STEVEN FLANDERS appears to have arrived in this country between 1623-1648, and is first found as a resident of Gorgeana, Maine, now known as York. He then moved to Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1649-50 and became active in town affairs there. There is no record of his ever becoming a Freeman because church membership was a requirement and Steven never joined a church. However, on February 8, 1651, he did take the "Oath of Fidelitie." His occupation was that of planter or farmer. He was a man of education because he could read and sign his name, and he seems to have parlayed this education into some wealth. In 1650 his holdings were an acre and a half for a house lot, while in 1684 at the time of his death (June 27, 1684, in Salisbury) he owned 74 acres of land and his estate was valued at 300 pounds. He married JANE SANDUSKY prior to 1646. It is not known was her last name was, but she was supposed to have been a Christianized Indian, possibly of the Sandusky tribe.  As early as the late 1500's, the Sandusky tribe lived on the banks of the Sandusky River in Ohio. For some reason the tribe splintered and went in opposite directions; some to OKlahoma; the rest to New York. The New York tribe was absorbed into the Iriquois tribe. Some of the early missionaries from Jamestown reached that area and took some of the tribe to upper New England to be Christianized. As tradition says that Jane was a Christianized Indian, it is highly likely that she was an Iriquois of Sandusky descent. And also explains why she would have been in that area when Steven Flanders arrived. Jane Flanders died in Salisbury on November 19, 1683.

MY ELEVEN GENERATIONS OF FLANDERS FAMILY

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Phillip 3 FLANDERS
b. January 8, 1681-1682, Salisbury, Ma.
d. After, 1755, Salisbury, Ma.
Spouse; Joanna SMITH,  Married: 3 FEB 1709/10 in Salisbury, MA
 b. May 22, 1686, Salisbury, Ma.
 d. Unknown, New Hampshire

Philip Flanders was a blacksmith by trade and was called Philip, Jr. He resided at Salisbury, MA and Chester, NH. He apparently owned land in Kingston, NH at one time, for on the town records of Kingston an entry is made under the date of March 5, 1715, that Philip Flanders had forfeited his rights in the town. On Nov.25, 1702, he served on scout duty against the Indians in and around Salisbury, according to an order given by Capt. Henry True, Jr. At the time of the division of his father's estate (Steven 2nd gen.), Philip received his share, his mother's third, on condition that he care for her during her life. On July 24, 1708, the same day the estate was divided, Philip executed a bond with his mother, Abigail, for the proper fulfillment of this agreement. In view of the bond made with Philip, it is somewhat difficult to understand why the mother, Abigail was living with her son Thomas, in 1741, as is shown in the administration of the estate of Thomas Flanders 3rd generation. From several deeds found in the records, it is apparent that Philip was living in Salisbury as late as 1748. Land records show him transacting several deed transactions up to 1755. Since there are no further actions after that date, it is reasonable to assume that he died soon after 1755.

INVENTORY OF ESTATE OF STEVEN FLANDERS

An inventory of ye Estate of Stephen fflanders Senr: deceased: at Salisbury: Apprized & taken (as it was given by ye executrs) by us whose names are undr written:19th:4th:An:Dom:1684.