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Nicholas Stevens was born Ca. 1620, eldest son of Thomas and MaryStephens. He married Elizabeth Starkey in St. Peters Church in Cornhill,London September 9, 1641. This was near Tower Ward where he lived. He wasa Captian in the victory of Nasby June 14, 1645 and fought for religiousfreedom under Oliver Cromwell and against the Stuart King. He came toAmerica ca. 1660 under an assumed name because of the persecutions inEngland. He was in Taunton, Mass. in 1660, then he and his brother wentto the Jamestown Colony. His heirs could not receive any of his wealthbecausee he had changed the spelling of his name to Stevens. He diedSeptember 27, 1670 in Albemarle, now North Carolina. [KarenMcGlynn.GED.FTW] "Stevens - Stephens Genealogy and Family History" Author: Clarence Perry Stevens Call Number: CS71.S844 This book contains the history and genealogy of the Stevens-Stephensfamily of North Carolina. Bibliographic Information: Stevens, Clarence Perry. Stevens-StephensGenealogy and Family History. Privately Published. 1968. 1) NICHOLAS STEVENS was an immigrant to America some time before 1669 butI have found no date for that or for his birth. The official record(Visit. of London) proves that his father was Thomas, Sr. but does notgive his age. In 1634 he was apparently a minor living in his father'shousehold in the Tower Ward in London so he was probably born about 1620.The following record shows he was married in Sept. 1641: "Sept. 9, 1641, Nicholas Steuens and Elizabeth Starkey p'lycense" - TheRegister of St. Peter's Cornhill, London Vol. I, p. 257 of the HarleinPublications. At that time the letter "u" was interchangeable with "v" so the clergymanspelled the name Steuens. Cornhill St. is near the Tower Ward in whichNicholas lived. One reason why no date for the arrival in America of 1) Nicholas may beexplained by the following quotation from E. S. Barney's Genealogy, p.46. "Again it is a tradition that Henry Stevens, the oldest son of NicholasStevens, an officer in Cromwell's army fled from England to escape thepersecutions of the Royalists after the death of Cromwell; but thisrecord rests only on a letter from one member of the family to another ofthat generation. This letter is still extant and in the possession ofMrs. Updike of New York City, a descendant." I would say that letter is good evidence. Two of the judges, at least,Colonels Whalley and Goffe, spent their last years in Mass. under assumednames so very likely 1) Nicholas Stevens embarked under an assumed nameso we are not likely to find exactly when he came to America, but it wasprobably 1660. Neither have we been able to find with any certainty wherehe first arrived in America. According to Plowden Stevens6 an old countyhistory related he came to Taunton, Mass. and settled in Taunton orDighton (a suburb) and his son Nicholas also resided there. However, Ifind nothing in the Taunton Vital records nor in Dighton about him. Thereare data about 41) Nicholas, the son of 13) Richard, so I think the twomen with the same name have been confused. It appears 1) Nicholas visitedthere about 1669 according to some family records. No doubt the reason official records of 1) Nicholas were not found in NewEngland was that he and his brother 3) Anthony had gone to the JamestownColony. Possibly Anthony was there before 1660. In Lancaster CountyRecord book No. 2, Anthony Stephens is listed as a witness in 1659 analso in 1662) p. 236) and in 1663 he is on a bill list for 850 pounds oftobacco.7 He had a land grant in 1667 for 1850 acres of land inWestmoreland Co. and probably settled there, where the will of EdmundRandolph in 1724 says "...to Nicholas Stephens and daughters Elizabethand Millicent..." This was not 1) Nicholas since he would not have lived so long butdoubtless was a grandson of 3) Anthony named after his brother 1)Nicholas. I think so since I have never found these names in any otherStephens lines except our own. 1) Nicholas Stephens did not immigrate directly to Albemarle (now NorthCarolina) Colony in 1660 because King Charles II did not make the granttill 1663; so it is doubtful if 1) Nicholas lived there more than five orsix years before his death in 1670, as proved by the official recordSept. 27, 1670 where Capt. Crawford was awarded damages to his boat. Thename of 1) Nicholas is also on the list of those present earlier thatyear, at a hearing in regard to the estate of Gov. Samuel Stevens. Thereis no more record left of the estate of Nicholas. Isaac Rowden,administrator of the estate, lived in 1695 just west of Flatty Creek andeast of Harvey Creek in the Pasquotank precinct. Of course, Nicholas wasdeceased before 1695 so his name does not appear on this tax list butthis is evidently the locality where he spent his last days. WilliamCrawford, I think, had been a fellow officer in Cromwell's army inEngland. There was another Nicholas, perhaps the same one who was mentioned in thewill in Westmoreland Co., Va. who died in what is now South Carolinaabout 1724 but he would have been much too late to have been 1) Nicholas,nor have we found any other at that time1 of the right age. 1) NICHOLAS STEVENS AND YE FAMILY IN ENGLAND "They were His songs that rose to Heaven before The surge of steel broke wild o'er Marston Moor. When rough-shod workman in their sober gear Rode down in dust the long-haired Cavalier." -(James Russel Lowell) No official birth date has been found for 1) Nicholas Stevens but sincehe married Elizabeth Starkey1 at St. Peter's church in Cornhill London in1641 he would normally have been born about 1620. He entered the EnglishCivil War ca 1642 against the tyrannical King Charles I on the sidevariously called Republican, Round Heads, Independents or Puritan; butthey were not all Puritan so I prefer Republican as Milton called them.At first he apparently had organized a company or "trained band" ofcitizen-soldiers for the defense of London. Dr. E. S. Barney in herStevens Genealogy quotes an old English record as follows: "Nicholas Stevens for his cursing at Winsor before the trainband lastMonday, is to pay the public treasury 10 shillings." 2 He apparently was a Captain at this time, at least we know from officialrecords he was a little later when he and his men were ordered to jointhe new modeled army under Cromwell and Fairfax. Before Oliver Cromwellwas raised to Lt. General and remodeled the army, the battles wentagainst the Republicans and the situation was so bad that if the kingcould have captured the capital, he very likely would have won the war.On Oct. 13, 1642, he and his army came near London but the London trainedbands barred his way at Turnham Green so he made the military mistake ofwithdrawing. As the historian Gardner says "he was never to have suchanother chance again." Thus in helping to organize these trained bands,Capt. Nicholas Stevens made a considerable contribution toward winningthe war, regardless of his service in other battles. Some of the old histories in America, county and otherwise, say that hewas a brigadier general. For instance, Plowden Stevens quotes one: "Nicholas Stevens, who had been aBrigadier General in Oliver Cromwell's army...." In a letter to R. A.Stevens, Costa Mesa, Calif., 6 Sept. 1955, the Public Records Office inEngland wrote: "Brigadier General Nicholas Stevens has not been identified. A search hasbeen made in the indexes to the calendars of State Papers Domestic forthe period 1635 to 1665 without success." I have no objection if someone wants to call him a Colonel, as he mayhave been, but as Brig. Gen. M. J. Gavin pointed out to me in a letter, Idoubt if the title brigadier general was used then in England. Enough hasbeen proved so that we do not need to exaggerate. 1 The Register of St. Peter's church, London, England 2 Dr. E. S. Barney; see No. 1 in the bibliography Surely it is distinction enough that he was an officer (Captain orColonel) under the great Cromwell, in an army never defeated althoughoften outnumbered, lead by the greatest military genius of the 17thcentury - an army that had conquered the British Isles and even driventhe Spanish army before them like chaff before the wind at the Battle ofthe Dunes in France, resulting in the liberation of the French people.This Spanish army was rated as the best in Europe, which means this armyof Cromwell's was the peer of any in the world and other nations knew it.I fancy the secret was in part that he made soldiers as he said "who knewwhat they were fighting for and loved what they knew." It would be interesting to know just how many of great grandsons of thatgrand army fought in the American Revolution for much the same principlesof government as these Republicans. I recall, for instance DariusStevens, a descendant of Capt. Nicholas, gave his life in the Battle ofBunker Hill. There are doubtless over a million descendants of that grandarmy in the United States today, but probably only a few know it. At anyrate no order of Sons of the English Revolution (SER) has been formed butthere is a Cromwell Association. Mark Twain was a descendant of GeofreyClemens (or Clement), one of the judges who sentenced Charles I to death. In the letter referred to above from the English Public Office it is said"Several references have been found to Capt. Stevens, who in 16 April1645 was instructed with his troops that he was to form part of SirThomas Fairfax's new (modelled) army." However, it was Cromwell, 2nd incommand, who did the remodelling; but he soon was to be the top commanderof the Republican army and later was to be known as the greatest ruler ofEngland. What a sorry contemptible lot were the kings of England ascompared to him. Capt. Nicholas Stevens and his men had just joined this new-modelled armyin time to be in the great Republican victory of Nasby, June 14, 1645.This I believe has been rated as one of the fifteen decisive battles ofthe world. On the right Ireton's cavalry was routed by Rupert, who leadthe best Royalist troops, but he stupidly chased them for miles.Cromwell's Ironsides were conquerors on the left. The Republican foot inthe middle, containing many raw troops, was slowly being driven back butthe genius of Cromwell saved the day. He turned his cavalry around andfell on the side of the Royalist infantry in the center and thus defeatedthem, thus winning a glorious victory for the Republicans, who capturedover 5,000 prisoners, artillery and baggage, including the king'spersonal correspondence which was to be used against him later. WhenRupert got back, he found his side defeated. Says the historian, J. R.Green: "Modern England, the England among whose thoughts and sentiments weactually live, began with the triumph of Nasby. Old things passedsuddenly away." Yes, indeed, and how much of that greater New England beyond the seas,began with the victory at Nasby. I believe Carlyle says there are fewremaining rolls for private soldiers but perhaps Thomas and Anthony, brothers of Capt. Nicholas, were in this battle. This invinciblearmy was sometimes outnumbered more than two to one; for instance on Aug.17, 1648 with less than 9,000 men they fell upon 24,000 who followedHamilton and after three days fighting routed them utterly. At the Battleof Dunbar with some 11,000 men they defeated 23,000 Royalists underLeslie, taking 10,000 prisoners. The Royalists lost over 3,000 dead andCromwell's army not over 20 men. The rest of their victories can be readin any good history of England and is beyond the scope of this book. AsCromwell said: "Such a history to look back unto.....even our enemies confessing thatGod himself was certainly engaged against them, else they should neverhave been disappointed in every engagement." 1 The Republicans had fought mainly for religious freedom and againstreligious persecution, so common then in Europe, and for a more justgovernment in general. In his first speech to Parliament Cromwell, asChief Executive, reported what his officers wanted: "Some things are Fundamentals. These may not be parted with; but will, Itrust, be delivered over to posterity as the fruits of our blood andtravail. The government by a single person and Parliament is aFundamental. "Again is not liberty of conscience in religion a Fundamental? Liberty ofconscience is a natural right and he that would have it ought to giveit.....truly that is a thing that ought to be very reciprocal.....It isfor us and the generations to come." 2 Said the noted historian Thomas Carlyle: "My brave one, thy old nobleprophecy is divine....and shall in wider ways than thou supposest, befulfilled!" 3 They extended toleration to the Jews, and Quakers were no longerpersecuted. 4 They stopped persecution of the people for the totallyimaginary crime of witchcraft, not only in England and Scotland but inmuch of Europe. 5 Let those scoff at the temporary witchcraft delusion ofthe Puritans at Salem, Mass. note that. When the Duke of Savoy caused themassacre of a number of the Valdois in the Piedmont valleys, Cromwellobliged the Duke to stop and caused the Pope to be informed that ifProtestants continued to be molested anywhere the roar of English gunswould speedily awaken the echoes of St. Angelo (in Italy).6 He also toldthe French ambassador "Never will I sign away our right to help theHuguenots..." Thus he practically stopped religious persecution all overEurope. 1-2 Carlyle's "Cromwell's Letters and Speeches" III, 66. Cromwell's comment on this subject was: "England hath had experience of the blessing of God in prosecuting justand righteous causes whatever the cost and hazard may be, and if ever menwere engaged in a righteous cause in this world, this will scarcely besecond to it." Among his supporters, were not only Capt. Nicholas Stevens but hisalleged relatives John Stephens of Tweakesbury near Gloucester; NathanielStephens of Gloucestershire; and William Stephens of Newport and Wight,members of the Long Parliament (Carlyle) and probably several of thefamily served as common soldiers. How right they were! But it seems impossible to change the habits and superstitions of apeople in seven years, so in 1660 came the so-called restoration, partly due to the treason of ColonelMonk; but absolute monarchy could never be restored, and representativedemocracy is the government today of England and the U. S. A. The Plowden Stevens Gen. says a county history in New York gives thechildren of 1) Nicholas as Thomas, Richard and Henry; and that another story is that three of thechildren were Nicholas, Thomas and Henry. I think that is correct exceptthat Henry was the oldest. In the F. S. Stevens Gen. 6 (p. 23) is a copyof the family record submitted by Susan Stevens, b. ca 1815. She and herhusband were both descendants of 10) Henry Stevens. She says: "NicholasStevens (of) Cromwell's army, came to Taunton, Mass. in the year 1669. Hehad three sons Nicholas, Thomas and Henry. Nicholas settled at Taunton,or Dighton and his son Nicholas resided there with his family.....HenryStevens was sixteen years old when he came to America." Dr. E. S. Barney gives the sons as Henry, Thomas and Richard but Ibelieve they have confused 13) Richard, who lived at Taunton, Mass., as ason, while I consider him a cousin. So it seems proved that three of thesons were Henry, Nicholas and Thomas. There may also have been a Richard,John (as given by Mrs. Ghastin) and Ebenezer but unless more evidence isfound, I doubt if we should list them as sons. Nicholas3 (Thos.2, Anthony1), b. ca. 1620 of London "eldest son and heir"-m- in 1641 Elizabeth Starkey. (St. Peter's Register, Cornwall St.,London.) He is said to have changed the spelling of his name to "Stevens" (Dr. Barney) and in the church register his name is spelled "Stevens orSteuens". He was an officer under Oliver Cromwell in the English CivilWar and joined Cromwell's New Modeled army as a Captain, 18 April 1645.(See Chapter II herein). Dr. Barney tells us that"Nicholas Stevens ofEngland was wealthy, owning three shires in Wales, and after his deathone of his heirs went over from New England, and prosecuted for andobtained a decree for his share of the property, but in signing thereceipt he wrote his name "Stevens", when the attorney for the crowndeclared him an imposter, as the English records were spelled "Stephens",so the Judge ruled him out." He came home and so reported. - (Dr. E. S.Barney Gen. p. 45) She also mentions that he and his sons are said tohave come to America in 1660 to escape thepersecution of the Royalists.He and son Thomas settled in the Albemarle Colony (now North Carolina)then under Jamestown Colony and their names appear there in the recordswhere Nicholas died in 1670, when probably only about fifty years of age.(N. C. H. & G. Reg.) He is said to have appeared in Taunton, Mass. in1669 (F. S. Stevens Gen. p. 23) but no record of him appears in the threevolumes of Taunton Vital Records or in other Mass. records, so heprobably only paid a visit to his son Henry and nephew 13) Richard. Heleft no will. His name is on the list of those present at a meeting concerned with the settlement of the estate of Governor SamuelStevens. (N. C. H. & G. Reg. by Hathaway). "At a called Court held, 15 July 1670, at ye house of Sam Davis for yeCounty of Albemarle, in ye province of Carolina, Capt. Wm. Crawford,petition against ye administrator of Nicholas Stevens, deceased, for thehire and use of a shallop (which) was bulged and damnified, wherefore yeCourt orders Mr. Rowden (Isaac), Administrator of ye estate to pay Capt.Crawford 500 1bs. of tobacco". (Hathway's N. C. Hist. and Gen. Reg. Vol.I, p. 136). Probably Capt. Crawford was the same Capt. Crawford who had been afellow-officer with Nicholas in England under Cromwell. Henry was theeldest son and 16 years of age when he came to America in 1660. (F. S.Stevens Gen., Dr. Barney Gen., and others.) Therefore he was born in1644. While some sources list a brother Richard and one source, perhapsan Ebenezer, I do not consider there is enough evidence to include themas brothers. Probably they have confused 13) Richard who was a cousininstead of a brother of Henry. 14) Thomas did have a brother Richard butthat was a different Thomas. So I think that Susan (Mrs. I. P.) Stevens,born ca. 1815, was correct as to the three sons: Henry, Nicholas, Jr. andThomas, although there may have been a son Richard which we have beenunable to trace. Susan not only had written records but in a letter to F.S. Stecens Dec. 20, 1890 said that John Stevens, a relative, "had thegenealogy of the family, far back." (Stevens Gen. by. F. S. Stevens, 1891, p. 23.) Plowden Stevens in 1909mentions three or four other sources which all agree that two of thebrothers were Henry and Thomas. There were likely other siblings.(*) Thenfor 1) Nicholas and Elizabeth Stevens, issue: *1. 10) Henry4 Stevens (Stephens) 1644-1726, set. Stonington, Ct. 2. 11) Nicholas, Jr. ca. 1648-1674, set. R. I. - drowned while sailing aboat on Connecticut River in 1674. (Conn. Probate Rec.) Desc. not traced. *3. 12) Thomas4, ca. 1662--1751, set. in Carolina Colony, now N. C. 2) Thomas, Jr. 3Stephens (Thos.2, Anthony1), b. ca. 1621 -m- but wife not traced. That he had a wife and children, 13) Richard, Cathrine (also Kath.) and other siblings, is proved by the affidavit of Jonathan Lincoln in 1768. (Bristol Co. Mass. Rec. Vol. 53, p. 514, or Plowden p. 14) Jonathan Lincoln was a close relative to 13)Richard's wife Mary Lincoln. Jonathan swore that he "well remembers Richard Stephens of Taunton .....and that sometime after Richard came, his father whose name was Thomas, and mother, and sister Cathrine, and some time others of ye family came over to Taunton." This is first class evidence. I gave some evidence in Chapter III that 14) Thos., 15) Cyprian, and 17)Mary were brothers and sister of 13) Richard and Cathrine. So far as Iknow all genealogists of 15) Cyprian agree his father was a ThomasStephens (Stevens) of London and Mrs. Holman and her Stevens-Miller Gen.and others say that Thomas, the Armourer, was not the father as some haveclaimed. In fact the Armourer could not have been for he died long before15) Cyprian was born. So only a little evidence is needed to show that15) Cyprian's father was 2) Thomas Jr. of London. (*)perhaps also 12a) John4 Stevens in Albemarle (now N. C.) given inStevens-Tripp Gen. by M. S. Ghastin, p. 2. -----William Lackey Stephens;http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/t/e/William-Lackey--Stephens/index.html
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