Thomas Stedman

Thomas married Elizabeth Androwe 25 Jul 1603, Biddenden, Kent, England, UK. Elizabeth died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Between 1634 and 1650; Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA
• Immigration: 1635
• Residence: Between 1650 and 1678; Muddy River (now Brookline), Suffolk Co., MA
• Will: 2 Oct 1678, Muddy River (Brookline), Suffolk Co., MA
• Probate: 19 Dec 1678, Muddy River (Brookline), Suffolk Co., MA
• Book Article: 1980, Oxford, Worcester Co., MA; BOSTON BEGINNINGS, 1630-1699; Jay M.Holbrook
• Book Article: 2009, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA; The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. VI, R-S, by Robert Charles Anderson, pp. 498-504

Notes:

Isaac Stedman was born in Biddenden, Kent, England, about 1605 and baptized there on 21 April 1605.

As Isaac "Studman" he was certified by the clergyman of St. Alphege Cripplegate, and by two men from Blackwell Hall, which was the cloth market of London, to which all of the cloth-weaving centers such as Biddenden sent their goods.  It was inconnection with this trade that Isaac Stedman probably went to London.

About 1630 he married Elizabeth Winchester.  They had three children in England, baptized in Biddenden: Elizabeth (who died young), Nathaniel, and Isaac.

Isaac came to America sometime before 1634 and established a homesite in Scituate in the Plymouth Colony with Rev. Lothrop's group from Kent.  In 1635, his wife and sons came to America on the ship Elizabeth.  It is not clear from the passenger list if Isaac was on that ship as he is not listed on the passenger list with his wife and children.  The Elizabeth sailed from London on 8 April 1635.

He settled in Scituate, where he was admitted to the church 17 July 1636.  He was a constable and made freeman 7 June 1648.  He removed to Boston in 1650, and later was of Muddy River (now Brookline).

Richard Seelis, son of a cousin Mary Stedman and her husband John Seelis,  was also a member of the Scituate colony.

Source: Planters of the Commonwealth by Charles Edward Banks, records.
ship "Elizabeth" of London:  Wm.Stagg, Master, sailed from London in April arrived in Boston in midsummer 1635.  Among passengers were:

ISAAC STEDMAN age 30 of Biddenden, Kent part owner of the ship.
MRS. ELIZABETH STEDMAN age 26
NATHANIEL STEDMAN age 5
ISAAC STEDMAN age 1

Isaac was active in the Scituate community through 1650 when he relocated with his family to Muddy River (now Brookline).
__________________

Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 12:33:20 +0000
From: JB
Subject: details Re: Isaac Stedman from Biddenden

Dear Mr Lisle,

I have done some work on the Biddenden area and have recently come across your website on the Stedman family. During work on the population (for a study in kinship, demography and local society) I found the a number of records relating to Isaac Stedman (who went to live in MA) which may be of use to you.

Marriage from Parish Register of Tenterden, Kent, UK
Isaac Stedman and Elizabeth Winchester 26th October 1629

Elizabeth Winchester Baptism from Parish Register of Tenterden 11th January 1606/7 - I didn't record her parents.

Re: Parents of Isaac Stedman. I think I may have found a problem - and a solution!

Marriage of Thomas Stedman and Elizabeth Philpot - Biddenden Parish Register 19th May 1589

This would make Thomas (baptised 21st December 1578) less than 12 years old as baptism was almost always soon after birth in the 16th century!

However, there is a marriage for a Thomas Steven to Elizabeth Androwe on 25th July 1603 in Biddenden Parish Register. But the name is Thomas Stedman (rather than Steven) in the Bishop's Transcript of the same record (the centrally kept copy of the parish registers made each year). This date would fit well with the birth dates of the children.

Thomas was probably buried 23th December 1640. He is recorded as a weaver in the baptism of his son John on 13th April 1612. His father Isaac (buried 16th January 1601/2) was also a weaver and had a small farm from his probate inventory ( Kent Archive Office prc10/30/403 made January 1602 - value 19 pounds). His mother Emma (nee Ricard) was buried 10th May 1604 and made a will (prc17/53/97) leaving household goods, farm animals and a silver ring to her daughters and their children. Burials from Biddenden Parish Register.

The other Thomas who married Elizabeth Philpot seems not to have stayed long at Biddenden. He is last recorded in the baptism of his son Luke in 1595 and may have left soon after with his family. This was far from unusual at that period and in the Weald area.

Hope some of this is of some use.

Janet Bagg
Kent, UK

Immigration:
on the "Elizabeth"

Will:
Suffolk County, MA, Probate: Docket # 1016 - Isaac Stedman (1679)

Will and Probate - Suffolk Probate, Vol. 6, pp 252-254

The last will and Testament of Isaac Stedman of Muddy river in Boston bounde is as followeth 2: (8) 1678 [2 Oct 1678]

Imprimis for that outward Estate that go hath bestowed on me, I Give and bequeath unto my Son Nathanael and his heires for ever, the dwelling house I now live in, with all of the land belonging to it lying at the Right hand Southwest downe to the meadow, with the orchard before the house, also my will is that about five foote from the house and the lyne run through the Orchard on the back of the house quite through the orchard upon a Straight lyne to further Side of Orchard, and from thence downe to the meadows, farther beginning at the open place at the way we Comonly cart and go downe unto the Cold springe, that to be the line on the east side of the way so farr as proportion of Swampe will leade I also give unto my Son Nathanael and his heirs for ever.

Secondly, For my son Thomas Stedman my will is that beginning at the lyne that is to divide the Orchard, on the bck side of the house given unto Nathanael, my Son Thomas to have the other part of the Orchard, and all the planting Land he was wanted to plant for him selfe & his father, and so unto further end of the fence.  Also for as much as the salt meadow is not so Capable of division My Will is, that Nathanael shall have two acres more then Thomas in the yearly improvement of it, but if they agree upon division, Nathanael, to have two acres more then Thomas. Furthermore whereas in my fresh meadow there is an Island or a spott of upland in or neere the middle of it, my will is that a lyne be run in the midle of the spott, and so all the meadow North and South, and that Nathanael shall have the westerne Side & Thomas to have the easterne. ffor the division of the land lying on the east side of the Lyne tending to the old springe before mentioned, my will is that my sonn Thomas shall begin at the great rock over against his owne house that is at the East end of the rock and so run South so farr as to make his part proportionable, to what his brother Nathanael hath from his house to the meadows.

Also, I bequeath to my son Nathanael & his heires Twenty acres of Upland lying along the path side, that leads to Boston, and also a little pasture lying at the further end of it, and for what land within the bounds of Boston that is not hereby perticularly disposed of, my will is that it be equally divided between my Sons Nathanael and Thomas. Moreover, whereas I have a parcell of land in Cambridg bounds, I formerly gave it my son Nathanael, and now hereby confirm that gift to him & his heires, further for a Right understanding of all things betweene me & my Loving wife after my decease it is hereby declared, that I freely disclaim all interest in any part of her Estate in Boston or elsewhere as she doth mine and as a further token of my Love to her, over and above what she brought with her I give her free liberty to dwell in the house where I now am whilest she remains a widdow, Moreover I do give her freely one Cow, and two sheep and one hog & also pasture and winter keeping for the Creatures whilest she remaines in the house as aforesaid, with the use of my mare as she may have occasion to Boston or otherwise,

Also I do give her five pounds to be paid in provisions, whilest she remaines widdow, and if she please to remove to Boston, then her five pound to be paid yearly one third in wood one third in corne, one third in meal as money.

Lastly, for my Three daughters Elizabeth Haman, Hannah Hide, & Sarah perry, I give unto them forty pounds apiece equally to be paid unto by my Executor hereafter named within three yeares after my decease, which is to be thus understood, that what part they or their husbands have already received is to be reckoned as part, which is as followeth, Viz Elizabeth Haman hath Twenty pounds, Hannah Hide hath Twenty pounds, twelve shillings, Sarah Perry hath Twenty five pounds two shillings & sixpence,

Of this my last will & Testament, I nominate and appointe, my two sons Nathanael & Thomas Stedman to be my Executors Jointly, and do give them all my moveable Estate not mentioned after my debts Legacies & funerall Charges being discharged which should in order have bene before expressed, but now is to be understood to be my true intent & meaning, and that this is my will I declare by my hand and Seale the day and yeare abovesaid.

                    The marke of Isaac xx Stedman
                         & (sigill)
Signed Sealed & published
In the presence of
John Wiswall
John Maryon Senr

Elder John Wiswill and John Maryon Senr made Oath before Simon Bradstreet Esqr, Den Govor Edward Tyng Esqr & Joseph Dudley Esqr assistants 19th of December 1678 that they were present when Isaac Stedman Signed and Sealed and heard him publish this Instrument to be his last will & Testament and that when he so did he was of a disposing minde to their best understanding.
                    Isa Addington, Clerc
Examined Isa  Addington Ctre

Probate:
Inventory - Suffolk Probate, Vol. 12, pp 247-249

A true Inventory of the Estate of Isaac Stedman of Muddy River aged about 70 years deceased the 3 . 8mo . 1678 [3 October 1678].

The ffarms upland & meadow being 350 acres with his housing and orchard upon it   470.0.0
40 acres of Land in Cambridge bounds    80.0.0
16 acres of Marsh   96.0.0
3 Cows -10-10-0, 2 heifers 3, 2 Steers  19.10.0
One horse 5, Mare ad Colt 4   9.0.0
6 Swine 4, 2 brass peffos 25, 2 sfillets     5.8.0
3 Iron Pots 20.8, one Iron Peffle 7 8 , a gridiron 12  1.8.0
etc....
Sums £724.03.11
Thomas Prentice
Thomas Greenwood

Thomas Stedman made oath before Simaon Bradstreet Esqr Dept Govr, Edward Tyng Esqr and Joseph Dudley Esqr A first ?? 19 December 1678 that this is a just and true Inventory of this Estate of his late ffather Isaac Stedman deced to his best knowledge and that when knows of more he will discover the same.
Isa Addington, Clerk

More discovered by Tho. Stedman 29.7.1680: one servant boy £5.00.00, money £14.17.00

[Isaac's son Nathaniel Stedman died 10 Nov 1678.]

Book Article:
    ** Stedman, HANNAH, 1699.....church member....ROB852: 279
    ** Stedman, Isaac, 1674...tax rate in pence.....BOS876: 56
    ** Stedman, Issack, 1676...estate value in pounds (£)...BOS876: 65
    ** Stedman, Natha, 1688...taxable heads.....BOS:876:145
    ** Stedman, Nathanell, 1674....tax in pence...BOS876: 57
    ** Stedman, Nathaniel...1687...taxable heads...BOS876: 129
    ** Stedman, Nathaniel...1693....tax in pence...BOS876: 134
    ** Stedman, Nathaniell....1695...resident.....BOS876:169
    ** Stedman, Nathll.........1691.....tax list.....BOS876: 157
other Stedmans listed is a Thomas within the same time frame 1674-1695...probably related

now for the sources:
-
BOS852 is:
    Second Church members of 1650-1699
It was from 1664-1723, the pastorate of Increase Mather, Joined by Cotton Mather from 1685, and succeeded by him in 1723.
-
BOS876 is:
    1. Preliminary list of rateable resident in 1674
    2. Tax list with estate value in pounds not inc.taxable heads in 1674
    3. Tax list of 1681
    4. tax list of 1685
    5. tax list of 1686
    6. tax list of rates in pence...inc.value for taxable heads at 20 pence per head for 1687
    7. tax list with taxable heads.....1687
    8. Tax list ....1687
    9. tax list with taxable heads...1688
    10. tax list...1689
    11. tax list...1691
    12. tax list with rates in pence...1692
    13. Muddy River Rates for relief of the poor....1693
    14. Residents of 1695
    15. Residents of 1698

Book Article:
ISAAC STEDMAN

ORIGIN: Biddenden, Kent

MIGRATION: 1635 on the "Abigail" (on 8 April 1635, "Isack Studman[sic]," aged 30, was enrolled at London as a passenger for New ngland on the "Abigail" [Hotten 53 (this name a late insertion in this portion of the list)]; on 17 April 1635, "Elizabeth Stedman," aged 26, "Nathaniell Stedman," aged 5, and "Isack Stedman," aged 1, were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the "Abigail" [Hotton 68]).

FIRST RESIDENCE: Scituate.

REMOVES: Boston by 1657 [SLR 3:84-86].

OCCUPATION: Yeoman [SLR 3:84]. Planter [PCLR 3:1:184].

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: On 17 July 1636, "Goodman Steadman" joined Scituate church [NEHGS 9:280]. On 16 April 1637, "Goodwife Stedman" joined Scituate church [NEHGR 9:280].

FREEMAN: "Isack Stedman" is in the Scituate section of the 1639 list of those who had taken the Plymouth Colony oath of fidelity [PCR 8:183]. On 7 June 1648, "Isack Stedman" was admitted a freeman of Plymouth Colony [PCR 2:122].

EDUCATION: Witness deeds by mark [PCR 12:184; MD 1:193, 16:131]. Signed his will by mark [SPR 6:253]. His inventory included "books" valued at 15s. [SPR 12:247].

OFFICE HOLDING: Scituate constable, 7 June 1648 [PCR 2:124].

"Isaack Stedman" is in the Scituate section of the 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:191]. His inventory included "2 guns & one sword" valued at 30s. [SPR 12:247].

ESTATE: "Goodman Stedman" built a house at Scituate in 1636 [NEHGR 10:42].

On 4 February 1638/8, Plymouth Court granted "a warrant ... to distrain Thomas Bird & Isaack Stedman for not paying their assessments" [PCR 1:112].

On 15 February 1643[/3?], the "freemen of Scituate" granted to six men, including "Isack Stedman," a "portion of swampland lying from the end of Rotten Marsh unto the end of the swap that is up against the end of William Hatche's uploand ... a proportionable quantity each man nearest his own land" [ScitTR 1:247].

On an unknown date, Isaac Stedman purchased land at Scituate from John Williams. On 1 August 1668, "George Russell of Sittuate ..., yeaoman," sold to "Thomas Kinge Junior of Sittuate ..., wheelwright, ... a certain parcel of upland lying and being in Sittuate aforesaid containing eight acres and three quarters which is a part or moiety of a lost of land which the saif George Russell bough of Isack Stedman" [ScitTR 1:267-68]. On 6 September 1687, "George Russell, sometime of Scituate and now of Hingham ..., husbandman," deeded to "Thomas Palmer of Scituate ..., mariner, and Elizabeth his wife, the natural child of the said George Russell, ... all that part of his marsh or meadow land lying to the westward of the causeway containing by estimation twelve acres ... commonly called Rotten Marsh and all that part of his upland and swamp land lying to the westward of the highway that runs to the said Rotten Marsh Gate being by estimation twenty acres ... together with a dwelling house and orchard adjoining the same ... lying in Scituate aforesaid and was sometime the land of John Williams Senior deceased and since the land of Isaac Stedman and by him conveyed to the said George Russell" [MD 33:20-21, abstracting PLR 1:94-95].

In an "account of two rates made at Scituate," compiled in late 1653 or early 1654, "Isacke Stedman" owed 1s. 5d. in the First Rate and 3s. 3d. in the Second Rate [PCR 7:130; GMN 14:3-6].

On 28 December 1657, "John Moore of Ballehonick in the County of Corke in Ireland, gentleman, eldest son to the late Anne Hibbins, the relict of William Hibbins of Boston ..., gentleman, deceased," sold to "Isaack Stedman of Muddy River in the precincts of Boston ..., yeoman, ... all that farm of upland and meadow consisting of four hundred and ten acres ... commonly called and known by the name of Stanford Farm now in the possession and occupation of the said Isaack Stedman, three hundred & fifty acres whereof was given to the late Will[iam] Hibbins by the town of Boston ... as it is situated at Muddy River in the precincts of Boston ... [and] twenty acres of salt marsh alike granted W[illia]m Hibbins by the said town of Boston ... which lyeth at Muddy River three miles from the said uploand ... with forty acres of upland given & granted by the town of Cambridge to the said Will[iam] Hibbins ... adjoining to the said farm" [SLR 3:84-86; BTR 1:149].

On 14 November 1670, "Isack Stedman of Muddy River, planter," sold to John Otis living in Barnstable ..., planter, ... seven acres of marsh meadow lying in Scittuate ... near to the brook called the First Herring Brook, together with a long strap of upland ... the whole piece of marsh being nine acres ... whereof two acres ... was disposed of by the said Isacke Stedman unto Walter Woodworthe" [PCLR 3:184].

On 8 May 1673, "Isack Stedman of Boston" sold to John Turner Junior son of Humphry Turner of Sittuate all my right, title and claim to any part or parcel of that marsh commonly called Long Marsh lying and being in Sittuate" [ScitTR 1:263].

In his will, dated 2 October 1678 and probated 19 December 1678, "Isaac Stedman of Muddy River in Boston bounds" bequeathed to "my son Nathanael ... the dwelling house I now live in with all the land belonginig to it" and part of the orchard; to "my son Thomas Stedman ... the other part of the orchard and all the planting ground he was wonted to plant for himself & his father"; "also forasmuch as the salt meadow is not so capable of division my will is that nathanael shall have two acres more than Thomas in yearly imporvement of it but if they agree upon division Nathanael to have two acres more than Thomas"; furthermore whereas in my fresh meadow there is an island or spot of upland in or near the middle of it my will is that a line be run in the middle of the spot and so all the meadow north and south and Nathanael shall have the western side & Thomas to have the eastern"; to "my son Nathanael & his heirs twenty acres of upland lying along the path side that leads to Boston and also a little pasture lying at the further end of it, and for what land within the bounds of Boston that is not particularly disposed of my will is that it be equally divided between my sons Nathanael & Thomas"; "whereas I have parcel of land in Cambridge bounds I formerly gave to my son Nathanael and now hereby confirm that gift to him"; "for right understanding of all things between me & my loving wife after my decease it is hereby declarded that i freely disclaim all interest in any part of her estate in Boston or elsewhere as she doth of mine and as a further token of my love to her over and above what she brought with her I give her free liberty to dwell in the house where I now am whilst she remains a widow" along with maintenance; to "my three daughters Elizabeth Haman, Hannah Hide & Sarah Perry I give unto them forty pounds apiece equally to be paid ..., which is to be thus understood, that what part they or their husbands have already received is to be reckoned as part, which is as followeth, viz. ELizabeth Haman hath twenty pounds, Hannah Hide hath twenty pounds twelve shillings, Sarah Perry hath twenty-five pounds two shillings & sixpence"; "my two sons Nathanael & Thomas Stedman to be my executors," they to receive residue of moveables [SPR 6:252-53].

The inventory of the estate of "Isaac Stedman of Muddy River, aged about 70 years, deceased 3 8mo [October] 1678," taken 17 December 1678, totalled £744 11d., of which £646 was real estate: "the farm, upland & meadow being 350 acres with the housing and orchard upon it," £470; "40 acres of land in Cambridge bounds," £80; and "16 acres of marsh," £96 [SPR 12:247].

BIRTH: Baptized Biddenden, Kent, 21 April 1605, son of Thomas Stedman [NEHGR 66:72, 76] (aged 30 on 8 April 1635 [Hotten 53]; aged "about 70 years" on 3 October 1678 [SPR 12:247]).

DEATH: Boston 3 October 1678 [SPR 12:247].

MARRIAGE: (1) Tenterden, Kent, 26 October 1629 Elizabeth Winchester [TAG 80:24].
(2) By 11 January 1677[/8?] Pilgrim (Eddy) Baker, daughter of JOHN EDDY 1630, Plymouth and widow of William Baker [GMB 1:610-14]. She married (3) between 1682 and 1688 Sylvester Eveleth [GMB 1:613; NEHGR 134:301; MLR 16:126-27].

CHILDREN:
With first wife

i       ELIZABETH STEDMAN, bp. Biddenden, Kent, 25 March 1631 [NEHGR 66:73, 77]; bur. there 20 May 1631 [NEHGR 66:73, 77].

ii      NATHANIEL STEDMAN, bp. Biddenden 9 September 1632 [NEHGR 66:73, 77]; m. (1) by about 1660 Sarah Hammond, daughter of THOMAS HAMMOND 1636, Hingham [Hingham Hist 2:286; TAG 69:157]; m. (2) by about 1665 Temperance ____ [TAG 71:85-86].

iii      ISAAC STEDMAN, bp. Biddenden 15 February 1634/5 [NEHGS 66:73, 77]; on 7 August 1650, "Isaake Stedman, the younger, for breaking into a house and from thence stealing out cheese and other things, was sentenced by the Cout to be publicly whipped at Scittuate at the discretion of mr. Hatherley" [PCR 2:160]; no further record.

iv      ELIZABETH STEDMAN, bp. Scituate 24 November 1637 [NEHGR 9:281]; m. Cambridge 17 December 1662 Thomas Hammond, son of THOMAS HAMMOND 1636, Hingham [Highham Hist 2:286].

v        THOMAS STEDMAN, b. say 1640; m. (1) by 1669 Mary Watson (eldest known child bp. Roxbury 18 July 1669 [RChR 128]), daughter of JOHN WATSON 1632, Roxbury [GMB 3:1947-49]; probably m. (2) Roxbury 10 September 1705 Sarah Gardner [TAG 69:158].

vi        HANNAH STEDMAN, b. say 1644; m. Cambridge 20 January 1673[/4?] Samuel Hyde.

vii        SARAH STEDMAN, b. say 1648; m. Roxbury 28 January 1668[/9?] Samuel Perry, son of JOHN PERRY 1632, Roxbury [GMB 3:1442-43; TAG 69:159, 82:288-89].

ASSOCIATIONS: Elizabeth (Winchester) Stedman, wife of this immigrant, mey be the sister of JOHN WINCHESTER 1635, Hingham [TAG 80:24; NEHGR 78:7-9].

COMMENTS: The passenger list entry for this immigrant associates him with three other men, who were called tanners and who had certificates of conformity from St. Alphage Cripplegate, London [Hotton 53]. A contemporary note added to this entry refers to "these three parties" and Hotten himself noted that the "fourth name is in a different handwriting from the prededing three." This, we should not conclude that Isaac Stedman was a tanner or that he was necessarily from St. Alphage Cripplegate.

On 5 March 1638/9, the Plymouth grand jury presented "Isaack Stedman and John Emerson ... for extorting one year and a half service of James Till, servant to both, above the first agreement & covenant betwixt John Em[er]son & the saud Till and his parents" [PCR 1:118]. On 3 September 1639, "upon the presentment against Isaack Stedman & John Emerson concerning James Till, the Court doth order, that the said Isaack Stedman shall return the said Till the lamb or goat, with the increase, which was delivered to him, he paying for the keeping thereof, and that the said James Till shall serve out the remainder of his five years term with John Emerson, but no longer, except upon new agreement. Isaack Stedman, of Scituate, for not apparing at the Court, & contemning the Governor's warrant, is fined xls." [PCR 1:131].

On 6 June 1650, "Mr. Tho[mas] Robenson complained against Isaacke Stedman, in an action of the case, to the damage of fourty pound. The jury found for the plaintiff twenty pound damage, and the cost of the suit, which was £10s." [PCR 7:48]. On 7 August 1650, Plymouth Court granted an execution "unto Mr. Tho[mas] Robenson against Isaak Stedman, Senior, for twenty pound damage and the charge of the suite, whereof the said Isaake Stedman is convict by course of law" [PCR 2:161].

On 8 JUne 1651, Plymouth grand jury presented "G[e]org[e] Russell and Isack Stedman, of the town of Scittuate, for encroaching upon the common undivided lands of Scittuate" [PCR 2:170]. On 7 October 1651, "whereas ... G[e]org[e] Russell, at the General Court holden the 8th of June last past, was presented for encroaching on the undivided lands of Scituate, he is enjoined by the Court to demolish whatsoever fence he hath on the said commons that have stopped highways, and so is cleared of this presentment. Isack Stedman was also for the like encrochment presented at the said Court, and is likewise enjoined by the COurt to reform the said wrong to the satifaction of such of his neighbors as are offended thereat" [PCR 2:172].

On 2 March 1657/8, "G[e]orge Russell complained against Abraham Sutliffe, in an action of the case, to the damage of sixteen pounds, for nonfulfilling of covenants made with Isaac Stedman, concerning repairing of housing. After the jury brough in their verdict on this suit, it was referred to the bench by mutual agreement of both plaintiff and defendent, vis: Mr. Josias Winslow, Senior, the attorny for G[e]orge Russell, and by Abraham Sutliffe, and Humphrey Johnson, the attorney for the said Abrham Sutliffe. And the bench awarded the defendant to pay unto the plaintiff the sum of four pounds, nd the charge of the suit; and so all controversies betwixt the said parties respecting this suit are fully ended" [PCR 7:86]. On the same day, "Abrham Sutliffe complained against G[e]orge Russell, of Mashfeild, in an action of the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for nonperformance of an agreement made with him about a farm that the said Russell bought of Isacke Stedman. The jury found no just cause for this suit commenced by Abraham Sutliffe against G[e]orge Russell" [PCR 7:87].

While a resident of Scituate, Isaac Stedman was frequently in trouble of a minor nature and held only one town office, serving a year as constable. At Boston he did not live in the town itself, but in the remote parts of Muddy River, and held no offices in Boston. He had been a member of the church at Scituate, but did not become a church member at Boton, where the admission requirements were stricter than at Scituate. As judged by his landholding and the size of his probate inventory, his wealth was above average. Although not a social outcast, Isaac Stedman was not fully integrated into early Massachusetts society.


BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1912 Elizabeth French published extensive English probate and parish register records for the Stedman family, followed by a genealogical summary of the family of Isaac Stedman and four generaitons of his agnate ancestry [NEHGR 66:67-77]. IN 1994 Robert S. Wakefield prepared a detailed account of this immigrant and in 1996 added additional information on his son Nathaniel [TAG 69:155-59, 71:85-86]. In 2005 Leslie Mahler published the record of the first marriage of this immigrant [TAG 80:24-25].

Isaac married Elizabeth Winchester 26 Oct 1629, Tenterden, Kent, England, UK. Elizabeth was born Bef 11 Jan 1606/07, Tenterden, Kent, England, UK; was christened 11 Jan 1606/07, Tenterden, Kent, England, UK; died Aft 1643, ____, ____, MA. [Group Sheet]

Isaac married Pilgrim Eddy Between 15 Mar 1676 and 11 Jan 1678, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Pilgrim (daughter of John Eddy and Amy Doggett) was born 25 Aug 1634, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; died Bef 26 Jan 1709/10. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

This long note is going to interest Steve and a few others on this list, but it is an interesting problem in American Stedman genealogy that needs to get documented in the list archives for whenever (or if ever?) we find some more answers.  Let me start my providing you with the presumed facts and then try to piece together some theories....

One of the original founding Stedman families in America is the family of Isaac Stedman, originally of Biddenden, Kent, England who came to America on the Ship Elizabeth in 1636 and settling in Scituate, MA.  He arrived with his wife Elizabeth and sons Isaac and Nathaniel.

Nathaniel was baptized in Biddenden on 9 September 1632.  We assume that he moved from Scituate to Muddy River (now Brookline) in 1650.

He married Sarah Hammond, daughter of Thomas Hammond and Elizabeth Cason in Hingham, MA, about 1655.  They lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, having removed from Muddy River.  They had daughters Elizabeth Stedman, born about 1655, and Sarah Stedman born about 1657.

[Note:  Elizabeth is not the Elizabeth Stedman who married Thomas Dunk in Saybrook, CT.  That was the widow of Lt. John Stedman of Wethersfield, CT, who died in King Philip's war in December 1675.  She was his second wife and her maiden name was Elizabeth Blackleach.]

Nathaniel Stedman had three or four additional children:  Nathaniel, born between 1665 and 1670, Hannah born 1665-1667 and Mary born about 1669; and maybe a Michael Stedman.

Sarah Hammond died before 1675 (based on her father's will - see below). No record of the exact date of her death has been found.

Nathaniel likely married Temperance Willis (Wills), baptized 13 Feb 1648 in Cambridge, daughter of Michael Willis and Mildred Wells (or maybe Ann Woods). I have seen no evidence to suggest that she was not born near to that time, although some references give 1636 as the date of her birth.

Nathaniel died 10 November 1678 in Muddy River or Boston, leaving a widow Temperance for whom we have no record of her death or re-marriage.  And some number of children.  He did not leave a will.

The Boyd Patterson Ancestry (1967) ( NEHGS (s-640F/A.123)) by H. Minot Pittman, FASG, and Katherine Patterson Boyd Hunt is a source for the marriage of Nathaniel with a Temperance. The administration of his estate was granted to his widow Temperance in Suffolk county Probate Court, 27 January 1677/78.

Although we have found no proof that Temperance was Temperance Willis, it is likely because the name was uncommon at the time in Boston area.

The commonly ascribed date of her marriage to Nathaniel Stedman is "1664".  I have never found a source for that date and believe it to be an estimated date based on the birth dates of the children commonly assigned to her.

A number of Isaac's family died that year.  Isaac died 19 Dec 1678; Isaac, Jr. may have died in November 1678; Thomas Hammond, Jr., husband of Isaac's daughter Elizabeth died 20 October 1678.  Maybe other family members that cannot be further traced also died at this time.

I can find no record of a marriage or death for Elizabeth or Sarah. Maybe they died in the 1678 diseases?  The record of the land they inherited from their grandfather may tell us something.

Mary married David Stowell on 6 April 1692 in Cambridge and died 27 Sept 1724.  The record of her descendants is long - and poorly documented; however, she is thought to be an ancestor of Richard King of Maine and Rufus King of New York.  I am looking for data on this family.

Her sister Hannah married Robert Murdock on 28 April 1692 in Roxbury. She died about 17 August 1727 in Newton and was the matriarch of a large family that has been well documented.

Her brother Nathaniel seems to have died, unmarried about 1703.

Nothing is known of Michael; however, based on his name, it would seem likely that he was the son of Temperance as Michael was her father's name, and Michael is not an otherwise popular name in the Stedman family. [In fact, among my records, I have only one other Michael Stedman and I believe that he is a subscriber to this list.]  He may have died young. One source gives his birth as 1667 or 1669 at Brookline, MA.

Straightening out this family has been a particular interest to me and several other researchers, mostly descendants of Robert Murdock or David Stowell.

Recently, I have found a transcription of the will of Thomas Hammond:

HISTORY AND GENEALOGIES OF THE HAMMOND FAMILIES IN AMERICA
With an Account of the Early History of the Family in Normandy and Great Britain.  1000-1902

BY FREDERICK STAM HAMMOND, VOL. II.
ONEIDA, N. Y., RYAN & BURKHART, PRINTERS. 1904

"He died in 1675, leaving an unsigned will which was admitted to probate, a copy of which is given below.  It is found in Middlesex Probate, No. 7160.

WILL OF THOMAS HAMMOND.  1675.

I, Thomas Hamond, of Cambridge, County of Middlesex, in New England, being now aged, yet through the favor of God of sound judgement, do make and ordain my last will and testament in manner following, viz: My immortal soul I do commit and leave in the arms and mercy of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

My body decently to be buried, at the discretion of my executors, and as for my outward estate, my will is that my just debts being paid, the remainder shall be divided in manner as follows, viz:

I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth Woodward, and her heirs, 100 acres of land at the farm called Hodgdens Farms, belonging unto Muddy River; one part of it being the 3d division for the meadow as appears by an indenture made the 20th day of June, 1664, for the division of the said farm betwixt the aforesaid Thomas Hamond and Vincent Druce, who were joint purchasers of the said farm, which division was in length from one side of the said farm over the great hill unto the other side of the farm, and is measured out to be 60 rods in breadth, which division contains 70 acres of land or thereabouts. Also 30 acres more which is not yet particularly divided out of another parcel of the same farm, which fell in division unto me, adjoining Roxbury line.

Also I give unto my daughter, Sarah Stedman, and to her heirs in the time of her life 100 acres of land.

I do confirm, give, grant and bequeath unto her two daughters, which she left behind her, viz.: Sarah Stedman and Elizabeth Stedman, the said 100 acres of land, viz.: One parcel of land running from one side of the farm over the great hill, being 60 rods in breadth and containing the sum of seventy acres, or thereabouts, which is called 2d division, and lyeth between the division given unto my daughter, Woodward, S. E. and N. E. upon Vincent Druce, and 30 acres to be out of that farm, part of my land aforementioned near unto the Roxbury line.  These two parcels of land I do give and grant to be equally divided between the said Sarah and Elizabeth Stedman, my grandchildren, to have and to hold the said lands respectively to their heirs and assigns forever.

Also I do give unto my son, Thomas, the house he dwells in and the field that is fenced in on the lower side of the highway against the house of Vincent Druce and unto the great ditch, containing 5 acres or thereabouts.

Also unto my son, Nathaniel, I give unto him the house he dwells in, and all the upland adjoining with cranberry meadow adjoining the Pond unto troublesome swamp.

Also unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth Hamond, I give and bequeath during her life, my dwelling house, meadows, pasture on the N. E. side of the highway, from cranberry meadow unto the lands of Thomas Greenwood, Capt. Prentice, John Ward and Thomas Prentice.

Also I give unto my son, Nathaniel, all that my meadow commonly called Cambridge meadow; and I give unto him also one-third part of that my meadow belonging unto the farm, and the rest unto my son, Thomas.

Furthermore: My will is that the cattle which shall be left after my wife's decease, shall be divided betwixt my two sons, and what moveables shall then remain to be parted equally betwixt my two sons and my daughter, Woodward.

Furthermore: I ordain my beloved wife to be sole executrix of this, my last will and testament.

Furthermore: My will is that my son, Nathaniel, have one third part of the fruit of the orchard with my son, Thomas, year by year until he has an orchard of his own, and use of the barn until his brother help him build one.

This writing was exhibited without date or subscription by Elizabeth Hamond, the relict, widow of the above named Thomas Hamond, deceased, the 5 of Nov., 1675, being in the handwriting of the said Hamond.

His inventory amounted to £1,139 16s 2d and was by Elder Wiswall and John Spring.  It was dated Oct. 25, 1675, and states that he deceased Sept. 30, 1675."

-------

The contents of the will tells us a few things.  First it dates that his daughter Sarah was already deceased by the time of his death, which has been the basis for her death date as "before 1675".  Second it identifies that her daughters Sarah and Elizabeth were still alive as of 1675 and actually going to be quite land wealthy.  (If they owned that land today, they would never work again...)  Most importantly it does not mention any other grandchildren of his through Sarah, suggesting quite strongly that she had died before the other children were born.  This moves her death date back to before 1664.

If I believe that marriage date of 1677/78 for Temperance, then who is the mother of the other children who were definitely alive in 1675 and were not married.

I first started researching Michael Willis.

Savage tells us this (Vol. 4, p. 576):

"MICHAEL, Dorchester, freem. 2 May 1638, by w. Joan had Joseph,
bapt. 3 Feb. 1639, wh. prob. liv. not long; rem. with Powell to Boston,
there was one of the found. of sec. ch. by w. Mildred had Michael, b.
11 Nov. 1652; whether he had any more bef. com. or any other than
this one aft. I cannot learn, exc. by inf. from his will of 21 June
1669, pro. 7 Oct. foll. wh. makes it certain that he had a s. Experience
bef. and some ds. m. how many, or what their names is not kn. beside d.
Temperance wh. was bapt. 13 Feb. 1648, unm. yet of inq. for sev.
gr.ch. to wh. he gave legacies (of wh. none but Joseph Phillips is call.
out), obscure diligence may fail of its reward. His w. to wh. he had
giv. power to dispose of some of his prop. aft. her own d. in her will
of 20 Sept. 1680, increase, the confus. in part, and lends no clue to
other part, only that one of his ds. Abigail, was a. 1658, sec. w. of
Thomas Bill. Other ds. are Lydia Nowell; Joanna Ellis; and beside
the darkness that hangs upon gr.s. Michael and gr.d. Marsh, tho. we
may guess the former to be s. of Experience, suffic. trouble would
remain in the search for "daur. Pollard's childr." yet the diffic. seems
inextrica. when we find that beyond the thick clouds wherein we would
hunt for the ds. of her h. she scatters all hope of success, by speaking of
her "five own ds." So the only safe conclus. is that she was a young
wid. with five ds. when Michael took her; but perhaps the ds. m. that
he refers to in his will, may have been, some at least, not his offspr. but
those of the sec. w. bef. their union."

and from:

Genealogical Register of Decendants of Puritans
Call Number: R929.1M88v2
Bibliographic Information: Morse, Abner. Genealogical Register of Descendants of Puritans. Press of H. W. Dutton & Son. Boston. 1859, p.199

Michael "Wills" or "Willis," styled cutler, was first a member of the church in Dorchester, and was, with George Willis of Cambridge, admitted to the freeman's oath 2 (3) 1638, and became a founder of the 2d Church in Boston, June 5, 1650. He was by occupation a gunsmith, and ship-builder; was prosecuted for repairing a gun-lock, belonging to an Indian, contrary to law, but was discharged from his fine, Dec. 1, 1641, on the ground that he did not know that it belonged to an Indian.

Michael Willis of Boston, with three other members of the "New Church," Sept. 10, 1653, petitioned the General Court to remove an injunction by the magistrates against the ordination of Mr. Powell as their pastor and teacher.

He sold land in Dorchester, 1656, which he had bought of John Willis, pr. his nephew, and the same John who m. Feb. 1655, Hannah Else, and had owned, in common with Nathaniel, a lot on Dorchester Neck.

His 1st wife's name was Joan, and 2d do. Mildred.

June 21, 1669, he made his will, appointing her sole executrix, and giving to his two sons, Experience and Michael, his shop, tools, and utensils, his house, shipyard, and garden, they to pay their mother Mildred such rent as "the overseers of his will should think fitting," and to receive in addition at her death £5 apiece. To his daughters who were married, he gave at his death 5s. apiece, and to Temperance, if unmarried at the death of her mother, £15, and to his cousin Jabez Ealmon or Salmon of Roxbury, 5s., and to his grandson Joseph Phillips, when come to years of discretion, 20s. He made "his friends" Christopher Gibson and Henry Bridgham, overseers, and his will was witnessed by Wm. Alford, Richard and Elisha Cook, and proved Oct. 7, 1669. His widow Mildred died in Boston, and her estate was appraised March 2, 1681, at £77. Had--

1. Joseph bap. Feb. 3, 1639, in Boston; pr. d. yg.; was by wf. Joan.
2. Experience d. prior to 1716; m. Elizabeth (???)
3. Temperance bap. 9 (2) 1648, at 1st Church.
4. Joana bap. 13 (2) 1651; m. John Ellis.
5. Michael b. Nov. 11, 1652, by wife Mildred, d. 1711-12; m. Elizabeth (???).
6. Adingstil who d. Sept. 6, 1658.
7. Abigail who was 2d wife of Thomas Bill in 1658.
8. Lydia who m. (???) Nowell.
9.? Elizabeth m. Zachariah Phillips; had Joseph?

-=-=-=-=-

These documents suggest that Temperance was unmarried as of 1669.

The consequence of this data suggests that neither Sarah Hammond nor Temperance Willis could not be the mother of Nathaniel, Jr., Hannah, or Mary Stedman!  For the first time, I am suggesting to you that Nathaniel's second wife was not Temperance Willis, but some, as yet identified woman, who must have died in the late 1670s and then Nathaniel married Temperance Willis as his third wife.

The references suggest that there is still research to be done at the Massachusetts archives and elsewhere to prove this contention.

John Lisle, 11 April 2000.

Nathaniel married Sarah Hammond Bef 1655, Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Hammond and Elizabeth Cason) was born Bef 13 Sep 1640, Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA; was christened 13 Sep 1640, Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA; died Bef 1664. [Group Sheet]

Nathaniel married Miss [--?--] Bef 1664. Miss died Bef 1678. [Group Sheet]

Nathaniel married Temperance Willis 27 Jan 1677/78, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA. Temperance (daughter of Michael Willis and Mildred Wells) was born Bef 9 Apr 1648, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA; was christened 9 Apr 1648, First Church - Boston, Suffolk Co., MA; died Aft 1693, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Death: Between 1677 and 1678

Elizabeth married Thomas Hammond, Jr. 17 Dec 1662, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. Thomas (son of Thomas Hammond and Elizabeth Cason) was born Abt 1630, ____, ____, England, UK; died 20 Oct 1678, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA; was buried Aft 20 Oct 1678, Old East Burying Ground - Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Muddy River/Brookline, Suffolk Co., MA
• Alt. Death: Aft 1679
• Alt. Death: 1715

Notes:

In the tenth report of the Record Commissioners of Boston, Thomas Stedman was assessed in 1693 a tax of £1 3 shillings for the relief of the poor and to defray other town charges.  He was also assess a tax £3 for house and farm and £15 for estate.

In 1704 he (Thomas Stedman, Sr.) was one of the authors of a petition to the Gouvernor Council and Assembly asking to separate Muddy River as a separate village, and no longer part of Boston.  The petition was signed by his sons Thomas and Joshua in addition to himself (claiming 2 adult men in household - himself and son Joseph?)

Thomas married Mary Watson Abt 1667, Roxbury, Norfolk Co., MA. Mary (daughter of John Watson and Alice Bredda) was born 2 May 1644, Roxbury, Norfolk Co., MA; was christened 5 May 1644, Roxbury, Norfolk Co., MA; died 31 Jan 1703/04, Muddy River (Brookline), Suffolk Co., MA; was buried Aft 31 Jan 1703/04, Old East Burying Ground - Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Sarah Gardner 10 Sep 1705, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. Sarah was born , of Muddy River (now Brookline), Norfolk Co., MA; died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: Abt 1650, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA
• Alt. Death: 21 May 1727, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA

Hannah married Samuel Hyde 20 Jan 1673/74, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA. Samuel (son of Jonathan Hyde and Mary French) was born 23 May 1653, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA; died 22 Jul 1725, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Will: 23 Oct 1727
• Probate: 27 Nov 1727, ____, Suffolk Co., MA

Sarah married Samuel Perry 28 Jan 1668/69, Roxbury, Norfolk Co., MA. Samuel (son of John Perry and Anne Newman) was born 1 Mar 1639/40, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA; was christened 6 Mar 1641/42, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA; died 6 Apr 1706, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Sarah married James Herring 16 Apr 1685, Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA. James (son of Thomas Herring and Mary Pierce) was born 5 Nov 1656, Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA; died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Probate: 30 Sep 1703, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA

Notes:

In the Tenth Report of the record Commissioners of Boston, Nathaniel Stedman and Mother were recorded as being assessed tax in 1693 of £2 for house and farm.  They were also assessed a tax of 13 shillings for the relief of the poor and defraying other Town Charges.

Died:
According to the probate record, he was about age 38 when he died.

Nathaniel — Hannah [--?--]. Hannah died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 2 Mar 1664/65, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA
• Alt. Death: 17 Jul 1727, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA
• Alt. Death: 18 Aug 1727, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA

Hannah married Robert Murdock 28 Apr 1692, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. Robert (son of Jackson Murdock and Mary Steadman) was born 6 Sep 1663, Stirling, Central, Scotland, UK; died 28 Apr 1754, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: Abt 1672, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA
• Alt. Death: 27 Apr 1724, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA

Notes:

According to the Stowell (1922) genealogy, Mary was the daughter of Nathaniel and Temperance Stedman.

Mary married David Stowell 7 Apr 1692, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA. David (son of Samuel Stowell and Mary Farrow) was born Bef 8 Apr 1660, Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA; was christened 8 Apr 1660, Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA; died 9 Sep 1724, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Thomas Chamberlain 18 Apr 1682, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. Thomas (son of William Chamberlain and Rebecca Addington) was born 20 Feb 1658/59, Billerica, Middlesex Co., MA; died 31 Jul 1724, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Jackson's history of Newton and Bond's history of Watertown both give the date of his death as "March 15, 1738, aged 72 years," but an examination of Middlesex Probate Records shows that Adm. was granted on his estate in 1720, and that a bond was given July 14, 1721, signed by Caleb Hammond, Ebenezer Hammond and Nathaniel Hammond. The estate appears to have been held until Feb. 24, 1755, when it was appraised by Deacon John Stone and Thomas Greenwood and commissioners appointed to divide the property. The commissioners, Thomas Greenwood, John Stone and James Ward, reported to the court under date of March 18, 1755.

"Having thus perfected the Inventory we are of the opinion that to distribute the same will be predudicial to the whole. We have therefore set the whole of the foregoing pieces of land and part of the dwelling house on John Hammond, said deceast oldest son, in paying to Thomas Hammond, Caleb Hammond, Mehitable Petty, the wife of James Petty, and Mary Benjamin, the wife of Samuel Benjamin, four of said deceased children, as also to the heirs of legal representatives of the children of Samuel Hammond deceast, as your Honor shall order." (Middlesex Probate No. 7161.)

Thomas was at one time a Selectman in Newton. He was a farmer and the owner of considerable land there.

Thomas married Mehitable Very 15 Jun 1693. Mehitable died 1704. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Mary Bacon 8 Aug 1705. Mary died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Death: 22 Dec 1753, Woodstock, Windham Co., CT

Notes:

From HAMMOND FAMILIES:

(III) ISAAC HAMMOND, (Thomas2) b. Newton, Mass., Dec. 20, 1668; d. Newton, Mass., Jan. 1, 1715; m. Dec. 7, 1692, Ann Kenrick, b. July 3, 1672; d. (???) --, 1719, dau. of Elijah and Hannah (Jackson) Kenrick, of Newton, Mass.

He was a farmer in Newton, Mass. Adm. on his estate was granted to his widow, Ann, in 1715, and she was appointed guardian of children; Josiah, in his 20th year; Elizabeth, in her 17th year; Jonathan, in his 15th year. These three of their own accord; and by special appointment of the judge of Elijah, in his 8th year; and Esther, in her 11th year. Appraisers on the estate: John Staples, John Spring, Thomas Hammond, Nathaniel Hammond and William Trowbridge. (Middlesex Probate No. 7150.) Widow, Ann, left a will dated 1719.

Children:

39. 1. MARGARET, b. August 25, 1694.
40* 2. ISAAC, b. July 31, 1698.
41* 3. JOSIAH, b. March 12, 1700.
42. 4. HANNAH, b. April 19, 1703.
43* 5. JONATHAN, b. Feb. --, 1705.
44* 6. ESTHER, b. Feb. 3, 1708.
45* 7. ELIJAH, b. Oct. 7, 1711.

Isaac married Ann Kendrick 7 Dec 1692, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. Ann (daughter of Elijah Kendrick and Hannah Jackson) was born 3 Jul 1672, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA; died 1719; was buried Aft 1719, Old East Burying Ground - Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THE HAMMOND FAMILY, pp. 12-13 (Vol.2):

Eleazer Hammond was Selectman in Newton in 1741.

The will of Widow Hannah, (Middlesex Probate, No 7148, dated April 4, 1764), mentions son, Ephraim; daughters, Patience Chamberlain, Hannah Green, Abigail Harrington, Susanna Fulham, Lydia Hammond; and grand-daughter, Lydia Hammond. As both her son, Eleazer, and daughter, Lydia, had daughters named Lydia Hammond, it is uncertain which was meant, but since her son, Eleazer, had probably already received his share of the estate, this was probably the daughter of John and Lydia Hammond. Son-in-law, Eleazer Chamberlain, Exec.

Eleazer's will, (Middlesex Probate, No. 7143, dated May 1, 1760), gives to his wife Hannah, household goods, except those given to daughter, Patience Hammond, all corn and grain in house at time of his decease, use of two cows to be kept for her on homestead, one third of all grain and produce of the farm from year to year, "also my Riding Chair" and disposal of a horse to be kept on farm for her, cider, apples and firewood to be cut and laid at her door. "I give her the liberty to have a swine to go and feed about my house during her natural life." Also use of part of house.

To son, Eleazer Hammond, and his heirs, £5.
To daughter, Hannah Green, £13.
To daughter, Abigail Harrington, £14, 15s.
To daughter, Patience Hammond, largest brass kettle, one brass skillet, one iron pot, one iron kettle, one pair hand irons, an Iron trammel, one pair tongs, one fire shovel and £70.
To daughter, Susannah Fulham, £13.
To daughter, Lydia Hammond, £13.
To grandson, Richard Roberts, £2, 13s, 4d.
To grandaughter, Elizabeth Dean, £2, 13s, 4d.
To son Ephraim Hammond, residue of estate.

Son, Ephraim, sole executor.

Signed with his X mark and a seal.
Witnesses, Jonas Meriam, Ephraim Ward and Thomas Greenwood.
Nov. 20, 1760, certificate of Richard Harrington and Francis Fulham that they are satisfied with the provisions of the will.
Nov. 29, 1760, citation of Hannah Green, Patience Hammond, John Hammond and his wife, Lydia, signed by Ephraim Hammond.
Dec.1, 1760, satisfaction of daughter, Hannah, signed with her X mark. Bond of Ephraim Hammond with John Clarke and Eleazer Chamberlain as sureties.

Eleazer married Hannah Harrington 29 Apr 1703, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Hannah (daughter of John Harrington and Hannah Winter) was born 9 Aug 1682, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; died 14 Feb 1775. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: Bef 18 Jul 1669, Muddy River (Brookline), Suffolk Co., MA
• Alt. Death: 1715, Sherborn, Middlesex Co., MA
• Will: 24 Jan 1734/35, Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA

Notes:

His name was on a petition from Muddy River (Brookline) for that place to be set off from Boston, 1704.

Birth:
Birth reported in the Sixth Report of the Boston Commisioners as a son of Thomas Stedman of Cambridge Village.

Thomas married Mary Trowbridge Bef 1696, Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA. Mary (daughter of Deacon James Trowbridge and Margaret Atherton) was born 11 Jun 1670, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA; died 14 Apr 1724, Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Hannah Ware 18 Nov 1729, Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA. Hannah (daughter of Ephraim Ware and Hannah Herring) was born Abt 1690, Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA; died Aft 1 Feb 1734/35. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(Suff. XLII: 1) The will of Caleb Stedman mentions Ebenezer Newell, and his dau. in law Bethiah Stedman [she was wife of Caleb Stedman Jr. Suff. XLII: 65]; brothers Joshua Stedman and John Gore; Hannah Whitney; and grandson Caleb Stedman. Made 10 Dec. 1746; proved 25 Oct. 1748.

Note:  Hannah Whitney is probably his niece:  his wife's sister Sarah, married Joseph Cheney.  His daughter Hannah married Caleb Whitney and in 1746 she would have been known as Hannah Whitney.

(Midd. Deed XXVI: 197) Agreement made between Thomas Wiswall of Newtown Co. Midd., yeoman, of the one part, and Mr. Thomas Greenwood of Rehoboth, in the Co. of Bristol, minister of the Gospel, and Nathaniel Parker of Newtown aforesaid husbandman and Caleb Stedman of Newtown, turner, and Esther Wiswall & Sarah Wiswall of the same place of the other part, all heirs of the estate of the late Honoured Capt. Noah Wiswall of Newton, witnesseth: I Thomas Greenwood with consent of Elizabeth my wife and I Nathaniel Parker and Margaret my wife, and I Caleb Stedman and Hannah my wife, and I Esther Wiswall, and I Sarah Wiswall, being all of full age, sell to our aforesaid loving brother Thomas Wiswall our full shares of the estate of our father Noah Wiswall. . . . Dated 21 Oct. 1698.

(Suff. XIII:219-222) The will of John Watson of Boston mentions wife Mary, dau. of Eckles; cousin Caleb Stedman, the son of my brother Thomas Stedman of Mudy River; brother Mr. Caleb Stedman; cousin John Dwight & Dorcas Adams; cousins Thomas Stedman, Joshua Stedman, Joseph Stedman & Mary Stedman; cousin Tabitha Brooks; Bethiah Pepper, the dau. of Joseph Pepper.  Made 27 Jul 1693.  Proved 7-8 Sept. 1693.

From a History of King Phillip's War:

NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIP #5, SOUHEGAN EAST, NOW BEDFORD, PART OF MERRIMAC,AND PART OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The township was drawn to the grantees or their claimants then [1733] residing in the several towns of Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Milton, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Dedham, Stoughton, Brookline, Needham, Hull, Medfield,  Scituate, Newport, New London, and Providence.  The grantees met and chose for their committee: Col.Thomas Tileson, Mr Jonathan Williams, and Capt. Joseph Ruggles.  The grantees who became proprietors had to pay 5 pounds, and those who drew even numbers had to settle families, and those who drew odd numbers had to pay 5 pounds. These men served in King Phillip's War 1675-1676 and are the "grantees".


NO spelling changed....just as in book.    In brackets [ ] my notes.

These men from Roxbury [Mass]
grantee                        claimant
John Watson               Caleb Stedman, nephew

Caleb married Hannah Wiswall 1 Apr 1697, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. Hannah (daughter of Capt. Noah Wiswall and Theodocia Jackson) was born 1 Apr 1674, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA; died 24 Aug 1743, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA; was buried Aft 24 Aug 1743, Roxbury Burial Ground - Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 1674, ____, ____, MA

Notes:

Died:
Publications of the Brookline Historical Publication Society (1897), p.118
First Parish Church Records. Deaths.
1762  11 Dec.  Joshua Stedman, age 89.

Joshua married Margaret Bridge Bef 1700, Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA. Margaret (daughter of John Bridge and Miss [--?--]) was born 11 Mar 1671/72; was christened 23 Mar 1671/72, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA; died 28 Dec 1701, Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Joshua married Content Twitchell 3 Jan 1702/03, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA. Content (daughter of Joseph Twitchell and Lydia Johnson) was born 25 Jan 1679/80, Sherborn, Middlesex Co., MA; died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Mary married John Gore 20 Oct 1708, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA. John (son of John Gore and Sarah Gardner) was born 27 Feb 1683/84, Roxbury, Norfolk Co., MA; died Aft 1746. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married John Quimby 1 May 1713, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. John (son of Robert Quimby and Elizabeth Osgood) was born 7 Sep 1665, Salisbury, Essex Co., MA; died 23 Jun 1717, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Francis Blanden Bef 18 Oct 1718. Francis died 11 Apr 1754, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Sarah Aldis 30 May 1710. Sarah died 10 Mar 1715/16. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Elizabeth Smith 21 Mar 1716/17. Elizabeth died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Isaac married Sarah Hanchett 21 Apr 1715, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. Sarah died Unknown. [Group Sheet]