[1] Stevenson was one of the close childhood friends of George Washington and served as a Captain during the American Revolutionary War for the Continental Army.

[1] Stephenson was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War serving as a Captain and paymaster of the 13th Virginia Regiment.

James also had a brother, William Stephenson, who served as a Lieutenant during the Illinois campaign under George Rogers Clark.

[2] Prior to Crawford's death, a young George Washington would often visit the Stephenson household, and would become a childhood friend of James.

[2] On December 14, 1789, Stephenson's wife Rachel died and he remarried to one Martha née Barr, the couple had four sons, Benjamin "James", Richard, Joseph, and John, as well as a daughter Achsah.