John Stevens Sr. (abt. 1611 - abt. 1689)

Born about 1611 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Katherine (Unknown) Stevens — married about 1638 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about Feb 1689 at about age 78 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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John Stevens Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 319) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Note: This profile's John Stevens is not the John Stevens who arrived on the ship Confidence in 1638 (who was born 7 Jul 1605 Caversham, Oxfordshire, England, son of John Stevens and Alice Atkins); that John Stevens settled in Andover, Massachusetts, married Elizabeth Parker. This Salisbury John Stevens' parents remain unknown.

Biography

Parentage; Date and Place of Birth

The parentage of John Stevens of Salisbury is unknown. Based on the fact that he received a grant of land in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1639 (when he must have been at least 21) and had his first child later that year, he probably born sometime in 1609-1618. Hoyt (without explanation) estimated that he was probably born about 1611,^[1] which seems at the early end of the likely range, but certainly plausible. Based on his date of birth, John was probably born in England.

Immigration to New England

John's date or manner of immigration is unknown. He first appears in records in New England in 1639, which suggests that he may have immigrated shortly before then.

Settlement in Salisbury

John Stevens was one of the original settlers of Salisbury, Massachusetts. In 1639 he was among those that had lots and proportions granted in the town of Colchester in the first division.^[2] The town was renamed Salisbury the following year.^[2] According to "The Old Families of Salisbury," John Stevens was a town "commoner" (a person entitled to use the town common land to pasture animals); was taxed in 1650, 1652 and 1654; and was sometimes referred to as "Sergeant" John Stevens.^[1] He is also frequently referred to in the Salisbury records as John Stevens, Sr. to distinguish him from his son.

Marriage

John Stevens married a woman named Katherine. As discussed in her profile, her maiden name is uncertain but may have been Codnam/Codman. 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

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

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

Last Will & Testament

John Stevens made his will on April 12, 1686 and it was proved 26 November 1689. A transcription of his will is set forth below:

In ye name of God, Amen, I John Stevens Senr: of ye town of Salisbury Massachusets Collony in New england Husband:man, being aged & weake in body but of sound & pfect memory [prayse be given to god for ye same] And knowing ye uncertenty of this life on earth, & being desierous to settle things in order; Do make this my last will & Testament in manner & forme following: That is to say first & principally I com̃end my soule to Allmighty God my Creator assueredly beleiving that I shall receive full pardon & free remisson of all my sinnes & be saved by ye psious death & merritts of my blessed Savior & redeemer Christ Jesus: And my body to ye earth from whence it was taken to be buried in some decent & christian manner as to my Executors hearafter named shall be thought meet & convenyent: And as touching such worldly estate as ye lord in mercy hath lent me; My will & meaneing is The same shalbe Imployed & bestowed as hereafter by my will is expressed: And first I do revoke, renounce, frustrate, & make voyd all wills by me formerly made & declare & appoint this my last will & Testament.

Imp I give & bequeath unto my sone John Stevens all yt land where he now dwels lÿng between ye lands of mr Thos: Bradbury in yt place, As also ye remaynder of Gunners neck & yt playne at ye end of Browns Lot next ye river Merimack, as also my coverlet which I bought of mr Lines.

Itt I give & bequeath unto my sone Benjamin Stevens, all my living in ye towne where he now liveth wth my six acre planting lott & my pasture wch is over ageynst Tho: Roland=sons: late deceased as also all yt my land liing next unto ye land where Nathaniel Brown now dwells from ye high way through ye swamp to mr Bradburies land: As also my great brass Kettle my long table & ye little table which I bought of my brother Severans And my cobyrons.

Itt I give & bequeath unto my sone Nathaniell Stevens all my Sweepage lot of salt marsh lÿng at a place com̃only called ye beach, Also my will is yt my Executors: shall pay unto ye children of my sayd sone Nathaniel five pounds in good currant pay equally to be divided amongst them

Itt: I give & bequeath unto my daughter Mary Osgood five shillings to be payd by my Executors: & her pportion of my pewter excepting two platters: otherwise disposed off as in my will doth appeare

Itt I give & bequeathe unto Benony Tucker my grandchild two platters, a flock bed & bolster & a feather pillow & ye coverlet wc was of goodman Buswells weaving & my muskett & sword wth all ye stock of cattle wc he hath all ready & sheep & mare & all my upland lÿng in Halls farme so called & two acres of that cow com̃on meadow formerly belonging unto ye right of John Eyers senr wc I bought of sd Eyers

It I give & bequath unto my two sones John Stevens & Benjamin Stevens all ye rest of my upland & meadow which I have in Salisbury wth all my Com̃onages & com̃on rights wth all ye privilidges, & appurtenances there: unto belonging or any wayes ^appertaining to be equally divided between them they paÿng unto my daughter Mary Osgoods children ten pounds in good pay to be equally divided amongst them.

It I doe appoint my sone John Stevens & my sone Benjamin Stevens my Executors unto this my last will & Testament: And in confirmation of all ye abovesd prmisses in this my will conteined; I doe here unto sett my hand & seale this twelfe day of Aprill: Anno Dom̃ini one thousand six hundred eighty six:

the X mark of Jno Stevens sen (seal)

Signed Sealed & Declared before us (apptaining) enterlined
William Buswel
Wimond: Bradbury^[7]

Death; Estate

The inventory of John's estate was taken by Benjamin Eastman and Richard Long and was appraised at £162.10.6, including house and homestead (£14), outlands (£46.10), meadows (£78), weaving cloth (£8), stock, household goods, arms and clothes.^[7] The inventory report in the original probate papers^[7] and the transcription in the Essex Country probate record volumes^[8] both appear to show the report as dated February 8, 1689, which in the new calendar would be February 8, 1690. However, that date would be inconsistent with the oath of John and Benjamin Stevens, executors, as to the veracity of the report, which is dated 26. 9mo. 1689 (November 26, 1689).^[7][8] A close examination of the original inventory report in the probate papers indicates that the report was probably originally dated February 8, 1688 and that someone later changed the last 8 to a 9.^[7] The original and correct date of the inventory report was thus probably February 8, 1688/9.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the date of John's death. According to Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, John died sometime in February 1688/9.^[9] However, the report of the inventory of his estate (probably originally dated February 8, 1689/90) states that he died on "the thirteenth day of January last", presumably meaning January 13, 1688/9.^[7] (The word "past" appears immediately after "last" in both the original probate papers^[7] and the transcription in the Essex Country probate record volumes;^[8] however, a close examination of the original probate papers indicates that the word "past" was added later, most likely by the same person who changed the date of the report from 1688 to 1689.)

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

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15} Hoyt, David. W. The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, Part I. 1897. pp. 325-326. Link to pages at archive.org.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Hoyt, David. W. The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, Part I. 1897. p. 8. Link to page at archive.org.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, 1915. p. 224. Link to page at archive.org.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, 1915. p. 223. Link to page at archive.org.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, 1915. p. 225. Link to page at archive.org.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, 1915. p. 222. Link to page at archive.org.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7} Essex County Probate File Papers, Case #26353. Link to case folder at americanancestors.org.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Essex County Probate Records, Vol. 304, Old Series Book 4, pp. 203-205. FHL Film #007704243, images 201-202. Link to images at familysearch.org.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, 1915. p. 618. Link to page at archive.org.