The Mystery of Benjamin & Mathilda (Sprague) Stearns

Benjamin Stearns and Mathilda Sprague were my great-great-great-grandparents. I have been searching for their ancestors for many years. This is the only evidence I have found.

Benjamin Stearns was born circa 1794 Vermont and died 20 May 1850 Thompson Twp; Geauga County, Ohio. Benjamin Stearns married (circa 1817) Mathilda Sprague. Mathilda (Sprague)Stearns was born circa 1796 New Hampshire and died June 1837 Thompson Twp; Geauga County, Ohio. Their children were: Harrison, Roxanna, Sarah, Jackson, Elvira, Benjamin, Abel, Mary, and Mathilda. Mathilda was born 28 May 1837. It is not proven but I would guess that when Mathilda (wife of Benjamin) died in June 1937 (following baby Mathilda's birth 28 May 1837) both died from complications of that birth. According to information on familysearch (LDS) Benjamin Stearns married his second wife Ruthalia (Jewett).

Benjamin Stearns 11 and Abel Stearns (my great-great grandfather) both removed to Cheshire Twp; Allegan County, Michigan. My great-great grandparents Abel Stearns and Lucy Ann Reed had only one

note: There was no mention of a Benjamin Stearns. Yet, on the 1820 US Census for Thompson Twp; Geauga County, Ohio both Benjamiliving child Charles Stearns. Lucy Ann (Reed) Stearns died during childbirth. After his wife Lucy died, Abel and son Charles Stearns (Charles was age 4 when his mother died) moved into the Washington Sprague residence in Cheshire Twp; Allegan County, Michigan. How were they related? Abel Stearns mother was Matilda Sprague.

From a history of Lake and Geauga Counties Book:

Abijah Stearns came also in 1816, on foot and alone, from New Hampshire. He must have found a wonderful contrast between the New Connecticut and the stern, sterile mountains of his native state. He took up one hundred acres on what is now called Madison Gore, got in a crop of wheat, like a decent Yankee, who found himself where wheat would grow, and the next spring brought on his wife and children, arriving on the 17th of March. He brought his farm to a fine state of cultivation, and died on it in 1861. Of his family, Mrs Sarah Miller resides in Thompson; Zeba Stearns also, near the old homestead; Mrs Emily Radcliff at Chardon, and Abraham Stearns in Montville.

Note: Sarah Miller (daughter?) Zeba Stearns (son? Zebadiah?) Emily Radcliff (daughter?) Abraham Stearns (son?)

n Stearns and Abijah Stearns are listed. Abijah Stearns page 199 and Benjamin Stearns page 198. They were the only Stearns on the 1820 US census for Thompson Twp; Geauga County, Ohio.

Abijah Stearns Chesterfield Twp., Chesterfield County, New Hampshire was the only Abijah Stearns listed on the 1810 census in New Hampshire. Is he the father of the above mentioned Abijah Stearns?

Benjamin Stearns Sr. ~ parents have not been found! What is the connection to Abijah Stearns? Is he related to Benjamin Stearns? Are Abijah and Benjamin brothers? Can you solve the mystery?

Mathilda Spragues parent(s) may possibly be Moses Sprague or Richard Sprague and Mary Polly Lane. Richard Sprague may also be Mathilda Spragues sibbling. Can you solve the mystery?

The only Spragues listed on the US Census in Thompson, Geauga County, Ohio were Moses Sprague in the year 1820 and Richard Sprague in the years of 1840, 1850, & 1851. A Moses Sprague was listed in Bainbridge Twp; Geauga County, Ohio in 1830.

I believe Abijah Stearns is the father of Benjamin Stearns Sr. and his sibblings were Sarah, Emily, Zeba (Zephaniah), and Abraham.

I believe Moses Sprague is the father of Richard Sprague (married Polly Lane) and Mathilda Sprague (married to Benjamin Stearns).

Benjamin Stearns of Geauga County, Ohio was married to Ruthelia/Ruthalia.

The children of Benjamin and Ruththalia: Perry Stearns, George M Dallas Stearns, James K Polk Stearns, Lorettie Stearns, Almina A Stearns, and Rosetta J Stearns. His wife Ruthelia/Ruthalia was also mentioned in the documents. These Stearns are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Thompson Twp, Geauga County, Ohio. The names are a match to online cemetery files.

~ Sprague Census

~ Sprague ~

~ Stearns Census

~ Stearns

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