John Gordan 7th Great Grandfather)

Thomas, John, and Elizabeth Gordon

At the age of 5 years, Thomas Gordon immigrated (around 1750) from Ulster, North Ireland, with his mother (who was of Scottish-Irish extraction) to America. They settled around Gordonsville, Va. Thomas served in the Revolutionary War for a period of two to three years. Thomas married Sarah Flynn and they settled on a beautiful farm on the west side of Steward’s Creek a few miles from Mt. Airy, North Carolina. In April or May of 1803, Thomas was lying on a trundle bed and his wife Sarah was spooling cotton, when lightning struck and killed them both. Their children were in another building washing their feet when the accident occurred, and so they were not harmed. Thomas and Sarah were buried in separate coffins side by side in the same grave on the farm near the residence. They had six children. Their oldest son was named John. John Gordon married Barzilla Martin and they settled on what was known as the hollow road between Pilot Mountain and Pinnacle. This main highway was located about 2 miles southward of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina. John farmed and Operated a tavern to serve the passengers on the stage coaches. They accumulated much real estate and at the time of his death owned 12 slaves. The Gordons had three sons and nine daughters. One of their daughters, Elizabeth (called Betsie) married Enoch Stone Jr. Enoch Stone Jr. and his wife Betsie made their home southwest of the town of Pilot Mt. and south of Enoch’s father’s home. To them were born five boys and seven girls. Enoch Jr. was a farmer, and although he had the help of a Negro couple, taught his sons to work. They were staunch Primitive Baptists, and believed in family unity. Two of their sons were killed in the Civil War. Enoch Jr. and Betsie’s son, Calvin Gordon Stone, married 15 year old Jane Elizabeth King when he was 22 years of age. Their daughter Barzilla Stone married William A. King, Jane’s brother.