Ens. Thomas Stedman

Other Events:

• Court: 3 Jul 1728, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Alt. Death: 25 Nov 1734, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT

Notes:

Birth:
Thomas Stedman, son of John Stedman and Susannah, was born in Wethersfield.

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1715 to 1723.

Page 85   Name: Rev. John Woodbridge   Location: Springfield
Will dated 26th May, 1718.
Gentlemen: It is my will and pleasure that my farme which lyeth at the place called the West Farmes, in the Town of Wethersfield, be divided amongst my four sons, John, Joseph, Timothy and Benjamin, as the law directs, and to the eldest a double portion, and the rest to have each his equal share in said lands, which land is to be and remain to my said children and to them only, respectively, and their heirs, forever. And I do by these presents confirm unto and set to and establish upon all and each of my sons respectively the sd. estate forever, unalterable, to be injoyed by them and their heirs as abovesaid and not to be conveyed, sold or alienated to any other persons whomsoever upon any manner of occasion or pretence whatsoever, forbidding and prohibiting all bargains, sales, leases or exchanges whatsoever, that may any wayes tend to make void, alter or defeat said entailment, confirmation or settlement of said lands. And ffurther, that none of my children shall at any time divide, or cause to be divided, into small parcells or quantities on pretence of distributing the same among their children, but the said estate shall descend wholely and intirely so divided to some one of their children according to their choice, and to such child they shall think meet, and that none of my children under any pretence whatsoever shall use or practice any method or device in the law to break, alter or defeat this my settlement and donation of my estate, under penalty of forfeiting his right, share and interest in the sd. lands and estate. And this bond and prohibition respecting the dividing, settleing and entailing my said estate shall take place as on my children so upon their children's children forever, in order that said estate may not be sold, mortgaged, leased or exchanged, but remain free and clear for the use of my children. I give unto my two daughters, Abigail and Jemima, œ100 apiece, to be paid out of my moveable estate; if not sufficient, the rest to be paid by my sons to them; the moveables to be apprised upon delivery, and no estate to be imposed on my daughters that is not proper for housekeeping. My will and pleasure is that my wife shall have sole command and use of my estate, both lands and moveables, so long as she remains my widow. And in case my said wife Jemima shall see cause to alter her condition by a second marriage, that then she shall have liberty to have her thirds, both of real and personal estate, provided that sufficient bond be given that the same may be responded and returned, the whole of it, at her decease, to my heirs. Further, in case neither of the two foregoing propositions shall prove to my wife's contentment and sattisfaction, then she shall renounce all her right and interest in my estate by me before prescribed, and have the benefit of the provision made by the law for widdows in that case. I appoint my wife Jemima sole executrix, except in case of marriage, and then to be left with the Court of Probates to order and appoint others.
Witness: Jonathan Bull, Joseph Bodwitha, Samuel Ely.
John Woodbridge, ls.

Will proven in Springfield Probate Court. 28 May, 1718.
Test: Samuel Partridge, John Pynchon, Register.
Concordat Cum Originali.

Court Record, Page 36 (Vol. X) 3 January, 1723-4: Adms. granted to Lt. Thomas Seymour and John Woodbridge, son of the decd., with the will annexed, upon the estate that lyes in Hartford.

Page 195--3 July, 1728: This Court appoint Joseph Skinner of Hartford and Joseph Curtice and Thomas Stedman of Wethersfield to set out to Mrs. Jemima Wheeler, alias Woodbridge, relict of the Rev. John Woodbridge, in severalty 1-3 part of the farm late belonging to the sd. John Woodbridge in the bounds of Wethersfield for her improvement as dower.

Page 196--6 July, 1728: Adms., with will annexed, now granted to Joseph Woodbridge, son of sd. decd., in conjunction with Mr. John Woodbridge, son of sd. decd., and Capt. Thomas Seymour.

Page 32 (Vol. XII) 6 October, 1735: Joseph Woodbridge exhibited now in this Court an account of Adms., which is accepted.

Page 36--21 November, 1735: Per act of the General Assembly, 9th October, 1735, this Court do allow the Adms. to sell land in value to œ376-11-00. The Court of Probate directed the Adms. to sell a farm in Newington Parish.

Page 38--6 January, 1735-6: Return of the sale of land to the Court on the 15 October, 1735. There were 4 parcels of land sold at vandue to the highest bidder, who was Samuel Hunn. Total, œ380-00-00.

Thomas married Mary Sage 31 Dec 1713, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. Mary (daughter of David Sage, Jr. and Mary Coultman) was born 8 May 1694, Middletown, Middlesex Co., CT; died Aft 1 Mar 1763, Middletown, Middlesex Co., CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Thomas, md. Mary Sage, dau David, dec'd, Dec last day 1713, Wethersfield.

1. Mary Stedman was born 6 Nov 1714, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died Unknown.
2. Martha Stedman was born 18 Aug 1716, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died Unknown.
3. Elizabeth Stedman was born 1 Mar 1716/17, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died Bef 1760.
4. Thomas Stedman was born 4 Sep 1719, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 14 Sep 1719, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.
5. Thomas Stedman was born 20 Jul 1721, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 4 Aug 1721, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.
6. Elisha Stedman was born 9 Jul 1722, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died Unknown.
7. Thomas Stedman was born 23 Aug 1724, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 13 Sep 1724, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.
8. Timothy Stedman was born 20 Nov 1727, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 14 Aug 1757, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.
9. Hester Stedman was born 14 Oct 1731, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 21 Oct 1738, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.
10. Justus Stedman was born 4 Jun 1733, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died Aft 1810.
11. Anne Stedman was born 20 Jun 1736, Stedman Hill - Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 17 Sep 1809, Farmington, Hartford Co., CT.

Other Events:

• Name: John B. Stedman
• Court: 1696, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT
• Court: 6 Aug 1700, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Court: 7 Sep 1703, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Court: Aug 1708, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Probate: 4 Nov 1710, Coventry, Tolland Co., CT
• Residence: 1711, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Residence: 1713, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Guardianship: 9 Apr 1713, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Probate: 22 Jan 1734/35, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT
• Alt. Death: 25 Nov 1735, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT

Notes:

Lt. John Stedman, son of Lt. John Stedman who was killed in the "Great Fort Fight" of December 1675, was deemed to have served the Town of Wethersfield well. He lived in Wethersfield, Connecticut and the "History of Ancient Wethersfield" records many items of his life.

In 1680, Ens. John Stedman was given the first recorded license for setting up a slaughter house in Wethersfield. (p. 656).

Valentine's "Manual of the Common Council of New York City" for 1861 contains a facsimile of a letter addressed to Ens. John Stedman "in the colony of Connecticut," by the celebrated Jacob Leisler, dated at Fort William (New York City), 21 July 1690, in reference to a commission promised to Steadman (probably in the New York forces) but which from political reasons Leisler had been disappointed in confirming to him. (see p. 207 of Wethersfield book)

Birth:
Historical Catalog of the First Church in Hartford. 1633-1885 (1885), p. 158.
John Stedman, son of John Stedman, was born in Hartford.

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.  1700 to 1710.

Name: Benjamin Marshall   Location: Hartford
See File. Invt. œ44-15-11, according to a dist., 1696; also œ10 given him by his brother, Thomas Marshall, should he live to be 21 years of age.

Court Record, Page 28--12 March, 1701: This Court grant power of Adms. on the estate of Benjamin Marshall, late of Hartford, who died intestate, unto Elizabeth Marshall, his sister, provided she give bond as the law directs. Ensign John Stedman became surety in a œ100 bond to exhibit an inventory and render an account by the 1st Thursday of September next.

Page 33--8 September, 1702: Whereas, Benjamin Marshall, son of Thomas Marshall, decd., died in his minority having estate belonging to him, this Court dist. the same unto the child of Nathaniel Stoddard by Mary Marshall, and to Elizabeth Marshall, alias Elizabeth Darrow, in equal proportions. And forasmuch as letters of Adms. was granted to Elizabeth Marshall, upon the estate of Benjamin, this Court do call in the sd. letters and discharge the Adms. from her bond.

Page 40--2 March, 1702-3: This Court appoint and impower John Catlin and Sergt. Caleb Standly and Jonathan Webster, or any two of them, to dist. the estate of Benjamin Marshall, decd., according to an order of Court made in September last, and order that they return an account of their doings thereon to the Court to be holden on the 1st Tuesday of April next.

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1710 to 1715.

Invt. in Vol. IX, Page 56   Name: Rev. John Woodbridge   Location: Wethersfield
Died 13 November, 1696. Invt. œ399-01-00. Taken 6 August, 1700, by Benjamin Churchill and John Stedman.

Court Record, Page 259--5 July, 1715: Adms. granted to Rev. John Woodbridge of Springfield.

Page 263--6 September, 1715: Mr. John Woodbridge of Springfield, Adms., appeared now before this Court and moved that whereas his late mother, widow relict of sd. decd., who had right by law to 1-3 part of the moveable or personal estate of the decd., is now departed this life before an orderly dist. of that estate or before her third part was set out to her, he prays that this Court will therefore notwithstanding make out an order for setting out the sd. thirds and that the same be put into the hands of the sd. Adms. that he may be enabled to pay and discharge the just debts of the sd. widow, contracted in her lifetime. A consideration and resolve hereupon is deferred until the 1st Tuesday of October next.

Page 2 (Vol. IX) 1st November, 1715: John Woodbridge of Springfield appeared now before this Court and pursued his former motion of the 6th of September last. The motion was again deferred.

Page 3--7 December, 1715: Rev. Mr. John Woodbridge of Springfield, Adms. on the estate of John Woodbridge, late of Wethersfield, did move this Court, upon the 6th day of September last past, that whereas his late mother, Mrs. Abigail Woodbridge, late of Simsbury, decd., widow relict of said John Woodbridge decd., had right by law to one-third part of the moveable or personal estate of the said John Woodbridge decd., and the said Abigail being now departed this life before an orderly distribution of that estate as the law directs, she having contracted debts to over œ200 which remain unpaid, that therefore her said third part may be ascertained and put into the hands of said John Woodbridge the son, to be by him improved for the payment of debts. This Court so order.

Page 4--3 January, 1715-16: John Woodbridge, Adms., exhibits an account of his Adms. Accepted. And this Court order to dist. the estate: To John Woodbridge, eldest son, œ133-17-10; to the heirs of Dudley Woodbridge decd., to Ephraim Woodbridge, to the heirs of Mercy, younger children of the decd., to each the sum or value of œ66-18-00. And appoint Benjamin Churchill, David Goodrich and Jonathan Deming, distributors.

Page 9--8 February, 1715-16: Report of the dist. Accepted.

Page 3 (Vol. X) 4 September, 1729: Dudley Woodbridge of Simsbury, son and heir of Dudley Woodbridge, being now 21 years of age, desires an appeal from the decree of the Court of Probate, 2 August, 1715, accepting the invt. of Rev. John Woodbridge, late of Wethersfield, decd.

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.  1700 to 1710.

Page 66-7-8   Name: John Blackleach, Sen.   Location: Wethersfield
Died 7 September, 1703. Invt. £1576-19-00. Taken October, 1703, by Benjamin Churchill and Thomas Wickham, Sen. There are debts still due at Antigua that cannot be put in the inventory. Will dated 3 September, 1703:
Whereas my wife, Elizabeth Blackleach, hath been for divers years sometime past left in the management of my concerns in Hartford and Wethersfield, and hath taken much pains and care and thereby has found difficulty, and she knowing how my children have behaved towards her, and also out of that care and respect that I bear towards her comfortable maintenance, I do in this my last will and testament give and bequeath all my estate, both real and personal, unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Blackleach, leaving the settlement thereof to her, hereby giving her full power to will and bequeath the said estate as she shall see meet. And so hereby constitute and appoint my wife Elizabeth Blackleach to be my sole executor, desireing Mr. John Chester and Joshua Robbins to be overseers. In case my wife die intestate, I say it to be remembered that I have given my daughter Elizabeth Harris, in Boston, a very considerable estate--I think it not short of £500.
Witness: John Chester, Thomas Wickham, Sen.
John Blackleach, ls.

Court Record, Page 48--24 September, 1703: Will approved.

Page 51--12 January, 1703-4: This Court, upon the prayer of Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach as executrix to the last will of her deceased husband, Mr. John Blackleach, do grant letters of administration on her deceased husband's estate, provided she give sufficient bond. Ensign John Stedman becomes surety, in a bond of £500, to render a true accot by the first Tuesday of September, 1704.

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.  1700 to 1710.

Page 196-7   Name: Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach   Location:
Died 12 June, 1708. Invt. £272-02-06. Taken August, 1708, by Joseph Wadsworth and Capt. Aaron Cooke.
The nuncupative and last will and testament of Elizabeth Blackleach, late of Wethersfield, widow, decd., contained and expressed sundry testimonies and evidences thereof, as is here recorded:

First, the testimony of John Stedman, of lawful age, is as followeth: That I being at the house of Mrs. Blackleach, 8th June, 1708, I then and there heard Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach say unto me, "Cousin Stedman, go unto Mr. Thomas Wickham's and get my will, for I will have none out, for my daughter Mary shall have it and do what she will with it, for Mary shall have all that I have, for I see what has become of what Betty had, and I see how it is with Mrs. Jesse now; for Mary has not carried herself so." And I did judge that she was in good understanding and memory.
Sworn before the Court of Probates, 5th July, 1708.
Test: Caleb Stanly, Clerk.

Thomas Wickham, aged 57 years, testifieth as followeth: That sometime in June last, Mrs. Blackleach sent to me to bring her will over, which accordingly I did, and she desired me to read it over and I read it to her; and when I read it to her, then, with her leave, I read it to her daughter; and her daughter desired to have a perusall of it for to read it and promised me to return it, and so I left it in her hands, and this was the last will written of Mrs. Blackleach that ever I saw. 2 August, 1708. Being sworn before the Court of Probates.
Test: Caleb Stanly, Clerk.

The testimony of Sarah Benjamin, of lawful age, is as followeth: That I, being at the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach in Wethersfield, 8th June, 1708, then and there I heard Mrs. Blackleach order her will to be fetcht, which accordingly Mr. Thomas Wickham brought it unto Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach and the sd. Mrs. Blackleach desired Mr. Wickham to read the sd. will, which accordingly he did, and then Mrs. Blackleach bid her daughter Mary to take the will and keep it and "do what you will with it, for I give you all I have to dispose of as you see cause for my daughter in Boston has had her portion already, about œ500," and said her daughter Mary had not had her portion, and so declared that this was her will, and said the last will must stand. And further said she did not see cause her daughter should stoop to her children, but let them wait upon her as she has done upon me. Sarah Benjamin made oath on the 16th of June, 1708, before me.
Robert Welles, Justice.

At a Court of Probates holden at Hartford, 2 August, 1708, the within named Sarah Benjamin, being further examined upon her oath, did affirm and declare that Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach, decd., spake those words within mentioned ("Take the will and keep it and do what you will with it, for I give you all I have to dispose of as you see cause") to her daughter Mary Olcott immediately upon Thomas Wickham his reading the sd. written will and delivering it to the sd. Mary.
Test: Caleb Stanly, Clerk.

Testimony of Hannah Northway and Susannah Dix, who also appeared before the Court and testified to the above written statement.

Court Record, Page 115--2 August, 1708: John Olcott and Mary Olcott his wife, one of the daughters of Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach, ??te of Wethersfield, decd., presented evidences which were accepted by this Court as annulling all former wills and devising her whole estate to her daughter Mary Olcott. Adms. to John and Mary Olcott.

Page 122--7 March, 1708-9: Invt. exhibited.

Page 24 (Vol. VIII) 1st January, 1710-11: This Court now grant to John Olcott, of Hartford, and Mary his wife, Adms. on the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach, late of Wethersfield, decd., further time to finish their Adms.

Page 43 (Vol. X) 3 March, 1723-4: This Court grant Adms. on the estate of Mrs. Jo (hn) Blackleach, late of Wethersfield, decd., unto Mrs. Mary Wadsworth, daughter of sd. decd., provided bond be given according to law.

Note: Page 201--Probate Side (Vol. III): Bond of John Blackleach to support his father, Benj. Harbord, and his mother, Jane Harbord, in consideration of their making over estate to him; and also see page 211: Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach's appeal to the Court of Assistants relating to the will of Christian Harbert, wife of Benjamin Harbert, who was father to Mrs. Elizabeth Blackleach.

Probate:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1710 to 1715.

Pages 59 and 143   Name: William Johnson   Location: Coventry
Invt. £53-03-08. Taken 4 November, 1710, by David Lee and Nathaniel Rust. Additional invt. of that part of the estate as came to the hands of John Stedman, Adms., £36-09-06. Taken 23 April, 1712, by Nathaniel Rust and Benj: Carpenter.
Court Record, Page 21--6 November, 1710: Adms. to Mary Johnson, widow of sd. decd.
Page 37--3 September, 1711: John Stedman of Wethersfield to be guardian to the only daughter of William Johnson, late of Coventry, decd.
Page 62--3 March, 1711: Adms. on the estate of William Johnson, late of Coventry, decd., to John Stedman of Wethersfield. (Mary Johnson, widow, relict, to whom Adms. was granted on sd. estate, is now departed this life, not having finished her Administration thereon.)
Page 81--2 June, 1712: John Stedman, Adms., exhibits an invt. This Court appoint Richard Edward to be guardian unto Mary Douglas, alias Smith, daughter of Mary Johnson, late of Coventry, decd., sd. minor being 9 years of age.
Page 98--1st December, 1712: John Stedman exhibits an account of his Adms. Allowed.
Page 134--7 April, 1713: John Stedman, Adms., is granted a Quietus Est.

Residence:
In a probate case concerning the late William Johnson of Coventry, John Stedman of Wethersfield was made guardian of his only daughter in September 1711 and in March 1711/12 John Stedman of Wethersfield was made administrator of William Johnson's estate, as his wife Mary Johnson had died.

I do not know what relationship John Stedman might have had to William Johnson or his wife.

Residence:
John Stedman of Wethersfield was appointed guardian to Thomas Powell in April 1713.

Guardianship:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1710 to 1715.

Name: Thomas Powell   Location:
Court Record, Page 134--9 April, 1713: John Stedman, of Wethersfield, appointed guardian to Thomas Powell of Wethersfield, age 11 years, son of William Powell of Wethersfield, supposed departed this life.

Probate:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1732 to 1737.

Page 284 Invt. on Page 290   Name: John Steadman   Location: Wethersfield

Invt. œ6-15-00. Taken 22 January, 1734-5, by Gershom Nott and Joseph Curtice. Testimony dated 9 April, 1731. Will nuncupative: He declared his will was that his estate after his decease should be divided equally between his two sons, Thomas and Samuel Steadman, his son Thomas being present.
Witness: James Butler, Mehetabell Goodrich, Joseph Curtice.

Court Record, Page 17--6 January, 1734-5: Will now exhibited. Proven. Adms. with the will annexed to Thomas Steadman.

Page 20--4 February, 1734-5: Thomas Steadman made complaint against Samuel Steadman for concealing some of the goods of the estate of John Steadman decd.

Page 22--25 February, 1734-5: Samuel Steadman appeared and showed that he had none of the estate of John Steadman in his hands.

Died:
John, Ens., died Nov 25, 1734, Wethersfield.

John married Susannah Francis 14 Apr 1683, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. Susannah (daughter of Robert Francis and Joan Sipperance) was born 1 Nov 1651, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died 14 Mar 1727/28, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Susanna Francis

Notes:

Died:
Susannah, wife of Lieut. John, died March 14, 1727/28, Wethersfield

Notes:

Married:
John, md. Susannah ____, Apr 14, 1683, Wethersfield, by Samuel Talcott, Com.

Other Events:

• Court: 2 Dec 1652, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT
• Court: 1657, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT
• Probate: Dec 1675, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT

Notes:

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

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

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

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

July 1, 1651, first three parcels recorded in Secretary's records in name of Thomas Stedman but indexed to John Stedman, which is correct.

a.  A parcel of 4 acres he bought of Zachariah Field, June 19, 1660.
b.  Fifteen acres of woodland in the oxpasture, bought (Dec 15, 1659) of Edward Stebbing, June 24, 1660.
c.  Three acres of swamp east of Conn. River, June 21 1660.
d.  Three acres in North Meadow, April 18, 1663.
e.  Two acres in North Meadow, bought of Thomas Bull
f.  One acre bought of Robert Sanford, Recorded May 31, 1671.

Feb 25, 1666, witnessed document (Hartford Book of Distribution, pp 437-438, 536, 531, 107, 234, 550, 552, 565, 521-522.)

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

He removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1670.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have seen no accounting of what happened to these children.

Information on family came from a Handwritten manuscript in the NEHGS library, dated 29 March 1954.  The manuscript was by a Miss Myrtle Jillson, 56 Montgomery St., Waterbury, CT.  Her source was Brainerd's Stedman Mss, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT.
______________

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

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

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.
1650 to 1663.    Name: Thomas Stead   Location:
Court Record, Page 38--2 December, 1652: The verdict of us whose names are underwritten, concerning the death of Thomas Steade, servant of Robert Lay of 6-Mile Island, given to the Constable of Hartford, 9th November, 1652: Wee doe finde that the sd. partye, going against his master's Comand, with his master's cannoe, into a place of danger, or that is to the milldam, is guilty of his own death, being drowned.
Andrew Warner, Grego Wilterton, Jes: pr Gunn, Nath: Willett, Tho: Standly, John Bernard, Tho: Selden, Jo: Stedman.

Court:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.  1663 to 1677.

(p. 278) Freeman in 21 May 1657 William Goodwin, the eldest known child of Ozias, was born about 1629, as he testifies in September, 1674, that he was aged about 45.

"The Test of Wm Goodwin aged about 45 years Saith thatt beeing one night about the beginning of this last Hay-time in the Lonf meadow with my brother Nath Goodwin and my Son Wm Goodwin and having tarried there awhile att length Lt. John Stedman came there with a Teame and Cartt and one or Two of his Sons and layed uppon his Cartt hay which stood betweene the mere stones & the Brook which my said Brother forbid him to doe nott with Standing which fforbiddinf he the said Lt. Stedman layed up more my Brother forbid him Carrying itt away not with standing which he Carryed away the said hay and did moreover lay Claime to land thereon the west ward side the mere stones there which land my said Brother allso Claimmed. Wm Goodwin Junior aged 16 yeares Testifyeth the same with his ffather as above being then and theare present and ffurther Saith thatt the sayd hay was mowed and made by his uncle Nath Goodwin and his order. This owned by Lnt John Stedman In Court Sept 3 1674 Attest John Allyn Secrety.

Private Controversies, Vol. 1, Connecticut State Library

He was made freeman by the General Court, May 21, 1657.  He was appointed chimney-viewer in 1662, 1665, and 1671; and in the town votes under date of December 29, 1676, we find the following:

"The townsmen agreed with Wm Goodwin to sweep the meeting house, and ring the Bell Sabbaths and public meetings of the Town or Side and at nine of the Clock at night for which he is to have seven pounds per annum. He is also to dig graves and warn publick meetings as the Townsmen shall appoint for which he shall be paid as Robert Sanford was." 

Unfortunately for the antiquarian, his record of four hundred and twenty burials is not in existence.

Probate:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.  1663 to 1677.

Page 153   Name: Lt. John Stedman   Location: Wethersfield
Died December, 1675. Invt. £172-04-08. Taken February, 1675, by Lt. Chester, Ensign Goodrich, John Belden sen., Townsmen.

Will dated 11 January, 1675-6.
Lt. John Stedman, the day he went to Springfield pr. the Councils Order, said to Samuel Talcott and William Goodrich, as his will, He gave his Lands to his Son John Stedman Jr., hopeing he would give Something to his other Children.  He gave of his Estate other than Lands to his Wife.
Witness: Samuel Talcott, William Goodrich.

Court Record, Page 152--2 March, 1675-6.: Will exhibited. Adms. to the Relict.

Page 11--21 October, 1678: Lt. John Stedman & Elizabeth, wife, being both deceased & Leaving four small children, the Gover & Assistants doe desire & appoynt sargt. John Stedman to take some care & to look after the children that are left by his Father & to dispose of them in such places as they may be well educated, the sd. Stedman to take advice of Major Talcott & Capt. Allyn in the dispose of them.

John married Elizabeth Sergeant Abt 1650, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT. Elizabeth (daughter of John Remington and Elizabeth [--?--]) was born Abt 1632; died Bef 1664, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Remington
• Alt. Birth: 1628

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 1629, ____, ____, England, UK
• Probate: 4 Mar 1711/12, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT

Notes:

Robert was a freeman in 1645.  He is also recorded as having purchased land from John Latimer, March 29, 1652.  It is supposed that he migrated from the Massachusetts Colony to settle in Wethersfield.  The name of Richard Francis appears on the records of Cambridge, Mass., as having settled there in 1636, and who had previously resided at Dorchester, Mass.  Richard was supposed to have been related to Robert - either cousin or uncle.

Robert established a farm at Wethersfield and became a prominent member of the first Congregational Church of that place.

Probate:
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1710 to 1715.

Name: Robert Francis   Location: Wethersfield

Court Record, Page 64--4 March, 1711-12: John Stedman of Wethersfield, being by this Court, held here 5th February, 1711-12, made Adms. on the estate of Robert Francis, he now appeared before this Court and positively refused that trust.

Robert married Joan Sipperance 1650. Joan was born 1629, probably ____, ____, England, UK; died 29 Jan 1704/05, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Joanna Sipperance

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 24 May 1607

Notes:

The naming of this individual is highly speculative. I have no historical data to make this naming decision. I have noted that the first known sons of both Thomas of New London and John of Hartford were named John. If this family is Scottish, traditional naming patterns would name the first born son after his paternal grandfather.

Some literature exists that suggests that his spouse was named Ann. I have found no evidence that this is either true of false.

One source also lists sons Robert and Samuel and a daughter Elizabeth. I do think that if they exist, they ever came to America. I believe that they are confused with children from John Stedman of Hartford's second marriage.

I have found no basis for the birth years estimated for John and Thomas Stedman. Based on the facts that they were in America as early as the late 1640s and Thomas was bidding on land there then, their births should be as much as 10 years or more earlier than what most literature gives for their birth years. As John of Hartford was in likely a Freeman and proprietor in Hartford in the early 1650s, that would indicate that we was born no later than about 1630. As he was married and had first child in 1651, that would likely put his birth back to no later than about 1625. He died in 1676 in King Phillip's War. I would assume that he would not be too old at that time to go off to battle. All things considered, it is likely that he was born in the early 1620s.

Thomas of New London is another problem. We know that the Thomas who was living there in the early 1670s was John's brother. What we do not know is if the Thomas who was in New London in late 1640s and applied for a land grant there was the same Thomas, a father or uncle, or someone entirely unrelated.

Lacking any firm evidence, one way or the other and assuming the simplest solution is likely correct, then I assume that both Thomas Stedmans were the same. What I suspect happened is that Thomas elected to join with the Essex County (Salem/Newburyport) mariners. And when they (Parkers, Fosters, Keeneys, Isbells, etc.) migrated to New London in the 1660s, he joined them. He married Hannah Isbell then and began a family. Evidence suggests that he died at sea in the mid to late 1670s as he was not presumed to be available to be a guardian for his brother's family after he died in 1676. His brother's widow Elizabeth Blackleach did leave Hartford and end up marrying again to Thomas Dunk in Saybrook which is not far from New London. And, as she died in 1678, the minor children were without parents and the uncle who would be presumed to be a likely guardian was never mentioned in the guardianship case.

So, if there was only one Thomas Stedman, then one needs to assume that Thomas was likely an older brother, likely born in period 1615-1625.

Let me briefly discuss another ramification. Research in Essex County, MA, has uncovered several unconnected Stedmans living there in period between 1675 and 1700. An Augustin Stedman was a soldier in King Phillip's War. Various records of him exist during this period. There is also a will around 1700 for another Stedman.

There is a Thomas Stedman in Boston area in the 1680s who cannot be assigned to any of the families living in the area. he married a Jane Scammon born 1667 and had a son named Thomas in 1687. She married a Thomas Dean in 1691 and Thomas, jr. died in Exeter, NH in 1693.

The was a George Stedman, also a soldier in King Phillips war who married a Hannah Osborne in Charlestown in 1674. He died in 1691 leaving a family of four known children. One of the daughters Sarah married a Joseph Glazier and had a large familiy that has been well documented. He had a son William of which nothing is know past his birth. Hannah likely married a Thomas Barber after George's death.

The point of mentioning these Stedmans is that it is possible that, if there had been an older Thomas who lived in Essex County, some of these might be his children. As we have no known male descendants of these Stedmans, it is unlikely that DNA testing will be available to help sort this out.

Died:
There is only legend that he might have died in New London.

John married Ann [--?--] ____, ____, ____, UK. Ann was born , ____, ____, ____, UK; died Unknown, New London, New London Co., CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
There is only legend that the wife of Thomas Stedman was named Ann and that she might have died in New London.

John — Elizabeth [--?--]. Elizabeth died Unknown. [Group Sheet]