71 0812 1 PREFATORY NOTE. HE task of preparing this record of the descendants of John Steere who settled in Providence, R. I., about the year 1660 was confided to the Rev. JAMES PIERCE ROOT, author of a Memorial of the Crawford Family. How well he accomplished his task may be judged from the fact that in the following pages are given brief sketches of nearly two hundred families comprising about nine hundred individuals, and carrying the record in regular order down to the end of the sixth generation. Besides these, there are included many names belonging to the seventh, and some even of members of the eighth, generation. Mr. Root's labors in this connection were brought to an end by his sudden death in January, 1888, soon after his manuscript was put into the hands of the printer. Much of the author's work was yet in the memoranda stage, and it is a matter of regret that he was not permitted to give it the final revision it required. In the main, however, the original arrangement has been followed, and, whenever possible, the author's statements have been compared and verified. Where it was impossible to do this, only such changes were made as were necessary to bring the facts clearly before the mind of the reader. Mr. HENRY J. STEERE (465), at whose instance the compilation of this record was undertaken, and under whose supervision the work was brought nearly to completion, died in Providence, R. I., October 28, 1889. In accordance with his wishes, expressed while living, no extended notice of Mr. Steere appears in this volume. He was a man of cultivated tastes, of large benevolence, and of singular modesty, and occupied a prominent position in the business circles of his native city. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAIT OF HENRY JONAH STEERE ANCIENT HOUSE ON TROUT FARM, OCKLEY, SURREY, ENGLAND. STEERE COAT OF ARMS "YOUNGS"— OLD STEERE HOMESTEAD, ENGLAND MAP SHOWING THE RESIDENCES OF THE STEERE FAMILIES IN GLOCESTER, ETC., R. I. MAP OF THE HOUSE-LOTS IN THE TOWN STREET, STAMPERS HILL FAC-SIMILE OF AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN STEERE PAGE Frontispiece 4 7 8 17 33 36 38 41 51 79 83 98 FAC-SIMILE OF PETITION OF JOHN STEERE COAT OF ARMS, AFTER A WATER-COLOR FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF ARNOLD STEERE FAC-SIMILE OF SUMMONS TO RICHARD STEERE THE SIMEON STEERE HOMESTEAD THE ASA STEERE PLACE . PORTRAIT OF SAMUEL STEERE PORTRAIT OF MRS. LYDIA WESTCOTT THE RICHARD STEERE PLACE THE RILEY STEERE PLACE PORTRAIT OF JONAH STEERE RESIDENCE OF HENRY J. STEERE AT BARRINGTON, R. I. PORTRAIT OF JOB STEERE THE WHIPPLE STEERE HOUSE THE JOB STEERE HOMESTEAD THE THOMAS WESTCOTT HOMESTEAD GENEALOGICAL CHART. THE ABBOTT HOUSE. OLD MAP OF THE SOUTH END, PROVIDENCE, R. I.. |