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To begin the Lackey family history, we start with James Stevenson. This information was found on the internet through the Stevenson, Arrington and Tucker Families history. He was the grandfather of Elizabeth Young Lackey, wife of Stephen Cole Butler. James was born in North Belfast, Ireland, and came to Maryland in the mid 1700's. He married Sarah (Sallie) Kelly, who was also born in Ireland. According to family history, after James's father died, his mother married a man by the name of White, and when the family was ready to sail from Ireland to America, they had to leave the youngest of the three brothers, William, behind in Belfast. He was bound out to a tailor for seven years to learn the trade, and the tailor would not release him. Eventually, James, William, and John all settled with their families in Iredell County, North Carolina. Other family histories state that the Stevenson family originally came from Scotland and were Presbyterians. They say James was "fully six feet tall and a man of the finest form. His early life was spent in the English Navy." This seems to give the impression that the three Stevenson boys were probably in their late 20's to mid 30's when they arrived in America. When James made out his will and signed it, he spelled his last name "Stevenson," but later his three sons adopted the spelling of "Stephenson." James and Sarah are said to have been buried in the old Vashti Cemetery in Hiddenite, North Carolina.

James and Sarah had eight children, and three of their daughters married Lackey brothers. Margaret Stevenson married Thomas Lackey; Anne Stevenson married George Hamilton Lackey; and Agnes Nancy Stevenson was married to our forefather, William Lackey. This made their children "triple" cousins. According to the information given by Ilene Butler in her book, the Lackey's also came from Scotland and settled in the north of Ireland to be able to worship as Presbyterians and apply their trade as weavers. By 1790 William and his brothers with their families had moved to Rowan County, North Carolina. William Lackey served in the Revolutionary War. When he died in 1820, his will stated,…"I will that my beloved wife Nancy Lackey during her life have fifty acres of land, including the dwelling house in which I now live, and my household furniture, and likewise my stock of all kind; also Negro woman by the name of Nelly, with her four children, Tanner, Stephen, Simon, and Israel…I give and bequeath to my son William Lackey seventy acres of land lying on the waters of South Yadkin River…unto my son James Lackey seventy-five acres of land lying on the South Yadkin River, more or less…to my son Alexander Lackey fifty acres of land, joining my plantation where I now live…to my son Ames Lackey fifty acres of land, more or less, joining my plantation…after my wife's decease, the balance of my land to be equally divided between my three sons, George Lackey, David Lackey, and Eneas Lackey…to my daughter Mary Rice, the wife of Stephen Rice, the sum of five pounds…to my daughter Martha Thompson, wife of James Thompson, the sum of five pounds…my personal estate, after satisfying the bequeath…remain in the possession of my beloved wife Nancy Lackey, during her natural life for her decent and comfortable support." This will was dated May 27, 1820 and copied from an article about Amos Burrel Lackey taken from "History of Newton County, Arkansas."