Robert Badcock (abt. 1620 - 1694)

Born about 1620 in England

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1694 at about age 74 in Milton, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

This profile is part of the Babcock Name Study.

Captain Robert Badcock/Babcock, immigrant ancestor, was born about 1620 in England. There is much evidence to show that the first Badcock/Babcocks to seek homes in New England were closely related, but no positive proof is recorded. Brothers Robert Badcock and George Babcock settled in that part of Dorchester, Massachusetts which is now Milton. Robert was on the list of proprietors of Dorchester, Massachusetts, before 1648, when he bought additional land. In 1649, he married Joanna [Phillips?] in Dorchester. He was a town officer and captain of the Dorchester military company. He was the First Town Clerk of Milton.^[1][2][3] On March 18, 1669 Robert purchased a town lot from Abraham Howe. ^[4]

“Robert Badcock” is mentioned in the Last Will and Testament of his brother George:

“Further it is my will that my Deare and Loving Brother Robert Badcock and my Neighbour Joseph Belcher shalt bee overseers that this my will bee fullfilled.”

George Badcock died in 1671; he wrote his will 26 Sep 1671, and it was proved at Boston 2 February, 1672.^[5][3]

Robert is similarly assigned as overseer and mentioned as "my Loving Brother" in The Will of Henry Layland copied in "The Leland Magazine." ^[6] Leland was the husband of Margaret Badcock, and these two Wills taken together confirm that Robert, George and Margaret were siblings.

In January 1674/75, Robert Badcock was living in Sherborn, Massachusetts, and was chosen on a town committee to treaty with Captain Gookin in regard to the exchange of lands between Natick and Sherborn. He soon returned to Milton, likely because of King Philip's War. On 11 Feb 1675, he was appointed sergeant and served in the War.^[1][2]

Robert Badcock died 12 Nov 1694. His will was dated 11 Nov 1694 and proved 7 Nov 1695. He bequeathed to his wife Joanna, who died 14 Dec 1700, age 71 years, to son, Nathaniel, to grandchild, Caleb, and to son-in-law, Henry Vose.^{[1][2] [7]}

Uncertain Origin

According to Appleton, Robert Badcock was "probably" the son of David Badcock of Dorchester and the brother of George Badcock of Milton, seemingly the brother of Margaret Badcock who married Henry Leland, and "possibly" the brother of James Badcock of Rhode Island.^[3] Identification of these relationships was apparently based on circumstantial evidence: the same last name, places, and the common use of the first names in subsequent generations.

Updates:

• See Biography. George Badcocke calls Robert Badcock his brother in his will dated 26 Sep 1671. Henry Leland who married Margaret Badcock does as well, though he is a brother-in-law. This establishes that Robert, George and Margaret were siblings.

• In early 2023 Y-DNA research established that the Milton line and Westerly line are genetically distinct, meaning James Badcocke of Rhode Island was not the brother of Robert, Margaret, and George Badcock of Milton. ^[8]

Robert was born about 1625 in England.^[3] Birth date is estimated, based on the birth of his first child in 1650.

Massachusetts Bay Colony Records

1676 On May 5 1676 the court allowed and approved a measure to remove remaining Indian persons from area, appointing a committee to do this which included Robert Badcocke who with Lt. Kinsey and Corporal Swift would clear Brush Hill. Records of the governor and company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Volume 5, page 86

Dorchester Town Records

^[9] mention George Badcock and his brother Robert multiple times:

• 1656 (page 83) George Badkok as Super Visor for the High Wayes and Robert Badkok as Rator
• 1655 (page 81) Robert Badcock payment for running the lyne
• 1658 (page 94) Extensive town council discussion about common landing place above Naponsett River including votes by Robert Badcocke and mention viewing a way to house of George Badcocke
• 1659 (page 98) Robert Badcocke Superviser of the heighwayes
• 1660 (page 103 and 107) Robert Badcocke running line between Dorchester and Brantrey paid from town coffers.
• 1661 (page 111) Georg Badcocke paid one pound from town for killing a Wolfe
• 1667 (page 147) Robt Badcock to pay annual maintenence fee on 5 acres in gated Commonly Shared Lot called "great lots. "
• 1676 (page 214) From town council "liberty granted to Srgnt Robt Badcock to git fower loads of Clobords at beare-Swamp."

Children of Robert Badcock and Joanna Phillips

Children of Robert and Joanna:^{[3] [10]}

1. Samuel Badcock b. at Dorchester in 1650; d. Sept. 17, 1690. m. July 1, 1674, Hannah Eames.
2. Jonathan Badcock b. at Dorchester in 1652; d. Coventry, CT Jan. 5, 1632; m. 1st, August 1, 1676, at Milton, Mary Curtis ; m. 2nd Oct. 19, 1719 Mary Hebard.
3. James b. 1654.
4. Abigail Badcock b. 1656 married John Barber.
5. Nathaniel Badcock b. 14 March 1658. d. January 7, 1719. married Hannah.
6. Caleb b. 14 Aug. 1660.
7. Ebenezer Badcock b. 2 Oct. 1662. married Hannah.
8. Hopestill b. 1663.
9. Hannah Badcock b. 8 Feb. 1664/5 married Joseph Morse.
10. Elizabeth Badcock b. 24 Dec. 1666 married Henry Vose.
11. Thankful Badcock b. 18 Feb. 1669.^[11]married (1) George Lyon married (2) Richard Smith Sr

Marriage

Robert Babcock married Joanna^[3] about 1650. According to Williams, Joanna's maiden name is unknown.^[12]

Property and Positions

Robert was mentioned in the Dorchester church record on 19 April 1654 in regards to some cattle he had sold to Isabel Breck.^[13] He held several public positions: as a Rater for Dorchester in 1657, as a Supervisor of Highways in 1660, as a Selectman for Milton in 1678 and in 1691 and probably other years. He was called Captain.^[3]

Robert bought land in 1672 located beyond Medfield at that place commonly called Bogistow (now Sherborn) and at Natick.^[3]

First Church at Dover Records

Robert Badcock is mentioned about 11 times in "Records of the First Church at Dorchester, in New England, 1636-1734" giving a glimpse into his sometimes troublesome personality and much detail about his family. The records is preserved with the original spelling and Robert can be found as Badcock, Badcocke, and Badcocke. ^[14]

Death

Robert died 12 Nov 1694 at Milton, Suffolk (now Norfolk) County, Massachusetts.^[3][15]

Research Notes

Possibly brother or relation to two other Babcocks or Badcocks in New England ca1640. It is well known that there were two brothers George and Robert Badcock who settled in Dorchester (now Milton), Mass., about the year 1650. William S. Appleton writes the following about George and Robert in his book The family of Badcock of Massachusetts, which is repeated in Stephen Babcock's book Babcock Genealogy.1671.^[3][16]

"I have no doubt that the family in Massachusetts was founded by David Badcock, who was a member of the Church of Dorchester 1640, and was probably father of George Badcock and Robert Badcock, both of Milton, and possibly father of James Babcock who was born about 1612, was of Newport, R. I., 1642, and of Westerly, R. I., 1661. The names David, George and Robert are all found among the early descendants of this James, and his grandson James Babcock of Stonington, Conn., came for a wife to Milton, the home of his presumed cousins, where he married 12 June, 1706, Sarah Vose. Margaret, wife of Henry Leland of Sherborn, seems to have been sister of George and Robert Badcock, who are first found about 1650 in that part of Dorchester, which in 1662 was incorporated as Milton.”

Robert Badcock had wife Joanna ; he was a Rater for Dorchester 1657 ; Supervisor of Highways 1660 ; he was a Selectman of Milton 1678 and 1691, and probably other years, and was Captain; in 1672 he bought land "beyond Medfield at that place commonly called Bogistow," now Sherborn, and at Natick ; he died 12 November, 1694; his widow died 4 December, 1700, aged 71.

Records included in the Milton Records ...:^[15] Milton Births: Children: BABCOCK/BADCOCK (p. 2)

• Ebenezer, son of Robert, Oct. 2, 1662.
• Hanah, dau. of Robert, Feb. 8, 1664.
• Elizabeth, dau. of Robert, Dec. 24, 1666.
• Thankful, dau. of Robert, Feb. 18, 1668.

Milton Deaths^[15]

• BABCOCK/BADCOCK , Capt. Robert, Nov. 12, 1694. (p. 204)
• BABCOCK/BADCOCK , Johanna, relick of Capt. Robert, Dec. 4, 1700. Age 71 years. (p. 205)

LNAB Discussion

All contemporary documents use Badcock, however later genealogies used Babcock, a style the Badcocks of Milton embraced after the Revolutionary War. In later years they often were used interchangeably. Discussion on this specific family is contained in the G2G section. The link is at the top of this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State Of Massachusetts, Vol 2, edited by William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams, Lewis Publishing Company, New York, 1910. George Badcock, Robert Badcock, pg. 823 and Robert Babcock, pg. 871
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918. Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation. New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. 1912. Captain Robert Babcock pg. 1215
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9} Appleton, William Sumner. (1881) The Family of Badcock of Massachusetts. Boston: D. Clapp & Son. Archive.org (Page 1-2).
4. ↑ Howe, Daniel Wait. page 2Howe Genealogies, Volume 2. Page
5. ↑ Family Search Will of George Badcocke
6. ↑ The Leland Magazine, pages 9-12
7. ↑ Images of Will, Probate letter and Inventory for Robert Badcock estate courtesy of Family Search, Film # 007703074
8. ↑ Y-DNA Babcock-Badcock Project
9. ↑ Dorchester Town Records
10. ↑ Original Milton Records father listed as "Robart Badcock" from Massachusetts, Town Clerk Town Records, 1626-2001, Norfolk, Milton
11. ↑ Children page 2, 4, 5 Appleton
12. ↑ Williams, Alicia Crane. Early New England Families, 1641-1700. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS, (Joseph Morse (m. 1638), Page 5).
13. ↑ (2010) "Edward Breck." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS, (Vol 164, Page 181).
14. ↑ Records of the First Church at Dorchester, in New England, 1636-1734
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} Milton (Mass.); Thacher, Peter. (1900) Milton Records: Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1662-1843. Boston: Alfred Mudge & Sons, Archive.org (Pages, 2, 204-5) BABCOCK (Badcock), Capt. Robart.
16. ↑ Babcock, Stephen, 1832-1916. Babcock genealogy. Eaton & Mains. New York. 1993. p. xxviii

See also:

• Jacobus, Donald Lines. An American Family, Botsford-Marble Ancestral Lines (Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, Connecticut, 1933) Page 236
• Ramsburgh, Edith Roberts. Genealogical Department, "Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine" (The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, July 1923) Vol. 57, No. 7, Whole No. 371, Page 433: 10851a. Babcock.
• Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=64241365&pid=926
• https://www.geni.com/people/Captain-Robert-Babcock/6000000001690621942
• Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts: a descriptive list, drawn from records of the colonies, towns and churches, and other contemporaneous documents (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1965-1998), 27, digitized by Google Books. [See page 27.]
• FamilyTreeMaker.com Robert Badcock (b. 1635, d. date unknown)