Charles STEARNS

                   [gates2ramos.FTW]

[stearns.GED]

Charles Stearns was admitted as freeman at Salem, Massachusetts on 6 May 1646.  On 15 Mar 1648, he purchased a house andeight acres from Edward Lamb and six acres of upland meadow from John Fiske atWatertown.  He moved to Watertown soon after.  He married a Hannah who died atWatertown 30 Jun 1651 and was buried July 2nd.  On 22 Jun 1654, he married Rebecca, daughter of John and Rebecca Gibson of Cambridge, born in 1635.  They lived in Cambridge for a time and the first three of their seven children were born there.

Charles was elected constable of Watertown 6 Jan 1681, but refusedto take the oath.  Later that same year he sold his Watertown properties to hisson Samuel and moved to Lynn End, now known as Lynnfield, MA. Rebecca was still listed as a member of the Watertown Church in 1689 but Charles died in 1696 at Lynnfield, MA.

"GENEALOGIES OF THE FAMILIES AND DESCENDANTS OF THIS EARLYSETTLERS OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, INCLUDING WALTHAM AND WESTON; TO WHICH ISAPPENDED THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN", by Henry Bon, MD, Vol II.

CharlesStearns was adm. Freeman, May 6, 1646. Mar. 15, 1647-8, he purchased of EdwardLamb, of Wat., a house and 8 acres, and three other lots. On the same day he pruchased of John Fiske, 6 acres of upland. Isaac Stearns in his Will, dated June14, 1671, mentions him as "my kinsman, Charles Stearns and bequeathed him L10.Samuel Hosier also bequeathed to him L10; but without stating any relationship. Jan 6, 1680-1, he was elected constable (tax gatherer), of Wat., but refusedto take the oath; and the same year he sold his land in Wat. to his son Samuel.It is supposed that soon after this he with his son Shubael, moved to that part of Lynn, called Lynn End, now the town of Lynnfield.

The following extractfrom the Essex Registry of Probate shows the number and the names of his children, at least of those who lived to maturity, or to have families: "Sept 9, 1695, Shubael Stearns, of Lynn petitions for letters of admin on the estate of hisbrother Charles, slain in the King's service. Balance of his estate after settlement of debts to be divided as follows - equally between his brothers Shubaeland John; the children of brothers Samuel and Isaac: Rebecca Stearns, alias Traine, and Martha Hutchinson, his sisters."****

"GENEALOGY AND MEMOIRS OF CHARLES AND NATHANIEL STEARNS, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, " by Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagenen:  Charles Stearns was admitted freeman, May 6, 1646. On Mar. 15, 1648, he purchased of Edward Lamb, of Watertown, a house and eight acres of land, andthree other lots. On the same day, he purchased of John Fiske, six acres of upland. Isaac Stearns, (First Vol. I), in his will, dated, June 14, 1861, mentioned him as my kinsman, Charles "Sternes," and bequeather him L10. Samuel Hosier also bequeathed to him L10, but refused to take stable, or tax-gatherer, of Watertown, but refused to take the oath; and the same year, he sold his land in Watertown to his son, Samuel. It is supposed that soon after this he, with his sonShubael, moved to that part of Lynn, called Lynn End, now the town of Lynnfield. His first wife, Hannah, d., June 30, 1651, in Watertown and was buried July2, 1651. He md. (2), June 22, 1654, Rebecca Gibson, dau. of John and Rebecca Gibson, of Cambridge. The births of their first two children are recorded in Cambridge, but she was a member of the Watertown Church, Feb., 1658-9. (See Camb. Church Gathering, p. 59) The following extract from the Essex Registry of Probate shows the number and the names of his children, at least, of those who livedto maturity, or to have families: "Sept. 9, 1695, Shubael Stearns, of Lynn, petitions for letters of administration on the estate of his brother, Charles, slain in the King's service. Balance of his estate after settlement of debts (L4,12s, 10d.), to be divided as follows:-equally between his brothers, Shubael andJohn; the children of brothers Samuel and Isaac: