Temperance (Unknown) Stedman (abt. 1636 - aft. 1693)

Born about 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 5 Jul 1693 after about age 57 in Newton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Temperance, whose maiden name is currently unknown, was born, say, 1636. This date is simply an estimate. No proof has been found to date that her surname was Willis as some have claimed or that she was the daughter of Michael Willis.^[1] See Research Notes below.

Nathaniel Stedman married as his second wife, Temperance (___) by about 1665 (birth of daughter Hannah in 1667).^[2] No evidence of a last name of Willis has been found.^[1]

Nathaniel died on November 9^th or 10^th, 1678, aged about 50.^[1] He died intestate and administration of his state was granted on January 27, 1678/9, to his widow Temperance and Thomas Stedman, who posted bond.^[3]

It is assumed that Temperance was deceased by 02 January 1693/4 when her husband's children acknowledged a deed that would have probably borne her signature if she was still living.^[4]

It is known that Nathaniel's daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, were children of his first wife as they were named in their Hammond grandfather's will. ^[5]

Land transactions

• 1693: July 5: Widow Temperance Stedman, with her son Nathaniel Stedman, and Robert Murdock, husband of her daughter Hannah, sold 20 acres of land in Cambridge Village. ^[4]
• 1693/4: January 2: Nathaniel Stedman, Robert and Hannah Murdock, but not Temperance, acknowledged the above sale. ^[4]

Research Notes

Temperance was previously shown as the daughter of Michael Willis (abt.1610-bef.1669). But in his will, dated at Boston on 21 Jun 1669, he makes a bequest to daughter Temperance, if unmarried and obedient to her mother, fifteen pounds.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Wakefield, Robert S., "The Family of Isaac Stedman (1) of Scituate and Muddy River Massachusetts," The American Genealogist, Volume 69, New Haven, Connecticut, 1994, p. 155-9 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) at p. 157. (Link by $ubscription.)
2. ↑ Anderson, Robert C. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 2009 p. 498- 504 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.)
3. ↑ Case 1035: p.1-7: Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Wakefield, Robert S. "Additional Children of Nathaniel (2) Stedman of Muddy RIver, Massachusetts," The American Genealogist, Volume 71, New Haven, Connecticut, 1996, p. 85-6 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Link by $ubscription.
5. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) Middlesex Case #10251, Thomas Hammond 1675[?]. (Link by $ubscription.)
6. ↑ Watkins, Walter K., Abstracts of Early Wills on Record, or on File in the County of Sufflok, Massachusetts., The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, 1894) Vol. XLVIII(48), Page 324. Citing: "No. 505.— Michael Willis, will, Boston, 21 June, 1669."