William Bartram (bef. 1621 - abt. 1689)

Born before 1621 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Sarah (Johnson) Bartram — married about Jul 1653 (to about 1683) in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died about 1689 after about age 68 in Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay

Biography

William Bartram, born ca 1616-1621, was first mentioned in New England records in the 1650's. Court records give his age as "about forty" in 1661 and "about fifty" in 1666.^[1] He resided at Lynn by at least 1653^[1] and in 1660 he served as its Constable.^[2]

In 1669 William was one of the first founders of Swansea; his land grant was commensurate with a character ranking of two. (Rank one got three acres, rank two received two acres, rank three received one acre.) There must have been some perceived problem with the family because both he and Sarah were initially opposed as members of the Swansea Baptist Church. On October 1, 1669 Willm Bartram is put off...especially whether he be addicted to curseing or other like wicked or vain cariages in his passion."

Probate

The will of William Bartram of Swanzey was dated 10 April 1688 and proved on 19 November 1690 in Bristol. He mentions his wife Sarah, and his children, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Hester, Ellen, Hannah, and Susannah.^[3]

The inventory of his estate was dated September 8, 1690 at Swansea and "Sarah Bartram the relict...made an oath to the truth of the inventory."^[4]

Children

(listed in order named in his will 1688)

1. Mary (possibly step-daughter Mary Burt)
2. Elizabeth
3. Hester b 03 Apr 1688; m John Newhall
4. Rebecka twin
5. Ellen 17 Oct 1660; m William Corbett
6. Hannah
7. Susannah

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The Essex Genealogist. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB396/i/12591/178/24357887
2. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume II 1656-1662. Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1912. Pages 261,262 https://books.google.com/books?id=FpURKEStvwQC&pg=PA261&dq=%22william+bartram%22+constable+Lynn&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXx56566TqAhWbQc0KHVLKAjUQ6AEwAHoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=%22william%20bartram%22&f=false
3. ↑ " Probate records 1687-1916; index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts]," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YT-98F3 : 3 August 2023), Film# 007703530, Bristol, Massachusetts, image 22, Vol 1.
4. ↑ Bristol County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686-1880. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2724/i/48299/1766-co2/68082894