Source: History of Fort 4, Charlestown, NH by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson 1876 p.562 footnote** Fort Massachusetts was situated in the town of Adams in the western part of the State of Massachusetts. It was located on the north side of Saddle Mountain and remains of it were still to be seen 1876. >From 1746 to 1756 it was deemed a very important post for the defense of the frontier, in that section. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The letter below shows that in 1750 he removed his family from Fort 4 back to Rutland, MA because he had volunteered for the Expedition to Louisburg, Canada. Letter from Capt. Phineas Stevens of Fort 4 to the Hon. Spencer Phipps, Lieut Gov. of the Province (Massachusetts) June 12, 1750 (An application for a "memorial" [reimbursement]) "That upon his enlisting himself a volunteer in his Majesty's service for the intended expedition against Canada*, he removed his family; his wife and six children to Rutland from Number Four, expecting himself soon to set out for Canada on said expedition and that upon the delay of that expedition he was, by direction from His Excellency the Captain General, ordered to the frontiers of the Province and was constantly employed on the frontiers, either in guarding stores to Fort Massachusetts** or Number Four, or in keeping the fort at No. 4 till the said expedition was laid aside and the Canada forces dismissed; in which time he defended the said Fort Number Four from a vigorous attack of the enemy; and his other services in that term he humbly hopes were acceptable to the Province where he was at very great expense in the supporting of his family, at a distance from his station; and as his expenses so he humbly conceives his constant labors and services for the province in that term distinguish his case from that of most if not any of the officers who enlisted for the Canada service he there prays your honor- able consideration of the premises and that your honor would grant that he may be allowed the common allowance for a soldier for subsistence during the said term and your memorialist as in duby bound will ever pray. Signed Phineas Stevens *Louisburg P.556 Capt. Phineas whose name is inseparably associated with the early history of Charlestown NH was descended from Colonel Thomas Stevens of Devonshire, in England, who in the latter part of the reign of Charles I or during the Protectorate, removed to London. Very little is known of this ancestor, but it may be inferred from his title that he was a man of some distinction as he lived in times when such offices were not easily attainable except through personal merit, or the influence of considerable wealth. He had four sons, from Cyprian the youngest of whom is traced the descent of the subject of this memoir. The date of emigration of Cyprian Stevens to this country has not been ascertained. But, we find that January 22, 1671 he was married to Mary Willard, daughter of Major Simon Willard and his 3rd wife, Mary Dunster. On arriving in this country his first residence was at Chelsea, MA but at the time of his marriage he was at Lancaster, MA; at which place afterwards he became a man of considerable consequence. He survived his wife (Mary Willard) and married a 2nd time. Cyprian Stevens and his wife Mary (Willard) Stevens had four children of whom Joseph Stevens m. Prudence Rice dau of John Rice - they settled at Sudbury, MA In this place he resided several years when he removed to Framingham. He was of Lancaster, MA from 1716 to 1719 where he had two children, Joseph Stevens and Isaac Stevens. The next year he prob. removed to Rutland where after its incorpora- tion he became one of its most prominent citizens being honored by his townsmen with various important offices and with a deaconship in the church. He had children born at Sudbury, Framingham and Rutland, eleven in all. Phineas Stevens was born in Sudbury February 20, 1706. p.557 August 14, 1723 Phineas Stevens and three of his youngest brothers were proceeding to the meadow where their father was making hay - they were suprised by five Indians who immediately slew Samuel and Joseph and took Phineas who was the eldest among them and Isaac who was the youngest, prisoners. Isaac was but a child only four years old and the savages thinking that he might be a hindrance in case they were pursued manifested their intent to kill him. Phineas convinced the Indians he would carry Isaac on his back and Isaac was accordingly spared. It was on this journey to Canada and by his observations of Indian habits and their character during his captivity that Phineas Stevens gained that knowledge of their peculiar mode of strategy and warfare which at a later period of life rendered Phineas Stevens the most formidable adversary they would encounter. The afflicted father Cyprian Stevens followed his children to Canada and succeeded in obtaining their redemption the following year. Phineas Stevens m. 1734 his cousin, Elizabeth Stevens of Petersham, MA and lived at Rutland which he considered his home until he became one of the first settlers of Fort No. 4 now Charlestown, NH (not earlier than the spring of 1745). In the summer of 1746 he moved them back to Rutland where they remained before returning in 1748. In 1755 he removed them to Deerfield, MA where they were at the time of his death. Seven of his children were born at Rutland, two at Charlestown and one at Deerfield. Though not among the very earliest settlers of Fort 4, he was an early settler. His name appears on the Proprietor's Records for the lst time Sept. 13, 1743 as a petitioner for a proprietor's meeting. On the 4th of Oct. 1744 Messrs John Spafford, Phineas Stevens, Isaac Parker, Jr., Obadiah Sartwell and Moses Willard were appointed to a committee to provide and contact a learned preacher to preach the gospel to the township. However high his standing as a citizen, his character as a military man must be chiefly considered. It was in this that his genius was most fully developed and in which he achieved his highest reputation. p.568 Children of Capt. Phineas Stevens and his wife, Elizabeth (Stevens) Stevens: 1. Samuel Stevens b. July 4, 1735 at Rutland, MA, m. Talitha Bingham of Lempster on Dec 31, 1777. He was a ranger in Major Robert Rogers' Rangers. 2. Willard Stevens twin of Samuel b. July 4, 1735 m. Olive Willard on Aug 11, 1773 3. Simon Stevens b. at Rutland, MA Sept 3, 1737 He was a captain of a company of Rangers apptd by Lord Amherst. 4. Enos Stevens b. Oct 2, 1739 at Rutland, MA m. 1791 Sophia Grout dau of Elijah and Mary (Willard) Grout b. at Lunenburg, MA Feb 6, 1765 5. Mary Stevens b. Mar 28, 1742 at Rutland, MA m. Elijah King who became the Jail Keeper at Charlestown in 1773. 6. Phineas Stevens Jr. b. at Rutland July 31, 1744 Was a physician who practiced medicine at Barnet, VT 7. Catherine Stevens b. 1747 at Rutland, MAm. (1) David Stone and resided at Windsor, VT She m. (2) Capt. Jonathan Willard, an officer in the Revolution. 8. Prudence Stevens b. 1750 in the house of Capt. Stevens at Fort No. 4 m. the Hon. John Hubbard of Charlestown, NH. 9. Solomon Stevens b. at Fort 4 Sep 9, 1753 settled at Barnet, VT 10. Dorothy Stevens b. 1755 at Deerfield, MA d. at Charlestown, NH 1758 ____________________________________________________________________ Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth