General Notes

Noticed several files that list Pheobe as dau. of John Steere.  That info does  not jibe will pg. 191 of Austin's GDRI.    Austin lists her as dau. of Thomas Steere of Providence and Smithfield, and his 1st wife (mother of his 5 childre n) Mary Arnold -see pg. 191 for add'l info. Tom's 2nd wife was Mehitable Plumme r, widow of Samuel.   In Tom's will dated Aug 22, 1735; Phoebe is listed 1st, which would possibly indicate that she was the eldest child, and born probably 1700 or 1701.   ---------------------- FOOD FOR THOUGHT  Suppose that Mary (Arnold) Steere died in the 1720's and Phoebe being the eldest dau., kept hous e for father and siblings.   And about 1730/31 when John Mathewson became a wi dower,  Mehitable Plummer was already a widow, probably well known to the famil y.   Likely that John and Phoebe were acquainted for a number of years (as fri ends and neighbor's) and Pheobe made a good match for 2nd wife.   Since no inf o on relative to John's children by Elizabeth (Anne and John) don't know if the y died before Pheobe and John were married.   Both the Steere's and the Plumm er's lived in Smithfield.