Volume 2 , Issue 9

Stephenson-Warwick-Garner-Gay, by - Tom

I am a descendant of James and Anne (Garner) Stephenson who first lived on the south fork of the south branch of the Potomac River near present Brandywine, Randolph County, West Virginia.

In 1768 they moved to the mouth of Stompin Creek on the Greenbrier River near present Seebert, Little Levels District, Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

I am trying to see how the various Stephensons of that time in Augusta County were related (or not). That, of necessity gets me involved in the Garner, Warwick and Gay families.

Conventional wisdom has been that, "These families came from the north of Ireland to Pennsylvania and then down into western Virginia." I'm finding evidence that this "conventional wisdom" is, at least partially, wrong. It appears to me that these families first came to New England, then to Pennsylvania, and then down to western Virginia. You'll find the following of interest:

From the Genealogical Notes of New York and New England Families. By S. V. Talcott, 1883, Pages 623-624, where we find: Thomas (Capt.), son of (1) John Rathbone and Margaret (???), married Mary Dickens, April 21, 1685, and had the following children: 21 Margaret, b. January 17, 1686. 22 Mary, b. November 24, 1687 ; m. JOHN GARNER about 1717. 23 Patience, b. November 14, 1690. 24 Content, b. January 17, 1692. 25 Thomas, Jr., b. January 29, 1695 ; m. LYDIA MOTT, October 27, 1715. 26 Sarah, b. April 1, 1698. 27 Elizabeth, b. March 13, 1700 ; m. JOHN GAY, February 14, 1720. 28 Samuel, b. July 1, 1702. 29 John, b. May 29, 1705 ; m. EXPERIENCE (???), January 1, 1726. 30 Sibea, b. March 16, 1707. [TBS Note: Above marriages in Rhode Island. Margaret (???) was Margaret Dodge.]

The John Garner named here was the father of Anne Garner, named above as my ancestor. He moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania and then to Brandywine, WV. I believe the John Gay of this record to be the father of the James Gay you reference in your data. I note in the Pennsylvania land records of John Garner a reference to Warwick's furnace which borders his property. There is a marriage record in Warwick, Rhode Island for George Garner and Tabitha Tiffe, dated Feb 13, 1670; who might be the parents of my John Garner.

The following is an abstract of a will on file in Philadelphia County, PA:

James Stephenson of Marple. To wife Agnes L30. To sons, vis John and William my freehold to be equally divided when come to "minority." To son James L50. Executors: Matthew Cowden and Arthur Nesmith. Witnesses: Thos. Patton, Matthew Hopkins. [Marple was about 8 miles west of Philadelphia but today is part of the metro area.]

The son, James, in this will is my ancestor who married Anne Garner. The son, William, also came to the south fork of the south branch of the Potomac in 1750. James (Sr.) of the will appears to be the son of John Stephenson of Rutland, Massachusetts who also had a son, John. It's obvious why I would suspect that John Stephenson who married Martha Warwick was of this line of Stephensons. But there is a problem. I have a copy of Roy Stevenson King's book and the birthdates he suggests for the children of John and Martha would not fit. Your date information is more consistent with my thinking. You show Martha Warwick as being born after 1744. King says her oldest son was born about 1726. I suspect he has numerous other mistakes. It looks to me like he identified all the Stevensons/Stephensons of the time in Kentucky and assumed they were all children of John and Martha Warwick. Some more notes of interest:

I find an Arthur Nesmith (1721-1795) who was married to a Margaret Hopkins. Margaret Hopkins and Matthew Hopkins were children of John and Elizabeth (Dinsmore) Hopkins who had another daughter named "Nancy" which is the familiar nickname for Agnes. It certainly looks like James Stephenson was married to Agnes (Nancy) Hopkins and that Mathew Hopkins and Arthur Nesmith were his brothers-in-law.

Now, note the above Dinsmore (sometimes Dinmoor) and the following from THE FIRST FAMILIES OF AMERICA, EDITED BY FREDERICK A. VIRKUS, VOLUME I, 1925, F. A. VIRKUS & COMPANY, Genealogical Publishers, 440-442 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, Ill. where we find:

6-James Nesmlih (sic) (1692-1767) from North of Ireland to Londonderry, N.H., 1718, m in Ireland, 1714, Elisabeth McKeen; 5-James (1718-93), m Mary Dinsmore; 4-James (1744-96), m Mary McClure;

And also, PATTON, THOMAS (Written September 9, 1765 Probated May 25, 1774) Wife. Janet Patton. Children: William, Nathan, Jean, Elizabeth and Rebecca. Ex. Samuel WILSON and William MILLER. Mt. Joy Twp. [just west of Philadelphia]

And also: PATTON, ROBERT (Written May 6, 1757 Probated July 2, 1757) Children: Mary, Esther, Jean, Margaret and Lattis. Sons-in-law: Joseph Joans, Thomas Jenney, Joshua EWING and David Craig (wives' names
not given). Ex. James Whitehill and John Byers. Sadsbury Twp. [This is just west of Philadelphia and in the same neighborhood as James and Agnes Stephenson]

You can see why I conclude that these families Stephenson / Warwick / Garner / Gay and also McClure / Hopkins / Miller / Wilson / Nesmith / Ewing, who also came to Augusta County, had earlier roots in New England.

In fact, it appears that a couple of them were on the Mayflower or shortly thereafter. Any help or clarifications you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I especially would appreciate any relevant marriage - birth - death - property records on the Warwicks and others.

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