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The nation was in its infancy. George Washington had not yet been elected president and would not be for another two years. In the lush, fertile plantation country of St. Mary's County, Maryland, a son was born to John and Judith Scallorn. Stephen W. Scallorn made his entrance into the world on Feb. 23, 1787. He was the sixth child born to the pioneer family.
His grandfather, Peter, had been in Maryland since 1722, perhaps earlier. Grandfather Peter had first leased land and then bought the plantation "Love's Enjoyment" which was situated on the St. Mary's and Charles County line, with land in both counties. The land was retained by the family until the early 1800's. Sometime during 1801-1802, John's two oldest sons, Joab and John, Jr. migrated to North Carolina. In 1802-1803, John and his family, including his wife's parents, began the migration that would eventually bring the family to Texas. In 1803, they were settled in North Carolina.
A pattern of migration developed. Initially, two or more sons and sometimes with one or more of the daughters, would move on to a new location. They would evaluate the prospects of the new area and if prospects seemed promising, the family would follow. The family traveled in a group that included not only immediate family, but extended family as well. As they migrated from place to place, the group grew as children married and new children were born. The immediate family of the spouses often joined the group in the migration, which also swelled the numbers of the group.
The vanguard arrived in Kentucky about 1808 or 1809. By 1810, the remainder of the family had also settled in Kentucky and bought land in Wayne County. The pioneers were extremely hardy and self-sufficient. This was evidenced by their very survival in Kentucky. According to some sources, only one-third of the pioneers who migrated through Kentucky in the early 1800's survived. Their numbers were depleted by starvation, disease, and Indian attack. It was during the sojourn in Kentucky that Stephen W. married his first wife, Mary McClure, in 1811. While they lived in Kentucky Stephen took up the practice of medicine which he would continue for the next 25 years. It is unknown if he was formally trained as a doctor, or if he apprenticed with a local physician and learned the profession. The addition of the McClure Clan further increased the size of the migrating group.
John Scallorn, Sr. retained ownership of his land in Kentucky, but the group now moved on to Madison and Limestone Counties, Alabama. In 1823, John Scallorn, Sr. died. The book containing his will in Limestone County, Alabama, has been lost. An abstract of his will remains, and in it his wife and children are named. It would be some years in the future before his wife, Judith, died. At the time of her death, she was living with a daughter in Southern Tennessee. The family was now beginning to disperse in different directions. John, Jr. resided in Madison County, Alabama and became a prominent citizen there. The family migrated to various areas: some to Louisiana; some to Arkansas; some to Mississippi; the families of Peter, Stephen W. and William moved on to Fayette and Haywood counties in Tennessee. It was in Haywood county that Stephen W.'s first wife, Mary McClure Scallorn died as a result of complications of childbirth. In less than a year, Stephen W. was married to Martha Bullock.
The family name also began to exhibit changes during this period. The majority of John's sons used the name Scallorn. Peter's line used the name Scallions. John's grandsons were varied in the use of the family name, some using Scallions and some using Scallorn. Scallion and Scallorn family researchers have struggled because of the name spelling. However, among the network of researchers (Scallion and Scallorn) this is a problem that appears to have been resolved. The family connections have been proven and documented by a number of family researchers.
Once again a vanguard of sons was sent to Texas. John Wesley Scallorn, his brother, Elam, some of the McClures and Faires made a foray into Texas. It was not long until the families of William and Stephen began the final leg of the journey that would at long last take them to Texas. Moving on foot, and presumably in covered wagons, they followed the Natchez Trace into Texas. The colony included the Scallorns, Karnes, and Faires. The year was 1830. All of the families settled in Fayette County, Texas.
Stephen Scallorn was instrumental in organizing five Primitive Baptist Churches in Texas. He lived to be more than 100-years-old. William was a man of great honor and respected in the church and in his community. He died only eight days after his brother, Stephen. Both had lost their wives some years previously. John Wesley perished during a Mexican attack on Dawson's men at Salado, Texas, September 18, 1842. Many of the Scallorn descendants still reside in Texas and are leaders in their churches and communities.
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RNT Family History