William Fletcher (abt. 1673 - abt. 1744)

Born about 1 Jan 1673 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Fletcher — married 10 Dec 1701 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died about 21 Mar 1744 at about age 71 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Fletcher [send private message]

Biography

Note: Keep in mind that there are two William Fletchers born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts in 1673. The other William Fletcher (1673-1753) was born on 23 October 1673, and married Mary Foster on 26 May 1716. This William was born on 1 January 1673, and married Mary Fletcher on 10 December 1701.

William Fletcher Births Chelmsford MA 1673

William Fletcher Marriages to Mary

Willam was born on 1 January 1673 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. He was baptized on 11 January 1673. He was the son of Samuel Fletcher (abt.1632-1697) and Margaret (Hailstone) Fletcher (abt.1632-bef.1676).^{[1][2] [3]}

William married there in Chelmsford, on 10 December 1701,^[4] his first cousin-once-removed, Mary Fletcher, born there in 1684, daughter of Lt. William Fletcher by his wife, Sarah Richardson.^[5]

A William Fletcher served at the garrison at Chelmsford, 16 March 1691-92, and in 1696, a “Sargt Will” Fletcher was named. In a list of “Wolfs killed sins May 14 1692,” we read that “Lt William flecher Junr [killed] half a wolfe.” A “Lieut.” William was named in the town meeting, 10 November 1725, as of the east precinct of the old town; he was treasurer of the parish there in 1728 and 1729. He appears as of that title by 1721 in the Chelmsford Vital Records. In the account of his elder brother, Samuel3 Fletcher, we have noted that he shared in the 1697 distribution of the father’s property and that, in 1705, Lt. William was active in the settlement of his said brother’s estate, signing the administrator’s bond, as did his surety, Lt. William3 Fletcher, his father-in-law. He was sometimes called “2d” to distinguish him from William4, born 23 October 1673.

Lt William Fletcher died at age 71 on 21 March 1744 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^[6][7] He is buried in the Forefathers Burial Ground in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.^[8]

William wrote his will on 4 July 1743, and his estate passed probate in 1744.^[9]

WILL OF WILLIAM FLETCHER

In the Name of God Amen the Fourth Day of July Anno Domini 1743: I William Fletcher of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex within his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, yeoman, being weak in body but of perfect mind & memory, thanks be given unto God, Therefore calling into mind the mortallity of my body, and knowing that is appointed for all men once to dye, Do make & ordain this my last Will & testament, that is to say, Principally, and first of all, I give and recomend my soul into the hands of God that Gave it, and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion and cost of my executor; nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God. And as touching such wordly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give demise and dispose of the Same in the following maner and form.

Imprimis I give and bequeath to Mary my dearly beloved wife the east half part of my dwelling house and the cellar under the s^d end for her use and improvement during the full term of her natural life.

Item I give and bequeath to my above s^d wife all my household goods excepting one bed and bedsted and the furniture thereto belonging, to her dispose.

Item I give and bequeath to my above s^d wife two cows and y will is that my executor shall sumer and winter the s^d cows for her during the full term of her naturall life.

Item My will is that my executor shall provide a sufficient suply of firewood and pine for my afores^d wife annually during the full term of her naturall life.

Item, My will is that my executor shall deliver to my above s^d wife the one quarter part of all the grain of every sort and kind whatsoever threshed out and cleaned fit for use annually during the full term of her naturall life. That is to say one quarter part of grain that s^d executor shall raise on the lands I shall die seized and possessed of.

Item My will is that my executor shall lett my s^d wife have the one quarter part of the cyder that shall be made on the s^d living annually during the full term of her naturall life and allso that she shall have liberty to gather as many aples as she shall stand in need of both for Sumer and Winter out of any of the orchards that I shall died possessed of during her life as aboves^d

Item My will is that my executor shall take good care of my wife in any time of sickness after my decease

Item My will is that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid by my executor as soon as may be after my decease

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Oliver ten pounds in money or publick bills of creditt agreable in vallue as bills of the old tenor now pass to be paid by my executor at the expiration of one year after my abovesaid wifes decease.

Item I give and bequeath to my wellbeloved son Thomas ten pounds agreable in vallue as bill of the old tenor now pss to be paid by my executor within one year after my said wifes decease.

Item I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Robert the one half both in quantity and quallity of a lott of river meadow lying in Chelmsford which was originally laid out for Six acres and a quarter to come into his possession at my decease

Item I give & bequeath to my abovesaid son Robert twenty pounds agreable in vallue as bills of the old tenor now pass to be paid by my executor at the end of one year after my wifes decesae.

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Mary one hundred pounds agreable in vallue as bills of the old tenor now pass to be paid by my executor at the end of one year after my decease – but if it apears by any receipt that she hath recved some in my life time in advance of her portion it shall be allowed as part of the said hundred pounds.

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Lydia one hundred pounds agreable in vallue as bills of the old tenor now pass to be paid by my executor at the expiration of one year after my decease But if it apears by any receipt that she hath recved some in my life time in advance of her portion it shall be allowed as part of the said hundred pounds

Item I give and bequeath to my grandchild Jonathan Fletcher the son of my beloved son William Fletcher ten pounds agreable to the vallue as bills of the old tenor now pass to be paid by my executor when the said Jonathan shall be twenty one years of age.

Item I give and bequeath to my grandchild Eleazer Fletcher the son of my beloved son Samuel Fletcher ten pounds agreable to the vallue as bills of the old tenor now pass to be paid by my executor when the said Eleazer shall be twenty one years of age.

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Benjamin all my lands and meadows of every sort and kind whatsoever with all the buildings thereon and fencings thereto belonging that are lying within the town of Chelmsford or elsewhere all to come into his possess immediately after my deceasae/ excepting the east end of my dwelling hous which is to come into the possessat my above said wifes decease

Item I give and bequeath to my abovesaid son Benjamin all my stock of cattle sheep horses swine etc and all my money and all my debts due by bill or bonds ow any other wayes whatsoever together with all my other personall estate of any kind or nature whatsoever, excepting what I have bequeathed to my wife as above mentioned, to come into his possession immediately after my decease.

Item My will is that my executor shall be at the charge of a decent buriall for my abovesaid wife at her decease. I likewise constitute make and ordain my well beloved son Benjamin my sole executor of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannull all and every other former testments wills legeacies and bequests and executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to by my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001"
   Citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934227.
   FamilySearch (accessed 6 February 2022)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00066
   Willam Fletcher birth 1 Jan 1673 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.
2. ↑ Birth: Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, The Essex Institute, Salem, MA 1914, p. 62 http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Chelmsford/Images/Chelmsford_B062.shtml
3. ↑ Robert Fletcher: Fletcher, Edward Hatch, 1823-. Fletcher Family History: The Descendants of Robert Fletcher of Concord, Mass. Boston: Printed for the author, by Rand, Avery, & Co., 1881. Page 31 https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.31822035062959?urlappend=%3Bseq=45%3Bownerid=9007199276731911-59
4. ↑ Marriage: http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Chelmsford/Images/Chelmsford_M230.shtml
5. ↑ Marriage: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001"
   Citing Marriage, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011167.
   FamilySearch (accessed 6 February 2022)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00026
   William Fletcher marriage to Mary Fletcher on 10 Dec 1701 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.
6. ↑ Death: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001"
   Citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934227.
   FamilySearch (accessed 6 February 2022)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00104
   Lt William Fletcher death 21 Mar 1744 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.
7. ↑ Death: http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Chelmsford/Images/Chelmsford_D392.shtml
8. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18168441/william-fletcher : accessed 06 February 2022), memorial page for Lieut. William Fletcher (1 Jan 1673–18 Mar 1744), Find A Grave: Memorial #18168441, citing Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by 47117651 (contributor 47117651).
9. ↑ Probate: "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991"
   Probate Records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts); Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Middlesex County); Probate Place: Middlesex, Massachusetts
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9069 #2523178 (accessed 6 February 2022)
   William Fletcher probate in 1744. Case 7955

• History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Courier-Citizen Co., Lowell, Mass., 1917); p.730. https://archive.org/details/historyofchelmsf00inwate/page/730/mode/2up