For reasons I don't understand, this Stephen is usually seen in trees, but not records that I could find, as "Stephen Christopher" Paine. Middle names were highly unusual in this time period (except in some aristocratic families, which the Paines were not part of) so I'm skeptical of the middle name. Nevertheless, if you see him with the two names, don't dismiss the information out of hand. Consider it carefully; there could very well be something I've missed.
Stephen is the son of Stephen and Sarah Vallette Paine, born in 1716 in Providence, Rhode Island and died in 1797 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island. He married Sarah Thornton, the daughter of Benjamin and (possibly Mary, but perhaps not) Gurney Thornton. He may have served in the Revolutionary War. If he did, he was 60 years old when he became a lieutenant. It seems possible to me that it was his son Stephen who served at that time, but I've not seen anything that firmly establishes one man or the other as the lieutenant.
Stephen and Sarah had at least 6 children together, although by confusing one Stephen's children with another, I've seen as many as 17 names. I have also seen several names mentioned as a second wife for Stephen, after Sarah died in 1772. A Stephen Paine certainly married Jemima Martin, but I believe it is just as likely to be the son Stephen who married her.
Stephen and Sarah's first son is Nathan, born in 1741 and died in 1818 in Castleton, Ontario, New York. He married Lillis Winsor, the daughter of Joseph and Deborah Mathewson Winsor. Their children are Deborah, Artemesia, Lydia, Nathan, Olive, Stephen, Thankful, Samuel, Asa, Christopher, Sally, and Zattie. There maybe more children, and if so, I will identify them in my next post when I try to follow this family.
Stephen was born next, in 1742, The death date I have for him is one day prior to his father's death, which seems a bit suspicious. Perhaps the two men did actually die one day apart, or perhaps the records are confused. I've not done a reasonably complete search, but from what I can tell, perhaps we should leave his death date/location as unknown, at least for now. He may be the Stephen Paine who married Jemima Martin, daughter of William and Jemima Martin Martin (yes, she was a Martin by birth), or/and he may be the Stephen Paine who married Elethea or Eleutheria Sanders, the daughter of Robert and Naomi Paine Sanders. I've not found children for Stephen.
Sarah was born next, in 1743. Again, the number of Sarah Paines to be found in and about Glocester, Rhode Island is large. Her proposed husbands are Stephen Saunders, with whom she may have had a child Oliver, Asa Franklin, and Royal Inman. Royal Inman is credited with several children, but as this marriage would not have taken place until Sarah was 44, most if not all of his children were not likely to be Sarah's. I will leave Sarah to another researcher, if one will step forward, or if someone already knows the answers to the questions about her life, I'd love to hear from you.
Mary was born in 1746 and died before 11 March 1791 in Bristol, Providence, Rhode Island. She may have married a man with the surname of Page, but that is as much as I could learn about her.
Benjamin was born in 1749 and died in 1831 in Glocester, Rhode Island. He served in the Revolutionary War, and married Anna Aldrich, who is likely but not proven the daughter of Noah and Tabitha Inman Aldrich. Tabitha is most likely related to Edward Inman, who is another of our ancestors. Benjamin and Anna's children are Dorcas, Hazael, Lydia, Benjamin, Drusilla, Caleb, Phebe, Ransom, Abigail, Noah, and Aldrich.
Stephen Paine deserves to have more of his family documented than this. Since most family historians think he was the lieutenant of the Revolutionary War, he should be honored by every family that is descended from him. (There is also the possibility that he participated in the French and Indian War, perhaps giving an explanation as to why he was made a lieutenant in the Revolution.)
