Stephen Deblois (1699–1778) was a musician who lived in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

and

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

in the 18th century. He played the organ for

King's Chapel King's Chapel is an American independent Christian unitarian congregation affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association that is "unitarian Christian in theology, Anglican in worship, and congregational in governance." It is housed in ...

and

Old North Church The Old North Church (officially Christ Church in the City of Boston) is an Episcopal mission church located in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The church, which was built in 1723, is the oldest standing church building ...

in Boston, and owned Boston's

Concert Hall A concert hall is a cultural building with a stage (theatre), stage that serves as a performance venue and an auditorium filled with seats. This list does not include other venues such as sports stadia, dramatic theatres or convention ...

Biography

Stephen Deblois (also De Blois or Dublois) was born in

Oxford, England Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

, on July 24, 1699, to Louis Du Blois. In 1720 he moved from England to New York with his friend William Burnet, who commenced his service as colonial governor of New York and New Jersey.Arthur Eaton. Old Boston families: The De Blois family
The New England historical and genealogical register
v.67. 1913.John Ogasapian
Music of the colonial and revolutionary era
Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004; p.50-51. In 1721, Deblois married Ann Furley (d. 1762). They had three children: Sarah Deblois Wallis (b. 1723), Gilbert Deblois (1725-1791), and Lewis Deblois (b. 1727). Deblois moved from New York to Boston in 1728 "with Governor Burnet," when the latter became colonial governor of Massachusetts. In Boston, Deblois served as organist of

(1733-ca. 1748) and

. In addition to performing, he also organized musical concerts at several venues, including

Faneuil Hall Faneuil Hall ( or ; previously ) is a marketplace and meeting hall near the waterfront and Government Center, Boston, Massachusetts, Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Opened in 1742, it was the site of several speeches ...

and Concert-Hall. In 1754 he bought Concert Hall, at Hanover Street and Queen Street, from his sons Gilbert and Lewis, who kept a brass-making shop there. In 1769, Stephen Deblois sold the Concert Hall to William Turner.Justin Winsor
The memorial history of Boston
including Suffolk County, Massachusetts. 1630-1880. Ticknor and Company, 1881; v.2, p.xviii Stephen and his wife Ann "are probably buried under King's Chapel in the De Blois tomb (tomb No.11)."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deblois, Stephen 1699 births 1778 deaths American classical organists Musicians from Boston 18th-century American musicians 18th century in Boston 18th-century keyboardists Classical musicians from Massachusetts American male classical organists