This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: hampeeh1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.steele/3160.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Descendants of Ninian Steele Generation No. 1 1. NINIAN1 STEELE (NINIANA, NINIANB) was born Bef. 1745 in Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993), and died 24 March 1793 in Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993). He married AGNES GRAHAM 31 March 1768 in Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Book N.C. Marriage rec. Rowan Co. page 381), daughter of RICHARD GRAHAM and AGNES ?. She was born Abt. 1750, and died 24 July 1793 in Iredell County, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993). Notes for NINIAN STEELE: Ninian was probably born in either Pennsylvania, or Virginia, sometime prior to 1750. The name is derived from the Patron Saint of Scotland, Saint Ninian, and in Scotland a holiday is his honor is celebrated every September. This name would seem to be easily traceable, however it is anything but easy, because of the Steele family naming tradition. For example, in the 1810 Census for North Carolina, Iredell County, four Ninian Steeles are listed in close proximity to each other as head of household. ( Also living in this county at the same time, are many of the McConnells.) The name also pops up in later Censuses in Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas which further confuses the matter. The naming pattern used by the Steeles, and other Scotch-Irish Presbyterian families normally follows the pattern below: 1. First son - named after paternal grandfather 2. Second Son - named after father 3. Third Son - named after maternal grandfather If Ninian used this formula in naming his sons, then the following would be true: 1. First son - John Steele, Ninian's father. 2. Second son - Ninian Steele, 3. Third son - Richard Steele, named after Richard Graham, Agnes Graham's father. Some Steele genealogists suggest that the bondsman at Ninian Steele's wedding to Agnes Graham (Robert Steele) is Ninian's father. Although possible, the following seems to indicate otherwise. 1. According to his will, Robert Steele's first son was named Ninian., indicating Robert's father was Ninian. 2. Breaking the pattern, he now names his second son Henry, maybe after brother-in-law, or father-in law (more likely) Henry Chambers. 3. Third son is named Robert, after himself. 4. First son Ninian marries first cousin Elizabeth Chambers, daughter of Henry Chambers, Jr. named as an executor on Robert Steele's will filed on the 10th of August in 1781. Buried in Iredel County, North Carolina. Killed in Revolutionary War. The Steele Family Transcribed from the Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993 Ninian Steele was married March 31, 1768, in Rowan County, North Carolina, to Agnes Graham. The license gives consent of her father Richard Graham "Tho it were contrary to my former inclination as I have taken it from another consideration..." The date of Ninian's birth is not known. His parentage is not certain. Your Editor believes there is circumstantial evidence he was the son of Ninian and Mary Steele of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Rowan County , North Carolina records verify he was killed in the Revolutionary war in 1780........ .A memorial stone is in Third Creek Presbyterian Churchyard at Cleveland, North Carolina, although he may have been buried on the battlefield in a common grave. Not too much is known of this family. Rowan County, North Carolina records give the names of the children as John, Ninian, Agnes, Mary and Richard. These birth dates are estimates, with the exception of Richard, which is consistent with census records. 1. John Steele, b ca 1769. Richard Graham was appointed guardian in 1784. He is named as an "orphan of Ninian" in North Carolina records. There has been speculation that Agnes may have been pregnant at the time of the marriage, which may account for Richard Graham's reluctance to grant his approval. Inez Bidwell was of the opinion that this is John Steele whose Will, dated March 27, 1838, was probated in Rowan County, N.C., May, 1837. Executors were John Lee Steele and brother-in-law Joseph Wall. He died ca May 1838, age 68 years, thus born ca 1770. His wife was Sarah Hall, daughter of John Hall (Probate, Feb., 1808, Rowan Co., N.C. Bk 27, P. 585) 1. Margaret Steele (MD Joseph Wall ?) 2. Eliza J. Steele. MD July 30, 1839, Cabarrus Co., N.C., Seth A. Rogers. 3. John Lee Steele. Md Jan. 3, 1845, Mecklenburg Co., N.C. Mary A. Williamson. May have married 2/Mary Frazier in 1848. 4. Ninian Steele. No data. 5. Andrew M. Steele. Md Au. 5, 1830, Orange Co., NC, Mary Bratshaw We are not certain how accurate this is; any help appreciated. 2. Ninian Steele, Jr., b ca 1772-3. Md July 29, 1793, Jane Locke (b. Apr. 161775, d. Apr. 26, 1816), dau of .John, and granddaughter of Matthew and Mary Eliza (Brandon) Locke. Ninian died before June, 1805, when the widow married Benjamin Cowan (July 8, 1173-May 2, 1828). See Cowans of County Down. Children of widow's second marriage: Ann Jenkins Cowan (1806); William Jones Cowan (1808); Ninian Cowan and Stephen Francis Cowan (1812-1885); Third Creek. See Cowans of County Down for some additional data. 1. Matthew Locke Steele (Apr. 22, 1794-June 31, 1846. Md Frances Knox Aug. 5, 1825; Both buried at Third Creek Cemetery. 2. John Steele, b. Apr. 5, 1797. Said to have moved to Missouri. Where? 3. Agnes Steele, b. ca 1776-7. Md Hugh Dobbins (who has this record). Family went to Williamson Co., TN 4. Mary Steele, b. ca 1776-7. Named in mothers Will, q793 Iredell Co. NC. One lady sent us a note of Mary Steele, who died at a young age, who married Lewden Sawyer (b. May 27, 1773). They had an only son Thomas Lewden Sawyer who Md Henrietta Carpenter. Can this be "our" Mary?? 5. Richard Steele, b. 1778. Md Nov. 12, 1805, Margaret Graham, in Williamson County, Tennessee. { More About NINIAN STEELE: Fact 10: Marriage: Bondsmen Robert Steel and Fact 11: William Knox, Witness Thomas Frohock, Fact 12: Consent from Richard Graham, March 31 1768 More About NINIAN STEELE and AGNES GRAHAM: Marriage: 31 March 1768, Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Book N.C. Marriage rec. Rowan Co. page 381) Marriage Fact: 31 March 1768, Required grudging consent from father R. Graham Children of NINIAN STEELE and AGNES GRAHAM are: i. JOHN2 STEELE, b. Abt. 1770, Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); d. May 1838, Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); m. SARAH HALL; b. Unknown; d. Unknown. ii. NINIAN STEELE, b. Abt. 1772, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); d. Bef. 5 June 1805, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); m. JANE LOCKE, 29 July 1793, UK; b. 16 April 1775 (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); d. 26 April 1816 (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993). More About NINIAN STEELE and JANE LOCKE: Marriage: 29 July 1793, UK Marriage Fact: 29 July 1793, James Lock Bondman; Los. Chambers Witness iii. AGNES STEELE, b. Abt. 1774, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); d. Unknown; m. HUGH DOBBIN, Unknown, UK; b. 25 May 1757, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. 3 May 1811, Rowan County, North Carolina. More About HUGH DOBBIN and AGNES STEELE: Marriage: Unknown, UK iv. MARY STEELE, b. Abt. 1776, North Carolina (Source: Steele Report No. 20, November, 1993); d. Unknown. v. RICHARD STEELE, SR., b. 1778, Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Various census records.); d. 21 June 1860, Greene County, Missouri (Source: Greene County Burial Records); m. MARGARETTE GRAHAM, 12 November 1805, Williamson County, Tennessee (Source: Book: Marriagies of Middle Tennessee.); b. 9 June 1783, Rowan County, North Carolina (Source: Williamson County, Tennessee 1820 Census); d. 19 June 1851, Greene County, Missouri (Source: Greene County, Missouri burial records). Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.