EGGLETON Research

STEPHEN IGGLEDEN, baptized at Biddenden 17 Jan. 1607/8, died about 1638. He married at Biddenden, 30 Nov. 1628, to ELIZABETH BENNETT. She came with her children to New England in the summer of 1638 in the Castle. which brought a company from Tenterden and vicinity, among them Peter Branch of Halden, co. Kent (which lies between Tenterden and Biddenden), who died on the voyage and by his will, dated 16 June 1638 and probated at Boston, left a reversionary bequest to "widowe Igleden the late wife of Stephen Igleden or to his children or to her children she had by him." She settled at Roxbury, Mass., where as "Widdow Ingulden" she appears in a list of proprietors in 1639. Three years later her marriage appears in Roxbury: "Joseph Patching and Elizabeth Ingulden, Apr.. 10," 1642. On 20 Oct. 1646 "Egeleden daughter in law to Joseph Patchen she was about 10 y. old, she dyed of a paine first in her head, then in her back" [Roxbury Church Records]. "Goodwife Patchin a poor old woman" joined the Roxbury Church 14 Mar. 1649/50, and her two sons Joseph and John Parchen were baptized. Joseph Patchen removed in 1651 to Fairfield, Conn.

At Woburn, Mass., John Nutting married, 28 Aug. 1650, Sarah Eggleton, and Samuel Blodgett married, 13 Dec. 1655, Ruth Eggleton. Savage and others have suggested these two were also daughters of Stephen Iggleden (No. 7), but, as Mr. Arthur G. Loring has pointed out, in 1674 Nutting and Blodgett agreed to support their mother-in-law Jane, widow of Isaac Cole. She was born about 1600, was formerly wife of James Britton, and evidently still

The humble request of Jane COLE, the relict of Isaac COLE, deceased, and of Samuel BLODGETT and John NUTTING, that wheras Isaac COLE of Woburn died intestate and left a one hundred twenty pounds estate: viz. forty pounds in moveables and the rest in house and lands. It is their request that their mother-in-law, Jane COLE, may have a competency to maintain her in her old age, SHE BEING ABOUT 74 YEARS OLD. If the Court sees fit to order the one half of the said estate, the above-mentioned parties are willing to entertain her and free the town from charges, and the Selectmen of Woburn do concur herein. Cambridge, 6, 8, 74 The Court, having heard what all parties concerned can say in this case, do order to the widow forty pounds to be paid out of the moveables as

ELIZABETH, bapt. at Biddenden 21 Jan. 1620/1; evidently came to New England with the widow of her brother Stephen Iggleden (No. 7). The records of Roxbury, Mass., show the marriage of Philip Meadows and Elizabeth Ingulden, Apr. 1641. Child: Hannah, b. at Roxbury 1 Feb. 1642-3. Savage and other authorities erroneously state that Elizabeth Iggleden, wife of Philip Meadows, was daughter of Stephen Iggleden (No. 7).

Stephen Iggleden died on the pass. to this ld. in the Castle, 1638, as by the will of Peter Branch, a passeng. in said sh. giv. her œ5, appears; and his wid. Eliz. was a propr. at Roxbury, 1639, m. 18 Apr. 1642, Joseph Patcham, and bore him two s. Eliz. her d. had m. Apr. 1641, Philip Meadows of R.; ano. d. "a. ten yrs. old," d. there 20 Oct. 1646;

*Schenck's Hist. of fairfield, CT, p.329, No. VI, mentions Joseph Patchin; 334, 1670/1, Patchin, Sr., 4 and 3 acres; 337, grant of part of Old Indian field, 8 acres, Joseph Patchin; 339, division of lots at Compo Neck, Lot #76, 60 acres, Joseph Patchin; 346, Jacob Patchin freeman Mar.1689/90.

*His two sons accompanied him to Fairfield, CT, by 1652 where he was granted the home lot on Jan. 29, 1655. In 1658 styled as 'Joseph Pachen, Sr.' and in list of Fairfield landowners from 1649-52. Bought land Apr. 22 and Apr 28, 1658, July 12, 1666, Oct.3, 1672, Oct.4, 1672, May11, 1681, NOv.9, 1684 (land holder in Stratford CT from Dec.1668-71). Sold land Apr 23, 1671, Oct 3 and 4, 1672, May 23, 1676, Feb.24, 1681. The title Jr. does not appear until after 1681 when Joseph, SR. sells and disappears from the records. Then Joseph Patchin sells land jointly with Joseph Middlebrook, one acre, 1686.

Joseph Patchen-Patching came to America in the ship Hercules as second servant of Thomas Besbeech from Ashford, Kent, England. He settled first in Roxbury, MA, in a place called Newks, near Boston. Removed to Fairfield, CT by 1652 and testified as Joseph Sr.,age.56, in the Benfield case, May 1, 1666.

*According to New England Historical and Genealogical Register, his first wife came from Biddenden, Co.,Kent, aboard the Castle, in 1638 with husband Stephen and children, of whom the former died on the passage. Another passenger died at sea and left money to Elizabeth for her care of him. *Jacobus, in The Families of Old Fairfield II part 9, p. 1077 states - New England Historical and Genealogical Register is wrong. Elizabeth Iggleden, not his (Stephen's) widow who came to New England. She came with children Jane, Sarah and John as members of the household of Thomas Besbeech of Ashford, Elizabeth Iggleden's son John became Joseph Patchen's stepson.

*Since Elizabeth brought a son John with her and married Joseph Patchen, our suggestion that John 'Eggleden' of Fairfield was Patchen's stepson is probably correct. *On Oct. 29, 1646 _____Egheden, stepdaughter to Joseph Patchen about 10 years old "Dyed of a paine first in her head then in her back". New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Reg. v.65,p.187. *Rachel Biggs in her will dated Nov. 17 1646, recorded in Suffolk Co., MA, gives _____ to "poor

Goodwife Hill and Goodwife Patching tenn shillings apiece." *"Goodwife Patchin, a poor old woman, " i.e., sick old woman" who joined Roxbury Church, Mar 16, 1649 may have been mother of Joseph. Yet his wife Elizabeth must have been considerably,perhaps a decade, older than himself, and in the view of that period a woman of 50 years sometimes qualified for the term 'old'.

French, Elizabeth, "Iggleden Records in England," NEHGR, 65:2 (Apr 1911), p. 187 states: At Woburn, Mass., John Nutting married, 28 Aug. 1650, Sarah Eggleton, and Samuel Blodgett married, 13 Dec. 1655, Ruth Eggleton. Savage and others suggested these two were also daughters of Stephen Iggleden, but, as Mr. Arthur G. Loring has pointed out, in 1674 Nutting and Blodgett agreed to support their mother-in-law Jane, widow of Isaac Cole. She was born about 1600, was formerly wife of James Britton, and evidently still earlier the wife of one Eggleton, by whom she had Sarah and Ruth. (See NEHGR vol. 59, p. 417.)

Banks in PLANTERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH lists Elizabeth Iggleden, Jane Iggleden, Sarah Iggleden and John Iggleden in a family headed by Thomas Besbeech of Sandwich who settled in Cambridge. Also with the group was Joseph Paeheing (Patchen) who could have been the Joseph Patchman mentioned in the preceding paragraph. They were said to have sailed on the "Hercules".

Increase Mather related an interesting story involving Ruth Blodgett in "A Brief History of the War with the Indians in New England from June 24, 1675 to August 12, 1676". In this particular tale he was telling about several strange happenings in the Colony which the people had taken as omens or forewarnings of this conflict. Of added interest is that the spelling _ of the name Blodgett was the old spelling Bloghead.

"June 15. This day was seen at Plimouth the perfect form of an Indian bow appearing in the air; which the Inhabitants of that place (at least some of them) look upon, as a Prodigious Apparition. The like was taken notice of, a little before the Fort Fight in the Narraganset Country. Who knoweth but that it may be an Omen of ruine to the enemy, and that the Lord will break the bow ahd spear asunder, and make wars to cease unto the ends of the earth? Nor is this (may I here take occasion a little to digress, in order to the inserting of some things, hitherto no so much observed, as it may be they ought to be ) the first prodigy that hath been taken notice of in New England. It is common observation, verified by the experience of many ages, that great and publick calamities seldom come upon any place without Prodigious warnings to forerun and signifie what is to be expected. I am slow to believe Rumors of this nature, nevertheless some things I have certain Information of.

"And now that I am upon this Disgression, let me add, that the monstrous births which have at sundry times happened, are speaking solemn providences. Especially that which was at Woburn Febru 23, 1670, when the wife of Joseph Wright was delivered of a Creature, the form thereof was as followeth. 'The head, neck and arms in true form and shape of a child, but it had no breast bone nor any back bone, the belly was of an extraordinary bigness, both the sides and back being like a belly, the thighs were very small without any thigh bones; it had no buttocks, the membrum mirile was a meer bone; it had no passage for nature in any part below; the feet turned directly outward, the heels turned up, and like a bone. It being opened, there were found two great lumps of flesh on the sides of the seeming belly; the bowels did lie on the upper part of the breast by Vitals.' This was testified before the Deputy Governor Mr. Willoughby on the 2d of March following, by Mrs. Johnson, midwife, Mary Kendal, Ruth Bloghead, Lydia Kendal. Seen also by Capt. Edward Johnson, Lieut John Carter, Henry Brook, James Thomas, Isaac Cole.

"There are judicious persons who upon the consideration of some relative circumstances, in that monstrous birth, have concluded that God did thereby witness against the Disorders of some in that place. As in the days of our Fathers, it was apprehended that God did teltitie from heaven against the monstrous Familistical opinions that were then stirring, by that direful monster which was brought forth by the wife of William Dyer, Octo 17, 1637, a description whereof may be seen in Mr. Welds his History of the Rise and Ruin of Antinomianism p. 43,44 and in Mr. Clarks Exampler vol. l p. 249.

"Certainly God would have such providences to be observed and recorded; He doth not send such things for nothing, or that no notice should be taken of them and therefore was I willing to give a true account thereof, hoping that thereby mistaken and false report _þs may be prevented." (3)