William Fletcher, the second son of Robert and Sarah, was born in England in 1622, and was eight years old when his father settled in Concord. He was one of the first settlers in Chelmsford, Mass., locating there in 1653, his tract of land embracing what is now the city of Lowell.
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His second wife, Lydia, the widow of Edward Bates, whom he married in Concord, October 7, 1645,
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survived him many years, dying October 12, 1704.
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They reared five children, namely:
Lydia, b. abt. 1647, bap. 1656,[9] who married the Rev. John Fiske;
Joshua, born March 30,1648, and died November 21, 1713. May 4, 1668, he was married to Grissies Jewell, who died January 16, 1682; and July 18, 1682, he was united to his second wife, Sarah Willey. He reared the following children: Joshua; Paul; Rachel; Timothy; John; Joseph;
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YL9Q : 10 November 2020), William Flecher, 6 Nov 1677; citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YRTL : 10 November 2020), Ensign William Fletcher, 6 Nov 1677; citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPC7-J4ZW : 19 April 2021), William Fletcher and Lydia Bates, 17 Sep 1645; citing Marriage, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011227.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-6YBH : 29 November 2018), William Fletcher and Lydia Bates, 7 Oct 1645; citing Marriage, Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007578571.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YR29 : 10 November 2020), William Fletcher in entry for Paul Fletcher, 9 Aug 1676; citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YRHD : 10 November 2020), William Fletcher in entry for William Fletcher, 22 Feb 1656; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YL36 : 10 November 2020), William Fletcher in entry for William Fletcher, 22 Feb 1656; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-6YBP : 29 November 2018), William Fletcher in entry for William Fletcher and Sarah Richardson, 6 Sep 16; citing Marriage, Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007578571.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YLQK : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Mari Fletcher, 04 Oct 1658; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YRCG : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Mary Fletcher, 04 Oct 1658; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCMB-CM1 : 3 November 2017), Willm. Fletcher in entry for Ester Fletcher, 12 Apr 1664; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YPP6 : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Ester Fletcher, 12 Apr 1664; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YYGT : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Easter Fletcher, 12 Apr 1664; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
See also:
Smith, Dean Crawford; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. "Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton" (1996) vol. 4. pp. 276 277 OpenLibraryArchive.org
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 August 2019), memorial page for Ens William Fletcher (1622–6 Nov 1677), Find A Grave: Memorial #18168439, citing Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Robin Parker (contributor 46847861) .
Shattuck, Lemuel. The History of the Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; and of the Adjoining Towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln and Carlisle, Etc. 1835. Appendix III; Notes of Early Settlers and Distinguished Men, page 370.
Pope, Charles Henry: "Pioneers of Massachusetts"; page 170 (Fletcher)
Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) Will
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I removed the Needs Inline citations category (looks like Dana Burns took care of that!), but I did add the PGM Needs Relationship Check category. The Ancestry of Eva Bell Kempton, doesn't identify his second wife as Lydia Fairbanks, and I think her LNAB is in question. Also, the first wife Rachel is named in AEBK, but it would be nice to know what original record that information comes from.
I agree that the John listed as a child on this page is doubtful. There was however a John in the family who was the step-son of William. He was the son of Lydia Fairbanks and Edward Bates, and was born Jan 9, 1642. John was 5 years old when Lydia and William married.
The two Lydia daughters on this page should be merged as well.
The two Lydia daughters on this page should be merged as well.