FOUNDERS OF FORT NO. 4, CHARLESTOWN, NH
From: mbharvey@tiac.net (Barbara)

Transcribed from: "The History Of Sudbury" 1638 - 1889
By: Alfred Serno Hudson, published: 1889
republished:1969

pages 315 & 316

CAPT. PHINEAS STEVENS

Mr. Stevens was born 20 Feb. 1706, and went to Rutland
with his father, Deacon Joseph Stevens, about 1719.  August 14, 1723,
he was taken captive by the Indians and carried to Canada. He was
afterwards redeemed, and taken home. In 1734 he married his cousin,
Elizabeth Stevens, of Petersham, Mass. He lived for a time at Rutland,
and moved from there to Charlestown, N.H.   He was a prominent citizen
of that place, in both civil and military matters, in its early history.

His name was on the proprietors' book about 1743 as a petitioner for a
proprietor's meeting and the same year he was on a committee for
providing a "learned and orthodox minister to preach the Gospel. In
the same year he received a commission as Lieutenant of militia from
Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire.  In 1744 he was commissioned by Governor
Shirley of Massachusetts as Lieutenant of volunteers for the defense of
the frontier. The next year he was appointed by the same authority
as captain for service against the French and Indians.
Captain Stevens was repeatedly commissioned to go to Canada to negotiate
for the deliverance of prisoners. In 1752 he negotiated for the 
deliverance of John Stark of New Hampshire, who was afterwards General
Stark who commanded the continental forces at the battle of Bennington.
The ransom of Stark was an Indian pony, valued at one hundred and 
three dollars. This amount was paid back by Stark in money which he
earned as a hunter on the Androscoggin, Maine.
Since to narrate all the services of Captain Stevens
at Fort No. 4 and elsewhere in this war would take considerable space we
will only present a few facts which may set forth something of his
military history and the arduous nature of his work. A settlement was begun
at No. 4 Post about 1740 and shortly afterwards Mr. Stevens went there
and became one of the three proprietors who settled the place. At
that time No. 4 was the most advanced post of the English civilization
in the northwest. It was surrounded by dense forests, and much exposed
to the French and Indians in their incursions from the north. The
foe to which the people were exposed was exceedingly fierce and cruel.
Such a combination of bad qualities as was manifested by the enemy that
came from Canada was seldom seen.

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