Stephen Renfro, Sr.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 19 Dec 1802, Knox Co, Tennessee; written

Notes:

"I have no proof on this line: Most of the information I had entered into this database had been taken from the records of Dr. D. O. Manshardt. I
received an email on 7-24-2001 from Dennis Cox in Colorado (formerly of Knox Co., TN.) detailing this information that I have recorded here.
Starting with Peter through Amanda Mary Renfro. Dennis is a direct descendant and researches the Stephen Renfro line.
He received an scanned copy of an actual old Knoxville newspaper article showing Stephen, Jr. dying at the hands of the Creeks during their repulse from east Tn by McClellan. He also has Stephen, Jr.'s probate, dated 1794 which lists his wife Margaret Renfro; however no maiden name was given. He also stated that Stephen, Sr. was more than likely not the son of William and Elizabeth Renfro but he and other researchers think Stephen, Sr. the sibling of Peter, ca later 1690/1700. I have used his information for this line through Amanda Mary, 1828 md."
Curd Cox.
-----
KEGLEY'S VIRGINIA FRONTIER By: F. B. Kegley
Page 250: Pay to Militia for French and Indian War allowed by Assembly 1758 to Stephen Rentfroe of Bedford (no amount given) for services allowed.

Page 254: Stephen Rentfroe of Bedford (Pay for Provision for militia) 1758

Page 257: Joseph Rentfroe, Bedford Co.; Stephen Rentfroe, Bedford co.; also James Rentfroe, Bedford Co.

Page 300: November 17, 1761, John Neely, 171 acres on Rentfro's Branch of Roanoke (Goose Creek), Renfroe's line, corner Geo Robinson. 137 acres on Robinsons Branch of Roanoke, corner of Bryan Cuff, corner Stephen Rentfro, Corner Geo Robinson and Rentfro's tracts. From Baptist McNabb and Catherine L155.

Page 403: 1771, Road from Stephen Rentfro by Beaver Dam Spring to Court House laid out. Fincastle Town.

Page 416: November 10, 1774, John Paxton - Grant 213 acres from John Looney and Elizabeth and Stephen Rentfro and Margaret; Margaret McLain, the late wife of Peter Looney, her dower; William Ward - Grant 220 acres on Back Creek etc.

Page 493: November 4, 1772, William Preston 144 acres from Stephen Rentfro, Buffalo Creek

Page 506: William Preston purchased 191 acres on Buffalo Creek from Stephen Rentfroe. Also purchased 3 tracts of 400 acres each where upon Rentfroe formerly lived. He had already purchased from Rentfroe (1760) 2 additional tracts 226 acres and 144 acres adjoining the homeplace of 191 acres. Rentfroe's home place became the Preston home, Greenfield, in 1761 and remained to this day. One part of the house are thought to be logs of the original pioneer home. Preston's son, John, became proprietor of the Greenfield estate.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=deloreswilley&id=I05907


Will:
On December 19, 1802, Stephen Rentphrow [Sr.] made his Will, which was recorded when it was probated in Knox County, Tennessee. It reads:

In the name of God amen, I Stephen Renfrow of Knox County and State of Tennessee, being of sound and perfect mind and memory and blessed by God, do this Nintheenth day of December 1802 publish this my last will and Testament,
that is to say, first I do hereby set free my Negro winch Jean and her forth child named Will on account of singular service performed to me.
2. I give and bequaith to the Lawful heirs of John and Stephen Renfrow my beloved sons both deceased an equal share with Elizabeth Looney, Ester Looney, also Moses Looney son of my beloved wife.
3. My Plantation and all my Personal and Real estate to be sold to the highest advantage and divided amoung the Legatees after the decease of my Wife, and further that it may be fully understood the Heirs of John and Stephen Renfrow be considered as two Heirs, and their Heirs to receive there shar[e] or fifth part of said estate when they are of full age from the Executioner, all Debts and Funeral expense being paid off.
4. And lastly I do const[it]ute appoint, and ordain Moses Looney son of my Wife to be my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament in witness whereof I Stephen Rentfrow have set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th day of Decemr. 1802.

Signed sealed published and his declared by Testater in presence Stephen Rentphrow of us Jno Adair and Wm. Sample. mark

On the second Monday in July 1804 in the Knox County Court Moses Looney was appointed the executor as follows:

Whereas it appears to the Court here that Stephen Rentphrow Late of this County is dead and hath made his last Will and Testament in Writing in which he hath appointed Moses Looney his Executor which Will hath been exhibited into Court and proved as the Law directs, It is therefore Ordered by the said Court that Letters Testamentory of all and singular the Goods and chattels rights and credits which were of the said Stephen Rentphrow deceased issue to the said Moses Looney he having qualified agreeable to Law ...
Chas. McClung, Clerk
(both above from Knox County Estates, Vol. 1, pp. 149-50)

By late 1805 the Knox County Court ordered James White and Thomas Brown "commissioners to make settlement with the Administrator of the estate of Stephen Rentphrow deceased and make report thereof to next Court." (Know County
Estates, Book 1, p. 182). At the January 1806 session of the Court the commissioners filed their report and by this time Stephen Bishop was administrator of Stephen Rentphrow's estate.

Stephen Bishop admr. of the estate of Stephen Renphrow deceased
To Amount of sale ..................... $281.26
By different Vouchers amounting to ..... $13.16
By balance due the estate ............. $268.10

On a Settlement with the Administrator of the estate of Stephen Renphrow there appears to be due the said estate yet in the hands of the Administrator Two hundred sixty eight dollars & Ten Cents Jany 17th 1806
James White
Ths. Brown
(Knox County Estates, Book 1, p. 186)

(These are my notes) It is believed that the Est[h]er Looney and Elizabeth Looney who are mentioned in Stephen's Will were his daughters. Esther married
John (2) Looney, son of Robert (1) and Elizabeth Looney. Elizabeth Looney
married Capt. John (3) Looney, son of Robert (2) Looney, Jr., son of Robert (1)
Looney. Moses (3) Looney, who Stephen mentions, was a son of Robert (2) Looney, Jr. and Margaret Rhea Looney (who as a widow, married Stephen Renfro). Moses would have been Stephen's step-son. Capt. John (3) Looney would have been both his son-in-law and step-son.

According to Leroy W. Tilton, the known children of Robert (2) Looney, Jr. and Margaret Rhea Looney were:

Capt. John C.3 Looney . 1744-1819 .. m. Elizabeth Renfro, Warren Co., Tennessee
Moses3 Looney ......... 1748-1824 .. m. Sarah Holston, Knox Co., Tennessee .....
Samuel3 Looney ........ 1754-1779 .. killed by Indians in Washington Co, VA ....
Benjamin3 Looney ...... 1756-1783 .. m. Mary Johnson, Hawkins Co., TN ..........
?Mary3 Looney .......... ____-____ .. m. _______ Grimes

Hope this helps. In our new book, Most Distinguished Characters on the American Frontier, Robert Looney ... and Some of His Descendants ... (1998), on p. 354, endnote 32, it states where to find proof that Esther Renfro Looney,
who had married John (2) Looney, was a daughter of Stephen Renfro (The Library of Virginia, Botetourt County Legislative Petitions, December 6, 1817, a petition by John Walker).
Hope this helps.
Madge Looney Crane
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/LOONEY/1998-07/0901467064

Stephen married Esther Van Bibber in 1733 in Botetourt Co, Virginia. Esther was born in 1712 in Botetourt Co, Virginia; died before 1756. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
He married (1) ESTHER VAN BIBBER (Source: Some Early Southern Settlers by billie Redding Lewis, lists Stephen's wife as Esther Van Bebber.) 1733 in Botetcourt Co, Va. She was born 1712 in Botecourt Co, Va, and died Bef. 1756.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116563969

1. Esther Renfro was born in 1739 in Botetourt Co, Virginia; died before 2 Jul 1821 in Sinking Creek.
2. Stephen Renfro, Jr was born about 1736; died after 1791 in Killed by Indians in Knox Co, Tennessee.
3. John Renfro died before 1802.
4. Elizabeth Renfro died after 1804.

Stephen married Margaret Rhea-Looney between 1756 and 18 Jan 1763 in Botetourt Co, Virginia. Margaret (daughter of Archibald Rhea) was born about 1712; died about 1803 in Knox Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Unknown-Begin: 1740, Franklin Co, Virginia. Deed Records Vol 1, P. 328 (Prob Frederick Co, Virginia as Franklin Co formed in 1785) William and wife Jane Rentfro purch 340 acres from Robert McKay
• Unknown-Begin: 1747, Frederick Co, Virginia Deed Records, Bk 4, p 191; William Rentfro to Ralph Withers
• Residence: 1747, Left Crooked Run on the Shenandoah and moved to Lunenburg Co, Virginia
• Unknown-Begin: 1749, Lundenburg Co (Now Franklin Co, Virginia) William Rentfro and wife, Jane, from Thomas Gill on Gill's Creek, a branch of the Blackwater

Notes:

Frederick Co, Virginia formed from Orange and Augusta Cos
The infomation that I have show here for William. his wife, Jane, and the three sons; James, Joseph and William came from the records of Jan Cleave and Jean Morford. Their history indicates that our these are the same three sons that I have for John and Tomasini Renfro. There were probably sons for both William and John who I have as sons of Robert with the same names. Family naming patterns were often identical. From the wills of John and Tomasini, I believe William who married Elizabeth Cheney to be the son of John. However, either could be correct.
Renfro's of the same time period:
(1) John Rentfro, Chester Co., PA, Witness t o will of Thomas Rowland, 3 March 1708
(2) Peter Rentfo, of James River Sett lement, employed by a land company
(Kegley's VA Frontier) in 1730
(3) Willia m and Stephen Renfro worked for a land company building roads in 1733

William married Jane (..) Renfro, Mrs about 1697. Jane was born about 1678; died after 1703. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1667, Christ Church, Barbados
• Residence: 1679, Christ Church, Lancaster Co, Virginia
• Residence: 1680, Barbados

Notes:

Updated: Wed Oct 29 23:45:48 2003 Contact: Delores Willey (felinesmama@msn.com)
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GED&db=:2619333&id=I539511753

Much research was done on the Renfro (all spellings) by Dr. D.O. Manshardt of Peoria, IL. He spent all his vacations for 25-30 years traveling to many States and Counties recording information regarding ALL Renfro's. The last several years he was going blind. His research consists of approximately 150-17 5 typewritten pages of court records regarding Renfro's. He published his finding in 1970, "Renfro Family Records in Kentucky" and placed a copy with the Kentucky Historical Society, Filson Library in Louisville, Ky and Grayson County Public Library in Leitchfield, KY. Many current day researchers refer to his work and some note that there were errors. Let's face it folks, we make mistakes today using the latest technology.
----
The next man of this name, ROBERT RENTFREE, is found on the well known HOTTEN'S LIST of Passengers and Immigration, vol.. 3, 1680 Barbados, page 1730.

Hotten Original Lists of Person of Quality. Parish Register of Christ's Church, Dec. 22, 1679, page 484;

Robert Rentfree, ten acres of land; no wife nor negro slaves mentioned, and 1680;

"Parish Register of Christ's Church", 22 Dec. 1679 also mentions this Robert Rentfree

Next is Robert's marriage to Mary Evans on Aug. 28, 1667 at the Barbados Christ Church.

It is highly possible this Robert is the son of Symon who researchers believe to be the son of Baron James Rentfro.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116563730


Residence:
Robert Rentfree is found in Hottens Original List of Immigrants, 1600-1700, page 484, and is listed in the 1679 parish records of Christ Church as owning 10 acres of land. Christ Church was built by John Carter and is in Lancaster County, Virginia.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=clucas&id=I2608

--------
Hottens Original List of Immigrants (pg 473)
True and Perfect List of all y e Names of ye Inhabitants in ye Parrish of Christ Church, with an Exact accompt of all ye Land, white Seruants; and Neg's within ye Said parrish Taken This 22 th Decemb' 1679

https://archive.org/stream/originallistsofp00hottuoft/originallistsofp00hottuoft_djvu.txt

Residence:
The next Renfro... that we find in Barbados is Robert Rentfree. He is found on the well know HOTTEN'S LIST, by John C. Hotten, P. 484:
Ten acres of land, no wife nor negro slaves mentioned, ano 1680.

"Parish Register of Christ's Church, 22 Dec. 1679"Robert Rentfree owned 10 acres and had no Negroes or servants, 22 De. 1679, Barbados, Christ Church Parish p. 484. Passenger and immigration lists Index, Vol. 3, HOTTEN'S LIST

Robert Rentfree in Hotten List of Passenger and immigration 1680 Barbados, p. 1730, Hotten Original Lists of Person of Quality.
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=1027&p=localities.britisles.scotland.rfw.general

Robert married Mary Evans on 28 Aug 1667 in Christ Church, Barbados. Mary was born in 1636 in Bedford Co, Virginia; died after 1678. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Bef 6 May 1638, James City, London Co, Virginia
• Residence: Between 1651 and 1652, Barbados

Notes:

Updated: Wed Oct 29 23:45:48 2003 Contact: Delores Willey (felinesmama@msn.com)
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GED&db=:2619333&id=I539511753

NOTE: There is no documented proof that William Rentfro/Renfro is a descendant of Symon Renfree's son Robert Renfro nor proof documented that they are descended from Baron James Rentfrew who had to flee Scotland and relinquish his title to a younger brother due. I offer this only because the dates and fam ily names are in line with our Renfro ancestors.
7/20/200 terran i have found at another site that symon appears in virgina colonial records 1600-1700. came from rentfrow valley fathers name was john. it is listed in hotten's list that he came to va in 1638. A Janice Cleave has it that the father of the 3 brothers was Baron James Renfrew who after a defeat of the clan was exiled and went to France. He married a French woman and his issues were French citizens until after settlement at Jamestown. I have also learned of a Renfro crest or Coat of Arms. trying to get a copy from a Eleanor McLawrence. My grandfather is 99 and still lives with me, I have traced him from Symon 9 generations. He was born in Glasgow KY, Skaggs Creek area. Would like to share other info.
thanks

7//30/01
Sue: "Oh what tangled we bs we weave"--at least Renfro researchers. To answer your query. I do not have any data at all about Tomasin Simmons, nor, until I started corresponding with Theresa Renfro and Harlan Rentfrow is I even know there was a Symon. First, let me give you my sources, as they date from way back when. My mother, aunts, grandmother,etc. were all members of DAR and Daughters of Am. Colonists . I have many of these old records. The DAR has done much research on the Renfro's, tho admittedly they are not always accurate. I also have old letters that have gone back and forth between relatives about Renfro's; an old family bible (belonged to China Renfro who married John Word); and research data done by Toledo Moss done many, many years ago (she was an historian, now deceased); research done by
Lsbia Word Roberts and Loretta Word Browning (from the Word side of my family). Anything else I've pulled off the web, but find t hat a lot of that is not accurate, and also has conflicting information.
As for Symon: I have a bit of trouble believing that he was a
brother to James (1698), Joseph(1700) and William (1702). If Symon was born ca. 1624 that wou d make him only 6 years old when original William and James arrived in Jamestown around 1630. Guess it's possible though, as the father might have remarried to a younger woman of still childbearing age. It has been only family lore, but I've had the father of James, Joseph, William for years listed as a Wi lliam Renfro (born sometime around 1680-died around 1749 in Franklin Co, Virginia. at age 69). His wife was a Jane (unk). They FOR SURE lived in Frederick Co . in 1740 as purchased land there from a Robert McKay. They later sold this and moved
to Lunenburg Co. (Frederick Co.Va. Deed Records, Vol. l, pg. 328). This data came originally from L.W, Roberts.

Other Renfro's in same time period:
1708 Chester Co., Pa. a John Renfro (witness to will of Thos Rowland 3/3/1708)
1730 a Peter Renfro of James River Settlement, employed by a land
company (Kegley's VA Frontier)
1733 William and Stephen Renfro worked for land company building roads.
My "take" on all of this is that I believe a number of Renfro families came to the colonies over a period of about 50/60 years. While I have them here circa 1630, Theresa Renfro has the first Renfro's here around 1695/1700.
We have to keep in mind that Renfrew(Renfro, Rentfro,e tc.) is also a place name. I think Renfrew means something like "place of flowing stream", which of course is Renfrewshire. In early times it was the habit to recognize people by where y came from, so Renfro would mean some one who came from Renfrewshire. While I believe that the early Renfro's here were related, they more than likely came from dif (end)
--------
SYMON RENFE, born 1613 Rentfrewshire, Scotland, died 1690 in VA, who came to America before May 6, 1638 according to Nell M. Nugent's "Pioneers and Cavaliers", page 546, and Virginia Land Records found in the State Archives of Virginia in Richmond in patent book 1, part 2, page 546, paragraph 5 "Symon Roufe newly arrived at James City, London Co., 6 May 1638 Virginia". Symon is in Barbados at the Baptism of his daughter, Hester at St. Michael Parrish on Febraury 14, 1651 and then his son Symon on Jan. 4, 1652.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116563730

Immigration:
SYMON RENFE, born 1613 Rentfrewshire, Scotland, died 1690 in VA, who came to America before May 6, 1638 according to Nell M. Nugent's "Pioneers and Cavaliers", page 546, and Virginia Land Records found in the State Archives of Virginia in Richmond in patent book 1, part 2, page 546, paragraph 5 "Symon Roufe newly arrived at James City, London Co., 6 May 1638 Virginia".
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116563730

--------
PIONEERS AND CAVALIERS: by Nell M. Nugent, 1974:
Vol. 1, p. 86:
Symon Roufe newly arrived at James City, London Co., 6 May 1638 Virginia.

p. 546:
"Jeremiah Dickinson, (received)500 acres of land, James City County, 6 May 1638, ...for transportation of ten persons including: Eliza Flinton, Henry Hayes, Robert Newton, Robert Muxford, Sarah Henchley, Eliza Hayes, Elias Jue, James Hayes, William Gage, Symon Renfe (Renfo)."
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=1027&p=localities.britisles.scotland.rfw.general

Residence:
two children baptized in St. Michael Parish, Barbados