| Notes |
- As indicated in Lyme records and by a reference in Hempstead's Diary, page forty-six, Stephen Scoville was engaged in the manufacture of planks and staves, being probably associated with his father-in-law, Thomas Champion, in the ownership and management of a sawmill situated in the Eight Mile RIver in the town of Lyme. This is a considerable stream, formed by two branches, one arising in the town of East Haddam, the other in the town of Salem. It flows into Eight Mile RIver Cover, sometimes called Hamburg Cove, near the present village of Hamburg. Here thousands of shad have been caught in times past. Through this cove, or perhaps at Ely's Wharf, a mile below on the Connecticut River, export could be handled. Stephen appears to have owned land along Beaver Brook, an indication that he was in the fur trade. This was near the present village of North Lyme, even now a sparsely inhabited region. In 1724 he bought thirty acres of land, bounded "on the Commons," in what was to become, some twenty-five years later, the parish of Hadlyme, but which was then non-existent, not being incorporated until about 1742, or a little later. This parish lay along the Lyme-Haddam town line, in both towns. Stephen Scoville became a member of the Hadlyme Church in 1745/46. Mrs. Sarah Scoville was admitted to full communion in the First Church of East Haddam 19 Dec 1731. Its place of worship lay some six miles to the northward, and here the family attended, if anywhere. About 1742 a church was gathered in Hadlyme, and Mrs. Scoville became a member of it. Several of her children, now grown up, were baptized by its pastor, and became members, about 1746. Here the family remained until the death of the father in 1752. Stephen Scoville left a will, the original which is on file at the State Library in Hartford.
The religious sentiments comprised in the opening paragraph of the will must not be attributed to Stephen Scoville personally. It was a form quite usually used in writing wills. The will was probably written by Rev. Grindal Rawson, pastor of the Hadlyme church, and one of the witnesses. The witnesses personally appeared before Joseph Spencer, Justice of the Peace, and proved the will which was approved, allowed and ordered to be recorded 7 Jul 1752.
The total estate amounted to ¹168-8-6. The inventory is not here given in full, but classified items are given to show how a farmer was equipped for the hard struggle of making a living:
Clothing: A Castor Hat, blut straight body coat, another of brown, 2 great coats, two vests, 2 pairs leather breeches, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of buckles, pair of boots and spurs, black and blue stockings, another pair of stockings, 1 Holland shirt, another shirt, flannel check shirt, check woolen shirt, 2 pairs linen draws, 1 Holland Cap, 1 Hollan handkerchief, two caps, 1 pair of mittens, silk handkerchief. 6 1/2 yrds tow cloth, 5 yards ditto.
Furniture and housekeeping utensils: Great chair, 2 small chairs, 2 ditto, 1 brass kettle, 1 pewter quart, 2 pint basons, 1 pewter platter, 5 pewter spoons, old pewter, 1 wine glass, 5 vials, ... glass, 3 bottles, 1 earthern platter, 4 wooden dishes, 6 wooden plates, 1 box iron and heaters, 1 piggin, 1 iron skillet, 1 pair of small steelyeards, 2 knives and forks, 5 pairs of knitting needles, iron candlestick, 1 churn, 1 half bushel (measure), 3 milk trays, 1 butter tub, 1 oaken tub, shoemakers bench and tools belonging, 1 hetchel, 1 iron pot and hooks, frying pan, grid iron, tongs and slice, meat fork and lamp, 2 trammels, 2 sheets and a tablecloth, 1 sheet, 1 napking, 1 linen sheet, 1 flannel blanket, 2 sheets, one coverlet, bed bolster and pillow, 2 bedsteads and cord, another bed, bed-tick and bolster, 6 coverlets, one of rag loom.
Tools and farming implements: Tap borer, 1 small gimlet, and hammer, pair of old chisels, 1 great auger, 1 chain and clewes, 1 cap ring, cart boxes and hoops, harness (for horse), 2 guns, 1 dye tub, 1 set plow irons, another chain, 1 sickel.
Books: 1 Testament, 1 Psalm Book, 1 account book, 1 Psalter, 3 small bound books, 1 catechism.
House and land: Dwelling house ¹25; barn ¹9; 3 acres of land ¹51, 17 acres of land ¹42-10, 15 3/4 acres of land ¹28, 1 3/4 acres of land ¹4-10.
Farm animals: Horse, 1 dark red cow and calf, another cow, 2 swine.
Provisions and supplies: 11 pounds of tobacco, 1 cedar tub, 3 pound flax, 2 old casks, 3 1/2 pounds coverlet yarn, 4 3/4 pounds of woolen yarn, 3 pounds of wool, 2 axes and a froo, meal sieve, 2 1/2 bushels of wheat, 2 bushels of Indian corn, 2 1/2 bushels of rye meal, 60 pounds of pork.
From this list one may clearly see how this aged farmer and his wife lived. It is not clear that any of the children were living at home. They were all probably grown up, with their own homes or at work. [3]
- (Research):Stephen Scoville was the youngest son of Arthur Scoville. As he was born some eight to twelve years after Arthur's son John was born about 1672, it has been conjectured that Stephen was not the son of Joanna, but of a second wife. This conjecture seems probably, but it should be understood that there is no documentary evidence that Arthur Scoville married a second time, nor any such evidence that a son Stephen was born to Arthur by such an alleged second wife. There is circumstantial evidence that Stephen was a son of Arthur:
1. Stephen named a son Arthur.
2. There is on record at Lyme a deed of Peter Pratt to Stephen Scoville of land in Lyme, dated 22 Dec 1715. This deed was witnessed by William Borden and Joanna Scoville. William Borden was the husband of Arthur's daughter Elizabeth. If we presume that Joanna Scoville was not Joanna, first wife of Arthur, but his granddaughter, born in 1689, daughter of John Scoville of Middletown. It seems strange that a young girl in Middletown should witness a deed execute in Lyme. If this identification is rejected, then Joanna must have been the wife of the first Arthur, and the conjecture of Arthur's second marriage falls to the ground.
3. When in 1735 Stephen (2) Scoville and James (3) Scoville of Wallingford-Meriden were associated in the purchase of a tract of land in Harwinton, James sold and Stephen gave the land to his son Ezekiel. THese facts show clearly that Stephen was included in the family circle, who seem to have had a strong family feeling. [1]
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1684 - 1752 (72 years)
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