Birth was given as 1646, but was fixed between April 1, and Nov 13 1647. He was a bond of Joseph Wheeler on Nov 13, 1668, along with his brother Thomas. He came to the Americas in 1660.He married Mary Willard, daughter of Simon Willard, Nov. 22, 1671 in Lancaster, Mass. He was in charge of a garrison in Lancaster when attacked by Indians during the King Philip's war. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From Genealogy and Personal History of Penn. by J.J.Jordan. He emigrated to America with his father ( ? ) and settled first at Rummey Marsh, Chelsia, Mass, removing to Lancaster about the time of the King Philip's war. Being forced to find a safer place of residence for his family he removed to Sudbury and was given authority to receive an Indian child of 6 years, probably from a friendly tribe, whose father was perhaps serving in the English rank. After the close of the King Philip's war he returned to Lancaster and, where he became a prominent citizen He lived in Lancaster but removed to Plainfield in Conneticut. serving several offices and served as clerk of writs from 1682 to 1686. Some of his children may not have been born at Lancaster as he was driven from there for a short time due to the King Philip's war. He lived for a short time nearer Boston, probably at Sudbury. ---------------------------------------------------------- From a GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND.-Cyprian Stevens came to New England about 1660 from London in his youth ( Under 14 ) where his father lived., his father was the armorer of Buttolph Lane and contracted with our government and company for a supply of arms, he was a member of the company and besides giving 50 pounds of common stock sent three sons and daughter, Mary, as his venture in our cause. He was one of the signers of the instructions to Captain Endicott . Cyprian was from Devonshire in the early days, he was at first at Rummey Marsh ( Chelsea ) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cyprian Stevens was born in England 1644-45 arrived in Boston, Mass. in 1660. Married in Chelsea, Mass in 1672 and finally settled in Lancaster, Mass. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From Society of Colonial Wars by Boston General Council in 1906 Stevens, Cyprian 1640 ---- Attacked by Indians in his garrison , 1675-76. Served at Groton, Mass., under Capt. Thomas Wheeler 1673-1676: at Lancaster under Ens. Peter Joselin 1704. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Stevens Family by E.H. Stevens -He came to this country at about the age of 11 with his sister and older brother. Thomas. He undoubtedly lived in Charlestown but as a minor was not listed. He deeded land to his father-in-law, Simon Willard, in Dunstable in exchange for a blockhouse and land at Lancaster. He was prominent in Lancaster being a clerk of writ and Constable from 1682 to 1686. In 1676 he petitioned the governor for aid after the destruction of the town of Lancaster by King Philip. there were two blockhouses and all the people got into them. The one on the west side was fired and almost all the 50 inhabitants were killed but the Willard-Stevens blockhouse, made of stone, survived and were saved by soldiers from Marlboro. The town was abandoned until Oct 1679. During this time he lived at Rumney Marsh ( Chelsea ) now Revere. In 1693 he had a wife, Ruth, of whom there is no knowledge of who she was but she signed legal papers as his wife. The date and place of his death has not been found. ----------------------------------------------------------------- In WILLARD MEMOIR Life and times of Major Simon Willard he is mentioned a son-in-law and considerable said which just verifies some of the above statements. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From History of Lancaster by Rev. Abijah P. Marvin. He was in the battle where Jonathan Wilder was killed and Ephram Wilder was severely wounded. The Middlesex Court in April 1682 convicted Cyprian Stevens of selling strong drink to the Indians. He was fined 20 shillings, money, and to pay the cost of two Indian witnesses, three shillings. The prohibitory law was intended to shield the Indians from harm in the use of strong drink. Cyprian Stevens was licenses by the Court of Pleas and the General Session of the Peace to retail wine, beer aile, cyder,rum ect. He must have sold too much as there was a limited amount to sell to an Indian. He was relieved of the above appointment and made clerk to make record of all the births and deaths in Lancaster. In 1690, Cyprian Stevens, contsable, allowed a prisoner to escape, He was arraigned and convicted. He was either careless or in collusion with the prisoner. But the court was not to be trifled with and he soon fulfilled his warrant.In Lancaster, his Marriage to Mary Willard daughter of Major Simon Willard in 1671, Major Willard deeded the Lancaster home and lands to his son-in-law. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From Birth Marriage and Death Register 1643 to 1850 The early records have been mostly lost. Cyprian Stevens was made clerk in 1880 and served to 1890 and good records were kept.then. for six years there was no record as there was an Indian war and utter confusion. ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACCOUNT OF CYPRIAN STEVENS ( A LEADING CITIZEN ) FOUND IN A HAND WRITTEN FILE IN THE LEXINGTON, MASS LIBRARY by T. Cady Oct 1996 CYPRIAN STEVENS Joseph Willard Esq. in his Willard MEMOIR gives but the briefest account of Cyprian Stevens and for the larger part of his life little is found relating to him. If the Lancaster records between 1692 and 1700 were intact doubtless his biography would have been long for in the 10 years after the resettlement he appears the most prominent citizen of the town and in official capacity his elaborately wrought signature appears attached to many a document in the Middlesex Court files. Cyprian Stevens as he always wrote his name was the son of Thomas Stevens of Devanshire, England. He came from London when under 14 about 1660 and probably lived first at Rummey Island now Chelsea. He was probably twenty two or twenty three years of age when in Lancaster January 2, 1671 he married Mary, the daughter of Major Simon Willard. Within a year thereafter, perhaps, Major Simon Willard removed to his Narragansetts farm and conveyed as a marriage portion probably in part the home he had bought of John Tinkett to the young couple in which they lived. It became known as the Cyprian Stevens garrison shortly and the hill nearby for some time bore the name of Stevens Hill. December 1672 this conveyance was made and it is stated therein that it was in exchange for lands of Stevens at Dunstable. The property is described " All ye housings, Barns, Stable and Orchard, lands including meadows lying and being in Lancaster according to their several Bults and bounds as following; The house lot formally called Major Willard's home lott bounded by ye North River and ye night pasture east and ye County highway north and west by the highway that leads to ye North River and another piece of land and meadow lying over Pennycook River from ye house lot bounded xxxxxxxx. This house stood upon the land of Caleb Symones Esq. the road to the center bridge having been cut through the lot. The Children of Cyprian Stevens were Mary 1672 -9 mo -22 d born in Lancaster.Simon born in Boston August 13 1677 or 8 - Dorothy of whom it is known only that she died in infancy. Elizabeth born about 1681. Joseph at later date not known. Of these Mary married Captain Samuel Wright of Sudbury and Runlande. Simon married 1701 Mary daughter of Nathaniel Wilder and a second wife Mary Martyn. He lived in Lancaster but removed to Plainfield, Conneticut. 1723 - 24 or near those dated. Returned to Marlborough and there lived to old age. His children of Lancaster birth WERE SIMON 1708, JONATHAN 1710 NATHANIEL 1712 ELIZABETH 1715 NATHANIEL 1716 DOROTHY 1719 He sold the paternal estate to Captain Samuel Willard. Elizabeth married Captain Ephram Wilder and the two lived together 61 years. He husband dying Dec. 14 1769 at 93 yr 8 m and the wife May 30, 1769 at 88. Joseph married Prudence Rice of Sudbury. He lived in Lancaster only a few years 171?-19 being of Sudbury, Farmingham and Rutland. Capt Pheneas Stevens was his son. When the survivors of the massacre of 1676 had assembled from all parts of the town they were in two garrisons that of Thomas Sawyer in South Lancaster and Cyprian Stevens near the present Sprague Bridge. those in the former had saved themselves by their own unaided powers and bravery. Steven's garrison had been reinforced by the courageous Captain Wadsworth and his little band as Guakin tells us " The enemy had set fire to the bridge but Captain Wadsworth beat off the enemy recovered the garrison house that stood near another bridge belonging to Cyprian Stevens and so thru Gods favor prevented the enemy from cutting off the garrison. God strangely preferred that handful with Captain Wadsworth for the enemy were numerous about 400 and lay in ambushment for him on the common road but his guide conducted him in a private way and so they got safe to Cyprian Stevens his garrison as above mentioned. But the enemy had taken and burn another garrison house very near the other only a bridge and a little ground parting them". The petition of the survivors ( in Massachusets Archives lXViii p 156 ) Cyprian Stevens's handwriting and as characteristic of his style of composition may appropriately for part of this sketch. " to the honored Governor an Council. The humble petition of the distressed people of Lancaster humbley sheweth that since the enemy mad such sad and dismal havocke amongst our dear friends and brethern and we who are left who have our lives for a prey sadly sincable of Gods judgement upon us. This with the distresse we are now in dus embolden us to place our humble request to your Honors, hoping our condition may be considered by you and our request find exceptance with you, our state is very deplorable in our incapacity to subsist, as to remove away we can not the enemy has so encompaced us otherwise for want help our cattle being the most carried away by the barbarous heathen and to stay disemabled for want of food . The towns people are mostly gone who felt the judgement but light and had their catle left with them and theire estate but we many of us heare in this prison have not bread enough to last one month and our other provision spent and gone for the generallity. Our town is drawn into two garrisons wherin are by the good favors of you eighteen soldiers which we gladly mayntain so long as any thing lasts and if your Honor should call them of we are certainly a bag for the enemy if God do not wonderfully prevent. Therefore we hope as God has made you fathers over us. So you will have a father's pity to us and extend your care over us who are your poor distressed subjects. We are sorowful to leave the place but hopeless to keep it unless maintained by the Country. It troubles our spirits to give any encouragement to the enemy ot leave anything to them to promote their wicked designe yet better save our lives that lose life and estate both. We are in danger enement, the enemy laying above us, nay on both sides of us as thus playinly spaire. Our womens cris thus daily encrease be an expression which does not only fill our ears but our hearts full of grief which makes us humbly request your Honor to send a gard of men and that if you please so command we may have carts. About 14 will remove the whoole, eight of which has been pressed long at Sudbury but never came for want of a small gard of men, the whool,,that is all that are in the garrison kept at Major Willard's house which is all from your Honor most humble servants and suplyants. Lancaster March 11th 1676 ( signed by Jacob Ffaerse, John Houghten Senior, John Moore Jonathan Whittcomb, Fohn Houghton Jr. The other on Garrison are in the like distress and so humby desire you like pity and fatherly care having widows and many fatherless children. The number of carts to carry away the garrison in twenty carts Your must humble petitioners. ( signed John Wilder, Sarah ?Widow, Fairbanks, John Rigby, Nathaniel Wilder, John Prescott Sr., Thomas Sawyer Sr., Thomas Sawyer Jr.,Jonathan Prescott, Thomas Wilder, John Rooper, Widow Rooper " " to Cyprian Stevens of Lancaster " In his name you are hereby required to appear before the next court to be holden at Charleston the 20 th of this instant December, then and there, to answer the complaint of Job, an Indian, of Naticke for forcibly taking from him at Naticke within these few days three beaver skins worth three pounds and due damage, hereof you are not to fail at your perill dated the second of December 1681. Also in his name you are required to appear before mee at my house upon the 19 th day of this instant December at one of the clocke afternoon, then and there to answer the compaint of James Wiser, Indian, for taking from him forceably taking from him out of a wigwam his aurm worth forty shillings and carrying away and deteyning it to his great damage this hunting season- hereof fayle not at your perill- Dated the 2 nd of December 1681 Signed Daniel Gerkin Assistant MIDDLESEX COURT RECORDS 1681 December " In case of Job, Indian, VS Cyprian Stevens the jury brought in their verdict finding for the plaintiff forty one shillings in money or the same three beaver skins to be restored to him againe with three shillings damage and costs one pound, nine shill and ten pence" MIDDLESEX COURT FILES 1682 " To the honorable County Court-These are to give you notice that Cyprian Stevens is by ye inhabitance of Lancaster chosen to be Clerk of ye writs for Lancaster June 14 th. 1682. As atests Gamabil Beaman- Constable of Lancaster. 20-4-82 Allowed in Curiam FBR MIDDLESEX COURT FILES Dec. 19, 1681 " Cyprian Stevens accused by the Naticke Indians in open court, particularly the witness are Peter Ephram and Loosomet. They say yt the said Cyprian Stevens about a month since ( with some other English men whose name they know not ) was up in the woods near Watchuset where these Naticke Indians above named and some Albany Indians in company a hunting. Cyprian Stevens and his companion perceiving a booty ( for the Albany Indians had guns and skins ) Cyprian went home and returned within a few days and brought with him some trucking cloth, powder and shot and three bottles about one gallon a piece of strong liquor and he sold some of the strong liquor to said Albony Indians and they were made drunke. He got a gun and some skins of them and when they were sober and came to themselves they fell out with the Naticke Indians and said that they had procured the English to bring strong liquor and to cheat them of their guns and skins and the Albany Indians threatened the Naticke Indians to be revenged of you of this matter. This was ye accusation and information made in open Court by my house by Indian Andrey Pitting, Pianbow, Tom Tray, James Wiser, John Aquilcas and Pakitag- but Peter Ephram and Loosomet were not present at the time by gave ye testiment afterward in open Court at Naticke who is now in Court. Upon this information I bound over to said Cyprian Stevens to answer the complaint at Cambridge Court the first Tuesday in Aprill next and accordingly Cyprian Stevens as principall and Josuah White as surity bound yourselves to the Treasurer of the Court of Middlesex in one hundred pounds to appeare at ye said Court ye first of April next then to answer this complaint and abide ye order of the Court. This was done the day and year above written before me. Signed Daniel Gerkin Sen. Assistant. " At a Court held in Naticke the 28 th December 1681 Lasoomit a Xtran a baptised Indian aged about seventy years testified that he and Peter Ephram of Naticke being a hunting near Watchuset about six week since , they met with 3 Albany Indians at a place called Puannaqueset where they had a hunting house, at which time he say he saw three Englishmen where of Cyprian Stevens was principall and the other two young men. Then he saw the said Cyprian Stevens sell to the Albany Indians about two gallons of strong liquors which they brought in wooden bottles of liquor about one gallon a piece and I understand there was another gallon bottle in a bag. Also he saith ye the said Cyprian Stevens delivered some powder and shott to ye said Albany Indians and the Albany Indians delivered to said Cyprian for the strong liquor powder and shot-bever skins and some other skins but he knows not how many, and he further saith ye three Indians were very drunk and muddled and the chiefe of you quarreled with said Cyprian about another skin and took it back from him but Cyprian had it again.- Daniel Gookin" Peter Ephram's testimony is omitted here because it was very similar to the above. 1682 MIDDLESEX COURT RECORDS Cyprian Stevens being convicted of selling strong drink to ye Indians is fined twenty shillings-money to pay costs to two Indian witnesses 3 - each money April 4 th 1682 Cyprina Stevens was constable a few years later and in 1690 was indited for allowing a prisoner to escape. His return to tha warrent is as follows. By virtue of this warrent from the Honorable deputy governor, I endeavered to seake the person of Robert Crossler but I having not the constable staff delivered to me he questioned my power and forth with drew upon me and also had a brace of postols one sticking to his girdle and the other in his left hand upon cock. I commanded the Mr. Henry Willard and Joseph Walters to assist in the taking of said Crossler. Upon which he the said Crossler said that he would dye before he would be taken and so with arms he recovered his horse and fleed. The said Crossler all the time keeping himself at a distance protesting any man that layeth hold of him he would kill or be killed. This is attested by Cyprian Stevens -Constable of Lancaster." Crossly by evidence of George and Lydia Goss, Jonathan Whitcomb and Jabez Fairbandk and Philip Goss had threatened to kill Goss and had made a disturbance and assaulted Goss in his own house which on the site of the Rowlandson garrison- also that Stevens had, though present, had done nothing toward arresting Crossley then and afterwards " The deposition of Philip Goss aged 39 or thereabouts testifyeth and said that on the fifth day of October instant 1690 he received a warrent from the honorable the deputy Governor to apprehend on Robert Crossler then resident of Lancaster with he after the morning meeting delivered one Samuel Bennett to deliver to Cyprina Stevens, Constable of Lancaster, to execute the same which when delivered as said constable was reading the same, he said Crossler and one Henry Willard passed by ye constable towards his house. Whereupon this defendant went along his feence adjoining to the highway that he might not be discovered by said Crossler and called to ye constable desiring him to preform his office or otherwise he would complain to authority of his neglect herein and afterwards saw y constable come up with ye Crossler about the bridge. Said Crossler making a stop that he might so do and that the said Bennett and one John Beament saw the said constable and Crossler walke downe together towards ye constable's house, where he had opportunity to execute ye warrent and then depart after he saw ye constable and Crossler come together went into his owne house and so did Bennett and Beament and further saith not.
Continued under wife Mary Willard # 70 his wife. Cannot put more on this note pad.
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From THE HISTORY OF CHARLESTON N.H. BY REV.H.H. SAUNDERSON pg 556
The date of emigration of Cyprian Stevens has not been ascertained but we find that Jan 22, 1671 he married Mary Willard, daughter of Major Simon Willard and later his third wife Mary Dunster. His first residence was in Chelsea, Ma. but at the time of his 2 nd.marriage he was of Lancaster at which place he became a man of considerable consequence Cyprian and Mary Willard had four children .
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From THE HISTORY OF THE tOWN OF LANCASTER, MASS. by Rev. Abijah P. Marvin
The Middlesex Court in April 1682 convicted Cyprian Stevens of “ selling strong drink “ to the Indians. He was fines twenty shillings and to pay costs to two Indian witnesses, three shillings. In 1686 Stevens had a successor in Nathaniel Wilder who was licenses by the Court of Pleas to” retail wine, beer, aile, cyder and rum” ect. At the same time Stevens was appointed clerk to take account of all births and deaths in Lancaster.
Cyprian Stevens constable in 1690 allowed a prisoner to escape. He was arranged and convicted. He was either careless or else in collusion with the prisoner. But the court was not to be trifled with and he soon fulfilled his warrant. In consequence he was discharged on paying costs.
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From THE BIRTH,MARRIAGES AND DEATH REGISTER OF LANCASTER, MA. by H.S.Nourse
In the introduction “ the returns of the second clerk, Cyprian Stevens, are found in the Middlesex Registry duly copiednfrom 1680 to 1687.”
Cyprian Stevens joined the Church of Christ in Lancaster by John Prentice pastor April 23, 1710
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THE EARLY RECORDS OD LANCASTER, MA. by Henry S. Nourse 1884. Cyprian Stevens who married his ( Simon Willard ) daughter Mary 22.11.1671 occupied the homestead thenceforward. The Major’s sons lived upon the Still River farm. . In 1727 Simon Stevens,son of Cyprian, sold the Major Willard homestead, together with the night pasture, to Capt. Samuel Willard, son of Henry the fourth son of Major Simon Willard.
---------------------------------------------From LANCASTER IN PHILIP’S WAR - God strangely preserved rescuing men for the enemy were numerous, about 400, and lay in ambush for them on a common road but their guides conducted them in a private way and they got safe to Cyprian Stevens, his garrison house being very near the other only bridge. This house burnt was the Minister’s house. Mr Rowlandson wherein were slain and taken about forty persons, the minister’s wife and children.