Staggs Family History

My ancestors in the United States

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    James Staggs (1774-1850)

    BIRTH: 9 Oct 1774, Maryland, USA
    DEATH: 29 Jun 1850, Fleming, Kentucky, USA
    FATHER: Joseph Stagg (1750-1816)
    MOTHER: Mary Mills (1750-1845)
    SPOUSE: Sarah Beard (1779-1855)

    When James Staggs was born on October 9, 1774, in Maryland, his father, Joseph, was 24 and his mother, Mary, was 24. He married Sarah Beard on September 20, 1797, in Mason, Kentucky. Together they had ten children. He died on June 29, 1850, in Fleming, Kentucky, having lived a long life of 75 years, and was buried in the Staggs Cemetery.

    His story

    The following is an excerpt from Staggs Genealogy – Harold Wareham Staggs – His Book

    On October 9, 1774, Grandfather James Staggs was born in Bergen County, Colony of New Jersey. The last of our family line to be born a subject of the British Crown. Even as he lay in his crib, the men and women of the Colonies were planning the overthrow of the King’s Governors. Of course there were those who were “Tories”, loyal subjects of the King, but we thought of this land as ours, as “Wigs” we would fight for freedom. In just a few years the Revolutionary War was over and James was no longer an Englishman, he was an American.

    James had at least three brothers; Samuel, born 1780, Joseph, born 1777, David, born 1782 and one sister, Mary, born 1800.

    The log cabins in which the farmers lived in those days had a loft built over the living room and it was in this loft that the boys slept. Not a bad place at all because the grass-filled mattress (called a tick) lay right on the floor and on cold winter nights the heat from the logs burning in the fireplace in the living room below kept the floor warm.

    None of the children learned to read or write. Their father had cut their farm out of the forest far from town and then, too, the boys and Mary had chores to do. Each member of a farm family in those days had to work if the family were to survive. James learned to farm, build and hunt. Mary learned to cook, spin, make cloth and take care of the small animals.

    All that the Staggs ate came from their farm or the forests. Nearly all the meat eaten was wild. Deer, bear, turkey and rabbits all ended up on the table.

    When James was fourteen years old, travelers from the south brought exciting news, the “Dark and Bloody Ground” was open for homesteading! Daniel Boone had marked and improved the “Indian Trail”, it was now called the Wilderness Road. Blockhouses had been erected at intervals to protect travelers from Indians. Daniel also had built the first settlement, Boonesborough.

    Load the wagons, we’re on our way.

    The Staggs family sent Joseph to find the best land on which to settle. The young men of the family would need land on which to farm and raise their families. It wouldn’t be safe; the Indians were not all friendly. In 1813 (later than the time we are talking about), over half of a force of Kentucky reinforcements sent to the aid of Fort Meigs were killed by Tecumseh’s Shawnee warriors. In all, over six hundred and fifty men died.

    The Staggs with their wagons traveled across New Jersey to Philadelphia and there headed south on the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. They traveled through eastern Pennsylvania, across Maryland and into Virginia. At Big Lick, Virginia, they turned west to follow the Wilderness Road over the Allegheny, then turned north onto the Boonesborough Road to their new homesteads.

    The forts they stopped at from time to time were fortified stations built by merchants. They consisted of a blockhouse enclosed by a palisade. In those days buffaloes were common so we can be sure that our kin ate plenty of buffalo meat on the trip.

    The tax census of New Jersey in 1793 showed eight male Staggs (Stagg) over age 18 in Bergen County including our Grandfather James. Three years earlier, 1790, the tax census of Mason County, Kentucky, listed Uncle_ Joseph Staggs. So, Joseph had gone into the Dark and Bloody Land and chosen land for his homestead! He sent for the other brothers and in 1800 the tax census showed that our James and his brother Samuel, along with two other Staggs, Abraham and John, (brother, cousins or uncles, we don’t know) had taken land in Fleming County east of Boonesborough. The land deed records show that James had also taken land in Mason County by 1800. Mason County was the parent county of Fleming County.

    Other Staggs moved to Mercer County, Kentucky. Among these was Capt. James Stagg (Hackensack Company of the Bergen County Militia).

    Land wasn’t the only thing your grandfather found. In the records of the Office of the County Clerk, Courthouse, Mason County, Kentucky, we find this recorded:

    Permission To Marry for James Stagqs
    “Please to grant Mr. James Staggs lifence (license) to be married to my daughter Sarah Beard and this
    shall be your security as Wittnef (witness) my hand and seal this 19th Sept 1797″
    David Wood (signed) David Beard
    Charles Jackson

    Yes sir, in those days the girls’ father had to give his permission. Sarah’s father, David Beard, was born ca 1740 and had pioneered Mason County, Kentucky. His death is recorded in the Courthouse at Fiemingsburg as May 1814.

    Courtship in those days? Well of course James drove her to church each Sunday and there were buckboard rides behind two high stepping horses down the oak lined roads through the Cumberland hills to attend church socials and hootenannies. I’ll bet that she made the most delectable delicacies to take on picnics. James was 3 years old. A good catch, he had several farms, so he was well off. Sarah was 18 and most likely as lovely as our Sara (Karen and Steve’s).

    The day after David Beard filed his permission for James to marry Sarah with the County Clerk, James and a friend, Caleb, filed the marriage bond.

    MARRIAGE BOND
    “Know all men by these presents that we James Staggs E Caleb Hizer are held and firmy bound unto James Garrard Esqf (esquire) for the Commonwealth (Kentucky) for the time being and to his succefors (successors) in the last and full sum of fifty pounds current money to the which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs jointly and severally firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated the 20th day of Sept. 1797. “The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas a marriage is intended to be had and solemnized between James Staggs and Sarah Beard now if there is no just cause to obstruct the same then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue”
    James (X) Staggs (seal)
    Caleb (X) Hizer (seal)

    In those days the Commonwealth of Kentucky and other states required this bond in order to discourage breach of promise by men who get cold feet at the last moment. The bond also reflects the rigid moral code attached to the institution of marriage in those days. Note that the value of the bond was very high and if James hadn’t married Sarah that money would have gone to Governor James Garrard of Kentucky.

    On September 21, 1797, they married and lived the rest of their lives on their farms in Fleming County. They had ten children, the eighth was Phillip Beard Staggs, our next direct ancestor. Grandfather James and Grandmother Sarah’s children were:

    • Nancy, b. ca 1798, Mason Co.Kent., d. 1819 (age ca 21), Fleming County, Kent., m. 21 Jan 1819, Henry Hurst 11, b. ca 1800, Mason County Kentucky, Nancy buried Fleming Co., Ky.
    • Thomas F., b. 9 Oct 1800, Mason Co., Kent., d. 27 Aug 1867 (age 67), Fleming Co., Kent., m. (1st) 25 Dec 1821, Fleming Co., Kent., Hannah Davis, b. 29 Jan 1800, Fleming Co., Kent., d. 24 May 1839 (age 39), Fleming Co., Kent., m. (2nd) Eleanor Davis, b. 14 Jul 1814, d. 9 Feb 1847 (age 33), m. (3rd) 12 May 1848, Polly Ann Davis Jordan (sister to Eleanor Davis, wife 1), b. 12 May 1818, Fleming Co., Kent., d. 9 Feb 1884 (age 66), Fleming Co., Kentucky. Thomas F. Staggs and his three wives are buried in Staggs Cemetery, near Flemingsburg, Fleming Co., Kent.
    • David E., b. ca 1802, m. Fannie Ann Jordan, b. 1 Feb 1800, d. 9 Sep 1890 (age 90). Had several children.
    • Elizabeth, b, ca 1804, m 1824, Mason Co., Kent., Daniel Jones, d. before 1847. Elizabeth m. (2nd) a Mr. Bell.
    • Melissa, b. ca 1806, m. 1819, Fleming Co., Kent., William Goodwin.
    • William R., b. 19 May 1809, Fleming Co., Ky., d. 18 Sep 1889 (age 80), Fleming Co., Ky., m. Dec 1833, Fleming Co., Ky., Teresa Estill, b. 5 Oct 1812, Fleming Co., Ky., d. 3 Sep 1892 (age 80), Fleming Co., Ky. Both buried Staggs Cemetery, Fleming Co., Kentucky.
    • Massie, b. ca 1810, Fleming Co., Ky., d. Jun 1850 (age 40), Fleming Co., Ky., m. 1830, William B. Ham. Had children, all born in Fleming County, Kentucky.
    • Phillip Beard, b. 181.1, Fleming Co., Kentucky, d. Jun 1850 (age 39), Platte County, Mo., m. (1st) ca 1835, Fleming Co., Kent., Rebecca ? b. Kentucky, d. ca 1843, Platte Co., Missouri, m. (2nd) 1844, Platte Co., Mo., Vianna Randolph, b. ca 1819, 111., or Tennessee, m. (2nd) 18 Nov 1856, Platte Co., Mo., Basil George. Vianna died in Parkville, Mo., buried in Old Cemetery, Parkville, Platte Co., Mo.
    • Samuel, b. 1814, d. 4 Feb 1852 (age 38), Weston, Platte Co., Mo., m. 1831, Kentucky, Margaret Warren.
    • Rebecca, b. 1821, Fleming County, Kentucky, m. 1855, Fleming Co., Ky., William B. Ham, widower of her sister, Massie.

    On June 29, 1850, after 57 years with Sarah, Grandfather James died. He had been bedridden for several years before he made his last will. He and Sarah are buried in the Staggs Cemetery near Flemingsburg.

    His will, below, is recorded in the Fleming County Courthouse.

    Can’t you guess which child was James’ pet? Of course, Massie. Even in his will he used her pet name “Maple”. But he didn’t forget a special something for a very special girl, Rebecca, who helped “This several years”. So he gave her “twenty dollars more for extra services and also to have and hold the side saddle”. He had been “weak of body” and Rebecca had cared for him until he died. Well good for her! I’ve been thinking of how she looked while riding that saddle. Can’t you see her on her bay horse with her long skirt flowing back over her horse’s flank as she cantered along the paths through the red and yellow hard wood forests in the fall? Cheeks red and eyes flashing. Bet she had the cutest little hat pinned to her long hair. Some girl, our Aunt Rebecca.

    So ends the story of your grandfather and Grandmother James and Sarah who helped settle the Dark and Bloody Grounds and over whose farms in the North and South would soon fight mighty battles. Their children all did very well in life and learned to read and write. When Maple died, Rebecca married her husband, William Ham.

    Will of James Staggs

    In the name of God Amen. I James Staggs of the county of Fleming and State of Kentucky being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. Thanks be to God for his mercies and calling to mind the mortality of my body and it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this as my last will and testament and first of all recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it me and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner nothing doubting but at the general resurrection when the Arck Angel shall sound his last trumpet saying rise ye dead and come to Judgment I shall receive the same again by the Might Power of God.

    Such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to Bless me with in this world I do give and dispose of in the following manner and first of all I will assign that all my just debts be paid and satisfied and after my debts is paid then I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Sarah Staggs all my whole estate real and personal for and during her widowhood. And after death or marriage then it is my will and desire that ans whole estate real and personal be appraised and equally divided among and between my ten children. Nancy, Thomas, David, Elizabeth, Melissa, William, Massie, Philip, Samuel and Rebecca. And if in case any one or more of them should die without lawful issue then and in such case their part to be equally divided amongst the survivors. And whereas I have gave to my Daughters (namely) Nancy, Elizabeth and Massie each one thirty dollars worth of property at their marriage and where as my daughter Melissa Goodwin only got twenty dollars worth of property at her marriage it is my will & desire that she be paid ten dollars more out of my estate before any division is made. And whereas my daughter Rebecca has rendered me service for this several years Since she has become of age and been living with me all the time since she was of age it is my will that she be made equal with her married sisters and then to have twenty Dollars more for Extra services. And also to have and to hold the side saddle that she now has and it is furthermore my will and desire that my sons (namely) Thomas, David, William, Philip and Samuel in the first place be paid thirty dollars each as their marriage portion out of my estate before general division is made. tna then the remainders of my estate to be equally divided among all my children as above named. and last of all I do hereby nominate my dutiful and trusty son William and Thomas, Executors after my decease hereby ratifying allowing and confirming this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking and disallowing all other will or wills and testament by me heretofore made. A testimony where of, I thus set my hand and seal, this eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty eight. Signed & confirmed in the presence of Horace Haws

    At a court held for Fleming County on the 8th day of October 1850 this writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James Staggs, dec’d as was produced in court and proved by the Oath of Eliza I Haws a subscribing witness thereto as to self who also proved the attestation for Horace Haws and Mrs Polly Haws two other subscribing witnesses thereto to be the will of said James Staggs and ordered to be recorded which with this certificate is duly done. Att. W. T. Dudley, clerk.

    Legacy of James Staggs

    Parents

    Father: Joseph Stagg (1750-1816)

    Mother: Mary Mills (1750-1845)

    Married

    Sarah Beard (1779-1855). Married September 20, 1797, Mason County, Kentucky, 

    Children

    • Nancy Staggs (1798-1819)
    • Thomas Staggs (1800-1867)
    • David Staggs (1802-?)
    • Elizabeth Staggs (1805-1899)
    • Melissa Staggs (1806-1852)
    • William Staggs (1809-1889)
    • Massie Staggs (1810-1852)
    • Philip Beard Staggs (1810-1850)
    • Samuel Staggs (1814-1852)
    • Rebecca Staggs (1821-?).

    Documents

    Relation of James Staggs to Steven Barry Staggs: 3rd great-grandfather

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