Webster Stevens/Stephens
submitted by Robert and Michelle Burke
Robandmitzi@tc3net.com

Surnames:   Stevens/Stephens, Reynolds, and Thomas

Webster Stevens/Stephens:

Was born in 1801 in the State of Vermont.  Webster's parents were Weston & Hannah Stevens who were born in the State of Pennsylvania and removed to live in Vermont prior to removing to Scarborough, Ontario Canada beginning in, approx., 1809.  In l844 Weston and wife, Hannah Stevens left Scarborough and removed to Bayham, Elgin County, Ontario Canada. Weston Stevens, Webster's father, died May 18, 1849 and is buried in Dobbie Cemetery n Bayham Ontario Canada. Hannah Stevens, wife of Weston Stevens and the mother of Webster Stevens, her date of death is unknown as well as her place of burial.  Weston Stevens was a known brother to Allen Stevens whose wife was Mehitable ~ they also of Bayham Elgin County Ontario. Children of Weston/Hannah Stevens/parents of Webster Stevens were: Elizabeth Stevens who married Mr. John Palmer, Webster Stevens, John Miller Stevens who married Mercy Jones, Ebenezer Stevens who married Sarah Vincent/Vinson, Nehemiah Morris Stevens who married Susan Mills, Allen Stevens who married Rebecca Secord, Theodocia Stevens who married David Badgerow, Hannah Stevens who married William Norton, Mary Stevens who married William Cornwall.

Webster Stevens married Sarah Wixson in Canada, prior to arriving in Michigan. Sarah Wixson was born 1806 to Joseph and Deborah (Townsend) Wixson.

Webster and Sarah Wixson Stevens had ten children, first seven born in Canada, the last three born in the State of Michigan, they were: Truman who married Sarah Hall Matthews, Mary who married Orange Baker, Clarissa who married Leonard Caster, Zanetta who married John Wiltsie in 1846, Webster Stevens who was a soldier in the Civil War with Company D 10th Michigan Infantry and who died in May 1863 while at the Regimental Hospital in Nashville, TN, he is buried in the National Cemetery in Nashville,

Sarah Stevens who married William Parker, Jane Stevens who married William M. Grice, Weston Stevens also of the 10th Michigan, Orrilla Stevens their youngest daughter married John Papst and Baker Stevens their youngest son was married to Bethilda Long.  

Webster Stevens was 85 years of age when he passed February of 1884.  Sarah, his wife, was 84 years at the time of her death on June 18, 1890.  They both are buried alongside one another in the family cemetery on the site of their farm in Worth Township along with several other family members.

Contact:

Robert and Michelle Burke
Robandmitzi@tc3net.com

 

ALLEN R. STEVENS/STEPHENS:

Allen R. Stevens was born circa 1786 son of William and Anne Stevens Jr at Cambridge, Washington County in the State of New York. Allen R's father William Stevens Jr lived near his parents Wm & Mrs. Stevens Sr at the Cambridge NY during the later half of the 1700's. By 1810 William Stevens Sr and his son Wm Stevens Jr and families removed from Cambridge, Washingon Co NY for Onondaga County, NY, respectively in Onondaga Town and Marcellus. Before 1819 William Stevens Jr removed from Marcellus, NY to live at Scarborough, Ontario Canada. William Stevens Jr was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Children of William/Anne Stevens Jr., are believed to be: William Stevens who married Elizabeth Wixson and lived at Worth Twp, Jeremiah Stevens who also lived in Worth Twp and never married, John R. Stevens who married Martha is found living in 1850 at Worth Twp and his children born in both Canada and in the State of Ohio, Seneca S. Stevens who married Mary Green at Marcellus, Onondaga Co, NY and who are found living at Lexington, MI in 1845 and later of Sandstone, Jackson County, Michigan, Ann Stevens who married Joseph Palmer s/o Joseph Palmer at Scarborough, Ontario Canada, and Clarissa Stevens who married Andrew Thompson and there are other children yet to be determined.
 

Allen R. Stevens married about 1804 Miss Sarah "Sadie" Baker, daughter of Herrington Baker and Lydia James/Jeems.  Herrington Baker was born in the State of Rhode Island to Elisha and Sarah (Herrington) Baker d/o Job. Allen R. Stevens, and his wife Sarah shortly after marrying at Cambridge, Wash County, NY along with his in-laws; Herrington & Lydia Baker removed from Cambridge, Washington Co, NY and settled in what was then known as Boyle, Ontario Co, NY, later parts became known as Penfield, in the newly formed county of Monroe Co in the State of New York. Record found establish that Allen R. Stevens was of Ontario County, NY no later than 1807. Allen R and Sarah, children were members of the First Baptist Church of Penfield.
Allen R. and Sarah, and their children lived in Penfield, Monroe Co, NY until about 1833. After Sarah's father died in 1833 they removed from Penfield NY for Pickering, Ontario County, Canada where they lived but a few short years.  About 1839 Allen R. Stevens and his cousin Webster Stevens [born 1801 and son of Weston and Hannah Stevens] and other men removed from Canada; based upon recollections of Clifford Stevens s/o Kenyon Stevens recalling family information about his "Grandfather Stevens" and others who canoed to the shores of Michigan, founding what was once referred to as "Stevens Landing".  Allen R. Stevens later went back to Canada and brought back his wife and children to Lexington, St.Clair County, settling in what later would known as Worth Township, Sanilac County, Michigan. In 1839 Baker Stevens, s/o Allen R. and Sarah Stevens removed from Pickering Ontario, where he had married in 1834, for Penfield, Monroe Co, NY and by 1845 we find that they removed from Penfield for Worth Twp, Sanilac County, MI.
 
The known children of Allen R and Sarah (Baker) Stevens are: 
Mary Margaret "Polly" Stevens (b.1806) who 1st married Lyman Munroe who died at Gaines, New York on July 31, 1835 and 2nd married Hiram Woodruff at Pickering Ontario and removed from Pickering Ontario to Worth Twp, Sanilac County in the early to mid 1860's; Kenyon Stevens (b.1807) who married Mary Jane Reynolds d/o of Arnold/Mary (Thomas) Reynolds; Baker Stevens (b.1809) who married Jane Granger; Jonathan B. Stevens (b.1813) who married Louisa Wixson; Chauncey F. Stevens (b.1817) who married Susan Brown and lived at Stouffville, Ontario, his occupation was Merchant Tailor; Celestia Stevens (b.1820) who married George Long and lived at Uxbridge, Ontario Canada, their son Leonard Long who married Charlotte Spring and lived at Lexington, Sanilac CO, MI; Sarah Ann "Sally" Stevens (b.1822) who married Hiram Thomas Reynolds s/o Arnold & Mary (Thomas) Reynolds; Asa C. Stevens (b.1823) who married Susanna Ward d/o of M.J. Ward - Asa and wife removed to live in Leelanau County, Michigan. 
 

Contact:

Robert and Michelle Burke
Robandmitzi@tc3net.com

 

SENECA J. STEVENS/STEPHENS:

Was born 1823 in the Town of Penfield, Monroe County, New York.  Seneca was the son of Seneca S. Stevens and Mary Green d/o of John and Mary (Hill) Green of Marcellus, Onondaga County, New York.  John and Mary (Hill) Green were neighbors, in 1810, of William and Anne Stevens, Seneca J. Stevens Grandparents.

Seneca S. Stevens the father of Seneca J. Stevens, was born October 5, 1791 in New York State to William and Anne Stevens.  Seneca S. Stevens, the father, is believed to be the brother of Allen R. Stevens who also a resident of Penfield, New York during the same time Seneca makes Penfield, NY his home in the l820’s.  Seneca S. Stevens, in 1812, married Mary Green in Marcellus, NY and by 18l8 they were living in Ontario Canada near Toronto where their daughter Rebecca was born c.1819.  Seneca S and Mary Stevens left Ontario, Canada and moved back to the states and settled for a time in Allegheny County, NY and removed to Sandstone, Jackson County, Michigan by 1835, living upon Section 14, thus becoming a pioneer of that area.  It is in Sandstone Township where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Together they had a family, the children being; Olive Stevens born 1813 and who married William Raymond, Sally Stevens born 1815 and who married Abram (Abraham) Raymond, Rebecca Stevens born 1819 near Toronto Canada and who married Joshua Palmer, Seneca J. Stevens born July 4, 1823, Amon Robert Stevens who married three times, they being 1). Anna Mattison, 2) Helen Carver and 3) Cora Booth Moulton, Henry Stevens born 1827 and who married Mariah Sammons, and possibly a William Stevens born about 1821. The father Seneca S. Stevens passed from this life on April 9, 1856 and his wife Mary Green Stevens who was born September 1, 1794 died October 6, 1852 , both are buried along with their son Seneca J. Stevens in Pherdun Cemetery in Sandstone Township, Jackson County, MI.

Seneca J. Stevens, subject of this sketch, when a lad of 13 years old came with his parents and settled in Sandstone Township, Jackson County, MI. Seneca J. Stevens, as a young man, however, ventured out and removed himself to live among his cousins and his Uncle Allen R. Stevens in the Worth Township and Lexington area of Sanilac County, Michigan and it was there in Sanilac County that young Seneca J. Stevens first met and then married his first wife Rhoda Matilda Baker on January 2, 1845. From this union two children were born, they being 1) Jerome Stevens born September 11, 1845 at Lexington and a daughter 2) Julietta Stevens, the wife of John Kent who was a resident of Bay County, Michigan.  Jerome Stevens, a Civil War Veteran, married thrice, his first marriage was to Miss Henrietta Losey and second was to Miss Susie Leona Kent.  It was Jerome and Susie Leona Kent Stevens that were blessed with three children, they being; Viola Stevens who later married Mr. Lawrence Blair, Bernice Stevens who became the wife of LeRoy Cole and Beatrice Stevens wife of Jerry Ruchenback and who later married Mr. Carl Shaffer.  Rhoda Matilda Baker, Seneca J. Stevens wife, passed from this life in 1848 after being wed only four short years.  Seneca then remained in Sanilac County for a time before taking Phoebe Mary Phillips as his second bride.  After Phoebe died, Seneca J. Stevens married Miss Fanny Wilson on January 12, 1854 .  Fanny Wilson was born December 23, 1833 in Cayuga County, NY to George and Betsey (Mattison) Wilson who were natives of the New York State, also known as the “Empire State”.  Seneca J. Stevens and Fanny Stevens lived in Bay County , MI for several years before removing to Jackson County in l864.  Seneca J. Stevens and wife Fanny were blessed with five children, they being; George Stevens, Lester Stevens, Seneca Stevens, William Stevens (deceased by l884), and Laura Stevens (also deceased by 1884). 

Seneca J. Stevens and wife Fanny Wilson Stevens are buried in Pherdun Cemetery in Sandstone Township, Jackson County, MI.  Rhoda Matilda Baker Stevens, his first wife, is buried in Sanilac County, Michigan.

Contact:

Robert and Michelle Burke
Robandmitzi@tc3net.com

 

ARNOLD Z. AND MARY (THOMAS) REYNOLDS:

Was born in 1793 in Whitehall, Washington County New York to Nathan and Mrs. Reynolds.  Arnold Z. Reynolds was a named after his paternal Grandfather. The Grandparent Reynolds were natives of the State of Rhode Island and who were living in North Kingston, Washington County RI later died in Chenango County, NY, they being Arnold and Ruth Reynolds.

Nathan and Mrs. Reynolds were parents of at least 11 children, only 2 are known to date, Arnold Reynolds and Brother Joseph Reynolds.  Joseph Reynolds was the only child of Nathan Reynolds named in his Grandfather Arnold Reynolds Will which was dated 1826. 

Arnold Z. Reynolds, the subject of this sketch, was married in 1810 to Miss Mary Thomas, d/o Ephraim Thomas and Mrs. Thomas both formerly of Tyringham, Massachusetts.  Ephraim Thomas was a Solider in the American Revolutionary War and who had many an adventure while in service of the United States during the war.  It was in Whitehall, New York where Arnold Z. Reynolds met and married his wife Miss Mary Thomas.  Ephraim Thomas removed from Whitehall and lived his days out in Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

Nathan Reynolds was born 1766 in North Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island and passed from this life in March 17, 1813 in Whitehall, New York leaving his wife and children.  It was shortly after his father Nathan died that Arnold Z and wife Mary Reynolds and young children; Mary Jane Reynolds and Hiram Thomas Reynolds left New York State for Scarborough, Ontario Canada and were living there by and during the early 1820’s. By 1837 they were living in Pickering, Ontario Canada.  Around 1846-47 Arnold Z. and Mary Reynolds left that area in Canada to settle, for the remainder of their lives, with their adult children already established at Worth Township in Sanilac County.  Arnold and Mary Thomas Reynolds were parents of 8 children, six known and they being: 1) Mary Jane Reynolds who married Kenyon Stevens of Worth Township 2) Hiram Thomas Reynolds born in New York State 1817 and who in 1842 married Miss Sarah Stevens d/o Allen R and Sarah Stevens who all were living in Worth Township and both are buried in Speaker Cemetery in Sanilac County, MI, 3) Eli Lewis Reynolds born 1824 in Canada and who married Matilda (?), Eli died in l906 and is buried in Downing Cemetery in Wheatland Township, 4)George W. Reynolds who born in Canada in l835, married Mary (?) George died by l875 while living in Worth Township, Sanilac County, Michigan, 5) James Reynolds who married Lydia 6) Josiah Reynolds, a Civil War Veteran who enlisted in 1862 with the Company C, Michigan 6th Cavalry who served as a Sergeant and who served in battles one of significance being the Battle of Gettysburg serving under General George Armstrong Custer, he was wounded in action at the Battle of Falling Waters in Maryland July 14, 1863.  Josiah Reynolds, in 1858, married Miss Eliza Foe and they established/owned/ran the Reynolds Hotel which was once located in Amadore, Sanilac County, MI.  Josiah Reynolds died in l901, he and his wife Eliza Foe Reynolds are buried in the Croswell Cemetery.

Arnold Z. Reynolds served Sanilac County as a Justice of the Peace.

Mary Thomas Reynolds passed from this life around 1854, exact date is not yet determined, and Arnold Z. Reynolds, her husband died between 1860-1864.  Both, at the time of their deaths, were residents of Worth Township, Sanilac County, Michigan.

Contact:

Robert and Michelle Burke
Robandmitzi@tc3net.com

 

William Stevens/Stephens:

William Stevens was the son of William and Anne Stevens and he was born 1801 in the State of New York.  William married Elizabeth Wixson, they married March 8, 1827 in Brock, Ontario Canada, near Toronto.


William Stevens was the…
Sibling of Jeremiah Stevens of Worth, Sanilac Co, Michigan.
Sibling of Allen R. Stevens of Worth, Sanilac Co, Michigan.  
Sibling of Seneca S. Stevens of Sandstone, Jackson Co, Michigan.

Sibling of Ann Stevens, wife of Joseph Miller of Canada.
Sibling of Miranda Stevens, wife of Andrew Thompson of Canada.
Children of William and Elizabeth Wixson Stevens were the following:

George Stevens born 1832, Jeremiah W. Stevens born April 18, 1834 Ontario Canada who married Mary L. Sly, Seneca Stevens born 1838 in Michigan and who died as a POW on June 8, 1864 at the Andersonville Prison in Andersonville, Georgia, he enlisted with Company K , Michigan 22nd mustered at Pontiac Michigan.  Seneca Stevens participated at the Battle of Chickamauga where he was taken prisoner, Ralph Stevens who was born April 22, 1840 Canada, William Stevens who was born July 1, 1842 and who married Esther Ann Stevens d/o of *Chauncey F. Stevens and Susan Brown Stevens of Stouffville, Ontario Canada, Electa Stevens who was born 1845, Deborah A. Stevens born 1848 and Sophia Stevens born 1849.

William Stevens died on April 16,1887 in Argyle, former resident of Worth Township and he along with his wife Elizabeth are buried in Argyle Cemetery, Sanilac County, Michigan.

*Note: Chauncey F. Stevens was the son of Allen R. Stevens and Sarah Chase Stevens.  Making William Stevens, subject of this sketch, the Uncle to Chauncey F. Stevens.  William Stevens son William married Chauncey’s daughter Esther Ann Stevens.

Contact:

Robert and Michelle Burke
Robandmitzi@tc3net.com

Early Settlers