My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden (b. 1658, d. 1715)
Notes for Stephen Holden:
In the early 1690s Groton, MA was a frontier town, often beset by troubles with the nearby Indian tribes. Sudden raids were an ongoing problem to the small populations in Groton and other towns scattered throughout the forests of eastern Massachusetts. The citizens of these communities built garrison houses here and there throughout the town to which they could retreat in the event of sudden attack, and thus protect themselves somewhat. In the more peacable interludes, these garrison houses were the homes of their owners, who were charged with seeing that everything was kept ready for a defense when needed. Selected men were appointed as scouts and were expected to raise the alarm, if a raiding party was sighted in the area. On May 20, 1697 an attack was mounted at Groton. This was reportedly the same raiding party that had decimated Deerfield, the day before. One person was killed at Groton, and another, along with two children, was captured. This was Stephen Holden and his sons Stephen, Jr., and John, who were probably about 6 and 8 years old. Captives were often taken on these raids and transported to Canada, where they were sold to the French, and then ransomed back to the English. An account of this incident is recorded in the Massachusetts Archives, vol LXX, which continues the story with the notation that John was released in January 1698/99, at Casco Bay (which is now in Maine), and that Stephen Holden of Groton, and Stephen, Jr. were still in the hands of the enemy. However, about a week later, both father and son were also redeemed; by Stephen's own hand, it seems. He had ransomed himself for three pounds and twelve shillings, and upon his return to Groton, petitioned the town fathers to reimburse him this amount, and this request was granted. Stephen held a number of public offices in Groton, including Selectman, in 1696. Although a number of families left Groton temporarily or for good, because of the dangers of living there, Stephen and his family remained, and he died there in 1715
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More About Stephen Holden:
Date born 2: 1659, Watertown, Middlesex, MA.23
Died 2: 18 Nov 1715, Groton, MA.23
Children of Stephen Holden and Hannah Lawrence are:
- +John Holden, b. 1685, d. 1754.
- Benjamin Holden, b. 1702, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 174623.
- Sarah Holden, b. 1710, Groton, MA23, d. 1749, Pepperell, MA23.
- Nathaniel Holden, b. 1691, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 15 May 1740, Groton, MA23.
- Stephen Holden, b. 1688, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 28 Jul 1688, Groton, MA23.
- Stephen Ens Holden, b. 1690, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 02 Sep 1719, Groton, Middlesex, MA23.
- William Holden, b. 1690, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 25 Dec 1745, Groton, MA23.
- Simon Holden, b. 1692, Groton, MA23, d. 1786, Charlestown, Suffolk, MA23.
- Jonathan Holden, b. 1703, Groton, MA23, d. 13 Sep 1758, Groton, MA23.
- Benjamin Holden, b. 1702, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 170323.
- Rachel Holden, b. 1694, Groton, MA23, d. 176823.
- Hannah Holden, b. 1707, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 03 Sep 1797, Groton, MA23.
- Elizabeth Holden, b. Mar 1707, Groton, Middlesex, MA23, d. 1710, Groton, Middlesex, MA23.