James Stafford, # 3, above, and Elizabeth (Monroe) Stafford, # 1, above. The badly worn first name on the tombstone appears to be "Milford" but actually may have been the misspelled middle name of Homer Milton Stafford who was born on April 5, 1823. If it is not the tombstone of Homer Milton Stafford, then it may belong to an unknown Stafford family member who was named after the village or town where the ancestors of this Stafford line probably lived, e.g., near Milford, Delaware or possibly Milford, NJ, prior to emigrating to North Carolina. It is noted that another James Stafford, born 1796 in Lee County, Virginia (a son of Zorababel Stafford ) also had the middle name, "Milford".
The NON-STAFFORD's buried in the cemetery (whose names, birth &death dates are listed as stated the cemetery records) are:
11. CRAWFORD WALKER, b Sept. 30, 1816 - d June 19, 1844 (nearly 28 yrs old at death):
He is believed to be the Crawford Walker, b Sept. 30, 1816 - d June 19, 1844, son of John Walker, who married Martha HESTER on April 5, 1836 in Stokes County, NC.
This "Martha Hester" is believed to be the daughter of Robert Hester and Sarah Whicker --- and the granddaughter of John Hester and Margaret Frazier. Their Martha's birth was listed as Dec. 23, 1816; her death, Nov. 15, 1894 (see # 12, below).
12. MARTHA WALKER, b Dec. 23, 1816 - d Nov. 15, 1894 (nearly 78 yrs old at death):
Concerning the info in #11, above, pertaining to "Martha Hester", ROBERT HESTER and SARAH WHICKER had a daughter named MARTHA who also was the granddaughter of John Hester and Margaret Frazier.
13. J. A. WALKER, b ? -- d Sept 27, 1830:
Not yet identified, but may have been John Walker, father of Crawford Walker who married Martha Hester on April 5, 1836 (see # 11, above).
14. ELIJAH (Eli) WHICKER, b July 23, 1803 - d May 29 1863 (nearly 60 yrs old at death):
Elijah was the son of JAMES WHICKER, b Feb. 16, 1765 in Hanover County, VA - d Sept. 20, 1830, Stokes County, NC & his second wife, MARY DEAN. It is reported that Elijah died earlier on May 28, 1863 in Petersburg, VA while serving in the Civil War and that he married ELIZABETH PHILLIPS on July 2, 1823, in Stokes County, NC.
Other listings state that ELI's given name was ELIJAH and his familiar name was ELI. Those listings also state he was married to ELIZABETH PHILLIPS and list the same birth & death dates as above. It is also noted that several of JAMES WHICKER's children (by his first wife, MARY ROWLES (ROULES) married members of the HESTER family.
It is noted that during the 1850 Forsyth County Census, an ELI WHICKER and ELIZABETH
PHILLIPS were listed as living in house #882/896. Living close by, in house #881/891 was JAMES G. WHICKER; in house #886/900 were JAMES WHICKER & ELIZABETH OGBURN; and in house #888/902 were JOHN E. WHICKER & NANCY J. GRAY
15. MARTHA SWA - - - (?), b ? - d July 11, 1872 (probably 55 yrs old at death -- see marriage info, below)
MARTHA, based on the following info, is believed to be the MARTHA HESTER who married
WILLIAM SWAIN on Dec. 17, 1835 in Stokes County.
During the 1850 Forsyth County Census, a WILLIAM SWAIM and MARTHA HESTER were listed
as living in house #1105/1119. Living close by in house #1101/1115 was WILLIAM WHICKER; in
house 1103/1117 were JAMES WALKER and MARTHA HESTER; and in house # 1106/1120
were LITTLE B. WHICKER & MARY PHILLIPS.
16. NANCY INGRAM, b 1810 - d Sept. 17, 1843 (approx. 30 yrs old at death)
Sandra states that NANCY WHICKER, b circa 1800, who was a full sister of ELI (# 4, above),
married JAMES INGRAM. It is quite possible that the "Nancy Ingram" buried in the cemetery is,
in fact, "Nancy Whicker", the sister of ELI (see # 14, above).
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It also is interesting to note that during the 1850 Forsyth census, JOHN MONROE STAFFORD (son of JAMES STAFFORD, #3, above) and John's wife, MARY ELIZABETH BOOE, were living in house# 606/616 located, apparently, in South Forks Township. John Monroe Stafford was a magistrate and Chairman of the Forsyth County Court. He also was a Senator in the NC State legislature (first, from Stokes and later Forsyth when it was created from Stokes).
Living close by, in house # 618/628, were ANDREW J. STAFFORD & SARAH TRANTHAM.
Andrew, a brother of John Monroe Stafford (immediately above), was the first County Clerk of Forsyth County. He held that position for at least twelve years until his death in 1863 while serving as a Brigadier General in the CSA Army. Andrew was a member of the first Board of Commissioners for the City of Winston, NC. He also was a member (circa 1849) of the first Board of Commissioners for Winston City, NC.
Both John Monroe Stafford and Andrew J. Stafford are believed to have lived in separate homes on the STAFFORD home place which John Monroe Stafford inherited in 1849 at the death of his father, James Stafford (# 3, above). Also living close by, during the 1850 census, in house 601/611 was JOSEPH F. SWAIM; in house # 600/611 were JOHN LEDFORD SWAIM & CHRISTINA SALOME SPACH (who were married on July 17, 1829 in Stokes County, NC); and living in house # 607/617 was ANDREW ROMINGER.
It is also noted, in the 1850 census, that some distance away (probably near Kernersville), LEVI STAFFORD & ELIZABETH HANES were living in house #462/475. Living close by, in house #464/477 were WILLIAM BEESON & SALLY (?) (believed to be SARAH SWAIM); and, in house #467/480 were JEREMIAH HESTER & SARAH WHICKER. Living further away, in house #388/399 were ROBERTSON STAFFORD.,SR. & HANNAH JOHNSON (living with them were ROBERTSON STAFFORD, Jr. & ELIZABETH JANE HENDRICKS.
It is possible that WILLIAM BEESON STAFFORD, b Aug. 9, 1856 (son of John Monroe Stafford) was named after the WILLIAM BEESON who was living next door to LEVI STAFFORD.
While the non-Stafford's listed in Para. 11 thru 16, above (or their relatives) may have been close friends or associates of certain members of the "South Fork Stafford's", nothing has been established (as of January 11, 2003) that would tie any of them directly to JOHN STAFFORD, b 1756 - d Aug. 1, 1846; his son, JAMES STAFFORD, b Mar. 2, 1786 - Aug. 3, 1849 -- or, to JAMES' son, JOHN MONROE STAFFORD (JMS) who is believed to have controlled the STAFFORD Family home place and cemetery until his death in 1877. Sometime after JMS' death, the home place is believed to have been inherited by one of JMS' sons, possibly WILLIAM BEESON STAFFORD.
Except for MARTHA (HESTER) WALKER, #2, above, who died on Nov. 15, 1894 when WILLIAM BEESON STAFFORD is believed to have owned the STAFFORD home place, all the other non-Stafford's were buried in the original location of the cemetery during the lifetime of either JOHN, JAMES or JOHN MONROE STAFFORD.
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EARLY STAFFORD DEEDS (Stokes/Guilford/Rowan Counties, N.C.)
Rowan Co.., NC, Deed Bk. 19 (based on abstracts pub. by James W. Klutz):
p. 785. 9 Oct 1785. John Davis, son of Jacob Davis, to Robinson Stafford for $100, 95 A on Deep R adj Alexander Thomas, [ ] Raper, Guilford [Co.] line, the corner of Rowan and Stokes Counties, Stokes Co. line, and [ ] Payne. Elizabeth Davis also signed the deed. Wit.: Samuel Davis Jr., John Bagg. Prvd by Samuel Davis at Aug Ct 1806.
p. 857. 25 Mar 1806. Robinson (X) Stafford of Stokes Co., N.C., to James Mendenhall of Guilford Co., N.C., for $118.75, 95 A on Deep R adj Alexander Thomas, [ ] Raper, Guilford Co. line, [ ] Mason, Stokes Co. line, [ ] Payne, and Wheeler Chadwick. Wit.: James Pegg, Samuel Davis. Prvd by Davis
Census:
- 1800 United States Federal Census 1800 United States Federal Census
Name: John Stafford
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Salisbury, Guilford, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 4
|
1756 - 1846 (90 years)
