Simon Stevens (1736 - 1817)

Born 25 Nov 1736 in Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Field) Stevens — married 19 Nov 1786 in Springfield, Windsor, Republic of Vermont

Died 18 Feb 1817 at age 80 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, United States

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Biography

Major Simon Stevens served with Vermont Republic Militia during the American Revolution.

Simon Stevens is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A109143.

Simon Stevens was a soldier of the French and Indian war, and in 1758 was taken prisoner by the Indians on Lake George and carried to Oswego and Onondaga, New York, where he was held a prisoner for over a year. After enduring untold hardships he finally made his escape. Later he settled in the town of Springfield, 'Vermont. In 1762 he was made captain in the militia; in 1766 he was commissioned brigade major in the Revolutionary war, and later was made lieutenant-colonel by the Governor of Vermont. He was a member of the Provincial Congress, and was the first justice of the peace in Springfield, Vermont, which office he filled for more than half a century. Several years he represented his town in the General Assembly of the state, and was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the community. Early in life he professed the religion of Christ, and after an honorable and upright life passed away February 18, 1817.: Ref: Page 252 The Biographical Record Champaign, IL, 1900 ____________________________________________________________________________

"Simon Stevens was born in Canterbury, CT, Dec 5, 1736. He was a soldier in the French and Indian War and was taken prisoner by the Indians on Lake George in 1758 and carried to Sowego and Onandaga. After three attempts he finally escaped and traveled alone hundreds of miles through the forests with no guide but a pocket compass, protecting himself from the wild beasts and Indians as best he could. This experience together with his courage and other noble traits of character admirable fitted him to be the leading man in the settlement of this town

"Some of his papers, fortunately, have been preserved, and from these, we learn the main facts of his history. His name appears on the roll of Capt. Johnson's company of Rangers, and, though this paper has no date, it states that Capt. Johnson died of his wounds, and another paper gives the names of Capt. Simon Stevens company present in camp, and, as most of the names are the same as those on the roll of Capt. Johnson's Company, we are led to infer that after the death of Capt. Johnson, Simon Stevens took the command. It is believed that Capt. Stevens and his company were with Col. Goffe, and were the pioneers in cutting the Crown Point Road. The first camping ground of the soldiers was under the west side of what is now called Camp Hioll on the flat south of the town buildings.

"It was here that Mr. Stevens located in 1762, after his term of service in the army expired. Tradition has it that he selected the place when cutting the road in 1760.

"Mr. Stevens was the first constable in Springfield, and issued the call for the first town meeting to organize the town in 1764, by direction of seven of the inhabitants as given elsewhere, and at this meeting was chosen first selectman, with Abner Bisbee second and Jeheiel Simmons constable. At a meeting of the proprietors of Springfield, held in Northampton, June 18, 1764, these men: Stevens, Bisbee, and Simmons, were appointed a committee and empowered "in behalf of the proprietors to receive possession of the lands in the said township of Springfield which the said proprietors have recovered judgment for, and title and possession of and also to receive the possession of any lands in said Springfield, which the said proprietors shall recover judgment for, and title and possession of hereafter." By this, we understand that these three men were to have the care and management of all the lands owned by the proprietors in the town. At a meeting of the proprietors, held in Springfield, at the block-house, Aug. 17, 1771, Simon Stevens was the moderator and John Barrett clerk. At this meeting, Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, and John Barrett were appointed to survey and lay out the fourth division of lots in the town. AT this time, Mr. Stevens had built a frame house and kept a tavern. There were then but three farm houses in town, and twenty-seven families, mostly on or near Crown Point Road. Soon after the organization of the town< Mr. Stevens was appointed a justice of the peace and was ever after known as Esquire Stevens. This title comported better with the dignity of his character than any other of the half score, both military and civil that he afterward received. It was to him that the young men and maidens came to be married in those days of the absence of any minister. He carefully kept a record of these marriages in a book which is among the papers preserved.

"He received a commission from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, as Captain of the 89th Company of Foot for the regiment of which Thomas Chandler of Chester was Colonel. He was chosen Colonel of the Upper Regiment of Cumberland County in 1775, and among his papers is a list of the officers of this regiment in his handwriting. In 1776, he was appointed Major of the brigade of the militia of Cumberland and Gloucester Counties and commissioned by the convention of New York. Possessing the confidence of the proprietors and the people, he was chosen to nearly all the offices and positions of honor in their gift, and by his integrity of character and great industry, he contributed in a large degree to the happiness and prosperity of the town.

"He was first married Nov. 22, 1767, to Isabella Taylor, daughter of the wife of Samuel Scott by her first husband. She died Jan 11, 1771, aged nineteen years and left one son, Simon Stevens, Jr.

"Mr. Stevens the second wife was Lydia Silsby of Acworth, N.M., who died Feb 20, 1781, aged 54, also leaving one son, Silsby Stevens.

"He was again married to Anna Field of Springfield, who died Sept. 27, 1832, aged 86 years.

"There was one son by the last marriage, Major John Stevens, who was a physician, and lived in Springfield, was one of the promoters of the first library in town. He married Fanny Nichols, daughter of Levi Nichols. He died Apr 28, 1833, aged 45 years. Six children.

"In the year 1800, Esquire Stevens built a large two-story brick house where once stood his log cabin, and lived there till hisdeath. His place was purchased for a town farm, and the house was burned in 1862, after coming into possession of the town.

"He early espoused the cause of Christ and was active in organizing the first church in town, of which he was an honored member. He died Feb 18, 1817, in the eighty-first year of his age, and was buried in the village cemetery, where a stone with the following inscription marks his grave:"Deus ipse jubet te meminisse mortis. Simon Stevens Esq., was born in Canterbury CT Dec 5, 1736. He was taken prisoner by the Indians on Leak George in 1758, carried from thence to Oswego and Onondaga, where he resided more than a year, and after enduring many hardships made his escape. He settled in this town in 1762 and was Captain in 1776, brigade Major in the Revolutionary War and Lieutenant-Colonel under the Governor of this State. He was a member of the Provincial Congress, first justice of the peace in this town which office he sustained more than 50 years, and several years represented the town in the general assembly. He early professed the Christ, walked upright, and on the 18th of Feb. 1817 exchanged his life for a more glorious immortality."

That's quite a gravestone."[1]

Simon Stevens was born on November 25, 1736 in Canterbury Township, Windham County, Connecticut. Simon is the son of Jonathan Stevens and Mary Tracy.

Simon marries first to Isabell Taylor on Nov 22, 1767 in Springfield, Vermont. Isabell was born in about 1752 and died on January 11, 1771 in Springfield, Vermont.

Simon marries second to Lydia Silsby on March 8, 1780 in Springfield, Vermont. Lydia dies in 1781 in Springfield, Vermont.

Simon marries third to Anna Field on November 19, 1786 in Springfield, Vermont. Anna was born in about 1746 in Springfield, Vermont. She dies September 27, 1832 in Springfield, Vermont.

Simon dies on February 18, 1817 in Springfield, Vermont, United States.

Children of Simon Stevens and Isabell Taylor are:

1. Simon (Simeon) Stevens was born on February 4, 1768 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont. Simon dies on May 15, 1858 in Newbury, Vermont.

Children of Simon Stevens and Lydia Silsby are:

2. Sillsby Stevens was born on January 5, 1781 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont.

Children of Simon Stevens and Anna Field are:

3. John Stevens was born on March 31, 1788 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont.

4. Samuel Stevens was born on August 19, 1792 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont.

5. Isabel Stevens was born on August 30, 1794 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont.

6. Willard Stevens was born on October 19, 1796 in Springfield, Windsor, Vermont.

Birth

"Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906 - Transcript"

Name: Simon Stevens

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 25 Nov 1736

Birthplace: CANTERBURY TWP,WINDHAM,CONNETICUT

Father's Name: Jonathan Stevens

Mother's Name: Mary

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: 7450369 , System Origin: Connecticut-ODM , GS Film number: unknown.

Marriage

"Vermont Vital Records - Transcript"

Name: Simon Stevens

Event Type: Marriage

Event Date: 22 Nov 1767

Event Place: Springfield, Vermont, United States

Gender: Male

Spouse's Name: Isabel Taylor

Spouse's Gender: Female

Vermont Vital Records 1760-1954 - Transcript

Name: Simon Stevens

Event Type: Marriage

Event Date: 08 Mar 1780

Event Place: Springfield, Vermont, United States

Gender: Male

Spouse's Name: Lydia Silsby

Spouse's Gender: Female

"Vermont Vital Records 1760-1954 - Transcript"

Name: Simon Stevens

Event Type: Marriage

Event Date: 19 Nov 1786

Event Place: Springfield, Vermont, United States

Gender: Male

Spouse's Name: Ana Field

Spouse's Gender: Female

Death

Burial: Summer Hill Cemetery, Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont, USA

"Vermont Vital Records 1760-1954 - Transcript"

Name: Simon Stevens

Event Type: Death

Event Date: 18 Feb 1817

Event Place: Springfield, Vermont, United States

Gender: Male

Spouse's Name: Isabel And Lydia

Sources

• Birth - "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," index, FamilySearch Accessed 5 June 2015. Jonathan Stevens in entry for Simon Stevens, 25 Nov 1736; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.

• Marriage - "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch : 6 December 2014, Simon Stevens and Lydia Silsby, 08 Mar 1780, Marriage; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,685.

• Marriage - "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch : 6 December 2014, Simon Stevens and Lydia Silsby, 08 Mar 1780, Marriage; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,699.

• Marriage - "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch : 6 December 2014, Simon Stevens and Ana Field, 19 Nov 1786, Marriage; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,699.

• Death - "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch : 6 December 2014, Simon Stevens, 18 Feb 1817, Death; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,699.

• Death - Find A Grave Memorial# 121635784. Memorial Record Maintained by Find A Grave. Originally Created by: Clinton McClellan Smith. Record added: Dec 12, 2013. Headstone Photograph by Clinton McClellan Smith. Image Published on 12/12/2013. Image Used with Permission of Photographer.

• Census - "1810 United States Census," database with images, FamilySearch: accessed 1 February 2017, Simon Stevens, Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, United States; citing p. 434, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 65; FHL microfilm 218,669.

• Census - "1800 United States Census," database with images, FamilySearch : accessed 1 February 2017, Simon Stevens, Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, United States; citing p. 331, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 52; FHL microfilm 218,689.

• Census - "1790 United States Census," database with images, FamilySearch : accessed 1 February 2017, Simon Stevens, Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, United States; citing p. 289, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 12; FHL microfilm 568,152.

• Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
• The Biographical Record Champaign, IL, 1900
• Spooner's Vermont Journal, Monday, March 10, 1817, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1753, Page 3.
• Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908
• U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930
• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, SAR Membership Number: 77898.
• 1790, 1800, & 1810 United States Federal Census
• THE HISTORY OF SPRINGFIELD VT., pp 440-442 https://archive.org/details/historytownspri00dartgoog/page/n8
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 23 July 2020), "Record of Simon Stevens", Ancestor # A109143.