Elias Stileman (bef. 1615 - bef. 1695)

Born before 17 Jun 1615 in Wantage, Berkshire, England

Ancestors

Died before 19 Dec 1695 at about age 80 in Newcastle, York, Maine

Biography

Elias Stileman immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

Elias Stileman was baptized at Wantage, Berkshire, England on June 17, 1615; the son of Elias and Judith (Adams) Stileman.^[1]He, his parents, his brother John, and several other family members are listed in the 1622 visitation of Hampshire.^[2]Four other siblings were recorded at St. Olave, Hart Street, London; no further information is known about them. ^[1]

Elias (aged 14), his mother and siblings probably waited behind in England when his father immigrated to Massachusetts Bay in 1629. There are no records for his father in New England between April 1629 and 1632, suggesting that during that time he went back to England to get his family and then returned to New England. Elias lived in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, presumably with his family up to some time about 1636 when he was granted 30 acres of land near his father^[1]with additional 20 acres (at his father's request) granted on December 25, 1637.^[3]

First Marriage

Mary (_____) became his wife by 1639. She was born in England about 1621 and died after 1678.^[3]

Children:^[1]

1. Elias Stileman was baptized at Salem on March 15, 1640/1; dying before December 18, 1695. On April 10, 1667 he married Ruth Maynard at New Hampshire. She was probably one of the Maynard granddaughters named in Dr. Comfort Starr's will in 1659; niece of President John Cutt's wife.
2. possibly a daughter, but not mentioned in his will. A list of seating at the meeting house on March 13, 1693/4 says, "the seat where Major Stileman's daughter satt."

He became a freeman of Salem on May 18, 1642, joining the church on August 18, 1639. He was dismissed in 1658 to join the church at Great Island, Portsmouth, New Hampshire where he moved. The place was renamed Newcastle. Here he was Commissioner in 1658; as well as a selectman repeatedly from 1659 to 1695. His civil service included: town clerk, councilor, deputy - all between 1664 and 1695 and throughout his life time. ^[1]

He also had a successful military career. He was Lieutenant for Great Island Ford in 1673; made captain on February 21, 1675/6; Major In 1697.

He was a Colony official, magistrate, soldier, and farmer.

Second Marriage

Sometime after June 24, 1679, Elias married (2nd) Mary (_____) Stileman; born about 1634.

Her 1st husband was Richard Stileman; who by a previous marriage had a son named Samuel. Richard died before June 24, 1679 when administration of the will was granted to his widow, Mary. Children of Mary and 1st husband, Richard, were: Mary, Elizabeth, and Richard.^[1]

Robert Mason laid claim to much of southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts during the administration of the disliked Governor Edward Cranfield, who accepted Mason's claim. Elias was summoned to the governor to explain his refusal to give rent to Mason or affirm Mason's deeds to his house and land. Elias replied by letter on November 15, 1682 saying that he owned the land and had paid for it so Mason needed to prove his claim. Quarrels ensued resulting in retribution when on April 8, 1684 Nathaniel Fox (husband of daughter Mary) sued his mother-in-law for his wife's share her father's estate. Elias put up his house as security against the suit, but even so Matthews, a marshall in Crandall's administration, and another "coarse, brutal man" violently arrested his wife, Mary, and took her to prison. After several letters of protestation, she was released. Mary died sometime between her release on April 9, 1684 and her son Richard's will on June 1, 1691 when she is not mentioned.

Third Marriage

Lucy (Treworgye) (Chadbourne) Wills/Wells, daughter of James and Katherine (Shapleigh) Treworgye of Kittery, was Elias's third wife; married after March 14, 1687/8. Lucy was born about 1632.

Lucy had married her 1st husband, Humphrey Chadbourne whose father was William Chadbourne about 1652. He died before September 12, 1667. Children of Lucy and her 1st husband were Humphrey, James, William, Lucy, Alice, Katherine, and Elizabeth.

Before April 13, 1671 Lucy had married Thomas Wills/Wells who died before May 14, 1687/8. It was Thomas's 2nd marriage, 1st he had married Sarah Abbot and had children Thomas and Sarah Wills. Then after Lucy married Thomas they had a child Joanna Wills who married Richard Cutt. Lucy died before April 13, 1708 probably at Newcastle. Her will was dated January 8, 1699/1700 and proved April 13, 1708 at New Castle.

Elias Stileman died on December 19, 1695 at Newcastle, New Hampshire. His will dated December 18, 1695 and proved December 30, 1695.

Research Notes

The relationship between Richard and Elias has not been documented. ^[1]

Son of Elias1 Stileman of Salem and Judith Adamsn. He m/1 Mary (Unknown) and m/2 the widow of Humphrey Chadbourne.

HUMPHREY2 CHADBOURNE (1. William1), baptized Tamworth, Warwickshire, England 23 Apr 1615; died Kittery, York Co, ME 1667 (will dated 25 May 1667, recorded 15 Oct 1667, inventory returned 12 Sep 1667 (MW, 45-53; YD 2:27-31); married about 1652 LUCY2 TREWORGYE (James1), born circa 1632, came to this country circa 1646 (LND), died Newcastle NH between 1704 and Apr 13 1708 (LND, 133-134), daughter of James and Catherine (Shapleigh) Treworgye and niece of Humphrey's good friend, Major Nicholas Shapleigh. Lucy married second after 1 Apr 1669 (YD 4:fol 51) and probably by 13 Apr 1671, when Wills received land "for the use of Thomas Chick's family" (Berwick TR, 74) Thomas Wills. They were surely married by 12 May 1674 when Lucy's niece Elizabeth (Spencer) Chick was in court for abusing her "Aunt Wells" (vide post). Lucy married third after 14 Mar 1687/8 (date of Thomas Wills' inventory attested to by widow Lucy, LND, 134) Elias Stileman of the Isle of Shoals (LND, 661-2). The will of Elias Stileman, written 18 Dec 1695, named Lucy and her children (LND, 662). Elias died 19 Dec 1695 (Journal of Reverend John Pike, NHHS Coll III: 47). Lucy was listed on the Great Island (Newcastle) tax lists of 1699. She left an extensive will probated in NH as Lucy Stileman.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Early Families of New England.
2. ↑ Rylands, W. Harry. "Pedigrees from the Visitation of Hampshire"
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633

• Humphrey Chadbourne on Chadbourne.org
• Bartlett, Ralph Sylvester. "Alexander Shapleigh and Some of His Descendants", in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society), 95:182.
• The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995). p. 1761.for subscribers$

GM2:2:33; GMB2:948-49

• NHPP 31:172-73 and 31:452-53;
• Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 (The Essex Institute, 1911) Vol. 1, Page 419: 1656: "Elias Stileman, sr., of Salem licensed to sell strong waters."
• Early Families of New England. (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. (By Alicia Crane Williams, Lead Genealogist.) Elias Stileman
• Rylands, W. Harry. "Pedigrees from the Visitation of Hampshire" Harleian Society Publications, Vol. 64 (London 1913). pp. 38,39.see at archive.org