Collection number: MC 198
Size: 1 box
(0.20 cu.ft.)
About the Stearns Family
The Stearns Family Papers mostly originate from the Rev. Josiah Stearns (1732-1788), who served as Congregational pastor in Epping, N.H. for 31 years until his death in 1788. His wife was Sarah (Ruggles) Stearns (1731-1808), daughter of Rev. William Ruggles III and Elizabeth Williams. Their first son (second child) was Rev. Samuel Stearns (Epping NH 1770 - Middlesex MA 1834), who became pastor of the church in Bedford, Massachusetts. (Another son, William, served as deacon in Epping for over fifty years, and his son Josiah Howe Stearns served there as a pastor.) Rev. Jonathan French Stearns (1808-1880) of Andover MA was the son of Rev. Samuel Stearns (see above) and Abigail French. Presumably it is through Abigail's family that Jonathan French (1690 Concord MA - 1760 Hollis NH), son of Joseph French and Elizabeth Knight, is related. Also included is Ebenezer S. Stearns (possibly 1708-1800), although it is unclear exactly how or to whom he was related.
About the Stearns Family papers
The Stearns Family papers collection primarily contains the papers of Reverend Josiah Stearns. There are a few items each of Jonathan Stearns of Andover, Massachusetts; Sarah Stearns; the Rev. Samuel Stearns, Josiah’s son, and Ebenezer S. Stearns. Of particular note is the 1757 journal of Jonathan French from the French and Indian War
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [Folder], [Box], Stearns Family Papers, 1755-1851, MC 198, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA
Acquisitions Information
Purchased: Rebecca Anderson, 2007
Collection Contents
Series 1: Jonathan French Papers
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Jonathan French, journal from the French and Indian War, 1757 | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Jonathan French, sermons used at the baptism of his first child, and his nineteenth child, 1798 and 1819 | |
Series 2: Josiah Stearns Papers
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Minutes of a meeting of churches in Ipswich, Cambridge, and Gloucester, to come together in reconciliation and restoration, Exeter, NH, August 1, 1755 | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Minutes of a meeting of the Church of Christ, regarding the appointment of Rev. Josiah Stearns as pastor, Epping, NH, August 23, 1756 (2 versions) | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Letter of invitation from the Church of Christ, signed by members of the church, Epping, NH, May 18, 1757 | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Minutes of a meeting, regarding the hiring of Rev. Josiah Stearns as pastor, Boxford, MA, October 15, 1757 | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Minutes of a meeting of the Church of Christ, regarding the appointment of Rev. Josiah Stearns as pastor, Epping, NH, November 7, 1757 (2 versions) | |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Minutes of a meeting of the Church of Christ, Epping, NH, December 7, 1757 | |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Articles of the Ecclesiastical Council, signed by John Moody, reverend, and Josiah Stearns, scribe, August 13, 1765 | |
| Box 1, Folder 10 | Confirmation of the formation of the Ecclesiastical Council, and its officers, August 13, 1765 | |
| Box 1, Folder 11 | Statement of regret of conduct, from David Lawrence, Epping, NH, and Statement of regret of conduct, from Benjamin Baker, Epping, NH, March 8, 1769 | |
| Box 1, Folder 12 | Minutes of a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Council, signed by Peter Coffin, moderator of Council, and Josiah Stearns, scribe, Nottingham, NH, June 7, 1770 | |
| Box 1, Folder 13 | Minutes of a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Council, regarding a case between the minister and the people, and the dismissal of Rev. Butler, signed by Peter Coffin, moderator of the Council, and Josiah Stearns, scribe, Nottingham, NH, August 1, 1770 | |
| Box 1, Folder 14 | Letter from the brethren in the Gospel Ministry, to Rev. Doctor Langdon, Greenland, NH, August 7, 1770 | |
| Box 1, Folder 15 | Minutes of a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Council, regarding the conduct of Rev. Thomas Niles, signed by Timothy Walker, moderator, and Josiah Stearns, scribe, August 18, 1773 | |
| Box 1, Folder 16 | Minutes of a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Council, signed by Timothy Walker, moderator, and Josiah Stearns, scribe, Pembroke, March 23, 1775 | |
| Box 1, Folder 17 | Settlement of Contention between churches, Greenland, NH, March 29-30, 1775 | |
| Box 1, Folder 18 | Minutes of a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Council, signed by Joseph Adams, moderator, and Josiah Stearns, scribe, Greenland, NH, March 30, 1775 | |
| Box 1, Folder 19 | New Hampshire scale, Greenland, NH, 1777-1781 | |
| Box 1, Folder 20 | Account left by Samuel Lawrence, attested by Josiah Stearns and Simon Peirce, ca. September 1779 | |
| Box 1, Folder 21 | Financial record, Josiah Stearns, Epping, NH, Feb. 28, 1783-1787 | |
| Box 1, Folder 22 | Correspondence to Rev. Josiah Stearns, Epping, NH, March 11, 1784 and July 8, 1784 | |
| Box 1, Folder 23 | List of individuals that helped Rev. Josiah Stearns procure a horse, Epping, NH, February 17, 1786 (2 versions); and February 28, 1786 | |
| Box 1, Folder 24 | Correspondence from Epping, NH, August 25, 1783; March 9, 1784; April 19, 1784; and March 14, 1785 | |
| Box 1, Folder 25 | Will and testament of Josiah Stearns, Epping, NH, April 21, 1788 | |
| Box 1, Folder 26 | Inventory of the estate of Rev. Josiah Stearns, Epping, NH, August 22, 1788 | |
| Box 1, Folder 27 | List of donators and their donations to help Rev. Josiah Stearns procure a horse, undated | |
| Box 1, Folder 28 | Sermons. Undated and unknown author. "A Right Hand of Fellowship," ca. mid-1770s (2 versions), "A Charge" |
Series 3: Sarah Ruggles Stearns Papers
| Box 1, Folder 29 | Fragment of will, and other agreements, signed by Sarah Stearns, July 24, 1784 |
Series 4: Samual Stearns Papers
| Box 1, Folder 30 | Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Samuel Stearns, April 27, 1796 |
Series 5: Ebenezer S. Stearns Papers
| Box 1, Folder 31 | Eben S. Stearns, admittance to Phillips Academy, December 16, 1834 | |
| Box 1, Folder 32 | Valedictory address of Eben S. Stearns, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, August 1837 | |
| Box 1, Folder 33 | Receipt for two burial plots for Ebenezer S. Stearns, Bedford, MA, November 1, 1851 | |
| Box 1, Folder 34 | Eben S. Stearns, “Reward of Merit” certificate, undated | |
| Box 1, Folder 35 | Obituary for Phineus, written by E.S. Stearns, and "The Fallen," an undated poem |
