Once upon a time in the enchanting little hamlet of Union Village, at the mouth of the road leading to David Smalley's and situated on the triangular parcel, four structures emerged: A blacksmith shop, general store, Methodist church and just west of the church site, the house where the Stevens family lived for more than 50 years. Today these are known as numbers 6, 8,10 and 12 Mountain Avenue at the crossroads of Union Village. Exactly when James Stevens and family arrived in Union Village is not clear, but it is known that his widow, Rhoda, and four adult daughters were living there prior to 1830. We also know that son William married Susan Moore, the 17th child of Isaac Moore on September 22, 1823. (Susan's ancestry through her mother, Lydia Bedell, can be traced back to George Littell who immigrated to Massachusetts from London in about the year 1635.) James Stevens (born c.1770) was one of eleven children of Jonathan Stevens, an early Passaic Valley settler in Morris County, north of the river in the vicinity of Smalley's bridge. Jonathan's other children were John (m. Phebe Potter), Sarah (m. Caleb Mulford), Betsey (m. John Shipman), Jane (unmarried), Christopher (m. Rachel Dunham), Jonathan (m. Keziah Jennings), William (m. Phebe Roff), Jacob (m. Betsey Miller), Frazee (m. Charlotte Headley) and Joseph. Through Jonathan's will written in 1804 which was witnessed by David and Samuel Smalley, and recorded upon his death in 1805, son James was to receive part of the dwelling house lot, plus three acres of wood land in the Great Swamp. It is likely James sold his Morris County land shares to a brother either before or after making his way to Union Village. It was in the late 1790s that James married Rhoda Garthwaite, who was born in 1769 and came from Connecticut Farms (Union). They had eight children: Jonathan, Phebe, Daniel Meeker, Sarah, William, Elizabeth, James Hervy and Jane. While the exact time of James' death is not known, it would have occurred sometime between 1810 and 1830. Their son Jonathan became a worker in marble and married Miss Baldwin, Daniel went to Baltimore, and James Hervy married and moved to New York. It is daughters Phebe, Sarah, Elizabeth and Jane, who were living with widow Rhoda Stevens in the Mountain Avenue, Union Village house at the crossroads in 1830. Neighbors were George and Enos B. Townley, Thomas Elston, Elam Genung, Isaac V. Coddington, William Titus, and proceeding westward down the road, Joseph Tucker, Lines Tucker, Abraham Leforge, Abner Smalley, Levi Ruckman, Moses Moore, Martha Dunham, Isaac Moore and Elizabeth Smalley. Daughter Jane Stevens subsequently married David N. Ruckman, born 1804, son of Nathan, son of Jonathan, but died shortly after the birth of their son, James, in 1837. The circumstance of the Stevens' occupancy in the Union Village home in 1830 is somewhat enigmatic, but it certainly appears their relationship to the property at that particular time was one of tenants. The actual chain of title renders an interesting trail and tale. In 1817 Lewis Milier of the Township of Westfield sold to Joseph Tucker of the Township of Warren, 24 acres more or less for the sum of $800.00. This was the long, narrow, rectangular lot, later referred to as the homestead lot, that basically made up the Union Village crossroads parcel. This deed was witnessed by John Littell and Smith Miller. In 1824 Joseph and Deborah (Line) Tucker of Warren sold to their daughter, Elizabeth, the same 24 acres for only one dollar and probably as dowry upon her marriage to Elam Genung. Within the deed description are property reference points to Jonathan I. Baker, John Tilyou corners, William Titus' line, Enos Townley's corner and the tier line of George Townley. Witnesses to this deed were Lines Tucker and his first wife, Phebe. Elizabeth Genung's husband operated the village store. Then in August 1832 Elam Genung and wife Betsey (Elizabeth) sold to Jonathan Stevens of the Township of Lodi, for the sum of $1100.00 the same parcel, but with exceptions of church lot of 21/100 acres and Isaac V. Coddington's lot of 73/100s, both deeded away in 1826 by Genung. Jonathan Stevens, born 1798, was the first son of Rhoda and James Stevens, and in all probability made this purchase with the welfare of his widowed mother and unmarried sisters in mind. Three years later according to deeds recorded in 1835, Jonathan Stevens and wife Lydia D. Stevens, now of Newark, sold the 1832 purchase in two pieces. One piece equating to but 16 square rods, a mere 1/lOth acre, was sold for $150.00 to a Maria Carney or Cavney (of Essex County), or perhaps Mariah Carria, or possibly some other "similar sounding" name such as Cory--spellings found in those days were often phonetic. Presumably this small piece of Union Village property constituted the house in which the Stevens' ladies were living. During the same year Jonathan Stevens sold the balance of his 1832 purchase to Peter Torboss of New York for $1250.00. The same exceptions of the church lot and Coddington lot applied, as well as to the Maria Carney lot. Peter Torboss then operated the village store. From there the chain of title to the Union Village lot moves from the heir of Peter Torboss, son-in-law John R. Burnett, to Benjamin H. Willis in 1863, from Benjamin Willis to John Frederich Schwalb in 1864, and downward several more times with many pieces of the original homestead lot modified and sold out until current day ownership of the Stevens' house by Gene and Pat Flinn. Exactly who Maria of the 1835 deed was remains a perplexing missing link, and her exit from the chain of title mysteriously ambiguous. It is reasonable to construe this lady to have been of some unidentified Stevens' family relationship. By the year 1840 Rhoda Stevens had but two unmarried daughters remaining at the Mountain Avenue home--Phebe, then 41, and Sarah, 32. Elizabeth had moved to New York. Son William with wife Susan and their eight children were living on "Wolf Hill". When the November 1850 Federal census was taken, Rhoda was 81, Sarah and Phebe were still at home with her, and in the household also were Elizabeth Vosberg and her young son Leonard. At one point, probably for a short period of time and perhaps to seek out a husband, Sarah had gone to live in New York. Interestingly and moreover curiously, the 1850 census taker either accurately or inaccurately denoted the Stevens' occupants as owning the real estate with a value of $400.00.--what happened to the Maria of the 1835 deed? In July of 1851 Rhoda Stevens died. Sarah and Phebe continued living in the Mountain Avenue house next door to the church. In 1860 the unmarried sisters Phebe and Sarah Stevens were still residents of their Union Village house. Then early in 1862 a May-December romance unfolded! Spinster Sarah Stevens became the third wife of Mountain Avenue neighbor Lines Tucker. They were married on January 14, 1862 in Union Village by Methodist clergyman Mr. Coit of New Providence. He gave his age as 71, and she as 51. (Lines was son of the same Joseph and Deborah Tucker, and brother of Elizabeth Tucker Genung, who were parties to the 1824 deed.) Nine years later upon Lines Tucker's death, and by terms of his will in 1871, beloved wife Sarah was given use of the east end of his dwelling house, along with one half of gardens and 15 acres of land, barn room, two of the best beds and cows, as well as other best pieces of house furnishings. One of the witnesses to Lines' will was Phebe Stevens. The date of Sarah Stevens Tucker's death is not known, but it was in the late 1870s that the Sage family bought the Tucker family home. Today the Tucker home is the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Zane Gaut, and the east wing, to which Sarah was given use, still exists. As of 1870, Phebe, now 70, was still living in the Stevens' Union Village residence, and living with her were Samuel Moore, wife, Angeline and baby, Frederick. This is readily understandable since the Moore and Stevens families became related years earlier when brother William Stevens married Susan Moore. At the time of the June 1880 census Phebe was past age 80 and living alone. Neighbors were William French, Valentine Swoda, Charles E. Sage, William Kean, William H. Williamson and John F. Schwab. Her death occurred sometime after the Federal census was taken and prior to the 1885 New Jersey State census. With Phebe's death came the end of occupancy by the Stevens family at #12 Mountain Avenue, after more than 50 years. The Stevens' house of Union Village is depicted on the 1873 Beers map with the caption "Mrs. Stephens". It is also reflected on an earlier Warren Township map with what appears to be the name of M. Miller attached. The house may very well have been built by a Miller. Lewis Miller's cousin had married a Garthwaite; Rhoda Stevens was also a Garthwaite. The original structure has been modified and enlarged several times to present day, but the modest little country house which was typical of structures two hundred years ago remains recognizable through the stone foundation and old beams visible in the crude cellar area, narrow staircase and short doorways. The original house appears to have consisted of a first floor kitchen, fireplace, living/sleeping room, two upper bedrooms and above that a low garret. Colonial charm has been retained, with part of the original structure now containing a colorful pub room recalling a Colonial tavern, and the Flinns with their dogs have been happy current day residents for more than 21 years. Just a short distance from the crossroads and down the "dug way" (Hillcrest Road), son William Stevens, born to James and Rhoda in 1802, with his own family was another part to the early Union Village neighborhood. His farm on Wolf Hill contained about 20 acres. According to John Littell's 1845 map, separating the William Stevens' farm and the Village homestead lot was a small corner of land belonging to John Tilyou, and a Drake property. Across the road were farms of a Miller and Edward Drake. Whether this dug way location may actually have been an early homestead site of William's parents is entirely plausible. Perhaps when William married in 1823 his mother, Rhoda, if then already widowed may have removed up to the little house at the crossroads to continue to be with friends or near other family. We know from Snell's and John Littell's accountings that a great number of early settlers such as Townley, Ruckman, French, Titus, Tucker, Moore, Smalley, Roff, came to the vicinity of Union Village and to the river lots in the mid 1700s through early 1800s, and many families became inter-related over two, three and four generations, as well as active church members in both Union Village and New Providence. As of 1840 William and Susan had one son and seven daughters who were born between the years of 1824 and 1840. A second son, Moses, was born in 1841. At age 41 Susan lost her life on May 27, 1845, with the birth of their tenth child. The baby was named Susan after her, and the other children were Mary Jane, Phebe Anne, Sarah Louisa, Elizabeth, Almira, Ellen, William and Harriet. Susan Stevens was laid to rest in the little Tucker family cemetery situated off Mountain Avenue and close to Union Village, as had been her parents, Isaac and Lydia Moore, and as were to be other Stevens' family members later. In 1850 widower William Stevens was running his farm, which the census taker listed as worth $1500. His two sons and five of his daughters were at home with him. Mary Jane had married John McIntyre and moved to Seneca Falls, NY, Phebe Ann married John McCord, son of Nathaniel of Martinville and moved to Jacksonville, IL. Almira's whereabouts are not known. On August 14, 1853 daughter Elizabeth married James Gunn, son of Thomas and Sarah Gun(n). They gave their ages as 23 and 22 and the marriage was performed in Plainfield by Methodist clergyman Robert Given. The Gunns were farm laborers who frequently relocated and moved with the farming seasons. During the early 1800s, several were residing in the farm areas of Walpack, Sandyston, Frankford and Montague, Sussex County. Exactly how James Gunn found his way to Union Village to meet and marry Elizabeth Stevens is not clear. However in 1850 James and his brother John, both teenage farm laborers, resided with families in the vicinity just above the Passaic River in Morris County, James with Augustus and Margaret Wilson and John with Augustus and Frances Compton. Both were living not far from either the farm of Freeman Tucker (son of Lines Tucker), or from Amos Stevens, a cousin to William Stevens, and certainly not very distant from Union Village. It is young John Gunn, deceased at age of 22 on June 15,1852 according to a stone inscription who is buried in the Mountain Avenue Tucker cemetery. On January 18, 1855, William Stevens died at age 52. He left behind his orphaned children, including Susan, age 10, and Moses, age 14. William died leaving no will. His personal estate was inventoried by administrator John R. Burnett along with Edward Drake and Freeman Tucker on January 23, 1855, and valued at $717.00. Items included 50 timber trees valued at two dollars each, 20 pairs of chicken, 45 sheep and a pair of oxen. The listing speaks to his simple manner of farm life. Also tallied under household items were four beds, one of which was a high post valued at $8, plus $72.59 in cash. William Stevens was buried near his wife Susan in the Tucker cemetery. The disposition of his farm land is not known, but in likelihood was put out to public sale. One additional Stevens' family member is buried in the Tucker Cemetery. Elizabeth Stevens and James Gunn's second child, a boy they named George, died October 8, 1856, age two months, 16 days. He is buried near his grandparents Susan and William Stevens, his uncle John Gunn, and his great-grandparents Isaac and Lydia Moore. [NOTES:
References: Snell's History of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties; Littell, Family Records or Genealogies of the First Settlers of Passaic Valley; Somerset, Essex and Morris County Records, Deeds, Surrogate's, Calendar of Wills; N.J. Archives; Somerset County Historical Quarterly 1917; Church of Latter Day Saints Family History Center Patron Sheets; Plainfield Courier News; Federal census; N.J. State census; Villages at the Crossroads; Beers 1873 map; John Littell's 1845 Map of Passaic Valley; Newark 1896 City Directory. |