Hannah Stevens

HANNAH STEVENS, b. at Andover, 18 Nov 1685 daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Abbott) Stevens; d. before 28 Sep 1773 when her will was probated; m. 17 Mar 1708/9 ROBERT SWAN, b. at Haverhill 28 May 1686 son of Robert and Elizabeth (Storie) Swan; Robert died before 4 Sep 1770 when his estate was probated.

Hannah was the third oldest of eight children of Ephraim Stevens and Sarah Abbott. Ephraim Stevens wrote his will 11 June 1718 and his estate entered probate 7 July 1718. To his son-in-law Robert Swan and daughter Hannah, he left his buildings and lands except one-half of the house being reserved for the use of his younger daughters while they are unmarried. Son-in-law Robert Swan was named executor. (Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881, Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Probate of Ephraim Stevens, 7 Jul 1718, Case number 26333.)

Robert Swan was from Haverhill and Hannah joined him there where they lived and raised their four children. They did relocate to Andover, apparently, as their deaths are recorded there.

The will of Robert Swan has bequests to the following persons: well beloved wife Hannah, daughter Elizabeth wife of Nathan(iel) Lovejoy, daughter Hannah wife of Peter Parker, to six grandsons, sons of son Robert of Methuen who is deceased (Jonathan, Joseph, Benjamin, Richard, Robert, and Phineas), and son Ephraim. Son Ephraim is the executor. (Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881. Probate of Robert Swan, 4 Sep 1770, Case number 26899.)

In her will (probate 28 September 1773), Hannah Stevens Swan made the following bequests: four granddaughters who are Sarah Swan the daughter of Ephraim, Mary Isley, Hannah Parker, and Lydia Parker who are the daughters of Hannah the wife of Peter Parker; son Ephraim Swan; grandsons Jonathan, Robert, Richard, and Phineas Swan sons of Robert who is deceased; Joseph Swan who is the son of grandson Benjamin Swan of Methuen who is deceased; grandson Nathaniel Lovejoy who is son of daughter Elizabeth who is deceased; and grandsons Nathan, Peter, Robert, Isaac, Simeon Parker who are the sons of daughter Hannah who is deceased. Her grandson Ephraim Swan is named executor. She also makes mention of property she received as inheritance from her father Ephraim Stevens. (Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881. Probate of Hannah Swan, 28 Sep 1773, Case number 26887.)

There are records for four children, all born at Haverhill.

i ELIZABETH SWAN, b. 14 Feb 1709/10; d. at Andover 21 Jun 1770; m. 4 Jul 1743, NATHANIEL LOVEJOY, b. 16 Feb 1698/9 son of Nathaniel and Dorothy (Hoyt) Lovejoy; Nathaniel d. 25 Aug 1768.

ii ROBERT SWAN, b. 2 Mar 1711/2; d. at Methuen, 31 Oct 1752; m. 1731, ELIZABETH FARNUM, b. at Andover, 9 Nov 1711 daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Barker) Farnum. Elizabeth m. 2nd James Howe; Elizabeth d. 5 Dec 1780.

iii EPHRAIM SWAN, b. 3 Sep 1713; d. at Andover before Oct 1777 (when his will was probated); m. 23 May 1738, SARAH POOLE, b. at Lynn, 11 Sep 1713 daughter of John and Mary (Gooding) Poole; Sarah d. likely after 1790 (she seems to be listed as the head of household with her daughter living with her in the 1790 Census).

iv HANNAH SWAN, b. 28 Dec 1716; d. at Andover, 7 Jul 1761; m. 14 Aug 1734, PETER PARKER, b. Jul 1714 son of Joseph and Lydia (Frye) Parker; Peter d. 9 Jan 1795.