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I am trying to identify the ancestry of Jane Stephens/Stevens (circa 1707–1806) who married Joseph Dyer (1703–1749) in Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts in 1726. From the Vital Records of Weymouth quoted below (as well as other evidence not presented in this posting), we can be confident that Jane’s maiden name was Stephens/Stevens and that she was born about 1707:
“DYAR [sic]
…
Joseph, and Jane Stephens, June 27, 1726 [Stevens, C.R.2]”
(New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Weymouth, Massachusetts; Volume II—Marriages and Deaths [Boston: 1910], 65; C.R.2 refers to a church record from the First Church of Christ, South Precinct); available via Google Books at…
http://books.google.com/books?id=eRg0Dajxy1kC
“DYER
…
Jane, wid., Dec. 6, 1806, a. 99 [old age, C.R.1]”
(New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Weymouth, Massachusetts; Volume II—Marriages and Deaths [Boston: 1910], 65; C.R.1 refers to a church record from the First Church of Christ, North Precinct)
The earliest claim that I have found that Jane (Stephens/Stevens) Dyer was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Place) Stevens comes from the following secondary source:
“Joseph-4, son to William-3 Dyer [(Christopher-2, William-1)]. He mar. (intention April 16, 1726, in Weymouth [Norfolk County, Massachusetts) Jane Stevens, b. 1707, daughter to Thomas and Sarah (Place) Stevens, of Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts].*
*Suffolk County Deeds, Book 53:41.”
(Lora Altine Woodbury Underhill, Descendants of Edward Small [Cambridge, Massachusetts: Private Printed at The Riverside Press; 1910], 3:1174); this source is available via Google Books at…
http://books.google.com/books?id=UMRRAAAAMAAJ
From the vital records of Boston, we can be confident that a Thomas Stevens did marry a Sarah Place:
“Thomas Stevens & Sarah Place [married] July 13, 1695”
(Boston Marriages from 1700 to 1751 [Boston: Municipal Printing Office; 1898], 348; includes marriages prior to 1700); this source is available via Google Books at…
http://books.google.com/books?id=GPa7xyHwLDsC
I presume that the Suffolk County deed (53:41) cited by Underhill associates a Thomas Stevens of Boston with a Joseph and/or Jane Dyer of Weymouth but I am not confident that it includes the level of detail necessary for Underhill to have identified Jane’s parents. In my experience, deeds rarely include in any details about specific family relationships. Even if I was fortunate enough to discover that this deed explicitly identifies Jane (Stephens/Stevens) Dyer as the daughter of a Thomas Stevens of Boston, it is less likely that it explicitly identifies Jane’s mother as Sarah and it is virtually certain that the deed would not identify the maiden name of Thomas Stevens’ wife.
Why am I so skeptical that Jane (Stephens/Stevens) Dyer was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Place) Stevens? Their daughter Jane was reportedly born at Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts on 10 May 1704 which means that Jane (Stevens) Dyer would have actually been over 102 years old at death if this birth record actually exists and it pertains to her. However, there is no Jane with surname Steevens, Stephens, Stevens, etc. found in the published vital records of Haverhill which are available online at…
http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/FH22,38818
There are no other individuals with the surname of Stephens or Stevens found in the early vital records of Weymouth. Without benefit of some compelling evidence from primary sources, I am forced to conclude that the origins of Jane (Stephens/Stevens) Dyer are unknown.
Obviously, a careful review of the original Suffolk County deed in volume 53 on page 41 (or an image thereof) is needed to determine what relationship (if any) existed between Jane (Stephens/Stevens) Dyer of Weymouth and a Thomas Stevens of Boston. It should be found within “Deeds V. 52-53 1735-1736” on Family History Library US/CAN Film 493953, which can be accessed via any LDS Family History Center. Unfortunately, between working more than full-time, residing in a rural area and raising young children, it is very difficult for me to find free time when the nearest FHC is open. I am posting this message in hopes that some kind soul may be interested in helping me; if so, please let me know. To find the FHC nearest you, please click on the link below:
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp
Thanks for your help,
Perry
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