Rowland Stebbins, born in 1594, came from Ipswich, Eng., on the Francis in 1634, landed at Roxbury, but probably went to the Connecticut River the following year with William Pynchon, the founder of the city of Springfield. Thence he moved to Northampton, about 1656, where he died, December 14, 1671. His wife died at Springfield, October 4, 1649, aged fifty-eight years. Elihu Stebbins, whose ancestors resided in Northfield, was a lineal descendant of Rowland. He was born in 1762, settled in Hinsdale, and married, March 24, 1786, Lucretia,. daughter of Eldad Wright, who was taken from him by death, December 7, 1843, at the age of eighty years. Elihu died April, 23, 1846, aged eighty-four years. Elihu, Jr., born here in 1794, married Sarah G., daughter of Seth Hooker and granddaughter of Rev. Bunker Gay. She organized the first Sunday-school in town, and the venerable Lewis Taylor was appointed its first superintendent. Mr. Stebbins located as a farmer on the homestead of his father, where he remained until his death, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years. He ever took an active interest in town affairs, and repeatedly represented his townsmen in the state legislature and held the office of selectman. His children were John Mills Stebbins, born December 27, 1825, who graduated at Dartmouth college in 1848, and is now a lawyer of Springfield. Mass., of which city he was mayor in 1874; Sarah H., born July 31, 1831, died October 31, 1866; and Edward, born March 10. 1834, owner of the old homestead. He resides in Hinsdale village, being, one of its leading merchants and is also an extensive real estate owner.
