CHARLESTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From:	Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth

Capt. Phineas Stevens, Official Correspondence  Part 1
Source:  History of Charlestown, NH - Fort No. 4 by
         Rev. Henry H. Saunderson, 1876

p.558
Capt. Phineas Stevens (see his bio)
Though not among the earliest, he was an early settler.
His name appears on the Proprietor's Records the first
time Sept. 13, 1743.  His first military commission was
received from Gov. Benning Wentworth, of New-Hampshire,
and was dated Dec. 13, A.D. 1743 and it runs thus:

"To Phineas Stevens of No. Four, so called, on the East
Connecticut River.  You, the said Phineas Stevens, are
commissioned to be Lieutenant of the foot company of
Militia in the regiment of Josiah Willard, Esq, Colonel.
             (signed) B. Wentworth"

Josiah Willard was one of the principal proprietors of
the town of Winchester and was Commander of Fort Dummer.
The particular service which Lieut. Stevens performed
in connection with this regiment is not known, if he
performed any.  He was next commissioned by Governor
William Shirley of Massachusetts as Lieutenant in a
company of volunteers raised for the defense of the
western frontiers.  This commission was dated Oct. 26,
1744.   On Jan.9, 1745 he was also appointed by Governor
Shirley, Captain of a company of volunteers to be raised
for His Majesty's service against the French and Indians.
In another commission by Governor Shirley, he was
appointed first Lieutenant of a company of soldiers
raised for the defense of the inhabitants whereof Josiah
Willard Jr., was Captain.  This commission bears the
date July 29, 1745.  The following commission is copied
from Caleb Stark's sketch of the subject of this memoir,
embraced in the volume containing his life of General
John Stark.  It was furnished by Henry Stevens and is a
copy from the original:

"By His Excellency, The Governor.
These are to direct you forthwith to enlist sixty able-
bodied, effective volunteers, to make up a marching
company on the western frontiers.  Twenty-five of which
sixty men you may also enlist out of the standing com-
panies in those parts; taking effectual care that en-
listmentbe made with as much equality as may be, so as
not much to weaken any particular party of those sold-
iers; and with the said company to scout during the
summer season in such places where the Indian enemies
hunt or dwell, keeping one half of your company at the
garrison called No. Four, to guard and defend the in-
habitants there and to repel and destroy the enemy that
may assault them; and upon return of the half that go
out upon the march the half just mentioned forthwith
to march out and scout in the manner above said; and so
interchangeably - one part to coninue to do their duty
at No. Four, and the other to be upon the march above
said.

And, you, the officer that shall command the said march-
ing party must keep exact journals of your marches,
noting down all circumstancesand making such observations
as may be useful hereafter.  You must take care to keep
an exact discipline among your men, punishing all
immorality and profaneness and suppressing all such
disorders in your marches and encampments as may tend
to disorder and expose you to the enemy.

Given under my hand at Boston, this twenty-sixth day of
April 1746 in the 19th year of his Majesty's reign,
                          William Shirley
(above) To Captain Phineas Stevens."

p.559
Another commission from the same source bears date at
Boston, June 16, 1746.

During that summer Capt. Stevens was of great service
in the defense of No. Four, being ever watchful while
others were incautious, he several times rescued parties
of soldiers, who, contrary to his counsel had needlessly
exposed themselves to dangers.  For though most of the
time engagedin varied service under the particular
direction of the Captain General, he still kept such a
watch of the movements of the Indians as to be able to
be present at No. Four at those junctures when his
counsel and help were most imperatively demanded.  But,
not withstanding all the endeavors of the inhabitants to
protect themselves and all the aid extended to them by
Massachusetts, their circumstances were still rendered
so difficult by the numerous depredations of their
Indian enemies that they felt obliged towards the latter
part of the year, when Massachusetts withdrew her forces,
to abandon the settlementand retireto their former homes
till such time as they could return with greater safety
aznd more favorable prospects.

We learn from the journal of Capt. Eleazer Melvin (found
on p. 207, Vol. V., N.H. Historical Collections) that
Capt. Stevens and Capt. Hobbs with their companies march-
ed in conjunction with him from the l5th to the 20th
of May, 1748 from No. 4 to Otter Creek, in search of the
enemy, when, making no discovery, they thought it best
to take another course and leave Capt. Melvin to proceed
alone.

In 1749 he was appointed by the government of Massachu-
settsto proceed with a flag of truce to Canada to nego-
tiate the redemption of captives from the Indians.  Of
this expedition he kept a journal which is found in his
report made "To the Honorable Spencer Phipps, Esq.,
Commander in and over His Majesty's Province and to the
Honorable His Majesty's Council now met in Boston, Dec.
15th, 1749."

This journal is found in the collections of the New-
Hampshire Historical Society, Vol. V, page 199 and
contains a particular account of his journey to and his
return from Canada, as well as of the transactions there.
The following extracts will be of interest:

"Sometime in August last I was appointed by the honor-
able commissioners (then appointed by the honorable
Court), to go to Canada as their pilot. I accordingly
repairedto my post at No. 4, to get my affairs in order,
and proposed to attend them.  Just as I was prepared I
received a letter fromthe Hon. John Chandler, Esq. in-
forming me that the Commissioners were not to go.  Upon
receipt of which, I, with all speed, repaired to the
Hon. Col. Chandler, and from thence, by his direction,
to Boston, where I received His Excellency Governor
Shirley's letter to the Governor of Canada, as also
His Excellency's and your Honor's orders to proceed
with the same to the Governor of Canada.  Sept. 13th
I set out from Boston.  Sept. 16th I arrived at Hadley,
where I met my son, returned from his captivity."
This was Enos Stevens, who had been taken prisoner in the
month of June, previous.  The following is his account
of his reception:

"The Governor received us very kindly - asked us to sup
with him, which accordinly I did.  The Governor told me
he should ask me no questions that night.  Oct 29th,
waited upon the Governor that morning, who interrogated
me very particular what was my business.
                  End Part 1

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