Joseph Stevens (abt. 1710 - 1789)

Born about 1710 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Swan — married 13 Nov 1735 in Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Anne (Merrill) Stevens — married 22 Mar 1750 in Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Died 1789 at about age 79 in Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

JOSEPH STEVENS,^[1] b. at Andover, 1710 son of Joshua Stevens and Mary Frye; d. at Methuen, 1789 (based on dates of deeds);^[2] m. 1st at Methuen, 13 Nov 1735,^[3] MARY SWAN, b. at Haverhill, 6 Oct 1706 daughter of Joshua and Sarah (Ingalls) Swan;^[4] Mary d. at Methuen, about 1743; Joseph m. 2nd at Methuen, 22 Mar 1743/4,^[5] ELIZABETH TIPPETTS who has not been identified; Elizabeth d. about 1749. Joseph m. 3rd at Methuen, 22 Mar 1750,^[6] ANNE MERRILL, b. at Methuen, 21 Jan 1725/6 daughter of Abel and Sarah (Bodwell) Merrill.^[7]

Joseph was born in Andover but settled in Methuen as a young man. Joseph’s father died when Joseph was just two years old. Joseph received property in Methuen as part of a land division.

On 27 May 1729 (recorded 22 May 1730), there was division among the heirs to a property in Methuen which was formerly granted to Samuel Green of Cambridge. Joseph Stevens of Andover was represented by his guardian Joseph Parker in the transaction. Joseph’s three brothers Joshua, Benjamin, and Samuel were also parties in the transaction which also included members of the Gutterson, Barker, and Swan families. On 5 November 1731, Joseph was of Methuen when he and his brothers Joshua and Samuel quitclaimed their interest in property of their beloved brother Benjamin, deceased, to Annis Stevens widow of Benjamin.^[8]

On 1 May 1789 (recorded 21 March 1797), Joseph Stevens, yeoman of Methuen, in consideration of £100, conveyed to his son Noah Stevens, husbandman of Methuen, one-half of all the lands and buildings in Methuen and Salem, New Hampshire and one-half of a one-fourth part of the corn mill standing on the north side of Spicket Falls in Methuen. On 5 November 1789 (recorded 21 March 1797), Joshua Stevens, yeoman of Methuen, requitted to his brother Noah Stevens one-half of the property in Methuen and Salem, New Hampshire sold to Noah and Joshua on 1 May 1789 by honored father Joseph Stevens deceased. On 1 December 1789 (recorded 11 July 1793), Joshua sold a one-fourth part interest in the corn mill to Caleb Swan for £19.10.^[9]

Children

Joseph Stevens and Mary Swan were parents of three children born at Methuen.

i ELIZABETH STEVENS, baptized 13 Jun 1736, died young

ii MARY STEVENS, baptized 19 Jun 1737; died young

iii MARY STEVENS, baptized 19 Mar 1738; died young

Joseph Stevens and Elizabeth Tippetts were parents of one daughter.

i MARY STEVENS, baptized 5 May 1745

Joseph Stevens and Anne Merrill were parents of nine children born at Methuen.

i PHINEAS STEVENS, b. 11 Jul 1751; died young.

ii ELIZABETH STEVENS, b. 20 Mar 1753; died young.

iii SARAH STEVENS, b. 6 Jan 1755

iv PHEBE STEVENS, baptized 14 Nov 1756

v DORCAS STEVENS, baptized 4 Feb 1759; d. at Newry, ME, 15 Dec 1844 (pension file); m. at Methuen, 27 Dec 1787, BENJAMIN BARKER, b. at Methuen, 4 Sep 1755 son of Jonathan and Abigail (Mitchell) Barker; Benjamin d. at Newry, ME, 14 May 1841. Benjamin was first married to Lydia Foster who died at Methuen 2 May 1786.

vi JOSHUA STEVENS, baptized 10 May 1761; possibly the Joshua who m. at Plaistow, NH, Oct 1790, SALLY STOLEY.

vii NOAH STEVENS, b. 30 Apr 1764; d. after 1820 when living at Dracut; m. at Methuen, 18 Jan 1791, SARAH “SALLY” HARRIS, likely the Sarah b. at Methuen, 23 Apr 1766 daughter of Peter and Sarah (Merrill) Harris.

viii ELIZABETH STEVENS, b. 12 Jun 1766

ix PHINEAS STEVENS, baptized 14 Aug 1768

Sources and Footnotes

1. ↑ Joseph Stevens is a brother named in the 1728 will of Jonathan Stevens who was another son of Joshua Stevens and Mary Frye; Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 26371
2. ↑ Joseph's death can be dated in 1789 between May 1789 when he executed a deed and November 1789 when he is described as deceased in a deed related to his estate.
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28V-125W : 10 March 2021), Joseph Stevens and Mary Swan, 13 Nov 1735; citing Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 823,676.
4. ↑ Swan, Mary, d. Joshua and Sarah (Engalls), Oct. 6, 1706. Haverhill Vital Records, volume 1, p 291
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28V-1PYS : 10 March 2021), Joseph Stevens and Elizebath Tippets, 22 Mar 1743; citing Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 823,676.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28V-18D7 : 10 March 2021), Joseph Stephens and Anne Merril or Merrill, 22 Mar 1750; citing Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 823,676.
7. ↑ The 1753 will of Abel Merrill of Methuen includes a bequest to daughter Anne wife of Joseph Stevens; Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 1821
8. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Essex County, 56:277, 61:42
9. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Essex County, 161:169, 161:170, 156:191