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- "One of Peter Stephens's sons was Lawrence... One can imagine the excitement and anticipation with which the little boy, about ten years old, traveled from the town in New Jersey or Pennsylvania where he had lived, across rivers, and through the tangled wilderness, full of new sights and sounds, and the danger of Indian attacks. In the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, he grew up on his father's large farm. On April 4, 1745 he purchased a 225-acre tract of land from his father. On August 4, 1747 he became a naturalized citizen of the colony. In 1747 he was made overseer of roads, and in 1749, he became constable.
"Lawrence was married twice. His first wife died about 1749, and about 1752 he married Mary Bowman, daughter of George Bowman, They had eight children.
"In 1776 Mary was left a widow. Believing in the cause of the American Revolution, she provided food for the soldiers and their horses.
"Lord Fairfax lived at Greenway Court approximately from 1748 to 1781, about 5.5 miles from Peter Stephens' family. As a protege of Fairfax, George Washington lived at Greenway Court for periods of time, while he helped to survey parts of that western wilderness included in the Northern Neck , of which Lord Fairfax was proprietor. Here also, George Washington first distinguished himself in preparing for the defense of the frontier against Indian attacks. It is believed that Washington must have had many contacts with the Stephens family, and particularly with Lewis Stephens, Lawrence's brother,
"The French and Indian War began in 1754, when Washington recruited three companies of frontiersmen, mostly from Frederick County, and traveled to the present site of Pittsburgh, to build a fort. At Great Meadows he met the French, and in a skirmish, killed eight or ten Indians and Frenchmen, and wounded others. The next day, after Fort Necessity had been thrown up hurriedly, Washington was surrounded and routed by a much superior force.
"Dan V. Stephens points out that it is regrettable that the muster roll of the three hundred men who accompanied Washington on the journey was lost. The same is true of the campaign the next year, when a large volunteer force of Frederick County frontiersmen joined Braddock in his march over the same road to Fort Duquesne. Washington participated in this campaign as an aide to Braddock, and undoubtedly Lewis Stephens and his company also were not only in the disastrous march to Great Meadows the year before, but also in the campaign with Braddock.
"During the entire period to the French and Indian War the Shenandoah Valley was subjected to the most brutal attacks from Indians, instigated by the French. This resulted in the building of Fort Louden at the head of one of the streets in Winchester, under the supervision of George Washington, who was just entering into his career as a soldier. During all of this time from 1748 to 1759 he could not have escaped being in contact with the active and energetic Lewis Stephens, who was apparently in everything that was going on in that county.
"Another evidence of the friendship that existed among the Stephenses, Lord Fairfax, and George Washington was the fact that Lawrence Stephens named one of his sons 'Brian Martin' after [Thomas Brian Martin] the nephew of Lord Fairfax. It is possible that George William Stephens, eldest son of Lawrence Stephens and Mary Bowman, was the namesake of George William Fairfax. -- Bond, Marian Saunders. Some Ancestors, pp. 43-46.
WILL OF LAWRENCE STEPHENS -- Will Book 4, page 398, Frederick County, Virginia
"In the name of God, Amen, I Lawrence Stephens of Frederick County and Colony of Virginia, being well in body and of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, but calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and that all men must die, do this tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1773, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in the manner following, that is to say, IMPRIMIS, I commend my soul to Almighty God and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried by and at the discretion of my Executrix and Executors hereinafter named, and as for my worldly estate, I dispose thereof as followeth; that is to say, I do first appoint all my debts and funeral expenses to be paid out of my real and personal estate, that is to say, I desire and order that two tracts of land lying on the westerly side of Shenandoah River on the drains of Crooked Run in the county aforesaid, be sold by my Executrix and Executors; to-wit: one of said tracts containing 463 acres as appears by deed aforesaid, dated the 27th day of July 1772. Also two lots in the town of Stephensburg, formerly belonging to Frederick Shively, which tracts and lots I desire them to be sold by my Executrix and Executors within six months after my decease. In case the above tracts doth discharge all my lawful debts, I will and order that none of my personal estate shall be sold. If the said tracts and lots, when sold, do sell for more than what will discharge my debts, I desire that it may be divided amongst the under named legatees. ITEM, I give to my wife all my movable estate and household furniture together with the plantation which joins the town of Stephensburg, containing 225 acres, for and during the time and term of nine whole years from my decease, it being for and in consideration of maintaining, clothing, schooling, and raising up the legatees of her own body. And at the expiration of the above time or term, the said plantation with half of the household furniture and movable estate be given unto my son George William with the hereditaments and appurtenances, also 200 pounds which is in the hands of Lawyer Jones in order to assist him to discharge a mortgage which my Lord Fairfax has upon said tract of land, the third part of the place excepted for the use of my wife during her natural life, also one of the negroes, either male or female, kind which she sees cause to choose, which negro I leave to dispose of as she pleases.
"What negros I have, with their increase, I will and desire that they may be sold by my Executrix and Executors at the expiration of the above term of nine years, the amount of which sales are to be equally divided amongst my sons Peter, John, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph Lawrence and Bryan Martin. Also a tract of land lying and being in the county aforesaid near the Sugar Hill with all of its tenements and appurtenances unto the above named legatees.
"ITEM -- I give and devise to my said wife, the house which I now live in with all the lots, outhouses and buildings thereon erected and built, also Carvers Lot, during her natural life, and at the expiration of her natural life, I desire the same may be sold and the amount of the same to be divided between my sons, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph Lawrence and Bryan Martin.
"ITEM -- I will and desire that my son George William shall pay unto each of the following legatees the different sums hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, to pay to my son Peter, ten pounds current money; my son John ten pounds; my daughter Mary, ten pounds; my daughter Sarah, ten pounds also my son Jacob, forty pounds; Isaac, forty pounds; Joseph Lawrence, forty pounds and Bryan Martin, forty pounds, to be paid as above by my son George William at the end and term of nine years after my decease and if any of said sons and daughters shall happen to die before they come to the age of 21 years, I desire the herein willed to them may be equally divided amongst the several legatees herein mentioned, and lastly, I do hereby make and constitute, nominate and appoint, her, my said wife Mary Stephens, together with Col. John Hite, David Brown and Joseph Smith of Maryland, joint Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament, desiring them to take upon themselves the execution of the same and to see the same duly and truly performed and also reasonable expenses, costs and charges as they, my said trustees, shall be at or expend in the execution of this my Will and the trust in them repose, shall be from time to time paid, borne and discharged out of my said estate. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
"Signed in the presence of us
Joseph Holmes
Joseph Stephens
John Emmitt His
Robert Throckmorton Lawrence X Stephens (SEAL)
Isaac Zane Mark
"At a Court held for Frederick County the 5th day of November, 1776, this last Will and Testament of Lawrence Stephens, deceased, was proved and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of Mary Stephens, Executrix therein named, who made oath according to Law Certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in due form, she with security having entered into and acknowledged bond conditioned as the law directs.
"By the Court, J.A. Keith, Clerk"
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Taylor Family Genealogy
Abt 1722 - 1776 (~ 54 years)
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