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An overview by: Arlene Gable
Historian who recorded information given to her and also researched the family herself. A family Bible held by a local descendant was a main source. Elisha Stevens was one of Jonathan Stevens eleven children. According to information from a family Bible he was born in February 1759, probably in Orange Co. NY. He served as a Private in the Orange Co. Militia during the Revolutionary War; several DAR memberships are based on this service. In December of 1789 he married Rachel DeMott who at 17 was 13 years his junior. They settled on the Stevens homestead. Thirteen children were born to them there: Sarah, Catherine, Joel, William, FInley, Benjamin, Ellis, George Westlake, Issac, Jacob, Malinda, Elisha Jr., and Polly Ann. He died intestate in 1814 at age 55 and was buried in the now obliterated Stevens Family Cemetery. He left eight children 15 years or younger and if dates are correct, one unborn daughter. Although her references are not recorded, the Town Historian states Rachel was the daughter of James DeMott and Catherine Westlake of Marlborough, NY. She takes the lineage back another generation, but that data has less support. Rachel died intestate in 1847 at age 75 and was buried in the same cemetery. Her son Finley served as the administrator of her estate. March 2000
A family burial plot was established a few rods north of the home site of Elisha Stevens. Here, Elisha and several members of his family, including his parents, probably, were interred. When the property was sold out of the family in the early part of the 20th century, the headstones and markers became scattered so that all traces of a cemetery are now obliterated (1959). Elisha Stevens Rev. War Record may be seen in the DAR National Historic Magazine of July 1843. "The Gleaner" Helen Roe Predmore, THE INDEPENDENT REPUBLIAN, Goshen, NY 25 Dec 1947 4. Elisha Stevens, son of Jonathan Sr., born February 28, 1759; died December 22, 1814; married Rachel Demott, born December 8, 1772, died November 1847, daughter of Catherine Westlake, born 1757. Their children: Joel, William, Finley, born October 24, 1799, died June 23, 1851; Benjamin; Ellis, George Westlake; Issac; Jacob; Elisha, Jr., born February 1, 1812, died April 20 1884; Polly Ann; Sarah; Catherine; Matilda*. Elisha Stevens was buried just north of his home. Arlene Gable Notes from a visit to the OCGS in Goshen in 1988 1) Helen Roe Predmore notes that this family was" researched by Marjorie Carter. Elisha Stevens Bible owned by Miss Julia Stevens, 57 Washington Street, Middletown, NY" DAR Patriot Index, 1966, v 1. lists bd at 28 Feb 1759, death 1814.(m. Rachel Demott: Pvt. NY) 2) Cemeteries of Chester NY, 1977, OCGS Library, Goshen list Bd as 23 Feb 1759 3) Death reference: 2 above, Also Surrogate Court Records Orange County, Goshen NY, Book D, p238, Letters of Administration. Elisha Stephens of Monroe died intestate; Rachel Stephens and Peter Bush appointed adm. Dated 19 Jan 1815. 4) Marriage reference- Came from Susannah Stevens Whitcomb: Stephens- Stevens Genealogy. unpublished 1974, OCGS library. Goshen NY. However AG could not find the marriage reference in the DAR reference used by Whitcomb. 5) Revolutionary War Record found in Roberts, James A, New York in the Revolution, 2nd ed, 1898, p 167,173; Archives of NY --The Revolution.v1, pp292,481: Private in Orange County Militia, 4th Reg, Col John Hawthorn and Captain Andrew Miller. Also see Pension Record of Elisha's brother Davis: DAR Pensions v 36 6) Census 1790 US - Elisha Stevens not found 1800 US Census - Elisha Stevens, Head, 3 m under 10, 1 m of 26/under 45; 2 f under 10; 1f of 16/under 26; 1fof 16/under 45; 1f over 45
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