Nancy Stephenson, one of the Four, daughter of Robert Stephenson, of County Antrim, Ireland, was born 1750, in Ireland. She married William Anderson in Ireland, in 1772, and came with her husband and others to America. He bought land and settled on Rocky Creek, about eight miles west from the lower end of the falls, on the Catawba River. Of this marriage there were three children born—Mary, Robert and William. Mr. Anderson volunteered as an American soldier. He fell in the cause of liberty in the autumn of 1780. Nancy, his wife, and her children, struggled for a living. But by indomitable will and perseverance, they succeeded. She was a handsome woman, and as good as she was fine looking. She was tall and symmetrically proportioned—a graceful form. She was a blonde, having beautiful complexion, very light colored hair and blue eyes. She was an extraordinarily nice housekeeper and a fine cook. Quoting from Rev. Wesley Smith's (her grandson) "Family History:" "One, who knew Nancy Anderson, nee Stephenson, well, observed that if a woman ever lived who came up to Solomon's description of a virtuous woman, it was she."
It is meet and proper that the quotation attributed by the Rev. Wesley Smith, her grandson, to Mrs. Nancy A. Carmack, her granddaughter, should be used to describe the grandmother, Nancy Anderson: "The heart of her husband did safely trust in her. She did work diligently with her hands. She did lay her hands to the spindle and hold the distaff. She stretched forth her hands to the poor, yea, she reached forth her hands to the needy. She looked well to the ways of her household and eat not the bread of idleness. Her children have risen up and called her blessed. Her husband also praised her." Her numerous intelligent and distinguished descendants are a fit reward for her piety and devotion to the training of her three children. They are distinguished in the walks of peace and in the councils of the nation, as well as in the carnage and clamor of war, and in the proclaiming of the gospel of Christ. She married Daniel Green, a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Green was a very excellent man, a kind husband, an industrious provider, a very lenient, good stepfather. Of this second marriage there were no children. She and Mr. Green succeeded in accumulating a nice fortune. After they recovered from the effects of the Revolutionary War, they built a residence, which is still standing as a monument to the art and industry of Mr. Green.
I was in this house last July. It was built with hewn pine logs, in the year 1779. The logs and house generally are in a very good state of preservation. I visited every room, from basement to garret. The house is a model of strength and compactness. But the indications of wealth are gone; no negroes, no fine horses, no beautiful flower garden. All are gone to try the realities of another world. But the spring of cold water still flows from under the brow of the hill as ever.
Mary Anderson, daughter of William Anderson and his wife, Nancy Stephenson, born in 1774, married Joshua Smith in South Carolina. They reared a large and intelligent family in Robertson County, Tennessee. The most of their children were unusually intelligent. Four of her sons became ministers of the gospel. They were devoted to their calling and were useful men in the community where their lot was cast. They were of the Methodist persuasion. They reared families in the Southwest.
Rev. Wesley Smith, the son of Joshua Smith and his wife, Mary Anderson, wrote a family history to which I am indebted for much family history that appears in this booklet.