Home > United States of America > North Carolina > Vance County > Henderson > Robards-Royster Family Cemetery > COL Stephen Sampson Royster

COL Stephen Sampson Royster

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Birth	:	1809 Goochland County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	20 Jul 1887
Burial	:	Robards-Royster Family Cemetery, Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate	:	36.4073950, -78.4090780
Description	:	PARENTS: David Daniel Royster & Elizabeth Ann Sampson. David, b. 10 May 1762, Goochland Co., Virginia, British America; m. Elizabeth Ann Sampson; d. 1842, Shelby, Tenn. Elizabeth, b. 9 July 1772, Goochland Co., VA, British American; d. 29 June 1858, Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Mass. Family tradition maintains that Stephen Sampson Royster came to Williamsboro to take part in a wedding and fell in love with Miss Robards, who was his partner in the wedding procession. They were married in the latter part of the year. Stephen S. Royster m. Jane E. Robards 20 Dec. 1841, Granville Co., NC. Stephen's father-in-law William Robards died in 1842.... Read More	PARENTS: David Daniel Royster & Elizabeth Ann Sampson. David, b. 10 May 1762, Goochland Co., Virginia, British America; m. Elizabeth Ann Sampson; d. 1842, Shelby, Tenn. Elizabeth, b. 9 July 1772, Goochland Co., VA, British American; d. 29 June 1858, Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Mass. Family tradition maintains that Stephen Sampson Royster came to Williamsboro to take part in a wedding and fell in love with Miss Robards, who was his partner in the wedding procession. They were married in the latter part of the year. Stephen S. Royster m. Jane E. Robards 20 Dec. 1841, Granville Co., NC. Stephen's father-in-law William Robards died in 1842. In 1849 Stephen Sampson Royster purchased LaGrange from the Robards estate for $5,000. It is possible that he and his wife had lived there for some time prior to his formal acquisition of the property. Shortly after this acquisition Royster made significant additions to the house. Royster was a large and successful planter. He was one of the area's largest tobacco growers. Tobacco had not reached the level of importance in North Carolina agriculture that it would reach after the Civil War, but it was a crop of some stature and Granville County was an area where much of it was grown. The 1850 census shows that Royster was farming 600 acres, with 1,000 acres unimproved. His real estate was valued at $13,000. He grew 30,000 pounds of tobacco, by far his largest crop. He also had a substantial amount of livestock, $1,320 worth, including 125 swine. Royster grew 1,200 bushels of wheat, 3,000 bushels of corn, and 2 tons of hay. He owned 43 slaves. In 1860 he had 900 acres under cultivation, valued at $19,500. The value of his livestock had increased to $4,050. Royster's tobacco production increased to 35,000 pounds, while he also grew 1,400 bushels of wheat, 2,SOO of corn, 1,500 of oats, and 10 tons of hay. Royster's plantation suffered a typical post Civil War decline. He had 800 acres under cultivation, with a value of $11,000. His tobacco production declined dramatically, down to 5,000 pounds. He still had a large amount of livestock and grew 1,750 bushels of corn, 1,000 of wheat, and 1,000 of oats. S. Royster and his wife Jane had at least nine children. Royster died in 1878 and left LaGrange to his wife. The 1880 census shows that she continued to farm the property with help from her sons William, John, Richard, and Edward. The production of the farm was less than that of 1870, although the Roysters did grow over 21,000 pounds of cotton. Jane Royster died in the 1880 and the property was divided among her children. Thomas Satterwhite Royster kept LaGrange. Thomas Satterwhite Royster was a talented and versatile man who taught school, put himself through medical school and became a physician of note. He willed the property to his wife Sallie Alston Royster. At her death the property was willed to her son Thomas Sampson Royster, Sr., a prominent Henderson surgeon who died in 1939. His son Thomas Sampson Royster, Jr, also a physician, later inherited the property. For much of this century LaGrange has been occupied by tenants. Eventually it returned to Royster ownership by Dr. Thomas Sampson Royster, Jr. who died in 2008. Current ownership is unknown. [Source: Excerpted from the National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination form dated Sept. 1981.] ************* 1850 U.S. Census for Henderson Dist., Granville Co., NC: S S Royster M 40 Virginia; farmer Jane Royster F 36 Virginia 1860 U.S. Census for Henderson Dist., Granville Co., NC: S S Royster M 50 VA; farmer Jane E Royster F 41 NC William D Royster M 17 Tennessee Mara Royster F 15 Tennessee Nannie Royster F 14 Tennessee C J Royster F 11 Tennessee John Royster M 9 Tennessee Richard Royster M 6 Tennessee Thomas Royster M 3 Tennessee Believe the census-taker got confused. All the children were b. in Granville Co., NC. 1870 U.S. Census for Henderson Twp, Granville Co., NC (18 July)(P.O. Henderson): Samuel S Roysten M 61 VA; farmer Jane E Roysten F 50 Virginia [NC] William D Roysten M 27 VA [NC]; farmer Nancy Royster F 33 North Carolina Kate J Royster F 21 North Carolina John Royster M 19 North Carolina R H Royster M 16 North Carolina Thomas Royster M 14 North Carolina Edward Royster M 9 North Carolina Beverly Royster M 5 North Carolina Horace T Royster M 32 NC; farmer Mary E Royster F 26 North Carolina Saml S Royster M 2 North Carolina Lizzy Royster F 1 mo North Carolina Henriette Stewart F 22 NC; house servant Louisa Miller F 20 NC; house servant Milly Royster F 45 NC; cook Anderson Royster M 10 North Carolina Jerry Royster M 80 North Carolina W Baskerville M 15 NC; works on farm The 2nd batch are African-Americans who appear to work for the S.S. Royster family. Notes: Daughter Nancy "Nannie" Keeling Royster, b. 1 Sept. 1847; m. Thos. B. Parham 15 Jan 1871, Granville Co., NC. Thomas' parents were Asa Parham & Delia H. Parham. Nannie d. 5 Jan. 1928. Thomas, b. 16 July 1841, Granville Co., NC; d. 29 Nov. 1921, NC. Nancy & Thomas are buried at Elmwood Cem., Henderson, Vance Co., NC; Memorial 61240920. Daughter Katherine Jane Royster, b. Jun. 24, 1851, Granville Co., NC; m. Chester George Bond; d. Oct. 4, 1916, Jackson, Madison Co., Tenn. They are buried in Riverside Cem., Jackson, Tenn; Memorial 50545992. Son Edward, b. 8 Sept 1861, Vance Co., NC; m. Corenne Cheek; d. 3 Mar 1932, Henderson, Vance Co., NC. He was a tobacco farmer. They are buried at Elmwood Cem., Henderson, NC; Memorial 168075133. Son Beverly Sampson Royster, b. 17 Jan 1865, Granville Co., NC; m. Mamie Hobgood; d. 16 Nov 1929, Oxford, Granville Co., NC. Mamie was b. 17 June 1871, NC; d. 28 Feb 1962, Oxford, Granville Co., NC. Her parents were Franklin P. Hobgood & Mary Ann Royall. Beverly & Mamie are buried at Elmwood Cem., Oxford, Granville Co., NC; Memorial 28365599.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is COL Stephen Sampson Royster's memorial?
COL Stephen Sampson Royster's memorial is located at: Robards-Royster Family Cemetery, Henderson, Vance County, USA.
When did COL Stephen Sampson Royster death?
COL Stephen Sampson Royster death on 20 Jul 1887 in
Where are the coordinates of the COL Stephen Sampson Royster's memorial?
Latitude: 36.4073950
Longitude: -78.4090780

Family Members:

Spouse

Jane Elizabeth Robards Royster

(1819 - 1883)

Children

William D. Royster

(1842 - 1885)

Nancy Keeling “Nannie” Royster Parham

(1847 - 1928)

Dr Thomas Satterwhite Royster

(1856 - 1898)

Edward Royster

(1861 - 1932)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Robards-Royster Family Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4073950, -78.4090780

2. Montpelier Plantation Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4165860, -78.4358600

3. Ashley Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4090339, -78.3791635

4. Saint John's Episcopal Churchyard
Williamsboro, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4294860, -78.4339710

5. Morning Star United Church Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4151500, -78.3689300

6. Island Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
Williamsboro, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4229700, -78.4469500

7. Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Cemetery
Williamsboro, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4208000, -78.4491500

8. Flat Rock United Methodist Church Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3905610, -78.3678140

9. Tillotson Family Cemetery #2
Buffalo Junction, Mecklenburg County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3835000, -78.3713000

10. Nutbush Baptist Church Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3657200, -78.4189600

11. Tillotson Family Cemetery
Buffalo Junction, Mecklenburg County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3816000, -78.3656000

12. Livingstone Christian Church Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3627870, -78.4202480

13. Reavis Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3724540, -78.3724470

14. Wiggins-Baskett Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3640850, -78.3886540

15. Our Sleeping Garden
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4187640, -78.4657590

16. Harris Family Cemetery
Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3854680, -78.3565740

17. Baskett Family Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3592600, -78.3925610

18. Rice Family Cemetery
Williamsboro, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4514700, -78.4392900

19. Britt Family Cemetery
Henderson, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3650100, -78.3746200

20. Fleming Family Cemetery
Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4278085, -78.3496764

21. Mount Zion United Church of Christ Cemetery
Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4549713, -78.4376450

22. Hawkins-Carroll Family Cemetery
Middleburg, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4025000, -78.3409900

23. Unidentified Cemetery (Possibly Smith Family)
Dabney Township, Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3679110, -78.4671150

24. Knott Family Cemetery
Vance County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4272520, -78.4828611