Person:Stepehn Gunn (1)

In 1755 Sheffield records show Stephen Gun [sic] was chosen to be a fence viewer. ("History of Great Barrington," by Charles Taylor (1882), page 146)

He was said to have been a soldier in the French and Indian wars.

From the History of Great Barrington, page 159: "About 1750 Capt. Stephen Gunn, who had recently married Eleanor--daughter of Moses Ingersoll--settled where Ralph Taylor now resides, and erected the first house upon that ground. This house stood until 1815, when it was removed to make place for the present dwelling of Mr. Taylor. Capt. Gunn died here of the smallpox November 11, 1759. His widow survived him and remained on the premises to the time of her death, February 25, 1772."

In the History of Old Barrington, pages 262-3, there is reference to "an old store, then belonging to the Gunn family, which stood until 1820, at the north-east corner of the garden of Ralph Taylor, in which [Moses Hopkins, Esqr.] is known to have carried on the business of merchandising from 1782 to about 1796."

"They resided on the spot where my own house now stands, and has stood for 88 years. Only one of their children lived many years; that was John Gunn, who remained here till 1778 or later. I think he removed to Hudson, NY. Capt. Stephen Gunn died here Nov. 11, 1759 of small-pox and was buried on his own premises, a few rods west of his house. I still preserve his tombstone which was broken across(and the exact place of burial lost), more than 80 years ago." (Chas. Taylor in 1904)

SOURCE: Taylor, Charles J. 'History of Great Barrington [Berkshire] Massachusetts 1676-1882,' Town of Great Barrington, 1928.

1.   History of Great Barrington [Berkshire] Massachusetts 1676-1882.

   Taylor, Charles J. Also title: "Town of Great Barrington, 1928."

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Find A Grave.

   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=%2730497180%27&ref=wvr
   "Here Lyes The Body
   of Capt Stephen Gunn
   Who Departed This Life
   November 11 1759
   Aged 34 Years"

3. ↑ Westfield, MA Birth and Death Records
   page 589.

   (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Abstraction of original records, donated to NEHGS by Harold T. Dougherty. "Westfield Birth and Death Records as Obtained From the Files at City Hall, Westfield," donated 1937)