Individual Details

http://www.stokescounty.org/stokesyesterday.htm
Stokes County Yesterday

Rowan County divided in 1770 and formed Surry County, and in 1789 Surry County was divided to form Stokes County.

Stokes County was named for a Colonel John Stokes.

John Stokes was born March 20, 1756 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. John Stokes was a well-educated man and when he joined the revolutionary army he rose quickly through the ranks. Commissioned an ensign in the 6th Virginia Regiment on February 16, 1776, promoted to Second Lieutenant in July 1776, to First Lieutenant December 1776, and to Captain; February 20, 1778. He engaged in several battles and was based near Williamsburg. He went to South Carolina to help defend Charleston under command of Colonel Buford in 1780. Before arriving there they were attacked by a superior force under British General Tarlton at Waxhaw and suffered a disastrous defeat.

Captain Stokes was severely wounded and taken captive. Of John Stokes’ experience in the Waxhaws massacre of May 29, 1780, it has been written:

“Early in the sanguinary conflict he was attacked by a dragoon, who aimed deadly blows at his head, all of which, by the dexterous use of his small sword, he easily parried; when another dragoon attacked from the right, and by one stroke cut off his right hand. They both then attacked him, and instinctively attempting to defend his head with his left arm, that was hacked in eight or ten places from the wrist to the shoulder and a finger cut off. His head was laid open almost the whole length of the crown to the eyebrows. A soldier passing asked if he expected quarter. Stokes answered: ‘I have not, nor do I mean to ask it; finish me as soon as possible;’ whereupon the soldier transfixed him twice with his bayonet.”

Astonishingly, John Stokes survived. He was a prisoner until May 1, 1783. After the war President George Washington appointed him United States Judge for the District of Western North Carolina.

From Documentary History fo the Supreme Court of the U.S., 1789-1800 by Maeva Marcus & James R. Perry, Columbia University Press [no date]
Spring and Fall Circuits 1790
Judge John Stokes (1756-1790) a native of Virginia, moved to Halifax County, NC shortly before the Revolution. When the war began, he returned to Virginia to serve in its Continental Line. After suffereing a wound that required amputation of his right hand, Stokes was taken prisoner by the British. In 1783, after his release, he returned to North Carolina, settling in one of the state's western counties. Little is known of his legal education, or early legal career. He served as state senator from Montgomery Co (1786-1787), and after moving to Salisbury, represented Rowan Co in the House of Commons, 1789, as well as in the state ratifying convention in Fayetteville. Although he preferred the business of his large plantation outside of Salibury to that of the legal profession, Stokes accumulated one of the largest law libraries in the state. He also took in young law students, one of whom was future president Andrew Jackson. President Washington nominated John Stokes U.S. judge for the district of NC on August 2, 1790, after William Richardson Davie declined the appointment. Stokes, however, died of a fever on October 12, 1790, and never sat with the court.

Betsey Pearson married John Stokes, 8 May 1788, Rowan Co NC

When Stokes County was formed; in 1789, it included what is now Forsyth County. Germanton, the county seat, was located very near the center of the county, and was also located on the “great road” from the north.

It was not until 1849 that Forsyth County was formed, creating the boundary of what we know today as Stokes County.

Stokes died 12 Oct 1790 in Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. [This place of death is curious, given that he seemed to have left land in Rowan Co - see later.] John Stokes said to be a son of David Stokes, b. 23 Oct 1707, d. 12 Sept 1794 and Sarah Montfort, b. 1717, d. 1800. However, other parents are suggested for him in various databases. The only child of John & Betsey Pearson Stokes said to be Richmond Pearson Stokes, born about 1789. Neither Betsey, nor her son were mentioned in the Will of her father in 1819; perhaps they did not survive.

The following may be the death of Betsey:
Rowan Co NC Will Abstracts, Vol. 1 1753-1805 Books A-F
Jo White Linn, 1970
Vol II 1805-1850 Books G-K
1971
Bound together - separate indexes
p.32
B:173 Elisabeth Stokes Nuncupative will; she departed this life, 16 Mar 1791. Benefic: Sarah Pearson.
Wit: Richmond Pearson, Elizabeth (X) Pearson
Transcribed from digital image at FamilySearch.org"
The noncupative Will of Elisabeth Stokes who departed this life on the sixteenth day of March 1791.
Elisabeth Stokes in her last sickness made the following disposition a part of her property that is to say she gave & devised to Sarah Pearson one Negro girl named Mary about the age of five years to her heirs & assigns forever.
The above noncupative was made in the presence of the subscribers
Richmond Pearson
Elizabeth (X) Pearson
The signature of this Elizabeth is curious. Richmond's marriage to Eliza Mumford did not take place until later in 1791 and she is never referred to as Elizabeth, only Eliza. The 1790 census suggests Richmond was already widowed and first wife Sarah Haden Pearson deceased. Betsey, daughter of Richmond, had married John Stokes in 1788 - Stokes died in 1790. This would seem to be Richmond's daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" who is dying. If so, it's likely she left no children as Richmond Pearson mentioned no daughter Elizabeth or Betsey in his will in 1819. Sarah Pearson is also a puzzle - Richmond would have a daughter named Sarah by his second wife, not born until about 1802.



Found in the Kentucky Revolutionary War Warrants database online:
John Stokes, Warrant #1396. 4666 2/3 acres of land due in consideration of his service for seven years as a Captain in the Continental Line, 19 July 1783. [Only the warrant was found in this file - perhaps never claimed.]
[This one obviously a different John Stokes since Betsey's John was alive in 1784]
Warrant #3547. Benjamin Stokes heir at law to John Stokes, dec'd. 100 acres in consideration of John Stokes services for three years as a Soldier in the Virginia State Lin. 30 Nov 1784. It is interesting that this tract was assigned to George Reid and Matthew Pearson [relationship to any of the Rowan Co Pearsons unknown]. Reid and Pearson also had been assigned Warrant 3029 and the two Warrants were surveyed as 1442 acres, part of an entry of 1800 acres made on 2 Aug 1791.

The following would not seem to be records of the John Stokes, husband of Betsey since he is said to have died in 1790. But the name is the same, and Richmond might have been purchasing land which had not been transferred since the death of John.
Abstracts of Deed Books 15-19; Rowan County NC 1797-1807
James W. Klutz 1997
#2116 DB 18, p.505
7 Jan 1803 Sherrif's Sale to Richmond Pearson. Execution of Rowan Ct against John Stokes. 695a on Anthonys Crk seized & sold 10 Jan 1799. Pearson was highest bidder. Ack Feb Ct 1803

#2117 DB 18, p.506
13 Feb 1803 Sheriff's sale to Richmond Pearson. Execution of Halifax Ct against John Stokes, dec'd. 274 a adj Joseph William, John Stokes, Pearson, Christian Sheeks & Nicholas Click. Sale 28 Mar 1800, Pearson high bidder. Ack Feb Ct 1803

Birth	10 Aug 1773
Christen	29 Nov 1773
Marriage	7 May 1788	Rowan County, North Carolina - John Stokes
Death	Maybe Mar 1791

Spouse

John Stokes (1756 - 1790)

Father	Richmond Pearson (1751 - 1819)
Mother	Sarah Haden (1756 - 1790)
Sibling	Joseph A. Pearson (1776 - 1834)
Sibling	Jesse A. Pearson ( - 1825)
Sibling	Richmond Pearson Jr. ( - )
Sibling	George Pearson ( - 1819)