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1528521 


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GENEALOGY  COLLECTIONt 


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STE\/£f\/SFRBDER/Ck:,   SILVESTER  J  8^8 
GE^EAlOG'i'  OF  THE  STEVE  MS  EAM/L{f 

FROM   IG35  TO  139/, 

TRACWG  THE  \/AR/OUS  BRANCHES 
FROM  THE  EARL^ SETTLERS  IN  mERia 

COMP.BV  FREDERICK  S.STEl/ENS^ 

I5teveias  fami-Pt| (Thomas Stevens^  oL. (£58) 
S.Steuensfami^u 


s\'  lA"  i':s  ri:i;    s'l'  k\'  iix 

K.Mi.Wll  II,    11,1.., 

■I'lni.l   cliild,  Za.l(.c,   No.    5. 


■' 

■ 

'4 


TIII5     IKllirlF.    or    AN    Al-rKCTIONAIF.   SOX    IS    KK.SI'l.CTl-TLl  ■■.■    DLDR'AIFI  > 

KY  Tin-:  AT'iHoi;, 

TO  Tin:  mi:moi;\'  OF  his  i.ovi.nc  anu  ceneroi/.s  iatiier, 

SV].\-CST1:r    STEVENS, 

\\i\i<    WAS    A    N'11;LK    KKrUKSEM  ATiVE    OV    A    LL'NG    AM)    ll.l  TSTK  I' iF --    MM 

OV   CONNECTICUT    ANCESTORY, 

WHOSE    CKEATESI'    I'RIlJE    WAS    l\    THAT    COOFiLY    IN  in-:i;n  AN(  E, 

THE    HONORE.D    NAME    OF    HIS    FOREFATHERS, 

AN(i    WHOSI-    UICHFsr    AMIilTKiN    WAS   TO    EMl'I.ATE    THEIR    KXAMPI.E. 


^\^S] 


STEVENS  FAMILY 


By 
Frederick  S. Stevens 


Bridgeport , Conn . 
1891 


1528521 

/'  R  E  F  A  C  E. 


I  This  very   hnpcrffct  genealogy  has  been   gathered   into  this 

I  present  form   for  the   purpose  of  holding   fast   and  placing  on 

^1  record  whot  dates  and   facts  we   have  of  the  past  and  honored 

\  histor)'  of  the  Stevexs  rA.MlIJEs  of    New  E^igland.     The  sub- 

\  scriber  has,  after  much  time  and  correspondence,  secured  enough. 

\  in  the  way  of  historical  events  to  make  an  interesting  beginning, 

I  so  that  others  of  the  name  may  fill  up  the  blank  pages,  take  up 

i  the  v.'ork  v>-hcrc  I  leave  off,  and  so  make  b)' rearrar.ging  and  re- 

I  compiling  the   following  record,  with   what   may  be  added,  a 

*  com.plete  STEVENS  genealogy,  in  which  the  numerous  descend- 

\  ants,  of  the  New  England  ancestry  may  take  a  just  and  jiardon- 

1  able  pride. 

3  Although  for  many  years    it    has   been    my  earnest  desire   to 

'\X  v/iite  out  and  preserve  m)-'  family's  history,  it  is  only  within  the 

I  past  four  years   that   I    have  come   into   the  possession  of   the 

I  greater  part  of  the  historical  contents  of  this  book,  through  the 

■^  kindness  of  Mr.  Theo.    D.    Rogei^s,   of   Norwalk,   C'onn.,  Mr. 

'i  Hiram   Stevens,  of  New   Haven,  Conn.,  and    mj'  sister,  Mrs. 

I  Sarah  S.  Stevens,  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  enabling  me  to  present 

this  brief  edition. 

The  old  original  deeds  of  the  Stevens  family  of  Danbur)-, 
Conn.,  the  fac-similcs  of  four  of  which  appear  in  this  first  edi- 
tion, and  show  the  perfect  state  of  preservation  of  the  very  an- 
cient and  valuable  documents,  were  recorded  (at  lea.st  two  of 
them,)  as  early  as  \y26-y,  six  years  before  the  birth  of  Wash- 
ington, 1732.  These  and  many  other  valuable  papers  of  our 
family  arc  in  the  possession  of  Hiram  Stevens,  Esq.,  of  New 
Haven.  Personal  recollections  and  family  history,  although 
dimmed  by  years  of  intervening  events,  are  with  this  docuuien- 
taiy  .md  unimpeachable  evidence,  fully  established. 

Frederick  S.  S'itlvens. 

Bridgeporl,  Conn.,  January,    l8gi. 


Having  received  many  useful  points  and  interesting  jiapers 
in  the  past  two  years  connected  with  the  genealogy  of  the 
Stevens  family  from  Theodore  D.  Rogers,  Esq.,  of  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  1  was  in  hopes  to  still  fvn-thcr  enlist  his  valuable  services 
towards  enlarging  this  book,  b\'  having  an)-  useful  information 
sent  direct  to  him,  or  to  myself,  for  his  approval.  I  regret  ex- 
ceedingly that  his  failing  ej'esight  forbids  any  further  labors,  as 
the  following  letter  will  explain.  F.  S.  S. 

Nor  WALK,  Nov.  25,  1890. 
F.  S.  Stevens,  Esq.,  Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  received  to-day  the  proofs  of  your  points  in  the  Ste- 
vens Genealogy.  1  have  added  name  [Josepli]  ofllie  5th  son  of  our 
ancestor  Thomas  Stevens,  who  died  in  Stamford,  165S.  Joseph  went 
with  his  brother  to  Hop  Grounds  [Bedford],  but  did  tiot  go  to  Dan- 
bury.  He  went  somewhere,  from  Hop  Grounds,  after  living  there 
sotne  10  years,  or  died,  for  there  is  no  mention  of  him  in  Records  of 
Bedford  or  Westchester  County  after  1690. 

I  send  you  on  the  blank  sheet  my  line  of  descent  from  Capt.  Eben- 
ezer  Stevens,  son  of  Benjamin,  of  Danbury. 

Capt.  Ebenezer  removed  from  Danbury  to  New  Fairfield,  in  1740 
or  1 74 1,  and  was  a  prominent  man  there.  He  died  about  1765  or 
1766,  leaving  a  widow  [Estlier|.  She  was  his  second  wife.  He  left 
four  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz  :  Ebenezer,  Daniel,  Hezekiah  and 
Joseph,  Mabel  [mar.  Wm.  Porter,]  Mary  [mar.  Anthony  Wanzer,] 
Jemimah  [mar.  ist  Serajah  Beardsley,  and  2d,  my  ancestor  David 
Barnum,]  and  Estlier  [mar.  Alexander  Fairchild.] 

David  Barnum,  my  ancestor,  was  son  of  Nathan  Barnum,  grandson 
of  Francis  Barnum  and  great-grandson  of  Thomas  Barnum,  one  of 
tlie  first  eight  settlers  of  Danbury. 

David  and  Jemima  [Stevens]  Barnum  had  four  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Their  son,  Samacl  'I'urner  Barnum,  married  Alice  Nash, 
and  had  one  son  and  one  daughter,  David  and  Betsey.  Betsey  mar- 
ried my  father,  Col.  Amzi  Rogers. 


This  is  far  enough  to  bring  dov.-n  our  line,  perhaps,  or  my  brolhcr 
in  Bridgeport  could  give  you  the  names  of  us,  [ht  present  ger.eraliun, 
named  Rogers,  if  you  wish  it. 

Now  I  will  give  you  the  name  of  a  Stevens,  who,  no  doubt,  ci'n 
'Tive  you  lots  of  Stevens  information.  He  i'^  a  born  genealogist.  \i\'i 
name  is  Hiram  Stevens,  of  New  Haven  ;  4  or  5  years  ago  his  address 
was  254  Bradley  st..  New  Haven,  and  probably  is  there  now.  Jf  not 
now  there  (254  Bradley  st.)  New  Haven  Directory  would  give  his 
address.  He  is  one  of  the  Mill  I'iaia  branch,  and  knows  more  about 
/■//«:/ branch  than  any  man  living.  If  you  can  get  into  cominanica- 
tion  with  him  he  can  give  you  many  points. 

I  notice  that  your  circular  directs  jiersons  to  send  their  gcnealogie.s 
io  yon  or  to  we.  They  had  better  all  come  to  you  ;  because,  first, 
my  eyesight  is  getting  very  poor,  so  that  it  bolliers  me  a  good  deal 
to  read  much  and  makes  it  a  very  great  task  for  me  to  v/iite  ev^-n  a 
little,  and  second,  because  I  have  already  done  my  full  part  in  regard 
to  the  Stevens  genealogy,  discovering  connections,  facts  and  points 
before  unknown.  So  you  had  really  better  have  all  such  matter  sent 
to  yourself. 

I  think  you  will  find  Mr.  Hiram  Stevens  of  much  assistance  to 
you.  If  you  should  call  on  him,  I  think  he  could  show  you  some 
old  family  deeds  and  docun)cnts. 

Very  trulv  yours, 

T.   D.   ROGKRS. 


1 


ii 


THE  STEVENS  FAMILY. 


/  j  The  Stevens  Family  was  vciy  numerously  represented  in 

I  i  j 

j  s|  the  earl}'  settlers  of  this  countr)'. 

ji'{  Amang  emigrants  to   "Barbadoes,"  in  1G34,  was  a  John  Ste- 

j  ;;  vens.     In  those  days  emigrants  to   New  England  and  \'irginia 

I  ■;  froni  England  had  to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  and  [religious] 

','  conformity,  before  they  were    allowed    to    leave.     In  going  to 

I  '  Barbadoes  or  Bermuda,  these  oaths  were   not  required,  conse- 

;  quently  many  emigrants  shipped    to    Bermuda    and  Barbadoes, 

j'\'  and  _//'(?w /"//dV'r  came  to  Virginia  and  New  England.     The  above 

I  i  John  Stevens,  a    Rich''    Osborn,  and  two  others,  passengers  by 

i;t  the  ship //i''/'<:Tt77/,    {ov  Barbadoes,   Feb.    17,  1634,  were  shortly 

{  in  afterward  all  residing  in  Hingham,  Mass.,  and  the  Richd  Osborn 
above  named  came  afterwards  to  New  Haven,  then  to  Fairfield, 
and  is  ancestor  of  most,  if  not  all  of  the  Osborns  of  Fairfield 
County.  John  Stevens  may  have  also  drifted  this  wa\"  from 
Hingham. 

Rob*  Stevens,  age  22,  came  to  New  England  in  1634. 
A  Thos.  Stevens,  age  12,  came  to  New  England  in  1635. 

-  A  William  Stevens,  age  22,  came  to  Virginia  in  1635.  — 
A  Matthew  Stevens,  age  12,  came  to  Barbadoes  in  1635. 
An  Alice  Stevens,  age  22,  came  to  New  England  in  1635. 
A  Henry  Stevens,  age  24,  came  to  New  England  in  1635. 

—  A  Thomas  Stevens,  age  35,  came  to  Virginia  in  1635.   — 
A  William  Stevens,  age  21,  came  to  St.  Christopher  in  1635. 
An  Edward  Stevens,  age  53,  came  to  Barbadoes  in  1635. 
A  Phillippa,  age  28,  and   Judith  Stevens,  age  19,  came  to  Si. 

Christopher  in  1634. 


s 

A  RicJiard  Stephens  was  living  at  Jan^ics  City,  Va.,  in  16."  ■;. 

A  John  Stevens  was  living  at  Martin's  Hundred,  Va.,  in  16^3. 

A  Jolin  Stc\X'ns,  hnsbandman,  of  Ringwood,  County  South- 
ampton, England,  came  to  New  England  in  1639,  by  the  sbi}; 
Vi?g2n. 

A  Thomas  Stevens  was  a  settler  on  the  Kennebec  River,  in 
Maine,  as  early  as  1624. 

A  John  Stevens  was  a  settler  in  Darien,  [then  Stamford,]  in 
1641.  (See  IlisL.  of  Eairfield  Co.,iip.693  and  697.)  JlLrj  h.avc 
been  father  or  brother  of  our  Thomas. 

A  Capt.  Thos.  Stevens,  who  was  born  in  1650,  lived  at  one 
time  in  Southampton,  L.  I.,  married  Elizabeth  Cook,  and  had 
several  children. 

Stevens's  were  numerous  in  Killingworth  in  1684,  and  subse- 
quentl}^  some  also  in  Guilford  and  Stonington. 

Of  course,  none  of  the  foregoin.g  are  known  to  be  connected 
with  our  Stevens  family,  but  1  have  taken  them  from  my  notes 
thinking  they  might  interest  )'uu. 


I  enclose  a  circular  letter  from  a  lady  physician  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  a  Mi-ss  Stevens,  married  to  Barney,  who  is  looking  up  the 
Stevens  genealogy.  She  might  give  you  pniiUs.  I  ratlier 
thiidc  she  claims  to  be  related  to  kings,  pones,  and  even  the 
martyr  Stephen  of  the  New  Testament,  as  you  v/ill  see.  II 
you  make  new  discoveries  in  Stevens  genealogy,  going  Jarllur 
back  than  I  have,  please  communicate  them  to  me. 

Yours  truly, 

T.  D.  Rogers,  Norwalk,  Ct. 


OUR  I'.RANt  J  01'  THE  STEVENS  FAMILY. 


First  G exeratiox. 
i.-THOMAS  STEVENS, 

(Progenitor  of  this  Stevens  family,; 

W'lio  died  in  Stamford  in  1658,  (in  that  part  of  Stamford  which 
is  now  Darien,)  had  five  sons,  viz:  Obadiah,  Thomas,  I'enja- 
i^iin,  Ephraini,  and  Joscpli. 

Obadiah  and  Benjamin  were  each  granted  a  house  lot  in 
1676,  b)'  the  town  of  Stamford,  '-for  their  services  against  the 
common  enem)'." 

Second  Gexeratfox. 

2.— BENJAMIN  STEVENS, 

"J"he  third  son  of  the  above  Thomas,  in  1680,  removed  to  a  phice 
called  "Hop  Grounds,"  now  in  the  town  of  Bedford,  Westches- 
ter Co.,  but  which  was  then  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Iov^mi 
of  Stamford,  and  claimed  l.iy  Stamford  as  a  part  of  the  town. 
About  the  same  time,  ancestors  of  the  "\\'^ildman"  family,  of 
Danbury,  went, from  Norwalk  or  Darien  to  "Hop  Grounds," 
(now  Bedford).  About  l/OO,  at  least  previous  to  1710,  Benja- 
)\       min  Stevens  and  two  Wildman   brothers  removed  to  Danbury. 

Benjamin  Stevens  had  four  sons,  who  came  with  him  to  Dan- 
bur)',  probably  all  under  age  at  that  time.  Dates  of  their  birth 
cannot  be  given. 

Benjamin's  brother  Joseph  also  went  to  Hop  Grounds  (Bed- 
ford), but  did  not  go  to  Danbury,  as  Benjamin  did. 

Benjamin's  sons  were  Ebenezer,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  and 
Thomas.      Ebenezer  settled  in   New   Fairfield,  about  1741,  and 


;li 


is  tlic  ancestor  of  tlie  Stevrns'  of  New  FairficKl  aiiJ  ,son;c  of 
the  name  in  Brookficld.  Thomas  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Stevens' 
that  used  to  be  in  Mill  Plain  (Danbury),  Ct. 

[Mr.  Rogers  contributes  the  following  respecting  the  descendi'iUs 
of  Benjamin,  son  of  Benjamin  Stevens,  isl]  : 

His  will  [Dnnhury  Probate  Records,]  was  made  jM:irch  19,  1749, 
and  pruved  Nov.  J9.  1766.  The  will  mentions  wife  Elizabeth,  sens 
Joshua,  Benjamin  and  Caleb,  daughters  Rachel,  Sarah  \n,.  L'oslv.-ick, ! 
and  the  children  of  his  deceased  daughter  Elizabi-th  Cra'/es. 

Joshua  died  April  16,  1S48,  age  80;  buried  in  lirockficld  near  the 
railroad. 

This  Benjamin's  son  [the  3d  Benjamin  Stevens,]  married  Anna 
Bearss,  daughter  of  Josiah  Bearss,  of  New  Fairfield.  He  iiad  several 
children,  of  whom  I  only  know  of  one,  Ajah. 

This  Benjamin  and  Anna  died  in  the  present  town  of  Erookfield  — 
Benjamin  died  July  20,  1799,  aged  8S,  and  Anna  died  178S.  Both 
buried  in  Brookfield,  near  Housatonic  Railroad. 

Ajah  died  Sept.  20,  1801,  aged  54.  Me  made  a  wijl  June  75,  1797, 
which  was  proved  Nov.  20,  1797,  and  mentions  wife  Sarah,  sons 
Joshua,  Asa,  Benjamin  and  daughters  Anne,  Sarah,  Lucy  and  Ra- 
chel. Ajah  and  his  father,  Benjamin,  are  buried  in  a  little  burying 
ground  in  Brookfield,  a  little  northwest  of  the  Brookfield  (Housatonic 
R.  R.)  depot. 

One  of  Ajah's  daughters  marritd  a  Hodge,  who  resided  near  Ball's 
Pond  in  New  P"airfield.  Ajah's  son  Asa,  was  a  bla.cksrnith  ;  settled 
in  New  Fairfield,  and  married  a  daughter  of  Jabez  Elwell.  wno.=:'.; 
house  was  a  little  west  of  Ball's  Pond  and  was  built  on  botii  sid.^s  cf 
the  line  between  New  York  and  Connecticut.  A  daughter  of  Asa 
Stevens  married  Harvey  Whitehead.  One  of  their  sons  is  now  livi'ig 
in  Redding. 

Descendants  of  the  Danbury  Stevens  family,  of  course,  scattered 
everywhere.  Quite  early  some  ol  them  settled  in  Patterson,  N.  V., 
some  ill  Peekskill,  some  in  Poughkeepsie,  etc.,  etc. 

Of  course  there  is  ample  proof  tliat  all  of  the  Ste\'ens  name  '• 
Danbury,  New  Fairfield  and  Brookfield  are  of  one  stock,  • 


II 

TniRij  Generation. 

3.-  NATHANIEL  STEVENS, 

Son  of  the  above  Benjamin,  married  AbiL2,a!  ]5ai-num,  daugliter 
of  Thomas  Barninn,  the  first  white  female  cliihl  born  in  the 
Town  of  Danl^jur)'.  They  had  six  sons  :  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  Nathan, 
Abriiham,  Timoth}',  John  and  Ezra,  and  two  danghters,  Rutii 
and  Hannah. 

He  made  a  will  at  Daiibur)-,  Feb.  r,  1743,  (which  is  on  record 
at  Fairfield,)  in  which  he  makes  mention  of  the  above  children 
and  a  granddaughter  Elizabeth  Stevens,  and  his  wife  Kuth,and 
spcak^  of  John  Stevens  and  Ezra  Stevens  as  "my  youngest 
.sons."  He  died  not  long  after  making  his  will,  for  the  two 
youngest  sons,  John  ajid  Ezra,  chose  guardians  on  July  5,  1743, 
and  the  estate  was  distributed  in  April,  1743. 

FouRni  Generation. 

4.— EZRA  STEVENS, 

Son  of  the'abovc  Nathaniel,  was  born  Ma}-  25,  1724,  and  v.'as 
therefore  about  nineteen  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death.  He  died  Feb.  5,  1823,  aged  gS  years,  8  months  and  io 
days.  He  married,  first,  Ann  Barnum,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Barnum,  granddaughter  of  Richard  Barnum  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Thomas  Barnum,  who  was  one  of  the  first  eight 
settlers  of  Danbury,  in  1684-5. 

'ihe  children  of  Ezra  Stevens  and  his  first  wife  were  : 

Ezra,  Jr.,  who  married  Abigail  Fairchild. 

Rachfcl,  married  Ezra  Peck. 

Samuel,  married  Esther  Hoyt. 

Eli,  married  Abigail  Knapp. 

Anna,  married  Paul  Hamilton. 

E'crward,  married  Racliel  Knapp,  daughter  of  David  Knajjp. 

Peter,  married  Phebc  Booth,  of  Newtown. 

Elijali,  married  Betsey  Criss. 


Anner,  married  John  llamiltoti,  brother  of  licr  sister  Anihi's 
husband,  Paul  Ilamillon. 

Ezra  Stevens'  second  wife  was  widow  Elizabeth  Burt,  wliosc 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Coe.  Their  only  child  was  Zadoc 
Stevens. 

Ezra  Stevens  was  an  officer  of  a  Danbury  companj'  in  the 
Revolutionar}-  War.  His  son  Eli  was  a  private  in  the  same 
company.  (See  mention  of  him,  in  this  conncctioji,  in  History 
of  Fairfield  Coun(y,  pp.  193,  194.) 

The  following  anecdf)te  about  Ezra  Stevens  is  related  b)' 
Mrs.  Morris  Bradle_\'  :  V\'hen  he  was  an  old  man,  over  80,  liav- 
ing  been  cpn'te  ill,  a  pious  friend  of  ills,  Dc^icon  ./\.nios  Hoyt, 
(perhajis  a  re]ati\  e,  as  Ezra  Stevens'  mother  w;is  a  Ho)-t,j  called 
on  him,  and  in  course  of  conversation,  asked  old  Mr.  Stevens  i) 
he  had  made  his  peace  with  God.  "'Made  my  peace  with  God  ?" 
said  the  old  man  ,  "No  ;  wh)'  he  and  1  have  a/7vafs  bctii  at 
peace.  There  has  never  been  any  difficulty  between  him  and 
me."     So  Deacon  Ho3't's  exhortation  was  cut  short  ofl. 

NoRWALK,  Jan.  6,  1S91. 
Friend  Stevens  : 

I  think  I  gave  you  note  of  the  will  of  N;uhaniel  -Stevens,  of  D;:;i- 
bury,  (son  of  the  1st  Benjamin,)  dated  Feb.  i,  1742-3,  and  reeorded 
at  Fairfield.  That  will  speaks  of  Jolin  and  Ezra  Stever.s  as  his  "i.vo 
youngest  sons."  I  also  informed  you  that  Ezra  Stevens  married 
for  I  St  wife,  Ann,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Barnum;  but  I  did  not 
know  what  became  of  John  Stevens,  brother  of  Ezra.  Now,  1  liavt 
lately  found,  that  John  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Benjamin  I?.;ir- 
num,  and  the  sister  of  his  brother  Ezra's  wife,  Ann.  This  ai4>erus 
from  the  will  of  Benjamin  Barnum,  dated  Jan.  9,  1779  (Danbury 
Probate  Records),  which  mentions  his  daughter  Lydia— without  say- 
ing whose  wife  she  is— and  the  heirs  of  his  daughter  Ann,  deceased, 
late  wife  of  Ezra  Stevens. 

Now,  later,  his  widow  dies  (same  year  it  seems)  without  a  will  ; 
but  the  distribution  of  her  estate  mentions  the  saine  six  cliildrcn 
mentioned    in    her    husband's  will — speaks  of  heirs  of  her  daughter 


13 

!)     Ann,  late  wife  of  Ezra  Stevens,  and  of  lier  daughter  Lydia.wife  of  John 
!     Stevens.     That  shows   conclusively  that    John    married    sister  of  his 
•     brother  Kzra's  wife,  dauglUers  of  Benjamin  Barnum,   granddaughters 
of  Deacon  Richard  Barnum  of  Danhury,   and    great   granddaughters 
(.  f  tlie  original  Thomas  Barnum. 

And  1  am  able  also  now,  1  think,  to  show  where  John  and  Lydia 
(i'.arnum)  Stevens  went  to,  or  at  least  where  they  v,-ere  living  in  1785, 
There  is  recorded  in  Danbiiry  (Book  ist  of  Deeds,  pages  .466-7),  a 
deed  from  John  Stevens  and  l,ydia,  his  wife,  of  Lee,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  to  Eleazor  Barnum  and  Olive  Barnum,  of  Danbuiy,  of  certain 
land,  etc.  This  Lydia  (Barnum)  Stevens  had  a  sister  Olive  Barnum, 
as  ajjpears  by  will  of  Benjamin,  and  distribution  of  his  widow  ;  and 
no  doul)t  this  deed  was  made  to  her  sister  Olive,  of  land  inherited 
from  their  father.  I  had  always  wondered  what  became  of  John 
Stevens,  brother  of  Ezra,  and  this,  1  think,  shows  who  he  married 
rtnd  where  he  went  to.  ■  I  thon.ght  you  would  like  to  know  ;  and  may 
be  there  are  now  Stevens'  in  Berkshire  Co.,  descended  from  John 
and  Lydia  (Darnum)  Stevens.  •  Yours  truly; 

T.  D.  RoGEi-is. 

Fifth  Gkneration. 

]  '  5.— ZADOC  STEVENS, 

An  As.sociate  Judge  of  tire  Court,  and  an   honored  Representa- 
tive of  the  town  of  Danbury  in  the  State  Legi.slatures  of  1824 
and  1825,  son  of  the  above  Ezra  Stevens,  was  oorn  in  Danbu- 
i     r\',  jNov.  8,  1777,  and  died  at   Knoxville,  Illinois,  July  13,  1838.. 
I         Zadoc  married  Phebe  White,   daughter    of    Thomas  Philip 
I     White  and  cousin  of  Col.  E.  Moss  White,  of  Danbury. 
Their  children  were  : 

Mary  Ann,  born  ,  married  Morris  S.  Bradley. 

Thomas  Philip,  born  .  married  Rebecca  Peck. 

Sylvester,  born  1804,  married  Angeline  Starr. 
Jerusha,  born  ,  married  Alvah  Wheeler. 

Angeline,  born  ,  married  Jacob  D.  Frost. 

Zadoc,  Jr.,  born  ,  married  Pauhne  Fanton,  and 

for  his  second  wife,  Ann  Barnes. 


H 

Epaphras  Bull,  born  ,  married  NaiiC)'  Fantorv, 

sister  of  Pauline. 

Frcflerick,  born  ,  married  Sally  Rice,  of  Hen- 

derson, Illinois. 

Charles  Lewis,  born  married  Matilda  Knbcrts. 

In  connection  with  the  hi.-^tcny  of  Ezra  Stevens,  tb.e  follow- 
ing resjjecting  the  corporate  infanc}'  of  Connecticut,  from  the 
N.  Y.  Herald  o[  Nov.  i6,  1890,  will  be  of  interest  to  the  mens- 
bers  of  our  family  and  others  : 

The  SuitL'  had  only  four  years  before  started  out  under  its  conslitiition  of  iSiS, 
still  existing,  but  greatly  amended.  There  were  only  12  Senators  and  206  mem- 
bers of  the  House,  representing  130  towns,  against  249  meml;ers  and  l58  towns 
represented  in  the  last  Legislature  [1&89]. 

Oliver  Wolcott  was  Governor,  and  Ralph  I.  Ingersoll,  Spea!;er  of  the  Housi.. 
Senators  were  paid  §2  and  Representatives  $1.50  per  day.  There  were  no  legib'a- 
tive  journals  nor  printed  copies  of  bills,  nor  desks  for  the  members  to  write  upon. 
The  men  who  sought  legislative  honors  in  tliose  days  were  the  leading  men  of 
Connecticut,  and  of  the  gentlemen  who  served  in  1824  and  1825,  one  became  a 
United  Slates  Senator,  six  became  Governors  of  Connecticut,  si^  Members  of  Con- 
gress, one  United  States  Minister  to  the  Court  of  Russia,  and  thirly-four  otiiei- 
obtained  high  honors  in  the  administration  of  Stale  affairs. 

The  following  epitaph,  copied  from  the  totnbstone  of  Ho'.. 
Zadock  Stevens,  at  Knoxville,  Illinois,  was  written  by  a  friend, 
James  V\^  Nichols,  of  Danbui)-,  Ct.  (See  History  of  Fairfield 
County,  p.  266.) 

ZADO CK    S TE I 'E.VS. 

Died  July  /?,   jSjS, 
Ag<d  60  years,   S  months. 

From  early  youth  to  diligence  inclined, 
He  rose  to  merit,  by  the  force  of  mind  ; 
Sound  sense,  decision,  perseverance  strong 
Sustained  him  nobly  through  the  world  along. 

In  action  fearless,  powerful  in  debate, 

He  grac'd  the  councils  of  his  native  State  ; 

His  sterling  talents  and  exalted  worth 

Shed  brighter  radiance  'round  the  social  heart';. 


lie 


ZADOC  STEVENS, 

Horn  NcA'.  8,  1777,  died  July  13,  1838. 

I'licbc  White,  born  July  30,  1776,  deceased  Oct.  4,  1865. 
They  were  married  Oct.  5,  1800. 

Their  children  were 

INIary  Ann,  born  Sept.  27,  1801,  married  Morris  S.Bradley, 
Sept.  8,  1822. 

Thomas  Phillips,  born  Jan.  22,  1803,  died  Oct.  2,  1827,  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Peck,  Oct.  25,  1826. 

Sylvester,  born  Sept.  12,  1804,  died  June  15,  1878,  married 
Anyeliiie  Starr,  Jan.  25,  1827. 

Jerusha,  boi-n  Sept.  24,  1806,  married  Alvah  Wheeler,  Oct. 
.:6,  1826. 

An<jjeline,  born  March  5,  1809,  married  J.  D.  Frost,  April  14, 
1839- 

Zadoc  W.,  born  Sept.  26,  iSto,  married  first  Paulina  P\anton, 
March,  1832,  who  died  June  14,  1836  ;  and  married  second  Ann 
Barnes,  Jan.  1,  1842. 

Epaphras  Booth,  born  June  24,  1812,  married  Hancy  Fanton, 
Sept.  II,  1833. 


Joseph  PTederick,  born  Aug.  24,  1714,  married  Sally  Rice, 
Xov.  4,  1S45. 

Charles  Lewis,  born  Nov.  21,1816,  married  Matilda  Roberts, 
May  9,  1 84 1. 

The  above  accurate  data  were  found  among  my  father's  papers,  after  tliis  book 
had  gone  to  the  bindery,  necessitatini;  tlie  insertion  of  this  extra  leaf. 

Tlie  name  of  Epaphras  Bull,  son  of  Zadoc,  in  the  first  printed  page  is  incorrect. 
It  is  as  above  printed,  Epaphras  Booth. 

Note.— Lieut.  Ezra  Stevens,  father  of  Zadoc,  married  Elizabeth  How,  instead 
of  Elizabeth  Coe,  as  printed  on  a  pnceding  page. 


15 

At  last  in  strangers  land  death  comes  iinfear'd, 
Where  o'er  his  tomb  this  humble  stone  is'  reared, 
Relying  firm  on  God's  impartial  grace, 
Resigned  his  breath  and  clos'd  his  earthly  race. 

A  native  of  Danbury,   Ct. 

Sixth  Generation. 
6._SYLVESTER   STEVENS, 


■:  'rhifd  child  of  Zadoc  No.  5,  was  boni  in  Danbuiy,  Ct.,  Sept.  12, 

■  1804,   married   Angcline  Starr,  January  .35,    1827,  and  died  at 

\  Kncxville,  111.,  June  15,  1878. 

!  Their  children  v/erc  : 

•  Helen  Augusta,  born  Oct.  30,  1827,  married  Granville  Taylor, 

-  of  Danlniry,  Ct. 

I  Mar)'  White,  born  March  9,  1829,  married  Nathan  Goodell,  of 

[  Knoxville,  111. 

\  Sarah,  born   .Sept.  28,  1834,  married   George  Parcells,  and  2d 

\  husband,  Erastus  Stevens,  of  Danbury,  Ct. 

\  Two  children  born,  who  died   in   infancy,  and  were  buried  in 

I  Wcstport  cemeter)^ 

i  Frederick  Sylvester,  born  June  22,  1848,  married  Anna  May 

\  Gaylord,  of  Bridgeport,  Ct. 

[ 

I  Golden  Wedding  of  Sylvester  Stevens  No.  6. 

i  E"ather  of  Rrederick.  S.  .Stevens,  No.  7, 

I  From  the  Knox  RepublicaJK 

f  Knoxville,  Illinois,  January,  1877. 

;.  GOLDEN  TIES. 

\  '1  he  fiftieth  marriage  anniversary   of    Dr.    and    Mrs.  Sylvester  -Stevens  was  cele- 

I  hrated  at  the  City  Hall  in  this  city,  on  the  evening  of  January  25th,  1877. 

I  A  large  number  of  our  most  estimable  citizens,  together  with   many  friends  from 

I  abroad,  assembled  at  an  early  hour  to  do  honor  to   and   participate   in  the  celebra- 
tion. 
After  the  public  or  formal  reception,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wadeli,  as  spokesman  of  the 

j;  icnipniiy,  presented  the  Doctor  and  his   Brhh-  the    numerous  golden  evidences  of 

I  l''.cir  love  and  esteem,  to  which  the  Doctor  replied  as  follows  : 


i6 

M)'  frii-iuls  and  fellow  citizens  : 

"There  is  an  ancient  Ift-brew  proverb  which  tells  us  'that  from  the  abundance 
of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh.' 

"My  present  experience  proves  that  there  may  be  exceptions  to  this  proverb  as  a 
rule,  for  surely  my  heart  was  never  so  full  to  overflowing  with  grateful  emotions, 
struggling  for  utterance  as  now,  and  yet  I  never  felt  so  sensibly  the  poverty  of 
language  to  express  my  gratitude  and  thankfulness  to  my  numerous  friends  here 
assembled,  for  this  bountiful  outpouring  of  goodness  and  noble  generosity." 

After  the  Doctor  had  tendered  his  heartfelt  thanks  to  his  friends  in  his  own 
inimitable  and  happy  manner,  he  referred  to  the  family  history,  which  we  reprint 
in  full,  as  it  will  interest  thousands  of  New  England  descendants. 

The  j'outhful  couple  whose  fiftieth  marriage  anniversary  you  this  evening  cele- 
brate, were  born  in  Danbur}',  Conn.  Mrs.  Stevens  (.'\ngeline  Starr),  July  4,  1S05, 
and  myself,  September  12,  1S04. 

Both  families  of  our  ancesters  were  of  "simon  pure"  Puritanic  stock  ;  both  fami- 
lies being  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Danbury,  in  the  year  1687. 

My  gre.at-grandmother  (Abigail  Piarnnm)  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  Colony, 
in  the  year  16SS,  My  grandfather,  Lieut.  Ezra  Stevens,  a  commissioned  officer  in 
the  Revolutionary  War,  was  born  in  Danbury,  .'Vpril  24,  1724,  and  died  I'eljruary 
24,  1S23. 

My  father,  Z«doc  Stevens,  was  bom  in  Danbury,  Nov.  8,  1777,  and  died  in  this 
city,  July  13,   1S38. 

My  mother  was  a  White,  daughter  of  Thomas  P.  White,  of  Danbuiy,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Rev.  Ebenezer  White,  the  second  Congregational  preacher  in  the 
town  of  Danbory  ;  he  presided  ovei-  the  church  many  years,  and  was  the  great- 
grandson  of  Thomas  White,  one  of  the  passengers  and  head  of  a  family  of  the 
Whites  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower. 

Mrs.  Stevens,  my  better  half,  was  a  Starr,  daughter  of  Zadoc  Starr.  Her  an- 
cestors settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  of  Danbury,  then  the  parish  of  Pethel, 
now  a  town.  Mrs.  Stevens' grandfather  on  the  maternal  side,  was  a  Scotchman, 
Mr.  John  McLean,  who  emigrated  in  about  1750,  engaged  in  mercantile  business, 
in  which  he  was  very  successful  and  acquired  much  wealth.  He  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  U.  S.  Commissary  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  had  collected 
a  large  quantity  of  military  stores  in  Danbury,  consisting  generally  of  pork,  flour 
and  clothing,  which  v.'as  stored  in  the  old  Ediscopal  Church,  a  few  rods  from  Mr. 
McLean's  store  and  residence.  In  the  month  of  April,  1777,  the  British  being 
informed  of  this  deposit  by  the  "blue  light  tories,"  landed  on  the  Connecticut 
shore  2G  miles  south  of  Danbury,  2000  light  infanty  from  their  shipping  on  Long 
Island  Sound  They  marched  to  our  town  which  they  burned,  together  with  all 
the  military  stores.  As  it  was  deemed  by  them  a  .sacreligious  act  to  burn  a  Church 
of  England  edifice,  the  pork  and  flour  was  rolled  into  the  street,  and  the  clothing 
piled  upon  it  and  burned.     The  old  church  building  is  still  standing. 

Mrs.  Stevens'  father  and  mother  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  q6  years,  and  she 
is  the  only  living  representative  of  the  family  of  nine  children. 


MINEK  G.      FEIUS  AL(;OTT. 


1  liKDHicj;  w. 

LOUISE  MAY,     MiLLlE  STAKl- 


ANNA  ir.  [GAVMir.Dl  STEVENS. 


EKEDinOi;  S.  S'l  EVENS  ,^  ]'A:\niA', 
mnpfSKiMjur,  conn. 


Seventh  Generation. 

7.— FREDERICK  S.  STEVENS, 

Ivji-n  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  June  32,  1848,500  of  Sylve.ster  No.  6, 
and  grandson  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  and  a  grcat-yrandson  of  Lieut. 
Fv'.ia  Stevens. 

Fredcriek  S.  Stevens  is  a  member  of  the  Scientific  and  His- 
torical Societies,  Past  Master  of  Corinthian  Lodge,  No.  104, 
V.  8z  A.  M.,  a  Director  and  the  Secretar)-  of  the  Masonic  Tem- 
ple Association  of  Bridgejjort,  a  member  of  tlie  Genera!  Assem- 
l)!y,  1 89 1  and  '92,  from  Bridgeport. 

Married,  June  22,  1876,  Anna  May  Gaylord,  born  in  Terry- 
\-irie,Ct.,  I\La\'  22,  1855,  daughter  of  Edward  L.  Gaylord,  son  of 
Ransom,  grandson  of  Lot  and  Sarah  Allen.  And  Mary  Gay- 
lord (Miner),  daughter  of  David  Miner  and  Emma  Kcnned)% 
i;v.'>nddaughter  of  David  and  Mar)^  Bishop. 

'J'lieir  chiUlren  were  : 

Edward  Gaylord,  died  in  infancy. 

Sylvester  Taylor,  died  in  infancy. 

Louise  May,  born  Oct.  10,  1880. 

Frederick  William,  born  Dec.  8,  1882,  died,  aged  si.x  and  a 
half  years. 

Nellie  Starr,  born  March  28,  1884. 

Miner  Ga>'lord,  born  March  24,  1887. 

I'erris  Alcott,  born   March  27,  1888. 

HELEN  AUGUSTA, 

Daughter  of   Sylvester   Stevens,  No.  6,  married  Granville  Tay- 
lor, Sept.  30,  1847. 

Their  children  were  : 

I'-nima  \^,  died  Dec.  17,  1856. 

Granville  Edward,  born  Sept.  30,  1851. 

Nellie  A.,  born  Dec.  5,  1854,  and  died  July  20,  1870. 


i8 

Edwaixl  married    Dora  Leach,  whose  great-granchnolhcr  was 
a  Stevens  ;  her  grandmother,  EUzabeth  Peck. 
Their  children  are  Mona  and  Ernest. 

MARY  WHITE, 

Second  daughter  of  Sylvester  Stevens,  married  Nathan  Good- 
ell,  of  Kno.wille,  Illinois. 

Their  children  are : 

Henry,  married  Laura  Cook,  of  Burlin^Mon,  Iowa. 

George,  married  Ardelle  Whittaker,  of  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

Clarence,  married  I\Iary  M..  Palmer,  of  Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Mary  Helen,  unmarried. 

Henry's  children  are,  Edna  and  Harry. 

George's  children  are,  Romaine  Whittaker  and  Mary  Stevens. 

Clarence's  child,  Paul  Palmer. 

SARA  PI, 

Third  daughter  of  Sylvester  Stevens,  married  first,  George  Par- 
cells,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 

Their  children  were,  Angelinc  and  Harry. 

Married  for  her  second  husband,  Erastus  Stevens,  son  of  Da- 
vid Stevens  and  grandson  of  Forward  Stevens. 

Their  children  were,  David  Franklin  and  Helen  May. 

Angeline  or  Lina  married  Rufus  Y.  Rockwell,  of  Danbury. 

Their  child  is  Harry  Sanford  Rockwell. 


1  "'J 


^^i^'"'.,/f^ ' 


^  J/^'^ 


/'.A 


.TF.lUTSllA  rfiTEVENSl  ■WITlKI.Ei;, 


ANfiELTNF.  [STEVKXSl  l-Ki)ST 

DAMlUliV,    rONN., 

FiflU  d.iUl/y.aaur,  Ni..  :,. 


Fourth  cliild,  ZadiK-,  N...  '.. 

MAKY  ANN  rSTF.VF.NRl  l!i;AI>r,F.V. 

DANIirUY,    CllNS 

Fir>-t  <liiM.  V.m\'«-,  N...   .-.. 


19 

CHILDREN  OF  ZADOC  STEVENS,  No.  5. 


SixTJi  Genp:ration. 

MARY  ANN  STEVENS, 

The  first  child  of  Zadoc  Stevens,  No.  5,  married  Morris  Brad- 
ley, had  several  children,  of  whom  but  t\\'o  have  childi'en. 

Tallman  married  a  Miss  Alexander,  has  one  son  by  the  name 
of  Alexander,  and  daughter  Celia,  who  married  Charles  Monroe. 

Sarah  married  Alexander  Hall,  of  New  Havem;  had  two 
sons,  Morris  and  Charles. 

Morris  has  a  daughter  Sarah. 

Charles  marrieci  Emma  Stevens,  daughter  of  Frederick  Ste- 
vens, 1st  son  of  Zadoc,  No.  5- 

Also  three  other  daughters,  date  of  birth  unknown. 

THOMAS  PHILIP, 

Second  child  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  married  Rebecca  Peck. 

SYLVESTER, 

Third  child  of  Zadoc.     [See  Sjdvester,  No.  6,  p.  15.] 

JERUSHA, 

Daughter  and  fourth  child  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  wife  of  Alvah 
Wheeler,  had  seven  children  :  LeRoy,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Frede- 
erick,  Helen,  Lavantia  and  Alta. 

They  married  and  settled  in  Illinois,  afterwards  in  Texas,  the 
four  daughters  marrj'ing  four  brothers  by  tlie  name  of  Congor. 
Their  children  are  settled  in  Waco,  Texas,  or  thereabouts. 

LeRoy  settled  in  Missouri,  P'rederick  in  Texas. 


20 

ANGKLINE, 

Fifth  child  and  daughter  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  married  J.  D.  Frost. 

Their  children  were,  Harriet  and  Geors^e. 

Harriet  married  James  Leach,  of  Fairfield,  and  George,  Ru- 
ana  Solmons,  near  New  York  State. 

Harriet  has  three  children  ;  a  daughter  married  Geo.  Hj-att, 
li\x's  in  Danbur)' ;  two  sons  unmarried,  living  in  Pen-ibruke. 

ZA1)0C  STEVENS,  Jr., 

Si.v'tli  child  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  dead.      .. ' 

His  first  wife  was  Pauhnc  Fanton  ;  .etii;-  chi Id, jCath critic?/ 

Second  wife  was  Ann  Barnes.         -S^ij^Usiiv   ^     p,-  .   ■    !'.,■.  l 

Their  children  were: 

\'.  M  ',  i/;.:.i 
Charles  T-eiv+sL. born  ,  served  in  the  Union  Army 

C A-r  U  f:   b'  i  j.-'    - 

during  tne  Wai^  of  the  Ivcbellion  ;  dead. 
Sarah,  burn  ;  dead. 

Lucy  Ann,  born 
Sylvester,  born 
George,  born 
Now  reside  in  Chicago. 

EPAPHRAS  BULL, 

Seventh  child  of  Zadoc,  No.  5;  married  Nancy  Fanton. 

Epaphras'  child,  Ifarrict,  married  \\'illiam  .Stratlon;  had  six 
children. 

The  sons,  Ward,  William  and  Robert,  are  settled  in  ILancock 
Co.,  Illinois,  town  of  Bowen. 

The  daughters  are  married  and  settled  in  Nebraska.  The 
daughters  names  were  Harriet,  Helen  and  INIabel. 

FREDERICK  STEVENS, 

Eighth  child  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  married  Sail)-  Rice,  of  Illinois. 

Their  children  were  :  Pheba,  j\Iary,  Emma,  Ella,  Eva,  Zadoc 
and  Onslow. 


/"^"X 


.-.:.■  -f- 


i^Sf  ^^ 


R 


Kl'Al'UliAK  li.  STEVENS, 

ITT.INOIS. 

Srvi-i.tli  child,  Zailuc,  Ni).  5 
SVLVES'i'Kl!  STEVENS, 

KNOXVII.LF.,   ILL., 

'1-Iiini  cliilcl,  Zaduc,  ^u.  5. 

CHAR.  L.  S'iK\  ENS, 
i.tscrii.N.  Ni:ii., 
Ninth  child  Zudoc,  No. 


ZADdO  STEVENS.  .)K., 

Si\th    cIllM,    Z^i.Kir,    .N",    i 


IliEMKTC  K  ST);\ENS, 

rAn.MiNrirox,  ii.i,., 
Eit;hth  child,  Z.ul.jc,  No.  5. 


The  two  sons  settled  in  Farmington,  111. 
Mary  died  young. 

Phcba  settled  in  Nebraska  or  Kansas. 

Ella  and  Eva  are  unmarried,  and  Ennna  the  \A'ife  of  Charles 
Bradley,  of  Danbui-}'. 

CHARLES  LEWLS  STEVENS, 

Ninth  child  of  Zadoc,  No.  5,  married  Matilda  Roberts;  had  two 
children,  Theadore  ami  Mary,  settled  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska  ;  un- 
married. 

]<T:)RWARD  STEVENS, 

Son  of  Ezra,  No.  4,  by  his  first  wife,  had  two  sons,  David  and 
Ezra,  twin  brothers.    . 

Da\'id  married  Lj-dia  Sturges  of  Wilton,  settled  in  Pembroke. 

Their  children  were:  Pheba,  Erastus,  Hannah,  Henrietta, 
John,  Sojjhia,  Ann,  Edward,  and  Irving. 

Edward  and  Irving  both  ser\'cd  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

Pheba  married  Wyllis  Roberts  of  New  York  State,  and  re- 
moved to  DeKalb  Co.,  111. 

They  had  two  children,  Salina  and  David,  both  married  and 
have  families.     Reside  in  Creston,  DeKalb  Co. 

Erastus  married  Sarah  Stevens,  daughter  of  Sylvester ;  set- 
tled in  Danbury. 

Their  children  are  Franklin  and  Helen  May. 

This  Franklin  is  the  only  male  descendant  of  Forward  Ste- 
vens bearing  the  Stevens  name. 

Hannah  n^iarried  Alfred  Kimball  of  Illinois,  and  now  resides 
in  Danbury. 

Their  children  were,  Sarah,  Erastus  and  Kate. 

Erastus  is  married  ;  no  children. 

Henrietta  married  Russell  Hoj't,  of  Danbury. 

Their  children  are  Howard  and  Ellen,  both  unmarried. 

John  married  Catherine  Goodsell,  of  Newtown  ;  no  children. 


Sfiphia  and  Ann  arc  unmarried. 
Irving  has  no  children. 

Edward  has  two  daugliters,  Henrietta  and  Susan. 
Henrietta  married  Orrin  Barnuni,  of  New  ]"\'urficld. 
The}'  have  four  children,   three   sons  and  a  daughter  ;  reside 
in  Danbury. 

Ezra's  children  were,  Philander,  Elbert,  Sally,  Rachel,  and 
Eliza. 

Elbert  died  vrithout  children. 

Philander,  a  daughter,  married  Mr.  Beal,  of  Danbury;  I  hey 
ha.ve  ont^  son,  Elbert. 

.Sal!}'  died  unmarried. 

Eliza  married  Jarvis  Hull,  of  Danbur}',  died  leaving  adaiigh- 
ter,  Henrietta,  who  married  Reuben  Pearce.  They  resided  ia 
Danbury;  no  children. 

Jarvis  Hull  afterward  married  Rachel  Stevens,  and  has  three 
unmarried  daugliters. 

A  .siste^of  Forward  Stevens,  Rachel,  married  Elias  .Stevens, 
of  New  Faimcld,  leaving  numerous  desceiKfants. 

Elias  and  Rachel's  son  Ezra,  was  a  representative  in  the  Le- 
gislature from  Brootvfield.  / 

His  sons,  James  and  'Elias,  were/both  killed  ;  one  murdered 
in  Texas,  the  other  killed  athon^d  by  the  kick  of  a  horse. 

Another  son  of  Elias  and  Rachel,  George  Stevens,  kept  a  liat 
store  in  Syracuse,  in  1843,  and  afterwards  ma}'or  of  Syracuse. 
/  ^"\ 

Another  sister,  Lucy,  jfiarried  Demnng  Stevens,  of  a  family 

in  Vermont ;  no  relation  that  is  known  of. 

Their  children  w.efe,  Daniel  and  Hiram. 

Daniel  has  daughters. 

Pliram  has  one  son,  Herbert,  married  and  has  children  li\-ing 
in  .Southeast,  near  Bi-ewster's. 


^-2 


Q_ 


ERRATA   ON  LOWER  HALF  OF  OPPOSITE  PAGE. 

A  daugliterof  Forward  Stevens,  Lucy,  married  Elias  Stevens 
of  New  Fairfield,  leaving  numerous  descendants. 

Elias  and  Eucy's  son  Ezra,  was  a  representative  in  the  Le- 
gislature from  Brookfleld. 

His  sons,  James  and  Elias,  were  both  killed  ;  one  murdered 
in  Texas,  the  other  killed  at  home  by  the  kick  of  a  horse. 

(See  Supplement,  last  page.) 

Another  son  of  Elias  and  Lucy,  George  Stevens,  kept  a  hat 
store  in  Syracuse,  in  1843,  and  was  afterwards  mayor  of  Syra- 
cuse. 

Another  daughter,  Rachel,  married  Dimon  Ste\'ens,  of  a  fam- 
ily in  Vermont  ;   no  relation  that  is  known  of. 

Their  children  were  Daniel  and  Hiram. 

Daniel  has  daughters. 

Hiram  has  one  son,  Herbert,  married  and  has  children  living 
in  Southeast,  near  Brewster's. 


vk 


CHILDREN  AND  GRANDCHILDREN  OF  FREDE- 
RICK STEVENS,  No.  6,  [Son  of  Zadock  No.  5.] 

Of  Favniington,   111. 

1.  rhcebe,  lives  in  Pawnee  City,  Nebraska,  born  Dec.  12, 
1846,  married  David  G.  Meeker,  Sept.  6,  1869.  Their  children 
were : 

Lillian,  born  April  10,  1871,  died  Oct.  25,  1881. 

Allie,  born  August  17,  1872. 

Lottie,  born  January  20,  1875. 

Frederick  S.,  born  January  15,  1877. 

Dean  N.,  born  April  2,  1879. 

Mary,  born  Nov.  29,  1881. 

Charles  H.,  born  April  24,  1884,  died  Oct.  29,  1885. 

2.  Mary,  born  died 

3.  Zadock  Philip,  lives  in  Farmington,  111.,  born  April  25. 
1 85 1,  married,  first,  Lizzie  Orton,  Feb.  22,  1875.  They  had 
one  child,  Gertrude,  born  July  5,  1876,  Married,  stcond,  Hat- 
tie  Rogers,  Dec.  15,  1886.     Their  children  are 

Millie,  born  Dec.  1887,  and  Ernest,  born  Dec.  1S89. 

4.  Alonzo,  born  died  age  14  mos. 

5.  Onslow  S.,  lives  in  Trivoli,  111.,  born  Jan.  6,  1856,  married 
Hattie  Or.on,  cousin  of  Zadock's  first  wife,  March  5,  1 881. 
Their  child  is  Maud  Angeline,  born  April,  1886. 

6.  Ella  B.,  born  Sept.  18,  1858,  lives  in  Pawnee  City,  Neb., 
married  Even  Davis,  Sept.  9.  1880.     Their  children  are 

Mabel  C,  born  Sept.  29,  188 1. 
Olin  L.,  born  March  29,  1886. 
Melvin  Even,  born  Aug.  19,  1890. 

7.  Emma  A.,*  born  May  12,  1 861,  lives  in  Danbury,  Conn., 
Pembroke  District,  married  Charles  Bradley,  Sept.  10,  1884. 

8.  Eva  L.,  born  Nov.  25,  1863.     F'armington,  III. 


Mrs.  Bradley  furnished  these  items  and  dates  of  her  father's  family. 


IRA,  STEVENS, 

One  of  the  Stevens  family  who  settled  I\lill  IMain,  married  Ra- 
chel Peck.  They  luid  six  children,  all  dying  without  heirs,  save 
Ezra  and  Frederick. 

William  W.  Stevens,  grandson  of  Ira  and  son  of  Ezra,  the 
onl)'  living  representative  bearing  the  Stevens  name  in  this 
branch,  resides  in  Danburj';  no  heirs. 

I'^rcdcrick's  daughter  married  Charles  Jackson,  left  two  sons, 
Cliarlcs  and  Frederick.  One  resides  somev.-here  in  New  jersey, 
and  one  in  Bridgeport. 


Brwgki'ORT,  Conn.,  Ik-c.  201b,  i8go. 
^fr.  Stevens: 

Mv  gr^.nddaughter  informs  me  tliat  you  would  like  my  genealo::;y  of  the  .Stevens 
f.Tmily.  T  send  for  your  perusal  the  meagre  amount  I  have.  Vou  vvill  observe 
ih.-ii  it  is  onlv  a  direct  line  of  the  two  families — my  husband's  and  my  own — we 
were  both  Stevens'.  If  you  could  obtain  .some  papers  of  the  late  Eliphalet  Stevens" 
family,  I  think  you  could  gel  more  information  on  the  subject  than  I  am  able  to 
give.  Miss  Bessie  Stevens  once  told  me  she  thought  her  father,  John  Stevens, 
had  the  genealogy  of  the  family,  far  back. 

Should  you  at  any  time  learn  anything  further  and  will  convey  the  intelligence 
to  me,  you  will  confer  a  favor  on  Mrs.  I.  P.  STKVh.N.s. 

NICHOLIS  STEVENS  (or  SxErrENS,) 

Who  had  been  a  brigadier  general  in  Oliver  Cromwell's  Army, 
came  to  Taunton,  in  Massachusetts,  in  the  year  1669.  He  had 
three  sons,  Nicholas,  Thomas  and  Henry. 

Nicholas  settled  in  Taunton,  or  Dughton,  and  his  son  Nich- 
olas resided  there  with  his  family.  One  of  his  sons,  according 
to  the  best  information  to,  be  obtained,  settled  near  Boston  ; 
his  name  was  supjoosed  to  be  either  Thomas  or  Ebcnezer. 

Henry  Stevens  was  iG  years  old  when  he  came  to  America  ; 
he  married  Elizabctli  Gallup,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Gallup, 
who  was  killed  in  the  swamj)  figh.t  with  the  Indians  in  Rhode 
Island,  Dec.  19,  1675. 


24 

Henry  settled  in  Stonin^ton,  Ct.;  lie  bad  tliree  sons,  Thomas, 
Ricliard  and  Henry,  called  "Tom,  Dick  and  Hairy,"  and  tv.o 
dai!j{liters,  Elizabeth  and  Lucy. 

Thomas  married  Mary  Hall,  and  settled  in  I'lainfield,  Conn 
They  had  seven  sons,  Thomas,  Phineas,  Uriah,  Andrew,  Benja- 
min, Samuel  and  Zebulon.  By  his  second  wife,  Abigail  Wynn, 
he  had  one  son,  Jesse,  who  died  )-oung.  Thomas  died  in  Ca- 
naan, Ct.,  in  1750,  aged  72  years. 

Richaid  had  one  son  named  John,  who  lived  and  died  in  Hart- 
foi'd,  and  left  no  children  ;  also  another  son  who  lived  in  New 
Marlborough,  Mass.,  by  the  name  of  Ebcnezer. 

Ebenezer  had  three  sons,  Richard,  Ebenezer  and  John,  one 
daughter  who  died  young,  and  one  who  married  Artemus 
Brookins. 

Richard  had  a  daughter  named  Mar)-,  who  married  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Wildcn  or  Welden,  and  settled  in  the  easteni  part 
of  i\Tassachusetts  ;  also  one  daughter  who  married  her  cousin 
Uriah  Stevens,  and  one  married  Walter  Hewitt,  of  Stonington, 
Conn. 

Henry  had  three  sons,  Henry,  Jedediah  ami  Simeon,  and 
four  daughters,  Mary,  Lucy,  Elizabeth  and  Thankful. 

Simeon  married  and  settled  in  Stonington,  Conn.;  had  four 
sons,  Simeon,  Jared,  Abel  and  Roswell,  and  three  daughters, 
Hannah,  Elizabeth  and  7\nna. 

Zebulon  .Stevens  married  Mariam  F~ellows,  and  settled  in  Ca- 
naan ;  they  had  four  sons,  Thomas,  Jonathan,  Benjamin  and 
Zebulon,  and  two  daughters,  Johannah  and  Racheal.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  his  cousin  Thankful  Stevens,  or  widow 
of  James  Partridge. 

Benjamin  Stevens  married  Esther  Rowlson,  and  settled  in 
Canaan,  Ct.;.  they  had  three  sons,  Guy,  Arthur  and  Richard, 
and  four  daughters,  Daphne,  Jane,  Dulana  and  Adelia.  Guy 
and  Dulana  died  young. 


Ivichaid  Stcvxns  meirriod  Sarali  or  Sally  Foster  ;  tbcv  had 
tliree  daughters,  Esther,  Susan  and  Adelia. 

Abel  Stevens  married  Bridget  Palmer,  and  nio\-ed  on  horse- 
back from  Stonington  to  Canaan  and  settled  in  tlic  wilderness. 
Tliey  had  seven  daughters,  Polly,  Betsey,  Lydia,  Eunice,  Bridg- 
et, Priscilla  and  Tryphenia,  and  three  sons,  San  ford,  Palmer, 
and  Gilbert. 

Palmer  lived  in  Canaan,  and  married  Mar}^  Williams.  They 
had  two  sons,  Ichabod  and  Smith,  and  one  daughter,  Mary. 

Ichabod  married  Susan  Stevens,  a!ui  lived  in  Canaan.  They 
had  two  daughters,  Sarah  and  Ella,  and  one  son,  Frederick. 
Ella  died  yonng. 

Frederick  married  Celestia  Seeley  ;  they  have  one  dau'^hter, 
Libbie,  born  ,  and  one  son,  Frederick, 

born 

[I  have  found  by  tracing  this  line  of  the  Stevens  famil)-,  that 
Thomas  and  Henry  were  brothers,  and  their  sons,  .Simeon  and 
Zebulon,  ist  cousins  ;  and  their  sons,  Abel  and  Benjamin.  2d 
cousins;  their  sons,  Richard  and  Palmer,  3d  cousins,  which 
brings  their  children,  Ichabod  and  Susan,  4th  cousins. 

Ichabod's  fandly  are  descendants  from  Henry  .Stevens,  arid 
Susan's  family  from  Thomas  Stevens:  while  Richard's  fami!\- 
are  lost  trace  of.] 

My  grandfather,  Benjamin  Stevens,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary Army.  He,  with  many  otliers,  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
marched  to  the  "Cedars,"  in  lower  Canada,  where  ihey  were  con- 
fined in  a  fort.  I  have  often  heard  him  relate  a  dream  he  had,  which 
he  told  to  his  fellow-soldiers  in  the  morning.  He  dreamed  they 
were  taken  prisoners  and  confined  in  a  fort  nine  days,  when  they 
released.  After  they  were  taken  and  while  on  the  march,  he  said  : 
"This  ground  looks  very  familiar  to  me,  just  as  it  did  in  my  dream." 
After  they  were  confined  in  the  fort  at  the  Cedars,  he  said  to  the 
soldiers  :  "Now,  if  my  dream  comes  to  pass,  we  shall  be  released 
after  nine  days,"  and  they  were.     They   suffered   much    with  hunger 


26 

and  cold,  having  been  Icept  nine  dnjs  on  one  days'  rations.  They 
were  robbed  of  tlieir  clotliing  and  given  an  Indian's  blanket  for  cov- 
ering. Once  they  saw  an  Indian  v.ith  a  fire-brand  in  his  hand  to  set 
fire  to  the  fort,  when  a  French  officer  knocked  it  out  of  his  hand. 
My  grandfather  afterward  was  Assistant  Commissary  and  stationed 
at  Hartford.  I  have  some  of  his  books  where  he  kept  accotint  of 
food  received  and  forwarded  and  to  wJioni.  One  of  which  I  would 
give  to  the  Historical  Society,  if  I  knew  lliey  would  like  to  iiave  one. 
1  have  also  a  §50  bill  of  genuine  ConlinctitHl  money,  wliich  I  would 
not  like  lo  part  with.  1  would  be  much  gratified  at  receiving  the 
book  )'c)u  are  preparing  of  tlie  Stevens'  famil)'.  I  im'st  think  you 
belong  somewhere  in  our  line  of  Stevens'.-  A  cousin  of  mine  says 
our  Ste\ens'  family  are  "lie  most  persistent  in  tracing  out  their  gene- 
alogy of  any  family  she  ever  knew. 

With  many  thanks,  Yours  truly. 

Mrs.  I.  P.  Stevens. 


Here  is  also  a  copy  which  I  obtained  from  one  of  the  descendants  of  Thomas 
Stevens,  but  it  is  so  disconnected  that  I  can  give  but  little  information  as  regards 
the  direct  line  of  descendants.  I  send  it  to  you  and  perhaps  you  will  understand 
something-  about  it.  Mrs.  1.  1'.  Stevens. 

THOMAS  STEVENS'  CHILDREN 

Were  Thomas,  Phinea.s,  Uriah,  Andrew,  Samuel,  Benjamin  and 
Zebulon. 

Samuel  was  killed  by  Indians. 
■    Benjamin  settled  in  North  Carolina. 

Zebulon  settled  in  Canaan  and  married  Mariain  Fellows. 

Andrew  married  Esther  Safford  and  settled  in  Canaan. 

John,  son  of  Andrew  and  Esther  Safford  Stevens,  married 
Phebe  How.  He  was  a  captain  in  tlie  Revolutioiiary  Army, 
raised  a  company  in  bis  own  town,  was  taken  captive  at  the 
Cedars  in  Lower  Canada,  and  Jield  as  a  hostage  tlirt  c  \"e.".rs. 
He  was  an  intiinate  friend  and  companion  of  Ethan  AH-  n.  He 
died  in  Washington,  Berkshire  Co. 


Mary  Stevens  married  Tlioir.as  Dickenson,  in  Norfolk,  Ct. 
She  was  killed  by  lightning,  and  the  gold  beads  on  her  neck 
were  melted  b)'  the.  heat.  lion.  Daniel  Dickenson  was  her 
grandson. 

Safford  Stevens  married  Hannah  Wells,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  settled  in  Vermont. 

Esther  .Stevens  married  Peter  Hatch. 

Arny''Stevens  married  Oliver  Jewell  of  Salisbury,  Ct.,  where 
many  of  their  descendants  now  live. 

Andrew  Stevens,  Jr.,  married  Cynthia  Brownell. 

Dorotli)'  .Stevens  died  young. 

Nathaniel  Stevens  married  Phebe  Montague,  and  for  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Amy  Whiting,  a  native  of  Plainfield. 

Stephen  Stc\'ens  died  )'oiing. 

Oliver  Stevens  married  Nancy  Chittenden,  li\'ed  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  where  his  descendants  now  live. 

Desire  Stevens  married  Ebenezer  Walerhousc. 

Olive  Stevens  married  Samuel  McClary. 

Thomas  and  Mary  Stevens  Dickenson's  childien  : 
Louis,  married  John  Woodman. 
Thomas  married  Sally  Turner. 
Daniel  married  Mary  Calkins. 
John  married  Tryphenia  W'ilson. 
Nathaniel  and  Oliver  not  known. 
Charles  Frederick  married  Abigail  Jones. 
Charles  is  supposed  by  the  record  to  be  one  of  Thomas  Dick- 
enson's children. 


28 

Ni;w  IIavkn.  Jan.  22,  '91. 
/•\  .V.  Si,:7'L'i?s,  J)i-iJ^y/-\i>-l,  Conn. 

Dear  Sir  : — You  may  think  I  have  taken  a  long  time  to  make  out  my  list  of 
families,  and  it  was  more  than  I  thought  ;  but  I  have  them  reaJy  for  inspection, 
and  if  they  arc  not  o.\plicit  enough  will  correct  them.-  'S'ou  can  call  at  your  con- 
venience. If  30U  prefer  to  stop  on  your  way  down  from  Hartford,  I  would  be 
iiome  soon  after  five  o'clock.  Shall  probably  be  home  to-morrow  and  Saturday 
evenings,  also  Monday  evening.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

HlKAM  Stevkns, 
498  Orange  St.,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


THOMAS  STEVEI^S,  2d.— Branch.  \ 

Youngest  son  of  Benjamin  Stevens,  wlio  firsi.  came  to  Danbuiy,  \ 

settled  in  Mil!  Plain,  and  had  one  son,  Thomas,  Jr.,  horn  1720,  i 

and  We  have  no  mention  of  other  children.     He  married  Esther  I 

s 

,  1740,    and    had    nine    children;    Thomas,  Jr.,  3d,  born  i 

1741  ;  Esther,  born  1743  ;   Eliphalet,   borji    1745.;  James,  born  | 

1747;  Lois,  born  1749  ;  Jonathan,  born  1752  ;  Mar)',  born  1754;  \ 

Julia,  born  1758  ;  Samuel,  born  1763,  and  died   the  same  year.  5 

Mary  died  1777.  ,; 

Thomas,  Jr.,  the  father,  died    1791,   aged    71  years.      Esther,  \ 

his  wife,  died  1799.  \ 

Lydia  died  1799.                                       '  \ 

Esther,  the  oldest  daughter,  married  Timothy  Ruggles,  but  | 
have  no  record  of  their  famil)'. 

Thomas  lived  in  the  house  which    now  stands   next  west  of  ^ 

the  burying-ground  ;  house    was   rebuilt  about   1841    by  Wait  i 

Stevens,  father  of  Hiram    Stevens,  of   New  Haven ;  now  occu-  %. 

\ 

pied  by  a  family  .named  Ganung.  '■^_ 

Tho.MAS,  3d  oldest  son  of  Thomas  2d,  married  Abigail |. 

and  had  five  children,  four  daughters  and  one  son,  Epliraim  G.  ^ 

Hester  married  Ephraim  Weed.  \ 


29 

Rachel  niarricd  Martin  Kellogg  of  Kcw  Fairfield,  and  after- 
wards married  Deac.  Amos  Stevens. 

Lois  married  Ezra  Starr,  of  Ballston,  N.  Y. 
Sarah  married  Wm.  Crawford,  of  Southeast. 

Ephraim  Gregor}',  born  Sept.  25,  1776,  married  Sally  Bene- 
dict of  Danbury,  Nov.  21,  1802;  had  one  son,  Thomas,  and 
two  daughters,  Fanny,  born  Aug.  21,  1807,  married  Levi  Clark, 
Oct.  6,  1S24,  and  settled  in  Norwalk  ;  Sarah,  born  May  15,  1811, 
married  W'm.  Bears  of  New  P"airfield,  April  20,  1S31. 

Thorfas,  son  of  Ephraim  G.  Stevens,  was  born  Oct.  2,  1803, 
and  married  Olivia  Clark,  h'eb.  22,  1832,  and  died  Sept.  4,  same 
}'ear. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  born  Jan.  26,  1833,  married  Harriet  E.  Peck, 
May  28,  1S56,  and  had  tnie  child,  Olivia  C.  Stevens,  1S63. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  died  Sept.  2.^,  1868,  ending  the  name  of  Stevens 
in  tliat  liranch. 

Mill  Plain,  Danbui}',  Conn.  ;  lived  in  house  opposite  the 
cemetery. 

Elipiialet,  2d  son  of  Capt.  Thomas,  was  born  Apr.  4,  1745, 
married  Abigail  Gray,  Dec.  7,  1767,  and  had  eight  children: 
Moses,  b^rn  Aug.  21,  1768  ;  Eliphalet,  Jr.,  born  Sept.  23,  1771; 
Hannah,  born  1774,  married  Asher  Morris;  Olive,  born  1776, 
married  Elijah  Morris;  Abraham,  born  Nov.  12,  1779,  married 
Lj'dia  Taylor,  April  27,  1801,  had  two  children,  died  young ; 
John,  born  Oct.  9,  1792;  Eydia,  born  1784,  married  Abraham 
O.  Banks;  Abigail,  born  1786,  married  Azor  Barber. 

Moses,  son  of  Eliphalet,  married  Polly  Shadbolt,  Sept.  16, 
1795,  Jiad  seven  children  ;  S.  Electa,  born  1798,  married  P'ben- 
ezcr  Perry,  Jimc  11,  1817  ;  Harriet,  bom  1800,  married  Samuel 
O.  Banks,  Oct.  1,  1816;  Betsey,  born  1802,  married  Henr\' 
Gregor}',  Dec.  8,  1824;  Laura,  born  1804,  married  Daniul  Bax- 
ter, Nov.  22,  1825;   E.   Alanson,   born    Aug.    11,  1806,  married 


30  ; 

Ann  Buxton,  1829,  had  one  daughter,  J.ucy  Ann  ;  Lucy,  boi'u 

1808,  married  Charles  Stevcns^Sept.  18,  1832  ;  Mar)',  born  18 12,  I 

married  Epaphras  Wiidman,  April  25,  1830.  ', 

Eliphalc!,  2d  son  of   Eliphalct,    born    Sept.  23,  1771,  married  ', 
Esther  ]5enncl,  Jan.  I,  )8il,  had    two  children,  son  and  daugh- 
ter.    Tlie  son  died  young.     Hannah,  born    18 [7,  married  Geo.  ? 
Morris,  Feb.  5,  1834.  ^ 

Abraham,  3d  son  of  Eliphalet,  born  Nov.  12,  1779,  niarried 
Lydia  Taylor,  April  27,  l8or.  They  had  two  children  both  of 
whom  died  young.  ? 

John,  4th  son  of  Eliphalet,  born  Oct.  9,  1782,  married  Sally  f 

O.  Banks,  Oct.  i,  1806.     Eliphalet  B.  was  born  Sept.  16,  1807;  • 

Alby,  born  Aug.  26,  1809;  Caroline,   born    Jan.  31,  1812,  mar-  f 

ried  Frederick  Morris,  1832  ;  Clarrissa    L.    born    1814,  married  I 

Philo  W.  Morris,  June  5,  1832;    Theodore,  born  Aug.  30,  1817,  I 

never  married  ;   Benjamin,    born   April  17,  1S20,  married  Sarah  j 

B.  Wells  of  Wethersfield,  April  10,  1844,  the)-  had  no  children  ;  | 

Lucius,  born  Oct.  30,  1823,  not  married  ;  Francis  H.  born  May  I 

18,  1827,  married  Mary  J.  Wells  of  Wethersfield,  had  two  chil-  I 

dren    a  son  and  daughter,  who  died  before  their  father.  ? 

Moved  from  Mill  Plain  to  Bridgeport.  I 

Eliphalet,  son  of  John  Stevens,  was  born  Sept.  16,  1807,  mar-  | 
ried  Joanna  Brush  of  Southeast,  1829,  and  had  four  daughters:  | 
Mary  E.  born  183 1,  Ann  A.  born  1833,  Sally  B.  born  1835,  Jo-  j 
anna,  born  1837.  Joanna,  his  wife,  died  1838;  he  married  for  t. 
his  second  wife  Emily  Parrott  of  Bridgeport,  and  had  five  chil- 
dren :  John,  born  1842,  Eliphalet,  (died  young,)  Caroline,  (mar-  .J 
ried,)  William  Francis,  Benjamin  Wells. 

John  Stevens,  son  of    Eliphalet,  married    Sarah    Hokirk,  had  | 

two  children;  Bessie,  born  ,  teacher  in  Ihidge-  f 

P°'*-  ....  ^ 

John,  born  ,  married,  lives  in  Whitestone,  L.  L  -' 


31 

From  tiir  Bridi^iport  Standard  of  Maixh  jS,  jS/S. 

We  are  lo-day  compelled  to  record  the  departure  of  another  of  Bridgeport's  oldest 
citizens  in  the  decease  of  Eliplialet  B.  Stevens,  which  occurred  yesterday  morning- 
after  only  an  illness  of  a  few  days,  from  gastric  dilTiculties.  Deceased  was  born  in 
Danbury,  in  1807,  and  came  to  this  city  when  young,  and  has  made  it  his  home 
ever  since.  He  was  70  years  old,  and  has  been  engaged  at  different  periods  in  a 
number  of  different  enterprises.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
before  they  surrendered  their  charter,  at  which  time  he  was  past  grand  of 
the  I'equonnock  I^odge  No.  4,  and  was  also  high  priest  of  the  Encampment  and  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  was  a  member  of  the  police  force  under  the  old 
order  of  things,  and  was  for  a  time  captain  of  the  force.  He  filled  tlie  position  of 
jailor  for  a  number  of  years,  and  for  many  years  past  has  been  justice  of  the  peace 
and  coroner.  It  was  always  a  matter  of  pride  with  him,  that  but  few  of  his  de- 
cisions were  reversed  in  the  higher  courts.  The  deceased  was  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat, and  has  taken  during  his  life  an  active  part  in  politics.  Frank  H.  Stevens, 
the  restaurant  proprietor,  is  a  brother  of  the  deceased,  and  has  another  brother  in 
Brookfield. 

Alby,  son  of  Jolin  Stevens,  was  born  Any;.  26,  1809,  married 
Sarah  A.  .Scofield,  Dec.  23,  1832,  had  three  children:  .Stephen 
.Scofield,  born  Feb.  21.  1834,  Charles  H.  born  Aj^ril  9,  1836, 
Susan,  born  I'eb.  1,  1839 

Alby  lived  in  Mill  Plain.  Both  his  sons  were  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion.  Charles  lived  in  Bridgeport.  Stejihen  Scofield 
was  killed  while  carrying  messages,  as  aid  to  his  general. 

James,  3d  son  of  Capt.  Thomas,  was  born  April  29,  1747, 
married  Hantiah  Gregory,  and  had  one  son,  Ira.  Hannah,  his 
his  wife,  died  1772.  Pie  married  for  his  second  wife,  Anna 
Benedict  of  New  Canaan,  and  had  I-lannah,born  Mar.  27,  1775, 
married  John  Holdman,  Aug.  13,  1805  ;  Benjamin,  born  Sept. 
9,  1777,  died  Sept.  29,  1818  ;  Mary,  born  Aug.  17,  1779,  mar- 
ried Peter  Andrews,  Jan.  3,  1800;  Amy,  born  March  21,  1782, 
married  Ely  Benedrct,  181 2  ;  Annis,  born  Aug.  29,  17S4,  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Townscnd,  1827;  Esther,  born  1786,  died  Sept. 
20,  1824;   James,  Ji.,  burn  May  6;  Oliver,  born  Oct.  16,  1791. 

Ira,  son  of  James  Stevens,  born  1770,  married  Rachel  Peck, 
March  21,  1796;  their  children  were,  Andrew,  born  1799,  Kan- 


32 

nah,  born  i803,    married —  Wnshbiini,   Marj-,  hnvn  1804, 

not  married,  Frederick,  bora  1805,  married,  died  1829,  Ezra  P. 
born  1812,  married,  James,  born  1814,  William  P.  born  1816, 
married. 

Ira  lived  on  the  hill  back  of  Burchard's  store. 

Andrew  married  and  had  two  or  three  children,  in  New  York 
city. 

PVederick  had  one  daughter. 

Ezra  had  children,  one  son,  W.  W.,  m  Danbur)-. 

William  had  children  in  Danbury. 

James,  Jr.,  born  May  6,  1789,  married  Catherine  Marvin  of 
Sharon,  Jan.  23,  18 14,  and  had  four  children,  two  daughters, 
two  sons:   Catherine,  born  1815,  married  Judah  Crosb}'  ;  Sylvia 

Ann,  married Baldwin  ;  Oliver,  died  when  a  child  ;  Olixxr 

died  when  about  17  years  old. 

Oliver,  youngest  son  of  James,  born  Oct.  16,  1791,  married 
Oct.  16,  1814,  Lydia  Stevenson,  had  one  son  and  one  daughter 
who  died  young.  J 

Died  in  New  Orleans,  Aug.  5,  1 818.  ! 

Alfred,  born  Sept.   29,    181 5,   married    Mary  E.  Dennis,  Oct.  i 

16,  1840,  had  one  son  and  two  daughters.  I 

Lives  in  Newmarket,  Ontario,  Canada.  ; 

Oliver,  son  of  Alfred,  born  April  7,  1842,  in  Newmarket,  Can-  I 

ada. 

Oliver  died  in  New  Orleaiis. 

Amy  Caroline,  born  June  14,  1844,  married  Frank  McNair, 
June  13,  1 88 1,  who  died  1S82,  and  in  1883,  married  William 
Frizzell.  ^ 

Lydia  Elizabetl;,  born  May  16,  1850.  | 

Oliver,  son  of  Alfred,  married  Pheanna  Brown,  Dec.  14,  1870,  | 

had  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  | 

William  B.  born  Oct.  25,  1S71.  } 

I\Iary  E.  born  h\m\  29,  1874. 

Alfred,  born  July  i,  1878.  l 


33 

yoXATlTAX,  4th  son  of  C:ipt.  Thomas,  born  April  30,  1752, 
married  Nov.  22,  1778,  Mchetable  Benedict,  of  New  Canaan, 
had  six  children,  Betty,  born  Nov.  15,  1779,  married  Stephen 
Giegory. 

Born  in  Mill  Plain,  at  the  old  homestead. 

Dinah,  born  Aug.  10,  1781,  married  Eliad  Comes. 

Wait,  born  July  24,  1783. 

George,  born  .Sept.  2,  1785. 

Rachel,  born  Oct.  15,  1787,  married  Ephraim  Gregory. 

Mehetablc,  born  Jan.  16,  1790,  married  Robert  Fowler. 

Wait,  son  of  Jonathan,  married  Clarinda  Birchard,  Ma)' 4, 
1808. 

Lived  in  the  old  homestead  (see  Thomas  Stevens'  account  of). 

Ezra  B.  was  born  Nov.  23,  18 10,  his  mother  died  August  8, 
1811. 

Wait  married  for  his  second  wife,  Aphia  .Stevens,  Feb.  4, 
1813,  and  had  six  children  : 

Cynthia,  born  May  5,  1814,  married  John  G.  liirton. 

Elias  B.  born  Feb.  13,  1 816. 

Hiram,  born  March  17,  18 18. 

Clarinda,  born  March  13,  1820,  died  Sept.  18,  1882. 

Hermon,  born  March  26,  1823. 

William  li.  born  March  15,  1828,  died  same  year. 

Ezra  B.  son  of  Wait,  married  Eliza  (Barber)  Gillet,  May  17, 
1835,  and  for  his  second  wife,  Enialine  Baldwin,  in  185 1. 

Adaline,  born  March  4,  1854,  died  Aug.  18,  1871. 
-     Married  third  v.ife,  Anna  (Abbot)  Kinner,  1861. 

Ezra  lived  in  Middle  District. 

Elias  V).  son  of  Wait,  married  Feb.  15,  1843,  Elizabeth  Cook 
and  liad   five  children  : 

Horace  C.  born  Dec.  13,  1843. 

Elizabeth  G.  born  Nov.  19.  1847,  died  Aug.  16,  1848. 


34 

Josepli  C.  born  Oct.  2^,,  1849,  "^^it'd  Aug.  23,  1851. 

Charles  II.  born  March  10,  1851. 

Frederick  W.  born  Dec.  16,  1854. 

Elizabeth  Cook  died   Nov.  iS,  1864. 

Married  for  second  w^ifc,  Hattie  (Griswold)  Wheeler. 

Charles  H.  son  of  Elias  B.,  married  Sept.  28,  1882,  Fannie  vS. 
Bushnell,  and  have  two  children  :  Annie  McDonald,  born  Oct. 
19,  1884,  and  Richard  Ikishnclt,  born  July  17,  18S6. 

Charles  H.  is  preaching  in  West  A\on ;  Congregational 
minister;   P.  O.  Canton  Center,   Conn. 

Frederick  W.,  son  of  Elias  B.,  married  March  14,  18S8,  Geor- 
gianna  Shannon,  and  have  one  daughter,  Ernestine  M.,  born 
Jan.  27,  1889. 

Resides  Port  Huron,  Michigan  ;  editor. 

Horace  Cook,  son  of  Elias  B.,  married  June,  1S68,  Elizabeth 
S.  Burns,  and  had  six  children.     Orange,  Conn. 

Ida  E.  born  July  18,  1870,  married  Aug.  3,  1889,  Wilbcrt 
W^elch.     Live  in  Torrington. 

Frederick  A.  born  June  8,  1872,  died  July  22,  1873. 

Charles  E.  born  July  2,  1873,  Torrington,  Conn. 

Robert  A.  born  July  20,  1877,  Orange,  Conn. 

Elizabeth  C.  born  Sept.  4,  1880. 

Gladys,  born  April  2,  1886,  died  Jan.  12,  1890. 

Hiram,  son  of  Wait  Stevens,  married  July  2,  1850,  Amelia  A. 
Willcox,  and  had  one  daughter,  Rosalind  W.  born  March  14, 
1853,  died  July  16,  1888. 

Lives  498  Orange  street.  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Married  for  his  second  wife,  Mariett  Richards,  Dec.  18,  1861, 
and  had  three  cliildren  : 

Carrie  A.  born  March  8,  1864. 

William  W.  born  July  8,  1867. 

Edwin  B.  born  April  13,  1870. 


1528521 

3-5 

Hcnnon,  son  of  Wait,  married  June  4,  1850,  Kcziah  Grcgorj-, 
and  had  four  children  : 

James  G.  born  Jan.  22,  1852,  ?narried  Ma)-  8,  1S77,  I.izzie 
Davis,  of  Livini^ston  Manor,  N.  Y. 

Joseph,  born  Oct.  i,  1853. 

Ezra,  born  Dec.  6,  1855. 

WiJber  N.  born  Feb.  3,  1858. 

Lucy,  born  April  4,  1863. 

Wilber  N.,  son  of  Jiermon,  married  Emma  ).  Hornbeck,  Oct. 
1SS3,  has  son  Chester  H.  born   Oct.  22,  1884. 

Lives  in  Canada. 

George,  son  of  Jonathan,  married  Betsey  O.  Banks,  Sept.  i, 
1808,  had  9  children.  .  Live  in  Mill  Plain  District. 

Lois,  born  June  24,  1 809,  death 

Lewis  B.  born  Oct.  ir,  181  r. 

Eveline,  born  Aug.  25,  1813,  married  Charles  H.  Reed,  Oct. 
16,  1833,  had  two  sons. 

Darius,  born  Nov.  4,  1816,  married  Mary  Reed,  Jan.  i,  1845, 
had  one  son. 

George  E.  born  March  20,  1822. 

Betsey  M.  born  Sept.  24,  1824,   married  Dr.  E.  F.  Hendrick. 

Julia  A.  born  .Sept.  24,  1S28,  died  1876. 

William  H.  born  Jan.  11,  1833. 

Lewis  B.  son  of  George,  married  Jennet  Porter,  April  22, 
1835,  had  four  children  : 

■  Mary  E.  born  Oct.  13,  1837.     Teaching  school   in  Danburj-. 
(New  street.) 

Edward  P.  born  April  25,  1 840. 

Cornelius,  born  Dec.  2.  1842,  died  Sept.  28.  1867. 

Augusta  M.  barn  Sept.  25,  1847,  married  Ma}-  31,  1876,  Fran- 
cis H.  Bailey  of  Danbury,  died  Jan.  11,  1879. 

Lewis  B.  died  March  2,  1878. 

All  live  in  Danbury. 


36 

Edward  P.  son  of  Lewis,  married  Jan.  i,  1862,  i\Iattic  E.  Os- 

born,  who  died  Dec.  13,  1862.  -i 

Married  second  wife,  Polly  A.  Griggs,  Dec.  31,  1S64.  , 

E.  Clayton,  born  Sept.  21,  186S.     Proprietor  art  store,  Dan-  I 

bury.  Conn.  ■ 

Jonathan,  son  of  George,  married   Clarissa  Ely,  Feb.  4,  1846. 

G.  Melville,  born  Nov.  2,  1846.  = 

Lewis  B.  born  P"eb.  3,  1849,  "n^niicd  Oct.  il,  1876,  Dora  Mai-  f 

lory,  of  New  Haven,  and  died  Dec.  23d  of  same  3'e;ar.  J 

Fannv,  born  lune  iS,  iSu,    married    Oct.  11,  1872,  William  i 

''■''-''                                   111  j 

Greeley,  had  three  children. 

Harriet  E.  born  March  i,  1856,  died  Nov.  22,  1888.  -■ 

G.  Elizur,  son  of  George,  married  Sept.  5,  1846,  Clarissa  Gage,  :; 

b.ad  three  sons.     Danbury,  Conn.  { 

■  George  E.  born  April  18,  1848.  | 

Niram,  born  Aug.  19,  1849.  \ 

Luzon,  born  May  4,  185 1.  | 


William  H.  soji  of  George,  had  three  sons:  | 

Lucinda  Mallory,  Nov.  16,  1859.  f 

George  R.  born  Dec.  18,  i860.  f 

Minettie  G.  born   Nov.  5,  1862.  * 


HIRAM     STEVENS, 

NEW   HAVEN,    CONN. 


3(oCL 


HIRAM  STEVENS, 

Age  y2i  years,  March  17,  1891  ;  lives  in  New  Haven,  Conn.     A 
descendant  of  Tlionias  Stevens,  1st,  (see  page  9.)  • 

Born  in  Millplain  District,  Danbury;  received  a  district  school 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  came  to  New  Haven,  and 
was  bound  an  apprentice  to  C.  WiUcox  &  Co.,  to  learn  the 
pattern  making  trade.  After  completing  his  term  of  service 
and  working  two  years  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  a  year  and  a  half 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  came  back  to  New  Haven,  and  werji  into  bus- 
iness with  J.  McLagon,  in  the  iron  foundry,  lor  a  continued 
term  of  twenty-five  years,  on  the  corner  of  Whitney  avc.  and 
Audubon  st.  Served  for  fifteen  years  as  one  of  the  deacons  of 
the  Third  Congregational  Church  and  also  as  treasurer  of  the 
church,  providing  for  the  communion  table  and  the  poor  of  the 
church,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  New  Haven. 


37 
THE  BENIAMIN  BRANCH. 


JoiJN  G.  Stevens,  M.  D.,  first  son  of  Barlow  M.  Stevens, 
was  born  in  New  Milford,  March  2,  1838.  He  was  in  the  Union 
Army  during  the  War  of  the  RebelHon,  a  first  Lieutenant,  Co. 
I,  23d  Connecticut  Volunteers,  was  taken  prisoner  at  Brashear, 
T,a.,  and  confined  in  a  Texas  prison  for  fourteen  montlis.  For 
many  years  lie  was  proprietor  of  the  Old  City  Drug  Store,  in 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Mr.  Stevens  married  A.  Elnia  Beardsley,  (born  Aug.  22, 
1842,)  of  Monroe,  on  May  13,  1868.  He  is  now  a  jjract icing 
physician  in  that  town.  They  have  one  daughter,  Elma  B. 
■Stevens,  born  J>dy  19,  1871. 

Henuv  W.  Stevex.S,  second  son  of  Barlow  M.,  was  b(jrn  in 
New  Milford,  January  9,  1843,  '■''  "O'^'''  ''''  ^^""^  drug  business  in 
Bridgeport,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  proficient  phar- 
macists in  the  State,  ha\ing  enjoyed  a  'practical  experience  of 
nearly  thirty  years  in  his  chosen  profession.  He  served  his 
country  faithfully  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  as  a  private 
in  the  14th  Connecticut  Volunteers.'  Was  captured  and  con- 
fined in  Andersonville  Prison.  He  married  Mar}'  E.  Stevens, 
July  3,  18S3. 

These  gentlemen  are  both  sons  of  Barlow  M.  Stevens,  and 
descendants  in  direct  line  from 

First,  Benjamin,  who  came  to  Danbury,  about  1700. 
Second,  Ebinezer. 
Third,  Hez.ekiail 
Fourth,  Zalmon. 
Fifth,  Bari.OW  M. 


38 

1st.  Benjamin  Stevens,  son.  of  Thomas,  (to  whom  reference 
is  made  on  page  9  of  this  bool:,)  IkuI  four  sons.  Their  names 
were:   Ebenezer,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  Natlianiel  and   Thomas. 

2d.  Ebenezer,  first  son  of  Benjamin,  had  also  four  sons,  wliose 
names  were:  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  Daniel,  Hezadciah  and  Joseph,  and 
four  daughters,  named,  ist,  Mabel,  ^\ife  of  V\'m.  Porter  ;  2d, 
Mary,  wife  of  Anthon\-  Wanzcr;  3d,  Jemima,  married  first  Se- 
rajah  Beardsley,  and  second  Da\-id  Barnum,  the  ancestor  of 
Theodore  D.  Rogers,  of  Norwalk,  Ct.,  to  whom  we  arc  indebt- 
ed for  a  large  portion  of  the  Stevens  history.  (See  p.  5.)  And 
4th,  Esther,  wife  of  Alexander  Eairchild. 

[Note. — See  also  the  Barnum  Branch.] 

Nathaniel,  second  son  of  Benjamin,  (see  p.  11.) 

Benjamin,  Jr.,  third  son  of  Benjamin,  lived  just  over  the  Dan- 
bury  line  in  Ridgefirld,  on  the  main  road  to  Brewster's,  the 
first  h.ouse  cast  of  the  Millplain  depot. 

[Mr.  Hiram  Stevens  says  that  as  long  ago  as  he  can  remem- 
ber, Mr.  Moses  Morris  lived  in  this  same.liouse,  from  about 
1820  to  1835  or  1S36.  He  also  says  that  the  town  clerk  in 
Ridgefield  informs  him  of  the  record  of  the  baptism  of  Benjamin 
Jr. 's  children  ;  the  only  record  here,  however,  is  of  one  son, 
Zachariah.] 

Thomas,  fourth  son  of  Benjamin,  (see  p.  9,  also  p.  28.) 

Hezckiah,  third  son  of  Ebenezer,  and  grandson  of  Benjamin, 
was  born  May  27,  1722,  married  Sarah  Barlow,  April  27,  1768, 
died  May  12,  1802.  She  died  March  27,  1802.  They  lived  at 
Brookfield,  Ct.,  and  had  four  children,  as  follows: 

Zalmon,  born  in  ]5rookfield,  Oct.  29,  1769. 

Albert,  born  in  Brookfield,  Oct.  24,  1774. 

Seth,  born  in  Brookfield,  July  24,  1778. 

Sarah,  born  in  Brookfield,  Nov.  14,  17S7. 


39 

Zalmon  married  Pauline  Walker,  Dec.  24,  1795,  ami  died  at 
Brookfield,  Sept.  17,  1848.  She  died  P'eb.  22,  1804.  Their 
children  were  : 

Lucy,  born  at  Brookfield,  Jan.  23,  1798,  married  P.  Ilickok, 
and  lived  in  New  York. 

Betsey,  born  at  Biookfield,  Dec.  i,  1799,  "''^i'''ie<-l  D.  Ta)'lor, 
resides  in  California. 

Solomon  W.,  born  at  Brookfield,  Maj'  27,  1801,  married  P. 
Kellogsj^. 

Zalmon's  children  by  his  second  wife,  Vvho  was  Lydia  Wil- 
liams, were  : 

Caroline,  born  at  Brookfield,  March  4,  1807,  married  K.  Mor- 
ris, lives  in  Danbury. 

Charles,  born  in  Brookfield,  May  2,  1809,  unmarried,  lives  in 
Bethel. 

Barlow  M.,  born  in  Brookfield,  Dec.  23,  181 1,  was  married 
Oct.  30,  1834,  to  Laura  Fairchild,  dau^ijhter  of  Joseph  I'air- 
child. 

Almira,  born  in  Brookfield,  April  6,  1 814,  li\-ed  in  Danburj', 
has  three  children. 

Eliza,  born  April  7,  1817,  died  1848. 

Albert  A.,  born  Sept,  11,  1819,  lives  in  Wisconsin,  has  four 
children. 

Edwin,  born  Ecb.  l,  1822,  lives  in   Monroe,  has  two  children. 

George,  born  Dec.  12,  1826,  lives  in  Danbury,  has  two  chil- 
dren. 

Barlow  ]\L  Stevens'  children  were:  John  G.  and  Idenry  W. 
(see  preceding  pages,)  and  Sarah  E.,  born  in  Bridgeport,  April 
4,  1850. 


40 


Cy\PT.  EBENEZER  STEVENS,=^- 

1ST   SON   OF   liENJAMIN,    ANI)    SOME   OF   JUS   DESCF:NDANTS. 


Capt.  Ebenezcr  Stevens  is  the  first  Stevens  mentioned  in  any 
records  now  existing  in  New  Fairfield,  and  tlie  first  mention  of 
him  is  on  the  churcli  record  in  1744,  (two  years  after  the  organ- 
ization of  the  churcli  there,)  from  wliich  it  appears  that  he  was 
a  member  of  the  church  at  that  time.^ 

On  a  list  of  members  of  the  church  made  by  Rev.  James 
Taylor,  at  his  installation,  March  29,  1758,  among  other  mem- 
bers are  "Ebenezer  Stevens,  Jr.,  and  wife." 

On  the  Society  records   there   is   mention   of    him,  always  as  ; 

Capt.  Ebenezer  Stevens,  at    different    times    down  to  1767,  ex-  ' 

cept  that  once  he  is  entitled  Deacon  Ebenezcr  Stevens.  i 

In  Danbury  Probate   Records,  vol.  3,  p.  i'] ,  is  a  record  of  his  \ 

M'ill,  which  is  as  follows,  7'crbatiiii  ct  litcraUvi :  \ 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen  :  This  31st  day  of  October,  in  the  year  .  ; 

of  our  Lord    Christ    A.  D.  1765,  1,  Ebenezer  Stevens,  of   New  Fair-  \ 

field,  in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  and   Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New  \ 

England,  being  advanced  into  years,  but  of  sound  mind  and  nicniory,  f 

thanks  to  God  therefor,  and  knowing  it  is  appointed  for  all  men  once  \ 

for  to  die,  and  not  knowing  how    soon    or    sudden  my  departure  out  | 

*  Benjamin  Stevens,  father  of  Capt.  Ebenezer,  is  supposed  to  have  come  to  Dan-  | 

bury  about  1700.     His  wife's  name  was  Hannah.     He   had   four  sons  :  Ebenezer,  | 

Benjamin,    Jr.,    Nathaniel   and    Thomas.     In    a   deed    from   his    father  in  1720,  A 

Thomas  is  called  his  4th    and   youngest   son.     Ebenezer,  in  a  deed,  Dec.  g,  1722,  i; 

conveys  land  which  he  had  from  his  father,  at  Mill  Plain,  and  also  land  at  Tocono,  ' 

to  his  brother  Thomas.  % 

^   Capt.  Ebenezer  Stevens  was  disciplined  and  e.xpclled  from  .the  ch'.-.rch  in  1743  i 

or  1744,  for  intemperate  remarks  concerning  Rev.  Benaj.ah   Case,  and  criticism  of  | 

his  doctrines,  but  in  the  list  of   members   of   the   church,  March  29,  1758,  among  ^ 

others,  is  "the  wife  of  Capt.  Stevens,"  and  "Ebenezer  Stevens,  Jr.,  and  wife."  | 


41 

of  ihis  life  ma}'  be,  do  make  and  ordain  this,  my  last  will  and  teyta- 
ment  ;  and  first  and  piinc!])ally — 

]  give  and  recommend  my  precious  and  immorlal  soul  to  God  who 
gave  it,  and  my  body  to  the  earth  at  death,  to  be  decently  buried  at 
the  discrcssion  of  my  executors  hereinafter  named,  not  doubting  but 
at  the  General  Resurrection,  by  the  Power  of  Almighty  God  I  shall 
again  receive  the  same. 

And  as  touching  such  worldly  estate  as  it  h.ilh  pleased  God  to 
bless  me  with,  in  this  life,  I  give  and  dispose  of  the  same  in  the  fol- 
lowing m.-mner  and  form,  after  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  are 
paid,  which  I  order  to  be  done  by  my  executors  in  convenient  time 
out  of  my  estate. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  dear  and  well  beloved  wife 
Esther,^  the  use  and  improvement  of  all  liiy  estate,  both  real  and 
])ersona],  during  her  natural  life,  and  as  much  of  s^  estate  for  her  to 
dispose  of,  as  she  shall  need  for  a  comfortable  subsistence  while  she 
lives 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  sons,  namely,  Ebenezer 
Stevens,  Daniel  Stevens,  Hezckiah  .Stevens,  and  Josepli  Stevens,  and 
to  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  three-quarters  of  all  the  remaining 
part  of  my  estate,  both  real  and  personal,  after  the  decease  of  my  s<^l 
wife,  to  be  equally  divided  among  them. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  duighters,  namely,  Ma- 
bel, the  wife  of  William  Porter,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Anthony  Wanzer, 
Jemimah,  widow  and  relict  to  Serajah  Beardslee,  late  dec'd,  and  Es- 
ther, the  wife  of  Alexander  Fairchild,  all  the  rest,  or  the  other  quar- 
ter of  my  estate,  both  real  and  personal,  alter  the  decease  of  my  sd 
wife  as  aforesaid,  to  be  equally  divided  among  them  and  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever. 

And  lastly,  I  appoint  and  constitute  my  aforesaid  sons,  Eben'r, 
Daniel,  Hezekiah  and  Joseph,  to  be  the  executors  of  this  my  last 
will  and  testament,  hereby  revoking  and  making  null  and  void  all 
other  wills  and  testaments  by  me  heretofore  had  and  made,  holding 
and  establishing  this  and  this  only  to   be  my  last  will  and  testament. 

'  Capt.  Kbenc'zer  Stevens'  wife  Esther  was  not  his  first  wife  and  not  ihc  mioIIilt 
of  all  of  his  children,  though  probably  the  mother  of  some  of  llicrn.  His  fust 
wife's  christian  name  was  Mehitable,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  Capl.  I{:i;enezer's 
daughter  Jemima. 


In  testimony  wliercof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  h?nd  and  seal  tlie 
day  and  year  first  above  written. 

EcENKZKR  Stevens,  [a  seal.] 
Signed,  sealed,  published  and  declared 
by  the  said  Ebenezer   Stevens,  to    be   his 
last  will  and  testament. 
In  presence  of 
Silas  Hamilton. 

Stephen  Tkowt.rtdge.  ? 

AnijAH  Barnum.  i 

Silas  Hamilton,  witness'  to  the  foregoing  will,  lived  where 
Amzi  IJarnum  resided  in  1885,  and  was  father-in-law  of  Abijah 
Bariuim,  who  had  married  his  daughter  Orpha,  Oct.  20,  1763. 

There  is  nothing  on  the  pirobate  records  concerning  an}-  in- 
ventory, distribution,  or  settlement  of  the  estate.  As  the  will 
was  proved  in  the  probate  court,  May  3,  1768,  the  testator  had 
of  course,  died  a  little  previous  to  that  time. 

It  is  not  certainly  known  in  what  part  of  the  tovrn  he  lived. 

Ebenezx-r  Stevens,  Jr.,  is  first  mentioned  on  Society  Records  f 

in.1761,  and  is  always   named   as  Junior  after  that  until  about 
1767.  , 

Daniel  Stevens  is  mentioned  in  Society  Records  in    1763,  '64  ' 

and  1767. 

Hezekiah  Stevens  is  first  mentioned  (Society  Records)  in 
1755,  and  after  1759    is  always  entitled  Scrgt.     Perhaps  gained  : 

the  title  in  the  old  French  War.  \ 

'"    Joseph  Stevens,  first  mentioned  in   Society  Records   Sept.  8,  % 

1767,  when  he  was  appointed,  at  a  Society  meeting,  "one  of  the  | 

qiiorristers  to  lead  in  singing  psalms  in  publick."  | 

lie  rented  a  pew  in  the  church  in  1794,  and  on  Oct.  29,  1795,  s 

when  the  pews  were  again  being   rented,    "the    free  use  of  the  | 

pew  rented  tojosejih  Stevens  last  year,  now  deceased,"  is  given  i 

"to  his  famil}-  for  the  year  to  come.  | 

Of  the  four  sons  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Steven.s,  the  probate  rcc-  \ 

ords  show  no  will  made  by  any  of  them,  except  that  of  Joseph.  3 


43 

Neither  is  tlierc  record  of  any  distribution  or  scttlenicnt  of  the 
estate  of  either  of  the  other  three;  nor  is  tliere  to  be  found  in 
the  church  records  (many  lea\es  of  whicli  are  lost,)  any  record 
of  marriage  of  cither  of  the  four. 

Ebenezer  Stevens,  Jr.,  however,  married  Silence  ]-'>arnum,  a 
daughter  of  Abel  l^arnum,  (date  not  known,)  of  New  Fairfield, 
as  appears  by  the  distribution  of  said  Abel  Barnum's  estate, 
Jan.  28,  1800,  recorded  in  the  7th  volume  of  Danbury  Probate 
Records. 

This  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  had  a  son   Ebenezer. 

Abel  Barnum  lived  near  Squou's  Pond,  it  is  supposed  where 
Norris  Nickerson  now  lives.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Thomas 
Barnum,  one  of  the  first  8  settlers  of  Danbury,  1684,  who  came 
to  Danbury  from  Norwalk  in  that  3'ear,  bringing  with  him  five 
sons,  and  this  Thomas  Barnum  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Bar- 
nums  in  Fairfield  County,  and  probably  of  all  the  Barnums  in 
America.''^ 

It  would  also  seem  from  said  distribution  of  Abel  Barnum's 
estate,  that  Daniel  Stevens  also  married  a  daughter  of  Abel 
Barnum,  as  a  share  of  Abel  Barnum's  estate  is  set  off  by  the 
distributors  to  Abel  Barnum's  "granddaughter  Sarah,  daugliter 
■of  the  deceased  wife  of  Daniel  Stevens." 

It  is  probable  that  Daniel  Stevens  had  manied  a  second  wife 
as  it  is  known  that  he  had  at  least'  three  sons,  (as  will  appear 
farther  on,)  who,  if  grandsons  of  Abel  Barnum,  would  have 
been  legal  heirs,  as  was  his  granddaughter  Sarah,  yet  Sarah  is 
the  only  child  of  Daniel  Stev^ens  mentioned  in  the  distribution. 

The  three  sons  of  Daniel  Stevens  were  Amos,  Daniel,  Jr., 
and  Reuben.  The  last  was  father  of  Levi  Stevens.  Widow 
Louisa  Barnum  knew  them  all — Deacon  Amos  Stevens  and  his 
brotheis  r)aniel  and  Reuben. 

Daniel  Stevens,  Jr.,  was  father  of  Dimon  Stevens,  wjio  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Forward  Stevens. 


See  Rev.  Thomas  Kobbins'  Century  Sermon  at  Danbury,  in  iSoi. 


44  ■  ^ 

Mr.  Ezra  Stevens,  now  (1S85)  living  on  the  fornicj  honiestead 

of  his  grandfatlicr,  Deacon  Amos  Stevens,  has  in  his  jDossession  ; 

deeds  from   Daniel    Stevens,    (son    of    Cipt.    Ebenezcr,)  to  his  ' 
"lo\'ing  son,  Amos  Stevens." 

Daniel  (lather  of  Amos,)  lived  and    died    at    the  place,  after-  ? 

wards  the  homestead  of  Capt.  Elias  Stevens.  ■] 

One  of  the  brothers  of   Daniel,  (either    Ebenezer    or  Joseph,  ] 

not  known  which,)  lived  in  a  house  long  since  torn  down,  near  | 

Daniel's  house,  down  the  hill  to  the  west,  toward  the  brook.  f 

Serg  t  Hezekiah  Stevens,   son    of    Capt.  Ebenezer,  lived  just  ' 

over  the  line  in  Brookfield,  at  the   place   ov/ned   afterwards   by  l 

Lemuel  NorthroiD.      He  had  one  son  Abner,  and  another,  Heze-  ^ 

kiah,  Jr.,  who  lived  in  New  Milford.  i 

Joseph  (the  only  son  of  Capt.   Ebenezer  whose  will  is  found  ] 

recorded  at  Danburj^,)  made  his   will    May  24,  1794,  and  it   was  | 

proved  Jul}'  24,  1795.     In    it    he    mentions  his  wife  Hepzibah,  I 

his  daughter  i\Iary,'^    wife   of    Thomas  Seattle,  and  two  grand-  | 

children,  viz :  "Joseph    Stevens    Adanis    and    I\Iary   I'atterson  I 

Adams,  cliildren  of  my  daughter  Naomi,  deceased,  and  her  hus-  f 

band  Reuben  Adams,  of  Newtown."  I 

5 

Jemima,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Stevens' daughter,  mentioned  in  his  | 

will  as  "widow  and  relict  to  Serajah   Beardslee,"  was  b(jrn  Dec.  | 

6,  1734.      Her  first  husband,  Beardslee,  died  a  little  before  1758,  | 

as  his  inventory  was  filed   in   the  probate  ofifice,  Dec.  31,  1757.  | 

There  were  two  children  by  her  first  husband,  Beardslee,  named  | 

Theodorus  and  Patty.     Theodorus  died    a   young  man,  in  the  | 

army,  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  Patty  died  at  18  years  of  I 

age.  I 

Before  her  two  children  died,  the  widow  Jemima,  on  March  J 

22,  1768,  married  Dav'd    Barnum  of    New  Eairfield.     .She  was  I 


*  This  dau<;htcr  Mriry,  wif';  of  Thomas    Seattle,    had  three  husbands,  first,  one 

Barrett,  then  Thomas  Seattle,  and    lastly,  one  Souires.  She  had  no  cliildron.     In 

her  latter  days  she  was  known   as   Aunt  Molly  Squires.  She  was  a  most  cxeelient 
woman,  and  uncommonly  talented  and  intellectual. 


45 
his  second  wife.     Thc^ir  children  were  Serajali  B.,  Samuel  T., 
Ebenczcr,  and  a  twin  sister,  Mehitahcl,  (who  died  wJien  a  child,) 
Jemima  (who  married  Lyman  Wheeler,)  and  Thaddeus,  and 
two  otliers,  who  died  young. 

Jemima  died  IMarch  14,  1824,  nearly  go  years  old.  Her 
daughter  Jemima  Wheeler,  lived  to  the  age  of  99  years  and  i 
day. 


A  BARNUM  BRANCH 

OF  THE 

S  T  E  \T  ENS    F  A  M  I  L  Y. 


First  Generation. 

Thomas  Stevens  who  died  in  Darien,in  1658,  had  sons,  Oba- 
diah,  Thomas,  Benjamin,  Joseph  and  Ephraim. 

Second  Generation. 

Benjamin  Stevens  married    Hannah  ,  lived  in  Darien, 

Hop  Grounds,  (Bedford,)  and  Danbury,  and  had  sons,  Ebene- 
zer,  (supposed  to  be  oldest  son,)  Benjamin,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  and 
Thomas,  who  was  the  youngest. 

Benjamin  Stevens,  the  elder,  lived  on  the  east  side  of  Main 
street,  Danbury,  between  Rev.  Mr.  Shove  on  the  north  of  him, 
and  Lieut.  Daniel  Beneilict  south  of  him.  Mis  v>ifc  Hannah, 
died  Oct.  31,  1730.  He  is  supposed  to  have  died  in  1746. 
Whether  they  had  any  daughters,  or  who  they  married,  is  not 
known. 


46 
Tiiirj)  Generatiox. 

Ebenczcr  Stevens  (date  of  birth  unlcnnwn,)  married  for  first 
wife,  Mehitabel  Peck  of  New  Haven,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Mary  [Sperry]  Peck,  of  New  Haven,  and  granddaughter  of 
Henr}'  Peck,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  New  Haven — date  of 
their  marriage  not  known. 

His  children  were  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  Daniel,  Hezekiali,  Joseph, 
Mabel,  (married  Wm.  Porter  of  Danbury,)  Mary,  (married  An- 
thony Wanzer  of  New  P^airfield,)  Jemima,  (married  first,  Sera- 
jah  Beardsley  of  New  Fairfield,  and  afterward  David  ]?arnum 
of  New  Fairfield,)  and  Esther,  (married  Alexander  Fairchild  of 
New  Fairfield).  The  dates  of  birtli  of  all  these  eight  children 
is  unkjiov.n. 

Ebenezer  Stevens'  first  wife  died  and    he  afterwards  married 

Esther .      His  will   is  dated    Oct.  31,  1765,  and  recorded 

in  Danlnuy  Probate  Records,  vol.  3,  p.  37. 

This  Ebenezer  Stevens  removed  from  Danbury  to  New  Fair- 
field about  1740,  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  new 
town  of  New  Fairfield,  and  had  before  been  captain  of  the  Dan- 
bury militia  company.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  New  Fair- 
field, and  a  large  landowner. 

Fourth  Gener.\tion. 

Jemima,  daughter  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Stevens,  married,  first, 
Serajali  Beardsley,  a  descendant  of  William  Beardsley,  one  of 
.the  first  settlers  of  Stratford.  Afterwards  she  married  David 
Barnum  of  New  Fairfield,  March  22,  176S.  This  David  Bar- 
num  was  descended  from  Thomas  Barnum,  one  of  the  first 
eight  settlers  of  Danbury  in  16S4,  and  who  liad  prcviousl3Tived 
in  Norwallc,  and  before  that  in  Fairfield, — David  being  the  son 
of  Nathan  Jxirnum  of  Danbury  and  afterward  of  New  J'^airfield, 
grandson  of  Francis  Barnum  of  Danbury,  and  great-grandson 
of  TJiomas  Barnum  of  Fairfield,  Norwalk  and  Danbury. 


47 

TIic  children  of  David  and  Jrinima  [Stevens]  I5arnum  were, 
Sciajali  B.  Barnum,  born  Nov.  30,  176S — (this  Scrajah  ]].  mar- 
ried Rachel,  daughter  of  Ajah  Stevens  of  Brookficld,and  grand 
daugliter  of  Benjamin  and  Anna  [liiearss]  Stevens) — Samuel 
Towner  Barnum,  born  Nov.  18,  1769;  Mehitabel  and  Ebcnczer, 
twins,  born  Oct.  31,  1772;  Jemima,  married  Lyman  Wheeler 
of  New  Fairfield,  born  May  \2,  1775,  and  Thaddcus,  born  Feb. 
6,  1779,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Eli  Stevens  of  New  Fair- 
field, and  granddaughter  of  Ezra  Stevens,  Pembroke. 

Fifth  Generation.   • 

Samuel  Towner  Barnum  married  Alice  Nash,  daughter  of 
Eliakim  Nash  of  W'iUon  ;  the  date  of  their  marriage  is  lost. 
The}-  had  only  two  children,  tv.'ins,  David  and  l-5etsey,  born 
April  27,  1794. 

Sixth  Genera'jion. 

Betsey  Barnum  married  Amzi  Rogers  of  New  Fairfield,  Sept. 
22,  1 8 14.  Amzi  Rogers,  born  Dec.  17,  1793,  was  son  of  Rev. 
Medad  Rogers  of  New  Fairfield,  a  native  of  Branford,  Conn., 
grandson  of  Josiah  Rogers,  Jr.,  of  Branford,  great-grand.->on  of 
Josiah  Rogers,  Sen.,  of  Branford,  great-great-grandson  of  Noah 
Rogers,  who  came  from  Huntington,  L.  I.,  to  Branford,  and 
great-great-great-grandson  of  William  and  Ann  Rogers,  who 
were  in  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  [first  settlers  there  in  1644,]  after- 
wards in  Southamjjton,  L.  I.,  and  afterwards  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Huntington,  L.  I.,  1655,  where  William  Rogers  died 
about  1O56,  and  his  widow,  Ann,  in  iC6g. 

Seventh  Gener.vtion. 

Children  of  Amzi  and  Betsey  [Barnum]  Rogers,  were: 
Da\'id  B.  Rogers,  born  July  27,  181  5,  now  residing  in  Danbury. 
Samuel  T.,  born  April  30,  1820,  now  residing  in  Bridgeport. 


4S 

Theodore  D.,  born  June  lo,  1822,  now  residing  in  Norwalk. 
Ann  E.,  born  Oct.  16,  1S26,  now  deceased. 
Emily  L.,  born  March  6,  1831,  now  residing  in  Norwalk. 
Harriet  A.,  born  Aug.  24,  1837,  now  residing  in  Norwalk. 

Samuel  T.  Rogers,  second  son  of  Col.  Amzi  Rogers  and  Bet- 
.sey  Barnum  Rogers,  born  April  30,  1820,  married  Cornelia 
Hcpzibah  Bulkley,  second  daughter  of  Dr.  Sturges  Bulkleyand 
Nancy  Shelton  Bulkley,  born  Nov.  26,  1827;  married  Sept.  8, 
1859.     Their  children  were: 

Cornelia  H.  B.  Rogers,  born  Jan.  21,  1862. 

.Sara  Bulkley  Rogers,  born  April  12,  1864. 

Samuel  T.  Rogers,  Jr.,  born  Feb.  13,  1866,  died  Aug.  17,  1S66. 

Miriarn  Nancy  Shelton  Bulkley  Rogers,   born  June  77,  1868. 

Theodore  D.  Rogers,  (7th  generation  from  Benjamin  .Stevens 
of  Danbury,)  was  admitted  to  the  Fairfield  County  Bar,  prac- 
ticed law  for  some  years  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  removed  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1852,  and  practiced  law  several  }'ears  in  .San  Francisco, 
afterwards  resided  four  or  five  years  in  New  York,  and  about 
nine  years  in  Chicago,  and  about  twenty  j'cars  ago  returned  to 
his  native  town,  New  Fairfield,  Conn.  Afterwards  traveled  ex- 
tensively in  the  United  States,  Canada,  and  Central  America. 
Besides  being  a  Rogers,  a  Barnum  and  a  Stevens,  he  has  also 
in  his  ancestry  the  names  of  Taintor,  Goodsell,  Frisbie,  Peck, 
Herault,  Baldwin,  Nash,  Whitlock,  Sperry,  Lindall,  St.  John, 
Clement,  Lockwood,  and  Hoyt.  He  is  now  [1890]  a  resident 
in  Norwalk,  Conn, 


TllKO.     D.      KOGliKS, 

NOKWALK,    CONN. 


49 


SKETCH  OF  MILL  PLAIN. 


Mill  Plain  is  situated  from  two  and  one-half  to  four  miles 
miles  west  of  the  borough  of  Danbur}--,  and  contains  about  one 
thousand  acres,  bounded,  on  the  south  by  Lake  Kenosia  and 
river,  the  lake  covering,  probably,  about  250  acres.  Sixty  )'ears 
ago  it  was  well  stocked  with  fish,  and  was  a  favorite  resort  for 
miles  around  in  the  winter  season  for  fishing  through  the  ice. 
Mill  Plain  derived  its  name,  it  is  said,  from  a  mill  situated 
about  a  ciuarter  of  a  mile  east  from  the  Danbury  fair  grounds. 
The  dam  was  raised  so  high  that  it  flooded  the  swamps  by  the 
river  and  lake,  and  caused  fever  and  ague  in  Mill  Plain  and 
Miry  Brook. 

The  people  remonstrated  in  vain.  After  enduring  the  nuis- 
ance for  a  long  time  with  no  prospect  of  its  abatement,  the  ele- 
ments came  to  their  relief,  for  one  winter's  night  the  mill  took 
fire,  little  remaining  in  the  morning  but  ashes.  A  man's  tracks 
were  found  going  to  the  mill,  but  none  coming  away,  still  no 
one  was  supposed  to  have  perished  in  the  flames.  Shrev.d  peo- 
ple attributed  these  tracks  to  a  resident  of  Miry  Drook,  but  feu- 
were  inclined  to  condemn  the  means  wlien,  as  the  result  the 
water  found  its  original  level  and  health  was  restored. 

The  first  house  built  in  Mill  Plain  stood  on  the  corner  of  the 
lot  opposite  the  cemetery,  and  was  built  by  Nathaniel  Stevens, 
probably  about  1720,  and  was  not  rebuilt.  The  next  was  built 
by  his  brother  Thomas,  about  1725,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road  west  of  the  cemetery,  and  was  rebuilt  about  1825.  Mr. 
Keeler  is  the  present  owner. 

Tlien  the  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  was  built  in 
1740,  for  Capt.  Thomas  Stevens,  and  for  years  was  used  as  a 
tavern.     Some  of  your  readers  will  doubtless  remember  the  old 


50  i 

horse  slicd  which  stood  at  tlic  west  end  of  the  house,  and  which  | 

sheltered  many  a  traveler  from  thunder  showers.     The  original  ' 

materials  of  this  shed    were   in    use   for  purposes  of  shelter  for  • 

over  loo  years,  and  until   a  quite  recent  date.     The  old  house,  ■ 

having  done  good  service  for  a  century,  was  rebuilt  in  1841,  by  | 

Wait  .Sle\'ens.     After  a  few  years  it   was  sold  to   Mr.  Ganung,  | 

the  present  occupant.  i 

Probably  the  next  house  was  that   built    by  Jonah  Weed,  a  | 

few  feet  east  of   where  Charles  Fowler's  house  now  stands.      It  | 

was  occupied  successively  by  Ephraim  Weed,  Abraham  Banks,  j 

Thomas  Knapp  and  Robert  Fowler.     The  latter,  in  1839,  built  ^ 

the  house  his  son  Charles  now  occupies.  | 

About  176S,  Eliphalet   Stevens  built  a  house  just  east  of  the  -J 

cemetery,  where  his   son   Abram   afterward   lived.     James,  the  i 

brother  of  Eliphalet,  built  his  house   about   the   same   time  at  1 

the  upper  end  of  the  plain,  the   first    one   east  of   the  school-  | 

house.     The    one    now  standing  there   was  built    b}'  his  son  | 

James,  was  afterwards  owned  by  Judah  Crosby,  and  at  present  | 

by  James  Osborn.  | 

Next  east  lived  John  Stevens,  and   about  half  a  mile  further  | 

(a  few  rods  north  of  the  upper  railroad  crossing,)  was  George  f 

Stevens.     Still  further  over  lived  Eliphalet  2d.  I 

One  house  not  mentioned  was  that  of  Moses  Stevens,  a  few  \ 

rods  west  of  the  lower  railroad   crossing,  which  was  built  about  | 

1796,  and  rebuilt  by  his  son-in-law  Daniel  Baxter,  in  1847.     ^t  | 

was  afterwards  sold  to  Thomas  Stevens  5th.  | 

The  house  opposite  was  built  about  the  same  time  by  Brush  1 

Scars.     The  house  east  of  the  lower  railway  crossing  was  built  | 

by  the  late  Charles  H.  Reed,  in  1834,  who  there  worked  at  his  | 

trade  of  .shoemakinf<".     Later,  Zonher  Keeler  built  a  house  for  I 

i 

himself  at  the  lower  end  of  the  plain.  ^ 

From  iSio  to  iSjc,   Mill  Plain  might  be  said   to  be   in  the  | 

height  of  its  prosperity.     This  was  at    least  true  of  its  Stevens  j 

population,  for  within  a  little   over  a  mile  east  of  the   school-  | 


51 

liouse  lived  eiglit  families  of  ihat  name,  all  cousins.  But  what 
a  change  I  Where  arc  they  now?  The  old  people  died,  tlie 
girls  married  and  were  taken  away,  and  the  boys  preferred 
trades  to  farming,  so  that  there  is  now  not  one  of  the  original 
Steveiis'  left  in  the  village.  There  is  one  family  bearing  the 
name,  but  not  of  Mill  Plain  stock. 

The  town  of  Danbury  did  not  originally  extend  to  the  New 
York  state  line.  The  western  part  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Mill  Plain  was  formerl)-  in  the  town  of  Ridgefield.  This  part 
went  by  the  name  of  "The  Hollow,"  and  formed  a  little  settle- 
ment by  itself,  comprising  a  tavern,  blacksmith,  hat  shop  and 
about  half  a  dozen  houses. 

Birchard's  store,  though  at  the  western  boundary  of  old-time 
Mill  Plain,  was  still  its' commercial  center,  and  had  quite  a  wide 
reputation.  It  was  one  of  the  first  stores  to  put  out  shirts  for 
making,  and  the  women  used  to  come  from,  far  and  near  to  get 
the  work,  taking  goods  from  the  store  in  payment. 

There  were  several  shoe  shops,  where,  besides  custom  work, 
shoes  were  made  for  a  firm  in  New  Canaan.  This  comprised 
about  all  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  place,  most  of  the 
energy  being  devoted  to  farming. 

Railways  were  young  sixty  years  ago,  and  had  not  proved 
their  value  to  the  community.  It  was  not  strange,  therefore, 
that  the  quiet  dwellers  on  the  plain  should  have  been  quite  a 
little  disturbed  when,  about  that  time,  a  line  was  surveyed 
through  their  place  very  near  where  the  present  railway  is  lo- 
cated. The  audacity  of  the  surveyors  in  staking  this  course 
through  a  neighbor's  dooryard,  so  excited  the  staid  farmers 
that  they  could  not  sleep  nights.  The  stage-coach  was  quite 
good  enough  for  them  But  they  were  spared  the  realization 
of  these  anticipated  troubles. 

With  stage  lines  they  were  well  provided:  there  were  three  ; 
one  to  Poughkeepsie  twice  a  week,  another  to  Newburgh  tliree 
times  a  week  and  a  daily  one  to  Sing  Sing.     The  latter,  a  four 


horse  Concord  coach  was  a  grand  affair,  and  the  small  boys  may  * 

be  pardoned  for  watching  for  its  daily  coming  with  ncvcr-fail-  | 

ing  interest.  | 

•J 

About  the  3'ear  1830  a  turnpike  was  oj^cned  from  South-East  | 

to  Norwalk,  by  the  construction   of  a   road   from  the  cemetery  | 

across  the  Kenosia  river  at  the  lower  end  of   the  lake,  to  Miry  I 

Brook.     This  gave  easy   access  to  the  lake,  and   for  a  time  it  I 

was  quite  a  popular  resort.  | 

Last  to  be  mentioned,  but  not  least  in  its  relation  to  the  peo-  1 

pie,  was  the  schoolhouse.     The  district  included  some  twenty-  i 

five  families.     Several  buildings  did  service,  all  stationed  near  | 

the  present   site.     One  was  burned,  the  others  succumbed  to  | 

the  wear  and  tear  of  active  hands  and  feet.  5 

Here  grim  warfare  was  carried  on  year  after  year  with  Web-  ^ 

ster,  Daboll,  Murray  and  the   goose-quill,  not   to   mention  the  \ 

birch-rod,  which   grew  conveniently  near,  and  was  by  no  means  \ 

an  optional  in  those  days.                                              A  NATIVE.  | 


DANIEL  STEVENS, 

OF   NEW    FAIRFIELD,    AND    HIS   DESCENDANTS. 

Beginning  with  Benjamin  Stevens,  of  Darien,  as  the  ist  gen- 
eration, Daniel  Stevens  was  of  the  4th  generation,  as  follows  : 
I,  Thomas,  2,  Benjamin,  3,  Capt.  Ebcnezer,  and  4,  Daniel. 

When  or  whom  he  married  is  unknown.  He  had  four  chil- 
dren, Reuben,  Daniel,  Jr.,  Abiah,  who  married  John  Trow- 
bridge, and  Amos.  Reuben  had  a  son,  Levi,  who  was  a  farmer 
in  New  Fairfield,  and  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Gideon 
Beardsley,  a  son,  Eben,  who  resided  in  Norwalk,  and  a  daugh- 
ter who  married  Truman  Richmond,  of  New  Milford,  and  an- 
other daughter  who  married  Isaac  Hopkins.  Nothing  is  known 
of  Daniel,  Jr.  He  probably  took  Greele)''s  advice  and  went 
west  when  a  young  man. 

Deacon  Amos  Stevens,  of  the  5th  generation,  son  of  Daniel, 
was  born  in  1756,  and  died  June  18,  1840,  aged  84  years.  His 
first  wife,  mother  of  his  six  children  was  born  in  1759,  and  died 
Sept.  12,  1814.  Date  of  marriage  not  known.  Their  children 
were,  I,  Annie,  married  William  Gray,  and  afterwards  Samuel 
T.  Barnum,  She  had  no  children.  2,  Elias,  born  May  2,1785. 
3,  Hannah,  married  Benjamin  Taylor  of  New  Fairfield,  and  re- 
moved to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  had  children,  Ezra,  Marianna, 
and  others.  4,  Affa,  married  Wait  Stevens,  of  Mill  Plain,  Dan- 
bury.  5,  Chloe,  married  Hiram  Paddock,  of  Southeast,  N.  Y., 
and  had  one  son,  Warren  Paddock,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Reed.     6,  Irene,  unmarried,  died  in  February,  1872,  aged  80. 

Deacon  Amos  Stevens  was  regularly  commissioned  as  a  cap- 
tain in  the  teaming  or  transportation  ser\ice  in  the  Ivevolu- 
tionary  War.  His  commission,  with  many  marching  orders 
and  many  other  interesting  papers  and  letters  of  that  period, 
were  destroyed  by  fire  after  his  death.. 


Capt.  Elias  Stevc-ns,  6th  generation,  son  of  Deacon  Amos, 
born  May  2,  1785,  married  Lucy,  dauglitcr  of  Forv.ard  Stevens 
of  Danbury.  Her  father  was  a*  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  going  into  the  service  at  about  16  years  of  age,  and  was 
at  one  time  a  prisoner  to  the  British  in  the  prison  ship  in  New 
York  harbor. 

Elias  and  Lucy  Stevens  were  married   February  5,  1806. 

Their  children  were,  i,Amos  Russel,  born  March  18,  1807. 
2,  Julia  Ann,  born  Dec.  29,  1808,  married  Alanson  Knapp,  and 
died  in  Mobile,  Jan.  29,  1839.  3-  Lvefine,  born  Jan.  15,  1812, 
married  Asahel  Mead,  Sept.  28,  1831,  and  had  one  son,  George 
U.  JMead,  now  residing  in  Texas;  afterwards  married  Nathan- 
iel .Selleck,  had  two  children,  Howard  and  Eugene,  and  died  in 
March,  1877.  4,  George,  married  Adeline  Sternberg,  in  July, 
1850,  and  died  in-  August,  1875,  lea\'ing  no  children.  5,  Ezra, 
born  Aug.  21,  18 17.  6,  Maria,  born  Jan.  27,  1821,  married  to 
Hiiam  Paddock  of  Southeast,  in  Deceiriber,  1863,  no  children. 
7,  Chloe,  born  Feb.  16,  1823,  unmarried.  8,  Elijah,  born  Feb. 
23,  1825,  married  Charlotte  Caldwell,  March  16,  184S,  had  one 
son,  Frederick.  9,  David,  born  April  14,  1827,  married  Judith 
Haviland,  Aug.  20,  1848,  no  children,  resides  in  Sj'racusc,  N.Y. 
10,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  Dec.  19,  1831,  married  Gilbert  Havi- 
land, October,  1855,  and  died  October,  1865,  leaving  two  daugh- 
ters. 

Capt.  Elias  died  Ma}-  11,  1851,  his  wife  Lucy  died  Nov.  5, 
1868. 

Amos  Russell  Stevens,  7th  generation,  son  of  Elias,  born 
March  18,  1807,  married  Nov.  1830,  Lavina,  daughter  of 
Jesse  Scudder  of  New  Fairfield.  She  died  Sept.  30,  1841, 
leaving  one  son,  Hiiam  Jesse,  now  residing  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  A.  R.  Stevens,  afterward,  Aug.  3,  1842,  married  Betsc)- 
Riggs,  of  Oxford,  Conn.  Their  children  are:  i,  Harriet  La- 
vina, born  June  23,  1S43,  and  died  May  ,  1846.  2,  Henr)- 
H.,  born  Feb.  21,  1846.  3,  Mary  J.,  born  March  19,  1848.  4, 
Adelina  G,,  born  Dec.  1,  1851,  married   Oct.  29,    1872,  to  Geo. 


H.  Adams,  of  Pawling,  N.  Y.     5,  David  R.,  born  May  5,  1855, 
and  died  y\pri!       ,  1S61.     6,   Lucy  IM.,  born  Sept.  13,  1859. 

Hirani  J.,  8th  generation,  son  of  Amos  R.,  born  Jan.  14, 
1882,  married  Elizabeth  Kellogg,  of  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  and  has 
three  children  :   Estella,  William  and  Jennie. 

Henry  H.,  8th  generation,  son  of  Amos  R.,  born  Feb.  21, 
1846,  married  Sarah  E.  Pulling,  of  Danbury,  Oct.  20,  1868,  and 
resides  at  W'estern,  Salina,  Co.,  Nebraska.  Their  children  are: 
David  R.,  Harry,  Panl,  Bessie,  Ruby  and  George. 

Ezra  Stevens,  7th  generation,  son  of  Elias,  born  Aug.  21, 
18 17,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Hiram  Taylor,  of  Brookfield, 
Conn.,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Thomas  Taylor,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Danbury.  •  They  were  married  Feb.  17,  1847.  They 
had  three  children  :  James  T.,  Elias  and  Huldah.  James  T. 
was  murdered  in  Texas,  in  September,  1884,  and  Elias  died 
Oct.  6,  1889,  in  consequence  of  a  kick  from  a  horse.  Thej' 
were. most  worthy  young  men,  of  good  character  and  ability, 
and  excellent  qualities  in  every  way,  who  deserved  and  re- 
ceived the  affection  and  regard  of  all  who  knew  them.  Both 
were  unmarried.  Their  father,  Ezra  Stevens,  resides  on  the 
homestead  of  his  grandfather,  Deacon  Amos,  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  New  Fairfield,  Coim. 


IJEED—BENJAAi'IN  STEVEjVS,  1726.     C. 

jy' NO IV  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENrS,  That  1,  Benjamin  Ste- 
vens, of  Danbury,  in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  and  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in 
New  England,  for  and  in  consideration  of  m)'  natural  alTeotion  unto  my  son  Thomas 
Stevens  of  the  same  town,  and  for  divers  good  causes  and  considerations,  me  love 
unto  nioving,  and  nioi-e  especially  for  a  bond  of  fifty  pounds  and  of  tc;u;ii  date 
with  these  presents,  conditioned  for  ibe  earnest  perfc>nnance  of  certain  payments 
therein  specified  to  nie  and  my  beloved  wife  during  y"  term  of  our  natural  lives, 
the  receipt  whereof  1  hereby  acknowledge  to  my  full  content  and  satisfaction,  have 
given,  granted,  and  doth  by  these  presents,  I  say  that  I  have  and  do  give,  graiit, 
bargain,  sell,  make  over,  convey  and  confirm  unto  my  son,  Thomas  Stevens,  these 
several  messages  and  parcels  of  land  as  follows,  viz  :  one  piece  of  upland,  contain- 
ing two  acres  and  a  rood,  be  it  more  or  less,  situate  in  Danburj'  aforesaid,  in  tlie 
common  field  lying  on  Town  Hill,  so  called,  bounded  easterly  and  westerly  by 
highway,  northerly  by  Mr.  Shove,  southerly  by  I.iesit.  Benedirt's  land;  also,  my 
first  division  let  of  meadow,  containing  one  acre,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  lying 
in  the  said  field,  bounded  easterly  by  ?Juddy  Brook,  westerly  partly  by  hlghw-ay, 
and  part  by  land  of  the  estate  of  John  Pickit,  northerly  by  the  Mill  River,  south- 
erly by  Samuel  Benedick's  first  division;  also,  my  little  lot  and  fourth  division  lot 
of  meadow,  containing  by  estimstion  two  acres  and  a  half,  be  it  more  or  less,  lying 
in  s;ud  field,  bounded  easterly  by  corumon  land,  westerly  by  the  river,  northerly  by 
land  of  my  foii,  Nathaniel  Stevens,  southerly  by  Lieut.  Kray's  land  in  part,  and  in 
part  by  common  land  or  highway;  also  three  acres  and  a  half  of  land,  be  it  nKjre 
or  less,  lying  at  Jl.itbstone  Hill,  witliin  said  field,  bounded  tasterlj-,  westerh  and 
northerly  by  his  own  land,  and  soullierly  by  land  of  Lieut.  Samuel  Iloyt,  and  also, 
with  land  whicii  I  hold  to  my  adjoining  lot  in  said  field,  bounded  as  may  be  seen 
by  said  Danbury  book  of  Records,  together  with  all  the  estate,  right,  title  and  in- 
terest to  have  therein,  with  all  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  thereto,  to  have 
and  to  hold  to  him,  the  said  Nathaniel  Stevens,  to  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  his  and 
their  own  proper  use  and  benefit,  as  a  full,  absolute  and  indefeasible  estate  of  in- 
heritance forever.  And  furthermore,  \,  ihe  said  Benjamin  Ste\'ens,  for  me  and  my 
heirs,  do  covenant  and  promise  to  and  witli  the  said  Thomas  .Stevens,  and  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  that  he  and  they  shall  quietly  and  peaceably  have,  hold  and  enjoy  the 
above  granted  premises  without  let  or  molestation  from  any  person  or  persons  what- 
soever, that  shall  lay  any  legal  cbim  thereunto  or  any  part  thereof  forever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this  twenty-ninth  day 
of  November,  Anno  Dom.  1726. 

BENJAMIN  STEVENS. 

Signed  and  scaled  in  presence  of 
SET II  .SHOVE. 
M.\TTHE\V  BENEDICK. 

Danbury,  November  y^  29tl;,  i/no. 

Benjamin  .Stevens,  subscriber  to  the   aijove    written   iu.strument,   personally  ap- 
peared and  acknowledged  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed  before  roe. 

JOHN  GREGORY, 

Justice  of  i^eace. 


:n  ij  am.  ^y^3£^y^mzM-:^ 


jr^w   JtJ'-   fcrnH 

'■■>r>  .    l'^      i/''      /l  ,  ^^-^'V, 


•-St-«'"  -rt^-cry 


'-tT-'"^ 


^ 


liCii t-.»j»,i«M»iti  A!u.>U>.-'''i>*^  -'- 


HIC}r\VA  Y,  1727.     M. 

KNOW  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  That  we,  Nathanael  Ste- 
vens, Thomas  Stevens  and  Stephen  Ciirtiss,  each  of  us,  of  ye  town  of  Danbuiy,  in 
ye  County  of  Fairfield,  and  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New  England,  having-  lands 
lying  nigh  together  near  ye  Millplain,  in  ye  Township  of  Danbury  aforesaid,  for 
divers  good  considerations,  especially  for  ye  benefit  and  advantage  of  each  one  of 
us,  do  for  ourselves  and  our  heirs  and  assigns,  mutually  agree,  bargain  and  grant 
an  highway  for  us  and  our  heirs,  beginning  near  ye  southwestern  part  of 
said  Nathaniel  Stevens'  swamp  land  that  lies  easterly  from  ye  Rattle  Hill,  a  little 
westerly  of  a  small  run  or  little  brook,  and  so  going  across  to  small  brook  south- 
easterly, going  a  little  westerly  of  ye  southeasterly  corner  of  Curtiss'  old  ten  acres, 
and  then  turning  a  little  southeasterly  to  ye  brow  of  ye  hill,  thence  running  ihrou. 
ye  northwest  corner  of  said  Nathaniel  Stevens'  land,  crooked  to  said  Stephen  Cur- 
tis' land  ;  and  ye  said  Thomas  Stevens  doth  hereby  grant  and  confirm  unto  ye  said 
Stephen  Curtiss  about  eleven  acres,  including  in  it  part  of  Apple  Swamp,  so  called. 
Said  eleven  acres  bounded,  south  by  ye  highway,  east  by  said  Nathanael  Stevens, 
north,  part  by  land  said  Stephen  Curtiss  now  lets  to  Thomas  Stevens  have  and 
part  by  ye  highway,  west  by  said  Thomas  Stevens'  other  land,  and  ye  said  Stephen 
Curtiss  doth  hereby  grant  and  confirm  to'  ye  said  Thomas  Stevens  a  like  quantity 
of  about  eleven  acres,  lying  more  northerly  from  ye  aforesaid  named  eleven 
acres,  bounded  easterly  by  ye  aforesaid  named  highway,  a  little  part  north- 
erly by  said  Nathanael  Stevens,  northwesterly  by  said  Thomas  Stevens,  south- 
westerly by  a  reserved  highway,  which  said  highv.'ay  is  part  of ;  southerly  by 
said  Thomas  Stevens  in  part,  and  partly  by  land  of  Thomas  Stevens  now  let  said 
Stephen  Curtiss  have, — the  above  said  highway,  and  the  above  said  land  with  ye 
small  alteration  in  said  Nathanael  Stevens'  land  at  his  northwest  corner,  to  be,  re- 
main and  abide  as  they  are  now  agreed  upon,  and  by  themselves  staked  out. 

We  say  that  we,  ye  above  named  Nathanael  Stevens,  Thomas  Stevens  and  Ste- 
phen Curtiss,  do  jointly  and  severally  for  ourselves  and  our  heirs,  covenant,  prom- 
ise and  agree,  to  and  with  each  other,  to  have  and  to  hold,  use,  improve,  possess 
and  enjoy,  with  the  appurtenances  thereto,  free  and  clear,  sure  and  firm,  to  all  in- 
tents and  purposes,  to  each  and  every  of  us,  and  our  heirs,  jointly  and  severally, 
and  each  particular  above  mentioned,  as  firmly  as  it  might  or  could  in  any  other 
manner  or  form  have  been  drawn,  and  we  do  for  ourselves  and  our  heirs  jointly 
and  severally  covenant,  promise  and  engage  to  warrant  and  defend  each  one's 
right  and  interest  against  all  claims  whatsoever  forever. 

Witness  our  hands  and  seals,  this  20th  day  of  February,  Anno  Doni.  1727-8. 

NATHANIEL  STEVENS,  [seal.] 


Signed  and  scaled  in  presence  of 
MOSES  BRAY. 
EBENEZER  HICKOK. 


THOMAS  STEVENS.  [seal.  | 

STEPHEN  CURTISS,  [seal.] 


r^  Danbury,  February  ye  20th,  1727-8. 

Nathanael  Stevens  and  Thomas  Stevens  and  Stephen  Curtiss,  subscribers  to  tl;e 
above  written  instrument,  personally  appeared  and  acknov.-ledged  the  same'to  be 
their  free  act  and  deed  before  me. 

JOHN  GREGORY', 

Justice  of  Peace. 


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•  .  .     ,  .  ■  ■■  1 


DEED.— NATHANIEL  STEVENS,  lyj^.     R. 

KNOW  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  That  I,  Nathaniel  Ste- 
vens, Sen.,  of  Danbury,  in  Fairfield  County  and  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New- 
England,  for  and  in  consideration  of  other  land  made  over  to  me  by  a  firm  deed, 
under  the  hand  and  seal  of  my  brother,  Thomas  Stevens,  of  the  Town,  County  and 
Colony  aforesaid,  the  receipt  whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  be  a  full  price 
paid  to  me,  on  this,  in  trust,  to  my  content  and  full  satisfaction,  have  bargained, 
sold,  and  by  these  presents  have  and  do  freely,  fully  and  absolutely  grant,  bargain, 
sell,  alien,  convey  and  confirm  to  him,  the  said  Thomas  Stevens,  and  to  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  one  certain  piece  of  land  situated  in  said  Danbury  Township,  lyino- 
by  the  easterly  side  of  Tuttle  Hill,  so  called,  combining  by  estimation,  eight  acres 
or  thereabouts,  as  it  is  contained  within  these  following  boundaries  :  the  nor'west 
corner  being  a  point  :  beginning  there  at  a  red  oak  shade,  marked  with  stones 
laid  to  it,  and  from  thence  running  southeasterly  to  a  great  rock,  with  stones  laid 
thereon  ;  and  from  thence  running  southeasterly  to  a  certain  walnut  tree,  an  old 
boundary,  with  stones  laid  thereto,  and  marked  ;  and  from  said  walnut  tree  run- 
ning westerly  to  a  white  oak  tree  marked,  and  stones  laid  thereto  ;  and  from  said 
white  oak  tree,  running  northerly  to  the  first  mentioned  red  oak  shade  ;  thus  it  is 
bounded,  southerly  and  westerly  by  said  Thos.  Stevens' land,  and  northeasterly  by 
my  other  land.  To  have  and  to  hold,  with  all  privileges  and  appurtenances  to 
the  same  in  anywise  appertaining,  to  him,  the  said  Thos.  Stevens,  and  to  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  to  his  and  their  only  use,  benefit  and  behoof  forever  ;  and  I,  the  said 
Nathanael  Stevens,  for  me  and  my  heirs,  do  covenant  with  the  said  Thos.  Steverjs, 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  that  at  and  until  the  ensealing  hereof,  I  am  well  seized  of 
the  above  bargained  premises  in  mv  own  right,  and  have  in  myself  good  ritrht, 
full  power  and  lawful  authority,  to  bargain  and  sell  the  same  in  manner  and  form 
as  is  above  written,  and  that  the  same  is  free  from  all  incumbrances  whatsoever. 
And  further,  I,  the  said  Nathanael  Stevens,  do  by  these  presents,  firmly  bind  and 
oblige  myself,  my  heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  to  secure  the  above  granted 
premises,  said  land  and  appurtenances,  to  the  said  Thos.  Stevens,  and  to  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  against  all  legal  claims  and  demands  of  any  other  person  or  persoiis 
whatsoever,  and  the  same  to  warrant  and  defend. 

Witness  my  haTid  and  seal  to  these  presents,  this  twenty-second  day  of  Marcli, 
Anno  Dom.  1733-4. 

NATHANA1-:L  STEVENS,  [seal.] 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 
JOHN  GREGORY. 
SAMUEL  GREGORY. 

Danbury,  March  yc  22d,  1734. 

Nathanael  Stevens,  subscriber  to  the  above  written  instrument,  personally  ap- 
peared, and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed  before  me. 

JOHN  GREGORY, 

Justice  of  Pe.-ice. 


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BENJAMIN  STEVENS  TO  JJJS  BROTHER   THOMAS,  j-tS4. 

T.>  n/l  Fevph  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come — Greeting  : 

]vi\OW  YE,  Thai  1,  Benjamin  Stevens,  ofDanbiiry,  in  Fairfield  County,  in  His 
Majesty's  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New  England,  for  and  in  consideratioii  of  forty 
a»(.I. eight  pounds  of  money  in  hand  received,  being  well  and  duly  paid  before  the  en- 
sealing and  delivering  hereof,  to  my  content  and  full  satisfaction,  by  my  brother, 
Thomas  Stevens,  of  the  same  Town,  County  and  Colony,  above  named,  and  there- 
fore liave  sold  and  alienated  from  me  and  my  heirs,  and  by  these  presents  I  say, 
that  I  I'.ave  and  do  fully,  freely,  lirml)'  and  absolutely  grant,  bargain  sell,  inake 
over,  convey  and  confirm  to  him,  the  said  Thomas  Stevens,  and  to  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  a  certain  tract  of  land  lying  up  the  Brook  that  comes  from  the  Second 
Pond,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  western  line  of  said  Danbury  Township.  Some  of 
i;  being  part  of  that  land  I  bought  of  the  Country,  lying  upon  the  western  side  of 
!>anbury  Township  and  joining  to  said  western  bounds,  and  some  of  it  lying  with- 
i'.i  said  Danbuiy  'I'ownship  and  joining  to  said  western  bound  ;  said  line  running 
through  said  tract  of  land,  and  said  tract  of  land  is  contained  within  these  follov;- 
ing  buttments  and  boundaries,  and  it  is  all  comprehended  herein,  be  it  in  quan- 
tity, as  to  number  of  acres,  what  it  will. 

'i'he  northeasterly  corner  of  said  tract  of  land  is  a  popple  tree,  marked,  standing 
in  the  gutter,  with  stones  laid  tliereto  ;  and  from  said  popple  tree,  running"  westerly 
to  an  heap  of  stones,  which  is  a  boundary  betwixt  this  land  and  land  of  Captain 
Tolm  St.irr  ;  and  from  said  heap  of  stones,  which  is  the  northwesterly  corner  there- 
of, running  southerly  by  said  Capt.  Starr's  land  to  a  range  stake  bitched  down  with 
stones,  laid  thereto  ;  and  froin  said  ran^-e  stake,  running  soutlierl}'  by  Capt.  Starr's 
land,  to  a  rock  with  a  stone  or  something  upon  it,  which  is  the  southwesterly  cor- 
ner thereof  ;  a  little  beyond  the  Great  Spring,  so  called,  and  from  said  rock  run- 
ning casterlj'  by  Capt.  Starr's  land  to  said  Danbury  western  line,  and  to  said 
Thomas  Stevens'  nor'wcst  corner  of  a  piece  of  his  land  lying  near  it,  and  so  run- 
ning still  easterly  by  the  said  Thomas  Stevens'  land  to  the  highway,  which  is  the 
southeasterly  corner  of  this  aforesaid  tract  of  land  ;  and  from  said  southeasterly 
corner  running  northerly,  as  the  fence  now  runs,  by  the  side  of  the  highway,  to 
the  first  mentioned  popple  tree.  All  said  northeast  corner,  .so  that  said  tract  of 
land  is  bounded  northerly  by  Ridgefield  land,  wesierly  by  Capt.  Starr's  land, 
southerly,  partly  by  Capt.  Starr's  land  and  partly  by  said  Thomas  Stevens'  land, 
and  easterly  by  said  highway. 

To  have  and  to  hold,  with  all  privileges  and  appurtenances  to  the  same,  be- 
longing, or  in  any  wise  thereunto  appertaining,  to  him,  the  said  Thomas  Stevens 
and  to  his  heirsand  assigns,  this  and  their  only  life  benefit  and  behoof  forever.  And 
I,  t'ae  said  Benjamin  Stevens,  for  me  and  my  heirs,  do  covenant  with  him,  my  said 
brother,  Thomas  Stevens,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  that  at  and  until  the  ensealing 
and  delivery  hereof,  I  am  well  seized  of  the  above  granted  and  bargained  preni- 
ises,  as  a  good  freehold,  absolute  and  indefeasible  estate,  of  inheritance  forever, 
and  have  in  myself  good  right,  full  power  and  lawful  authority  to  bargain  and  sell 
the  same  in  manner  and  form  as  it  is  above  written,  and  that  the  same  is  free  from 
all  encumbrances  whatsoever.  And  furthermore,  I,  the  said  Benjamin  Stevens, do  by 
these  presents,  firmly  bind  and  oblige  myself,  my  heirs,  executors  and  administrators, 
to  v.'arrant,  secure  and  defend  the  above  demised,  bargained  and  granted  premises, 
to  him,  mv  said  brother,  Thomas  .Stevens,  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns,  against  the 
lawful  claim  and  demand  of  any  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  that  shall  lay 
any  legal  claim  thereunto  or  to  any  part  tliereof,  forever. 

In  witness  wl.crcof,  1  have  hereunto  put  my    hand    and  seal,  this  thirtieth  day 
of  April,  Anno.  Dom.   1734. 

BENJAMIN  STEVENS. 
Signed,  scaled  and  delivered  in  presence  of 

lOHN  GREGORY. 

ALEXANDER  RESSEYINE,  Jr. 

Danrury,  April  ye  30th,  1734. 
Benjamin  Stevens,  sigTier  and  sealer  of  this  instrument,  personally  appeared,  and 
acknowledged  the  same  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed  before  me. 

JOHN  GREGORY,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


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