Stephen Larrabee
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Stephen Larrabee (bef. 1713 - aft. 1793)

Sergeant Stephen Larrabee
Born before in Wells, York, Province of Massachusetts Baymap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Husband of — married after 18 Apr 1728 in Wells, Mainemap
Descendants descendants
Died after after age 79 in Wells, York, District of Maine, Commonwealth of Massachusettsmap
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Profile last modified | Created 9 Mar 2011
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Sergeant Stephen Larrabee served during the French and Indian War.

Biorgaphy

STEPHEN, b. before 14 june 1713; was celebrated on the frontier of the district of Maine as “Sergeant Larrabee."

Cautionary Note; 14 June 1713 is Baptism date.

Often referred to as Sergeant Larrabee during the Indian Wars. Stephen Larrabee was one of the founders of The Second Parish of Wells [1st Parish of Kennebunk]. From this time [after 1750], until his death, he was Deacon Larrabee.

One other note of caution, Deacon Stephen Larrabee's, son, Stephen Larrabee Jr. was also known to as Deacon Larrabee.

He m. Catherine and Lydia Durrell, sisters, and d. between 1770 and I780. [No records found for Carherine Durell Larrabee]

He had eight children [see wife's profile: 8 children of Stephen & Lydia Larrabee, Bpt at First Church of Wells. Another child, Esther, Bpt. 2nd Parish Church/Kennebunk, Maine, child of Deacon Stephen and Lydia Larrabee.]

He was a genuine pioneer; bold, resolute, and undaunted in the hour of danger. He built a garrison in his town, covering an acre of ground, in the construction of which thirteen thousand cubic feet of timber were used. Judge Bourne said: “ It was an honor to its projector, whose memory should be cherished not only by his descendants, but by all who can duly appreciate true patriotism. To him more than ‘to any other man the inhabitants were indebted for the protection of their families and the permanency of the settlement.” He was cool, sagacious, and vigilant; equal to every emergency; inspiring confidence in the hour or danger among his associates and holding under restraint the savages who constantly menaced the settlers. He was regarded by the neighboring tribes as their most formidable adversary, .and they devised every means their cunning nature could invent for his removal. He understood their treacherous character and gave them no advantage. His life was an important factor in the preservation of the lives of others and he used every precaution to ward off danger. The following incidents, somewhat condensed from the writings of Judge Bourne, will illustrate the character of this noble frontierman: ..." [Saco Valley Settlements and Families]

The church of the Second Congregational Parish voted in December that "the usual contribution for the poor among themselves, should be given to the poor of Boston, who are sufferers by reason of the stoppage of their port;" and they also recommended to the congregation, " that they should make a generous collection for said poor." There was but little money among the people, and they sent in its place to these poor sufferers, what they deemed would as well meet their necessities. The following correspondence in relation to this subject will be interesting to the reader : " Wells, January 16, 1775. Gentlemen. Previous to the recommendation of the Provincial congress a number of the inhabitants in the Second Parish in Wells made a small collection which they send in wood (by the care of Capt. Ebenezer Hovey), judging that may be an article as acceptable and useful as any other at this season of the year, for the comfort of the needy and afflicted under your care. The above we only mention as a small token of that deep affection we feel for our capitol, in their present distressed condition, on whose former open and friendly commerce, we, on this eastern shore, more absolutely depended for support, than any other part of the Province. For your sake, and for our own, we prayerfully wait the kind inter-position of Divine Providence, and the smiles of our gracious king for the redress of our general grievances ; and in particular for the removal of the present obstruction to our trade with the town of Boston.

To the Committee of Donations for Stephen Larrabee, the Poor of the town of Boston. John Mitchell." To this communication the following reply was received : Boston, Feb. 8, 1775. Gentlemen. I am directed by the Committee of Donations to acknowledge the receipt of your affectionate letter and generous donation of 26 3-4 cords of wood, by Capt. Eben r Hovey, a necessary article and very acceptable at the season of the year ; more especially as the call for it seems to be daily increasing amongst us. We esteem it a great smile of Providence, and desire thankfully to acknowledge it as such, that our friends and brethren in this and the neigh- boring Provinces have shown such a ready disposition to help us under our difficulties ; and we are much obliged to the inhabitants of the Second Parish in Wells in particular, and return them our sincere and most hearty thanks, and rejoice to see that they are not only ready to sympathize with, but also to afford us such relief for the comfort of the needy and afflicted under our care. The cause is common and it gives us great pleasure to hear that you are prayerfully waiting for the kind interposition of Divine Providence for your and our relief. We desire heartily to join with you herein, and hope that in due time we shall happily reap the fruits thereof. ■ To Messrs. Stephen Larrabee and John Mitchell at Wells. John Lolley, Per order."

PUBLIC SERVICE Just Prior to the REVOLUTIONARY WAR_ Deacons Stephen Larrabee and John Mitchell

Boston Febuary 8, 1775 the committee of the Second Parish, Stephen Larrabee and John Mitchell, sent 26 3/4 cords of wood to the sufferers in Boston, and received in response a letter of "sincere and hearty thanks" from the "Committee on Donations for the Poor of the town of Boston." YORK COUNTY MAINE Kennebunk Maine Source: History of York County, Maine,

The Larrabee Garrison [Panel 24 The Larrabee Garrison.jpg] Near this spot stood the Larrabee Garrison which was constructed between 1714 – 1727 by William & Stephen Larrabee. It embraced more than an acre of ground & had thick timber walls. Within the walls were five houses. These houses were that of the Larrabees, Edward Evans, Ebenezar Bayridge & two homes for Nathan Morrison & the soldiers under his command. The log home of Anthony Littlefield stood just beyond the garrison gates. During times of hostilities with the Native Americans, all who lived within the vicinity would take refuge within these walls as well. Historian William Barry placed a large granite monument just off this path to commemorate the site. The graves of the settlers including Stephen Larrabee are buried near the monument but their markers are no longer visible.

Research Notes

" On Mar. 6, 1732-3, Isaac Larrabee, now of Lynn, but formerly of North Yarmouth , recites that his father, Stephen Larrabee, was by a deed from the Indians an owner of a lot of land in North Yarmouth before Gov. Danforth and others were regularly settling the town; that at a meeting of the committee and proprietors it was agreed that the heirs of said Stephen Larrabee should quit and resign all their right and claim to said tract on condition that each of the children, viz., Stephen, William, John, Thomas, Samuel, Isaac, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Jean Ashfield, should have a ten-acre lot laid out and granted them with a full share in the common and undivided lands ; but it so happened that John went to sea and died abroad, and Ephraim was killed by the Indians at North Yarmouth, and there was no lot laid out for them; "wherefore your petitioner prays that said lots may be laid out to the heirs of the said John and Ephraim." Saco Valley settlements and families ...

In 1752, the saw-mill was rebuilt by Joseph Storer, then living in the first parish, Nathaniel Wakefield and Stephen Larrabee . The grist-mill, standing just below the bridge, where the present one stands, was built immediately afterward. ... A saw-mill in those days was always a nucleus for a village. It created business for men of different employments. In the year 1751, Stephen Larrabee had built a house where the late Thomas Low lived , James Hubbard, the house in which Mrs. Mary Hubbard now lives , ..." pages 430 & 431

Possibly the reference to Thomas Low, 1768-1848, m. Lydia Gooch, 1789-1852, with son William A. Low, 1828-1904, on 1859 York County Map as W A Low, near the juncture of Sea Road and Summer Street, Kennebunk, Maine. Thomas Low may have sold the 102 Summer St. property to Daniel Little?

The history of Wells and Kennebunk from the earliest settlement to the year 1820, at which time Kennebunk was set off, and incorporated by Bourne, Edward Emerson

Larrabee Village
Map of Kennebunk with Additions
Composite map for Larrabee genealogy

Sources

https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809619/page/n945

  • The history of Wells and Kennebunk from the earliest settlement to the year 1820, at which time Kennebunk was set off, and incorporated by Bourne, Edward Emerson, 1797-1873; Bourne, Edward Emerson, 1831- Published 1875 pages 430, 468 & 469

https://archive.org/stream/historyofwellske00bourrich/historyofwellske00bourrich_djvu.txt

https://archive.org/details/historyofwellske00bourrich/page/430/mode/2up?q=Hubbard





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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Stephen by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Stephen:

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Categories: French and Indian War