The submitter is Phyllis D Purdy This is only for Trails use. Bio: William Batchelder was born about 1597, probably in the vicinity of Standford Dingley, Berkshire, England. He emigrated to Massachusetts before the end of 1634 as he was a victualer (innkeeper) in Charlestown, Suffolk Co, MA in that year. He was admitted as a member of the Charlestown Church on the 10th day of the 11 month 1634. William Batchelder married 1st Jane Cowper, October 1632 at Standford Dingley, Berkshire, England. She was a niece of one Katharine Smith. Jane (Cowper) Batchelder died about 1737/8 at Charlestown, Suffolk Co, MA and he married secondly, before 3 May 1638, Rachel Bate, daughter of James and Mary (Martin) Bate. William Batchelder died 20 Feb 1669 at Charleston, Suffolk Co, MA. His will was dated 12 Feb 1669 and was filed in the Middlesex probate records at Cambridge, Massachusetts. His second wife, Rachel, survived him, dying 28 May 1676, aged 73 years. Will of William Batchelder I William Batchelour of Charltown in ye County of Middlesex In New England, being weake in body, but of sound memory; calling to minde the uncertainty of this life being subject to mortalyty, I doe make this my last will & Testament which is as followeth <u>Impr</u> I bequeath my sowle into ye hands of my Deare Redeemer ye Lord Jesus Christ: & my body to ye earth from whence it came, therein to be decently buryed after life departed. And as for that little portion of outward estate that God have given me; O doe dispose as followeth. <u>Impr</u> yt all my just & reall debts be payde. Nextly i give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Rachell Batchelour, my nowe dwelling howse & yard, garden & out howsing & ye howse yt my sonn Richard Austin lives in: with all my moveable estate both cattell, tooles; or howsall-goods, and whatever else to me belonging; my will is that my sonn Richard should continue in the howse during ye naturall Life of my beloved wife payeing rent to her according to the worth thereof. Further my will is yt all my moveables be at my wifes dipose for the comfort of her life & at her death to be given unto her children. <u>Item</u> my will is my wife shall have liberty (her mecessyty calling for it) to sell any part of ye Land; howsen, or moveables, more or less According as her need shall be. Further my will is yt of what shall be sould, ther be an equal abatment out of every child's portion. <u>Item</u> After my wifes decease If undisposed of by my wife I give and bequeath unto my sonn Joseph Batchelour my now dwelling howse wth ye outhowsing yard & orchard lying belowe it & of each side of it to him and to his heires. <u>Item</u> After my wives decease I give & bequeathe unto my two Daughters Rachell Atwood & Abigail Austin the howse (if undisposed of by my wife) yt Richard Austin now lives in with ye yard behind it ye yard to come within two feet of my now dwelling howse with ye use of ye highway to come into ye yard; & yt highway to ly in common to both howses viz: Josephs & Richards so farr as this yard goeth which is wthin two foot of my now dwelling howse. Further my will is yt my sonn Richard should have this howse and yard paying after the decease of my wife, to my sonn Atwood ye valew & worth of halfe of it: dureing ye time of his nonpayment to pay valuable rent for the one halfe of it. Upon further consideration my will is yt ye sd Richard shall have Liberty to fetch water from ye well of ye sd Joseph dureing ye Naturall life of ye sd Richard & his child after him, ye sd Richard to pay halfe ye charges about ye well dureing ye time of his makeing use of ye well. Further my will is yt my sonn Richard after my wives deceased shall have ye little garden behind ye house of ye sayd; this garden being thirty foot in length and twelve foot in breadth from mr Fosters plaes toward ye howse. Further upon Josephs Entring upon sd howse after his mothers deceased he is to pay five pounds to Joseph cromwell & Benjamin Cromwell equally dividing it, to be payd within one twelve months time, or when they come of age to arrive at 21 years of age. <u>Item</u> My will is that my three Grandchildren nowe living with me viz: Joseph Cromwell, Benjamin Cromwell & Susanna Lawrence be left at the dispose of my wife Racell Batchlour. <u>Memorandum</u> my will is yt ye small Garden above specyfyed containeing thirty foot in length & twelve in breadth or there abouts is to bee added to ye howse of the sayd Rachell & Abigail, yt this is my will which is contained in these two sides of ye confirmation of which I have this eleventh day of the twelvth month one thousand sixe hundred sity & nine affixed my hand constituting my beloved wife Rachel Batchelour my sole executrix of this my will. Further my will is that ye wood Lott on Misticke side be given to my sonn Joseph & his heires after my wives deceased. William Bachelor As witnesses wereof Richard Kettle John Cutler & Farther my will is that aftar my wifs deceas I giv & bequeath unto my sonn Joseph Batchelor one cows coman in the stinted coman in Charlestown hee to pay unto John Cromwell ten shillings after my wifs deceas <u>Itim</u> I giv unto my daughter Abigail austen one cows coman in the stinted coman of Charstown: aftar my wives deceas; my daughter abigail austen to pay unto Rebecka Cromwell ten shillings aftar: my wifs deceas & thes comans is give to them & to thear heirs forevar that this is my will in witness hearof I hav set unto my hand this 12: of februwari 1669 Willliam Bachelor Witness John Cutler Pioneers of Massachusetts by Charles H Pope p 39 Nicholas Batt, of the Devises, linen weaver, came to New England in the "James" 5 April 1635. He settled in Newbury, Essex Co, MA. He was made freeman 14 April 1638/9 "Nicholas Batter". He was a proprietor at Lynn in 1638 "Battye". When his eldest daughter, Anne, was married, he promised to weave her cloth and to leave her his house and land as a double portion. He died 6 Dec 1677. His will was dated 18 June 1674 and probated 26 Mar 1678. He bequeathed to wife, Lucy; Daughters, Ann, Mary and Sarah; Grand children, Nicholas, Sarah and John Webster, Nicholas and Sarah Migill and Mary Elithorpe. His widow died 26 Jan 1678/9. Will of Nicholas Batt of Newbury Essex Probate Docket #2134 In the Name of God Amen I Nicolass Batt of Newbury, in N England being Aged and weak of body; though in full and perfect Memory; Doe make and ordaine my last will and Testaent, for the disposing of my esteat in maner and forme as filloweth. <u>Impr:</u> I give my body to ye dust to be buried, and my Soul unto god that gave it. And as for my worldly goods I doe will and dispose as followeth. First I give to my daughter, Mary Elithorp or har haiers a fether-bed, bolster and pillow wt a pr of Sheets, and a pr of blankets. 2 To Sarah Mihill, I doe give a cow, and a pr of Sheets, wt the six yews and lambs thay have alredy. 3 To my two grand-children Nicholas Webster, and Nicholas Mihill, I give ech of them a yew and a lamb. 4 To my 3 grand-daughters, Sarah Webster, Mary Elithorp, and Sarah Mihill, I give to ech of them a pweter plater. 5 All the Rest of my esteat, both Lands, housing, orchard, and Chattells or moveable estat I give to my Wife dureing har lifetime provided yt She Continew a widow; excpt a lott of meadow wch I gave to John Webster att his marriege; also I make my wife Sole Executrix of my estate. 6 And after my Wife id deceased I doe order and appoint yt all ye estate that is remaining, Shall be equally devided into five equall parts, and yt my daughter Anne Webster, shall have two parts: and ye other three parts, Shall be equally devided between my two daughters, Mary and Sarah, or thaier haiers, allwaies provided yt John Webster, or his haiers being my daughter ann's Children, Shall have liberty to buy the land of both my other Children, that is, thaier parts, of he or his haiers will give full as much for it, as any other man will give. 7 Also I doe desier, and appoint my Lov: freinds, Richard Dole, and Benjamin Rolfe over-seers to see that this my will and Testament be performed according to the full intent thereof in evry perticular; and for to declare yt this is my last will and testamt I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seall this eighteenth day of June Anno Dom; one thousand, Six hundred, Seaventy fouer. Nichlas Batt (seal) Witness: Richard Dole Jno Dole Proved in Ipswich court 25 Mar 1678 by the witnesses. Inventory taken 12 Dec 1677, by Samuell Ploumer and Benjamin Rolef. Attested in Ipswich court 26 Mar 1678 by Lusie Batt relict of Nicholas Batt Ipswich Quarterly Court Records Vol 5 p 303 Objection made by John Webster Vol 5 p 299 Whereas Nicholas Batt of Newbury is lately deceased and the law gives liberty to prove a will before two magistrates, the clerk John Webster, who married the eldest daughter of said Batt, came to the Worshipfull Major Generall Denison, Esq 6: 9m: 1677, and desired that now such will might be proved in private without his or his wife's knowledge, as they had something to say. They were so advised by the Honored Major Generall to have this caution entered Vol 4 p 150 Deposition of John Emery, Sr and Mary his wife, that in 1653 John Webster married Ann Batt, daughter of Nicholas Batt and in consideration of their marriage Nicholas Batt promised to give to the said john Webster with his daughter Ann his house he then lived in and all his lands that he had with all the priviledges belonging unto them after his and his wife's decease, and dod immediately give to the said Ann Possession of part of it in lieu of the whole and John Webster hath enjoyed it as his own proper estate to this day without molestation; furthermore Nicholas Batt promised to weave all the cloth that she made for nothing. Sworn in Ipswich court Mar 26, 1678 Deposition of John Emery Jr after about fifty years, that in 1653 on the day that John Webster was contracted to Ann Batt eldest daughter of Nicholas Batt of Newbury he being at this father Emryes house heard Goodman Batt say that while he lived he would weave her cloth and after his decease and his wife's she as his heir should have all his houseing and lands for as his eldest daughter she should have a double portion and he accounted the houseing and land would amount to such a value; further Batt saud that he would give his other children their portion as he could in his life time as he was able and in case he should die the other two daughter should have their portions out of his other estate. John Emery Jr confirmed this testimony 28 Feb 1677 before Jo Woodbridge, com. Sworn in Ipswich court, 26 Mar 1678 Deposition of John Webster Jr, aged 22 years that about four or five months before the death of his grandfather Batt he heard his father and grandfather discoursing about building a room to his granfather Batt's house and if he did, of his grandfather giving him security from damage and his grandfather said he need not fear coming to loss for he had made a will and all his land was given to him after his death and his mother's; further, that ever since he took notice of things his father had enjoyed to orchard behind the house as is own and he had heard both his grandfather and grandmother say that the orchard was his father's and that after their death he was to have all the rest of the lands. John Webster Jr confirmed this testimony 27 Feb 1677 and John Webster Sr before Jo Woodbridge. Sworn in Ipswich court 26 Mar 1678 Vol 4 p 155 Petition to the Ipswich court 30 Apr 1678, of John Webster of Newbury, showing that Nicholas Batt late of Newbury did before the marriage of the petitioner to his daughter Ann, freely promise his house and lands with the priviledges thereto belonging, after his own and his wife's deceased as a portion to his said daughter, yet notwithstanding, the said Nicholas Batt made his will and disposed of his land as his other estate, (which your petitioner conceives was not bequeathable being before disposed of to him on the marriage of his daughter) and the petitioner is debarred from the possession of the said land till after the death of the relict of the said Nicholas, who being made executrix of the will offereth the land to sell, whereby the petitioner is endangered to be defeated of his just right and he asks that the land may be securred and not alienated, or at least to accept this address into the public records of the court as a testimony of the petitioners continued claim. The Court 30 Apr 1678 ordered that it may be recorded. Bio: Henry Birdsall is believed to be the son of Henry Birdsall of Doncaster, York Co, England. He was a widower when he arrived near Boston in 1632 with his son Nathan and daughter Judith. He was a member of the First Church in Salem, Essex Co, MA in 1636 and was known as "Birdsall". He was registered as a Freeman at Salem, 2 May 1638. Henry Birdsall got himself in some sort of difficulty in Court for "stealing" and Indian girl. Henry Birdsall lived for a year or more with his son Nathan in New Haven, and while living there was chosen by the Court of New Haven, New Haven Co, CT 3 Dec 1644 to keep the Meeting House clean upon all public meetings. For this he was paid 3 pound 15 shillings a year. On another occasion "Good" Birdsall, as he was called, was paid 3 pounds 17 shillings for work upon a bridge. He died about July or August 1651 and his will was proved 28 September 1651. He was about 65 years old and living in Salem at the time of his death. His estate is recorded in the Probate Records of Essex Co, Salem, Massachusetts in Vol 1 p 123 Bio: Richard Blood was in New England as early as 1642, although his name does not appear in the records until June 1648 with the birth of his daughter at Lynn, Essex Co, MA. It is possible that he had previously resided at Rumney Marsh (now Chelsea, Suffolk Co, MA), or it may be insignificant that he possessed land there as late as 1658. His early residence in New England is proved by the fact that on Nov 25, 1642 one "Henry Wilkinson of Nottinham town, skinner," made out his will expressing a desire to be buried in St Peter's Church and remembering numerous relatives including cousins in "Roudington" and also "my cousin Isabel Blood in New England, three pounds." Isabel Blood was the wife of Richard Blood. James, John and Robert Blood were also early immigrants, and these four men were undoubtedly related; all were from the vicinity of Nottingham, and though their activities in New England were closely associated, the exact relationship remains unproven. They may have been brothers, a combination of brothers and cousins or uncles and nephews -- the record will have to stand that the relationship is close but not proven. The first iron foundry on the western continent was established on the Saugus River at Lynn, Essex Co, MA in the early 1640s. Richard lived close to the Iron Words, as a reference to the Words in 1653 mentions Blood's lot being fenced in, and it is also known that he had land bordering on the Saugus River. It also seems likely that Richard was employed at the Works. The records of the Salem Quarterly Court of 25: 9: 1657 show that Daniel Salmon, deputy to the Marshall at Salem, while serving a writ attaching a parcel of bar-iron was violently resisted by Oliver Purchase, Henry Leonard and Richard Blood, who took the iron from him in the forge of the Iron Works. In 1654 Richard Blood served on the jury of the county court at Salem and at the same court on 30: 4: 1657, he and Andrew Mansfield were sworn Constables of Lynn. In the meantime certain men had become interested in the idea of establishing a plantation to the northwest of Concord. Two petitions were made for a grant, the first being headed by Mr Deane Winthrop, son of Gov John Wintrop. Mr Winthrop suggested the name Groton, thus perpetuating the name of the town of his birth in Suffolk, England. This petition has been lost, but the other reads: "To the Honored General Court assembled at Boston: the humble petition of us whose names are hereunder written humbly showeth that whereas your petitioners by a providence of God have been brought over into this wilderness and lived long herein and being something straightened for that whereby subsistance in an ordinary way of God's province is to be had, and considering the allowance that God gives to the sons of men for such ent: your petitioners request therefore that you should be pleased to grant us a place for a plantation upon the river that runs from Nashaway in to the Merrimack at a place called Petaupaukett and Wabansconcett and your petitioners shall pray for your happy proceedings." The names of the petitioners were: William Martin, Richard Blood, John Witt, William Laken, Richard Haven, Timothy Cooper, John Lakin, John Blood, Matthew Farrington and Robert Blood. The General Court saw fit to "grant the petitioners eight miles square in the place desired to make a comfortable plantation which henceforth shall be called "Groaten", formerly known by the name of Petapawage; that Mr Danforth ... lay it out with all convenient speed that so no encouragement may be wanting to the petitioners for a speedy procuring of a Godly minister amongst them .. 25 May 1655" On 16: 3: 1656 another petition is made to the General Court: "Your petitioners having obtained their request of a Plantation from this honored Court, they have made entrance there upon, and do resolve by the Gracious Assistance of the Lord to proceed in the same (though the greatest number of petitioners for the grant have declined the work) yet because of the remoteness of teh place and considering how heavy and slow it is like to be carried an end and with what charge that they will be exempted from taxes for three years "in which time they account their expencse will be necessary town charges -- they being but few at present left to carry on the whole worke .." They also requested that Mr Danforth be excused and another allowed to take his place in laying out the town and that they "be not strictly tyed to a square form in the line laying out." Their petition was readily granted. It was probably 1660 before Richard Blood actually removed to the new town, although he certainly made improvements on the land before that. In 1659, a committee of the General Court, in reporting on the distribution of lands in Groton, Middlesex Co, MA described John Tinker, Richard Smith, William Martin and Richard and Robert Blood as being "the Old Planters and their assigns." Richard and Robert Blood bothe had land at "Nod", (about a mile northwest of the village). This is shown by deeds written many years later: Mdlsx 28:2 April 19, 1728. John Parker Jr of Groton to Robert Blood of Concord 20 acres of "land in Groton on the west side of the River at a place called Elsabeth's Mote" also land in Groton "at a place called Nodd" of 80 acres "bounded northerly by land formerly Robert Blood's and Sergt John Lakin's and partly by the river.." Mdlsx 28:1 Parker to Parker, 1728. "land near Elsabeths Mote on the west side of the river and is part of the 12 acres which formerly belonged to Richard Blood, deceased". Robert Blood preferred to return to his farm near Concord, but Richard continued to live at Nod and for the rest of his life was an important man in the settlement. Of the original proprietors his was the largest right, being 60 acres. He was on the first board of Selectmen chosen by the inhabitants and continued several years. He also served as the fifth town clerk. His high regard is noted from lists of the names given from time to time in which he was almost invariably second, and only after the name of Capt James Parker, undisputably the leading citizen of Groton. The Indians should not be forgotten in telling of the early settlement. The settlers found that the places the Indians had chosen for villages also suited them in terms of agricultural needs, fishing and water transportation, and they bartered with the Indians for possession of the land. The white men soon found that his best bargain could be had when the trade was for liquor. Responsible men understood the possible consequences and laws were made to prevent such dealings, but many still resorted to the illegal practice. Richard Blood was complained of upon three occasions for just such acts and the consequences in 1668 were of his own making. A letter of Matthew Farnsworth, Constable of Groton, Middlesex Co, MA dated June 12th 1668, relates that "two days since some Indians committed outrages in town, robbed one house, killed and eaten two beeves and driven away four more and wounded other four .." This letter is endorsed "About killing R Blood's cattle and robbing a house in Groton." A few days later a writ was issued against Richard himself to appear for selling liquor to the Indians contrary to law. The evidence was the testimony of John Wonotta of Chelmsford, Middlesex Co, MA, Indian, who testified that Wednesday night before Blood's cattle were killed that he had bought liquor of Blood and his son Joseph and he said others had been in the habit of trading beaver for rum, etc. An entry of about 1680 shows: "The twenty shillings due the Indian Andrew from the town (Chelmsford) for his weir at Stoney Brook, assigned by said Indian to Richard Blood". County Court Records Vol 3:231 Dec 18 1678. Richard Blood of Grotton being bound over to answer for letting his daughter Hannah Escape, who was accused of haveing a Bastard & making it away Secretely, was ordered to pay costs. The constables bills allowed them to be pd in money are as followeth. Concord Constable - twenty shillings -- Groton Constable - forty two shillings. Richard Blood was born about 1617 (deposed 2 Mar 1660, aged about 43), probably in Nottingham, England. He died intestated, having deeded his lands to his sons shortly before his death. He married Isabel, who was a cousin or niece of Henry Wilkinson, may or may not have had the surname of Wilkinson. After Richard's death administration was granted by his widow and three sons, Joseph, James and Nathaniel. The widow gave bond 8 July 1684 with Joseph Parker and Zachariah Ferris as surities. The date of Isabel Blood's death is not known, however, her son-in-law, Joseph Parker, in 1705, petitioned for permission to sell her hands. In 1706, "In answer to the within petition" -- Resolved that all the lands which Richard Blood, late of Groton, dec'd died seized of lying in the sd town be given and granted to Joseph Parker, the petitioner .. in consideration of the charge that sd Parker has been at in the maintenance of the within mentioned Isabel Blood for fourteen years last past. Provided that the Sd Parker giver her also a neet and comfortable maintenance during her natural life and a decent funeral at her deceased. Sent up for Concurrance In the House of Representatives July 12, 1706 Read & Passed. Jeanne/jmh