Stephen Maples (1688 - 1775)

Born 19 May 1688 in Montville, New London

Husband of Patience (Fargo) Maples — married 17 Apr 1718 in North Parish, New London County, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1775 at age 87 in New London, New London, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lamar Ross [send private message]

Biography

History of Montville, Connecticut, page 466:

"Stephen Maples was among the earliest settlers on lands in the North Parish of New London. He appears first at New London in 1712, when he, with others, were selected as watchmen, called "the Military Watch." He, with others, were summoned before the court of commissioners to show the titles to the lands they were occupying and improving, upon the complaint of the Indians to the general court in 1720.

"At the meeting of the Commissioners, held at the house of Joseph Bradford on the 22d day of Feb., 1720-21, the land titles which had previously been in dispute were confirmed to the occupants, Stephen Maples being one whose land claim was sustained. He resided in the north part of the Parish near the Norwich line, and where many of his descendants afterwards lived. He married, about 1718, Patience Fargo, daughter of Moses Fargo. He, with his wife, united with the church at North Parish on the 24th day of April, 1726. He died Aug. 26, 1755.

"Children.

2. John, b. 15 Sept., 1719; m. Sarah Baker.

3. Stephen, b. 1 Oct., 1721; m. Eunice Way. He died Sept., 1750, aged 29 years.

4. Sarah, b. 22 April, 1724; died 11 Sept., 1755, unm.

5. William, b. 15 June, 1727; m. Prudence Comstock.

6. Mary, b. 2 Dec., 1729; died young."

There is a Find a Grave memorial for Stephen in Oakdale, New London, Connecticut, with a photo of a weathered, damaged gravestone.

Will dated 3 March 1750:

"I Stephen Maples of New London in the County of New London..."

"my Loving wife Patience Sole Executrix"

"my only Daughter Sarah"

"my Grand Daughter Eunice the Daughter of my Son Stephen decd."

"my two Sons John and William I have Given them Each of them a deed of all my Lands therefore that is in full of their portions of my Estate and therefore I do not give them anything in this my Will."

Research Notes

Is there any reliable source for Stephen's birth having happened 19 May 1688 in Montville, New London, Connecticut?

There is no evidence for a connection between the Maples family and that of Pieter Casparszen Mabille. This confusion seems to be linked to a Family Data Collection Births record on ancestry.com for Stephen Maples born 1695 in Connecticut with father "Peter Maples Mahpoil".

Sources

• "Maples Families". History of Montville, Connecticut, Formerly The North Parish of New London from 1640-1896. Henry A. Baker, Hartford, Conn, Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1896, page 466. https://archive.org/details/historyofmontvil00bake/page/466/mode/1up.
• "Stephen Maples". Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families. Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co., 1905, page 558. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalbiog1905chic/page/558/mode/1up. [This entry summarizes/repeats information published previously in the History of Montville.]
• "Maples, Maple", Connecticut Church Records, State Library Index, Montville, Congregational Church (formerly New London North Parish) 1722-1909, pages 60-61. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3032/images/41107_620303988_0364-00063. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3032/images/41107_620303988_0364-00064.
• Estate of Stephen Maples in Probate records, New London, Connecticut, 1749-1761. Connecticut, Probate Court (New London District), Probate records v. F-G 1749-1761, pages 658-661. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892Y-LHZB. Will date 3 March 1750, proved 13 October 1755, inventory accepted 9 December 1755.
• "Joanna Stebbins", The Stebbins Genealogy by Ralph Stebbins Greenlee and Robert Lemuel Greenlee. Chicago, Ill., Priv. print. [M. A. Donohue & company] 1904. https://archive.org/details/stebbinsgenealog02lcgree/page/1025/mode/1up.