William II Stafford

William Stafford and Rebecca Freeman

18. William II Stafford³ (William¹ Robert²) was born on 30 January 1814 in Ohio.¹He was the son of Robert and Sarah Stafford nee Bullock.² Since Robert Stafford left Ohio with his family and moved to Indiana sometime before 1820 we can assume that William [II] Stafford lived the majority of his short life in Morgan and Johnson Counties in central Indiana. ³ He died at the young age of 34 years and is buried in Freeman Cemetery in Johnson County.¹ He married another one of William and Mary Freeman's daughters in Johnson County, Indiana when he was 25 years old. Her name was Rebecca / Rebeca [as her name was sometimes spelled].⁴ William and Rebecca's parents were both from North Carolina.⁵

The 1850 census enumeration for Blue River Township records the names of each person living in a household. Census enumerators were to visit each household and document the order of the visits. This helps the reader to know that the Freeman and Stafford families lived in relatively close proximity to one another. We also learn from the 1850 listing for Mr. Freeman that he was a large land owner, whose real estate was valued at $10,000 in 1850.⁵ This census record also documents a connection between the Staffords and Freemans. There are three young Stafford children living with the elderly William and Mary Freeman. Research in William Stafford's probate files document that they are his children and William Freeman's grandchildren.⁶

Closer examination of the 1850 neighborhood reveals that Lydia Stafford lived in the household headed by Isaac Marshall,⁵ just 2 visits prior to the Freeman household. It is also interesting to note that Lydia's husband-to-be, William Everling, is living with William and Mary Freeman in 1850.⁵ Looking a little further from the Freeman household, we find William Freeman's other daughter, Charity, and her husband, Allen Stafford, living in the same neighborhood in the dwelling labeled number 607 by the census taker. Another family living in close proximity to William Freeman and Allen Stafford was the Levi Ray family. Levi Ray's daughter, Cynthia Ann, and Francis A. Stafford married in 1861.^5,
7

The stones at the Freeman Cemetery provide evidence that William and Rebeca [sic] Stafford did not live long lives. William was 34 years at the time of his death and Rebecca only 24 years old. Both are buried in Freeman Cemetery.¹ Links to pictures of their tombstones are given in the documentation section below. William and Rebeca both died in the 1840s leaving their three young sons orphaned. Their names were: Francis A., William W. and Lorenzo D. Stafford.⁶

Probate records for William [II] Stafford provide further evidence that the Freemans took responsibility for raising the Stafford children after their parents death.⁶ William Freeman's son, William A. Freeman was appointed guardian of one of William and Rebeca Stafford's son's estate.⁸ Some of the reports were filed in the Johnson County Civil Court by William Freeman, Sr. as he handled their affairs.

Note to descendants of this line: If you have pictures or other information about William and Rebeca Freeman's descendants I would be interested in corresponding with you and would like to add to this line.

William and Rebeca Stafford nee Freeman were the parents of the following children:

Documentation for events in William Stafford's life:

Note: The research for this generation has just been initiated; therefore, it is incomplete. As more research is completed this page will be updated.

Citations for William (II) Stafford:

¹	William Stafford tombstone, Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana; photographed by Sharlene K. Miller, September 2005.
²	Robert Stafford probate file, Johnson County Probate Record Book AA:15-17, Probate Court, Franklin, Indiana; Johnson County microfilm department, microfilm reel 218-B.
³	Robert Stafford household, 1820 U.S. Census, Delaware County, Indiana, Flat Rock Township, page 33, line 18; National Archives microfilm publication M33, roll 14.
⁴	Stafford - Freeman marriage (06 February 1839), Johnson County Marriage Record Book 1:153; Johnson County Clerk’s Office, Franklin, Indiana; received from Johnson County Historical Society.
⁵	William Freeman household, 1850 U.S. Census, Johnson County, Indiana, population schedule, Blue River Township, page 108, dwelling 603, family 603; National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 155.
⁶	Guardianship Reports filed by William Freeman in Johnson County Court of Common Pleas (20 October 1856); Johnson County Court of Common Pleas, Franklin, Indiana; received from the Johnson County Historical Society. Guardianship Reports filed by William Freeman in Johnson County Court of Common Pleas (18 February 1861); Johnson County Court of Common Pleas, Franklin, Indiana; received from the Johnson County Historical Society. Final Settlement Report by William A. Freeman for Guardianship of William L. Stafford (1864), Johnson County Court of Common Pleas, Loose Probate Files, Case No. 761; received from the Johnson County Historical Society, Franklin, Indiana.
⁷	Stafford - Ray marriage (01 March 1861), Johnson County Marriage Record Book C:404; Johnson County Clerk’s Office, Franklin, Indiana; received from Johnson County Historical Society.
⁸	William A. Freeman appointed guardian of estate of Lorenzo D. Stafford, The Johnson County Press, Thursday, 23 November 1865, page 4, column 4.
⁹	Stafford - Ray marriage (01 March 1861), Johnson County Marriage Record Book C:404; Johnson County Clerk’s Office, Franklin, Indiana; received from Johnson County Historical Society.
¹⁰	Stafford – Ray marriage file, written permission from parents / guardians for marriage, Johnson County, Indiana Loose Marriage Records, Filed at Johnson County Museum of History, Franklin, Indiana; photocopy held by author.
¹¹	Stafford – Woodsides marriage (26 December 1861), Johnson County Marriage Record Book C:472; Johnson County Clerk’s Office, Franklin, Indiana; received from Johnson County Historical Society.
¹²	Lorenzo D. Stafford tombstone, Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana; photographed by Sharlene K. Miller, September 2005.
¹³	William Stafford household, 1840 U.S. Census, Johnson County, Indiana, page 561, line 11; National Archives microfilm publication M704, roll 84.

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Direct Line:	Pedigree chart	William	Robert	Andrew	Daniel	Clayton

+67	i.	Francis Asberry⁴ Stafford	b. 1840 in Indiana;⁵ d. [?]; m. Cyntha A. Ray on 01 March 1861 in Johnson County, Indiana.^9,10
+68	ii.	William W.⁴ Stafford	b. 16 April 1843 in Indiana;⁶ d. [?]; m. Nancy Woodsides on 26 December 1861 in Johnson County, Indiana.¹¹
69	iii.	Lorenzo D.⁴ Stafford	b. 12 December 1844 in Indiana;¹² d. 01 April 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee.¹²

William Stafford
Census	1830 - Not enumerated by name 1840 - Johnson County, Indiana
Marriage Records	Stafford - Freeman marriage (06 February 1839), Johnson County Marriage Record Book 1:153. Their marriage license was issued the day before they were married.
Land Patents	No evidence has been found to indicate that William [II] Stafford was issued any land patents.
Deed Records	Additional research needed to determine if there are deed records for William and Rebeca Stafford.
Death and burial	Date of death 20 April 1848, Johnson County, Indiana Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana	Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana
Probate files:	William Stafford left no will and apparently did not own real estate at the time of his death. The following probate files were located for his children: Guardianship Reports filed by William Freeman in Johnson County Court of Common Pleas (20 October 1856); Johnson County Court of Common Pleas, Franklin, Indiana; received from the Johnson County Historical Society. Guardianship Reports filed by William Freeman in Johnson County Court of Common Pleas (18 February 1861); Johnson County Court of Common Pleas, Franklin, Indiana; received from the Johnson County Historical Society. Final Settlement Report by William A. Freeman for Guardianship of William L. Stafford (1864), Johnson County Court of Common Pleas, Loose Probate Files, Case No. 761; received from the Johnson County Historical Society, Franklin, Indiana. Notice of Appointment of Administrator of the Estate of Lorenzo D. Stafford, deceased (1865), The Johnson County Press, Thursday, 23 November 1865, page 4, column 4.

Rebeca Freeman
Census	Rebeca Stafford nee Freeman is not listed by name on any of the U.S. Census records.
Marriage Records	Stafford - Freeman marriage (06 February 1839), Johnson County Marriage Record Book 1:153. Their marriage license was issued the day before they were married.
Deed Records	Not researched at this time.
Death and burial	Date of death 31 July 1845, Johnson County, Indiana Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana	Freeman Cemetery, Johnson County, Indiana
Will	No will found in Johnson County, Indiana

William Stafford and Rebecca Freeman

William and Rebeca Stafford nee Freeman were the parents of the following children:

Documentation for events in William Stafford's life:

Citations for William (II) Stafford:

Others researching these families: