General Notes

REFN: Sp.D
"Know all men by these presents, that John Steward and James Steward areheld and firmly bound unto our Sovereign Lord King George, and second, bythe grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King defender ofthe faith in the sum of 50 pounds current money, to be paid to our Lord the King - - - with our seal the 22nd day of May, 1756."

Bondsmen definition=I would imagine it meant garantor of the groom's promise to marry. In those days, marriage bonds were often required to insure that the groom would keep his word and not get cold feet at the last minute, leaving the dear thing standing at the altar. Bondsmen would be other men who would garantee the grooms appearance, or who would hunt him down and exact their own retribution for his leaving them in the lurch also.

"James Stewart sold to John Stewart on Feb. 26, 1771, a 485 acre tractfor 45 pounds. (Halifax Co. deed 8, p. 138, (seen in the aerial photo).This was a James Stewart patent from Virginia dated June 27, 1764.

"John Stewart, from time to time, sold his land until he had left onlythe 84 acres in the south east section (see aerial photo). This is where he and wife, Jean, were living when on Oct. 28, 1805, (Halifax Co deed20, p. 584) they deeded the 84 acres to their sons-in-law Samuel Irby and Richard Epperson (who in turn sold the land to Daniel Singleton on Apri l24, 1809 for 89 pounds (Halifax Co. deed 22, p. 83).

"The record is as follows: October 28, 1805, John Stewart of the one part and Samuel Irby and Richard Epperson of Halifax Co., Va., of the other part. John Stewart for the sum of $400, conditioned for the maintenance of said John Stewart and Jane, his wife, for and during their natural lives and for further consideration of the sum of five shillings to him in hand paid by the said Samuel Irby and Richard Epperson, does transfer one parcel of land in Halifax Co. on which the said John Stewart lives and ownes; also all of his personal estate of every description; kitchen furniture, cattle, horses, etc.

"Daniel and James Singleton and Martha James were witnesses to the deed.It would appear that John and Jean Stewart died between October 28, 1805 and April 24, 1809, when the sons in law sold the 84 acre tract.

"No grave markers could be found on the 84 acre tract, but there are many unmarked field stone slabs in the County Line Cemetery where Irby graves with monuments are to be found. These are the Irbys of the Jean Stewart clan. Maybe the Stewarts are buried there also.

"The 230 acre tract of land east of the large John Stewart tract was purchased by William Fambrough in 1795 (Halifax Co. deed 16, p. 407) for180 pounds. He sold the tract on Feb. 7, 1801 for 150 pounds, (HalifaxCo. deed 19, p. 250).

"On March 25, 1820 and May 19, 1821 John McGregor purchased a total of 155 acres of the above Fambrough tract, including the headwaters of the Fambrough Spring Branch. John McGregor married on September 28, 1829 to Mary Ridley Irby, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Irby, and grand daughter of John and Jean Stewart.