William Stewart

  Noted events in his life were:

• Birth: Uncertain source. Cumberland Township, York County, Pennsylvania

There isn't a Cumberland Township listed for York County Pennsylvania. William was born before the Mason Dixon Line was established, making it likely that Cumberland Townsship extended across the boarder for Pennsylvania and Maryland.

• Military Service: From 1745 - 1880 History of Indiana County Pennsylvania by J. A. Caldwell, 1880, Page 514. William entered the navy as soon as the Revolutionary war began, and remained in it to the close. He was taken prisoner, but escaped with a few others at night, when the guards were asleep, from the vessel in which they were confined, and swam to the shore.

• Residence: From History of York County Pennsylvania, John Gibson, Editor, 186, 1783, Chanceford, York, Pennsylvania. TAXABLE LIST OF 1783.

The following is a complete list of the names of taxable inhabitants of Chanceford and Lower Chanceford in 1783, together with the number of persons in each family, amount and valuation of property:

William Stewart, 150 acres, 2 horses, 6 persons. 105

Page 741. The reference indicates it is unclear where Chanceford was located however, a township map from the York County Archives shows both are along the east border of York County, just above the Pennsylvania and Maryland line.

Note: This is probably for a different William Stewart as the number of persons is inconsistent with other records for his family.

• Residence: 1745 - 1880 History of Indiana County Pennsylvania by J. A. Caldwell, 1880, Page 514.: Emmitsburg, Frederick, Maryland. William moved to Maryland after the war.

• Residence: From 1790 Census, 1790, York, Pennsylvania. Two possible matches but township for each differs from family history information. The second record for Hopewell Township is most likely the correct William Stewart as there is also a 1790 census record for Jas St Clair in Hopewell Township. William Stewart's wife, Elizabeth St Clair was a daughter of James St Clair. The number and ages of the males and females identified in the Hopewell Township record are consistent with the family.

Name: William Stewart
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1790
Event Place: Mixed Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States
Page: 465

Number of Males => 16: 1 William + Unknown
Number of Males < 16: 1 Unknown
Number of Women: 2 Elezabeth + Unknown
Number of other free persons: 1

Note: James Stewart and John Stewart also appear on this page of the census.

Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M637
Affiliate Film Number: 9
GS Film Number: 0568149
Digital Folder Number: 005157141
Image Number: 00250

Citing this Record
"United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKR-NCX : accessed 22 October 2019), William Stewart, Mixed Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 465, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 9; FHL microfilm 568,149.

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Name: Wm Stuart
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1790
Event Place: Hopewell, York, Pennsylvania, United States
Page: 337

Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M637
Affiliate Film Number: 9
GS Film Number: 0568149
Digital Folder Number: 005157141
Image Number: 00184

Number of Males => 16: 1 William
Number of Males < 16: 1 James
Number of Women: 2 Elizebeth + Mary

Citing this Record
"United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKR-ZST : accessed 22 October 2019), Wm Stuart, Hopewell, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 337, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 9; FHL microfilm 568,149.

• Residence: From tax record provided by York County Historical Society, 1795, Hopewell Township, York, Pennsylvania. William Stewart
Cattle: 2
Value: 6 pounds
Tax 0.1.0


MS. R.1 f 64

• Residence: From 1800 Census, 1800, Monaghan, York, Pennsylvania. Name: William Stewart
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1800
Event Place: Monaghan, York, Pennsylvania, United States
Page: 1410;1411

Males < 10: 2
Males 10 to < 16:
Males 16 to < 26: 1 William
Males 26 to < 45:
Males 45 and over:

Females < 10: 1
Females 10 to < 16:
Females 16 to < 26: 1 Elizabeth?
Females 26 to < 45:
Females 45 and over:

Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M32
Affiliate Film Number: 44
GS Film Number: 363347
Digital Folder Number: 004956045
Image Number: 00217

Citing this Record
"United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRX-DHX : accessed 22 October 2019), William Stewart, Monaghan, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 1410;1411, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 44; FHL microfilm 363,347.

• Residence: From 1745 - 1880 History of Indiana County Pennsylvania by J. A. Caldwell, 1880, Page 514, 1809, Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The family removed to Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pa., in about 1809.

• Residence: From 1810 Census, 1810, Franklin, Pennsylvania. Two possible matches, neither for Mercersburg. The record for Hamilton is more consistent with the family than the record from Metal.

Name: William Steward
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1810
Event Place: Hamilton, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States
Page: 893

Males < 10: 0
Males 10 to < 16: 0
Males 16 to < 26: 1
Males 26 to < 45: 1
Males 45 and over: 1 William

Females < 10: 0
Females 10 to < 16: 1
Females 16 to < 26: 1
Females 26 to < 45: 0
Females 45 and over: 1 Elizabeth

Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M252
Affiliate Film Number: 54
GS Film Number: 0193680
Digital Folder Number: 005157103
Image Number: 00293

Citing this Record
"United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH27-XF1 : accessed 22 October 2019), William Steward, Hamilton, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 893, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 54; FHL microfilm 193,680.

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Name: William Steward
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1810
Event Place: Metal, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States
Page: 918

Males < 10: 2
Males 10 to < 16:
Males 16 to < 26: 1
Males 26 to < 45:
Males 45 and over: 1 William

Females < 10: 1
Females 10 to < 16: 1
Females 16 to < 26: 1
Females 26 to < 45:
Females 45 and over:

Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M252
Affiliate Film Number: 54
GS Film Number: 0193680
Digital Folder Number: 005157103
Image Number: 00318

Citing this Record
"United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH27-FLY : accessed 22 October 2019), William Steward, Metal, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 918, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 54; FHL microfilm 193,680.

• Residence: 1745 - 1880 History of Indiana County Pennsylvania by J. A. Caldwell, 1880, Page 514, 1812, Brushvalley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The family removed to Indiana county, in the year 1812, and settled in what is now Brush Valley township, near the “forks” of Yellow brush.

• Residence: From 1820 Census, 1820, Washington, Indiana, Pennsylvania. Only William Stewart listed for Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Famly appears inconsistent with other records.

Name: William Stewart
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1820
Event Place: Washington, Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
Page: 22

Males < 10: 3
Males 10 to < 16: 0
Males 16 to < 18: 0
Males 16 to < 26: 3
Males 26 to < 45: 1
Males 45 and over: 0

Females < 10: 2
Females 10 to < 16: 0
Females 16 to < 26: 1
Females 26 to < 45: 1
Females 45 and over: 0

Slaves < 14: 1

Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M33
Affiliate Film Number: 105
GS Film Number: 0181410
Digital Folder Number: 005156920
Image Number: 00034

Citing this Record
"United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL5-9QR : accessed 22 October 2019), William Stewart, Washington, Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 22, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 105; FHL microfilm 181,410.

• Family History: 1745 - 1880 History of Indiana County Pennsylvania by J. A. Caldwell, 1880, Page 514. THE STEWART FAMILY - The ancestor of the family of Stewarts, that are the subject of the present sketch, came from England many years before the Revolutionary war, and settled upon the tract of land upon which the town of Gettysburg, Adams county, Pa., now stands. He had two children, William and Sarah. Sarah married a man by the name of Burns, and removed to Hagerstown, Md. William entered the navy as soon as the Revolutionary war began and remained in it to the close. He was taken prisoner, but escaped with a few others at night, when the guards were asleep, from the vessel in which they were confined, and swam to the shore. He then married Elizabeth St. Clair, (aunt of Dr. Thomas St. Clair, of Indiana, Pa.,) who resided near Little York, Adams county, Pa., and settled at Emmetsburg, Md. Here were born Mary, James, Hannah, David, Elizabeth, Samuel, Joseph, John, and Benjamin. The latter died while an infant.

The family removed to Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pa., in about 1809. Here Hannah married Peter Elliot and some years after removed to Ohio, her husband having first died. The family removed to Indiana county, in the year 1812, and settled in what is now Brush Valley township, near the “forks” of Yellow brush. Mary here m. Samuel Gibson, of the “Manor" settlement; Jas, m. Margaret Gibson, Samuel Gibson's sister; David, m. Martha Allen; Elizabeth, m. Samuel Creswell; Samuel, m, Jane Wilson, and after her death, Margaret Virtue; Joseph, m. Mary Findley, and John, m. Mary Ann Ocher, of Blair county, Pa.

Samuel is the only son of the above family that is alive at the present time, (1880)-he resides in Centre township. Although above 81 years of age, he is well preserved and comparatively active, and may live many years yet.

David enlisted in the war of 1812 and was engaged in several battles that were fought in the southern campaign.

James was also in the war of 1812; he being under Gen. Harrison, in the campaign against the Indians in the northwest. He was promoted to the office of lieutenant for meritorious service. He was very fond of the adventures and dangers incident to frontier life, and had many exciting encounters with the bears, wolves, and panthers, which at that time were very abundant. From this, and his style of dress, as well as to distinguish him from Squire James Stewart, of Brush Valley, and Maj. James Stewart, of Buffington, he was known as “Moccasin Jimmie” Stewart. He lived for several years near where the town of Mechanicsburg now stands, and afterwards, in 1820, removed three miles northwest of that place, where he resided until his death, in 1858. His children were: William, James Gibson, Samuel, David, Margaret, Elizabeth and Rebecca.

William read medicine with Dr. James Stewart, of Indiana, and located in Armagh, where he resided until his death, in 1851, He was married to Martha Noble, and has two children living, J. Spencer and Henry N. James Gibson married Rebecca S. Loughry, and remained upon the old homestead until 1874, when he removed to Armagh, where he died in 1876. He had three children, James N., Elizabeth and Wilson L. Samuel read medicine with his brother William, and located in Armagh, where he died in 1857. David married Elizabeth Boner, and is still living in Brush Valley township. Margaret married James Young, and resides at St. Clairsville, Ohio. Elizabeth married Nicholas Paige and is still living in Brush Valley township. Rebecca married Benjamin Coffman, of Perry county, Pa., where he died in 1861.

William married Elizabeth St. Clair, daughter of James St. Clair Sr. and Mary Miller, about 1784. (Elizabeth St. Clair was born in 1770 in York County, Pennsylvania and died in 1840 in Indiana, Pennsylvania.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: Letter dated Februrary 26, 1965 to Mrs. J. S. WIlson from Mrs. Isabel I. Abel, librarian. Probate record for James Sinclair, 26 February 1811, states that Elizabeth was the wife of William Steward.

Letter obtained from Historical Society of York County, Pennsylvania on 4 October 2022.