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My Steen line originated in Scotland. The family immigrated to Northern Ireland sometime in the 1600s. Most likely
in the mid-1600s. This is my hypothesis based on research of the population patterns in Northern Ireland. When James I ascended to the throne in England in 1603 he styled himself the King of Great Britain. As such, he wanted to unite Scotland, (his country of birth) England and Ireland. Ireland at the time had a majority Catholic population. A protestant, James wanted this to change. So he attempted to revive a project first started by Queen Elizabeth in 1559 and 1572. Repopulating and colonizing County Antrim and County Down in Northern Ireland with Scottish immigrants. These plans were most likely motivated by the fact English Catholics had tried to murder King James in 1605(The Gunpowder Plot) and the fact James had discovered Popish emissaries in Ireland led him to believe he needed to rid the northern part of the country of Catholics and replace them with Protestants.
My 6th Great Grandfather Lt. Colonel James Steen, was a prominent commander in the South during the American Revolution.
My line to Lt. Colonel James Steen with proof to the line:
Dallas Reese
Ila Sue Johnson Reese(my mother)
1940 United States Federal Census Ila Sue Johnson proving parents are Russell and Catherine Nell Demby Johnson
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Russell Bradley Johnson(my maternal Grandfather)
Death Certificate North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 for Russell Bradley Johnson proving parents are John Henry Johnson and Ella Miles
1930 United States Federal Census for Ella S Johnson
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Ella Miles Johnson- My Great-Grandmother
1900 United States Federal Census for Ella Johnson proving marriage in 1895 to John Henry Johnson and also proving Russell Bradly Johnson as a child of their household.
Death certificate for Ella's husband John Henry Johnson
South Carolina, U.S., Death Records, 1821-1971
1930 United States Federal Census for Ella S Johnson
Ella Miles Johnson (1877-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial
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Margaret Jane Joplin Miles, My Great-Great Grandmother
Death Certificate for Margaret Joplin Miles's daughter Pearlie Miles Johnson(proving that Margaret Jane's maiden name is Joplin)
North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976
South Carolina, U.S., Death Records, 1821-1971 for Charlie Miles(son of Margaret Jane Joplin Miles and William Franklin Miles.
Margaret Jane Joplin Miles (1847-1902) - Find a Grave Memorial
1850 United States Federal Census for Jane Joplin
1860 United States Federal Census for Margaret Joplin
1880 United States Federal Census for Jane Miles In this timeframe Steen family descendants(with the surname) live next to William and Margaret Jane Joplin Miles, as well they are living beside her parents William and Mary Steen Joplin.
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1900 United States Federal Census for Margaret J Miles proving marriage of 33 years to William F Miles and May 1847 Birth
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Mary Steen Joplin- My Great-Great-Great Grandmother
When he was younger in the 1930s, my Grandfather Russell Johnson talked with his mother Ella Miles, about his Great Grandmother, Mary Steen, a descendant of Revolutionary veteran James Steen. in the 1970s when I was a child My Grandfather relayed the story of his Great Great Great Great Grandfather Lieutenant Colonel James Steen who fought for the SC Militia in the American Revolution.
Will of Mary Steen's brother James Samuel Steen-witnessed by Mary's husband William Joplin.
South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 for James Steen James died in the Civil War and is buried in Crossroads Baptist Church in Ruby(where many other provable Steen descendants of Lt. Colonel James Steen are buried. )
1850 United States Federal Census for William Joplin
Steen, Moses Duncan Alexander. The Steen Family in Europe and America: A Genealogical, Historical and Biographical Record of Nearly Three Hundred Years, Extending from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century. United States: Monfort & Company, 1917. Pgs 133, and 134 references the marriage of Mary Steen(daughter of Thomas Steen) to William Joplin.
1880 United States Federal Census for Mary Joplin Mary Steen Joplin & William Joplin living beside other Steen relatives(her brother Elias and brother Mark Steen) in Chesterfield County SC.
PVT Mark Steen (1830-1904) - Find a Grave Memorial(Mary Steen's brother Mark Steen, who lived beside her in the 1870s and 1880s.
Thomas Steen-My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather
1850 United States Federal Census for Thomas Steen
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James Steen Jr.-My Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather
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Lieutenant Colonel James Steen Sr.-SC Militia -service 1775-1780 My Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather
His Wikipedia entry tells some of his story:
James Steen (planter)-immigrant from Ireland
Lt. Col. James Steen (1734–1780) was a successful planter who, at the time of the American revolution, resided in the Thicketty Creek area of what was once the northern part of Union County (formed in 1785) and is now part of Cherokee County, South Carolina(formed 1897). Steen, a stanch Presbyterian, had been born in County Antrim in about 1734. In the 1750s, he moved to America along with his father's family, that included his brother John Steen. Originally residing in Pennsylvania for only a few years, John and James both had recorded land deeds on Thicketty Creek 1766 & 1767.[1]
Both John and James Steen, as well as many other local natives of Thicketty, South Carolina, were heavily involved in the American Revolution. There were families who were British loyalists, as well as families such as the Steen's who were Whigs and Colonial Militia Officers. In quite a few instances, Thicketty Creek neighbors found themselves on opposite sides and battles throughout the war, in surrounding areas.
According to Lyman Draper (1815–1891), in Kings Mountain and Its Heroes:[2]
James Steen, also of Irish descent, was probably a native of Pennsylvania, and early settled in what is now Union County, South Carolina. In August 1775, he was fully convinced and ready to sign the Continental Association and doubtless led a company on the Snow campaign, as he did the following year against the Cherokees, and, in 1777, commanded at Prince's Fort. In 1779, he served in Georgia, then at Stono, and Savannah; and performed a tour of duty from November in that year till February 1780, near Charleston. At this period, he ranked as Lieutenant-Colonel, distinguishing himself at Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Musgrove's Mill, King's Mountain, and probably with his superior, Colonel (Thomas) Brandon (Fair Forest Regiment), at Cowpens. According to his grave, he died in the Battle at Kings Mountain. He was married to Eleanor Bogan about 1762 in South Carolina.