Gershom Bigelow

Gershom married Rachel Gale on 25 Jun 1724. Rachel was born on 14 Dec 1701. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anecdote:
According to Bigelow Genealogy:
"He was a soldier in King Phillip's War in Capt. Ting's company and was wounded, and in consideration of his services in that war the General Court gave him a grant of land in Narragansett No. 2. He lived in Watertown the most of his
life and his children were born in that town, and when his father died he was appointed executor of the will with his brother-inlaw Isaac Learned, and was a well known citizen in Watertown; but late in life (his 87th year) , being anxious to reside on the land that he had earned at the peril of his life, removed from Watertown (in company with his son Eleizer) to the grant of land in Narragansett No. 2, now Westminster, making the journey June 9, 174;i, where he spent the last years of his life, and died Feb. 1, 1745, in the 90th year of his age, and was the first adult who died in the new town. He had a large family of children, but one of whom lived in Westminster."

Jashua married Elizabeth Flagg on 20 Oct 1676. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Flagg and Mary) was born on 22 Mar 1654/55 in Watertown, Massachusetts; died on 9 Aug 1729. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Bigelow

Other Events:

• Immigration: Massachusetts
• Will: 4 Jan 1703, Watertown
• Probate: 23 Jul 1703

Notes:

Anecdote:
From Bigelow Genealogy:
The first mention we find of John Biglo appears on the Watertown 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. 3, 1675, we find the names John Bigulah, Sr., Michaell 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 yt for ten trees the towne allowed him for the setting up a shop for a Smithes forge, yst he shall either goe on with yt his promise of setting up his trade, wth is the trade of a Smith wthin 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" (i. 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 Ives. 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.
.

Will:
From Bigelow Genealogy:
His will, dated Jan. 4, 1703, was proved July 23, 1703, and is as follows:
"In the name of God 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 one month after my decease and twenty pounds 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 giye & bequeath unto my son Jonathan Biglo, and to his heirs & assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd him wthin 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 may more fully appear by the deed of the same, and twenty five pounds in money, to be p'd him within one year after my deces.
7ly. 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 pounds in 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 happon.
8thly. 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 happon.
10thly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Learned, and to her heirs and assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money, within three years after Deces.
11thly. 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 happon,
I2thly. 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 & making 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 (his mark) Biglo
Sigued, 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.".

John married Mary Warin on 30 Aug 1642 in Watertown, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of John Warin and Margaret) was born in in England; died on 19 Oct 1691. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Immigration: Massachusetts
• Name: Mary Biglo

Notes:

Married:
This is the first recorded marriage in Watertown. "1642-30-08, John Bigulah and Mary Warin joyned in maring before Mr. Nowell."

Other Events:

• Baptism: 1615, Whinbergh
• Immigration: 1637, Massachusetts

Notes:

Anecdote:
From Crane:
Thomas Flagg or Flegg as the name is still spelled commonly in England, who came to New England with Richard Carver in 1637, was an ancestor of Samuel Waters Foskett, of Worcester. He was son of Bartholomew and Alicia Flagg, baptized at Whinbergh, Norfolk county, England, in 1615. He embarked at Scratby when emigrating to America. He settled in Watertown as early as 1641, when he had a homestall of six acres and other land. He was selectman there in 1671-72-73-74-75-76-78-81-85-86-87. He is ancestor of all the American Flagg families, it is believed.

Thomas married Mary. Mary was born in 1619 in England; died about 1702/03 in Watertown, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Immigration: Massachusetts
• Name: Mary Flagg

Notes:

Died:
Her will was dated December 30, 1702 and proved April 21, 1703.

John married Margaret. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Margaret Warin

Bartholomew married Alicia. Alicia was born in in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Alicia Flagg