MOORE STEVENSON
Biography
submitted by Lynelle Cowan Stevenson
Moore Stevenson, son of William Stevenson (Stevens) and Grace
_____, grandson of Charles Stevenson,was born 12 Dec 1761,
Northampton County, North Carolina. His birthdate was erroneously
given as Dec 1759 in "History of Middle Tennessee Baptists
" but is proved by the bible record of his step-father John
Hare and the will of his father William Stevenson. The Hare bible
gives the information "Moore and William Steavenson sons of
William Steavenson were born the twelfth day of December 1761."
He married at the age of 18, to Sarah Perry, thought to be the
daughter of Josiah Perry and Elizabeth Twine. He was baptised by
Elder Lemuel Burkitt of Sandy Run, North Carolina, at the age of
22. The census of 1784-87 of Northampton Co, Captain Horn's
District, shows Moore and William Stevenson in the same household
: 2 males over 21-under 60, 2 males under 21-over 60, 2 females,
14 blacks. He and Sarah and his twin, William, sold their land (375
acres) in Northampton Co. to James Wood in May 1789 and, with
many of their neighbors, moved to Sumner Co. Tennessee by 1791.
In 1794 he bought 640 acres on the south side of the Cumberland
River on the east fork of Roaring River. One of the witnesses was
Isaac Walton who was married to Sarah's sister, Christian Perry.
1795 Moore purchased 310 acres on Station Camp Creek from John
Hamilton of Kentucky. In 1796 Tennessee became a state and Gov.
Sevier ordered militia formed, appointing Moore Captain of the 1st
Sumner Co. Inf. Regiment. There are many deeds for land purchases
and grants in both Sumner and Wilson Counties for Moore. We've
been lucky enough to find several articles in various books
giving Moore's description and information about him. From "Footprints
in Northampton 1741-1776-1976" we find this information:
"The first Sandy Run Baptist Church was organized by the Rev.
Lemuel Burkitt in Bertie Co. near the Northampton line in 1750…..a
brush arbor on the creek was used prior to the first board
structure." We know that Sandy Run Creek at Roxobel formed
the southern boundary of brothers William and Moore's land there.
The church records show that Sarah was baptised there in
September of 1783.
"The Great Leap Westward: Historic Sumner County Tennessee -
Civil Government p. 27" tells us that Moore was one of the
commissioners appointed by the Tennessee General Assembly to fix
on a location for the seat of government for the county, to
choose the location, purchase the land, erect a courthouse,
prison and stocks and establish a town thereon, having respect to
the center of said county, which is not to exceed more than
twenty-five miles on a direct line from a ford on Mansker's creek,
on the road leading from Mansker's Lick to Bledsoe's Lick. Other
commissioners appointed were James Clendenning, Kasper Mansker,
William Edwards, William Bowen, Capt. James Wilson, James Frazier,
William Gillespie, James White, Wetherel Lattimore and John
Morgan.
From "History of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church 1801-1976" p.
22b , written by Elder John Dew, W.H. White and John McFarland in
1823 , presented to the church and recorded in the minutes, we
have (absract) "born North Carolina 1760, married Miss Sally
Perry, 10 children. Baptised 1783 by Lemuel Burkitt, moved to
Tennessee 1791, LOST HIS FATHER BEFORE HE WAS BORN, (confirms
father's will and Hare bible record). Friends wished to make him
a politician. He continued his education after he was grown. Lost
his belief in God , but was renewed in faith and began preaching
in 1799 in Tennessee. Ordained 1800. The flu epidemic of 1818
claimed his life. He was very ill for 17 days, delirious for the
last 2 days until about 2 hours before he died, when he regained
his senses. He continued to speak the gospel to others until the
end of his life."
From "The Baptist", an article written by Elder James
Whitsitt in 1844 says of Moore…" Elder Stevenson was in
easy circumstances. He had a managing, industrious wife, and he
generally had faithful overseers, and he gave himself to the
ministry. Elder Stevenson was a sure preacher; he seldom failed
to rise high, he had the perfect control of himself in the
management of his voice. The doctrinal parts of his discourses
were well studied and cooly and deliberately delivered, without
much fatigue, and by the time he would be through with his
doctrine his feelings were generally up and he would launch into
exhortations, which were most admirable - he seldom sat down when
his congregation were not in tears in their seats." …"I
need not say that in his sentiments he was a strong Calvinist,
for all were so in that day, as far as is known."
Grimes, in "History of Middle Tennessee Baptists" tells
us "He was a successful farmer, possessing quite a number of
slaves. He was well educated for his day, being a man of fine
address and pleasing appearance." "He was awakened by a
visit from Elder James Whitsitt, soon after entered the ministry
and was ordained in 1800."
On 25 April, 1801 he constituted Big Cedar Lick Church, which
would later be renamed Mt. Olivet. Moore had acquired many acres
on Cedar Lick Creek, from purchases and grants. He moved his
family to this land, near where it emptied into the Cumberland
River. Little Cedar Lick Creek Baptist Church was established
nearby. The members of these early churches of Moore's spread
wide arms, both in Tennessee and North Louisiana. Many names from
the membership rolls are later found in North Louisiana. Some
that I recognized are Newt Drew, John Murrell, Isaac Alden, the
Brinsons, Christopher Koonce, Arthur McFarland. I'm sure there
were more whose names didn't catch my eye. As these men spread
over the northern part of Louisiana they established Baptist
churches everywhere they moved.
Sarah and Moore raised a large family. I would like to find more
information about them, so if any of their descendants read this
biography, please contact me.
1. Elizabeth Stevenson died ca. 1818. She married a Perry. Moore
left a slave boy, Philip, to her heirs
2. Joshia Stevenson married Mary (Polly) Pitt 1805, Wilson Co. TN.
He was in Muhlenburg Kentucky in October 1817. He signed a
guardianship bond in Gibson Co. Tn. On June 2, 1819 he sold 100
acres on Cedar Lick Creek to Jonathan Atherly. On 24 March 1823
he purchased a tract of land on Big Cedar Lick Creek from his
brother Benjamin F. Stevenson
3. Mary (Polly) Stevenson married John P. Moss 31 August 1805.
Josiah was her bondsman. Her son Moore L. Moss was left land in
Moore's will. He married Diana Hewgley 10 March 1826. In Gibson
Co. TN, brother Josiah signed a guardianship bond for her to be
app't'd guardian of orphan children of Arthur Moss, dec'd. In
October 1827 she and son Moore L. Moss sold land on Cedar Creek
to Jos. Hamblen.
4. John Stevenson… he was left three negroes, Anne, Ben, and
George, also one bed and furniture and $250 in Moore's will.
5. Sarah (Sally) Stevenson married James Bates in March 1814.
6. Isaac F. Stevenson married Minerva Norris. In 1837 she was
granted a widow's allotment, probably because Isaac's estate had
not been settled at that time. There were minor children Josiah,
Elizabeth, Washington and Samuel at that time. She married 2nd
Samuel Arnold in Sept. 1843.
7. Christian Stevenson born 4 July 1792, died 11 Dec 1854 in
Wilson Co. TN. She married Rutherford Rutland, son of Blake
Rutland. Children still at home in the 1850 census are Charity,
Martha, Mary, Christian U. or Y., Rutherford Hill, William Hill.
(The Hill children are grandchildren). She is buried in the
Rutland-Stevenson cemetery on the old Blake Rutland farm near Mt.
Juliet TN.
8. Benjamin Franklin Stevenson We have neither a birth nor death
date for him. He married Elizabeth (Betsy) Rutland, daughter of
Blake Rutland in 1818. They had one child, Clarinda Rivers
Stevenson, before Betsys' death in 1822/23. He married 2nd in
1825 to Elizabeth Willis, daughter of Edward and Susannah Willis.
They left Clarinda with her Rutland grandparents and moved from
Wilson Co. By 1835 he was in Gibson Co. TN, then Madison Co. TN
for a brief time, and then he and Elizabeth moved to Claiborne
Parish La. before 1841. Elizabeth was in the 1850 census of
Bienville Parish. There is no census for 1860, she is gone by the
1870 census. We have no death date or burial place for her. Their
children are William Moore, Mary W., John M., Christian, Charity,
Ezra, Isaac Thomas, Ozias L., Sarah E., Josias B.T. Benjamin F.
was still alive in 1881 when he witnessed a deed for one of his
daughters. He was living in Red River Parish, LA.
9. Not known
10. Not known
Moore died of influenza 18 March, 1818 in Wilson Co. TN. He and
Sarah are buried in the Rutland-Stevenson cemetery on the old
Blake Rutland place. The stones are nearly all destroyed or
hauled away now, but thankfully they were copied and published in
Acklens' book of Tennessee Bible and cemetery records.
His will , dated 8 March 1818 gives the following (abstracts)
1. Just debts be paid
2. Beloved wife Sarah: plantation where I now live, negroes Cald,
Sep, Dinah, Melis, Simon, Jinny, Ann, all household and kitchen
furniture, choice of three horses, three cows and calves, 1/2 of
hogs, all farming utensils
3. Daughter Elizabeth Perry (dec'd) (heirs) 1 negro boy, Philip
4. Son Josiah Stevenson : 100 acres of land from Cedar Lick tract
bought from Capt. John Hays, on upper end so as not to take the
lick. 1 negro woman, Jinny at wife's decease.
5. Daughter Polly Moss: 1 cow and calf now in her possession,
reasonable support drawn once a year from my executors, from
income from legacies left to her children
6. Grandson Moore L. Moss: balance of Cedar Lick tract bought
from Capt. John Hays
7. Daughter Polly's children to get negroes Sam, Binah, Fanny,
one colt, two feather beds, household and kitchen furniture, four
head of young cattle,
8. Daughter Christian Rutland: negro Hannah, $750.00
9. Son John Stevenson: negroes Anne, Ben, George, 1 bed and
furniture, $250.00
10. Daughter Sally Bates: 170 acres of land on Silver Springs
Branch, negroes Rachel and Simon at her mother's decease, 1
feather bed and furniture.
11. Son Benjamin F. Stevenson: lower end of plantation I now live
on, the line to run with the direction of the lane where it now
stands, negroes Miles, Milly, 1 bed and furniture.
12. Son Isaac F. Stevenson: balance of tract I now live on, that
is the upper end from the lane, also the mill, two negroes Cader
and Rose at his mother's decease, 1 bed and furniture.
13. Balance to be sold, divided equally among children except
Polly Moss, her part to be divided among her children.
14. Executors to give all legal rights due him to Kanady Bay, 50
acres where he's now living
15. William Johnson, Isham F. Davis, William White to be
executors. Revoke all other wills etc.
N.B. Sep and Dinah to choose which of the children to live with
after the death of Sarah.
Signed: Moore Stephenson
Jeremiah Hendrick Jurat
John
X Conner Jurat
Robert
X Anderson Jurat
Thomas
Rhodes Jurat
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Published Abstracts of Revolutionary Army Accounts, Vol. VI, Bk
23, p 124, Hillsborough Treasury Office, Treasurer Northampton Co.
NC shows Moore Stephens owed or paid 13 pounds, 8 shillings (NC
Rev. Army Accts. Sec'y of State Treas. and Comptrollers Papers,
Vol. V, Vol. VI, part IV) Mrs. Annette Hall Roberts was accepted
into the DAR under Moore Stevenson.
Copyright 1999, by Lynelle Cowan Stevenson
All Rights Reserved