Robert Montgomery Stevenson had the birth name of Robert Montgomery Young Stevenson, though he is thought to have dropped the Young at some point in his life.

Robert Montgomery Stevenson is historically (family history) believed to be the ninth of twelve known children of William ("Little Gabriel") Stevenson (1725-1809) and Mary McLelland (McClelland?) Stevenson (1730-1811), both born in Ireland, came to Pennsylvania with their families, married in Pennsylvania in the mid-1750's, and moved to North Carolina in c1762.

Robert and his wife were buried at his farm in present day northern Butler County, Missouri, near Keener's Station. Family oral history has it that their grave marker stones have sunk out of sight over the years in the field where they were buried. The family moved from North Carolina to Kentucky in 1810 and then onto Missouri in 1811. They lived at present day Belleview, Washington County, Missouri from 1811 to 1830, when the family moved to Butler County, Missouri.

Robert married Maria Rebecca Steele (1775-1839) in c1795 in North Carolina. Robert and Maria were the parents of twelve known children, seven boys and five girls. Eleven of the twelve children lived to maturity.

1. William Osbourne Stevenson (c1796-c1850)
2. Cynthia Alexander Stevenson Phelps (1797-1850)
3. Joseph Milus Stevenson (1799-1862)
4. Maria McClelland Stevenson Flinn (1801-1852)
5. James Hall Stevenson (1803-1886)
6. John Miles Stevenson (1807-1873)
7. Henry Steele Stevenson (1810-1889)
8. Margaret Louisa Stevenson McDaniel (1811-1866)
9. Jane Sloan Stevenson Baird (1812-1893)
10. Andrew Stevenson (1812-young)
11. Sarah Emily Stevenson Flinn (1814-1897)
12. Robert Montgomery Young Stevenson Jr. (1815-1889)

Links to Robert's parents, wife, and ten of his twelve children are included below. It is not known where the sons William and Andrew are buried.