Elizabeth (Clough) Stearns (1811 - 1885)

Born 29 Mar 1811 in Weare, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Henry Stearns — married 20 May 1832 in Underhill, Chittenden, Vermont, United States

Descendants

Died 15 Apr 1885 at age 74 in Gravity, Taylor, Iowa, United States

Biography

Betsey married William H Sterns on 20 May 1832 in Underhill, Vermont, United States.^[1]

In the 1850 census Betsey (age 39) was in Richmond, Chittenden, Vermont, United States.^[2]

In the 1880 census Elizebeth (age 67), Housekeeper, was the wife of W.H. Stearns in Washington, Taylor, Iowa, United States.^[3]

Elizabeth was mentioned on a memorial in Ladoga Cemetery, Ladoga, Taylor County, Iowa, United States with a death date of 15 April 1885.^[4]

1907 Death of Son

"Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVQK-F9Z : 12 December 2014), Wm H Stearns in entry for Geo Allen Stearns, 13 Aug 1907; citing Gravity, Taylor, Iowa, reference 3; FHL microfilm 1,536,426.

1923 Marriage of Son

"Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJDY-2MC : 8 March 2016), William H. Stearns in entry for Benjamin C. Stearns and Kate Maud Ryker, 1923.

Research Notes

History of Cloughs in Weare

1810 - Cloughs in Weare per census: Daniel; Josiah; Richard; Stephen and Winthrop

1820 - Cloughs in Weare per census: Richard, Stephen and Winthrop.[Stpehen is the only HH with a female age 7-9] Robert Clough was a taxpayer in 1820

1830 Winthrop is the only Clough left in Weare per census and he had no female in HH age 17-19

Winthrop and Mary Clough settled in Weare in 1771. Their children (spouse) included:

1. Josiah (Mary Stonning);
2. Richard (Peggy Chase);
3. Winthrop Jr (Unk Chase);
4. John; Robert (Betty Dow);
5. Andrew (Dolly Purrington) and a daughter
6. Polly (Aaron Getchel and David Purington).

Taxpayers list of 1810 for surname Clough in Weare : Winthrop Sr; Winthrop Jr; Richard and Josiah. According to the HX of Weare by Little none of these men had a daughter named Betsy or Elizabeth

I have r/o Andrew Clough and Dolly Purington as parents. They married 1808 in Weare, NH. Andrew is not shown as a taxpayer in Weare in 1810, 1820 or 1830. According to History of the Gove family Dolly died without issue.

There is a Robert Clough the s/o Winthrop and Mary Clough born c 1790 who married in Aug of 1810 to Betty/Betsey Dow. According to the HX of Weare, NH they had a son *John but no mention of a daughter. Betsey (Clough) Stearns was born Nov of 1811 and could fit the time frame. I found a Betsey (Muzzey) Clough who died 25 Sep 1845 the w/o a Robert Clough who is bur in E. Corinth Cemetery in VT. The Robert of Weare, NH married again in 1826 in Strafford, VT to Suzanna/Susan Sargent so this may or may not be the same Robert.

HX of Weare, NH shows a Robert Clough on tax roles in 1820

Clough in Vermont and Chittenden

Father, Elijah, was added due to Luther, the proposed brother, living in the same town at the same time as Elizabeth when she married William Stearns. They were both a ways from home in New Hampshire, living in Chittenden Vermont. Luther's parents were found. Merge of the father has not taken place until more research can be done.

Of note is the town of Weare where Elizabeth was supposedly born and Candia where Elijah are just 30 miles apart.

1830 - Elijah and Samuel in Chittenden county, VT with neither HH having a female age 17-19

• Found a John Clough born c1810 Strafford, Vermont, s/o Robert Clough who died 3 Dec 1870 in Plaistow, NH [www.familysearch.com] John is buried in Town Cemetery in Plaistow, NH. This John Clough of Strafford, VT married 16 Sep 1843 in Moultonboro, NH to Louisa (Fogg) born c1809 Chichester, NH. In census of 1860 and 1870 John is living in Plaistow. Louiza died 13 Sep 1869 the d/o Abel/Abiel and Polly (Smith) Fogg. Abel b. 1765 Exeter, NH and Polly born 1779 in Sandwich, NH. In the 1860 census is James W. age 10 born MA [s/o John and Louisa]

DNA relatives line to Zaccheus Clough 1725-1810 and Love Meador 1734-1827

The suggested parents of Elizabeth on the internet do not appear correct. One suggestion (at Family Search) showed the parents marrying years after Elizabeth's birth.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Vermont, U.S., Vital Records, 1720-1908"
   New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records through 1870
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4661 #105584 (accessed 10 April 2023)
   Betsey Clough marriage to William H Sterns on 20 May 1832 in Underhill, Vermont, USA.
2. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Richmond, Chittenden, Vermont; Roll: 923; Page: 63b; Line Number: 41
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #1177798 (accessed 10 April 2023)
   Betsey Stearns (39) in Richmond, Chittenden, Vermont, USA. Born in New Hampshire.

   Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   William Stearns	M	42	Laborer	New Hampshire
   Betsey Stearns	F	39		New Hampshire
   Veriella Stearns	F	17		Vermont
   Sarah A Stearns	F	16		Vermont
   Byron Stearns	M	14		New Hampshire
   Sally Stearns	F	12		Vermont
   Laura L Stearns	F	4		Vermont
   George L Stearns	M	1		Vermont
   Mortimore Blanchard	M	19	Laborer	New York

3. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Washington, Taylor, Iowa; Roll: 366; Page: 62A; Enumeration District: 214
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #32551299 (accessed 10 April 2023)
   Elizebeth Stearns (67), wife, Housekeeper, in household of W.H. Stearns (71) in Washington, Taylor, Iowa, USA. Born in New Hampshire.

   Name	Sex	Age	Status	Relation	Occupation	Birth Place
   W.H. Stearns	M	71	Married	Head	Farmer	New Hampshire
   Elizebeth Stearns	F	67	Married	Wife	Housekeeper	New Hampshire
   Vernellia Stearns	F	47	Widowed	Daughter	At Home	Vermont
   George Stearns	M	31	Single	Son	Farmer	Vermont
   Edwin Stearns	M	29	Widowed	Son	Farmer	Vermont
   B.C. Stearns	M	26	Single	Son	Farmer	Vermont
   George Oney	M	10	Single	Grandson		Canada

4. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #50104941 (accessed 28 March 2023)
   Memorial page for Elizabeth “Betsy” Clough Stearns (29 Mar 1811-15 Apr 1885), citing Ladoga Cemetery, Ladoga, Taylor County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by t walden (contributor 47124904).