To all who have patiently bourne with my search for a father to go with
Stephen Cantrell (1758-1827) 's mother, Sarah - at last a document has been
located giving his father's name.... and, you guessed it, he is Stephen, too.
In 1787 Stephen Cantrell "of Davidson county in Carolina" recorded a power of
attorney in Franklin County, Virginia (site of his mother's estate) for the
collection of "all real and personal estate of my father, Stephen Cantrell,
dec'd, in this or any other state". The document was witnessed by his sister
Sarah and her husband Joel Chitwood and their oldest son, Edmond.
There is a distinct possibility that the Stephen Cantrell ordered to work on
the road near Ashby Gap in Prince William County, along with William
Cantrell, in the early 1750's, is the same man. At that time Sarah as Mrs.
Edwards was administering the estate of her husband, John, and caring for her
two small children, John & Mary, in Hanover (then McAllister Town) York
County, Pennsylvania.
Much remains to be done on this family, but a break-through is sure nice!
Connie Moretti
Redondo Beach, California