STEVENS, Eliza Ann

Notes:

John was born in New Jersey in 1813. He grew up in New Jersey and married his wife Mary Fichter there in 1837. He became involved in the iron industry, which he followed for a number of years there.
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The 1840 census shows a John F. Stevens in West Milford, Passaic Co., New Jersey. He was between 20 & 30. Also shown are a female age 20-30 (Mary?) and one son under 5 (Joshua?). He stated he was engaged in agriculture at the time. (p. 28).
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The 1850 census finds
John F. Stevens age 37 "a forge man" living in Roxbury, Morris Co., New Jersey with his wife
Mary age 32, sons;
Joshua S. age 11,
Henry age 8 and
John Jr. age 9 months, and daughters
Naomi age 5 and
Caroline age 3.
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He sailed to San Francisco, California in 1855, temporarily leaving his young family behind. He arrived in California with only $28 in his pocket and immediately engaged in the mining industry which was heavily involved in the gold rush at that time.
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John and son Joshua appear in Ophir (near Oroville) Butte Co., California in the 1860 census as follows:
John F. Stevens, 45, M, Farm Laborer, $400RE/$500P, b. NJ
J. S. Stevens, 21, M,Farm Laborer, b. NJ
(Series: M653, Roll: 56, Part:1, Page: 745 ).
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John is also shown in Butte, Sutter Co., California on the 1860 census;
J.F. Stephens, 47, M, Stock Raiser, $500 personal wealth, b. NY (actually NJ)
Mary ", 42, F, Domestic, b. NY (actually NJ)
James (Joshua), 21, M, Farmer, b. NY (actually NJ)
Noman (Naomi), 16, b. NY (actually NJ)
Caroline, 14, F, b. NY (actually NJ)
John, 11, M, b. NY (actually NJ)
A. ", 8, M, b. NY (actually NJ)
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Sometime around 1860 he had settled in South Butte, Sutter Co., California which is right on the southern edge of the Sutter Buttes (near Yuba City). The remainder of his family moved to California in 1860's, including his wife and the surviving 6 of their 8 children.
Source: [Sutter County Biographies] History of Sutter County, California, Thompson & West, 1879.
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The 1870 census shows John in Butte Township, Sutter Co., California (Roll 92 Book 1, Page 93b)
Stephens, J. F., 56, male, white, farmer, $3000 real estate, $1000 personal, b. NJ
- , Mary, 50, female, white, keeping house, b. NJ
- , J. S., 31, male, white, at home, b. NJ
- , A. B., 17, male, white, at home, b. NJ
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John F. Stevens took up 160 acres in Sutter Co., Issued February 10, 1873
Aliquot Sec/ Fract. Survey
# Parts Blk Twnshp Range Sect. Meridian State Counties Nr.
1 SW 10/ 15-N 2-E No MOUNT DIABLO CA SUTTER
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The 1880 census finds John F. Stevens living in Butte Township, Sutter Co., California. He stated he was age 66, a farmer, and that he and his parents were born in New Jersey. John had apparently become successful, as his residence shows a cook, two farmers, and 2 additional laborers. Mary A. Stevens age 62 stated she was keeping house and her parents were also born in New Jersey. Also at home was their son Anslom age 28, a farmer.
(June 4, 1880, E.D.134, p. 8).
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J. (T) F. Stevens is shown in the 1885 Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Butte, and Tehama Counties, California Directory. as a farmer in South Butte, Sutter Co., CA.

John married FICHTER, Mary A. 1837, New Jersey. Mary (daughter of FICHTER, John and GORDON, Naomi) was born Aug 1819, Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey; died 1 Jul 1901, Sutter County, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The 1900 census shows Mary living in the South Butte precinct of Sutter Township, Sutter Co., California, with the family of her daughter Caroline McPherrin.
She was listed as: Stevens Mary J., Mother-in-law, White, Female, b. Aug. 1818, age 71, widowed, had 8 children total 4 surviving to 1900, b. NJ as were her parents. (Series: T623, Microfilm: 115, Book: 1, Page: 203).
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Once again Mary appears in the 1910 census living in the South Butte precinct of Sutter Township, Sutter Co., California, with the family of her daughter Caroline McPherrin. She is shown as age 91, born in New Jersey Aug. 1818. Mary went on to state she had 8 children 4 of whom were still living. (ED. 120, SH. 8).

Notes:

Information comes from Descendants of the New Jersey Pollards, Page 353.
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The 1830 census at Jefferson, Morris Co., New Jersey shows the following;
John Stevens
Males
1, 10<15
2, 15<20 (John F.?)
1, 20<30
1, 50<60 (John L.?)
Females
2, 10<15
1, 15<20
1, 50<60 (Hannah?)
1, 70<80 (Mary (Pollard) Freeman?)
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1840 census:
Jefferson, Morris Co., New Jersey
John Stephens
Males:
1, age 10-15
1, age 15-20
1, age 30-40
1, age 50-60
Females:
1, age 40-50
(Thomas Stephens, 20-29 lived nearby)
John was also 2 doors away from John Fichter, Mary's father.

John married FREEMAN, Hannah Bef 1813, New Jersey. Hannah (daughter of FREEMAN, Daniel and POLLARD, Mary) was born 2 Mar 1778, Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Information comes from Descendants of the New Jersey Pollards, Page 353.

Notes:

John and Naomi lived in Rockaway and Upper Longwood, Morris Co., New Jersey.
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1840 census:
Jefferson, Morris Co., New Jersey
John Fichter
Males:
0,1,0,1,2,0,1...
Females:
1,0,1,1,0,0,1...
Two doors away was John Stephens
Males:
1, age 10-15
1, age 15-20
1, age 30-40
1, age 50-60
Females:
1, age 40-50
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1850 census:
Jefferson Township, 16th District, Morris Co., New Jersey.
John Fichter., 58, M, b. NJ
Naoma ", 59, F, b. NJ
William ", 20, M, b. NJ
Susan A ", 17, F, b. NJ
Malinda ", 13, F, b. NJ
Jediah ", 5, F, b. NJ
Horace Casman, 13, M, b. NJ
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1860 census:
Jefferson Township, Morris Co., New Jersey.
John Fichter., 67, M, Farmer, $180 R.E./$400Personal, b. NJ
Naoma Fichter, 66, F, b. NJ
Jediah Fichter, 14, F, b. NJ
Charity A. Fichter, 8, F, b. NJ
John Hand, 50, M, Farm Laborer, b. NJ
John Lyon, 22, M, b. NJ
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1870 census:
Jefferson Township, Morris Co., New Jersey.
John W. Fichter, 78, M, W, Farmer $3000 R.E./$1000 Personal, b. NJ
Susan Fichter, 36, F, W, Keeping House, b. NJ
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Will Recorded:
Fichter, John, 4849N. Inv. 1871.

John married GORDON, Naomi 9 Oct 1813, Morris County, New Jersey. Naomi (daughter of GORDON, David and SOUTHARD, Nancy) was born 29 Jun 1790, Probably Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey; died 1 May 1869, Milton, New Jersey; was buried , Berkshire Valley, Oak Ridge, Morris County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet]

Daniel married POLLARD, Mary 11 Dec 1774, Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey. Mary was born 17 Feb 1757, Morris County, New Jersey; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Cemetery records in Morris Co., NJ show a William Pollard b. abt. 1744 and a Samuel Pollard b. abt. 1760. These could be relatives, or perhaps brothers of Mary.
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Also a John Pollard with no birth date died November 30, 1840 in Morris Co., NJ.
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There was a John Pollard and a Robert Pollard who served Morris Co., during the Revolution.

Notes:

Frederick was born in the small iron manufacturing town of Elscoe, Germany, near the border line of France. His father was Nicholas and his mother Rosina. It was here he learned his trade and married at an early age. He and his wife Mary Ann soon after emigrated to America and landed in New York City about 1773. Also a sister, who married Baltus Good and removed to Pennsylvania.
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John Jacob Faesch, who was in search of skilled iron workers for the furnace at Mt. Hope, New Jersey, went to New York and found, as it proved afterward, the very man he wanted in Fichter. They came with Faesch to Mt. Hope and Fichter was placed in charge of the furnace. Here they lived happily for a time, until his wife one day went to the spring to get a pail of water and found a large snake nearby, which so entirely upset her nervous system that she declared she would no longer live in the land of snakes, hence they removed to Rockaway, while Fichter countinued to work at Mt. Hope. The severe nervous shock proved too much for her delicate nerves, she was taken soon after from the effects with fever, died and was buried at Rockaway. This event so disheartened Fichter that he sold out his household belongings, and resolved to go back to Germany. Faesch induced him by an advance in his wages to stay three months until he could find someone to take his place at the furnace. He consented, at the end of the three months. In the meantime he attended a party with other Germans at Bloomingdale, New Jersey It was here that he first saw Mary Witty, but she could not or would not talk German to an entire stranger. The trip was made on horseback, the custom of that day. The charms of Mary Witty had induced him to make another trip soon after, when he chanced to meet Mary attending a toll gate, her father was gate keeper, and found that she could talk German to the satisfaction that another trip to the toll gate was soon made and she consented to become his wife, so that within a year from the death of his first wife arrangements were made and they were married in the parlor of the Faesch mansion at Mt. Hope, where a large number of the first families were invited. This event took place in 1788, as near as the records can be accountable. After a few months she complained that she had nothing to do and begged that a flax wheel and fifty pounds of flax should be purchased, after which in due time, Ellenor was presented to them and she did not have to make another complaint of nothing to do. On the first day of June 1792, John came to the household at Mt. Hope, when soon after they removed to Old Boonton, New Jersey, in the iron interest of Faesch, where Catharine Sophia made her appearance. They continued to live in Old Boonton when Gabriel came to that town Nov. 25, 1796. Then followed William in 1799, next Elizabeth Margaret, Mary Ann, named for his first wife June 22, 1804; Frederick, named for himself; then Adelia, when they removed to Berkshire Valley, New Jersey, here came Eliza and Jacob Losey.
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They lived on the Lot Berry farm between Berkshire Valley and Lower Longwood, New Jersey They removed to Upper Longwood where Frederick died about 1850 aged about 90 years, he was buried by the side of his first wife Mary Ann at Rockaway. As no monument marks the spot the precise location has been forgotten. His wife went to live with her son William at Russia, near Milton, New Jersey, where he owned a forge and saw mill, she died there Nov. 6, 1857, aged 85 years, and was buried at Oak Ridge (New Jersey) Cemetery.

Johann married WITTEY, Mary Abt 1788, The Parlor of the Faesch Mansion At Mount Hope, Morris County, New Jersey. Mary (daughter of WITTEE, Frederick and Ellen) was born Abt 1770, Pompton, New Jersey; died 6 Nov 1857, Russia, Morris County, New Jersey; was buried , Oak Ridge, Morris County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

David lived to a very great age and was for many years sexton of the Rockaway Presbyterian church. David also served in the Revolutionary War, and he told the following account of a march his company made to Newark from Morristown. The captain halted his company and thus addressed them "Brother soldiers, we must get to Newark tonight, and we cannot do it and march in a body. Let every man make his way as best he can, and if we get there each one of you shall have half a gill of rum for tea." "Oh, captain," roared his followers, "call it a gill, and then we can do it!" "Well, a gill it shall be, then," said the captain, "but halt when you get this side of Newark, and let us march into town as brother soldiers should, together and in order!" The march was accordingly accomplished by each "on his own hook," and the valiant captain had the pleasure of entering Newark at the head of his company in the "brother soldier" way. In the night the men were roused up and embarked in boats, and were rowed down the Passaic in perfect silence. They landed on the salt meadows and marched up to a little village, probably Bergen. The object of this expedition Dr. Tuttle inferred to have been to break up a gang of tories, some of whom were captured and carried to Morristown.
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The following are certified records at Trenton: "It is certified, that the records of this office show that David Gordon served as a private in the Eastern Battalion, Morris County, New Jersey Militia; also as a private in the New Jersey State Troops; also private in the First Battalion, Second Establishment; New Jersey Continental Line, and in the Sixth Company commanded by Captain Jeremiah Ballard, Third Battalion, Second Establishment; served in the Indian Campaign against the six nations in Western Pennsylvania from May to November, 1779; private in Captain Alexander Mitchell's' Company, First Regiment; detailed to Colonel Barber's New Jersey Light Infantry Battalion, and served in the Virginia Campaign from April to October, 1781; took part in the siege of Yorktown, and was present in the battle of Yorktown and surrender of Lord Cornwallis, October 19, 1781, - during the Revolutionary War." The following are the records from the War Department at Washington, DC: "The records of this office show that David Gordon enlisted July 24, 1777, as a private in Captain Jeremiah Ballard's Company, Third New Jersey Regiment, commanded by Colonel Elias Dayton, Revolutionary War, to serve three years. His name appears on the rolls from June 1777 to August 1780, without additional data." The records also show that, "David Gordon served as a private in the 5th company of foot, first New Jersey regiment, commanded by Colonel Mathias Ogden, Revolutionary War. He enlisted, date not shown, to serve during the war. His name appears on the rolls for January, 1781, to February, 1783, without additional data." The records show further that, "David Gordon enlisted, date not stated, as a private in Captain Jonathan Dayton's Company, New Jersey Regiment, commanded by Colonel Mathew Ogden, Revolutionary War, to serve during the war. He joined March 1, 1783, and his name is on the rolls for March and April, without additional data."
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As David Gordon was born Oct. 23, 1759, monumental record Sept. 23, it will show that he enlisted before he was 18 years of age, and continued in the service nearly six years. His father, William, was 40 years of age, and his grandfather, Joshua, in the 60's. David died July 23, 1852, the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Barnabas King from text, 1 Peter 4th chapter 7th verse.
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David Gordon, born 1759, enlisted July 24, 1777, and served in the Revolutionary War nearly six years, as the records show, married while on furlough May 17, 1780, Nancy Southard, a daughter of Timothy, Jr., who lived at or near Rockaway.

David — SOUTHARD, Nancy. Nancy (daughter of SOUTHARD, Timothy and SWORDEN, Susanna) was born 4 May 1763; died Feb 1859, Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey; was buried , Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet]