JOHN BIGELOW [#316], bap. Wrentham, Suffolk, England 16 Feb 1617, d. Watertown, MA 14 Jul 1703 "aged 86 years",[7/24] m(1) Watertown 30 Oct 1642[6/9] MARY WARREN (dau. of John Warren and Margaret), bap. Nayland, Suffolk, Eng. 12 Sep 1624, d. Watertown 19 Oct 1691,[6/64] m(2) 2 Oct 1694 Sarah Bemis.
John Bigelow first appears in the Watertown records on Oct. 30, 1642 with the recording of his marriage, "1642-30-8. John Bigulah and Mary Warin joyned in mariag before Mr. Norwell." He also took the oath of fidelity at Watertown in 1652 and became a freeman April 18, 1690.[1/1819]
John Bigelow was a blacksmith as appears from the following record dated March 4, 1650-51. "Agreed wth John Biglo yt for ten trees the towne allowed for the setting up a shop for a Smithes forge, yt he should either goe on with yt his promise of setting up his trade, wch is the trade of a Smith within one twellfmonth after the date hereof or else to pay unto the towne ten shillings for the sd ten trees he acknowledged to have off the townes".[2/1:22]
Active in town affairs, John was chosen Surveyor of Highways in 1652, 1660, and 1668;[2/1:27,70,90] Constable in 1664;[2/1:76] and a Selectman in 1665, 1670, and 1671.[2/1:84,96,102] In 1654 he and Miles Ives were "Chosen for to psecute the Townes order about Swine and fences for this yeare".[2/1:37] The seven Selectmen often met at John Bigelow's house and their records show that the early colonists had their flaws just like us. At a meeting of the Selectmen on Jan. 18, 1669-70 at the house of Isaac Stearns, "It was greed that the select men shall take their turnes every man his Day to site upon the gallary to looke to the youths that they may prevent miscariagis in the time of publicke exercises on the Lords Days ...".[2/1:98] Ancestors Isaac and Samuel Stearns also took their turns. It's refreshing to know that some things just never change - not even in three hundred years.
His homestead consisted of six acres and was bounded south with the highway, north by Richard Ambler and William Parker, east by Thomas Straight, and on the west by Miles Ives according to the first inventory of estates and possessions taken in 1639.[3/1:58] In the third inventory, taken in 1646, George Parkhurst had replaced Thomas Straight as his neighbor on the east.[3/1:139]
After the death of his wife Mary on Oct. 19, 1691, he married on Oct. 2, 1694 Sarah Bemis, daughter of Joseph Bemis. John died July 14, 1703, aged 86. His will was dated Jan. 4, 1703 and proved July 23, 1703. In it he mentions his wife Sarah; sons John, Jonathan, Daniel, Samuel, Joshua, and James; and daughters Mary Flagg, Elizabeth Stearns, Sarah Learned, Martha Wood, and Abigail Harrington. Martha had most likely died prior to 1703 as John made a bequest to her children rather than to her.[4/10:647]
The inventory of his estate amounted to 627.12.00. Among the expenses charged for the funeral, are 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.[4/10:740]
For John Bigelow's ancestry refer to the overseas ancestor section.
REF: [1] The Bigelow Family - Gilman B. Howe, 1890
[2] Watertwon Records, 1894
[3] Watertwon Records, 1894 (Lands, Grants, and Possessions)
[4] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 1716)
[5] The Bigelow Family Genealogy - Bigelow Society, Inc., 1986
[6] Records of Births Marriages and Deaths, First Book - Watertown
Records, Vol. 1, 1894
[7] Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Second Book - Watertown Records,
Vol. 2, 1900
[8] Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts to the Year 1850,
NEHGS, 1904 (Bigelow deaths page 253)
[9] Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of Early Settlers
of Watertown, Massachusetts - Henry Bond, 1860
Children (born in Watertown):
1. John, b. 27 Oct 1643,[6/10] d. maybe 1707, m. Rebecca Olmstead or Butler, no issue 2. Jonathan, b. 11 Dec 1646,[6/13] d. Hartford, CT 9 Jan 1710-1, m(1) 1671 Rebecca Shepard, m(2) Mary Olcott, d. 7 Mar 1697, m(3) Mary (Benton) Cole Chil.[9/29-30]: 1) Jonathan, b. 1673, m . 11 Jan 1699 Mabel Edwards; 2) John, m. 11 Jan 1710 Abigail Richards, res. Glastenbury; 3) Mary, m. 20 Feb 1699 John Williams; 4) Sarah, m. 4 Nov 1709 John Bigelow (son of Joshua Bigelow and Elizabeth Flagg), b. 20 Dec 1681[9/31], res. Colchester, CT; 5) Violet, m. 1 Sep 1709 John Taylor; 6) Samuel, bap. 13 Mar 1687; 7) Abigail, bap 2 Nov 1690; 8) Joseph, b. 1690, d. 1731, m 21 May 1713 Sarah Spencer; 9) Daniel, b. 1692, d. 14 May 1733; 10) Samuel, b. 1694, d. 1748, res. Middletown, CT 3. Mary, b. 18 Mar 1648,[6/14] d. Watertown 3 Sep 1704, m. Watertown 3 Jun 1674[6/38] Michael Flagg (son of Thomas Flagg and Mary), b. Watertown 23 Mar 1651,[6/16] d. abt. 1711 Chil. (surname Flagg)[9/221]: 1) Abigail, b. 17 Dec 1685[6/56]; 2) Michael, b. 25 Mar 1689[6/61]; 3) Mary, b. 7 Dec 1690[6/62], m. 13 Dec 1711[7/45] William Hagar; 4) Earle, b. 29 Mar 1706[7/32], m. 6 Apr 1727 Elizabeth Smith, res. Framingham; 5) Prudence, b. 9 Aug 1708[7/37], m. 1 Feb 1726-7[7/80] Samuel Frizell of Framingham; 6) Bezaleel, b. 23 Mar 1710[7/43] 1710-11[9], d. 21 Jan 1749, m(1) 14 Jan 1729-30[7/86] Susanna Warren (dau. of Joshua Warren and Rebecca Church), bap. 2 Feb 1706-7, d. 12 Dec 1745, m(2) 12 Mar 1746-7 Sarah Bemis (dau. of Joseph Bemis and Elizabeth Peirce), b. 11 Nov 1711[7/55] 4. Daniel, b. 1 Dec 1650,[6/15] m. Abigail Pratt (dau. of Thomas Pratt) Chil.[9/30-31]: 1) Abigail, b. Sherburne 28 Oct. 1689, m. 8 Mar 1727 Abraham Belknap; 2) Daniel, b. 24 Nov. 1691, m(1) 27 Jun 1723 Rebecca Eames, d. 7 Jul 1738, m(2) 17 Jul 1746 Prudence Stone, res. Framingham; 3) Abial, b. 20 Jan 1693, m(1) 11 Oct 1716 Jonathan Stone of Framingham, m(2) 15 Jun 1743 Samuel Walker; 4) Susanna, b. 4 Mar 1695-6, m. 9 Jun 1715 Stephen Jennings of Framingham; 5) Ephraim, b. 12 May 1698, d. 18 Oct 1756, m. 1729 Lydia Johnson, d. 5 Feb 1770, res. Holliston; 6) Lydia, b. 2 Jan 1702, m. Sep 1731 Martin Pratt 5. Samuel, b. 28 Oct 1653,[6/17] d. Waltham, MA 1 Feb 1731-2,[8] m. Watertown 3 Jun 1674[6/38] Mary Flagg (dau. Thomas Flagg and Mary), b. 14 Jan 1658,[6/20] d. Watertown 7 Sep 1720 Chil.: (see below) 6. Joshua, b. 5 Nov 1655,[6/18] d. Westminster, MA 1 Feb 1745,[9/31] m. Watertown 20 Oct 1676[6/41] Elizabeth Flagg (dau. Thomas Flagg and Mary), b. Watertown 22 Mar 1657,[6/19] d. 9 Aug 1729 Chil.[9/31-33]: 1) Joshua, b. 25 Nov 1677, d. 9 May 1728[9/33], m. 17 Oct 1701 Hannah Fiske (dau. of Nathaniel Fiske and Mary Barron), b. 29 Aug 1680, res. Weston; 2) Jonathan, b. 22 Mar 1679-80, d. 1745, m. 7 Jun 1702 Elizabeth Bemis (dau. of Ephraim Bemis and Elizabeth), bap. 1687; 3) John, b. 20 Dec 1681, m. 4 Nov 1709 Sarah Bigelow (dau. Jonathan Bigelow and Rebecca Shephard), res. Colchester, CT; 4) Benjamin, b. 20 Jan 1683-4, d. 27 Oct 1709; 5) Mercy, b. 1686; 6) Elizabeth, b. 3 Aug 1687, m. 28 Feb 1723-4 Jonathan Harrington (son of Daniel Harrington and Sarah Whitney), b. 2 Feb 1689-90, d. 1730; 7) David, b. 30 Apr 1694, d. Spain; 8) Joseph, b. 29 Dec 1695, maybe resided in Weston, MA; 9) Daniel, bap. 29 Aug 1697, d. Worcester, MA aged 92 years, m. Elizabeth Whitney (dau. of Nathaniel Whitney and Mercy Robinson), b. 23 Jul 1702; 10) Ebenezer, b. 4 Sep 1698, m. 24 May 1720 Hannah Brown (dau. of Capt. Abraham Brown and Mary Hyde), b. 5 Oct 1699, d. 3 Nov 1775, res. Weston; 11) Gershom, b. Sep 1701, m. 25 Jun 1724 Rachel Gale (dau. of Abraham Gale Jr. and Rachel Parkhurst), b. 14 Dec 1702, d. Ward, MA 1800, res. Sutton, MA; 12) Eliezer, b. 14 Mar 1704-5, d. Westminster, MA 24 Feb 1762, m. Weston 24 Nov 1724 Mary Fiske (maybe dau. of William Fiske and Hannah Smith) 7. Elizabeth, b. 18 Jun 1657,[6/19] d. Billerica, MA 18 Apr 1694, m. 6 Sep 1676 John Stearns, b. May 1654, d. 26 Oct 1728 8. Sarah, b. 29 Sep 1659,[6/22] m. 23 Jul 1679 Isaac Learned, b. 5 Oct 1655, d. 15 Sep 1737 9. James, b. abt. 1660, d. Watertown 20 Jan 1728, m(1) 5 Mar 1687 Patience Brown, b. Watertown 6 Mar 1668[6/30] m(2) 3 Jul 1693 Elizabeth Child, d. Watertown 20 Apr 1707[7/34] m(3) 15 Jun 1708 Joanna Erickson 10. Martha, b. 1 Apr 1662,[6/24] d. bef. 1703, m(2) Obidiah Woods, d. 11 Apr 1712 11. Abigail, b. 4 Feb 1663,[6/25] d. Watertown 12 Jan 1754, m. Watertown 10 Dec 1684[6/55] Benjamin Harrington, b. Watertown 26 Jan 1661,[6/24] d. 1724 12. Hannah, b. 3 Mar 1666, d. 8 Mar 1666[6/27] 13. A son, b. and d. 18 Dec 1667[6/29]
SAMUEL BIGELOW [#158], b. Watertown, MA 28 Oct 1653, d. between 30 Sep 1720 and 21 Feb 1731 ("Mr. Samuel Biglow Deceased in the 81st year of His Age", this in the 1731 records),[7/93] m. Watertown 3 Jun 1674 MARY FLAGG (dau. of Thomas Flagg and Mary), b. Watertown 14 Jan 1658,[6/20] d. Watertown, MA 7 Sep 1720[7/66] "a. 67y 8m."[8]
Samuel Bigelow was a prominent man in Watertown, and, like his father, was active in town affairs. He was one of the Tythingmen in 1682;[2/2:11] a surveyor 1688 and 1689;[2/2:33,37] constable 1692 and 1696;[2/2:53,68] Selectman in 170810 and 1714;[2/2:181,187,194,220] and the town representative to the General Court in 17081710.[2/2:183,189,196] On April 21, 1701 the selectmen gave permission for Samuel to "keep a publicke house of Entertainment for travelers".[2/2:137]
The land at the southeast border of Marlborough was bought by several husbandmen of Watertown on Dec. 25, 1695, including Samuel Bigelow. This land was referred to as "the Farm", and its residents were exempt from taxation until they were annexed to Marlborough by an act of the court in 1718.[5/3334] In 1702 Samuel oppossed the settlement of Rev. John Emerson as the minister in Marlborough.[5/1012] He obviously was involved in the affairs of both towns since he held land in both. In the French and Indian troubles of 1711, Samuel was assigned to Joseph Morse's garrison which was "upon the Farm".[5/110]
Samuel's will, dated Sept. 30, 1720, proved Feb. 21, 1731, mentions sons John, Samuel, Thomas, and Isaac; three daughters Mercy Gearfield, Abigail Cutler, and Deliverance Stearns; sonsinlaw Thomas Read, Josiah How, and Daniel Warren; grandson David Bruce; and grandchildren Nathaniel, Isaac, Thomas, and Catherine Read, Phineas, Abraham, and Rachel Howe, and Samuel, Daniel, and Hannah Warren.[3/19:409] The account of Mary Bigelow, widow and administrix, added to the inventory, probated Feb. 7, 1734 amounting to 603.4.1, brought the inventory to 666.5.7. Charged against the estate was 2.0.6 to "Dr. Densmore for attending the decd. in his last Sickness & medicine administered".[3/20:255] It should be noted the discrepancy is tha ages of Samuel and Mary at their times of death. Were Samuel really in his 81st year, he would have been born in 1651 rather than 1653. And if Mary were 67 years and 8 months, she would have been born Jan. 1653 rather than Jan. 1658.
REF: [1] The Bigelow Family - Gilman B. Howe, 1890
[2] Watertown Records, 1894
[3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 1728)
[4] The Bigelow Family Genealogy - Bigelow Society, Inc., 1986
[5] History of Marlborough, MA - Charles Hudson, 1862
[6] Records of Births Marriages and Deaths, First Book - Watertown
Records, Vol. 1, 1894
[7] Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Second Book - Watertown Records,
Vol. 2, 1900
[8] Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts to the Year 1850,
NEHGS, 1904 (Bigelow deaths page 253)
Children (born in Watertown):
1. John, b. 9 May 1675,[6/39] d. Marlboro, MA 8 Sep 1769, m. 2 Jan 1695-6[7/3] Jerusha Garfield, b. Watertown 6 Jun 1677[6/42] 2. Mary, b. 12 Sep 1677,[6/43] d. Sudbury, MA 21 Feb 1707-8, m(1) Watertown 26 Jan 1699[7/6] David Bruce, d. 22 Jul 1701, m(2) Watertown 3 Dec 1701[7/16] Thomas Read, b. Sudbury 22 Mar 1677-8, d. Sudbury 1 May 1755 3. Samuel, b. 18 Sep 1679,[6/46] lived in Shrewsbury, MA, m(1) 28 Mar 1705 Ruth Warren, b. Watertown 15 Oct 1681,[6/49] m(2) 4 Dec 1716 Mary Gleason 4. Sarah, b. 1 Oct 1681,[6/49] m. 11 Dec 1706 Josiah Howe, b. Marlboro, MA 1678 5. Thomas, b. 24 Oct 1683,[6/53] d. Waltham, MA 6 Oct 1756, m. Watertown 12 Jul 1705[7/20] Mary Livermore, b. Watertown 11 Apr 1684[6/54] 6. Martha, b. 1686, d. 28 Feb 1744-5, m. 25 Jan 1706, 2 Jan 1706-7[7/23] Thomas Garfield (son of Capt. Benjamin Garfield and Elizabeth Bridge), b. Watertown 12 Dec 1680,[6/48] d. 4 Feb 1752 7. Abigail, b. 7 Mar 1687,[6/59] m. Watertown 17 Aug 1710[7/41] Jonathan Cutler 8. Hannah, m. Watertown 24 May 1711[7/40] Daniel Warren 9. Isaac, b. 19 Mar 1690-1,[6/63] d. Colchester, CT 11 Sep 1751, m. 29 Dec 1709[7/40] Mary Bond 10. Deliverance, b. 22 Sep 1695,[7/5] m. Watertown 10 Aug 1715[7/54] John Stearns
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