William Benjamin Stevens (1827 - abt. 1900)

Born 3 Mar 1827 in Salmon River, New Brunswick

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Amelia Stevens — married 22 Dec 1853 in Saint John (Portland Parish), New Brunswick, Canada

Descendants

Died about 15 Mar 1900 at about age 73 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chuck Stevens [send private message]

Biography

I know very little about my great-grandfather, other than what I have gleaned from archive sources of the St. John Daily Sun newspaper from Saint John, New Brunswick, and from the available census records (Canada) for New Brunswick 1881, 1891 and 1901.

I also know that he married Frances Amelia Stevens (yes that was her maiden name) in Saint John, NB in 1853. ^[1]

He had a brother, John H. Stevens, who died in an accidental drowning in 1879. ^[2] Another article added that John was a man about 60 and that he left a family; he was also a brother in law of Andrew Miller. ^[3]

According to the census information, some state Benjamin was born in Canada while others say he was born in 'United States', but it doesn't say specifically where.

On the 1881 Census, William Benjamin said he was born in New Brunswick, but was American in nationality. ^[4] Their children were Hattie, 17; Georgie, 15; Lillian, 12' Benjamin, 10; Frank, 7 and Charles, 2.

His son Lodwik died in 1881, ^[5] and a daughter Georgiana in 1885. ^[6]

In 1898, his wife Frances Amelia died at age 62. ^[7]

According to newspapers he died March 15,1900 (although they spelled his name 'Stephens' on his death certificate). His burial permit lists the same date of death with 'Stevens' as his surname.

He is buried according to the burial permit, in the 'Stevens Family Cemetery' in Westfield, NB. along with his wife, Frances Amelia Stevens. This cemetery is reserved to members/descendents of the family of Shubael Stevens, a Loyalist who came to the area in 1783. ( Although it is unclear whether Frances Amelia or William Benjamin would be the descendent.)

I am at a dead-end here on his line as I do not have any concrete information concerning his parents, or other siblings (other than John H. Stevens, whom I also now presume was born in Salmon River, NB)

Sources

1. ↑ Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 14 Number 2060 Date December 24 1853 County Saint John Place Saint John Newspaper New Brunswick Courier m. Thursday eve., by same, William B. STEPHENS / Miss Francis Amelia STEPHENS, all of Portland parish (St. John)
2. ↑ Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 48 Number 1062 Date July 21 1879 County Saint John Place Saint John Newspaper Saint John Globe The partially decomppsed body of John H. STEVENS was found Friday in the river, off the upper end of Keaton's Island by Jas. McKEIL. Coroner McKeil was immediately notified and the following jury empannelled. Chas. L. BROWN (foreman), John W. GORMAN, Jas. NUTTER, J.L. BELYEA, Wm L. NUTTER, Thos. McKEIL and James McKeil. The witnesses examined were Andrew J. MILLER who was in the boat with the deceased, Jas. B. McKEIL and W.B. STEVENS, brother of the deceased. The remains were buried in the Greenwich Methodist Cemetery.
3. ↑ Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 47 Number 227 Date July 19 1879 County Saint John Place Saint John Newspaper The Daily Telegraph Supposed to be drowned - It appears that Andrew MILLER has been for some months engaged grappling the river for old junk and was about to proceed on a similar journey on Friday week. A brother-in-law named STEVENS, brother of Benjamin STEVENS, resides on Straight Shore Road, Portland (St. John) was to accompany Miller on the trip up in a small sail boat. All being ready they left Indiantown about 9 o'clock Friday night, taking grappling hooks with them. They stopped on their journey at Westfield (Kings Co.) where they procured liquor, remaining there but a very brief time and then proceeded on. Miller, it is stated, was the worst of liquor and requested Stevens to take charge of the boat. Stevens consented and took a seat aft, where he was last seen by Miller. The latter at this time was lying at the bottom of the boat and shortly afterwards fell asleep. How much further Stevens sailed is unknown for when Miller awoke from his slumber near Brandy Point, he was somewhat amazed to find that his late companion was not in the boat. He returned home the same night and communicated the sudden disappearance to the family of the deceased. Stevens was a man of about 60 years and has left a wife and small family. Benjamin Stevens, the brother and a son of the missing man went up in a woodboat yesterday afternoon with hooks and ropes to grapple for the body.
4. ↑ "Canada Census, 1881", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV67-HFJ : Fri Oct 06 17:35:11 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjamin Stevens and Francis Stevens, 1881.
5. ↑ Date March 29 1881 County Saint John Place Saint John Newspaper The Daily Telegraph d. (St. John) city, 27th inst., Lodwick STEVENS s/o W.B. STEVENS and Frances A. STEVENS, age 21. Funeral from his father's residence Douglas Road, Portland, Wednesday half past 2 o'clock.
6. ↑ Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 63 Number 3562 Date November 20 1885 County Saint John Place Saint John Newspaper The Daily Sun d. 10th inst., Carleton (St. John) Georgianna STEVENS second d/o Wm B. STEVENS and Frances A. STEVENS, age 19 years 10 mos.
7. ↑ "Canada, New Brunswick, Saint John, Saint John Burial Permits, 1889-1919", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WK-LN47 : Thu Oct 05 10:50:38 UTC 2023), Entry for Frances Amelia Stevens and William B Stevens, 27 Apr 1898.

• Canada NB Census 1881, 1891 -list racial origin as 'English' and birthplace as United States.
• NB Provincial Archives; Death Certificate March 15,1900, Saint John Burial Permit 1900

list birthplace as Salmon River, NB.

• Index to Saint John Burial Permits 1889-1919 (RS315A) ,Provincial Archives of New Brunswick