Thomas Jefferson Stevens
1803 - 1879
Thomas Jefferson Stevens was born in Enfield, New Hampshire. He was a physician and had 4 wives.
Thomas Jefferson Stevens
He married Abigail Baker in Marlow, New Hampshire on March 5, 1829. They had five children - Helen M., Osman Baker Stevens, Charles Wistar Stevens, Alfred H. Stevens and Abigail Baker Stevens.
Charles Wistar Stevens travelled to France and met his wife. He returned to the United States and graduated from Havard Medical School. He wrote many humorous books. You can find out more about him in Boston of To-Day at Google Books.
Abigail Stevens married John Henry Gould. She painted water colors as Abbie Gould.
Thomas Stevens second wife was Betsy Duncan. They had three children - Helen, Emma, and Milan. Betsy is my ancestor along with Milan. Helen married Horace Pitcher. They had at least three children who died young. Emma never married. Milan has his own biography page.
Thomas and Betsy moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts where Emma and Milan were born. Emma was born in 1850 and Milan was born in 1852. Betsy died in 1854 of paralysis when she was 41 years of age. She is buried in West End Cemetery, Marlow, New Hampshire. There is a large tombstone that contains Betsy's name as well as her husband's with birth and death date. It also has that Thomas was buried in Cambridge, Mass. On another side of the tombstone, two of Thomas's children from his first wife are listed - Helen and Osman.
The same year that Betsy died, 1854, the Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank opened. Thomas Stevens was one of the founders. He served as trustee and vice president for the years 1854 - 1861. There were a total of seven vice presidents. The bank would receive deposits as low as five cents.
The bank was first located in a small brick building in City Square. As the bank grew it needed a larger building. One was completed in 1876 not far from Bunker Hill. The bank occupied half of the second floor. The other half was for the Monument National Bank. The top three floors were occupied by the masons. On the bottom floor was the R.F. Stacey Pharmacist, the Charlestown Gas Co., Mrs. S. Morse French Millinery and the C.D. Cobb & Co. grocery. The building is still there today with a Starbucks and Cambridge Bank on the first floor.
Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank Building
Stevens Family Pictures
View actual images of the family
Thomas Stevens third wife was Laura Ann Waterhouse. It was her second marriage so Waterhouse is the name of her first husband (father's name was Robbins). She died in 1884 at 72 years old of old age. Her name is listed as Laura Stephens. She is listed as a widow but she and Thomas were divorced in 1865.
Boston Evening Transcript
Vol XXXVii No. 10749
May 6, 1865
page 4
Thomas J. Stevens vs. Laura Ann Stevens; desertion.
In the divorce Thomas mentions that he and Laura were married on February 1, 1855. They lived together until May 26, 1858, a little over three years. At that time Laura moved to Boston. There is a pdf of the divorce and a transcript of the main part of the divorce. The same information is listed multiple times in the divorce.
Laura is listed as Thomas' wife in the 1860 United States Federal Census even though in the divorce it said she had left before 1860.
Thomas Stevens fourth wife was Charlotte Waterman. They were married in 1866. She was born in France and this was her second marriage. She was the widow of James Waterman. He died in 1858. They did not have any children. She is buried in the family plot at Cambridge Cemetery with many of the Stevens family.
Cambridge Cemetery
View actual images of Cambridge
Cemetery
The Boston Traveler
Vol XXXV No. 6
April 8, 1879
page 3
Stevens-In Bunker Hill District, April 6, of typhoid pneumonia, Dr Thomas J Stevens, 76. [Services at the Monument square Methodist Church at 2 PM Wednesday, April 9.]
Boston Journal
Monday, April 07, 1879
Boston, Massachusetts
Volume: XLVI Issue 15201 page 3
OBITUARY.
DR. THOMAS J STEVENS We have to announce
the death of one of our oldest physicians, Dr Thomas
J. Stevens of Charlestown, at the ripe age of 76 years.
He was born in Enfield, N. H., April 22, 1803. He
had practiced medicine uninterruptedly for half a cen-
tury, and was greatly beloved by the poor, whose
friend he eminently was. He has always been actively
interested in all measures for the benefit of the poor
and was the original founder and projector for the
Charlestown Five Cent Savings Bank. He was for
several years City Physician of Charlestown and in
1873 was a member of the Common Council.
Boston Daily Globe
Monday Evening, April 7, 1879
Boston, Massachusetts
Vol. XV, No. 91, page 1
Dr. Thomas J. Stevens, one of the oldest physi-
cians of this part of the city, died yesterday at the
ripe age of seventy-six years. He was born in En-
field, N. H., April 22, 1803. He had practiced
medicine uninterrupted for half a century, and was
greatly beloved by the poor, whose friend he emi-
nently was. He has always been actively interested
in all measures for the benefit of the poor, and
was the original founder and projector of the
Charlestown Five Cent savings bank. He was for
several years city physician of Charlestown, and
in 1872 was a member of the common council.
Boston Post
Tuesday Morning, April 8, 1879
Boston, Massachusetts
Vol. XCVI, No. 84, page 2
Dr Thomas J. Stevens of the Bunker Hill District
is dead. He was born April 22, 1803, and had prac-
tised medicine for fifty years. Dr Stevens has al-
ways been actively interested in all measures for the
benefit of the poor and was the original founder
and projector of the Charlestown Five Cent Savings
Bank. He was for several years City Physician of
Charlestown and in 1872 was a member of the Com-
mon Council.
Boston Journal
Thursday, April 10, 1879
Boston, Massachusetts
Volume: XLVI Issue 15204 page 4
Charlestown District
FUNERAL OF THE LATE DR THOMAS J STEVENS.
The funeral of the late Dr. Thomas J Stevens, for
thirty five years a practicing physician in Charlestown
took place yesterday afternoon at the Monument
Square M. E. Church and the tender regard in which
the deceased was held in this community was borne
witness to by the presence of a very large attendance,
the church being crowded beyond the seating capacity.
The ?? ?? exercies were conducted by the Rev.
J. H Mansfield, pastor of the curch, of which the
deceased was a member. The music of the service was
rendered by a quartette, and three members of the
Sunday school sang a trio in a touching manner at the
close of the service. The floral tributes were numer-
ous. The remains were taken to the Cambridge
cemetery for interment.
The Bunker Hill Times
Saturday, April 12, 1879
Boston, Massachusetts
Vol 27. No. 23. page 4
OBITUARY
______
Dr. Thomas J. Stevens
Dr. Thomas J. Stevens, the oldest physician
in Charlestown, died April 6th, of Typhoid
Pneumonia. He was the son of James Stev-
ens, who fought at Bunker Hill, and
was born April 22nd, 1803 in Enfield N.H. He
was kept on his father's farm until the age of
nineteen when, having a severe fall and injur-
ing his spine, he became incapacitated for
heavy physical work and determined to study
medicine. He accordingly matriculated in Dat-
mouth College in 1823 and began practice in
Marlou, N.H. in 1826 and hence has just com-
pleted half a century of professional labor. In
1828 he was appointed by Gov. Bell surgeon of
the 28th N.H. Regiment and served seven
years. In 1834 he was appointed by the select-
men of Marlou agent to receive and invest the
governmental surplusage; which he did to the
satisfaction of all. At that time there was in
the public treasury a surplus of funds over and
above all debts and this surplusage was distri-
buted among all towns according to their pop-
ulations. In 1837 he became a member of the
Keene Medical Society and was therefore
obliged to ride eighteen miles to meet his med-
ical associates and discuss the medical questions
of the day. In 1840 he was appointed by Gov.
Page, Justice of the Peace; the duties at that
time were very varied and onerous. In 1845
he moved to Charlestown and since that year
indentified himself with the best interests of the
town. In 1845 his active mind projected and
helped to found the Charlestown Five Cent
Savings Bank. He had in view the advantages
to the poor which might accrue from economy.
For several years he was City Physician and in
1872 became a member of the Common Council.
He was eminently the friend of the poor and
was very often known, after leaving his pre-
scription and money wherewith to buy the
medicine, to go to the nearest store and order
provisions sent at his expense. His name
became a synonym of charity and generosity.
Another marked quality was good judgement.
He had a well balanced mind and was guided
more by his own experience and thought then
by the opinion of others. He left a sister who
is nearly a hundred years old and a widow and
six children.
The Funeral Wednesday.
Funeral services over the reamins of the late
Thomas J. Stevens, M. D., were held at the
Monument Square Methodist Church, Wednes-
day afternoon, commencing at two o'clock.
The church was crowded with relatives and
friends who had gathered to pay a last token
of respect to him who had been so near to
them.
Rev. J. H. Mansfield conducted the services.
After a voluntary on the organ by F. W. Jones,
the quartette of the Trinity church, sang "Cast
Thy Burden on the Lord." Mr. Mansfield then
read selections from the Scripture and the
quartette rendered a chant. Then followed the
address.
Mr. Mansfield alluded to the many changes
that had taken place in the life time of the one
who had passed on. He had lived more than
the allotted time, and how many who had
started out with him had fallen on all sides in
the journey of life! He was one of the last to
go. In his own family death had taken one
after another and only one aged sister remained.
In his own immediate family he had followed
children and grandchildren to the grave. His
life had been devoted to that most honorable of
professions,—a physician. He was adapted to
it, not only by cllture, but from the fact that
he regarded it as a duty. We all owe a debt of
gratitude to the faithful physician, especially
if he be our family physician. When a physi-
cian has dwelt thirty-five years in one place,
and has faithfully performed his duty he de-
serves the respect of the community. It was
hard for him to give up work. He had a love
for it; he had a dread of retiring from active
life; and there were many families who had
such faith in him that they would have none
but him. He was a Christian Physician and as
such stood higher in his sphere of usefulness.
He with David Snow, now passed on, was one
of the first to break ground for this church.
He was one of the oldest of members having
joined in 1848. There may be one or two now
living but not more; all the rest have gone on
to the higher life. A week ago last Sunday he
was earnest in his accustomed seat. Even then
the finger of death was pointed at him for he
had particiapted in services for the last time.
This remembrance should bring home to us the
lesson of the uncertainty of earth life. It is
one thing to see a funeral in the street, or to
be present at one; but, it is entirely a different
thing to have one in the house—in the family.
To the relatives the reverend gentleman said he
could not speak to them as did the impressive-
ness of the hour. Home was a delight to him
whose remains now lay so silent before them.
The thought might arise, Why was he taken?
but is should find an answer in the remembrance
that the home to which he had gone, the home
of paradise, would be a delight to him. There
on the other shore, those that had gone before
were gathered to welcome him; and he awaited
that time when there would be a reunion in the
land where sin and sorrow are unknown and a
day of parting never comes.
Mr. Mansfield followed his address with an
earnest and impressive prayer. A trio of the
Monument Square Church,—Miss Josie Upham,
Miss Ella Moore and Miss Abby Atwood—then
sang "Gone to his rest."
An opportunity was now offered for those
present to view the remains and it was very
generally improved. They body rested in a
casket, covered with black broad cloth and vel-
vet, relieved by the usual silver trimmings.
The plate bore the name and age of the deceased.
There was a profusion of elegant floral tributes.
Prominent was a book of roses having the
word "Father" in violets. A crown, a cross,
a wreath, werr also disposed about the casket,
and numberous smaller offerings sent out their
fragrance.
The remains were taken to Cambridge
cemetery for interment.
NOTE: In the above obituary Marlou, N.H. should be Marlow, N.H. The sister who is almost 100 is his sister Ruth who was 96 when Thomas died. In 1870 she lived with Thomas and in 1880 she lived down the street with Thomas's daughters, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Ruth died in 1881 in Charlestown at the age of 98. She is buried in the Enfield Town Cemetery.
Monument Square Methodist Church closed in 1899. It was located at the corner of Monument Square and High Street. The church was organized in 1847 making Thomas one of its first members.
Thomas died in his home at 42 Elm Street. His probate files lists all his heirs which would be his children. Four of his six childern are living with him at 42 Elm Street. All together there were nine people living in the house.
| Name | Age | Address | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles | 43 | 54 Elm St | married | lives down the road |
| Alfred | 40 | 42 Elm St | married | lives with Thomas with his wife and 1 1/2 years old daughter |
| Milan | 27 | 42 Elm St | single | |
| Abbie | 39 | Medfield | married | lives about 50 miles away with her husband, son, and mother-in-law |
| Helen | 35 | 42 Elm St | married | Helen's husband also probably lives at 42 Elm St. She had three children who all died during the 1870s. |
| Emma | 29 | 42 Elm St | single |
List of Thomas Stevens Children
Thomas not only owned his home, he also owned two houses almost next door to his at 1 and 2 Wistar Place. Wistar Place is the size of a driveway with two homes on it in the back. These three houses went to his son Alfred.
Thomas also owned a house with a stable in Somerville, Massachusetts. This was sold.
List of Real Estate owned by Thomas Stevens
The 1880 census, taken the year after Thomas dies, shows Alfred, his wife, and daughter living at 47 Elm Street. The widow Charlotte and all the rest of the family are living next door at 45 Elm Street. There is no entry for 42 Elm Street in the 1880 census.
According to current property records the house at 42 Elm Street was built in 1880. So, it looks like Alfred moved across the street while a new house was built at 42 Elm Street.
Alfred died in 1882. His probate file lists real estate consisting of 42 Elm Street and the houses at 1 and 2 Wistar Place.
42 Elm Street, Wistar Place is to the right between the two houses. Photo taken in 2023
Sources
"Actes de mariage, Paris, France, 1860-1918", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYQW-M9ZM : 10 April 2020), Charles Wistar Stevens, 1865.
Alfred Stevens death certificate, Massachusetts Archives Year: 1882, Vol.: 339, Page: 216, No: 5790, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915, image 392 of 924, Emma Isabella Stevens birth.
Ancestry.com, Massachusetts City Directories, Cambridge, 1875, S, image 28 of 37
Boston Daily Globe, Monday Evening, April 7, 1879, Boston, Massachusetts, Vol. XV, No. 91, page 1
Boston Evening Transcript, Vol. XXXVii, No. 10749, Saturday, May 6, 1865, page 4.
Boston Journal, Monday, April 07, 1879, Boston, Massachusetts, Volume: XLVI Issue 15201 page 3
Boston Journal, Thursday, April 10, 1879, Boston, Massachusetts, Volume: XLVI Issue 15204 page 4
Boston Post, Tuesday Morning, April 8, 1879, Boston, Massachusetts, Vol. XCVI, No. 84, page 2
The Boston Traveler, Vol XXXV No. 6, April 8, 1879, page 3
The Bunker Hill Times, Saturday, April 12, 1879, Boston, Massachusetts, Vol 27. No. 23. page 4
Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lot 782, Tombstone.
Charles Stevens death certificate, Massachusetts Archives Year: 1901, Vol.: 519, Page: 55, No: 821, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Thomas Stevens and Betsey Duncan, marriage certificate, State of New Hampshire, Nov. 24, 1843, married by Henry Nutter.
Enfield, NH: Vital Records, 1761 - 1940, compiled by George McKenzie Roberts in 1957, database americanancestors.org, accessed 2011., page 689.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 March 2021), memorial page for Betsey Duncan Stevens (26 Apr 1813-31 Jul 1854), Find a Grave Memorial no. 214489574, citing West End Cemetery, Marlow, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA ; Maintained by Stephanie Tickner (contributor 50148662) .
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 March 2021), memorial page for Helen M Stevens (unknown–14 Jul 1833), Find a Grave Memorial no. 214489824, citing West End Cemetery, Marlow, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA ; Maintained by Stephanie Tickner (contributor 50148662).
"Historic Houses of the Month: The Charlestown Savings Bank Building – One Thompson Square", Charlestown Patriot-Bridge, by Patriot-Bridge Staff, April 22, 2024 https://charlestownbridge.com/2024/04/22/historic-houses-of-the-month-the-charlestown-savings-bank-building-one-thompson-square/
"Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH8M-9BK : 17 January 2020), Laura A. Robins Stephens, 1884.
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1910, From original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004.), Osmon B. Stevens Death, 1859, Vol. 130, page 60, line 467.
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1910, From original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004.), 1861, Vol.: 145, Page: 58, No: 17 Boston, Massachusetts John Henry Gould and Abigail Baker Stevens Marriage.
"Savings Bank Building and Masonic Hall", Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collections Online, Boston Public Library, Charlestown Latern Slides, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:8k71pd23j
Stevens, Betsy, death certificate, Massachusetts Archives Year: 1854, Vol.: 85, Page: 63, No: 280, Boston, Massachusetts.
Stover, Augustus W., A Retrospect on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incoporation of the Charlestown Five Cent Savings Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, published by the corporation, 1904.
Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017-2025. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org), Name Alfred H. STEVENS, Probate Record 1882, Case Number 68023, Volume Name Suffolk Cases 62000-63999, Page 68023:14, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2735/i/64734/68023-co14/76180457Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017-2025. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org), Name Thomas J. STEVENS, Probate Record 1879, Case Number 62794, Volume Name Suffolk Cases 62000-63999, Page 62794:7, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2735/i/64721/62794-co7/76029502
Thomas Stevens and Abigail Baker marriage, microfilm New Hampshire Vital Records to 1900, MARRIAGES: Spencer to Sohlengk, F, 33, N454, 180, New England Historical and Genealogical Society.
Thomas J. Stevens and Charlotte H. Waterman, marriage certificate, Massachusetts Archives Year: 1866, Vol.: 190, Page: 138, No: 106, Boston, Massachusetts.
Thomas J. Stevens and Laura Ann Waterhouse, marriage certificate, Massachusetts Archives Year: 1855, Vol.: 88, Page: 58, No: 16, Boston, Massachusetts.
Thomas J. Stevens death certificate, Massachusetts Archives, Year: 1879, Vol.: 312, Page: 81, No: 2059, Boston, Massachusetts.
"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZHG-WB7 : 19 March 2020), Thos J Stevens, 1860.