Introduction
Daniel Stagner appeared to be one of the “founding fathers” of a Stagner family in America in the early 1700s. He appeared to serve in the military in New York. He then made his way to South Carolina where he was shown as a loyalist. After the Revolution he and at least part of his family escaped to Nova Scotia, but some may have returned to South Carolina to reclaim or hold his property.
1754: Arrival
Daniel arrived in America on 30 Sept 1754 through the port of Philadelphia on the ship Neptune, Capt. Waire Commanding Officer, arriving from Rotterdam.
1757-1760: Start of Military Service
According to a notice dated 21 March 1757, Daniel Stagnar, b. in Germany, aged 26, deserted from Capt. Green’s Company of Grenadiers.
He appeared to be a Grenadier in the British Army during the French and Indian War, which had been going on since 1755 or before.
Daniel Stagner, aged 29, a laborer born in Germany, was noted on a muster roll of Capt. Stephen Schuyler’s Company taken in Albany Co., New York on 3 May 1760. The data is shown below:
No further references to Daniel Stagner were found in New York. It is not known where he actually resided during this time frame.
In 1764 Daniel Stegner and Barbara had Catherine Elizabeth on 1 Nov. in Philadelphia, PA. She was baptized on 21 Jul 1765, also in Philadelphia. On 21 October 1766 Anna Catherina was born to them in Philadelphia. She was baptized there on 30 November 1766.
So we have Daniel Stagner, Stegner, Stagnar, who all seem to be the same man coming to America from Germany in 1754 at the age of 29. He apparently was first in New York, then made his way to Philadelphia where he and his wife had two children. It has not been determined where and when Daniel and his wife Barbara were married or if any children previously born in New York or Pennsylvania.
PROOF:
It should be noted that the Daniel referred to above is proven by statements made by him in the memorial shown later. This, and the fact that he had property on Bear Creek in South Carolina is very important in proving these Daniel’s were all the same person.
1772-1773 – In South Carolina
Then next mention of Daniel Stagner was found in Charleston, SC where he and Barbara were shown when Anna Barbara Stagner was born on 18 Oct. 1768. She was Christened at St. John Luther Church in Charleston on 24 Jan. 1769.
On 8 Dec 1772 the plat drawing shown below was issued for 300 acres on Bare (Bear) Creek between Broad and Saludy (Saluda) Rivers , in what was Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The name shown in this document and in the Land Grant issued 19 March 1773 from the King George III has been interpreted as Daniel Hagner. The Memorial issued 14 July 1773, shown in Figure 6, clearly states Daniel Stagner with the same 300 acres, adjacent to the land of James Turner.
1775 – Daniel Stagner – Loyalist
The area where Daniel lived was known as Dutch Fork, the area between the Broad and Saluda Rivers, in Orangeburg County at the time. The primary residents of this region were of German or Swiss descent and probably felt a stronger allegiance to King George III, so they may have been trying to disrupt operations of the Rangers in some manner.
In fact there is a very good description of what was going on in Orangeburg County during this pre-revolutionary period found in “The History of Orangeburg South Carolina”[https://archive.org/stream/historyoforangeb00sall#page/n7/mode/2up]. There was a significant effort by the Patriots to convince those living in the Dutch Fork area that they should disavow allegiance to the King and side with the rebellion, but apparently there was significant enough resistance that they formed their own troops. They apparently lacked good leadership and had a difficult time in the fighting.
Daniel Stagner was apparently part of this resistance. On 2 Nov 1775 a letter sent from Colonel Rich Richardson, to his commanding officers, concerned Daniel Stagner and others who were “not to be let at liberty until things are settled as they are looked upon as active and pernicious men”. Richardson was commanding a group of Patriot Rangers in the Laurens area of Ninety Six District of South Carolina. It seems that Daniel Stagner and his partners must have been deemed to be a problem because they were placed in the guardhouse by the Rangers upon orders of Col. Huger on 9 December 1775.
Additionally the following evidence was found:
- Private Daniel Stagner was listed in the muster for South Carolina Royalists, Lieut. Colonel Alexander Innes’ Company, Savannah, GA 1 Dec 1779.
- Pay abstract Nr. 155 for Private Daniel Stagner in Colonel Thomas Pearson’s Regiment, Capt. Joseph McDaniel, Little River Militia, Ninety Six Brigade, 10 Sept 1782, 92 days pay, 6 May-5 Aug 1782.
- Pay abstract Nr. 167 for Private Daniel Stagner in Colonel Thomas Pearson’s Regiment, Capt. Joseph McDaniel, Little River Militia, Ninety Six Brigade, 148 days pay, 6 Aug-31 Dec 1782.
- 23 June 1782 Daniel Stagnor, an 8 year old child, was buried in Charleston, SC. This would appear to have been a son of Daniel and Barbara.
On 30 Nov 1782 the British and Americans signed a preliminary Article of Peace. The British left Charleston on 14 Dec 1782. Many of the Loyalists departed Charleston for St. Augustine, FL to take refuge in one of the last locations in America that was still under British control.
Apparently Daniel and his family was in this group. He likely caught a ship transporting Loyalists out of Charles Town to St. Augustine. He must then have found the St. Augustine area unsuitable, so he found transportation and traveled north to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was subsequently found.
[An interesting article was found on the internet describing this time period in St. Augustine, FL that likely explains why Daniel and family did not stay there, in hopes of a quick return to South Carolina to reclaim his property. There were just too many people crowding into the area! There was not, per se, a mention of Daniel in St. Augustine, but there was a mention of a William Stagner to be discussed below, thought to be his son. http://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/LAMP/Research/Storm%20Wreck/the-loyalist-influx ]
Daniel Stagner Escape to Nova Scotia
Daniel Stagner was found in Halifax by 1784. Daniel filed papers (called a Memorial ) in Halifax in an attempt to get compensation for his property left behind and for his support to King George III. This, it seems, in the expectation that he would never return to South Carolina. This document is shown below:
The first paragraph reads:
“Daniel Stagner last of Bear Creek in South Carolina but now of Halifax in Nova Scotia makes oath and that he resided at Charles Town, at sea and in Nova Scotia from the 15 of July 1783 to the 25 of March 1784 … that he was utterly incapable of delivering to the Commissioners appointed by act of Parliament … or at their office, any Memorial, claim, or request, for aide or relief, on account of this dependent’s losses, during the unhappy dissensions in America … that when he first arrived in the province he did …[unreadable]… to his losses before the magistrate and that he never heard a thing …”
This was signed by Daniel, his mark, and witnessed some unreadable date in 1786.
“…that your Memorialized is a native of Germany, and came into America in the year 1754 where by his industry as a farmer he acquired what to him was a considerable property [unreadable], bringing up at the same time a large family, that your memorialized has served His Majesty seventeen years, also two of his sons during the late Rebellion and lost one in action. That his loyalty to His Majesty and attachment to the British Government has [unreadable] called upon to do so. Your Memorialized therefore [unreadable] that you will be pleased to take his case into consideration and grant him such relief as his losses may be deemed to deserve and your Memorialized will forever pray.
Signed by Daniel Stagner, his mark, of Dutch Fork between Saludy and Broad Rivers at Bear Creek South Carolina about 160 miles from Charles Town.
Witnessed and signed ?? January 1786.”
His Claim:
Farm containing 450 acres of good land,
a dwelling house, out houses £200
and plenty of decent furniture. £30
23 head of horned cattle £140
166 head of hoggs £166
Robbed of cash £20
two negro slaves £??
14 horses £98
Total £714
Importantly going forward, this document proves Daniel Stagner was a Loyalist, where he lived prior to the war, when and where he escaped to after the war. It describes that two of his sons were in the war and that one was lost. It is not clear that he received monetary compensation, as no confirmation of that was found. However, what was found was the following reference:
“Stagner, Daniel. Of South Carolina. At the peace, accompanied by his family of six persons, he went from New York to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, where the Crown granted him one town and one water lot. His losses in consequence to his loyalty were estimated at £300 ”.
The actual source of this information from the reference is unknown and somewhat contradicts the Memorial above. It is interesting that it notes the family size of 6 and if this was true indicates that Daniel had some of his family with him, which would be expected based on him losing a child in Charleston, SC in 1782. It also notes that he went to Nova Scotia through New York, which makes sense because New York City was still under British Control at the time.
Daniel – In Nova Scotia
A Land Grant decree by the Governor of Nova Scotia in May 1784 granted city of Shelburne lots to several individuals, including Daniel Stagner where he was assigned lot 65. It is not known whether or not Daniel actually occupied this land. The land grant is shown below:
In 1784 there was a reference to a Katherine Stagner marrying George Michael Graff. Katherine was probably born around 1764. This possible birth year and the fact that she was a Stagner in Shelburne, NS during the time period that Daniel was there, strongly suggests that she was a daughter of Daniel and one of the six family members making the trip. She could have been the Catherine born in Philadelphia. No further information has been found on either George Michael or Katherine in Nova Scotia or United States.
In 1784 Daniel Stagner, farmer, sold lot 65 in Shelburne to merchant William Milky. This was registered in 1785. It is not known if Daniel ever actually occupied this lot, but my guess is no! This sale was registered 8 February 1785.
In 1787 an Ann Mary Stegner married Michael Webber in Halifax. It was recorded in the St. George’s Houseal Register that they had 6 children baptized there as well. Ann Mary may also have been a daughter of Daniel and Barbara, due to the name, location and timing.
In Halifax on 26 November 1787, Barbara Stagner was assigned by the court to administer the estate of Daniel Stagner. So Daniel Stagner obviously passed just previous to this date. No estate sale or records have been located, but by whatever reason possible son Peter must have inherited Daniel’s remaining property in Nova Scotia.
I did not find how he purchased this land, but Daniel had property in a place called Ragged Island, near Shelburne. This is confirmed by the 2 August 1800 indenture transcripted below indicating that Peter Stagner, farmer, sold the Ragged Island land previously owned by Daniel Stagner to John Stuart. Peter is believed to be the only Stagner son to be found in Nova Scotia:
“This indenture made the second day of August in the year of our Loard one thousand eight hundred between Peter Stagner of the Town of Halifan (Halifax) in the Province of Nova Scotia Laborer of the one part and John Stuart of the Township of Shelburne in the Province aforesaid Farmer of the other part witnesseth that ?? and Peter Stagner for and in consideration of the sum of six pounds of lawful ??currency of the Province aforesaid to in hand paid by the said John Stuart at and before the ??Enscaling Delivery of these presents the receipt of which is hereby acknowleged hath granted bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell unto the said John Stuart and heirs and assigns acclaim lot or tract of land situate lying & being at a place commonly called and known by the name of Ragged Islands or Little Harbour in the Township of Shelburne being Lot Number seventy four originally owned by the late Daniel Stagner containing eighty acres more of less with all of ??? the buildings improvements appendages ways waters water courses easements commodities ??? and appurtanences to the same ???? is belonging or in any ??? ???? with….”
I suspect Daniel may have learned that he could not farm on the town lot, hence the move to the Ragged Island.
In 1802 the sale of the plot at Little Harbor, from Peter Stagner to John Stuart, was registered in Halifax.
Summary
Daniel Stagner died in Nova Scotia, probably Halifax or Shelburne, in 1787. His spouse Barbara was the estate administrator and it is not known what happened to her. There were specific records indicating that Peter Stagner, Katherine Stagner who married George Michael Graff, and Ann Mary Stagner who married Michael Webber were in Nova Scotia at the time Daniel was there. Since Daniel was the only Stagner who seemed to be there, it is very likely all were off-spring of his. So if we know from above that Daniel may have traveled to Nova Scotia with 6 other family members and the three children and wife Barbara were 4 of them, who might be the other two?
Daniel Stagner’s Remaining Family in South Carolina
There are three references to “Stagner Plats” from 1787 to 1793 in the Dutch Fork area of Lexington County.
The large scale map above shows Lake Murray (on the bottom) in the mid-lands of South Carolina, just north west of Columbia. This is the area known at the Dutch Fork, where Daniel and others of German origin settled. The area is that defined by the Saluda River (now Lake Murray) on the south and the Broad River, which is shown north of I-26. The map shows a closeup view of the region where Daniel settled. Bear Creek and its branches are highlighted in yellow and blue. Camping Creek, also mentioned in some of the plats is shown in red.
- In 1787 a plat was issued showing Henry Snelgrove next to Stagner’s land.
- In 1788 a plat was issued showing John Lovington, next to Henry Snelgrove and Stagners land.
- On 15 May 1793, Jacob Fautz was granted a plat of 402 acres on Crooked Branch of Camping Creek. It has not been determined what defined the Crooked Branch of Camping Creek. In the 1700s they may have had used the same name for some of the branches as the main stream. That is one explanation for why Jacob Fautz could have property referenced to be on Crooked Branch of Camping Creek and be adjacent to someone (Daniel Stagner) known to have property on Bear Creek. There is a possibility that Daniel had acquired other property. It was interesting that his initial claim was for 300 acres, yet in his Memorial claim for compensation of loss, he stated 450 acres. No reference to Daniel obtaining, by any means, an additional 150 acres has been located, only his mention of it in the Memorial.
- The final mention of Daniel Stagner was on 11 Dec 1793, when the following entry was found in the Newberry County Deed Book B, 578:
- John Horning of Newberry County, weaver, for love, good will and affection to my loving step children John Brecht and Elizabeth Brecht, 150 acres on Bear Creek adj. land of John Hipp, part of 300 acres granted to Daniel Stagner 8 Oct 1775, dated 22 Nov 1793. John Horning(x) (Seal), Wit: William Souseal, Michael Kubler, John Kubler. Proved in Lexington County by the oath of William Houseal 3 Dec 1793 before John A. Summer, J.P. Recorded 11 Dec 1793.
The map below independently verifies by another researcher and significantly identifies the expected location of Daniel Stagner’s land grant, along with others in the area at the time (Source Lindler Family History, see note on map):
The discussion now focuses on the area of the Dutch Fork for the period after the Revolutionary War up 1810. The figure below highlights some of the difficulties in obtaining data on Daniel Stagner.
The “green” spots on the South Carolina Maps represent the approximate area of the Dutch Fork. In 1765 the region was known as Craven County. In 1769 a line was drawn separating it into 96 District and Orangeburg District. Note that there could have been some argument about which district one was in, if he was near the line. In 1785, further confusion was added by the naming of Newberry and Lexington Counties with an overlap area that existed between the two counties. By 1788 this overlap area was defined as being in Lexington County. In 1800 it was in Orangeburg County and in 1804 it settled in Lexington County, where it is today. This is important when looking at the family data below, especially census data. Lexington County Courthouse was burned during the Civil War with significant record loss, which is detrimental to the research of the time period preceding.
DANIEL STAGNER FAMILY:
Based on the above comments we are still looking for 3 more sons. It was stated that Daniel may have had two of them with him for a short time in Nova Scotia, but they must have returned. How else could one explain a Stagner occupying what appeared to be Daniel Stagner’s land in the Dutch Fork?
The following data was found in the same South Carolina Revolutionary War records, where information on Daniel was found:
1. Privates John and William Stagner were listed in muster for South Carolina Royalists, Capt. Stewart Lindsey’s Company, Camden, SC, 23 Feb 1781, 60 days, 24 Feb to 24 Apr 1781.
2. Private William Stagner listed in muster for South Carolina Royalists, Capt. Stewart Lindsey’s Company, Camden, SC, 24 April 1781, 61 days, 24 Apr-24 Jun 1781. There was also a John Hagner listed, which may have been a misspelling of Stagner.
3. Private William Stagner listed in muster for South Carolina Royalists, Capt. Lewis Kenen’s Company, Quarter House, SC, 24 April 1782, 61 days, 24 Apr-24 Jun 1782.
4. Private William Stagner listed in muster for South Carolina Royalists, Capt. Lewis Kenen’s Company, St. Augustine, FL, 24 April 1783, 61 days, 24 Apr-24 Jun 1783. There was no mention of a John Stagner.
I believe that William and John were the two sons of Daniel, who he mentioned in his Memorial, that were in the Revolutionary War. Camden is not geographically that far from the Dutch Fork, so the fact that John and William were Stagners doesn’t necessary mean they were related to Daniel Stagner, except for the following reasons:
- William was in Charles Town (Quarter House) at the same time Daniel was burying a son there in 1782.
- William was in St. Augustine after that, which would likely have been the same location that Daniel departed from for New York and Nova Scotia.
- Henry and Peter Counts were both listed as Loyalists, serving under Capt. Charles Stewart’s Co. from Camden and under Capt. Lewis Kenan’s Co. Henry and Peter Counts also served under Capt. William Houseal in the Dutch Fork Militia organized by John Adam Summer. What ties Henry and Peter Counts to John and William Stagner is that the Counts were also from the Dutch Fork, where their father Johanennes Cuons/Counts had a grant on Crims Creek, which is very near Bear and Camping Creek (in purple below). This association would tend to tie John and William Stagner to Daniel Stagner versus any other Stagner living in the region at the time. In fact the only other ones were just north of Camden in Rowan County, NC.
So my conclusion was that John and William Stagner were very likely the sons of Daniel Stagner who he referred to, as mentioned above, as participants in the Revolutionary War where one of them died.
John Stagner was likely the one who died in the War, since there was no further mention of him in the records found.
The next time a Stagner appeared in South Carolina documentation was when William Steigner appeared in the 1790 census in Orangeburg County. William was listed at greater than 16 years old, one female, and one male under 15. In 1810, a William Hagner was shown and this was probably the same guy as 1790. There were no others in Orangeburg County with that or a similar name. In 1810 a “Widaw” Stagner was shown and this is believed to have been the spouse of William Stagner. This would mean that William likely died between 1805 and 1810, given that there were 3 young children shown. The census transcriptions are shown below:
It is not absolutely clear where William Stagner was living, but he seemed to have occupied the same land, or at least part of the land previously owned by Daniel. It seemed as though his land was still available and not confiscated, as Stagner property was mentioned in 1788 and 1789 and Daniel Stagner property was shown in a plat in 1793 (see references above). Although William was not mentioned in any of this land information what is known is that Stagners were still apparently occupying his old plat.
The timeline below shows how John (J33) and William (W11/12) relate to Daniel (AA123):
Records were very skimpy in South Carolina after 1810 because it appeared that whatever family was remaining had removed or was in the process of removing themselves to Georgia and Alabama.
[To keep clear from this point, I will use my specific IDs for each of these men discussed above: Daniel Stagner = AA123; William Stagner = W11/12; John Stagner = J33. As new names are introduced, so will be there ID.]
Children of William Stagner (W11/12)
Daniel (AA124)
A 13-Sep-1814 reference was found showing that a deed #277 was issued to Francis Koon in Lexington County, on the Crooked Branch 402a/gr/o from Jacob Foutz. This property was adjacent to John Livingston, Abraham Chapman and Daniel Stagner. Could this have been a son Daniel, or just reference to his property? In fact a Daniel Stagner (AA124) was found in Jasper County, GA in 1820:
Since he was married and had 5 young children, he probably was in his early 30’s making him born just before 1790, so in 1814 he would have been about 24 and possibly the oldest Stagner male still living in the area. I suspect that Daniel (AA124) was one of 3 boys mentioned in the 1800 Orangeburg County census. Daniel Stagner was mentioned as having fought with Rowes Unit in SC during the War of 1812.
Nancy (NA1)
On 23 April 1820, a Nancy Stagner married a George Michael Eargle from South Carolina. This was the second marriage for George Michael as his first wife died in 1818 .
George Michael was born 21 Oct 1791 in Lexington County and died 3 Aug 1869. The birth date of Nancy is not known, but would be expected to be around 1800, give or take. Nancy, no doubt was from the Lexington area also. Nancy is believed to have been one of the daughters shown in “Widaw” Stagner’s 1810 census, as such, a daughter William (W11/12) Stagner.
A second reference to “Nancy Stogner” was found : “John Lindler, b. 20 Sep 1823, m Rosannah Eargle, b. 16 May 1832 a dau of George Michael and Nancy Stogner Eargle….” The name Nancy Stagner is undoubtedly correct because only Stagners were found in the area of Lexington County at the time. There were Stogners in South Carolina, but they were found farther north and east in Lancaster County.
William (W9/10)
There was an 1820 Lexington County census record for another William Stagner. This one has ID = W9. He was young and probably newly married and is suspected of being a son of William W11/12. Again, he fits as one of the three boys in the 1800 Orangeburg County census.
The last record of a Stagner found in Lexington or Orangeburg Counties was:
Name of Decd: William Stagner [ID=W10]
Administrator Names: Absolom Hendrix
Penalty of Bonds: $500
Securities Names: John Meetze & David Hendrix
Date of Probate or Admn: 5th Sept 1825
This is believed to be William Jr. (W9) because of the date and given that no William Stagner of sufficient age was subsequently found anywhere else. So W9/10 apparently died young and left a spouse and at least two young children.
Since it appeared that W9/W10 died before the family left Lexington County, SC, it might be expected that the family would show up elsewhere, and probably where other members of the family were found. In fact, in 1830 Jasper County, GA a Rachael Stagner was found in the 1830 census with one young male and 4 young females. An 1850 Tallapoosa County, AL census for her indicates she was born in SC. Given the name Stagner, birth in SC, and all the young kids, I believe Rachael was the widow of W9/10. There is just no other explanation.
For completeness, there were three other Stagners who may have been offspring of W11/12.
John (J22)
John Stagner (J22) was found in Monroe County, AL in 1830 and Pike County, AL from 1840 until his death in 1879. The 1850 to 1870 censuses indicate that both J22 and his wife Elizabeth were born in South Carolina. He could easily have been the young male shown in the 1790 census for W11/12. The 1850-1870 censuses indicate he was born from 1787-1793.
James (JA9)
James Stagner (JA9) was born in 1810 in SC per his 1860 Tallapaloosa County, AL census. He was in Jasper County, GA in 1840, so likely followed older brother Daniel (AA124) to Georgia.
Sarah (SA5)
Sarah Stagner (SA5) married Silas Ray in Jasper County, GA in 1822. The first census for Silas and Sarah was in 1860 Tallapoosa County, AL, where she was indicated as born in South Carolina in 1808. This fits with one of young girls in “Widaw” Stagner’s 1810 census.
Summary of Children of William (W11/12)
The timelines below show how John (J22), William (W9/10), Daniel (AA124), James (JA9), Sarah (SA3) and Nancy (NA1) fit with William (W11/12):
This was a complicated analysis and there were too many details to present here, but this is what it looks like to me.
Henry Stagner – was he also a son of Daniel (AA123)?
I have added a discussion on this Henry Stagner (Hα) on this page:
Who were the Henry Stagners in early records?
I believe this Hα was a son of Daniel (AA123) and possible proof was presented. Search for records will continue to verify this. Perhaps one day DNA data will assist in proving this hypothesis as true or not.
Daniel’s Family Summary!
This is the hypothesized descendant family tree for Daniel Stagner:
Where was Daniel Stagner (AA123) born?
It was mentioned early on that Daniel stated he was born in Germany. There is undocumented information that he was a son of Johann Jacob Steigner (1708-1774) and Anna Ottillia Sieg from Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. However, documentation for this needs to be found! This was near the region where Barney (BA1) is suspected to be from.
Stagner Family Genealogy 