Abstract of Will of John Stembridge of Lunenburg Co., VA Recorded: 18 Oct 1830
In the name of God amen, I John Stembridge of the county of Lunenburg & state of Va…
1st Just debts be paid…
Item My son James Stembridge my tract of land lying in the county of Mecklenburg which my son John Stembridge died seized of.
Item My son Baker Stembridge and my daughter America Slaughter to them & their heirs one negro woman named Ron [or Ren] with all her increase to be equally divided between them also I give unto them one dollar each.
Item I give unto my daughter Sally Stembridge & to her heirs forever my tract of land lying in the county of Hancock state of Georgia which my son John Stembridge died seized of.
Item It is my will and desire that all the rest of my estate both real & personal (not heretofore bequeathed) at my death to be equally divided between my following mentioned children To wit: Betty Townsand?, James Stembridge, Lucy Smith, Polly Roberts and William Stembridge.
Lastly I nominate & appoint my son James Stembridge Exec. to this my last will and testament.
Witnesses: [sig] John [his mark] Stembridge
John S Jeffers [or John L Jeffers?]
Lattney M. Gregory
Drury A. Harris
At a Court held for Mecklenburg County on the 19th day of July 1830 The foregoing last will and testament of John Stembridge decd was this day produced into Court & proved by the oaths of the subscribing witnesses thereto & Ordered to be recorded and at another court held for said county on the 18th day of October 1830 James Stembridge the Executor therein named appeared in court and refused to take upon himself the burden of the execution thereof and on motion of John S. Jeffries who made oath thereto and together with Thomas B. Puryear and John G. Baptist his securities entered to and acknowledge their bond in the penalty of $6000. conditioned according to Law certificate is
granted him for obtaining letter of administration with the will on record in due form. E. L. Tabb
I believe the above John Stembridge who died before his father was the John Stembridge who married in 1802 to Sally Graves. He appears to have lived in the same neighborhood in which our Graves families lived in Mecklenburg as did his brother James Stembridge. I believe that Sally Graves was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Graves and that she was deceased without issue by the time her father’s will was made.
Does anyone have information on this family ?
Posted by Susan Crawforn on Ancestry.net
Date: 22 Jun 2003
Is the black female slave’s full name Rena Bell Stembridge of fort valley georgia?
Hey there, where did you find Rena’s name referenced with this?
My paternal grandmother’s name is Rena Bell Stembridge of Fort Valley Georgia and my deceased father’s name is Johnny Bernard Stembridge.
Thanks Everett, I will take a look, and see if there’s anything written!
Is there any further documentation or information on the black slaves belonging to the Stembridge family?
I truly believe that there are some family ties regarding mine and yours. I can trace my fathers side to Hancock Co., GA to include Sparta, Edenton, Milledgville, Greenville and surrounding areas.
Hey there…. where are you located geographically btw? I don’t have any further documentation; but have met many a “african-american (AA)Stemridges, and once found myself directly behind a “Stembridge Van Lines” tour bus in Atlanta, owned by an AA Stembridge family.
I have heard that as slaves were emancipated, they oftentimes took on the last name of their owners. This was certainly the case in Hancock county, as there are possibly more AA stembridges than… well the ofters!
My Dad lives in Milledgeville, and has helped out with a lot of great info, please pass along any you have, you can send a longer note via contact page,
Thanks! David
I AM FROM LONG ISLAND NY, BUT CURRENTLY LIVE IN NC. MY DAD IS FROM GA., HANCOCK CO. THAT “STEMBRIDGE COACHLINE” BUS YOU WERE BEHIND BELONGS TO MY UNCLE IN ATLANTA, HE OWNS THE COMPANY. I THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO MY REQUEST. THE STEMBRIDGE NAME IS UNCOMMON IN THESE PARTS, INCLUDING NY…..SO WHEN AND IF I DO HEAR THE NAME, IM INSTANTLY CURIOUS. IT IS INTERESTING TO KNOW NOW THAT THERE ARE POSSIBLY MORE AA STEMBRIDGES THAN “OTHERS”. WE HAVE OUR “STEMBRIDGE” FAMILY REUNION BI-ANNUALLY, IN THE AREA. IM HOPING THAT THE 2010 REUNION WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA INSTEAD OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS. I GREATLY APPRECIATE RECIEVING ANY INFO YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THE STEMBRIGE NAME AND I WILL DO THE SAME. THANKS
Thanks for writing back john, that is too cool hearing about your uncle! I have met a number of AA Stembridges through the years. I was a photojournalist in Atlanta for a number of years, and met many then. Sadly, the roots of course trace back to the dark period of America’s history prior to the Emancipation Proclamation; or perhaps just following. I do know that I had a Great x3 Grandfather that owned a big cotton plantation just south of Milledgeville. The property is located on Stembridge Rd and the land is still owned by Stembridges… (not my direct family) I imagine after the Boll Weavel disasters in the early 20th century, many families moved on and started spreading out. I am also guessing many former slaves used their owners last names. There are many cemeteries in Baldwin County that are filled with AA Stembridges. My Dad did some research on this years ago. I have been to several of the cemeteries myself. Thanks again for your note and information. BTW, does your Uncle have a website?
WOW DAVID IM FAMILIAR WITH A STEMBRIDGE RD. A FEW YEARS BACK DURING A FAM REUNION, ALL OF US (THE STEMBRIDGE CLAN) WENT OUT TO VISIT THE PROPERTY THAT MY FATHER AND ALL OF MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS GREW UP ON. I COULD HAVE SWORN IT WAS IN SPARTA, BEING THAT SPARTA IS HIS BIRTH PLACE. I REMEMBER TAKING A PICTURE OF THE SIGN THAT READ “STEMBRIDGE ROAD”. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LAND STILL BELONGED TO THE STEMBRIDGE’S. INTERESTING. OUR ROOTS IN AMERICA DO TRACE BACK TO A DARK PERIOD IN HISTORY, HOWEVER IT IS A PART HISTORY AND WE SHOULD ALL EMBRACE EVERY PART OF IT. I FEEL A SINCE OF PRIDE WHEN I LEARN ABOUT MY FAMILY PAST, WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THE STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY. JUST LIKE MY FAMILY REUNION SLOGAN SAYS…..”WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER” ON MY NEXT TRIP TO GA., I REALLY WANT TO VISIT THE CEMETERY YOU MENTIONED IN BALDWIN COUNTY. I WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING TO MY UNCLE IN THE COMING WEEKS AND I WILL FIND OUT THE EXACT WEB ADDRESS FOR STEMBRIDGE COACH LINES. IM NOT SURE IF SO, BUT IF SPARTA IS JUST SOUTH OF MILLEDGEVILLE THEN WE MAY BE SPEAKING OF THE SAME LOCATION AT STEMBRIDGE RD. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR INFO.
Hi John, here’s a picture of the sign, I took a couple years ago. We drive past this when driving from Waynesboro over to visit my Dad in Milledgeville. Thanks for the note, and I agree, we are in this together. I do hope that you have a solid faith in God, if so, we are brothers in Christ! Thanks again, David
Stembridge Rd in Baldwin county, just south of Milledgeville, Georgia
Interested in data on the 2010 reunion. Our address is 1660 Trolley Rd. Apt.
B12 Summerville SC 29485
I am the son of the late Eugene Stembridge and my mother is Carrie Stembridge of Ridgeville SC
Feedback on this reunion would be greatly appreciated, my wife and I are looking forward to meeting everyone. THANKS A LOT MARK JERONE STEMBRIDGE.
I haven’t heard about this…. How long have y’all been in Summerville?
Thanks! David
Hello Mark and Cassie. The next reunion will indeed be in 2010. I personally haven’t gotten any information as of yet. Letters most will most likely be mailed out early next year.
“It will be hard…but you come from sturdy, peasant stock, men who picked cotton and dammed rivers and built railroads, and, in the teeth of the most terrifying odds, achieved an unassailable and monumental dignity.. You come from a long line of great poets, some of the greatest since Homer. one of them said, The very time I thought I was lost, My dungeon shook and my chains fell off.” by James Baldwin
This quote confirms the reality of the roots of American racism/slavery and how it has led to a journey of greatest that is our rightful inheritance as Americans. Therefore, acknowledging the historical significance and impact of slavery on my family, and America, I, Everett Stembridge, pledge/vow to continue to fulfill a legacy of leadership and Service to/for our country, The United States of America.
Thanks for the powerful words Everett!
May God Bless you and your family, and guide and direct you!!!!
hello. my name is mark stembridge and i am from hull in east yorkshire england, uk. there is a lot of us stemo,s in england and i would love to here from more of you from across the pond. love you all. mark stembridge
Hi. I am a New Zealand relation. I was born in Rotorua and have an older brother Derek who lives in Auckland he has a two children Kimberley and Taron and a step son Shaun.Sadly my Dad, Alexander George Stembridge has been gone for 15yrs.Allhis sisters have passed on too.My Mum is still with me in Te Puke Bay of Plenty and she’s 85.My Granddad William Thomas Stembridge family was from Somerset, and his wife Milly Norris’s family was from Devon…or visa verser.Wishing your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. from your NZ cousins.
My name ie Martha Stembridge Robbins, I was born in 1944 I am now 66. My daddys name was Victor Arnold Stembridge, His daddys name was John Layfatte Stembridge and he married effie Magdelene stanford and daddy had to brothers edgar Stembridge and Mitchell Stembridge I have a brother Jimmy Allen Stembridge My brother Jackie Rouce Stembridge has passed away, I have a sister Nina Jean Stembridge and another Nancy Janice Stembridge who has passed away. Uncle Edgar had 3 children Bobby, Frances, and Linda Stembridge We all was raised in and around Saltillo and Tupelo Miss. We have akways heard that the Stembridges came from England yes, or no, or do you all know? Thanks Martha
Hi Martha, thank you for the note,
If you can look through the Genealogy page, you may find some clues. I didn’t see anything specific; but this is’t a complete listing. The original Stembridge brothers did come over from England, and I believe trace back to Wales. What part of the US do you live in?
Thanks for writing!
we was raised in a place called Saltillo Mississippi which is near Tupelo Mississippi. MY great granddaddys name was James (Jim) Stembridge he was of small statue and had a bird down to his waist, I never got to know him. Amd my granddaddys name was John Stembridge, I had two uncles Mitchel and Edgar Stembridge and I heard along the way we had kinfolks in North Carolina, and we originial came from England, I am going to find out more if I possible can, I bet we are all kin folks some way or the other. Hello cousins!!!
It is interesting to read there are other Edgars as names. My grandfather was an Edgar also. Here in Macon,Ga there are a relatively few Stembridges. My father was a farmer as was his father. We usaed to have a family reunion in Perry,Ga. every summer but I dont know if it still is being held. I find this interesting. Bye
Thanks for dropping by Edgar, yeah they did finally stop for the most part the reunion, I think they still do have a smaller gathering, I know my Dad has mentioned it a few times. Let me know if you are interested in knowing more, I can ask him!
Hello all those Stembridge’s out there in the big wide world! I live in Surrey in the UK. The Stembridge name originates from Bridport here – near to Somerset. I’ve been there – its just a small village with 1 village pub but no shops! My wife is researching her side of the family tree right now, but hopes to get onto the Stembridge’s some time soon. I’ll come back and let you know what she finds. How did they end in America? I do know from a previous quick look that there was a Stembridge who worked as a Fire Officer on a big ship that sailed between the UK and USA – he docked quite a few times there in the early 1900s. I’ll be back. Happy for you to email me your family histories to see if we can link them up! Bye for now.
My great great great grandfather came from Wales. His name was Samuel Stembridge he was born in June of 1799, in Tredegar Monmouthshire, Wales. I think his father is Matthew Stembridge, he might have been born in England or Wales. He is a puzzle, we just can’t find any information as to Samuel’s father or mother. Samuels son is William Samuel Stembridge, he was born August 9, 1841 in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales. He migrated to the United States and died in Salt Lake City, Utah. His daughter was Elizabeth Agnes Stembridge, she was born December the first, 1862, in Tredegar, Mon. Wales. Her daughter was Vera Gibbons. She was born in Oakley, Summit County, Utah. She is my grandma. If anyone has any information concerning Samuel Stembridge and his extended family, I would most interested to hear from you. Pamela Jensen
Hi Pamela,
I looked through the genaelogy page here: http://www.genealogy.stembridge.org/stem1.php but didn’t see anything that stood out. Please take a look, perhaps you may notice something. My family is from Wales; I am from the Thomas Baker Stembridge line. Still a lot of holes past their coming to America in mid 1700s. Thanks for writing!
Thankyou for answering my note. I hard copied your information because it does have the coat of arms. Quite fasicinating to look at. If I keep looking I feel that someday, the door will open and I can go back on Samuels line. I know he came from somewhere, it’s just a question of where. The three Stembridge brothers who immigrated from England has me thinking. It was in 1740-1750. I wonder if I could find their information and perhaps find a link somewhere. I am off and running again. Thankyou so much for your valuable help. Pamela Jensen
No problem Pamela, thats why I have kept this site and info up, it is really neat hearing from others with a connection.