There are times in life when damaging words are spoken, regardless of these words being spoken in anger or haste, they are indeed spoken. These words in their simplest form might appear to be simply discarded by some, while the recipient sometimes holds the words within their heart for an entire lifetime, only finding peace when their life here on earth is concluded.
Such is the case here in Concord with a fine gentleman named John Stevens. The son of English parents, he was born in 1747 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. John received a very good education and prospered in his short years leading into the Revolutionary War. John was a good son to his parents and his intelligence allowed him to prosper both inside and outside of the classroom. With his early education, he decided to pursue the trade of a merchant where profits were recognized and awarded to those diligent individuals that were willing to work long days late into the evening.
John Stevens chose to become a merchant in our beloved Concord during this colonial period. He traveled from Charlestown to Concord along with his beautiful wife and purchased a wonderful home on the northwest corner of State and Pleasant streets. The home eventually included the adjacent field across the street.
Yes indeed, a fine home for his bride, built by Stephen Farrington. Today this exact location is occupied by the Wonolancet Club, which was built in 1900 when the Stevens house was razed. As soon as young John Stevens arrived in Concord, he went into the trade business with Colonel McMillan and opened their store on the northwest corner of Main and Pleasant streets. As business partners both John Stevens and Colonel McMillan prospered quite well, invoking some jealously from his competition during the difficult years leading into the revolution. A fine home, a lovely wife and a prosperous business were all earned and enjoyed by John Stevens as he walked from his shop to his home just a block up Pleasant Street each evening when he closed his business.
John Stevens was a decent man and obeyed the laws of the land, which of course were English laws in our community during this period. His diligence to his trade allowed him to further prosper as each year passed. People took notice of the fine English gentleman as he enjoyed a successful life. Some people began to wonder about his allegiance and raised some backroom discussion where it was suggested John Stevens might in fact be guilty of Toryism. As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, the discussion became quite common about Concord. The people felt this gentleman was indeed a Tory and his interests were not in support of independence from England, but simply in selling products imported from England and heavy with the weight of the King’s taxes. As the discussions continued it became quite obvious to John Stevens and he took a defensive position and publicly stated on numerous occasions that he did not support England, was certainly not a Tory, but a successful businessman engaged in trade here in Concord. As he defended himself publicly more and more people became aware of the many accusations of Toryism aimed at John Stevens and the flames spread.
It was not long after the rumors spread that the town of Concord decided to prosecute John Stevens as a Tory. He was indeed outraged and did declare numerous times that he was not a Tory but simple a loyal colonist making a living here our little town of Concord.
John Stevens never recovered from his rage of being prosecuted as a Tory. He was eventually released by the constables and returned to his wife and their home. As the days passed, his anger grew and he extracted a plan to revenge his public humiliation. As a justice of the peace he prepared his own last will and testament and swore his wife to carryout his last wishes. His revenge was simple and pure for it was based upon the choices he made when his life ended on Christmas Day, 1792 at the age of 45 years.
John Stevens wrote late into the evening of his wishes when he left his earthly life. He instructed his wife, under sworn oath, to bury his body across the street from his home in the field between two apple trees. He further stated that no citizen of Concord shall follow him to the grave for a service. He requested that no minister be present at his burial and only four gentlemen carry his remains in a pine coffin to his burial. Each of the four men were to receive one crown as payment to bury his body. So it was that John Stevens of Concord met his maker in the field between two apple trees in his unmarked grave at the corner of State and Pleasant streets.
A very understandable disposition for a man that claimed his innocence in front of the Concord prosecutors during this colonial period. A fitting end, but the story does not conclude here.
Several years later, the year 1799 to be exact, the Stevens’ widow decided to sell the adjacent field to Colonel William Kent so that he could build a fine home for himself. Certainly, the concern with this resurrected some old wounds surrounding the body of John Stevens. His body was buried in the field across the street between two apple trees. The four men that were paid a British crown each confirmed that it was in that unmarked grave that he did reside. Though it was not well known or hallowed, it was a pleasant place to spend eternity between two apple trees on the corner of State and Pleasant streets.
After much discussion the widow Stevens concluded the real estate transaction with Colonel William Kent, with one stipulation. She would see the pine coffin containing her seven years dead husband exhumed from the lot where it did lay and moved to the anonymous grounds surrounding their home. So, it is to this very day, John Stevens, the merchant in trade and suspected Tory lies for eternity.
I do hope that he finally found peace within his heart and understanding for his fellow citizens of Concord.