John Stedman I

Citations

1. [S314] John Lisle, Stedman Family Organization, Famiy History Research, 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 to 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.
2. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume V: pages 178-179 - John Stedman, Hartford, had John, b. 5 Apr. 1651; Mary, 24 Sept. 1653; Thomas, 9 Oct. 1655; Robert, 1 Feb. 1658; Samuel, 27 Feb. 1660; and Eliz. 9 Nov. 1665. He was few yrs. at Wethersfield, made freem. 1654, yet I find not his name in the list of 1669, was a lieut. and in the early part of Philip's war com.
   the dragoons, but d. in Dec. 1675.
3. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, JOHN, Cambridge, s. of Robert, m. 14 May 1666, Eliz. Remington, d. of the first John, had John, b. 22 Aug. 1668 ; and Eliz. wh. d. 15 July 1676 ; and he d. of smallpox, 24 Nov. 1678. His wid. m. 14 July 1679, Samuel Gibson. [note - other sources state that John son of Thomas married Elizabeth Remington, it has also been suggested that Elizabeth's surname was Sargent. [Note: This information makes it seem impossible for this John Stedman to be the husband of Elisabeth Remington. - klm]
4. [S314] John Lisle, Stedman Family Organization, Famiy History Research, Page 153 Name: Lt. John Stedman Location: Wethersfield
   Died December, 1675. Invt. ú172-04-08. 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.
5. [S314] John Lisle, Stedman Family Organization, Famiy History Research, 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.