Joseph Sturtevant (1666-1723) and His Wife Anna Jones of Plymouth, Massachusetts

Joseph Sturtevant was born 16 July 1666 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel and Ann (—?—) Sturtevant. [Plymouth Colony Records 8:31] His last name is also seen as Sturdevant, Stirtevant, and a variety of other spellings. He is my 8th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

“Joseph Stirtevant was married unto Annah Jones” at Plymouth on 5 December 1693. [Plymouth VR in MD 13:207] Anna was born Hingham, Plymouth County on 26 January 1667/8, the daughter of Joseph and Patience (Little) Jones. [Hingham VR 1:4] Anna was a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren.

On 20 April 1676, when Anna Jones was eight years old, Native Americans attacked the town of Hingham. Her family fled to a garrison house and their home was burned to the ground, along with those of four other families. One man who was out hunting was killed, but the town otherwise escaped bodily harm. [Bouve]

Anna and Joseph’s children, recorded Plymouth as children of Joseph Stirtevant [&] Anna his wife. [Plymouth VR 1:17]

1. Joseph born 4 September 1695 
2. David born 11 June 1697; m. Sarah Holmes 19 Nov 1723 at Plymouth [Plymouth VR 1:93]; had 8 children but 5 died under a year old; he died before 4 July 1771
3. Anna [recorded as Annah] born 20 April 1699; m. Richard Church 18 June 1720 at Plymouth and had five children at Scituate and Rochester
4. Jonathan born March 1702[?/03]; m. Esther Goodill 
5. Ephraim born 5 February 1704[?/05]; m Lydia Ring 17 December 1732 at Plympton; had 9 children; five died in childhood including three on same day; he died 12 January 1787 at North Yarmouth, Maine 
6. Mary Sturtevant born 3 November 1708; m. Prence Snow 31 August 1727 at Rochester; had four children; lived in Rochester

I descend from Mary.

Joseph was literate as his estate inventory included seven books.

Joseph received a bequest in his father Samuel Sturtivant of Plymouth’s 1 August 1669 will. He was to inherit the house and all his land and meadows with his brothers Samuel, James, and John after their mother’s decease. Samuel to have double share. If the child Samuel’s wife is carrying is a boy, they should divide equally with him as well. [MD 18:188]

On 19 September 1701 Robert Barrows deeded Plymouth land to Joseph Sturtevant. [NEHGR 166:121]

There are some Plymouth Colony court cases involving Joseph Sturtevant but I am not certain they all refer to this Joseph: 

• At Plymouth Court General Sessions in September 1704, Joseph Sturtevant complained that Nathaniel Southworth “sometime about the middle of the month of September Instant” broke the pound at Plymouth and took several his oxen which Sturtevant had impounded. Southworth bound in the sum of £10 to answer at the next court. [PCR 1:73]
• At the December 1704 Plymouth Court General Sessions, Joseph Sturtevant had bought a complaint against Lt Nathaniel Southworth at the September term. Defendant pleaded not guilty. “After evidence given” complaint committed to the jury who found for the defendant who did not have to pay his recognizance and fees. [PCR 1:75]
• At the Plymouth Court of Common Pleas March 1717/18, Isaac Little vs. Joseph Sturtevant. Withdrawn. 
• At the Plymouth Court of Common Pleas in March 1721/2, Elizabeth Conant, adm. (Middleborough) vs. Joseph Sturtevant (Plymouth). Not answered. No details provided. [PCR 5:94]

Joseph Sturtevant died at Plymouth before 25 October 1723, likely close to that date, when David Sturdevant was appointed administrator of the estate of his late father Joseph Sturdevant of Plymouth who died intestate. [Probate Records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q, State Archives Boston] Joseph was 57 years old. 

The inventory of the estate of Joseph Sturdevant was taken at Plymouth on 28 October 1723 and totaled £239 2 shillings 9 pence. It was taken by John Dyer, John Foster and Charles Little. The items in the inventory indicate Joseph had a sizable farm. Real estate of 40 acres, a house and a barn was valued at £138. Various household and farming items are inventoried, as well as seven books, a spinning wheel, an ox, two cows, a calf, a horse, three swine, hay, barrels of cider, about 100 pumpkins, 90 cabbages, numerous bushels of rye, barley, apples, Indian corn, and turnips. A few items included were considered luxuries for the time: tablecloths, napkins and a wine glass. 

On 19 December 1723 John Dyer, John Foster & Charles Little made oath to the inventory. 

David Sturdevant made oath the inventory was true & perfect on 20 December 1723.

A final account by David Sturtevant of the estate of his “worthy Father” was dated 3 February 1728. It includes quite a long list of debts that total £265 15 0, more than the value of Joseph’s estate inventory. One expense was a license to sell land, which was likely necessary to pay all the people to whom Joseph owed money. Doctor Lebaron was owed £2 10 9, indicating Joseph had been sick. Some of the people the estate was in debt to were of Pilgrim families: Wrestling Brewster, Mrs. Sarah Warren, Consider Howland, Jacob Cooke, Andrew Alden. People with the Sturtevant surname who were paid money were John, Josiah, Ephraim, Nehemiah, Jonathan, Mary. Ephraim, Jonathan and Mary were likely Joseph’s children. 

Anna apparently predeceased her husband as she is not mentioned in his 25 Oct 1723 probate. 

Sources:

Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Richard Warren, Volume 18 Part One and Two, GSMD, 1999

Mayflower Descendant, “Plymouth Births, Marriages and Deeds” 2:78

Thomas T. Bouve, History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, volume I, Part 1, 1893

George Lincoln et al, History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, volume II, 1893