John Stedman (abt. 1625 - 1675)

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1675 at about age 50 in Narragansett country (present-day South Kingston, Rhode Island)

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Disputed Parents

Although internet family trees have claimed that John was the son of a Thomas Stedman, John's origin is unknown, but it is known that he was the brother of Thomas Stedman, also of Connecticut.

Disputed Wives

It has often been supposed that John Stedman's second wife was Elizabeth Remington. There was indeed a John Stedman who married Elizabeth Remington on 14 May 1666 at Cambridge, Massachusetts.^[1] However, that appears to have been a different John Stedman, because this John Stedman lived far away in Connecticut.

It has also been supposed that John's second wife was Elizabeth Blackleach. There was a John Stedman mentioned as a "cousin" of widow Elizabeth Blackleach of Hatfield, Massachusetts in 1708, which seems to be the sole basis of an imagined Stedman/Blackleach marrlage.^[2]

Biography

The following comes from "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs":

"John Stedman, the progenitor in America of the Albany branch of the Stedman family of which any positive record appears, probably emigrated with his brother, Thomas Stedman, to New London, Connecticut. He removed to Hartford, where in 1651 he lived on Wall street, and later he moved to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he lived on what was known in 1910 as Jordans Lane. He was apparently one of the leading men of the then western part of Connecticut. For several years he was a member of the general court, or assembly, of that colony. As an influential and representative Church of England man, he, with others, signed a memorial demanding to be released from paying taxes for the support of the state church and ministers who would not administer communion to or baptize the children of such men. He was commissioned lieutenant of the Hartford County Dragoons, and while in command of that organization was killed on December 19, 1675, in the Great Fort fight with the Narragansett Indians at South Kingston, Rhode Island. He is buried at Wethersfield, Connecticut.

"To John and his wife, Elizabeth, according to the records of the First Church of Hartford, were born six children^[3]:

1. John, April 5, 1651;
2. Mary, September 24, 1653;
3. Thomas, October 9, 1655;
4. Robert, February 1, 1658;
5. Samuel, February 17, 1660;
6. Elizabeth, November 9, 1665."^[4]

The following information comes from the Stedman Family Organization website, based on "a handwritten manuscript in the NEHGS library, dated 29 March 1954. The manuscript was by a Miss Myrtle Jillson... Her source was Brainerd's Stedman Mss, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut":

John Stedman was probably born in Scotland and immigrated to America as a small child with his parents and younger brother. The family settled in New London, Connecticut.

He later moved to Hartford and married, probably in Hartford, Elizabeth Sergeant (or Remington, believed to be the daughter of John Remington). They had five known children. She died before 1664, and he married Elizabeth Blackleach, daughter of John Blackleach of Boston, before 1665. They had four children, including a daughter Elizabeth born in Hartford in 1665.

He was a sergeant in the Hartford militia as early as 1666.

John Stedman was a proprietor of Hartford, Connecticut, having acquired the original right of Richard Olmsted, who removed to Norwalk, Connecticut (1650-1652). He is listed as a freeman of Hartford in 1654....

After 1666, John Stedman bought a house and house lot at New London from Benj. Atwell, perhaps removed there for a year or two.

He removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1670.

In February 1671, he paid for 80 acres, as finally laid out November 1674.

On January 30, 1672, the proprietors voted undivided lands on the west side of town bounds, one and 1/2 mile in length. John Stedman drew the 34th lot.

Stiles, Ancient Wethersfield V1: 301, "He was admitted inhabitant Jan 30 1671/2 at which time he was the owner of land he purchased of John Cherry. He was Lieut. of the Hartford Company of Dragoons, July 1675, a good officer."

Thomas Stedman of New London was a brother to John Stedman. Charles Ellery Stedman quotes the following letter from John to his brother Thomas in his 1880 genealogy. (I assume the original may be in the Connecticut Historical Society.)

"Loving bro. Thos.: my love to yourself and your little ones and to uncle Nichols, & to aunt, and to the rest of my friends, certifying you through God's mercy & goodness has [?] we are in reasonably good health. Brother, these are to get you to assist my son in selling or letting my house which I bought of Benj. Atwill, & which you will do in that business, I do finally bind myself to confirm & ratify, as witness my hand and seal this last day of October 1672: from Wethersfield." Extracted out of the original under the hand of John (senior). This letter proves that John of Hartford and Thomas of New London were brothers. It also talks about "Uncle Nichols" who is probably the William Nicholls who is a stepfather of Hannah Isbell, the wife of Thomas.

On November 6, 1672, the New London property was sold to Thomas Wickham, cordwainer, of Wethersfield.

Lt. John Stedman was in command of the Hartford County Dragoons and was killed in the Great Swamp Fight (or Great Fort Fight) of King Phillips War against the Narragansetts in South Kingstown, Rhode Island on Dec 19th 1675.

After John died, his wife Elizabeth (Blackleach) Stedman married Thomas Dunk of Saybrook in 1677. She had a child by him and died shortly thereafter.

"Oct 21 1678, Lt. John Stedman and Elizabeth his wife, both being deceased and leaving four small children, the Governor and Assistants do desire and appoint Sergt. John Stedman to take some care and to look after the children that are left by his father and to dispose of them in such places as they may be well educated. The said Stedman to take advice of Major Talcott and Capt. Allyn in the dispose of them." ______________

http://users.moscow.com/woodisgood/bios/EdwardColverThePuritan.htm

In 1675 when King Philip made war against the New England colonies, Edward Colver, then an old man of sixty-five, went out with his four sons, Edward Junior, Ephraim, Joseph, and Samuel, to fight against the noted Indian chief. They took part in the "Swamp fight" which occurred near Tiverton, Rhode Island, 19 December 1675, when the tribes again met with defeat and heavy loss. Edward Colver was the only soldier engaged in the "Swamp fight" who had participated in the previous Pequot War, and as the tactics of the battle were the same as on that occasion, it is thought that the old soldier may have aided Captain Dennison, who commanded the Connecticut men at the "Swamp," to plan that attack. The colonial records of Connecticut mention the services of Edward Colver as scout as follows: "The Councill ordered John Stedman and Edward Colver with some of the Indians to goe forth upon the scout betwixt this and Springfield to make what discovery they could upon the enemie to the eastward of the river" (Public Records of Connecticut, 1665-1677, Vol. 2, p. 408). And again under date of 16 March 1675: "An answer to a letter from Mr. Fitch was returned with an advice to him to encourage the volunteers and to improve Uncas and Ninecraft to draw off as many of the enemie as may be, they delivering up their arms and ammunition, & c., as also on advice to send home the garrison soldiers at Norwich; that Edward Colver with about 20 Mogeags and Pequots come up to Hartford forthwith, & c., as pr the letter on file will more at large appear" (Public Records of Connecticut, 1665-1677, Vol. 2, page 417).

Hartford land records

John Stedman's Hartford lands are recorded in "Original Distribution of Lands in Hartford": "Land in Harttford upon Coneckticot River belonging to John Stedman and to his haiers for ever, viz One psell on which a Mesewage or Tenyment now Standeth with other outt houses yerdes or gardens thare in being which he Bought of edwerd Stebing estemed two Roods & Twnety parches be it more or les Abutting on the high way Leding from the mill to the Littell River on south & toword the west & on Dorithy Lords Land on the East & on Richard Lords land on the North." This and the next two parcels are entered on the Secretary's record (Volume 2, part 2, page 173) under date of 01 July 1651, where they are recorded to Thomas Stedman, but indexed to John Stedman. John presumably received these parcels from his father soon after they were purchased in 1651. "One psell of wodland Lying in the Coupaster which he bought of Edword Stebing Contain by Estima fower acres & fower parches be it more or Less Abutting on a high way on the East & on the Littell River on the west & on Thorn Realises Land on the South & on Richard Churches Land on the North. One psell of wodland Lying in the Old oxpastuer wch he Bought of Edwerd Stebing Contain by Estrna Two acres be it more or Les Abutting on the high way Leding from the mill to the Littell River on the North & on Mrs. Hockers Land on the South & on Land Sumtyme belonging to Seath Grantt on the west & on William wadsworth his Land on the East." "One parcell or meadow land wch he bought of Zachary feild lying in ye North mead: Containing by estimation two Acres & three roods abutting on ye high way east on John marsh his land Sowth on ye neck of land west on Mr Chaplins land North. One parcell of land in ye west feild Containing by estimation five Acres (be it more or less) & abuteth on John Allyns land Sowth on ye high way east on Rich: Lord his land North & on Nath Barding & John Morrice his land west." "One parcell wch he bought {recorded 19 June 1660} of Zach:Feild Containing by estimation fower acres (be it more or less abutting on John Allyn his land West & on Isack Graves his land Sowth on Rob:Sanford his land North & on Wm Williams his land East: One parcell of woodland wch was Some time the land of Seth Graunt & lyeth In ye oxpasture wch he bought of Edward Stebing: Containing by estimation fifteen Acres & a half & Twenty eight parches (be it more or less) & abuteth on ye high way east on Nath:Barding his land West & upon a highway North & upon land that was Sometimes Richard olmsteed Sowth: December: 15th: 1659: but not recorded before ye 24th of June 1660." "One parcell of woodland lying in ye oxpasture wch was Sometime ye land of Nehemyas Olmsteed wch he bought of Rich:Fellowes Containing By estimation eleven Acres (be it more less) Abutting on ye litle river west on a high way east on nir Talcott & Jasper Guns land Sowth on mr Chaplen & Wm Phillips land North: Apr:6:1658 not recorded befor ye 24 of June 1660: One parcell of Swamp lying on ye east Side of the great river wch he bought of Rob:Bartlet Contayning by Estimation thr Acres (be it more or less) & abutteth on ye great river West on mrs olcotts land east on Ben. Burs land Sowth on land belong to Richard Lyman on ye North:June ye 21st: 1660: One parcel of land In the north meadow which he bought of Thomas Burnam Containing by estimation three Acres (be it more or less) & abutteth on ye great river east on ye neck of land west upon Thomas Standly his land North, & upon land which ye Sd Stedman bought of Lnt Thomas Bull on ye Sowth: recorded Aprill 18th 1663." "[570] One parcell of land lying In ye North meadowe which he bought of Lnt Thomas Bull Containeing by estimation Two acres (be it more or less) and abutteth on ye great river east & on John wilcox land North & opn Thomas root Sowth & on ye riveret west: One parcel of land which he Bought of Robt Sandford being part of the widow phillips hir lott Contayneing about an acre be it more of less and doth abutt on Sarjt Stedmans owne land Sowth & East & on a high way west & on Robt. Sandfords owne land on the North, & the Sayd Sargt. Stedman is to mayntayne halfe the fence between Robt Sandfords land & him for ever, recorded may 31: 1671.

Probate record

Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1639-1700 about Lt John Stedman Name: Lt John Stedman Location: Wethersfield Date of Will: Feb 1675 Page: 153 Full Text: Died December, 1675. Invt. œ172-04-08. Taken February, 1675, by Lt. Chester, Ensign Goodrich, John Belden sen., Townsmen. Will dated 11 January, 1675-6.Lt. John Stedman, the day he went to Springfield pr. the Councils Order, said to Samuel Talcott and William Goodrich, as his will, He gave his Lands to his Son John Stedman Jr., hopeing he would give Something to his other Children. He gave of his Estate other than Lands to his Wife.Witness: Samuel Talcott, William Goodrich.Court Record, Page 152--2 March, 1675-6.: Will exhibited. Adms. to the Relict.Page 11--21 October, 1678: Lt. John Stedman & Elizabeth, wife, being both deceased & Leaving four small children, the Gover & Assistants doe desire & appoynt sargt. John Stedman to take some care & to look after the children that are left by his Father & to dispose of them in such places as they may be well educated, the sd. Stedman to take advice of Major Talcott & Capt. Allyn in the dispose of them. Source: A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.1663 to 1677.

Sources

1. ↑ Vital Records of Cambridge, Massachusetts to the year 1850, Vol. 2, p. 327.
2. ↑ Henry R. Stiles, Families of Ancient Weathersfield, Connecticut (p. 103), citing Savage.
3. ↑ Cuyler Reynolds, "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs" (1911)
4. ↑ Historical catalogue of the First church in Hartford. 1633-1885 .. by Hartford, First church of Christ. [from old catalog],page 160, https://archive.org/details/historicalcatal00goog/page/n189/mode/2up?q=stedman+

John Stedman's page at the Stedman Family Association website
http://johnlisle.us/wp

Cuyler Reynolds, "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs."

U.S., New England Marriages prior to 1700.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Ellen Blackwell for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Ellen and others.