Individual Details
John Stearns
(1691 - 10 Mar 1787)
John married (1) on 2 Dec 1722 to Elizabeth Barnes. She died 19 Apr 1737. He married (2) on 19 Apr 1739 Abigail Diggins of Winsor, CT. Abigail died 13 Feb 1752. He married (3) on 29 Jul 1754, Eunice Miller of Tolland, CT.
Children by Elizabeth were:
Elenor, b. 25 Feb 1725/6, d. 20 Oct 1737
David, b. 14 Dec 1725, d. 2 Feb 1725/6
Elizabeth, b. 26 May 1728
Ruth, b. 19 Jul 1730
Lydia, b. 25 Jul 1732
John, b. 11 Jan 1735/6
No children recorded by Abigail Diggins.
Children by Eunice:
David, b. 24 Jan 1756, d. 6 Apr 1756
Elenor, b. 11 Aug 1757
Charles, b. 19 Oct 1758
Mary, b. 3 Feb 1760, d. 15 Aug 1775
Sarah, b. 6 Nov 1761
TOLLAND was originally purchased of the native Indians by a number of gentlemen in Windsor. In 1715 it was incorporated by the Assembly, and the settlement of the town was commenced by two families. The progress of the settlement was slow; the number of families in 1720 was but twenty-eight. About one half of the township, comprising the south part, was claimed by a number of persons who were legatees of Joshua Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans. This proved a source of considerable difficulty, as the legatees commenced suits at law against the settlers. The proprietors holding under the Windsor claimants were obliged, at a dear rate, to purchase quit claims of the legatees of Joshua. The Rev. Stephen Steel was the first minister of this town. He commenced his labors in 1720, and continued his ministry for about thirty-seven years, greatly beloved and revered by his people. Mr. Steel was from Hadley, Mass. The first settlers were of the names of Chapman, Stearns, Grant, West, Carpenter, Aborns, Abbot, Lathrop, Nye and Dimock. The Chapmans were from Windsor; they located themselves about 2-1/2 miles westerly from the court house, near the Hartford road, in the vicinity of Snipsic pond or lake. John Stearns settled about 2 miles eastward of the court house; Zebulon West about 3 miles south; the Grovers, Carpenters and Samuel Aborns, located about 2-1/2 miles north. Ebenezer Grant, from East Windsor, settled on Grant's hill, about 2-1/2 miles south from the court house; Nye and Dimock settled near Willimantic river, about 4 miles east.
Children by Elizabeth were:
Elenor, b. 25 Feb 1725/6, d. 20 Oct 1737
David, b. 14 Dec 1725, d. 2 Feb 1725/6
Elizabeth, b. 26 May 1728
Ruth, b. 19 Jul 1730
Lydia, b. 25 Jul 1732
John, b. 11 Jan 1735/6
No children recorded by Abigail Diggins.
Children by Eunice:
David, b. 24 Jan 1756, d. 6 Apr 1756
Elenor, b. 11 Aug 1757
Charles, b. 19 Oct 1758
Mary, b. 3 Feb 1760, d. 15 Aug 1775
Sarah, b. 6 Nov 1761
TOLLAND was originally purchased of the native Indians by a number of gentlemen in Windsor. In 1715 it was incorporated by the Assembly, and the settlement of the town was commenced by two families. The progress of the settlement was slow; the number of families in 1720 was but twenty-eight. About one half of the township, comprising the south part, was claimed by a number of persons who were legatees of Joshua Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans. This proved a source of considerable difficulty, as the legatees commenced suits at law against the settlers. The proprietors holding under the Windsor claimants were obliged, at a dear rate, to purchase quit claims of the legatees of Joshua. The Rev. Stephen Steel was the first minister of this town. He commenced his labors in 1720, and continued his ministry for about thirty-seven years, greatly beloved and revered by his people. Mr. Steel was from Hadley, Mass. The first settlers were of the names of Chapman, Stearns, Grant, West, Carpenter, Aborns, Abbot, Lathrop, Nye and Dimock. The Chapmans were from Windsor; they located themselves about 2-1/2 miles westerly from the court house, near the Hartford road, in the vicinity of Snipsic pond or lake. John Stearns settled about 2 miles eastward of the court house; Zebulon West about 3 miles south; the Grovers, Carpenters and Samuel Aborns, located about 2-1/2 miles north. Ebenezer Grant, from East Windsor, settled on Grant's hill, about 2-1/2 miles south from the court house; Nye and Dimock settled near Willimantic river, about 4 miles east.
Events
| Birth | 1691 | ||||
| Marriage | 2 Dec 1722 | Elizabeth Barnes |  | ||
| Marriage | 19 Apr 1739 | Abigail Diggen | | ||
| Marriage | 29 Jul 1754 | Eunice Miller | | ||
| Death | 10 Mar 1787 | |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth Barnes ( - 1737) |
| Child | Eleanor Stearns (1725 - 1737) |
| Child | David Stearns (1725 - 1725) |
| Child | Elizabeth Stearns (1728 - ) |
| Child | Ruth Stearns (1730 - ) |
| Child | Lydia Stearns (1732 - 1779) |
| Child | John Stearns (1735 - ) |
| Spouse | Abigail Diggen ( - 1752) |
| Spouse | Eunice Miller ( - ) |
| Child | David Stearns (1756 - 1756) |
| Child | Eleanor Stearns (1757 - ) |
| Child | Charles Stearns (1758 - ) |
| Child | Mary Stearns (1760 - 1775) |
| Child | Sarah Stearns (1761 - ) |
| Father | Shubael Stearns (1655 - 1734) |
| Mother | Mary Upton ( - ) |
| Sibling | Shubael Stearns II (1683 - ) |
| Sibling | Samuel Stearns (1685 - 1759) |
| Sibling | Hannah Stearns (1687 - 1765) |
| Sibling | Ebenezer Stearns (1693 - ) |
| Sibling | Martha Stearns (1695 - ) |
| Sibling | Eleanor Stearns (1697 - ) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Stearns (1699 - ) |
| Sibling | Mary Stearns (1700 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. Vital Records: Births, Marriages, Deaths 1665-1853. LDS Microfilm #1376026 Item 5..
2. Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. Vital Records: Births, Marriages, Deaths 1665-1853. LDS Microfilm #1376026 Item 5..
3. Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. Vital Records: Births, Marriages, Deaths 1665-1853. LDS Microfilm #1376026 Item 5..
4. Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. Vital Records: Births, Marriages, Deaths 1665-1853. LDS Microfilm #1376026 Item 5..