Peter Stearns III (1793 - 1855)

Born 11 Dec 1793 in Bridgewater, Grafton County, NH, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Sophia (Wood) Stearns — married 22 Dec 1816 in Corinth, Orange County, VT

Descendants

Died 15 Feb 1855 at age 61 in Westford, VT, USA

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War of 1812

Biography

Peter Stearns III, appears to be the firstborn child of Peter Stearns II. His mother was likely the unknown first wife of Peter II and would have lived in Plymouth NH. ^[1]

Peter III was educated in the public schools of Plymouth, NH. His father, Peter Stearns II, probably with other friends and relatives, moved from Plymouth NH to Peru, NY, in the 1790's. His grandfather, Peter Stearns I and four great uncles, Isaac, Joseph, Ebenezer and John, lived at various times in their respective lives in the Champlain Basin, but mainly on the Vermont side of the Lake, rather than New York.

Peter III was a soldier in the war of 1812. He served in the Battle of Plattsburgh, 11 Sept 1814, in which the New York militia and the Vermont militia combined with the US Army under the command of Brigadier General Alexander Macomb.^[2]

He married, in 1816, Sophia Wood, born January 9, 1793, in Leicester MA. Their marriage on December 22, 1816, with a minister named Bowles officiating, is recorded in both the town of Corinth, Orange County VT, and the town of Fairfax, Franklin County VT.

Peter III's first child, Rev William T Sterns was born in Peru, Clinton Co, NY in 1817, mother unknown. It is curious that William's birth was so near the time of Peter III's marriage to Sophia Wood and the establishment of the family farm in Westford, Vermont, yet I have found no documentation that Sophia was his mother. ^[3]

Death and Burial

Peter remained actively engaged on the farm until his death. He was buried at Fairfax Plains Cemetery, Fairfax, Franklin County, Vermont, USA^[4]

Known children of Peter III and Sophia Wood Stearns

(1) Mary Wood, born July 21, 1819, in Westford; married John Maxfield, of Fairfax.

(2) Sally, born January 20, 1821, died August 29, 1865; married Benjamin Bell.

(3) Harry (aka Henry) Kent (Sterns), born November 12, or December 16, 1822; married Luthera Gibbs; they and their descendants spell their surname Sterns.

(4) Rufus Wood, born April 18, 1824; married Sarah Eunice Scott

(5) Charles A., born December 1, 1826, in Westford, died September 18, 1895; married Sarah S. Rider, of Boston.

(6) Nancy T., born September 14, 1828; married Lewis Story, of Fairfax.

(7) Asenath, born July 24 1830 in Westford; married Anson Story, of Fairfax.

(8) Hannah A., born November 1, 1833; a school teacher; married Williams Bellews.

(9) John Wesley, born 1835; married Isabella Hammond, settled in Rutland.

(10) Artemas R., born January 30, 1838; married Cynthia Pease; settled in Rutland.

(11 Ellen M., born February 18, 1840; married a Mr. Mills, of Peabody, Massachusetts.

Sources

1. ↑ His father, Peter II, is reported to have been married 3 times. Siblings, i.e., other offspring of Peter II are: Charles, born 1795, married Susan Foote (or Goote); Rhoda, 1797, married Arthur H. Merrill; Thomas, married Fannie Banker and settled in Peru, New York; Sarah, died in Chesterfield, New York ; Asenath, born 1806, married Joel Smith and settled in Beekmantown, New York; John, married Lucy Hewitt and settled in Red Wing, Minnesota.
2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Battle of Plattsburgh" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plattsburgh
3. ↑ Peter Stearns III is the father of William T Sterns, born in Peru, Clinton County, NY, 1817, buried in Beeman Cemetery, Fairfax, VT, 1891. William, however, used the alternative spelling of the surname and is not included in the listing of children of Peter and Sophia in Cutter's "New England Families"
4. ↑ FindAGrave Memorial #17656635 https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17656635

• "New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL5W-3VQ : accessed 19 March 2016), Peter Stearns, 11 Dec 1793; citing Bridgewater, Grafton, New Hampshire, United States, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,039.

• Ancestral chart received personally by me, Margaret Balaun Stearns , directly through my husband, John B Stearns

• Cutter, William Richard, "New England families, genealogical and memorial : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of commonwealths and the founding of a nation," pub 1913, p 387. https://archive.org/stream/newenglandfamili01cutt#page/458/mode/2up

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Margaret Stearns for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions.