Genealogy for James Sturdivant

I descended from Martha "Mattie" Frances Sturdevant-Dean-Connett-Wicker (1886-1897): She is the daughter of William Sturdivant (1812 - 1891) and Ruth Cloud. William's father was James Sturdevant, a Revolutionary War patriot. Ruth's marriage to William did not last long and only bore 2 children, Martha and Shepard. Ruth married about 1838 and died about 1845.

William remarried Caroline Bowers Jackson-Sturdivant and had many more children. Census still shows that Martha and Sheppard were in household with step mother, Caroline (see below). DAR has approved lineage for her half-sisters, Jemima and Elizabeth Sturdivant, who are daughters of William and Caroline Sturdivant.

The marriage of George Wicker to Martha Sturdevant-Connett indicates her parents as William Sturdevant and Ruth Cloud.

Associated Ancestor (Revolutionary) Record

STURTEVANT, JAMES

Ancestor #: A110694

Service:

VIRGINIA Rank(s): CIVIL SERVICE

Birth:

CIRCA 1738 SURRY CO VIRGINIA

Death:

ANTE 12-8-1796 LUNENBURG CO VIRGINIA

Service Source:

ABERCROMBIE & SLATTEN, VA REV PUB CLAIMS, VOL 2, P 651

Service Description:

1) FURNISHED A GUN

*research

Searches have been done for online land records, deeds, wills, family histories without finding a sourced document to verify that William Sturdivant is the son of James Sturdivant. While on-line family histories agree that William is the oldest child of James and Nancy Brintle Sturdivant, I cannot find an acceptable source listed. After extensive online searching, however, I have created a timeline that should verify the relationship.

James Sturdivant married Nancy Brintle 8 June 1811 in Lunenburg Co VA

Using census records, William Sturdivant’s year of birth 1812 and place of birth VA

Family histories report that the James Sturdivant family moved from Lunenburg VA to NC around 1822 and daughter Rebecca seems to be the first child born there in 1822

1830 census for Surry NC show James Sturdivant with children ages matching family histories

William married Ruth Cloud sometime around 1838, probably in NC

1840 census for Surry Co NC has James Sturdivant but William may be in Anson, NC

1840 daughter Martha Sturdivant born to William and Ruth Cloud Sturdivant in NC

If the 1840 census for Anson, NC is indeed Wm’s family, there was a son that did not survive

1842 son Shepard Sturdivant was born to William and Ruth Cloud Sturdivant in NC

Ruth Cloud Sturdivant is reported to have died between time of Shepard’s birth in 1842 and 1850 census 1850 census shows William in Surry NC with new wife Caroline Bowers and children Martha and Shepard 1850 census shows William in Surry NC house 111 on page 275 and James Sturdivant in Surry Co house 132 page 277 so they were very close to each other

A search of each of William’s siblings show movement to Hamilton County IN with Benjamin first found there with marriage in 1838, followed by Henry married there in 1845 and they were both there 1850 census and subsequent census

1850 census for James and Nancy Sturdivant in Surry Co VA list children Nancy, Eliza, Elizabeth, John, and Letha which are consistent with family histories

James seems to have died between the 1850 and 1860 census as not found again

1860 census for Hamilton Co IN shows mother Nancy Brintle Sturdivant living with her youngest daughter Letha Jane Sturdivant Owens

Also 1860 census in Hamilton Co IN: William, Benjamin, Henry, Rebecca, Nancy, Eliza, and Elizabeth

The only son that could not track to IN was youngest son John

Nancy Brintle Sturdivant’s headstone in Hinkle Creek Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton Co IN lists BD and DD and wife of James Sturdivant

William is found in Hamilton County IN in 1870 and 1880 census

A memorial has been added to Hinkle Creek Cemetery in Hamilton Co for William but no stone was found. Family notes suggest he was buried there as his mother and several siblings were. A call to the cemetery could not verify as many of the cemetery records were lost in a fire. It is a Quaker Cemetery and a record was found for brother Henry listing parents as James and Nancy Sturdivant but none found for William or Caroline Sturdivant. Another suggestion in family is that he is buried at Boxley Cemetery where his son Shephard and sister Eliza Wiles are.

Correct on Sturdevant-135