Person:Samuel Stevens (25)

Identity

The Samuel Stevens who married Rebecca Rea is not the son of William & Elizabeth (Bitfield) Stevens.

Probate Administration

The published Essex County Probate records (3:19-21) indicate that at first William Titcomb was named administrator of the Estate of Samuel Stevens of Newbury, and then in November, Samuel's widow was appointed. An inventory was taken Nov 1675 and in Dec 1675, the estate was given to Samuel's widow with 10li to the daughter Sara. Yet in March 1676, William Titcomb having been the Administrator and presenting an inventory totaling net 38li 6s 4d, is given 10li and the balance to John Stevens, Samuel's brother.

For a widow to be denied 26li., in favor of a brother, is highly unusual and certainly, the widow's family would seek redress. Of which, the published record is silent. More likely, the published record has been confused and commingled with the records of two separate probate administrations.

Records for the soldiers who died at Bloody Brook, indicate that two Samuel Stevens were present and died on 18 Sept. 1675, one Sgt. Samuel Stevens, and Samuel Stevens impressed at Newbury. It is hard to imagine that a Sgt Stevens would be impressed into service and then given the rank.

We find in Vol 3, p. 58, 59 the Estate of another Samuel Stevens, who was slain with Capt. Lathrop and an inventory taken Sept. 27, 1675, and which was attested to by William Titcomb on 26 March 1676. These dates correspond to the references made to William Titcomb in the first estate mentioned (3:19-21). From this, we can conclude that the records as published (3:19-21) are commingled; that the Samuel Stevens who had a widow Rebecca and daughter (Sarah), did not have a father-in-law named William Titcomb, nor did her brother-in-law John received 24li instead of her. The probate records found on page 59 are for Samuel Stevens, son of William & Elizabeth (Bitfied) Stevens and his brother John received the balance of his estate, implying that he was unmarried, and therefore, could not have married Rebecca Rea. Which was the conscript and the other the Sargent needs further consideration.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Samuel Stevens of Newbury, in Massachusetts, Probate Court (Essex County). The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1916, 1917, 1920)
   3:19, 20.

   Administration on the estate of Samuell Steevens of Newbury, who was slain in the war, granted Sept. 28, 1675, to Wm. Titcombe, and an inventory was presented, which was [or]dered to bring in an inventory to the next Ipswich court.
   Administration upon the estate of Samuell Steevens, who was slain in the wars, was granted 22:10:1675, to Rebecka, relict of deceased, who brought in an inventory. She was to have the estate for her own use, but was to pay to Sara, the daughter of deceased, 10li. at eighteen years of age or marriage with the mother's consent.
   Inventory of the estate of Samuell Stevens, taken Nov. 30, 1675, by Henry West and Nathaniel Putnam
   Wm. Titcomb having formerly been appointed administrator of the estate of Samuell Stevens and an inventory now being brought in amounting to 381i. 6s. 4d. clear estate, said Titcomb was allowed lOli. and court Mar. 28, 1676, ordered the rest of the estate to John Steevens, his brother.

2. ↑ Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records to the End of the year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1916-1925)
   4:344.

   "Steevens, … Samuell, and Rebecka Rea, [married] 17 : 10 m : 1672 [December 17, 1672]. (court record, Essex Co. Quarterly Court.)"