Davis 5 Stockton of Stockton's Valley, Kentucky

Davis 5 Stockton, who married Elizabeth Bertram, was born in Stockton’s Valley on 10 June 1799. Davis and Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton and their family are shown in the 1850 census living in Macoupin County, Illinois. Davis 5 Stockton is sometimes shown as David Stockton, and in one Macoupin County article he is shown as both David and Davis Stockton. He is clearly shown as Davis in the 1850 census, and Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton’s headstone shows her to be the wife of Davis Stockton.

The book by Leona Irene Smith Johnson and Winfred Broadus Smith, Davis Stockton OF VIRGINIA, shows David 5 Stockton was the husband of Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton of Macoupin County, Illinois. Johnson and Smith used the information from the Macoupin County article that showed him as both David and Davis Stockton. This is the same person, David 5 Stockton and Davis 5 Stockton are not two different men.

Davis 5 Stockton is commonly shown to be a son of Peter Harget 4 Stockton. Johnson and Smith wrote that Peter Harget 4 Stockton was the father of the David 5 Stockton who was married to Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton. In 1982 the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly also showed that his father was Peter Harget Stockton. Jack Ferguson’s book, EARLY TIMES IN CLINTON COUNTY, Volume I, 2004, shows the Davis Stockton who married Elizabeth Bertram to be the son of Peter Hargard [sic] Stockton. It appears, however, that the father of Davis 5 Stockton was not Peter Harget 4 Stockton, but that his father was “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton.

Estate papers of Peter H. Stockton
Wayne County, Kentucky
Deed Book N, p. 587
Peter H. Stockton, Dec’d., died in Nov 1854
John S. [Sevier] Stockton, administrator
Isaac Stockton
Lemuel Stockton
Paul Stockton
John and Tabitha [nee Stockton] Beck
Hiram and Mary [nee Stockton] Summers
Rebecca Stockton [unmarried daughter of Peter H. Stockton]
J.W.S. and Susan [nee Stockton] Brooks

David or Davis Stockton is not mentioned in the estate papers of Peter H. (Harget) 4 Stockton. If Davis 5 Stockton was a son of Peter Harget 4 Stockton, he should have been mentioned in the estate papers along with all of the other heirs. Davis 5 Stockton of Macoupin County, Illinois died in 1855, but either Davis, or his widow Elizabeth, or his children should have been mentioned as heirs of Peter Harget 4 Stockton if Davis 5 Stockton was his son. It appears that Johnson and Smith did not know about the estate papers of Peter Harget 4 Stockton as this information was not included in their book.

Cumberland County, Kentucky
Deed Book F, page 34
30 May 1825
Heirs of John Stockton, 200 acres on Smiths Creek
John Christian, John Stockton, Rachel Jones of Overton County, Tennessee,
Michael Stockton, Thomas Stockton, Daniel Stockton, John Irwin, Samuel C. Stockton,
Davis Stockton, and Jesse Stockton of the County of Cumberland

The 1825 deed that listed the heirs of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton did include a Davis Stockton. His name is clearly shown as Davis Stockton twice. This 200 acre property on Smith Creek was in Stockton’s Valley, which is located in present CLINTON COUNTY, Kentucky. The Davis Stockton who is shown as an heir of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton appears to be the Davis 5 Stockton who was born in Stockton’s Valley in 1799, married Elizabeth Bertram, and later lived in Macoupin County, Illinois. The 1825 deed also shows that “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s son, Davis 5 Stockton, was living in Cumberland County in 1825. Just 5 years later David Stockton is shown on the 1830 census in Cumberland County, living very close to other “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton heirs. In 1836 this area became part of the newly formed CLINTON COUNTY, Kentucky.

HISTORY OF Macoupin County, Illinois, 1879, p. 199, “. . . Eliza J. Stockton . . . was born in Stockton's Valley, in what was then Cumberland (now CLINTON COUNTYy, Kentucky, July 12, 1828. Stockton's Valley received its name from her grandfather . . . Her father, David [sic] Stockton, was born in Kentucky, and married Elizabeth Bertram . . . Davis Stockton came to Illinois in 1831 . . .” In this Macoupin County, Illinois, article Eliza J. Stockton’s father is shown as both David Stockton and Davis Stockton.

Fortunately, Johnson and Smith did say why they thought Davis 5 Stockton was the son of Peter Harget 4 Stockton. This information did not come from a will, or a Bible record, or a deed, or a court record, or even from a family tradition. It appears they made this connection based on their incorrect conclusion that Peter Harget 4 Stockton was the “founder” of Stockton’s Valley, and because the Macoupin County article stated “Stockton’s Valley received its name from her grandfather” they thought that Peter Harget 4 Stockton was the father of Davis 5 Stockton.

The following information will show the correct location of Stockton’s Valley, and that it was named after Thomas Stockton, Sr. It will also show that Peter Harget 4 Stockton did not even live in Stockton’s Valley. It appears that Johnson and Smith are the source of the information that Gap Creek, Otter Creek and Beaver Creek were all in Stockton’s Valley, and that Peter Harget 4 Stockton was the “founder” of Stockton’s Valley.

Johnson and Smith, Davis Stockton OF VIRGINIA, Second Edition, 1975, pp. 38, 40, "PETER Harget 4 Stockton owned lands on both Gap and Otter Creeks . . . in Wayne County. Five of his sons received land grants on Gap . . . and Otter Creeks. It was this valley which was named “STOCKTON'S VALLEY” . . . DAVID [sic] was the son of the founder of Stockton VALLEY, Cumberland County, Kentucky, he would have been a son of PETER Harget 4 Stockton . . .”

Johnson and Smith are wrong about the location of Stockton's Valley. Luke Munsell’s 1818 map of Kentucky clearly shows the name “Stockton's Valley” and its location southwest of Poplar Mountain. This map also shows Stockton’s Valley to be the watershed of Spring Creek, Smith Creek, Clear Fork of Spring Creek, and Ill Will Creek. All of these creeks flow south or southwest from Poplar Mountain to the Wolf River, which then flows to the Obey River in Tennessee. The Obey River is shown on Luke Munsell’s 1818 map as Obie's River. There are grants to properties on Spring Creek and the Clear Fork of Spring Creek that include the information that they are in Stockton’s Valley. This is all on the southwest side of Poplar Mountain, which is a 12 mile long curved series of mountain ridges and peaks. Stockton’s Valley is on the inside of the curve formed by Poplar Mountain.

J. W. Wells, HISTORY OF Cumberland County, 1947, p. 15, “LAND GRANTS . . . As Copied from the Old Records of Cumberland County . . . William Cross, 200 A. on Spring Creek in Stockton V., Oct. 1799 . . .” and “John Silvertooth, 200 A. in Stockton Valley, Aug. 23, 1799.” The 200 acre property of John Silvertooth was on the Clear Fork of Spring Creek. This was only one property away from “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton on Smith Creek, and one property away from Thomas 4 Stockton, Jr., on Spring Creek. Thomas 3 Stockton, Sr., who is credited with being the first settler in what is now CLINTON COUNTY, lived just five properties away on Spring Creek. Deed records show that in 1799 Nathaniel Stockton owned property on Spring Creek adjacent to Thomas Stockton, Sr.

Plat maps showing the location of the above properties can be found in Jack Ferguson’s EARLY TIMES IN CLINTON COUNTY, Volume I, Revised Edition, 2004. Also in Jack Ferguson’s book on page 180, “By the early part of 1799 Ephraim and Henry Guffey, brothers, were settled in the eastern part of the county, near Otter Creek, in that portion of the county that was first included in Wayne County. They were neighbors of Peter H. Stockton, the first settler in that neighborhood.”

Gap Creek and Otter Creek, where Peter Harget 4 Stockton lived, are not inside the curve formed by Poplar Mountain. They are both on the other side of Poplar Mountain, the northeast side. This mountain is sometimes called the Poplar Mountains as there are several mountain peaks along its 12 mile length. Gap Creek flows northeast from the Poplar Mountains to Otter Creek, which then flows northwest to the Cumberland River. It is the book Davis Stockton OF VIRGINIA that claims that Stockton’s Valley was named after Peter Harget 4 Stockton. No historical record has been found that shows the area around Gap Creek and Otter Creek was ever known as Stockton’s Valley.

Jack Ferguson, EARLY TIMES IN CLINTON COUNTY, Volume II, First Edition, 1993, p. 22, “The first roads were simply game or Indian trails through the forest . . . Eventually, as the need arose some of these were widened by clearing out small trees and brush to make what were called “traces” . . . A survey for the Woodford Academy in June, 1799, calls for 200 acres in Stocktons Valley on the trace from Stocktons Valley to Peter H. Stockton’s . . . Stocktons Valley referred to the whole area south and southwest of Poplar mountain . . . the trace from Stocktons Valley to Peter H. Stockton's was the one referred to as Stocktons trace . . . Stocktons trace traversed . . . across the mountains . . . to Peter H. Stockton's place on Gap Creek . . ." As Stockton’s trace was “from Stocktons Valley to Peter H. Stockton's . . . place on Gap Creek”, logic would dictate that Peter H. Stockton’s place on Gap Creek was not in Stockton’s Valley.

Johnson and Smith mistakenly thought that the area around Gap Creek and Otter Creek in Wayne County was Stockton’s Valley. They knew that Peter Harget 4 Stockton was the only Stockton who lived on Gap Creek and Otter Creek at an early date. This is reason that they believed that Stockton’s Valley was named after Peter Harget 4 Stockton. From the Macoupin County, Illinois, article “. . . Eliza J. Stockton . . . was born in Stockton’s Valley . . . Stockton’s Valley received its name from her grandfather . . .” This appears to be the reason Johnson and Smith thought that Peter Harget 4 Stockton was the father of Davis 5 Stockton.

Peter Harget 4 Stockton did not live in Stockton’s Valley, and Stockton’s Valley was not named after him. The 1830 census shows Peter Harget 4 Stockton living in Wayne County. By 1830 Davis 5 Stockton was married with two children, however, a Davis or David Stockton is not shown living in Wayne County in the 1830 census. There is a David Stockton and family shown in living in Cumberland County in the 1830 census. This David Stockton is shown living in Stockton’s Valley very near the other heirs of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton. David Stockton and his family are a perfect match for the Davis 5 Stockton family who later lived in Macoupin County, Illinois. (See census records below.)

In 1822 David / Davis Stockton purchased the 100 acre property of Benjamin McDowell on Smith Creek. This was just across Smith Creek and one property away from where “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton had lived. “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s widow, Margaret “Peggy” Stockton, appears to have lived on her Smith Creek property until her death in the early 1820’s. It is this property of “Smith Creek” John 4 and Margaret “Peggy” Stockton that was sold on 30 May 1825 that showed Davis Stockton as one of the heirs of John Stockton.

Jack Ferguson, EARLY TIMES IN CLINTON COUNTY, Volume I, Revised Edition, 2004, p. 1, “Poplar Mountain, a spur of the great Cumberland Range, which penetrates the county and terminates about two miles west of its center. It attains a maximum height of 1745 feet, Stocktons Valley, made by the curve of Poplar Mountain . . . was the scene of the first white settlement in the County.”

THE WPA GUIDE TO Kentucky, 1939, p. 445, “POPLAR MOUNTAIN (1,745 alt.), the most prominent elevation in this area, is . . . a spur of the Cumberlands, and forms a curve within which Stockton’s Valley . . . a fertile area named for Thomas Stockton, a pioneer.” Also on page 445, “ALBANY . . . seat and principal town of CLINTON COUNTY, was named for the capital of New York. Settlements near by at Paoli and in Stockton’s Valley were made as early as 1790 by families chiefly from East Tennessee.” Both Albany and Paoli are on the inside the curve formed by Poplar Mountain.

William B. Allen, A HISTORY OF Kentucky, Bradley and Gilbert, Publishers, 1872, p. 118, “Poplar Mountain, in CLINTON COUNTY, a spur of the Cumberland Mountains, penetrates the county to its center, making a beautiful curve, and the valley in the curve is called Stockton’s Valley, of the most fertile limestone land.” All maps of this area show the inside of the curve formed by Poplar Mountain to be the southwest side and to include Spring Creek, Smith Creek, Clear Fork of Spring Creek and Ill Will Creek.

Jack Ferguson, EARLY TIMES IN CLINTON COUNTY, Volume I, Revised Edition, 2004, p. 12, “As far as can be ascertained through the dim mist that surrounds this early period, Clinton County’s first permanent settler was Thomas Stockton, Sr., after whom Stocktons Valley took its name . . . At that time CLINTON COUNTY was a virgin wilderness. As far as can be determined, settlers had not yet penetrated into the adjoining county of Cumberland; only a very few had ventured into Wayne County . . . [Thomas] Stockton . . . located his grant on Spring Creek.”

From the Macoupin County article “Stockton’s Valley received its name from her grandfather.” Eliza J. Stockton’s grandfather appears to be “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton. However, Stockton’s Valley was named after Thomas 3 (Richard 2, Davis 1) Stockton, Sr. It is understandable that Eliza would credit her grandfather as being the man Stockton’s Valley was named after. Eliza’s grandfather, “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton, was living in Stockton’s Valley at a very early date, probably first arriving in Stockton’s Valley in the mid 1790’s. “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton also raised a very large family in Stockton’s Valley. It appears that when Eliza J. 6 Stockton was born in the late 1820’s the only Stocktons living in Stockton’s Valley were descendents of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton. Peter Harget 4 Stockton is not known to have ever lived in Stockton’s Valley.

Estate papers of Peter H. Stockton, Wayne County, Kentucky, Deed Book N, p. 587, “. . . the estate of said Peter H. Stockton, dec'd, . . . to Rebecca Stockton . . . recorded in Wayne County, April 1858 . . . to Paul Stockton . . . together with saw and grist mill on Beaver Creek . . .” The estate papers of Peter H. 4 Stockton show his lands to be on the northeast side of Poplar Mountain and mostly in Wayne County, Kentucky.

Peter Harget 4 Stockton lived on Gap Creek, which flows northeast from Poplar Mountain to Otter Creek. Then Otter Creek flows northwest to the Cumberland River. Beaver Creek flows into Otter Creek just before Otter Creek enters the Cumberland River. Peter H. Stockton’s certificate #512, dated 20 Aug 1798, was for 200 acres, the location was given as Otter Creek. The 1799 Tax List also shows Peter H. Stockton with 200 acres and lists Otter Creek as the location. Most of Gap Creek is in Wayne County, and all of Otter Creek and Beaver Creek are in Wayne County. Stockton’s Valley is in CLINTON COUNTY on the other side of the Poplar Mountains.

Peter Harget 4 Stockton was shown living in Wayne County in the 1820 and 1830 census, and living in CLINTON COUNTY in the 1850 census. Peter Harget Stockton probably did not move. When CLINTON COUNTY was created in 1836 the headwaters of Gap Creek, where Peter Harget 4 Stockton lived, became part of the new county of Clinton. If Peter Harget Stockton had lived in Stockton’s Valley he would have been shown living in Cumberland County, Kentucky in the 1820 and 1830 census.

HISTORY OF Macoupin County, Illinois, “. . . Eliza J. Stockton . . . was born in Stockton's Valley, in what was then Cumberland (now CLINTON COUNTYy, Kentucky, July 12, 1828 . . .” According to the Macoupin County article Eliza J. Stockton was born in Cumberland County, Kentucky in 1828. Peter Harget 4 Stockton and his family are shown living in Wayne County, Kentucky in the 1830 census. The 1830 census shows several of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s heirs living in Cumberland County, including David Stockton.

In the 1820 census it appears that “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s widow, Peggy Stockton, was still living on Smith Creek in Stockton’s Valley, Cumberland County. Living nearby were three of her sons who already had their own households, Jesse 5, Michael 5 and Thomas 5 Stockton. Living in Peggy Stockton’s 1820 household are three males 16-26 years old. Davis 5 Stockton, born in 1799, would have been 21 years old in 1820. The other two sons living with Peggy Stockton appear to be Samuel 5 and Daniel 5 Stockton. “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s widow and sons are the only Stockton families shown living in Stockton’s Valley in the 1820 census. Peter Harget 4 Stockton is shown living in Wayne County in 1820.

In the 1830 census, Cumberland County, very near where Smith Creek meets Spring Creek, several of the heirs of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton can be found. On page 116 are “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s sons Michael 5, Jesse 5, Thomas 5, and Daniel 5 Stockton. Just thirty names later is David 5 Stockton with his wife and family. The next name on the census is John Irwin. He was married to Jemima 5 Stockton, a daughter of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton and a sister of Davis 5 Stockton. In the 1830 census David Stockton is shown with a wife, one daughter and one son. HISTORY OF Macoupin County, Illinois, 1879, p. 199, “. . . Eliza J. Stockton . . . was born in Stockton's Valley, in what was then Cumberland (now CLINTON COUNTYy, Kentucky, July 12, 1828.

1830 census, Cumberland County, Kentucky
David Stockton, age 30-40 [Davis 5 Stockton, born 10 June 1799 would be 31 in 1830.]
1 female, age 20-30 [Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton, born May of 1806 would be 24 in 1830.]
1 male, age 0-5 [Samuel C. 6 Stockton, born 13 Sep 1827, would be 3 in 1830.]
1 female, age 0-5 [Eliza J. 6 Stockton, born on 12 July 1828 would be 2 in 1830.]

There is no David or Davis Stockton shown living in Wayne County in the 1830 census. Peter Harget 4 Stockton is shown living in Wayne County in the 1830 census. He was the head of a large family with several adults. However, there is no 0-5 year old female. Eliza J. 6 Stockton was born on 12 July 1828 and would have been two years old in 1830. Both Samuel 6 and his sister Eliza J. 6 (nee Stockton) Cavender are shown in the 1850 census as born in Kentucky.

Luke Munsell’s 1818 map of Kentucky clearly shows the location of Stockton's Valley and Poplar Mountain. It also shows Spring Creek, Smith Creek, Clear Fork of Spring Creek, and Ill Will Creek as all being in Stockton’s Valley. Luke Munsell’s map also shows that Gap Creek, Otter Creek and Beaver Creek to be on the northeast side of Poplar Mountain and not in Stockton’s Valley.

1850 Macoupin County, Illinois, pp. 296B, 297A, 21 Nov 1850
John T Wood, 49, m, Ky [From Stockton’s Valley, CLINTON COUNTY, Kentucky.]
Susan Wood, 46, f, Ills
Parminda C Wood, 23, f, Ky
Abigail Wood, 16, f, Ills
Thomas J Wood, 12, m, Ills
Samuel Stockton, 23, m, Ky [Son of Davis 5 and Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton.]
Mary E Stockton, 20, f, Ky [Daughter of John T. and Susan Wood.]
Cordelia Stockton, 7/12, f, Ky [Cordelia 7 Stockton]

1850 Macoupin County, Illinois, p. 299A, 23 Nov 1850
David N Cavender, 29, m, NH, Farmer
Eliza J Cavender, 22, f, Ky [Daughter of Davis 5 and Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton.]
John R Cavender, 6/12, m, Ills
Philip Tindale, 10, m, B, Mo [Last name is hard to read and is questionable.]

Next family

Davis Stockton, 51, m, Ky, Farmer [Davis 5 Stockton, son of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton.]
Elizabeth Stockton, 44, f, NC [Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton]
Julia A Stockton, 16, f, Mo
Nancy E Stockton, 14, f, Ills
Margaret F Stockton, 12, f, Ills
Ellen M Stockton, 9, f, Ills
Emily E Stockton, 5, f, Ills
Frances M Stockton, 3, m, Ills
J__y Owens, 23, m, Md [First name is hard to read, shown in a later census as Jesse Owings.]
Lucy A Owens, 19, f, Ills [Daughter of Davis 5 and Elizabeth (nee Bertram) Stockton.]

Researchers who show Davis 5 Stockton, who married Elizabeth Bertram, as a son of Peter Harget 4 Stockton, never show a wife or children for Davis 5 Stockton, son of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton. It appears that the Davis 5 Stockton, who married Elizabeth Bertram, was a son of “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton, and was not a son of Peter Harget 4 Stockton.

If anyone would like a copy of Luke Munsell’s 1818 map or a copy of the deed to “Smith Creek” John 4 Stockton’s property please contact me by e-mail. I also have a great deal of additional information for anyone who is interested.

Jerry Stockton