Noah Stewart and Nancy --- of Haywood Co, NC and Union Co, GA

Special thanks to Minnie Ledford Barnes and Homer Barnes, Kathi Bobb and Pauline Stewart for sharing so much data on this family, especially when I was first getting started on them. Also many thanks to the many other folks who have shared data with me on more recent generations. Most are listed on the Stewart Researcher page.

Noah Stewart (occasionally spelled "Stuart") was born ca 1785/86 in North Carolina. His county of birth is not known, but if he might have been born in that section of old Mecklenburg County that later became Cabarrus County. We believe that Noah is a son of John Stuart and Mary Ann, but have no definitive proof of that. John and Noah were both listed on the 1810 census in Haywood Co, NC, and Noah did name his oldest son "John" and oldest daughter "Mary". None of this is conclusive, but it helps. Lawrence Wood (deceased) told me that he always heard that Noah was a brother of old Jacob Stuart, and this was based on what descendants of both families had said. He had no proof of it either, other than the family tradition.

Noah was undoubtedly with his parents for the 1790 census. Old John Stuart, his suspected father, was not found in 1790, unless he was the John listed in 1790 Rutherford Co, NC (which I think he was, but can't be very sure). John did have an apparent son with him that year who was Noah's age.

Old John Stuart was in Cabarrus Co, NC for the 1800 census, and he did have an apparent son with him who was Noah's age, and who is otherwise unaccounted for.

John Stuart and some of his children moved to the Newfound Creek area of Buncombe County around 1803. Since Noah was only about 17 or so then, he probably went with them. This area was in Buncombe County, but not far from what is now Haywood County (created in 1808 from Buncombe).

Noah Stewart married Nancy --- sometime circa 1805 in Buncombe Co, NC. We don't know what her maiden name was, but some believe it may have been "Dillard" based on them naming one of their sons "Dillard Stuart". This doesn't quite prove it though, but it is a possibility.

Noah was listed on the 1810 census in Haywood Co, NC. His father John Stuart and possible brother John Stuart were also listed there, but unfortunately the census was alphabetical, so we don't know if they all lived near each other or not. I suspect they did. I don't know precisely where they lived in Haywood County, but it may have been on or near Beaverdam creek, which is just over the mountain (and Buncombe County line) from Newfound Creek, where his father John had lived, and Noah's brother Jacob was living in 1810.

On 18 Sep 1811 Noah Stewart was called for Jury duty for the December Term. (Haywood Co, NC Court Minutes)

On 16 Dec 1811 Noah Stewart was listed as a Juror in Haywood County Court. (Haywood Co, NC Court Minutes)

I have not done a thorough examination of the court minutes, and their may be other references to Noah in Haywood County.

During the 1810's, Noah's father John moved back over the mountain to Newfound Creek and lived there on his son Jacob's property. Noah seemed to vanish as well. It is possible that he never left Haywood County, but for one reason or another, he was not listed on the 1820 census. He was either missed, or perhaps a page of the census was lost, or perhaps Noah moved away temporarily. He was not found in any other western North Carolina counties in 1820. If he had moved over into eastern Tennessee, such as Blount County, or somewhere, that would explain his absence, as the 1820 census records were lost for all of eastern TN.

If Noah did go into eastern TN, he was back to Haywood by the time of the 1830 census. There were no other Stewart families in Haywood in 1830.

Noah was listed on the 1835 Congressional Voter List in Haywood Co, NC in Beaverdam Precinct, which covers, I believe, the area around Canton, and borders against Buncombe County. Jacob Stewart was also listed in the same precinct. I can't be totally sure, but I think that is Noah's son Jacob, but since we have reliable birth date for him, it may be Jacob B. Stuart instead, since he moved to this area around that time.

There must have been hard times for the Stewarts in the 1830's, for in 1836, Noah and Jacob (his son), lost all of their land, and it was sold by the Sheriff. William Penland purchased Noah's land, and Robert Penland purchased Jacob's.

Noah was still in Haywood Co, NC for the 1840 census. His son Dillard was also there, but several pages away. Jacob B. Stuart was also listed, and some records seem to indicate he owned land bordering Noah Stewart, so that raises interesting questions. (Jacob B was a son of Edward Stuart Sr of Buncombe Co, NC).

During the 1840's, Noah and much of his family, moved to Union Co, GA. Noah was listed on the 1850 census in Union Co, GA. He was listed next to his son Isam and just a few houses from possible sister-in-law Elizabeth Stuart. His widowed daughter Mary Stewart Chandler and her son John were residing with him.

Noah and Nancy were still in Union Co, GA for the 1870 census. They had several other people residing with them then, including several members of the Ledford family, relationship unknown. As before, son Isam Stewart was just a few houses away.

Noah and his wife Nancy applied for a Civil War Pension (18 Mar 1871) based on their son Noah Washington Stewart (1830-1865) service. Noah (Jr) took care of his parents, and when he was killed in the War, they had no means of support. The pension records include a list of their living children. Thanks to Kathi Bobb for sharing it with me originally. Here is a transcript I've put the surnames in CAPS)::

Nancy Stewart died on 12 Jun 1880 in Union Co, GA. We don't know for sure, but we believe she is buried at the Henderson cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Noah Stewart was residing with his daughter Caroline and her husband Wesley Rhodes for the 1880 census. It is obvious that someone else reported his birth information, as he is reported born in SC, with both parents also born there. This disagrees with the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records which show him born in NC.

Noah Stewart died on 5 Feb 1881 in Union Co, GA. Like Nancy, we think he is buried at the Henderson Cemetery.

Children

Most of Noah and Nancy's children are proven, by the census records and by the 1871 Pension application. There seem to be at least two or more children who are unidentified (so far), based on census analysis. I am descended from two of their children (John Stewart, and Mary Stewart Gilbert).

John Stewart was born 1806/07 either in Buncombe Co, NC, either in the Newfound Creek area of Buncombe, or across the line in what is now Haywood County. John is my ancestor. John was apparently home with his parents for the 1810 and 1830 census records.

John married Ruth Tutt ca 1831 in Buncombe Co, NC. Her family lived just over the line from where the Stewarts lived in Haywood Co, NC.

John was listed on the 1835 Voter list in Buncombe Co, NC Hominey Precinct. He was listed on the 1840 census in Buncombe Co, NC. Between 1840 and 1842 John and family moved to Gum Log district in Union Co, GA. They were listed there on the 1850 and 1860 census. During the 1860's, either during or after the Civil War, John and family moved to Polk Co, TN and were listed there on the 1870 census. Ruth was not listed, so apparently she died during the 1860's. John is a proven son of Noah, as he was named in Noah's Pension application (1871) as being his son "John Stuart aged 67 years and who resides in the state of Tennessee". I am a descendant of John's daughter Margaret Emaline Stewart (1835-1909) who married Thomas Henderson in Union Co, GA. The last record I've found for John was the 1870 census.

Unknown Daughter (1800/10). Noah Stewart seemed to have a daughter this age with him for the 1810 census. She was gone by 1830 (no census record for Noah in 1820), so had either married or died by then. There was an apparent daughter born ca 1810/15 with Noah in 1830, and it is possible that this was the same person, if born ca 1810.

Dillard Stewart was born ca 1810/11 in Haywood Co, NC. He married Sarah Wallace on or about 17 Aug 1834 in Haywood Co, NC. He was listed on the 1835 Voter List in Buncombe Co, NC Hominey Precinct. By 1840 Dillard was across the line in Haywood County, but by 1850 back in Buncombe. He was also listed on the 1860 census in Buncombe, in Leicester. Dillard enlisted in the 29th NC Regiment, Company H on 11 Sep 1861. He died of fever at Jonesboro, TN on either 10 Dec 1861 or 20 Jan 1862. His widow Sarah was still in Buncombe for the 1870 and 1880 census (though the 1880 entry is questionable, as to whether or not it is her). Dillard is a son of Noah, but I have found no documentary proof other than circumstantial evidence. Dillard named one of his sons "Noah". He lived near his brother John. Several of our older Stewart relatives claimed Dillard as being part of the family, based on their own personal knowledge. I have no doubt he belongs here, but couldn't prove it.

Unknown Daughter (1810/15). Noah Stewart seemed to have a daughter this age with him for the 1830 and 1840 census. She was gone by 1850, so had either married or died by then. There was an apparent daughter born ca 1800/10 with Noah in 1810, and it is possible that this was the same person, if born ca 1810.

There was a marriage bond dated 18 Sep 1843 in Haywood Co, NC between a Pinkney Brown and Hannah Stewart. This might be this unknown daughter of Noah. I haven't been able to find this couple on the 1850 census, so I don't know anything else about them yet.

Mary Stewart was born 1819/1820 in Haywood Co, NC. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1830 census (and probably 1820, though we don't have that record).

On 4 Nov 1835 James S. Chandler obtained a marriage bond in Haywood Co, NC to marry Marey Steward, who was listed on the bond as a daughter of Noah. Lewis S. Deaver was the bondsman.

James Chandler died in 1837 in Haywood Co, NC, leaving Mary and one son (John). I didn't find Mary on the 1840 census, but someone her age was with her father Noah in Haywood Co, NC. This could have been her.

For the 1850 census, Mary was with her father in Union Co, GA, and her son John Chandler was there also. Sometime between 1850 and 1854 Mary married Joshua Gilbert in Union Co, GA. Like her, he had been previously married. They were listed in Union Co, GA on the 1860 census. Mary died during the 1860's, but before 28 Oct 1869 for on that date Joshua Gilbert married a 3rd time (to Rhoda Russell Miller). The proof of the marriage of Mary Stewart and Joshua Gilbert is the death certificate (1914) of their son Noah Washington Gilbert (my ancestor) who's parents were listed as Joshua Gilbert and Mary Stewart. This was also common knowledge in my family about her being a child of Noah Stewart.

Jacob Stewart was born either ca 1813/14 (per his age in the 1850 census) or ca 1821/22 (per his age in the 1860 census). The 1822 date seems more likely. He was apparently with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census.

On 25 Jun 1846 Jacob married a widow Tempy Stroud Warren, widow of Daniel Warren. She may be a child of David Stroud formerly of Buncombe Co, NC.

Jacob and Tempy were listed on the 1850 census in Union Co, GA, next door to his nephew Arch Stewart (son of John Stewart).

Around 1855 the family moved to neighboring Cherokee Co, NC. They were listed in Beaverdam Township

By 1870, this family had moved to McMinn Co, TN. I don't have much data on them after 1860.

Their oldest child "Robert Stewart" might be a child of Tempy and her first husband Daniel Warren, since his birth predates her marriage to Jacob Stewart.

Jacob died in McMinn Co, TN on 5 Apr 1881, and Tempy there in 1915. Jacob is a proven son of Noah, as he was named in Noah's Pension application (1871) as being his son "Jacob Stuart who resides in the state of Tennessee aged about 30 years". This provides yet another conflicting birth date as he would be born ca 1841.

Isam Stewart was born 1824/25 in Haywood Co, NC. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census.

He came to Union Co, GA with his family in the 1840's and married there on 14 Mar 1845 to Margaret Rhodes. They were listed on the 1850 and 1860 census in Union Co, GA. Margaret died in 1863. Sometime prior to 1870 he married Mary Russell. They were listed on the 1870 Union Co, GA. census. Isam died in 1878 in Union Co, GA. Mary was listed on the 1880 census as a widow. Isam (or "Isham") is a proven son of Noah, as he was named in Noah's Pension application (1871) as being his son "Isham Stuart aged 39 years and who resides in the county of Union is afflicted with canser on the face and is also a Pensioner".

Unknown Son (1820/25). Noah Stewart seemed to have a son this age with him for the 1830 census. He was gone by 1840, so had married, died, or just moved out by then. I have no clues who this is.

Caroline Stewart was born ca 1829/30 or ca 1824/25 (depending on which census records are correct). Caroline was apparently home with her parents for the 1830 and 1840 census, both times in the 1820/25 age grouping, so that supports her birth being ca 1824/25.

She was still single and at home with her parents on the 1850 census (in Union Co, GA).

By 1854 she had married Wesley Rhodes. They were listed on the Union Co, GA census in 1860, 1870 and 1880. In 1880 her widowed father Noah Stewart was residing with them. Other than the 1880 entry, I don't have these records typed up yet. In 1880, Caroline's widower father Noah Stewart was with them, as was Wesley's widowed mother Mary Rhodes.

Noah Washington Stewart was born ca 1829/1830 in Haywood Co, NC. He is a proven son of Noah and Nancy Stewart. He was undoubtedly named for his father "Noah", and after a family member named "Washington", or else after George Washington.

He was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census (both in Haywood Co, NC). When the family moved to Union Co, GA in the 1840's, he went as well.

Noah Washington was never married according to an affidavit filed in 1880, yet he appeared to live with a woman named Nancy on the 1850 and 1860 census. It must be concluded that this was his sister or other relative, as opposed to being a wife. However, she may have been a wife anyway, and the 1880 affidavit was incorrect.

They were listed on the 1850 census in Union Co, GA. They weren't listed near the other Stewarts at that time, and for some reason instead of being listed as "Noah W." he was listed as "George W".

In 1860, Washington and wife Nancy were listed next door to his parents and close by other relatives in Union Co, GA.

For the Civil War, Noah Washington Stewart enlisted on 7 Mar 1863 in Company B, 7th Battalion, North Carolina Cavalry (CSA). He was listed as a resident of Union Co, GA, though he enlisted in Clay Co, NC.

On 7 Mar 1863 he was transferred to Company F, 65th Regiment, NC Troops. He deserted and was dropped from the rolls in September - December 1863. He took the oath of alleigence in Louisville, KY on 22 Dec 1863. At some point around then he entered the Union Army. He died on 10 Jan 1865 in Tennessee.

Noah (Sr) and his wife Nancy applied for a Civil War Pension (18 Mar 1871) based on their son Noah Washington Stewart (1830-1865) service. Noah (Jr) took care of his parents, and when he was killed in the War, they had no means of support. The pension records include a list of their living children. A "Nancy Russell" was named in the 1871 pension letter as being a person who was helping Noah and Nancy in their old age. I'm sure this is the same Nancy who was with them in 1870, but whether or not this was the widow (or sister) of Washington remains to be proven.

Researcher List

1. Noah¹ Stewart , born 1785/86 in Mecklenburg Co, NC (now Cabarrus Co, NC); died 5 Feb 1881 in Union Co, GA, son of John Stewart and Mary Ann (---) . He married in 1800/07 in Buncombe Co, NC Nancy (---) , born 1782/83 in SC; died 12 Jun 1880 in Union Co, GA.

Children of Noah Stewart and Nancy (---) were as follows:

+ 2 i John² Stewart , born 1806/07 in Buncombe Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Polk Co, TN. He married Ruth Tutt .

+ 3 ii Dillard² Stewart , born 1810/11 in Haywood Co, NC; died 10 Dec 1861 or 20 Jan 1862 in Jonesboro, TN, Civil War. He married Sarah Wallace .

+ 4 iii Mary² Stewart , born 1819/20 in Haywood Co, NC; died 1860/69 in Union Co, GA. She married (1) James S Chandler ; (2) Joshua Gilbert .

+ 5 iv Jacob² Stewart , born 1821/22 in Haywood Co, NC; died 5 Apr 1881 in McMinn Co, TN. He married Tempey Stroud .

+ 6 v Isam² Stewart , born 1824/25 in Haywood Co, NC; died 1878 in Union Co, GA. He married (1) Margaret Rebecca Rhodes ; (2) Mary Russell .

+ 7 vi Caroline² Stewart , born 1824/25 in Haywood Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Union Co, GA. She married Wesley Rhodes .

8 vii Noah Washington² Stewart (Pvt) , born 1829/30 in Haywood Co, NC; died 10 Jan 1865 in Civil War, TN. He married abt 1850 in Union Co, GA Nancy (---) , born 1824/25 in NC.

Generation 2

2. John² Stewart (Noah¹), born 1806/07 in Buncombe Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Polk Co, TN. He married in 1830/31 in Buncombe Co, NC Ruth Tutt , born 1812/13 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 1863/70 in Polk Co, TN, daughter of Benjamin Tutt and Elizabeth Moore .

Children of John Stewart and Ruth Tutt were as follows:

+ 9 i James Archibald³ Stewart (Pvt) , born 9 May 1831 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 13 Oct 1909 in Graham Co, NC. He married (1) Catherine Ash ; (2) Nancy Jane Ash .

+ 10 ii Margaret Emaline³ Stewart , born 11 Jan 1835 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 18 May 1909 in Union Co, GA. She married Thomas M Henderson (Pvt) .

+ 11 iii William "Bill"³ Stewart , born 1836/37 in Buncombe Co, NC; died abt 20 Jun 1875 in Monroe Co, TN. He married Martha Holcombe .

12 iv Govan "Van"³ Stewart (Cpt) , born 10 Oct 1840 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 10 Aug 1928 in Ottawa Co, OK. He married on 21 Sep 1865 in TN Margaret Catherine Chandler , born 4 Feb 1847 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 3 Feb 1945 in Craig Co, OK.

+ 13 v Elizabeth "Bett"³ Stewart , born 1841/42 in Union Co, GA. She married John Turner .

+ 14 vi Nancy C "Priss"³ Stewart , born Mar 1843/44 in Union Co, GA. She married (1) Henry Heddon ; (2) (---) Moore .

15 vii Martha³ Stewart , born 1847/48 in Union Co, GA. She married in 1860/70 in Polk Co, TN (---) Burnette .

+ 16 viii Melvina Cecelia "Mel"³ Stewart , born 27 Mar 1852 in Union Co, GA; died 30 Jun 1926 in Graham Co, NC. She married Frank M Waldroup .

+ 17 ix John P³ Stewart , born 15 Mar 1856 in Union Co, GA; died 5 Dec 1948 in Towns Co, GA. He married Catherine Shook .

18 x Isham³ Stewart , born 1862/63 in Union Co, GA.

3. Dillard² Stewart (Noah¹), born 1810/11 in Haywood Co, NC; died 10 Dec 1861 or 20 Jan 1862 in Jonesboro, TN, Civil War. He married on 17 Aug 1834 in Haywood Co, NC Sarah Wallace , born 1813/14 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 1870/80 in Buncombe Co, NC, daughter of John Wallace and Sarah (---) .

Children of Dillard Stewart and Sarah Wallace were as follows:

+ 19 i Sarah Ann C³ Stewart , born 1834/35 in Haywood Co, NC. She married Montraville Wright .

+ 20 ii Nancy³ Stewart , born 1835/36 in Haywood Co, NC. She married ? (---) .

+ 21 iii Lucinda Jane³ Stewart , born Feb 1839/40 in Haywood Co, NC; died aft 1900 in Buncombe Co, NC. She married ? (---) .

+ 22 iv Emaline³ Stewart , born 1841/42 in Haywood Co, NC. She married William Elbert Lindsey .

23 v Rachel³ Stewart , born 1841/42 in Haywood Co, NC.

+ 24 vi Laurania "Lou"³ Stewart , born 1843/44 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 25 Jan 1930 in Buncombe Co, NC. She married ? (---) .

+ 25 vii John Dillard³ Stewart , born 1 May 1847 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 21 Aug 1931 in Danville, VA. He married (1) Ann Elizabeth Lindsey ; (2) Mary F Hill .

26 viii Noah Welborn "William"³ Stewart , born 2 Oct 1849 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 27 Oct 1929 in Buncombe Co, NC. He married on 2 Oct 1879 in Buncombe Co, NC Mary Ramsey , born 1860/61 in Buncombe Co, NC.

4. Mary² Stewart (Noah¹), born 1819/20 in Haywood Co, NC; died 1860/69 in Union Co, GA. She married (1) on 4 Nov 1835 in Haywood Co, NC James S Chandler , born in Haywood Co, NC; died 1837 in Haywood Co, NC; (2) in 1850/54 in Union Co, GA Joshua Gilbert , born 1809/10 in Chatham Co, NC; died 1880/1900 in Union Co, GA, son of Wilson Gilbert and Esther (---) .

Children of Mary Stewart and James S Chandler were as follows:

27 i John³ Chandler , born Aug 1836 in Haywood Co, NC; died aft 1900 in Union Co, GA.

Children of Mary Stewart and Joshua Gilbert were as follows:

28 i Hannah A³ Gilbert , born 1853/54 in Union Co, GA. She married on 8 Nov 1868 in Union Co, GA Greenberry Miller , born 1848/49 in Union Co, GA, son of Henry Miller and Mary (---) .

+ 29 ii Noah Washington³ Gilbert , born Jul 1855 in Union Co, GA; died Mar 1914 in Warne, Cherokee Co, NC. He married Ibiline Henderson (see 73).

5. Jacob² Stewart (Noah¹), born 1821/22 in Haywood Co, NC; died 5 Apr 1881 in McMinn Co, TN. He married on 25 Jun 1846 in Union Co, GA Tempey Stroud , born 1817/18 in Rutherford Co, NC or Buncombe Co, NC; died 1915 in McMinn Co, TN, daughter of David Stroud and ? (---) .

Children of Jacob Stewart and Tempey Stroud were as follows:

30 i Robert³ Stewart , born 1842/43 in Buncombe Co, NC.

31 ii Mary Ann³ Stewart , born 1846/47 in Union Co, GA.

32 iii Nancy³ Stewart , born 1849 in Union Co, GA.

33 iv Caroline³ Stewart , born 1851/52 in Union Co, GA.

34 v John³ Stewart , born 1853/54 in Union Co, GA.

35 vi Cordelia³ Stewart , born 1855/56 in Cherokee Co, NC.

36 vii William³ Stewart , born 1856/57 in Cherokee Co, NC.

37 viii Jacob³ Stewart , born 1862.

38 ix Washington³ Stewart , born 1864.

39 x Martha³ Stewart , born 1867.

40 xi Margaret E³ Stewart , born 3 Sep 1868 in McMinn Co, TN.

41 xii James³ Stewart