John Stebbins of Northampton

Not the same as Deacon / Lieutenant John Stebbins, of New London

Biography

John Stebbins was born on June 26, 1626 in Bocking, Essex County, England. He immigrated with his parents Rowland Stebbins (originally was Stebbing, but he changed it to Stebbins after arriving in the new world) and Sarah Whiting Stebbins in 1634. They lived first in Roxbury, Massachusetts. At some point before 1646, they moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. The first Springfield record was in 1646 when he was taxed with others for his share of 30 pounds due Pynchon for purchasing land from the Indians. On 21 Feb 1649 he was granted land. He then moved to Northampton in 1656 and lived at the end of "Pudding Lane". He was a farmer and also owned a sawmill.

He first married widow Anne (Munson) Munden on May 14, 1646 in Springfield. They had five children, only two of whom survived to adulthood and had children. John then married Miss Abigail Bartlett, daughter of Robert and Ann Bartlett, on December 17, 1657. They had ten or eleven children; all but one survived to adulthood. John died at his sawmill on March 7, 1679; Abigail then married Jedediah Strong, son of Elder John Strong, on December 28, 1681.

John Stebbins, Sr died in Northampton in 1678, the manner of his death was regarded as "mysterous, in some way connected with witchcraft, but nothing was proved."

John came to America with his family on the Francis in 1634 and settled with them in Roxbury, Ma He bought land in Springfield, Ma. in 1646 and in 1651 he bought a house there. In 1656 he settled in Northampton, Ma. where he lived at the lower end of "Pudding Lane" (now Hawley Street). He owned a sawmill in Fasthampton.

He was measurer of lands 1659 and again in 1671; Jan 1684 he was chosen bailiff for the town to clear the meadows of all cattle and swine that are trespassers and impound them so that they could preserve the corn and grass; he was a selectman in 1675 and again in 1678.

He died in an accident at his sawmill and the commonbelief was that he had been killed by witches. Two examinations of his body were made and an inquest was held during which a large number of women were summoned, to examine and touch him, intending in this way to discover the witch. However no evidence was found concerning witchcraft and no further action was taken even though 1/2 the jurors believed his death was due to witchcraft.

His estate was presented in Northampton, Ma. 25 Mar 1679.

After John's death Abigail married 28 Dec 1681 Jedediah Strong, son of John Strong. Abigail fell from her horse while passing South Hadley Falls, and died soon after. She had started on 10 Oct 1710 from Northampton to visit her children by her first husband, who were living in Coventry, Ct.

John married (1) Mary Anne MUNDEN 1, 2 daughter of Thomas MUNDEN Captain and SUSAN on 14 May 1646 in Springfield, Hampden County, MA. Mary was born about 1630 in Probably in England. She died in 1656 in Springfield, Hamden County, MA.

They had the following children:

• + 50 M i John , Jr STEBBINS Captain
• 51 M ii Thomas STEBBINS 1 was born on 24 Feb 1648/1649 in Springfield, Hamden County, MA. He died on 24 Apr 1650 in Springfield, Hamden County, MA.
• 52 F iii Anne STEBBINS 1 was born on 10 Apr 1651 in Springfield, Hamden County, MA. She died on 6 May 1652 in Springfield, Hamden County, MA.
• 53 M iv Edward STEBBINS 1 was born on 12 Jul 1653 in Springfield, Hampden County, MA. He died on 14 Oct 1653 in Springfield, Hampden County, MA.
• + 54 M v Benoni STEBBINS

John married 2 (2) Abigail BARTLETT 1 daughter of Robert BARTLETT and Ann WARRINGER on 17 Dec 1657 in Hartford, Hartford County, CT. Abigail was born 3, 4 on 26 Sep 1636 in Hartford, Hartford County, CT. She died on 10 Oct 1710 in South Hadley Falls, Hampshire County, MA. 1 _FA1 2 DATE 17 OCT 1710 2 PLAC Died, falling from her horse...

They had the following children:

• + 55 M vi Samuel STEBBINS
• + 56 F vii Abigail STEBBINS
• + 57 M viii Thomas STEBBINS
• + 58 F ix Hannah STEBBINS
• + 59 F x Mary STEBBINS
• + 60 F xi Sarah STEBBINS
• 61 M xii Joseph STEBBINS 1 was born on 17 Jan 1669/1670 in Northampton, MA. He died on 3 Jun 1681.
• + 62 F xiii Deborah STEBBINS
• + 63 F xiv Rebeckah STEBBINS
• 64 M xv Benjamin STEBBINS 1 was born on 3 Mar 1673/1674 in Northampton, MA. He died on 12 Oct 1778. 1 _FA1 2 DATE 3 MAY 1674 2 PLAC Baptisted Benjamin married Mary ASHLEY 1 daughter of David ASHLEY and Hannah GLOVER on 21 Dec 1699 in Springfield, CT. Mary was born on 3 Mar 1682/1683 in Westfield, MA. She died on 7 Sep 1769 in Westfield, MA.
• + 65 F xvi Thankful A STEBBINS

John Stebbins, Sr died in Northampton in 1678, the manner of his death was regarded as "mysterous, in some way connected with witchcraft, but nothing was proved."

John Stebbins

• Born: 1626 - England
• Marr: 17 DEC 1657 - Northampton, Hampshire Co., MA
• Died: 7 MAR 1677/78 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton
• Father: Rowland Stebbins
• Mother: Sara Whiting
• Father: Rowland Stebbins
• Mother: Sara Whiting
• !st Wife of John Stebbins Mary Anne Munson Born: ABT 1626 - Massachusetts, Hampden County, Springfield Died: AFT 23 JUN 1655 - Massachusetts, Hampden County, Springfield Father: Thomas Munson Mother: Joanna Mew Other Spouses: Abraham Munden

Children

• 1. John Stebbins Born: 28 JAN 1645/46 - Massachusetts, Hampden County, Springfield Marr: 1679 - Dorothy Alexander Died: 19 DEC 1724 - Deerfield, MA
• 2. Thomas Stebbins Born: 24 FEB 1648/49 - Springfield, Hampden County, Ma Died: 24 APR 1649 –
• 3. Ann Stebbins Born: 10 APR 1651 - Springfield, Hampden County, Ma Died: 6 MAY 1652 –
• 4. Edward Stebbins Born: 12 JUL 1653 - Springfield, Hampden County, Ma Died: 14 OCT 1653 –
• 5. Benoni Stebbins Born: 23 JUN 1655 - Springfield, Hampden County, Ma Marr: 1676 - Mary Broughton (other spouses) Died: 29 FEB 1703/04 - Deerfield, M

2nd Wife of John Stebbins:Abigail Barlett Born: ABT 1636 - Died: OCT 1710 - Massachusetts, South Hadley Fall Father: Mother: Other Spouses: Jedediah Strong

Children

• 1. Samuel Stebbins Born: 21 JAN 1658/59 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 2. Abigail Stebbins Born: 6 SEP 1660 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 3. Thomas Stebbins Born: 6 MAY 1662 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 4. Hannah Stebbins Born: 8 JUL 1664 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 5. Mary Stebbins Born: 10 SEP 1666 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 6. Sarah Stebbins Born: 4 JUN 1668 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 7. Joseph Stebbins Born: 17 JAN 1669/70 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 8. Deborah Stebbins Born: 5 MAR 1671/72 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -
• 9. Benjamin Stebbins Born: 3 MAR 1672/73 - Northampton, Hampshire Co., MA Died: -
• 10. Rebecca Stebbins Born: 20 FEB 1674/75 - Northampton, Hampshire Co., MA Died: -
• 11. Thankful Stebbins Born: 11 MAY 1678 - Massachusetts, Hampshire Co., Northampton Died: -

John Stebbins, Sr died in Northampton in 1678, the manner of his death was regarded as "mysterious, in some way connected with witchcraft, but nothing was proved."

John came to America with his family on the Francis in 1634and settled with them in Roxbury, Ma He bought land in Springfield, Ma. in 1646and in 1651 he bought a house there. In 1656 he settled in Northampton, Ma. where he lived at the lower end of "pudding Lane" (now Hawley Street). He owned a sawmill in Fasthampton.

He was measurer of lands 1659 and again in 1671; Jan1684 he was chosen bailiff for the town to clear the meadows of all cattle and swine that are trespassers and impound them so that they could preserve the corn and grass; he was selectman in 1675 and again 1678.

He died in an accident at his sawmill and the common belief was that he had been killed by witches. Two examinations of his body were made and an inquest was held during which a large number of women were summoned, to examine and touch him, intending in this way to discover the witch. However no evidence was found concerning witchcraft and no further action was taken even though 1/2 the jurors believed his death was due to witchcraft.

His estate was presented in Northampton, Ma. 25 Mar 1679. After John's death Abigail married 28 Dec 1681 Jedediah Strong, son of John Strong. Abigail fell from her horse while passing South Hadley Falls, and died soon after. She had started on 10 Oct 1710 from Northampton to visit her children by her first husband, who were living in Coventry, Ct.

ID: I28653

Name: John STEBBINS

Sex: M

Birth: ABT 1626 in St. Mary's, Bocking, Essex, England 1 2 3 4 5 6

Death: BET 7 MAR 1677 AND 1679 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts 1 2 3 7 4 5 8 9

Burial: Bridgestreet Cemetery 5

Reference Number: 28653

Note:

BIRTH: Stebbins Ancestral Society has birth in Ipswich.

BIOGRAPHY: On Feb. 21, 1649 he was granted land in Springfield. He settled in Northampton between 1654 and 1658, being the first four years of that town's existence, and lived at the end of "Pudding Lane." He owned a sawmill there and in 1672-73 contributed wheat and flax valued at ten shillings to Harvard. He was selectman in 1675 and 1678..

DEATH: Killed in an accident at the sawmill.

Father: Rowland STEBBINS b: BET OCT 1592 AND 1594 in Bocking, Essex, England

Mother: Sarah WHITING b: 30 NOV 1591 in Bocking, Essex, England

Marriage 1 Mary Anne MUNSON b: 1623

Married: BET 14 MAY 1645 AND 1646 in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts 1 3 7 8

Note:

Descendants of Rowland Stebbins has marriage in March.

Marriage may have been in Hampshire County.

Children

Thomas STEBBINS

John STEBBINS b: BET 28 JAN 1646 AND 1647 in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Ann STEBBINS b: 10 APR 1651
Edward STEBBINS b: 12 JUL 1653
Benoni STEBBINS b: 23 JUN 1655
Marriage 2 Abigail BARTLETT b: BET 26 SEP 1636 AND 1637 in Hartford, Connecticut

Married: 17 DEC 1657 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts 1 10 3 4 6 11

Children

Sarah STEBBINS b: ABT 1657

Samuel STEBBINS b: BET 21 JAN 1657 AND 1659 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Abigail STEBBINS b: 24 SEP 1660 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Thomas STEBBINS b: 6 MAY 1662 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Hannah STEBBINS b: 8 JUL 1664 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Mary STEBBINS b: 10 SEP 1666 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Joseph STEBBINS b: BET 17 JAN 1668 AND 1670 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Sarah STEBBINS b: 4 JUN 1668 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Deborah STEBBINS b: BET 5 MAR 1670 AND 1672 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Benjamin STEBBINS b: 3 MAR 1674 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Rebecca STEBBINS b: 20 FEB 1676 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Thankful STEBBINS b: 11 MAY 1678 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts
Sources:

Title: A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England Before1692

Author: James Savage

Title: Stebbins Ancestral Society

Note: ABBR Stebbins Ancestral Society

Note: http://www.stebbinsancestralsociety.org/

Title: Descendants of Rowland Stebbins

Author: Mary Lou Clark

Note: ABBR Descendants of Rowland Stebbins

Title: The Ancestors of John Williams and Selina Brewster

Note: ABBR The Ancestors of John Williams and Selina Brewster

Note: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~syafam/wilmsanc.htm

Title: GeneaNet

Note: ABBR GeneaNet

Note: http://gw.geneanet.org

Note: Database=lovel

Title: Dupre genealogy site

Repository:

Note: http://www.adupree.com/

Media: Internet

Title: USGenWeb

Note: ABBR USGenWeb

Page: Hampshire Co., Mass

Title: Family history : recording the ancestors of Russell Snow Hitchcock

Author: Hitchcock, Russell Snow

Publication: Bath, Maine; 1947

Repository:

Note: Heritage Quest

Media: Book

Title: Descendants of Robert Bartlett

Repository:

Note: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cst/bartlett/team1a.htm

Media: Internet

Title: The Chamberlain Family

Note: ABBR The Chamberlain Family

Note: http://members.shaw.ca/chamberlaingenealogy/

Title: NORTHAMPTON, MA VITAL RECORDS

Repository:

Note: http://www.shypuppy.net/NH-Intro.html

Media: Internet

John Stebbins, son of Rowland Stebbins, was living in Roxbury, Mass. in 1651, but bought a house that year in Springfield. He was one of the original proprietors of Pocumtuck, owning twenty cow commons, and drew house lot, No. 13, there, in what is now Deerfield, Mass., but probably was not a settler. He made his home in Northampton.

He must have been a public spirited man because in 1654 he was a selectman and served on various committees: land survey (1659), laying out of public highways (166l), building of a new meeting house (1661). He served as juror in 1661, and was chosen bailiff responsible for clearing cattle and swine from public meadows. On April 18, 1661, he signed a covenant organizing the church of Northampton. He was also keeper of the sawmill. the place where he eventually died on March 9, 1679. He was apparently killed by some runaway logs, but the suddenness of his death seemed suspicious to some of his neighbors.

A twelve man jury of inquest rendered a verdict, which, while it did not directly charge witchcraft, showed that they more than half believed it had something to do with his death. Two examinations were of the remains and two reports were made to the court. In the first one, they declared that there was a "warmth and heate in his bodv yt dead persons are not usual to have"; they reported that there were "fewer places upon his breast yt seemed to have been pintched, though the doctor informed ym that in his lifetime there was a swelling between the

Pintches"; his neck was as flexible as that of a living person. Upon his body were found "several hundred of spots" that looked as if "they had been shott with small shott." and when thev were scraped there were holes under them. On the second examination, which must have been made soon after the first one, they found, as would very naturally follow, "the body somewhat more cold yn before, his joints were more limber," and several bruises on different parts of his person. which they had not previously discovered. The jury reported to the County Court in April, and Samuel BARTLETT, brother-in-law to STEBBINS. ,and who seems to have been the witch finder in general for the town, brought in all the testimony he could obtain. This evidence, which cannot be found now, was sent to the Court of Assistants at Boston. but no further action was taken. Undoubtedly the testimony pointed to some suspected person, but no one was named in the records......

After the death of John STEBBINS I on March 9, 1679, his widow, Abigail, remarried on December 28, 1681, to Jedediah STRONG, son of Elder John STRONG. She died on July 15, l689.

His first wife, married May 14,1646 at Springfield,MA, was Ann Munson Munden Stebbins, the widow of Abraham Munden of Springfield.

His second wife, married Dec 17,1657 at Northampton,MA, was Abigail Bartlett Stebbins, the daughter of Robert Bartlett and Ann ____ Bartlett. Abigail later married, as his second wife, Jedediah Strong.

Children(by first marriage): John Stebbins Jr, Thomas Stebbins, Ann Stebbins, Edward Stebbins, and Benoni Stebbins.

Children(by second marriage): Samuel Stebbins, Abigail Stebbins Phelps, Thomas Stebbins, Hannah Stebbins Sheldon, Mary Stebbins Strong, Sarah Stebbins Southwell, Joseph Stebbins, Deborah Stebbins Alvord Burt, Benjamin Stebbins, Rebecca Stebbins Strong, and Thankful Stebbins Strong.

Family links:

Parents:

 Rowland Stebbins (1592 - 1671)

 Sarah Whiting Stebbins (1591 - 1649)

Spouse:

 Abigail Bartlett Stebbins Strong (1636 - 1689)*

Children:

 Benoni Stebbins (1655 - 1704)*

 Abigail Stebbins Phelps (1660 - 1748)*

 Hannah Stebbins Sheldon (1664 - 1704)*

 Mary Stebbins Strong (1666 - 1733)*

 Deborah Stebbins Alvord Burt (1671 - ____)

(f/g) John Stebbins Birth: 1626, England Death: Mar. 7, 1679 Northampton Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA

His first wife, married May 14,1646 at Springfield,MA, was Ann Munson Munden Stebbins, the widow of Abraham Munden of Springfield.

His second wife, married Dec 17,1657 at Northampton,MA, was Abigail Bartlett Stebbins, the daughter of Robert Bartlett and Ann ____ Bartlett. Abigail later married, as his second wife, Jedediah Strong.

Children(by first marriage): John Stebbins Jr, Thomas Stebbins, Ann Stebbins, Edward Stebbins, and Benoni Stebbins.

Children(by second marriage): Samuel Stebbins, Abigail Stebbins Phelps, Thomas Stebbins, Hannah Stebbins Sheldon, Mary Stebbins Strong, Sarah Stebbins Southwell, Joseph Stebbins, Deborah Stebbins Alvord Burt, Benjamin Stebbins, Rebecca Stebbins Strong, and Thankful Stebbins Strong.

Family links:

Parents:

 Rowland Stebbins (1592 - 1671)

 Sarah Whiting Stebbins (1591 - 1649) 

Spouses:

 Abigail Bartlett Stebbins Strong (1636 - 1689)

 Anne Munson Stebbins (1623 - 1656)

Children:

 John Stebbins (1647 - 1724)*

 Benoni Stebbins (1655 - 1704)*

 Abigail Stebbins Phelps (1660 - 1748)*

 Hannah Stebbins Sheldon (1664 - 1704)*

 Mary Stebbins Strong (1666 - 1733)*

 Deborah Stebbins Alvord Burt (1671 - ____)

Burial: Bridge Street Cemetery Northampton Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA Maintained by: Kevin Avery Originally Created by: Marigay Record added: Jul 27, 2001 Find A Grave Memorial# 5642542 -tcd

links

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~janarmstrong/steg...

John Stebbins, son of Rowland Stebbins, was living in Roxbury, Mass. in 1651, but bought a house that year in Springfield. He was one of the original proprietors of Pocumtuck, owning twenty cow commons, and drew house lot, No. 13, there, in what is now Deerfield, Mass., but probably was not a settler. He made his home in Northampton.

He must have been a public spirited man because in 1654 he was a selectman and served on various committees: land survey (1659), laying out of public highways (166l), building of a new meeting house (1661). He served as juror in 1661, and was chosen bailiff responsible for clearing cattle and swine from public meadows. On April 18, 1661, he signed a covenant organizing the church of Northampton. He was also keeper of the sawmill. the place where he eventually died on March 9, 1679. He was apparently killed by some runaway logs, but the suddenness of his death seemed suspicious to some of his neighbors.

A twelve man jury of inquest rendered a verdict, which, while it did not directly charge witchcraft, showed that they more than half believed it had something to do with his death. Two examinations were of the remains and two reports were made to the court. In the first one, they declared that there was a "warmth and heate in his bodv yt dead persons are not usual to have"; they reported that there were "fewer places upon his breast yt seemed to have been pintched, though the doctor informed ym that in his lifetime there was a swelling between the

Pintches"; his neck was as flexible as that of a living person. Upon his body were found "several hundred of spots" that looked as if "they had been shott with small shott." and when thev were scraped there were holes under them. On the second examination, which must have been made soon after the first one, they found, as would very naturally follow, "the body somewhat more cold yn before, his joints were more limber," and several bruises on different parts of his person. which they had not previously discovered. The jury reported to the County Court in April, and Samuel BARTLETT, brother-in-law to STEBBINS. ,and who seems to have been the witch finder in general for the town, brought in all the testimony he could obtain. This evidence, which cannot be found now, was sent to the Court of Assistants at Boston. but no further action was taken. Undoubtedly the testimony pointed to some suspected person, but no one was named in the records......

After the death of John STEBBINS I on March 9, 1679, his widow, Abigail, remarried on December 28, 1681, to Jedediah STRONG, son of Elder John STRONG. She died on July 15, l689.

His first wife, married May 14,1646 at Springfield,MA, was Ann Munson Munden Stebbins, the widow of Abraham Munden of Springfield. His second wife, married Dec 17,1657 at Northampton,MA, was Abigail Bartlett Stebbins, the daughter of Robert Bartlett and Ann ____ Bartlett. Abigail later married, as his second wife, Jedediah Strong.

Children(by first marriage): John Stebbins Jr, Thomas Stebbins, Ann Stebbins, Edward Stebbins, and Benoni Stebbins.

Children(by second marriage): Samuel Stebbins, Abigail Stebbins Phelps, Thomas Stebbins, Hannah Stebbins Sheldon, Mary Stebbins Strong, Sarah Stebbins Southwell, Joseph Stebbins, Deborah Stebbins Alvord Burt, Benjamin Stebbins, Rebecca Stebbins Strong, and Thankful Stebbins Strong.

GEDCOM Note

Notes from WFT #3104 !m.1)14 May 1646 Widow Ann or Mary, wid of Abraham Munden, dau.Thomas Monson ref:Deerfield, MA by Sheldon; Hartford Co.I:316; Hist of Northfield John Stebbins of Roxbury 1651, bought that year a house in Springfield; original proprietor of Deerfield, MA, owning 20 cow commons and drew house lot #13; settled in Northampton; d.9 Mar 1679 in an unusual manner...there was suspicion of witchcraft and a jury of inquest was called who found "several hundred spots, small ones, as if they had been shot with small shot, which we scraped and under them were holes into his body." An investigation was had the evidence recorded and laid before the court in Boston, but no prosecution followed. There is a tradition that he had been at work in a saw mill some days before his death, and that some of the boards and logs, by the aid of witches, made strange movements, whereby he was injured.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9HXD-V49

John was born c. 1626 in England (prob. Co. Essex, although no record of his birth or baptism have been found) third child and second son of Rowland & Sarah (Whiting) Stebbins, who were married in the Church of St. Mary The Virgin, village of Bocking, Cou

John was born c. 1626 in England (prob. Co. Essex, although no record of his birth or baptism have been found) third child and second son of Rowland & Sarah (Whiting) Stebbins, who were married in the Church of St. Mary The Virgin, village of Bocking, County Essex, England 30 Nov. 1618.

His family left England, sailing out of the port of Ipswich, 30 April 1634, aboard The "Francis of Ipswich". Traveling were Rowland "Stebing" age 40, Sarah, his wife age 43, children: Thomas, age 14, Sarah, age 11, Elizabeth age 6 and John, age 8. Also traveling with the family is an unidentified 15 year old girl named Mary Winche.

Initially Rowland Stebbins settled in Roxbury, but in 1639 removed with his family to the newly settled (1636) Springfield, at the invitation of (it is said, and likely given later interactions) his good friend William Pynchon . It was in Springfield that his wife of 30 years, Sarah (Whiting) Stebbins died and was buried 5 Oct. 1649 in the old Elm Street burial ground (removed in it's entirety in 1848 to what is today Springfield Cemetery off Maple Street).

John Stebbins married:

First, at Springfield, 14 Mar. 1646, Ann (Munson) Munden, recent widow of Abraham Munden, who had drowned "at ye greate river at ye falls" along with William Jesse, 29 Oct. 1645. She was not (as has been published erroneously) the dau. of Thomas Munson of Hartford. She was b. England and likely resided Windsor at some point previous to her 1st marriage. She brought one child to the household, Mary Munden, born Springfield 1645. She and husband John Stebbins were actively involved in the Witchcraft accusations against Hugh & Mary Parsons of Springfield. Ann (Munson) Munden Stebbins died at Springfield in 1656 leaving three living children, two (John & Benoni) by John Stebbins.

Second, at Northampton, 17 Dec. 1657, Abigail, dau. of Robert & Ann (.....) Bartlett. John & Abigail appear in the Court at Northampton, 25 Sep. 1660 in a suit against Robert Lyman, who was accused of "frequentinge the said John Stebbins' house" "and did use very evil and unseemly behavior towards her, enticing her several times that he might ly with her, taking her in his arms and otherwise venting his unchaste desires" Lyman was found guilty, fined, and required to pay for the travel expenses of two witnesses. Abigail (Bartlett) Stebbins md. 2. 28 Dec. 1681 Jedidiah Strong.

Children: (by Ann Munson, born Springfield)

1. John b. 28 Jan. 1647
2. Thomas b.c. 1648 d. 24 Apr. 1649
3. Ann. b. 10 April 1651 d. aged 2 years
4. Edward b. 12 Jul. 1653
5. Benoni b. 23 Jun. 1655

Children: (by Abigail Bartlett, born Northampton)

1. Samuel b. 21 Jan. 1659
2. Abigail b. 24 Sep. 1660
3. Thomas b. 6 May 1662
4. Hannah b. 8 Jul. 1664
5. Mary b. 10 Sep. 1666
6. Sarah b. 4 Jun. 1668
7. Joseph b. 17 Jan. 1670
8. Deborah b. 5 Mar. 1672
9. Benjamin bap. 3 May 1674
10. Rebecca bap. 20 Feb. 1676
11. Thankful b. 11 May 1678

He purchased land and a home in Springfield in 1651, he was elected selectman there, 1654. After the death of his first wife Ann, John removed to Northampton with his father Rowland, where he became a prominent citizen, serving as selectman for nearly all of the period 1660-1678.

On August 28, 1668, he was permitted by a committee of land holders in "Paucomtucke"(Deerfield) to purchase from Lieut. John Fisher, land in the said place. On March 23, 1670 he was allotted 1 lot, 20 "cow commons" (roughly 7 acres) in size. In 1675, Indian tensions with colonists came to a boiling point and Deerfield was temporarily abandoned. He did not however, ever reside in that place, and is often mistakenly confused with his son John who did reside there, fought in (and was the only known survivor of) The Bloody Brook Massacre, and was eventually captured and carried to Canada with his family in 1704.

John Stebbins was also keeper of a sawmill, and (it is believed currently) that he was killed by some "runaway logs" 7 Mar. 1678-9. Some in the community suspected his death was the result of witchcraft.

• A twelve man jury of inquest rendered a verdict, which, while it did not directly charge witchcraft, showed that they more than half believed it had something to do with his death. Two examinations were of the remains and two reports were made to the court. In the first one, they declared that there was a "warmth and heate in his body that dead persons are not usual to have"; they reported that there were "fewer places upon his breast it seemed to have been pintched, though the doctor informed him that in his lifetime there was a swelling between the Pintches"; his neck was as flexible as that of a living person. Upon his body were found "several hundred of spots" that looked as if "they had been shott with small shott" and when they were scraped there were holes under them. On the second examination, which must have been made soon after the first one, they found, as would very naturally follow, "the body somewhat more cold yn before, his joints were more limber," and several bruises on different parts of his person which they had not previously discovered. The jury reported to the County Court in April, and Samuel Bartlett, brother-in-law to Stebbins, and who seems to have been the witch finder in general for the town, brought in all the testimony he could obtain. This evidence, which cannot be found now, was sent to the Court of Assistants at Boston, but no further action was taken.

  ---

• details of the inquest into John Stebbins' death taken from "The Stebbins Genealogy. Ralph Stebbins Greenlee and Robert Lemuel Greenlee". Chicago, 1904
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 13 2022, 4:44:46 UTC