SOURCE: 1786 Surry Co., NC census; 1790 Wilkes Co., NC census; 1800, 1810, 1820 Ashe Co., North Carolina census

RES: 1815, Ashe Co., North - ref. Ashe County 1815 tax list (listed Sameul Stedham and John Stedham)

RES: About 1829, Samuel [166] Stidham and his son, Samuel Jr. [280] moved to Perry Co., Kentucky, settling on the North Fork of the Kentucky River where he died in 1835.

RES: Perry Co., Kentucky, 1833, 1834 - ref. Perry Co., Tax List, Perry County Genealogical Society Newsletter. Dec 1989.

The following is from Jack Stidham, "The Descendants of Dr. Timothy Stidham" (2001), Vol One, pg. 10-16:

Samuel [166] Stidham grew up in North Carolina, living in the mountainous area of western North Carolina. In 1776, he was in present-day Scott Co., Virginia, at Mint Springs on Little Moccasin Creek (ref. Robert M. Addington, History of Scott County, Virginia. Baltimore, Regional Publishing Company, 1977, pg. 2), and may have married in Virginia. According to census and tax records, Samuel was later found living in the following counties in North Carolina:
Surry Co., North Carolina 1780-1786
Wilkes Co., North Carolina 1790-1799
Ashe Co., North Carolina 1800-1820

Samuel probably farmed and raised his family on the North Fork of the New River in what is present day Ashe Co., North Carolina. (Wilkes Co. was formed from the old Surry Co. in 1777. Ashe Co. was formed from Wilkes Co. in 1799.) On 25 Jun 1795, Samuel paid 50 shillings to the State of North Carolina for 100 acres in Wilkes County. (Land Grant No. 4564) In 1798, he was granted 100
acres on the North Fork of the New River. (Wilkes Co. Deed Book D, p. 384) In 1808, he was again granted land (300 acres) on the North Fork of the New River by the State of North Carolina, for which he paid 50 shilling per 100 acres. (Ashe Co., North Carolina Deed Book D, p. 133-134) This land was on both sides of the North Fork of the New River.

Samuel [166] Stidham was drafted during the Revolutionary War and served two terms for a total of nine months in 1780. His officers were Ensign Ben Humphrey, Lt. David Humphrey, Capt. James Giddens, Col. Martin Armstrong and Gen. Rutherford. He enlisted at the Surry Courthouse, and at that time was a resident of Surry Co. From a disposition given by Samuel on 10 Dec 1832 in
Perry Co., Kentucky, in regards to his pension, we learn about his role in the war:

He served with a company stationed at Surry Courthouse as a guard of the ammunition magazine. While serving in the guard company, the Tories were encamped about the mulberry fields on the Yadkin River. Samuel and others were ordered to attack them. The Tories fled so the company returned. At the end of three months, Samuel was discharged, but was subsequently drafted for another six month term. During his second term, he was again assigned to guard the magazine. His company marched to Sorceymares Mill on Dutch Buffalo Creek in Rowan Co., where it provided ammunition for the main army under the command of Gen. Rutherford. From there, the army marched to join Gen. Gate's army. After one day and night, the army encamped on Long Creek where a soldier was killed by a falling tree. Samuel and another soldier were left to bury the dead man, then rejoined their company. At the time Samuel applied for a pension in 1832 he was 85 years old. He was placed on pension on 19 Jan 1833 at the rate of $30 per year.

Text of the Revolutionary War Pension No. S-14598 of Samuel [166] Stidham (Courtesy of Jimmy Jackson)

Was there a daughter, Hannah (I-73917) of Prather's Creek, North Carolina (b. 1797 & d. 1876) who married David Caldwell?

1. John [278] STIDHAM b: ABT 1776/1778 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
2. Jeremiah [279] STIDHAM b: ABT 1778 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
3. Samuel [280] STIDHAM Jr. b: ABT 1784 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
4. David [281] STIDHAM b: ABT 1785 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
5. Margaret "Peggy" [282] STIDHAM b: ABT 1786 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
6. Rebecca [283] STIDHAM challenged b: ABT 1786/1787 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
7. Judith (Julia) (Judy) (Juda) [284] STIDHAM challenged b: ABT 1789 in ,Surry Co.,North Carolina
8. Allen Bartlett [285] STIDHAM Sr. b: ABT 1790 in ,Wilkes Co.,North Carolina
9. Adam J. [286] STIDHAM b: 7 Jun 1790 in ,Wilkes Co.,North Carolina
10. daughter [287] STIDHAM b: ABT 1796 in ,Wilkes County,North Carolina
11. William [288] STIDHAM b: ABT 1802 in ,Ashe County,North Carolina