| Notes |
- CONCERNING the ancestry of John Biglo, the progenitor of the Bigelows of this country, we are unable to get any satisfactory account, traditions are so numerous and conflicting that we can place no reliance upon any of them ; they would make our common ancestor a native of Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England, as well as a French Huguenot. The most common belief has been that we were of English descent, but a very careful and persistent search has failed to find the name of Biglo or Bigelow upon any public records in that country, various clues have been followed in Scotland and the North of Ireland, but all alike have been found to have no foundation. The English ancestry of the Bigelows, as written by the late H. G. Soinerby, several years ago (and who spent considerable time in searching English records), appears to have its basis upon records of the Beagely family found in. the Parish of Wrentham, County of Suffolk, and wills of the same family found in the Probate Court. From theparish register was taken the family of Randley Beagely and Jane his wife ; the youngest was recorded as follows, viz. : " 1616. John y" sonne of Randley Beagely & Jane his wife baptized February y* XVI." and this John he takes to be the John Biglo of Watertown. From the will of Francis Baguley of Wrentham, dated Oct. 20, 1656, he takes the following: u To his brother John Baguley, now living in New England, a certain sum of money, if he comes for it in person within two years," but he fails to show that Randley Beagely had a son Francis, or that Francis Baguley was any way related to John Beagely by the records.
From a recent letter of the present rector of Wrentham to Mr.. Poultney Bigelow of New York we learn that John Beagely was baptized Feb. 16, 1616, and was buried 1626, and his widow, Jane Beagely, was buried 1626, which would appear as though he was not baptized until nearly grown at least, and his birth could hardly correspond with that of our ancestor. Thus from the incomplete and conflicting records we are reluctantly compelled to abandon for a time any attempt to establish a line of ancestry for our early progenitor John Biglo. He probably had no brothers in this country, but we find one Elizabeth Bigelow, who married Dea. Richard Butler of Hartford, and from the name and dates we suppose her to be a sister of John Higlo. Richard Butler emigrated from Braintree, Essex Co., England, in1632, and settled first in Cambridge, Mass., was a member of Rev. Thomas Hooker's church, made a freeman 1634, and in 1635 he went with Rev. Mr. Hooker, Elder Stone and others to commence the settlement at Hartford. He was chosen deacon of the first church in that town, and was twice married, but we have no date of either marriage. A private record says that he had five children by his second wife, Elizabeth (Bigelow). The following is a partial list of his children by both marriages.
By first marriage:
MARY, ft. 1635; m. Samuel Wright; lived in Wethersfleld.
THOMAS, b. 1637; m. Sarah Stone.
SAMUEL, b. 1039; m. Mary Olmsted; lived in Wethersflcld.
NATHANIEL, b. 1641; m. Sarah ; lived in Wethersfleld.
By second marriage:
ELIZABETH, ft. 1643; m. Dea. Joseph Olmsted.
JOSEPH, ft. 1648; m. Mary Goodrich; lived in Wethersficld.
DANIEL, ft. ; m. Mabel Olmsted ; lived in Hartford.
HANNAH, ft. ; m. John Green of Fairfleld, Ct.
Dea. Richard Butler died in Hartford, Aug. 6, 1684 ; his widow, Elizabeth (Bigelow) Butler, died Sept. 11, 1691.
The first mention we find of John Biglo appears on the Water- town Town Records, where his marriage is the first marriage recorded in that town, viz.: "1642-30-8. John Bigulah and Mary Warin joyned in mariag before Mr. Nowell." She was the daughter of John and Margaret Warren and is said to have been born in England; she bore him thirteen (13) children and died Oct. 19, 1691. From the list of those who took the oath of fidelity at Watertown, 1652, we find that John Biggalough was one of the number and he became a freeman April 18, 1690, which we find from the roll of freemen written as John Bigolo; under the same date we find Samuel Begaloo was made a freeman, and by another list, dated May 16, 1690, we find Samuel Biggilo and John Warren, Jr., were made freemen. On the returns of soldiers who were in the service from Nov. 25 to Dec. 8, 1675, we find the names John Bigulah, Sr., Michaeli Flegg and Isaac Leonard, the last named being wounded. Thus we find the name variously spelled by different officials, but
when we find the name written by any member of the family in those early days it is written Biglo, Biglow, Bigelo or Bigelow. His trade appears to have been that of a blacksmith, as appears by the following taken from the town records: "Agreed wth John Biglo y' for ten trees the towue allowed him for the setting up a shop for a Smithes forge, y'1 he shall either goe on with y' his promise of setting up his trade, w'h is the trade of a Smith w'Mn one twelfmonth after the date hearof or else to pay unto the towne ten shillings for these ten trees he acknowledged to have off the townes." Dated March 4, 1651. He was chosen a Surveyor of Highways 1652 and 1660, a Constable 1663, and one of " the seven men " (t. e., Selectman) in 1665, '70, '71. His homestead consisted of six acres and was bounded north by Richard Ambler and William Parker, east by Thomas Straight, south by the highway, and on the west by Miles Ivés. After the death of his wife Mary he married second, Oct. 2, 1694, Sarah Bemis, daughter of Joseph Bemis of Watertown. He died July 14, 1703, at the ripe old age of 86 years. His will, dated Jan. 4, 1703, was proved July 23, 1703, and is as follows :
In the name of Gad amen. I John Biglo of Watertown in the county of Midd'x within her Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being weeke of body, but in sound disposing Memory prais be given to god for the same. Do make this my last will & testament, in manner & form following, that is to say first & principally I resign my soul into the mercy full hands of allmighty god my Creator assuredly hoping through the mercy of my blessed Saviour to obtain pardon commission of all my sins and my body I comit to the earth whence it was taken, to be decently buried by the discreshion of my executors hereinafter named and as for the worldly goods & estate, the lord hath lone me I dispose thereof as follows.
Imp", I give & bequeath unto Sarah my well beloved wife, and to her heirs & assigns forever, all the lands and movable
estate, that was hers before our marriage, and forty pounds in money, twenty pounds of s'd money to be p'd her within oue
month after my decease and twenty pouuds within one year after my dece's' I give unto her forty pounds waight of good
pork, three bushels of barley, and one bushel of indian corn, five pounds waight in butter & five pounds waight in Chees,
and also two Sheep, and half the flax that shall be in the house at my Deces — and that to be in full satisfaction of her thirds.
2ndly I give & bequeath to my eldest son John Biglo, & to his heirs & assigns forever, twenty pounds in money to be p'd within one year after my Deces, and in case my s'd son have an heir lawfully begotten of his own body, I give & bequeath his s'd heir twenty pounds in money to be p'd to him or her, when it shall be of twenty one years of age, or day of marriage which shall first happen, but if it hapon my s'd son deces without an heir as above s'd, then my will is y't ye aboves'd twenty pounds be equally devided between my children then surviving.
3dly I give & bequeath unto my son Jonathan Biglo, and to his heirs & assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd him w"'in one year after my deces.
4thly I give & bequeath to my son Daniell Biglo and to his heirs & assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd
him within one year after my deces.
5thly I give & bequeath to my son Samuel Biglo, and to his heirs & assigns forever ten pounds in money besides what he
hath already had, to be p'd him within one year after my deces.
6thly". I give & bequeath unto my son Joshua Biglo, and to his heirs & assigns forever two parcels of lands lying on the westerly side of bow brook in s'd town. Purchased of Leiut Cha' Hammond as maymore fully appear hy the deed of the
same, and twenty five pounds in money, to be p'd him within one year after my deces.
7Iy. I give & bequeath unto my son James Biglo fifteen pounds, which I lent him as may appear by a bond under his hand and seal, and I give & bequeath to my said son James' son James Biglo ten poundsin money to be p'd him if he shall live to the age of twenty one years, but if it so happen that he deces. before s'd age, then ye s'd ten pounds to be equally devided between my s'd son James' surviving children, when they shall be of the age of twenty one years or day of marriage which shall first happen.
8lhly. I give & bequeath to my Daughter Mary Flagg & to her heirs & assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be
p'd her with two years after my Deces.
9thly. I give & bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Sterns' children twenty five pounds in money, to be p'd them, when
they are twenty one years of age, or day of marriage which shall first happen.
10thly. I gjve an(j bequeath to my daughter Sarah Learned, and to her heirs and assigns forever, twenty five pounds in
money, within three years after Deces.
11thl?. I give & bequeath to my daughter Martha Wood's children, lawfully begotten of her own body, twenty five pounds
in money to be p'd them equally a like, when they shall arrive at the age of twenty one years or day of marriage, which shall first happen.
12thly. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Herrington & to her heirs & assigns, twenty five pounds in money, to
be p'd within fower years after my Deces.
and I nominat, ordain & appoint, my above s'd son Joshua Biglo and my son in Law Isaac Larnerd my Sole executors, to se, this my last will & testament performed and all the rest and residue of my estate not herein bequeathed, after all my just debts and funerall charges are p'd my will is that it be devided between my s'd executors, that is to say, two parts of three, to my s'd son Joshua, and one third to my son in Law Isaac Leanerd, and do request my trusty & well beloved friend, Capt Benj Garfield to be my overseer of this my last will & testament, my s'd executors to allow him out of my estate for his cost & charges reasonable sattisfaction to his content, Revoking & makiug null and void all former or other wills by me heretofore made. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fourth day of January one thousand seven hundred two-
three, and in the first year of the reign of our Lady Anna, by the Grace of God over England & Queen.
JOHN + BIGLO
Signed, sealed & published
Witnesses
SAM'L LIVERMORE
DANIEL HARRINGTON
MUNNING SAWIN
The inventory of his estate amounted to £627-12-00. Among the expenses charged for the funeral we find several pairs of black gloves, twenty gallons of wine, bottles for the same, allspice and sugar,and two men and horses to carry the wine and other articles to the funeral, also "a man and horse to notify John Stearns at Billerica to attend the funeral," "a man and horse to Sherburne to notify Isaac Larned and wife to attend the funeral."
The children were all born in Watertown and were:
2. JoHN, b. Oct. 27, 1643 ; m. Rebecca Olmsted ; lived in Hartford, Ct.
3. JoNATHAN, b. Dec. 11, 1646; m. Rebecca Shepard; lived in Hartford, Ct.
4. MARY, 6. March 14, 1648 ; m. June 3, 1674, Michael Flagg, son of Thomas and Mary Flagg (or Flegg as the name is written in some of the early records) of Watertown, where they lived and died; he was born March 23, 1651, and died about 1711 ; his wife Mary died earlier, as he married a second time in 1704 Mary Earle.
Three children were recorded by his first wife as follows :
i. ABIGAIL, 6. 1685.
ii. MICHAEL, 6. 1689.
iii. MARY, b. 1691 ; m. William Hager, 1711.
5. DANIEL, b. Dec. I, 1650; m. Abigail Pratt; lived in Framingham.
6. SAMUEL, b. Oct. 28, 1653; m. Mary Flagg; lived in Watertown.
7. JOSHUA, b. Nov. 5, 1655; »?. Elizabeth Flagg; lived in Watertown and Westminster.
8. ELIZABETH, b. June 16, 1657; m. Lieut. John Stearns, and lived in Billerica, Mass., where they had a large family of children, and she died April 18, 1694. Their children were as follows :
i. ELIZABETH, b. Sept. 23, 1677.
ii. JOHN, b. Jan. 22, 1680; d. young,
iii. SARAH, b. Mar. 21, 1682.
iv. MARY, b. July 23, 1684.
v. JOHN, b. Nov. 26, 1686.
vi. ISAAC, b. May 1, 1689.
vii. ABIGAIL, b. Aug. 22, 1691.
9. SARY, b. Sept. 29, 1659 ; m. July 23, 1679, Isaac Leanerd, son of Isaac and Mary (Sternes) Leanerd, and was born Oct. 5, 1655. They moved to Framingham near the Sherburne line, where they lived for many years. In 1711 he served the Town of Framingham as one of the Selectmen. He died Sept. 15, 1737, leaving a large family, viz. :
i. ISAAC, b. May 10, 1680; m. Nov. 19, 1706, Sarah Howe; res. Sherburne, Mass.
ii. Sarah vn, b. March 16, 1682.
iii. ABIGAIL, b. March 11, 1684.
iv. MARY, b. April 12, 1686 ; m. William Bond of Watertown.
v. WILLIAM, b. Feb. 12, 1688.
vi. EBENKZKR, b. Aug. 31, 1690; m. Oct. 14, 1714, Deborah
Haynes ; res. Oxford, Mass.
vii. SAMUEL, b. Oct. 4, 1692.
viii. HANNAH, b. Sept. 16, 1694; m. May 2, 1716, Obadiah Walker; res. Marlborough, Mass. They had Silas, Hannah and Obadiah.
ix. ELIZABETH, b. July 27, 1696.
x. MOSES, b. April 29, 1699 ; m. Lydia ; res. Framingham.
10. JAMES ; m. three times ; res. Watertown.
11. MARTHA, ft. April 1, 1662; m. twice: her second husband was Obadiah Woods of East Hartford, Ct., who d. April 11, 1712, but we have no further record of her family.
12. ABIGAIL, ft. Feb. 4, 1664; m. Dec. 10, 1684, Benjamin Harrington, son of Robert and Susannah Harrington, ft. in Watertown, Jan. 26, 1662; ti. 1724; shed. Jan. 12, 1754. They had:
i. BENJAMIN, b. Oct. 2, 1685.
ii. ABIGAIL, b. March 1, 1689.
iii. ISAAC, b. Feb. 2, 1693.
iv. THANKFUL, b. Sept. 20, 1701.
13. HANNAH, b. March 4, 1666 ; d. March 8, 1666.
14. A SON, b. and d. Dec. 18, 1667.
|
Find
Surnames
Bookmarks
Places
Dates
Cemeteries
Search
Photos
Documents
Histories
Recordings
Videos
Albums
All Media
What's New
Most Wanted
Reports
Statistics
Notes
Sources
Repositories
Contact Us
Home
Search
Print
Login
Add Bookmark
Individual
Ancestors
Descendants
Relationship
Timeline
Suggest