STEVENS FAMILY of Sullivan County, NH
Transcribed and contributed to Genealogy Trails by Janice Farnsworth - Farns10th@aol.com
Source: History of Charlestown, NH - Fort 4 by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson pub 1876,
Claremont, NH
p.556
Col. Thomas Stevens of Devonshire England who in the latter part of the reign of King Charles I or during the Protectorate, removed to London. Very little is known of this ancestor but it may be inferred from his title that he was a man of some distinction as he lived in times when such offices were not easily attainable, except through personal merit, or the influence of considerable wealth. He had four sons, from Cyprian the youngest of whom is traced the decent of the subject of this memoir. The date of emigration of Cyprian Stevens to this country has not been ascertained; but we find that Jan. 22, l67l he married Mary Willard, dau of Major Simon Willard and his 3rd wife, Mary Dunster. On arriving in this country, his lst residence was at Chelsea, MA but at the time of his marriage he was of Lancaster at which place afterwards he became a man of considerable consequence. He survived his wife and married a 2d time. Cyprian and Mary Stevens had four children of whom Joseph married Prudence Rice the dau of John Rice and settled in Sudbury. In this place he resided several yrs when he removed to Framingham. He was of Lancaster from 17l6 to 17l9 where he had two children: Joseph and Isaac. The next year he probably removed to Rutland where after its incorporation he became one of its most prominent citizens being honored by his townsmen with various import-ant offices and with a deaconship with the church. He had children born at Sudbury, Framingham and Rutland..eleven in all. Phineas Stevens was born in Sudbury Feb 20, 1706
p.557 Capt Phineas Stevens
On Aug 20, 1723 five Indians slew Samuel, Joseph, brothers of Phineas Stevens and took Phineas and Isaac prisoners. From the time of his capture to the time of his return from captivity nothing has come down of interest until his marriage. In 1734 he married his cousin, Elizabeth Stevens of Petersham, MA., after which, he remained in Rutland until circumstances led him to become one of the earlier settlers of Fort 4, Charlestown, NH.
They moved to Fort No. 4, Charlestown not earlier than 1745. In 1755 he moved his family to Deerfield, MA where they were at the time of his death. Seven of his children were born at Rutland, MA two at Fort No. 4 and one at Deerfield MA. His lst military commission was rec'd from Gov. Benning Wentworth (N.H.) in 1743. (commissioned as a Lieutenant of the foot company of Militia in the Regiment of Col. Josiah Willard.)
p.568
Children of Capt. Phineas Stevens and his wife Elizabeth (Stevens) Stevens:
l. Samuel Stevens b. 1735 at Rutland, MA m. Talitha (Polly) Bingham of Lempster
Children of Samuel Stevens and wife, Talitha Bingham:
l. Solon Stevens b. 1778 d. 1809 Practiced law at Exeter NH and Boston.
2. Enos Stevens b. 1780 m. 1811 Martha Hunt dau of Roswell Hunt and Mary (Willard) Hunt of Charlestown. Martha b. 1792.l. Samuel Hunt Stevens b. 18l2 m. 1836 Lucetta Putnam He d. 1839 a farmer at Rochester Illinois.
l. Samuel Phineas Stevens b. 1838 m. Olive Slater res: Missouri.
2. Mary Ellen Stevens b. 18l4 at Fort No. 4 m. 1835 John Swain MD b. Newburyport, MA Res: Ballardsville KY
3. Harriet Stevens b. 1817 d. 1826
4. Martha Ann Stevens b. 182l m. 1839 George HUBBARD son of Samuel Hubbard
5. Sarah Elizabeth Stevens b. 1826 m. at Ballardsville KY in 1846 Robert Greene Blakemore of KY b. 18l5 He d. 1853 at Oldham Co. KY
6. George Enos Stevens b. 1830 d. 1832
7. Harriet Prudence Stevens b. 18323. Polly Stevens dau of Samuel and Talitha (Polly) (Bingham) Stevens b. 1782 m. 1808 James Hervey Bingham Res: Alstead, NH She d. 1818
4. Samuel Bingham Stevens b. 1783 m. 18l0 Joanna Folsom of Exeter b. 1787 He d. 1824 She d. 1873 Res: Exeter NH
l. Samuel Folsom Stevens b. 18ll d. 1854 Island of St. Thomas (4 children)
2. Elizabeth Stevens b. 18l6 m. 1839 Prof. Wm. Norton son of Heman Norton and Julia (Strong) Norton He b. 18l0 grad West Point 183l Prof. of civil engineering at Yale5. Elizabeth Stevens b. 1788 d. 1789
6. Tabitha Stevens b. 1792 d. 1873
7. Prudence Stevens b. 1794 m. 1817 Hiram Bingham of Claremont. She d.
at Charlestown NH 18722.Willard Stevens son of Capt Phineas Stevens and his wife Elizabeth, was twin of his brother, the Hon. Samuel Stevens. Willard b. at Rutland MA 1735 m. 1773 Olive Willard Res: Barnet Vt. He d. 1789 age 54
l. Dorothy b. 1774
2.______
3. Clory Allen Stevens b. 1776
4. Olive Stevens b. 178l d. 1786
3. Simon Willard Stevens b. 1737 at Rutland MA
4. Enos Stevens b. 1739 at Rutland MA m. 179l Sophia Grout dau of Elijah Grout and Mary (Willard) Grout b. Lunenburg, MA 1765
5. Mary Stevens b. 1742 at Rutland, MA m. Elijah King
6. Capt. Phineas Stevens, Jr. b. Rutland MA a physician
7. Catherine Stevens b. 1747 at Rutland MA m. (1) David Stone Res: Windsor Vt She m. (2) Capt. Jonathan Willard who d. 1832 age 88 She d. 1824
8. Prudence Stevens b. 1750 m. Hon. John HUBBARD
9. Solomon Stevens b. 1753 Res Barnet Vt (born at Fort No. 4.)
10. Dorothy Stevens b. 1755 at Deerfield MA d. 1758
p.558
Capt. Phineas Stevens (see his bio)
Though not among the earliest, he was an early settler. His name appears on the Proprietor's Records the first time Sept. 13, 1743. His first military commission was received from Gov. Benning Wentworth, of New-Hampshire, and was dated Dec. 13, A.D. 1743 and it runs thus:
"To Phineas Stevens of No. Four, so called, on the East Connecticut River. You, the said Phineas Stevens, are commissioned to be Lieutenant of the foot company of Militia in the regiment of Josiah Willard, Esq, Colonel. (signed) B. Wentworth"
Josiah Willard was one of the principal proprietors of the town of Winchester and was Commander of Fort Dummer. The particular service which Lieut. Stevens performed in connection with this regiment is not known, if he performed any. He was next commissioned by Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts as Lieutenant in a company of volunteers raised for the defense of the western frontiers. This commission was dated Oct. 26, 1744. On Jan.9, 1745 he was also appointed by Governor Shirley, Captain of a company of volunteers to be raised for His Majesty's service against the French and Indians. In another commission by Governor Shirley, he was appointed first Lieutenant of a company of soldiers raised for the defense of the inhabitants whereof Josiah Willard Jr., was Captain. This commission bears the date July 29, 1745. The following commission is copied from Caleb Stark's sketch of the subject of this memoir, embraced in the volume containing his life of General John Stark. It was furnished by Henry Stevens and is a copy from the original:
"By His Excellency, The Governor. These are to direct you forthwith to enlist sixty able-bodied, effective volunteers, to make up a marching company on the western frontiers. Twenty-five of which sixty men you may also enlist out of the standing com-panies in those parts; taking effectual care that en-listmentbe made with as much equality as may be, so as not much to weaken any particular party of those sold-iers; and with the said company to scout during the summer season in such places where the Indian enemies hunt or dwell, keeping one half of your company at the garrison called No. Four, to guard and defend the in-habitants there and to repel and destroy the enemy that may assault them; and upon return of the half that go out upon the march the half just mentioned forthwith to march out and scout in the manner above said; and so interchangeably - one part to coninue to do their duty at No. Four, and the other to be upon the march above said.
And, you, the officer that shall command the said march-ing party must keep exact journals of your marches, noting down all circumstancesand making such observations as may be useful hereafter. You must take care to keep an exact discipline among your men, punishing all immorality and profaneness and suppressing all such disorders in your marches and encampments as may tend to disorder and expose you to the enemy.
Given under my hand at Boston, this twenty-sixth day of April 1746 in the 19th year of his Majesty's reign,
William Shirley
(above) To Captain Phineas Stevens."
p.559
Another commission from the same source bears date at Boston, June 16, 1746.
During that summer Capt. Stevens was of great service in the defense of No. Four, being ever watchful while others were incautious, he several times rescued parties of soldiers, who, contrary to his counsel had needlessly exposed themselves to dangers. For though most of the time engagedin varied service under the particular direction of the Captain General, he still kept such a watch of the movements of the Indians as to be able to be present at No. Four at those junctures when his counsel and help were most imperatively demanded. But, not withstanding all the endeavors of the inhabitants to protect themselves and all the aid extended to them by Massachusetts, their circumstances were still rendered so difficult by the numerous depredations of their Indian enemies that they felt obliged towards the latter part of the year, when Massachusetts withdrew her forces, to abandon the settlementand retireto their former homes till such time as they could return with greater safety aznd more favorable prospects.
We learn from the journal of Capt. Eleazer Melvin (found on p. 207, Vol. V., N.H. Historical Collections) that Capt. Stevens and Capt. Hobbs with their companies march-ed in conjunction with him from the l5th to the 20th of May, 1748 from No. 4 to Otter Creek, in search of the enemy, when, making no discovery, they thought it best to take another course and leave Capt. Melvin to proceed alone.
In 1749 he was appointed by the government of Massachu-settsto proceed with a flag of truce to Canada to nego-tiate the redemption of captives from the Indians. Of this expedition he kept a journal which is found in his report made "To the Honorable Spencer Phipps, Esq., Commander in and over His Majesty's Province and to the Honorable His Majesty's Council now met in Boston, Dec. 15th, 1749."
This journal is found in the collections of the New-Hampshire Historical Society, Vol. V, page 199 and contains a particular account of his journey to and his return from Canada, as well as of the transactions there. The following extracts will be of interest:
"Sometime in August last I was appointed by the honor-able commissioners (then appointed by the honorable Court), to go to Canada as their pilot. I accordingly repairedto my post at No. 4, to get my affairs in order, and proposed to attend them. Just as I was prepared I received a letter fromthe Hon. John Chandler, Esq. in-forming me that the Commissioners were not to go. Upon receipt of which, I, with all speed, repaired to the Hon. Col. Chandler, and from thence, by his direction, to Boston, where I received His Excellency Governor Shirley's letter to the Governor of Canada, as also His Excellency's and your Honor's orders to proceed with the same to the Governor of Canada. Sept. 13th I set out from Boston. Sept. 16th I arrived at Hadley, where I met my son, returned from his captivity." This was Enos Stevens, who had been taken prisoner in the month of June, previous. The following is his account of his reception:
"The Governor received us very kindly - asked us to sup with him, which accordinly I did. The Governor told me he should ask me no questions that night. Oct 29th, waited upon the Governor that morning, who interrogated me very particular what was my business.
p.561 I delivered the public letter, when he demanded of me all the private letters. He understanding that I had no special orders to treat with the Governor General, told me he thought it not proper that I should go to Quebec, and that he would send the letter by an express, and if the Governor General thought it necessary he would send for me; if not I might expect on the return of the ex-press, to be sent immediately home; at the same time he strictly forbid my having any conversation with the Indians and threatened if he perceived I had, I should be immediately confined. Gave orders to my landlord, the King's interpreter, to keep us always under his inspection.
I continued at Montreal eight days (where I was very well entertained) I mde it my constant business to enquire after prisoners."
"Nov. 5th the express returned to Montreal with the answer to Governor Shirley's letter. The sixth of Nov. I was ordered home. I desired liberty to tarry one day longer. The Governor told me the orders from the Gov-ernor General were so strict he could not grant me the favor. I accordingly set out with an officer and five soldiers who had orders to bring me to Crown Point."
After arriving at Crown Point, Captain Stevens was left to take care of himself. The following extract will show some of the difficulties of a journey from Crown Point to Albany in those days, especially at the season in which his journey was made.
"Nov. l5th, took our departure with the Indians (two Cagnwaugen Indians whom he had hired to assist him) in a birch canoe; came about five miles; found so much ice we could go no further; 16th 17th and 18th - lodged here, waiting for the ice to be strong enough to bear us; l9th drew our canoe on the ice about seven miles; found it very difficult - falling several times into the water; 20th, drew our canoe three miles further on the ice; found it so weak (the ice) we could not travel; 2lst: lay still; 22nd, travelled on the ice leaving our canoe; 23rd, passed the mouth of Wood Creek into a large pond, which has a small communication to the drowned lands lying to the west of the mouth of Wood Creed; 24th travelled over the said pond, about four or five miles in length, and then two or three miles up a small river; we here took our packs on our backs and travelled in an Indian path,trodden bythem in their descents upon the Dutch this last war and not before. Nevertheless, it is so trod that we could easily follow it, although the snow was four or five inches deep; Nov. 25th, we travel-ed in said road; 26th, we came to Hudson's River in the morning about five miles above Col. Lydius' trading house. This carrying place from where we first took up our packs I judge to be twenty-two miles to Hudson's River; the traveling level and exceeding good, except about two miles, when we first left the aforesaid small river."
Allusion has been made to a commission given to Capt. Stevens by Governor Shirley, bearing the date at Boston, June l6th 1746. The object of this commission will be seen by the following memorial: "Addressed to Honorable Spencer Phipps, Lieutenant Governor of this Province (Massachusetts) and the Council, June 12th, 1750."
"The memorial of Phineas Stevens, of Number Four, humbly sheweth: -"That upon his enlisting himself a volunteer in His Majesty's service for the then intended expedition against Canada, he removed his family, viz. his wife and six children to Rutland from Number Four, expecting himself soon to set out for Canada on said expedition, and, that upon the delay of that expedition he was, by direction from His Excellency the Captain General, ordered to the frontiers of the Province, and was constantly exployed on the frontiers, either in guarding stores to Fort Massachusetts (note: Fort Massachusetts was situated in the town of Adams in the western part of the state of Massachusetts. It was located on the north end of Saddle Mountain, and remains of it are still to be seen, or were a few years ago. From 1746 to 1756 it was deemed a very important post for the defense of the frontier in that section.) or Number Four, or in keeping the fort at Number Four till the said expedition was laid aside and the Canada forces dismissed; in which time he defend-ed the said Fort Number Four from a vigorous attack of the enemy; and his other services in that term he humbly hopes were acceptable to the province, where he was at very great expense in supporting his family, at a dis-stance from his station; and as his expenses so he humbly conceives his constant labors and services for the province in that term distinguish his case from that most if not any of the officers who enlisted them-selves for the Canada service, he therefore prays your honorable considerationof the premises and that your honor would grant that he may be allowed the common allowance for a soldier for subsistence during the said term and your memorialist as in duty bound will ever pray. Phineas Stevens."
In the House of Representatives, June l3th 1750: "Read and ordered that the memorialist be allowed out of the public treasury the sum of ten pounds and eight shillings in full consideration of the above named. Signed S. Phipps."
p.563 After the successful termination of the expedition against Louisburg, another was set on foot for the in-vasion of Canada, which as it was never carried out, Captain Stevens in the above memorial, speaks of as 'the intended expedition.' The New-Hampshire regiment, raised for it, was ready to march on the first of July, 1746, but was delayed as were the forces of Massachusetts by the news of the approach of a powerful French army and fleet, to the eastern coast. This fleet consisted of about forty ships of war, besides transports, with veteran officers, and all kinds of military stores; and was indeed the most powerful armament that had ever been sent to North America. The intended Canadian expedition was therefore abandoned, as it was thought that the troops would be needed for defense at home. For a time the deepest anxiety and excitement prevailed on all the New England coast. But through providential disasters, the power of the armament was soon broken in such a manner, without any human aid, that only a small and scattered remnant of it ever returned to France; and the people without any instrumentality on their part, were delivered from their fears.
In July, 1752, Capt. Stevens was once more commissioned by the government of Massachusetts to proceed to Canada to negotiate for the deliverance of such captives be-longing to the State, as he might there find. He was accompanied in this mission by Mr. Wheelwright of Boston. On arriving at Montreal, not finding as they anticipated, the prisoners belonging to Massachusetts, they decidedon the redemption of two from New-Hampshire. They were John Stark, subsequently the celebrated Gener-al Stark, the hero of Bennington and Amos Eastman, after-wards of Hollis, NH. The ransom for Stark was one hundred and three dollars, and that of his friend, East-man, sixty dollars. The ransom of Stark was not paid in money, but he was given up for an Indian pony, for which the amount above specified, had been paid. These sums which were thus paid for the redemption of two of her sons, were never repaid by New-Hampshire. The policy of Massachusetts was more liberal, as she invariably and with as much promptness as possible, redeemed all her captives. Stark ultimately paid the price of his redemption himself, by pursuing his vocation as a hunter, on the river Androscoggin.
The estimation in which Captain Stevens was held, is shown by the following letter from Governor Shirley to Governor Benning Wentworth of New-Hampshire, and the accompanying vote of the General Assembly of Massachu-setts, which is subjoined:
Letter from Governor Shirley to Governor Wentworth:
"Sir - The Assembly of this Province, having been apprized of some measures your Excellency's Government are taking for the redemption of such persons, taken by the Indians and carried prisoners into Canada, as belong to your Province, are desirous to join with you in this affair, that some expense may be saved to both govern-ments by employing one and the same person to transact this business at Canada, have judged Capt. Phineas Stevens, one of your own government, to be a proper person to be employed in this service, and the Council and House of Representatives have desired me to write to your excellency on this subject, as you will see by the enclosed copy of their vote. Your Excellency will there-fore be pleased to let me have your answer, as soon as may be, that so the matter may be fully agreed upon before our Assembly rises; I am with great regard, Sir, Your Excellency's most humble and obedient servant W. Shirley." (above) To His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq."
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