This article is from the Catawba-Wateree Chapter, SCGS newsletter, Messenger, Vol. 9, # 3, Mar 1996, 1645 Highway Church Road, Elgin, SC 29045 Submitted by: K. S. Richards Stover Of Lancaster and Kershaw, S.C. This family of Stover is descended from John Stover, who died in Lancaster County, South Carolina, between 1788 and 1790. His wife is said to have been Mary, daughter of Thomas Bradford. From records hereafter shown, this tradition seems substantially correct. The records of the Stover family of the Valley in Virginia have been carefully checked, and there does not appear to be any connection between that family and the above John Stover. His family may have or originated in South Carolina and underwent a change in name. Mary Stover's name in the Census was sometimes spelled "Stober". On February 11, 1775-76, John Martain Strober of Craven in South Carolina and Sarah, his wife, sold to Benjamin Hall of Craven, for (*Pound Sterling) 130,25 acres in Parish of St. Marks in Craven on both side of Flat Creek, a branch of Lynch's Creek, bounded by Robert Harper. Surveyed October 5, 1758 for John Baker. Wits: Jonas Guffen. (Before William Welch, J.P.) (C. and E. 52 recorded April 20, 1790.) (From Charleston Wills Book II, 1767-71, p. 176.) Will of Jacob Strobar, Parish of Peter, County of Granville, dated July 29, 1767; probated September 19, 2767. To wife Catharine "one third of my estate except the cash and money due that I desire may be laid out for negroes to put them on plantation; to sons John Strobar and Jacob Strobar my plantation to be equally divided between them and two lots in Perrysburgh Town, one that is building to John and the other to Jacob, to son Henry (*Pounds Sterling) 1000 current money out of the plantation, rest of personal and real estate to be divided between them as they come of age-younger children to be schooled. Jacob Hartstrom and son John to be executors, likewise my brother George Strobar. Wits: Henry Dunn, Lewis M. Morgan, Nicholas Westuby." John Storbber paid for 115 days militia duty 1781-82. John Slover, or Stover, paid (*pounds Sterling) 2 - 17/4 June 28, 1785 for furnishing Gen. Morgan's Brigade with munitions and pork in 1780. (S.C. Rev. Indents, Bk. R-T.) The only Stovers shown in the Census of 1790, besides the "widow Stover", (see later) were John and Charles Stover of Clarendon County, Camden District. John Stover was head of a family of three males under 16, five females, and eight slaves. Charles had himself and one son under 16, three males under 16, six females and 18 slaves. John Stover, the direct ancestor of this family, on December 17, 1788, bought from William Johnston and Jean, his wife, of Lancaster County, for 4000 lbs. tobacco, 100 acres on Bever Creek in Lancaster "where the said John Stover now lives". (B-212.) This deed was witnessed by Thomas Bradford and Samuel B. Bradford. They were probably his wife's brothers, as John Stover married Mary Bradford, daughter of Thomas Bradford, and one of her sons was named "Thomas Bradford Stover". The above record is the first and only one so far found of John Stover. He does not appear in the Census of 1790 for Lancaster, but his wife appears in the census as the "widow Stover", head of a family of four males under 16 and four females including herself. She moved to Liberty Hill in Kershaw County and appears as "Mary Stober" in the 1800 Census for that county. She had one son between 10 and 16, one between 16 and 26, one daughter under 10, one between, one between 16 and 26, and herself between 26 and 45, in her household. These two sons were William Bradford Stover, born June 24, 1782, and Thomas Bradford Stover, born October 7, 1788. (Family Bible.) These dates agree with the ages shown in the above Census of 1790. Thomas Bradford, who witnessed the above deed of 1788, appears in the Census of 1790 for Lancaster as head of a family and so does Samuel Bradford. In Kershaw in 1800, Thomas Bradford was head of a family of four males under 10 and three females 10 to 16, also his wife and himself between 26 and 45. (Neither Thomas not Samuel Bradford appears in Lancaster in 1800.) Mary Stober appears in the Census for Kershaw in 1810 as head of a family of one son between 16 and 26, one daughter between 16 and 26, and herself, over 45. (Born before 1765>) Her son William Stover appears by himself in the Census of 1810 for Kershaw as head of a family consisting of himself and wife. On October 22, 1808, John Hood and Elizabeth, his wife, deeded to Mary Stover and Thomas Stover of Kershaw 150 acres in Lancaster on Rock Creek, originally granted to William Mattox. (G. 208-9.) On May 16, 1818, Mary Stover deeded to Thomas Stover 141 acres on both sides of Rocky Creek in Lancaster. Witnesses: James Clancy, Jean Douglas, before James Douglas, J.P. (M. 208.) This deed was recorded in 1831 after Mary Stover's death. Mary Stover died before January 15, 1827, for on that date Robert Cunningham, William B. Stover, William B. Gardner and William McCain, heirs of Mary Stover, deceased, deeded to Thomas Stover the southwest one-half of 150 acres deeded to Mary Stover and Thomas Stover by John Hood. (M. 299.) Women did not have any property rights in South Carolina in those days. Inasmuch as their husbands signed the deed for their property, their names remain unknown Children of John and Mary Bradford Stover: 1. William Bradford Stover, born June 24, 1782, m. Sarah McWillie of Kershaw County, South Carolina, daughter of Colonel Adam McWillie. (See "McWillie- Cunningham Families" by Robert B. Johnson.) 1. William Bradford Stover moved to Alabama about 1825, where he appears in the Census for Conecuh County in 1850 (p. 182) as follows; William B. Stover, age 69, born in South Carolina. Sarah Stover, age 60, born in Ireland. Elizabeth Stover, age 22, born in Alabama Their family Bible shows that he was born June 24, 1782, his wife, June 6, 1790; his daughter Elizabeth Tirzah, June 24, 1826, m. Mumford D. Perryman. 2. Daughter, m. Robert Cunningham. 3. Daughter, m. William B. Gardner 4. Daughter, m. William McCain 5. Thomas Bradford Stover, b. October 7, 1788, died January 18, 1854, m. Mary Elizabeth Russell, born October 12, 1799, died May 29, 1880. She was the daughter of William and Mary (Ballard) Russell. Mary (Ballard) Russell. Mary Ballard was a daughter of Thomas Ballard, a captain in the Revolution, and his wife, Mary Parks. (Notes from an article published in the Kershaw News-Era, by Mrs. E.C. Croxton, Health Springs, S.C., "The Stover Family". 1946. Furnished by Mrs. Ben C. Hough, Jr.): "Nearly a century and a quarter have passed since there was solemnized a marriage between Thomas Stover and Mary Elizabeth Russel near Liberty Hill, South Carolina. They became members of the Presbyterian Church there. (It may not be amiss to say here that natives of that cultured community used to tell that even the dogs of Liberty Hill were Presbyterian.) "The Russells, said to be from Warren County, North Carolina, were people of means and culture and what is now known as Stoneboro was their home place - then known as Russell Place. Mary Elizabeth had two sisters - one became Mrs. Ruben (Millie) Bailey. (Elmer Bailey is a grandson of this couple.) The other sister, Martha, became Mrs. Sigmon Gillum. "Thomas Stover died at the age of 56 and is buried at Liberty Hill. Mary Elizabeth lived to be 81 years old and is buried in Bethel Church Yard. They were the parents of ten children. All reached maturity except first son, William, who, when quite a young man, was killed by a "horse." Children: 01. John Cunningham Stover m. Rebecca Truesdale (See later.) 02. James Leveal Stover m. (1) ____ Baskins; (2) Amelia Creighton. Children by his first wife: a. Thomas Charles Stover, m. ____ Jones. b. Jimmie W. Stover, m.____ Drakeford. c. David Bertram Stover, m. Minnie Cherry. d. Henrietta Stover, m. Martin Cauthen. Children by second wife: a. Robert Lee Stover, m. _____ Tennant. b. Edward B. Stover, m. c. Janie Stover, m._____ White. 03. Thomas Bradford Stover, m. (1850 - 51) Mary Vanlandingham. Thomas was killed in the Civil War. Children: a. John Stover, m. "Teenie" Rollings. b. Sion Stover, m. Emma Hilliard. c. Sarah Stover, m. Alista Cauthen. d. Minnie Stover, never married. 04. David Stover, (was killed in the Civil War.) 05. William Stover, m. Polly Truesdale. Children: a. Elizabeth Stover, m. Thomas Barton. b. Mattie Stover, - unmarried, died at 78, buried at Salem. c. Nannie Stover, m. S. N. Hammond. 3 children. d. David Stover, m. Alice Stover. e. William Stover, m. (1) Nacy Cauthen; (2) Eunice Cauthen. f. Andrew Stover, m. (1) Lila Carter; (2) Bessie McKnight. g. Truesdale Stover, m. Sallie Cauthen. h. Essie Stover, m. Andrew Moseley. i. Dora Stover, m. J. M. Moseley. j. Sarah Stover, m. Ruffin Mackey. 06, Mary Stover, m. Joshua Hendrix. Children: a. John Hendrix, m. Sallie Crenshaw. b. William (Billie) Hendrix. c. Thomas Hendrix, m. Ella Bell. d. Elizabeth Hendrix, m. Joe Caskey ( She died young.) e. Sarah Hendrix, m. Joe Caskey. 4 children. f. David Hendrix, m. Matilda Hunter. 6 children. 07. Sarah Stover, m. John Gay. Children: a. Alice Gay, m. Hollis Horton. b. Laura Gay, m. Burrell Jones. c. Sue Gay, m. James Robertson. d. Millie Gay, m. Thomas Horton. e. Rebecca Gay, m. John Gaskins. f. Lou Gay, m. John Gaile. g. Simmie Gay, m. Butler Gay. h. Vergie Gay, m. John Estridge. 8 & 9. Martha Stover and Jane Stover never married. They made their home with brother, William Stover. The house in which William Stover and Polly Truesdale Stover reared all their children is standing about three miles west of Health Springs, South Carolina. William was born about 1828. John Cunningham Stover, son of Thomas B. and Mary (Russell) Stover, was born March 13, 1822 in Kershaw County and died June 22, 1904. He married February, 1846, at Kershaw, Kershaw County, North Carolina, Sarah Rebecca Truesdale, born Sept. 27, 1827; died April 11, 1907; daughter to Camilla (Cauthen) and John Truesdale. He was a planter and served during the War Between the States as a soldier in Co. I, 12th Infantry, commanded by Col. T. F. Clyburn, Confederate Army. Children: 01. Camilla, b. February 3, 1847. 02. Laura Cornelia, b. September 23 1848, m. B. M. Jones (See Later). 03. Sarah, b. July 9, 1850, m. Mr. Gray. 04. John, b. October 30, 1852. 05. Matilda, b. 1853, m. Mr. Robinson. 06. Alice, b. August 11, 1854, m. Mr. Horton. 07. James, b. May 28, 1858, m. Miss Orvens. 08. Rebecca Nancy, b. April 15, 1860. 09. Susan, b. March 15, 1862. 10. Martha Louisa, b. January 24, 1866. 11. Samuel, b. September 23, 1867, m. Mrs. Gay. 12 Virgia Viola, b. 1869, m. Mr. Estridge. 13. Henry, b. September 16, 1870, m. Mrs. Gay. Laura Cornilia Stover, born September 23, 1848, died Feb. 27, 1920 at Kershaw; married November 18, 1869 Burrell Marion Jones, born August 24, 1847, died August 31, 1934 at Kershaw. He was a son to Harriet (Horton) and Col. Burrell Jones of Kershaw. Col. Jones was born September 29, 1809 and died May 16, 1896 and wife was born August 30, 1830, died October 12, 1906. Col. Jones' father, Samuel Jones, b. 1756, d. January 20, 1847, was the last Revolutionary War Veteran of Kershaw County. He came to South Carolina with his father William Jones and wife Elizabeth King from Virginia. Burrell M. Jones served in a South Carolina regiment during the War Between the States. Children: 01. James Samuel Jones, b. September 15, 1870, unmarried. 02. Lemuch Cunningham, b. October 4, 1873, m. ____ Crow. 03. Wade Hampton, b. September 22, 1876. 04. Rebecca Stover, b. June 11 (?), unmarried. 05. Harnett Susan, b. July 1, 1881, died young. 06. Laura Amelia, b. December 16, 1882, unmarried. 07. Marion Burrell, b. June 30, 1884, unmarried. 08. Ida Louise, b. June 19, 1886, m. ____ Mathis. 09. Edward John, b. March 6, 1888, m. Turluck. 10. Dora Lyllie, b. May 6, 1890, m. B.M. Ellison Sr.
