Mary Estey

Biography

Origins

Mary Stearns, daughter of Isaac, was baptized 10 November 1706, Lexington, Massachusetts.[1] Her mother was Elizabeth (Stone) Stearns, daughter of Simon Stone of Watertown.

Marriage(?)

Over time an error has perpetuated in several published family histories regarding Mary Stearns, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Stearns, and a speculated upon husband; the Reverend Edward Esty (aka Estey) [sometimes called Doctor Edward Esty].

While providing some detail about the Isaac and Elizabeth Stearns family of Lexington, source Charles Hudson [p, 23] states [2]

Mary Stearns, b. 10 Nov 1706; m. abt 1729, Dr. Edward Esty of Stoughton, who lived to be one hundred years old. They had fourteen children, twelve died without families."

Found in the family history source "Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and his Descendants" by Mrs. Avis Van Wagenen [3] :

"Mary Stearns, bapt. Nov 10, 1706; md., about 1729, Dr. Edward Esty of Stoughton who lived to be 100 yrs. old. they had fourteen chil., who all d., without families, except the two following: (a) Solomon Esty, who had one son, Solomon Esty Jr., who md. and d., early leaving a son, Solomon Esty (3RD) and a dau., Mary or Mercy Esty, both of whom lived in Newton, Mass. (b) Mercy Esty, b., Nov. 14, 1730; d. Dec. 25, 1824; md., Nov. 21, 1776, David Sumner of Milton, Mass., and had one daughter Mercy Sumner."

Both Hudson and Van Wagenen state that Mary Stearns married in 1729 Edward Esty, Reverend which is incorrect as proven by the Stoughton Vital Records showing, in every case, that the mother of Edward's children was Elizabeth (Unknown). Their children's births spanning 1719 through 1737.

Additionally, despite what Van Wagenen says about their two children Solomon and Mercy Esty, the Stoughton vital records also document that Elizabeth was their mother [Solomon, b. 31 Dec 1737 and Mercy Esty, b. 14 Nov 1730].

Mary Stearns may have been Edward Esty's 2nd wife but a marriage record has not been located. If Edward Esty was her 2nd husband the name of her first has also not been found at this time. Regardless Edward Esty did not have children by Mary Stearns.

Death

Her death has not been found at this time.

Research Notes

Removed the following source from the original profile build as it doesn't pertain to this profile.

Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital & Town Records, 1626-2001 Source Text: "Elizabeth Stone, dau of Simon & Mary Stone, b. 9 Oct 1670, Watertowne, Middlesex, Massachusetts" p.251. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCM1-5H2

Sources

1. "Lexington, Massachusetts Records of Births, Marriages & Deaths: Part 1, earliest record to 1853; Part 2 1854 to 1897" p.77. Pub. Boston, Mass., USA: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1898. https://archive.org/details/recordofbirthsma00lexi/page/77/mode/1up...
2. Charles Hudson (1795-1881) "History of the Town of Lexington, Middlesex county, Massachusetts; from its first settlement to 1868" Pub. Boston, Mass., USA: Wiggin & Lunt, 1868.https://archive.org/details/genealogicalregi00huds/page/230/mode/2up Page 231]
3. Van Wagenen, Mrs. Avis Stearns "Genealogy & Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and his Descendants" p.34 pub. Courier Printing Co.: Syracuse, N.Y., USA. 1901. Accessed 17 May 2021. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/24232618?h=cb94de