Dr. Stephen Worden of Pawlings
by William Baker Posted: 24 Nov 2000 7:00AM

Classification: Biography
Surnames: Worden, Watts, Avery, Newman, Dibble

HISTORY OF STEPHEN B. WORDEN of DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK:
From the memoirs of Joseph Watkins Worden: "Dr. Stephen Worden (my grandfather), son of Sarah Husted and Dr. Nathaniel Worden, was born May 31, 1779. Dr. Stephen was a botanic Doctor. He believed in going to Mother Earth for his drugs-- -- root herbs, barks, and gums. He had good success in relieving pain and in making the sick well. I have seen many cases in my boyhood days when he cured people that other noted doctors had given up to die. His manner in treating his patients when they came to see him was to sit awhile and talk about the ordinary events of the day until they were rested and their nerves were quiet. then he would place his fingers on the wrist and study the circulation of the blood a few minutes and tell them all about their ailments, aches and pains-- -- the location and nature.

He went far and near to relieve pain and suffering until one night his horse came home alone. It was discovered that his horse had thrown him. He had landed on a rock and was severely injured. There was a depression on the right side of his head as large and as deep as the bowl of a large teaspoon. In spite of this injury and later strokes he still continued, with the aid of his family, to relieve the afflicted until the final stroke took his life March 28, 1848. He lived his entire life in Dutchess County, New York."

A cousin of Dr. Stephen, William, son of Moses Worden, is also told of in Joseph's accounting:
"William, son of Moses, lived on Horseneck, a neck of land running out into Long Island Sound, near Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He lived to be very old. During the revolution was very active in caring for the sick and wounded. Was away from home most of the time visiting camps in different parts of the country. One winter a part of Washington's army was camped four miles southeast of his home in Croton Valley. One night when returning a sentinel fired at him from the brush. At the same time his stumbled and the ball struck the horse's tail. From the the memoirs of Joseph Watkins Worden (1834-1912), as told by his daughter Meda Worden Langsdorf (1875-1976), covering that part of the Wordens that moved to Decatur County, Iowa from Dutchess County, New York.

Dr. Stephen Worden was married twice-- -- his first wife (Mary) died in October, 1804. His second Marriage was to M. Elizabeth Watts in 1806. To this union were born: Mary, b. 1806; Jared Newman, b. 1808; William Watts, b.1810; Betsy (Elizabeth), b.1812; Solomon, b. 1814; Susannah, b. 1816; Silas, b.1818; Infant child, b. 1820; Abigail, b. 1822; and Susan, b. 1824." An unmarried union with a Lucy Dibble between his two marriages produced an out of wedlock daughter named Sarah.

Stephen is mentioned in his father's will dated 12 October 1807. The will bequeaths "unto my son Stephen Worden during his natural life all that my messuage or tenement lying and being in Pawling aforesaid..." This was 184 acres in Pawling, New York. Stephen was to give 3 acres of this inheritance to his sister Lucy Avery. The property was bounded by James Newman's farm, the Coan (?) place, Edward Smith, and the corner of Phillips and Robinson. The will also states that Stephen "shall provide for a female by the name of Sarah which said Stephen had by Lucy Dibble until she shall arrive at the age of eighteen years I do further will and order that the said Stephen pay unto the said Sarah sixty two dollars and fifty". Stephen had to pay various siblings money, as ordered in the will: $25.50 to Deborah, $25.00 to Lucy and $12.50 to Israel Worden.

Dr. Stephen Worden's mother was 45 when he was born. He was a botanic (herbal/holistic) doctor, living in Pawling, Dutchess County, New York. Stephen lived his entire life near Pawling, Dutchess County, New York. Stephen is listed in the 1840 Census with just his wife Elizabeth and two older females, one (age 80+) his mother in law, the other (age 75) unknown to this compiler, probably his mother in law's sister. He died in 1848 and is buried in Presbyterian-Episcopalian Cemetery, Patterson, Putnam, New York.

1820 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census:
Household- 10m-16m-18m-26m-45m45+xf-10f-16f-26f-45f-45+FNN
Worden, Stephen 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 ?

Sources:
1. The Memoirs of Joseph Watkins Worden, as told by his daughter Meda Worden Langsdorf.
2. Projected 1780 Dutchess County, New York Census.
3. 1790 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census.
4. 1800 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census.
5. 1810 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census.
6. 1820 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census.
7. 1830 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census.
8. 1840 Pawling, Dutchess County, New York Census.
9. The Research of Dr. Gilbert S. Bahn.
10. Will of Dr. Stephen B. Worden.

More on some of Stephen's children:
1. William Watts Worden: Also known as William Warden. William is buried on Maple Avenue Cemetery near Christ Church and Episcopal Church, Patterson, New York. He was 74 years old. He lived in Pawling, New York when he died. He was a farmer. He had 8 children.

2. Elizabeth Betsey Worden: Both Elizabeth and her husband were of Pawling, Dutchess County, New York when they married.

3. Solomon B. Worden: Had 7 children.

4. Silas Worden: Silas is buried in the Patterson Cemetery, Baptist Church, Putnam, New York. In December 4, 1847 Silas bought land in Patterson for $ 1300.00. In March 31, 1852, Silas and Jane Ann bought 5 acres in Patterson. Silas died intestate and owed William Worden, his brother $4.13, his estate did not exceed $500.00 .

5. Susan Worden: Susan is buried in the Presbyterian-Episcopalian Cemetery in Patterson, Putnam, New York. She was 29 years old.