Person:William Steward (11)

Two British sailors who had been pressed into service jumped ship along the New England coast in the 1660's and lived with the he Indians for a time to avoid being caught. According to Frank Church (Petersburg NY) the two sailors, Church and Stewart, formed a bond of friendship and swore the two families would always be closely associated. No hard evidence but Frank's mother lived to a "ripe" old age and his grandmother lived to be 103, so the stories may have been handed down. William may have been descended from Elizabeth Stewart, Mother of Oliver Cromwell "He acquired the title of lieutenant and was a man of prominence. It is said that he knew the line of his ancestry back to kings, and a set of dishes bearing a coat-of-arms was later in possession of his descendants" Stewart Clan Magazine, May 1926

Liet. William & Sarah (Church) Steward One source states the Lieut. William Steward was born in Scotland in 1692, of the family of King James of Scotland. Lieut. William Steward was from Stonington, Connecticut. He was born in 1690, and was baptized as an adult on February 13, 1710 in the Congregational Church at Stonington. William was married May 5, 1713 to Sarah Church. On December 27, 1722 he and his wife Sarah Deeded to "Ye Reverend Mr. Craighead," Clerk in Stonington, Connecticut; land they had bought five days previously of Saxton Palmer. He bought April 4, 1726 of Aaron Stark land in Voluntown, and on November 5, 1728, he bought land of Richard Stevens and Henry Stevens, in north Ston­ington, Connecticut. On March 2, 1729 William Steward, yeoman of North Stonington deeded to Jonathan Dean the land in Voluntown which he had bought of Aaron Stark, He acquired the title of 'Lieutenant' and was a man of prominence. It is said he knew the line of his ancestry back to Kings, and a set of dishes bearing a coat of arms was later in possession of his descendants. His wife Sarah died March 2, 1745. He married the second time on March l6, 1747 to Mary Bellows. William died on December 26, 1754. 'As to the William Steward family it is believed he may have belonged to what is called the Stewards of Elly, in England from whom came the Mother of Oliver Cromwell.

   It is believed William Steward's father came to Rhode Island and was buried there according to the will of Lieut. William. In his will drawn Oct. 20, 1753, probated Dec. 26, 1754 he provided for gravestones for my father and former wife Sarah and ch­ild and myself. He made bequests to his two grandsons both having the name William Steward, and mentioned the following children, who are the children of his first wife, Sarah and whose births were re­corded in Stonington, Connecticut.

William Steward. Born Dec.26, 1714. Married Elizabeth Stevens Nathan Steward. B-Jan. 8, 1717. Oliver Steward. B-Feb.12, 1719. M-Rebecca Pendleton, Aug. 30, Phineas Steward. B-May l6, 1721. M-Remember Babcock, 1st. M-Hannah Barnaby, 2nd. Lemuel Steward. B-May 3, 1723. Died Feb. 1727, age 4 years. Sarah Steward. B-Jan.10, 1725. M-Nathan Newbery Apr. 11 '43. Content Steward. B-Dec. 24, 1727. M-Robert Parke Eliphalet Steward. B-Nov. 10, 1729- M-Elizabeth 7, Mar.1, 1755. Lemuel Steward. B-Jan.30, 1732. M-Eunice (last name unknown)

1. ↑ Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999
   [1].

   Wife Mary - all the moveable Estate that she brought here when we were married ...
   Sons: Oliver - lot lying in Voluntown, Phineas, Eliphalet, Lemauell, William
   Daughters: Sarah Newbury, Content Parks three children
   *Grandson William Steward
   Exectors: son William and Samuell Prentice to provide grave stones for my father & former wife & child & my self
   
   *says 2 grandsons