'My 2nd great-grandfather

On November 15, 1852, fifteen families assembled at the Simpson farm near Neely's Creek A.R.P. Church, York County, South Carolina, and began a long trek to Bradley County, Arkansas, where they became the founders of the Hickory Springs A.R.P. Church in Bradley County. Some of these fifteen families were: Crawford, Dickey, Leslie, Wylie, Milholland, Thompson, Simpson, Lathan, Kenmore, Davis, and Stuart/Stewart. They were all from Santuck, Lesslie, and Neely's Creek communities in York County, South Carolina, and upon arriving in Bradley County, they named their new home, Santuck. En route to Arkansas, they camped out ninety-nine nights, arriving in March 1853. They took plows, tools, seeds for planting, a cotton gin, and a few slaves. This group is representative of numerous others who at this period left South Carolina looking for virgin soil in the southwest.

Orrin Stewart returned to York County, South Carolina around 1860/61 and is listed as a Private in the 2nd Company 'B', 5th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry during the Civil War.

Muster Roll Information

* 1863 June: he appears present on company muster roll, with the remark, "on extra duty as a tailor for the regiment", and was last paid, by Captain Crockett to April 30, 1863.

* 1864 June 30: he appears on the Jackson Hospital, Richmond, Virginia muster roll, with this remark, "Complaint - ascites" - {accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling.}

* 1865 February: Orrin appears, "absent on company muster roll."

The history of York County, South Carolina is documented in the book, A City Without Cobwebs by Douglas Summers Brown, 1953.

On page 154 it lists the 57 members of the area who were signing a petition in 1869 for the incorporation of the town of "Rock Hill." One of the signers was O.G. Stewart, this information shows that O.G. was in the York County, South Carolina area. The 1870 Bradley County, Arkansas census roll shows Orrin's wife and son listed but not Orrin.

Why he never returned to his family in Arkansas or had them join him in South Carolina after the Civil War is a family mystery that our current family members are working to solve as of this date. [March 2015]

The local Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in York County, South Carolina responded to a recent request for the burial of Orrin Green Stewart. Their information shows that the Hopewell Church Cemetery record listed 135 burials, with one being, Orrin Green Stewart 1827 - 1870. One of the members indicated that someone would try and locate the grave and take a photo of any marker found. (Special Thanks to the members of SCV in York County, SC) [April 2, 2015]

A Sons of Confederate Veterans member in the area reported that they could not find the exact location of the grave and, therefore, no marker was located. However, the photo attached shows the most likely location for his grave since it is located in the early part of the cemetery usage. [April 4, 2015]

[April 18, 2015] Recent research has brought to life the following information. Orrin's father was Lincoln Stewart/Stuart, born before 1823 in North Carolina. Also located is Orrin's maternal grandfather, Orrin Pierce.

In the estate folder of Orrin Pierce dated 1856, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina was the following document on page 25.

October 23rd, 1856 Received from Wm Rae & John L. Pierce executors of Orrin Pierce, deceased forty dollars in full of my legacy and distributions share of the estate of my grandfather Orrin Pierce. (signed) O G Stuart

A copy of the document is to the left.