Katherine (Unknown) Stevens (abt. 1617 - 1682)

Born about 1617 in England [uncertain]

Wife of John Stevens Sr. — married about 1638 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 31 Jul 1682 at about age 65 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Katherine (Unknown) Stevens migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Parentage; Maiden Name

The parentage of Katherine, the wife of John Stevens, is unknown and her maiden name is uncertain. It is reasonably plausible that she was the sister of Robert Codnam/Codman and therefore her maiden name may have been Codnam/Codman. The evidence supporting this proposition is a 1646 deposition of John Stephens in which he stated that "he went to his brother Codnam to inquire whether this hogshead of beef was staved with his consent."^[1] "Robert Codnam" was also deposed in connection with the same case.^[1] This record indicates that John Stevens and Robert Codman were brothers-in-law, but it is unknown whether they were so because John Steven's wife Katherine was Robert Codman's sister or Robert Codman's wife (whose identity is unknown) was John Stevens' sister. One bit of weak evidence in favor of the latter is that Robert Codman's son and heir was named Stephen,^[2] which could have been after his wife's maiden name.

Date and Place of Birth

Based on the fact that Katherine's first-born child was born in 1639, she was probably born sometime in 1613-1621, with about 1617 being a reasonable best estimate. Based on that date of birth, it is reasonably likely that she was born in England.

Marriage

Katherine married John Stevens. Based on the date of birth of their first child, they were probably married about 1639. Since John was living in Salisbury by 1639 and all their children appear to have been born there, it is reasonably likely that they were married there.

Children

Katherine and John had the following children, all born in Salisbury:

1. John, b. November 2, 1639,^[3][4] m. February 17, 1669/70 Joanna Thorn^[4]
2. Elizabeth, b.March 7, 1641,^[5][4] d. 1641^[4]
3. Elizabeth, b. February 4, 1642/3^[5][4]
4. Nathaniel, b. November 11, 1645,^[6][4] m. 1st Mary ____,^[4] m. 2d December 20, 1677 Mehitable Colcord^[4]
5. Mary, b. 1647,^[6][4] m. 1st November 5, 1608 John Osgood,^[4] m. probably 2d August 26, 1685 Nathaniel Whittier^[4]
6. Benjamin, b. February 2, 1650/1,,^[7][4] m. October 28, 1673 Hannah Barnard^[4]

Death

Katherine died "last of July 1682."^[8]

^{[8] [4] [3] [5] [6] [7] [2] [1] [9]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County,, Massachusetts, Volume I, 1636-1656," The Essex Institute, 1911, p 100
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Banks, Charles Edward. The History of Martha's Vineyard. Volume II. Edgartown, MA: Dukes County Historical Society, 1966. Page 61
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," Topsfield Historical Society, 1915, p 224
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13} David. W. Hoyt, "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts," Part I, 1897, pp 325-6
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," Topsfield Historical Society, 1915, p 223
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} "Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," Topsfield Historical Society, 1915, p 225
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," Topsfield Historical Society, 1915, p 222
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849," Topsfield Historical Society, 1915, p 618
9. ↑ Hoyt, David Webster. The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich, and Hampton. 1897- 1917. Snow & Farnham: Providence, RI, pp. 325-326.