George Frederic Stearns
Painter and Preacher
Co-Builder of Hexagon House
Mansfield, Massachusetts
1826 - 1902

WWW.Octagon.Bobanna.Com

702. Rev. George Frederic⁹ Stearns (Sarah⁸ Fillebrown, Bethuel⁷, James⁶, Thomas⁵, Thomas⁴, Thomas³, Humpfrey² Phillibrowne, Robert¹ ffilebrowne)⁽⁷⁶⁴³⁾ was born in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts October 1, 1826.⁽⁷⁶⁴⁴⁾ George died April 17, 1902 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts, at 75 years of age.⁽⁷⁶⁴⁵⁾ General Convention Journal: May, 1902, Eighty-Second Convention Eulogy by Rev. Albinus Finney Frost. The Rev. George Frederic Stearns "George Frederic Stearns, who was born in Mansfield, MA Oct. 1, 1826, was removed to the other life after only a day's illness, April 17, 1902. He began to read the doctrines of the New Church when twelve years of age and continued a diligent student of them to the end of his earthly life, saying shortly before this, "Those doctrines warm me, feed me, and satisfy me." His name stands first on the list of over eighty persons who have attended the Theological School of General Convention. Ordained as a minister of the New Jerusalem, Oct. 10, 1861, he labored lovingly and usefully in this sacred office as Pastor and missionary in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Maine, and Massachusetts. As a Christian man and patriotic citizen, as a husband and father, and as a minister of the Lord's New Church, he has left to us the evidences of one who, looking to the Lord, and shunning the evils forbidden in the Ten Commandments as sins against Him, performed his duties in life sincerely, justly, and faithfully." May 7, 1902, "The New Church Messenger" "An interesting occurrence during the late meeting of the Massachusetts Association was the adoption of the following resolution expressive of the feelings of that body toward the Rev. George F. Stearns, upon receiving the news of his death, already reported in our account of the meeting: "Whereas, The intelligence has just reached us of the sudden removal to the spiritual world of the Rev. George F. Stearns, for more than forty years a devoted minister of the New Church, and for a very considerable period a missionary of this Association, therefore, Resolved that this Association places on record its appreciation of Mr. Stearns's long and faithful labors, his loyal endeavors to advance the doctrines of the New Church, and his unwearied efforts to lead those to whom he ministered to a more interior and practical understanding of the teachings of the Lord's Word. We rejoice with him that he was permitted to pass at once from the activities of this world to those of the other and to rejoin the companion who but a few months ago preceded him. And in his removal we would take home to ourselves the recently often-repeated Lesson that the laying down of the earthly labors of those who are passing on calls for a new and deeper consecration on the part of us who remain." OBITUARY IN MANSFIELD NE WS: " REV. GEO. F. STEARNS ---- A PROMINENT CITIZEN AND A MAN OF CULTURE PASSES AWAY SUDDENLY ---- Rev. George Frederic Stearns, one our best known and most respected citizens, died Thursday morning after a very short illness at his home on Central Street. Mr. Stearns had not been quite well for some months and had complained frequently of irregular and weak action of the heart." The family story is that Louisa died in 1901 and George lost interest in life and pined away a year later.

George married Louisa Shaw April 25, 1855 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁴⁶⁾ Louisa was born December 26, 1831 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁴⁷⁾ Louisa⁽⁷⁶⁴⁸⁾ was the daughter of Linus Hall Shaw and Louisa Alden Jones. Louisa died March 20, 1901 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts, at 69 years of age.⁽⁷⁶⁴⁹⁾ When Louisa was age 24 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 29 they became the parents of George Hermon Stearns February 10, 1856 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁰⁾ He was named for Mt. Hermon in the Bible.

Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1856.⁽⁷⁶⁵¹⁾ George was born while George and Louisa lived in Mansfield.

When Louisa was age 26 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 31 they became the parents of Sarah Louisa Stearns March 5, 1858 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine.⁽⁷⁶⁵²⁾ Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1858.⁽⁷⁶⁵³⁾ Sarah was born while the family lived in Richmond.

When Louisa was age 28 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 33 they became the parents of John Alden Stearns April 27, 1860 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁴⁾ Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1860.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁵⁾ Apparently the family had moved back to Mansfield and John was born while the family lived in Mansfield.

When Louisa was age 30 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 35 they became the parents of Genevieve Stearns March 7, 1862 in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁶⁾ When Louisa was age 32 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 37 they became the parents of Arabella Stearns March 30, 1864 in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁷⁾ Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York circa 1864.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁸⁾ John died and Geneive was born while the family lived in Riverhead.

When Louisa was age 34 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 40 they became the parents of Winifred Stearns November 16, 1866 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁵⁹⁾ Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1867.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁰⁾ When Louisa was age 37 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 42 they became the parents of Grace Stearns June 28, 1869 in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois.⁽⁷⁶⁶¹⁾ Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois circa 1869.⁽⁷⁶⁶²⁾ Grace was born while the family lived in Peoria.

When Louisa was age 39 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 44 they became the parents of Miriam Stearns June 6, 1871 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine.⁽⁷⁶⁶³⁾ When Louisa was age 42 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 47 they became the parents of Louis Carmel Stearns June 23, 1874 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁴⁾ Louisa, as George's wife, resided with him in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁵⁾ Miriam and Louis were born while the Stearns family lived in Richmond.

When Louisa was age 44 and Rev. George Frederic Stearns was age 49 they became the parents of Olive Stearns February 13, 1876 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁶⁾

George, Isaac Stearns, Jr.'s child, resided with Isaac in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1836.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁷⁾ George, Susannah, Hepsibah, and Orange were born while the family lived in Mansfield the second time.

George, Isaac Stearns, Jr.'s child, resided with Isaac in Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts circa 1838.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁸⁾ Marion was born while the family lived in Foxborough.

George, Isaac Stearns, Jr.'s child, resided with Isaac in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1839.⁽⁷⁶⁶⁹⁾ Ellen was born when the family lived in Mansfield the third time.

This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁰⁾ Comments by Jennie Copeland in her column "Mansfield In Other Days", #244: "At the age of fourteen, George F. Stearns began to study the philosophy of Emmanuel Swedenborg...with his mother, not his father.... Not for some years did he seriously plan for the ministry. [Aunt Helen told me that Louisa did not think portrait painting was a proper profession for a gentleman so insisted he become a minister.] It was art, especially portrait painting that held his attention during his late teens and early twenties. He was almost self-taught....That Mr. Stearns was not a mere dabbler is proven by the number of interesting portraits that he painted. Some, alas, we fear have been destroyed."

When George was age 29 and Louisa Shaw was age 24 they became the parents of George Hermon Stearns February 10, 1856 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁷¹⁾ He was named for Mt. Hermon in the Bible.

George resided in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1856.⁽⁷⁶⁷²⁾ George was born while George and Louisa lived in Mansfield.

When George was age 31 and Louisa Shaw was age 26 they became the parents of Sarah Louisa Stearns March 5, 1858 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine.⁽⁷⁶⁷³⁾ George resided in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1858.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁴⁾ Sarah was born while the family lived in Richmond.

When George was age 33 and Louisa Shaw was age 28 they became the parents of John Alden Stearns April 27, 1860 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁵⁾ George resided in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1860.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁶⁾ Apparently the family had moved back to Mansfield and John was born while the family lived in Mansfield.

George was employed at the Church of The New Jerusalem as a Minister in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York October 1861.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁷⁾ Comments by Jennie Copeland in her column "Mansfield In Other Days", #244: Ordained as a minister in Oct. 1861, and soon after took his first pastorate in Riverhead, Long Island, where he stayed a year. "Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and His Descendants," by Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagenen (1-73); picture on page facing p. 565 ...a portrait painter, afterwards, a minister of the Church of the New Jerusalem, later a missionary of the Mass. New Church Association.

When George was age 35 and Louisa Shaw was age 30 they became the parents of Genevieve Stearns March 7, 1862 in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁸⁾ This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁹⁾ The following is from the web site: http://www.octagon.bobanna.com/MA.html Created by R. V. Kline

"The Mansfield hexagon house built in about 1863 by the brothers Orange and George Stearns is located at 82 Stearns Avenue. Two story with a Stucco exterior. The current owner relates the following about the house: "It was built by two brothers, Orange and George Stearns around the time of the civil war. It is made with poured concrete. The walls are well over a foot thick. I do not know if there is any reinforcement, probably not. At the time it was built, the people in the town called it the mud house, because they did not know about cement and thought it would fall down in the first rain storm. At one point in time it had a railing around the roof and the owners kept bees. It has a triangular chimney which also serves as a structural support in the center of the house. I tried to draw a floor plan, but it was not accurate, so I did not include it. It actually has some closet space, which is unusual for houses of that time period, although it's possible that they were added at some time after initial construction. There are no square angles in the house making the floor plan hard to draw from memory. At one point in time it was divided into a 2 family but it has since been converted back to a single family house. It had significant renovation in the 80s with new wiring, plumbing, bathrooms and kitchen and removal of the asbestos shingles. The exterior was then finished with stucco." Old hexagon houses are quite rare. Only a half dozen are known here. The appeal and promotion of octagon houses did not seem to extend to hexagon houses. The current owner supplies the following photographs. As can be seen in the 1978 photo, the stucco is actually white, although it appears pink in many of the photographs. Source: Doug Shepard, the current owner, supplied all of the information and photos.: An aerial view of the house can be seen at http://maps.google.com/ when you enter 82 Stearns Avenue Mansfield MA

When George was age 37 and Louisa Shaw was age 32 they became the parents of Arabella Stearns March 30, 1864 in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁰⁾ George resided in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York circa 1864.⁽⁷⁶⁸¹⁾ John died and Geneive was born while the family lived in Riverhead.

This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁸²⁾ Comments by Jennie Copeland in her column "Mansfield In Other Days", #244: "In 1865 he made a definite move to the middle west and preached in Peoria, IL, for several years."

When George was age 40 and Louisa Shaw was age 34 they became the parents of Winifred Stearns November 16, 1866 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁶⁸³⁾ George resided in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1867.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁴⁾ When George was age 42 and Louisa Shaw was age 37 they became the parents of Grace Stearns June 28, 1869 in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁵⁾ George resided in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois circa 1869.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁶⁾ Grace was born while the family lived in Peoria.

This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁷⁾ Comments by Jennie Copeland in her column "Mansfield In Other Days", #244: "Next (after Peoria) came five years doing missionary work in Maine."

When George was age 44 and Louisa Shaw was age 39 they became the parents of Miriam Stearns June 6, 1871 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁸⁾ When George was age 47 and Louisa Shaw was age 42 they became the parents of Louis Carmel Stearns June 23, 1874 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine.⁽⁷⁶⁸⁹⁾ George resided in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁰⁾ Miriam and Louis were born while the Stearns family lived in Richmond.

When George was age 49 and Louisa Shaw was age 44 they became the parents of Olive Stearns February 13, 1876 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.⁽⁷⁶⁹¹⁾ George resided in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania circa 1876.⁽⁷⁶⁹²⁾ Olive was born and died a few days later while the family lived in Philadelphia.

This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁹³⁾ Comments by Jennie Copeland in her column "Mansfield In Other Days", #244: Then after five years in Philadelphia, he was again in Ohio, this time in Cleveland, where he remained 8 years and where two of his daughters were married." "Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and His Descendants," by Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagenen 1878 -1879 = Cleveland, Cuyahoga, OH and 1878-1883 = East Rockport, Cuyahoga, OH:

This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁴⁾ Comments by Jennie Copeland in her column "Mansfield In Other Days", #244: "In 1884, he returned to Mansfield and here he spent the rest of his life preaching in the church of his faith."

Detail1 unknown. This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁵⁾ George and his brother Orange built the first 'cement' house in Massachusetts It is still standing (in 2008) on Stearns Ave., Mansfield, MA. It is 6-sided as George believed this shape was conducive to conversation and camaraderie. It was called 'the mud house' by many and is unfortunately painted pink. An aerial view of the house can be seen at http://maps.google.com/ when you enter 82 Stearns Avenue Mansfield MA.

This is a bit of history.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁶⁾ In 2008 George Frederic Stearns' portrait of Marion was owned by Jack Grigsby, 27 Rock Hill, Foxborough, MA.

Rev. George Frederic Stearns and Louisa Shaw had the following children:

1121 i. George Hermon¹⁰ Stearns⁽⁷⁶⁹⁷⁾ was born in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts February 10, 1856.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁸⁾ He was named for Mt. Hermon in the Bible. George died July 6, 1942 in Yardville, Mercer County, New Jersey, at 86 years of age.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁹⁾ George married Anna Louisa Dailey date unknown.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁰⁾ Anna was born January 6, 1863 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.⁽⁷⁷⁰¹⁾ (Additional notes for Anna Louisa Dailey⁽⁷⁷⁰²⁾)

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1856.⁽⁷⁷⁰³⁾ George was born while George and Louisa lived in Mansfield.

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1858.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁴⁾ Sarah was born while the family lived in Richmond.

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1860.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁵⁾ Apparently the family had moved back to Mansfield and John was born while the family lived in Mansfield.

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York circa 1864.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁶⁾ John died and Geneive was born while the family lived in Riverhead.

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1867.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁷⁾ George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois circa 1869.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁸⁾ Grace was born while the family lived in Peoria.

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁹⁾ Miriam and Louis were born while the Stearns family lived in Richmond.

George, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania circa 1876.⁽⁷⁷¹⁰⁾ Olive was born and died a few days later while the family lived in Philadelphia.

+ 1122 ii. Sarah Louisa Stearns was born March 5, 1858.

1123 iii. John Alden Stearns⁽⁷⁷¹¹⁾ was born in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts April 27, 1860.⁽⁷⁷¹²⁾ John died circa 1862 in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.⁽⁷⁷¹³⁾ John, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1860.⁽⁷⁷¹⁴⁾ Apparently the family had moved back to Mansfield and John was born while the family lived in Mansfield.

John, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York circa 1864.⁽⁷⁷¹⁵⁾ John died and Geneive was born while the family lived in Riverhead.

1124 iv. Genevieve Stearns⁽⁷⁷¹⁶⁾ was born in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York March 7, 1862.⁽⁷⁷¹⁷⁾ Genevieve died circa 1949 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.⁽⁷⁷¹⁸⁾ Genevieve, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York circa 1864.⁽⁷⁷¹⁹⁾ John died and Geneive was born while the family lived in Riverhead.

Genevieve, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts circa 1867.⁽⁷⁷²⁰⁾ Genevieve, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois circa 1869.⁽⁷⁷²¹⁾ Grace was born while the family lived in Peoria.

Genevieve, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Richmond, Sagadahoc County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁷⁷²²⁾ Miriam and Louis were born while the Stearns family lived in Richmond.

Genevieve, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania circa 1876.⁽⁷⁷²³⁾ Olive was born and died a few days later while the family lived in Philadelphia.

+ 1125 v. Arabella Stearns was born March 30, 1864.

+ 1126 vi. Winifred Stearns was born November 16, 1866.

+ 1127 vii. Grace Stearns was born June 28, 1869.

+ 1128 viii. Miriam Stearns was born June 6, 1871.

+ 1129 ix. Louis Carmel Stearns was born June 23, 1874.

1130 x. Olive Stearns⁽⁷⁷²⁴⁾ was born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania February 13, 1876.⁽⁷⁷²⁵⁾ Olive died February 1876 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, at less than one year of age.⁽⁷⁷²⁶⁾ Olive, Rev. George Frederic Stearns's child, resided with George in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania circa 1876.⁽⁷⁷²⁷⁾ Olive was born and died a few days later while the family lived in Philadelphia.

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