Themes: Agricultural, Architectural, Community development

Historical significance:
Assessor's records indicate that the house was constructed in 1816. One deed (Bk 158 p 368) notes that the seven-acre property was conveyed to Abiel Stevens by James Chandler, Jr. in 1817, and to Stevens by Timothy Poor Esq.and Timothy Bailey, Jr. in 1825. Abiel Stevens was born about 1792 and married Pamelia Stevens b. 1757 on July 12, 1815. Abiel & Pamelia had five children: Abiel b. Oct. 1, 1815 d. Nov. 12, 1822, Parmelia Ann b. Mar. 6, 1817, Benjamin b. Feb. 16, 1819 d. Feb. 23, 1881, a son b. Feb. 27, 1829 and Enoch Otis baptized on Aug. 25, 1833.

Pamelia became a member of the West Parish Church on July 6, 1828 (#112). Abiel died Feb. 4, 1856, age 64, leaving the property to his son Enoch O. Stevens. Abiel's wife Parmelia died on Aug. 5, 1857 at the age of 100 years 25 days. Both are interred at West Parish Cemetery. Enoch was married to a Mary R. and they had a daughter Hattie P. b. 1860 d. Aug. 9, 1886 age 25y 11m. In 1890, the town published an assessment of all property in the town. Enoch O. Steven's house was valued at $850, the barn at $500, and 31.5 acres of land at $850. Mary died on Oct. 15, 1888 and Enoch O. on Feb. 16, 1895, age 63y 10m. The property was then sold out of the family to George E. Kline, wife Mary E. on Oct. 20, 1897.

George Goldsmith & Sarah E. Goldsmith have the deed on Dec. 18, 1901. George died on April 4, 1912 at 72y 1m 14d. and his widow Sarah remained in the home. Sarah died on Oct. 27,1922 at age 79y 10m 18d. Both are interred at West Parish Cemetery. Sarah's heirs Mary F. Fitzpatrick & Josephine D. Durant inherit the property Oct. 27, 1922. Sarah E. Goldsmith was the guardian of Josephine Durant on Jan. 13, 1927 via Probate court as Josephine was declared insane. Her share was then transferred to Ira B. & Emma F. Hill on Jan. 13, 1927 as one half undivided portion of the estate. Mary's husband Daniel Fitzpatrick then acquires the Hill portion on Apr. 29, 1927.

Daniel Fitzpatrick estate, Susan Carmichael Extrx - June 3, 1948 left it to Mary and Daniel Fitzpatrick. John Greenwood bought the property from Fitzpatrick's estate, and Frank W. Donahue (no relation to present Donahue in 1976) purchased the farm from Greenwood in 1948. The present owners purchased the property in 1972.

The Abiel Stevens homestead is the oldest house remaining on this section of River Road. River Road, however, was still relatively rural in 1975 and other sections contained a number of old farms which have since been razed and developed.

1. Greenwood, John Jr. & Irene
2. Donahue, Frank W. & Ester V., 22 Jun 1948
3. Donahue Frank W. & Judith B., 13 Jun 1969
4. Donahue, Francis & Carole Jean, - 18 Aug 1972

1906 pl. 21 Hardy Farm
1888 Donovan Brothers
1881 Nathan Shattuck's daughter Sarah Bailey & Augusta P. Jenkins?? sells parcel to Mary Donovan.
1850 Valuation: Nathan Shattuck
Added in 1987: (ERROR in Stevens purchase)