Background
Peter Stephens was born Peter Steffen in Steinsfurt, then part of the Electoral Palatinate (present day Germany) on March 3, 1687.
Peter Stephens was born Peter Steffen in Steinsfurt, then part of the Electoral Palatinate (present day Germany) on March 3, 1687.
Stephens is known for founding present-day Stephens City, Virginia. Peter would then migrate to what is now Frederick County, Virginia, and settle south of present-day Winchester, Virginia (which would not be founded for several more years past Stephens arrival). After buying 674 acres (273 km2) from Josh Hite, the act of which was challenged by land baron Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, though settled amicably between Lord Fairfax and Stephens, Peter settled and founded, then unofficially called "Stephens town", in the early 1730s.
Today, "Stephensburgh" is called Stephens City and celebrated its 250th anniversary, on October 12, 2008.
Stephens died at the age of 70 in December 6, 1757, just under a year before the town he founded would become chartered in October 1758.