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My 4th great grandfather, William "Billy" Stanfield, was born February 2, 1787, in Randolph County, North Carolina, the son of John Stanfield and Sarah Roberts.
William grew up in North Carolina. He married my 4th great grandmother, Mary (last name unknown), about 1810, in North Carolina. Mary was born about 1789, in North Carolina.
William appears to have moved his family from North Carolina, to South Carolina, to Georgia, to Alabama, to Mississippi, and then to Tennessee. He eventually settled in Wayne County, Tennessee.
William was a Baptist preacher and at one time a tavern owner. An article in the book, Wayne Co, TN, 1817-1995 History & Families, published in 1995, states that William "once ran a tavern in Waynesboro and had traded in slaves". We found records in the Wayne County court house to show that he did trade in slaves.
The 1840 Wayne County census shows one male 50-60; one male 10-15; one female 50-60; and two females 10-15.
The 1850 Wayne County census shows William, age 62, and Mary, age 61, both born in North Carolina.
Mary died about 1851, in Wayne County. She was buried in Providence Church Cemetery in Wayne County. This was a large old cemetery located on Indian Creek Road. The cemetery no longer exists. The church and cemetery were in existence between 1820 and 1910. Providence Church was the "mother church" of the Indian Creek Baptist Association, founded in the 1830's. About 1910 to 1920, the church moved from that location to Memorial Church. It is not known what happened to the rocks and markers in the cemetery. Only a few field stones remain. Like many abandoned cemeteries in Wayne County, the stones were probably removed by the land owner for easier cultivation of the land. The last burial in Providence Church Cemetery took place in 1905.
William and Mary's son, James W. Stanfield, died in 1851. William was appointed executor of James' will, and guardian of his minor children.
Apparently William preached until just before his death. Minutes of Indian Creek Baptist Association in Wayne County, dated 1856, list "Ministers William Stanfield and W. B. Stanfield" as "Messengers from Indian Creek Church at Victory".
William died in early 1860 in Wayne County and is buried in the Providence Church Cemetery with his wife according to information contained in the book Wayne Co, TN Cemetery & Death Records, printed 1987 by the Wayne County Historical Society. We have found a record of a William Stanfield on the 1870 Izard County, Arkansas, census that we believe may be our William. It is possible he moved to Arkansas about 1860 with other family members and returned to Wayne County after 1870 where he died and is buried. We are currently researching this possibility.
Children of William Stanfield and Mary
1. Lucinda A. Stanfield, b. 1811, SC
2. James William Stanfield, b. 1813, GA (my line)
3. Elizabeth "Betsy" Ann Stanfield, b. abt 1817, TN
4. Peyton Smith Stanfield, b. abt 1824, TN
5. Pricy Jane Stanfield, b. 1826, TN
6. Nancy Elitha Stanfield, b. 1828, TN