An American Family History

Stephen Dwinnell was born on March 5, 1707/08 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Dr. Michael Dwinnell and his first wife, Hannah.

He married Abigail Harris of Ipswich on October 26, 1732. Abigail was born August 31, 1718 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Samuel Harris and Elizabeth Nicholson.

They had ten children:

Susannah Dwinnell West (married Ichabod West),

Mary Dwinnell Harrington (1733, married James Harrington),

Abigail Dwinnell Matteson (married Scuyler Matteson),

Stephen Dwinnell (1745, married Susanna Olin, died in 1801),

Sarah Dwinnell Olin (married Justin Olin),

Mercey Dwinnell Straight (married Samuel Straight),

Patience Dwinnell Olin (married Gideon Olin),

Nancy Dwinnell Slyke (married James Slyke),

Penelope Dwinnell

Ebenezer Dwinnel (1754, married Hannah Allen (1765-1823), died January 14, 1834).

In 1761 Stephen's father left him five shillings.

They moved from Topsfield to Coventry, Rhode Island and after that to Hoosac, Rensselaer County, New York. At one time they resided in Marblehead.

They died in Hoosac. Stephen died on July 17, 1753 and Abigail in 1790.

The True Genealogy of the Dunnel and Dwinnell Family of New England by Henry Gale Dunnel

Stephen Dwaniel. s. of Dr. M., b. 1707; m. Abigail Harris of Ipswich. They at one time resided in Marblehead. They removed from Topsfield to Coventry, R. I., and afterwards to Hoosac, Rensselaer co., N. Y., where he d.

Children;
53. 1. Susannah, b. in Coventry; m. Ichabod West.
54. 2. Mary Dweinil, b. in Coventry, 1733; bap. in Marblehead, Mass., by Kev. Mr. Cheever, Sept. 9, 1733; m. James Harrington.
55. 3. Abigail, b. in Coventry; m. Scuyler Matteson.
56. 4. Stephen, b. in Coventry, 1745; m. Susanna Olin.
57. 5. Sarah, b. in Hoosac; m. Justin Olin.
58. 6. Mercey, b. in Hoosac; m. Samuel Straight.
59. 7. Patience, b. in Hoosac; m. Olin (Gideon).
60. 8. Nancy, b. in Hoosac; m. James Slyke.
61. 9. Penelope, b. in Hoosac.
62. 10. Ebenezer, b, in Hoosac, 1754; d. Jan. 14,1834, at White Creek, N. Y.

Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 46 by Essex Institute, Peabody Essex Museum.

Estate of Thomas Nicholson Home. This lot was sold by the town of Marblehead to Thomas Nicholson of Marblehead, a mariner, March 13, 1682-3. Upon this land he built a house, in which he lived. He died before Jan. 2, 1693/4, when administration upon his estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth Nicholson, who married Richard Crofts thirteen days later. The house and lot were then appraised at sixty pounds.

Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Nicholson, married, first, John Westlake May 24, 1705; and, second, Samuel Harris of Marblehead, joiner, Oct. 20, 1715. Mr. and Mrs. Harris conveyed the house and land to Richard Dana of Marblehead, gentleman, Sept. 24, 1731 and ten days later Mr. Dana reconveyed the estate to Mr. Harris.

The house was originally twenty-four feet long and thirty-three feet wide, and fronted on what is now Lee street. The chimney was wholly on the outside of the western end, near the front. Mr. Harris added to the northwestern end of the house twenty feet, and of the width of the house. This addition caused the chimney to be near the middle of the house, which was afterwards known as a double house.

Mr. Harris died in the spring of 1739, his will, dated Feb. 23, 1738, being proved April 19, 1739. His "mansion house," one part of which was then in the possession of Nicholas Girdler, was appraised at five hundred pounds. In his will he devised "my late mansion house," shop, barn and land to his three daughters, Tabitha, Elizabeth and Ann.

A division of the estate was made May 10, 1751, and the old part of the house was assigned to Tabitha, wife of Increase Gatchell of Marblehead, yeoman, and the new part to Anna, wife of Samuel Gatchell of Marblehead, shoreman. A plan was made showing the division of the estate at the time of the partition, and was recorded with the record of the partition in the registry of deeds.It is reproduced on the opposite page, having been reduced one-half in size. How much longer the old house stood is unknown.