Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

BIGELOW Briefly stated the pre-American Bigelow pedigree may be noted as follows: (I) Richard de Baguley, Lord of Baguley, Chestershire, England, 1243, married Alice, daughter of Ralph de Vernon, and had a son. (II) Ralph de Baguley, who married a daughter of Hamon Massey, Baron of Dunham Massey, and had lands in Baguley and Ollerton, in the parish of Knutsford. (III) Hamon de Baguley, Lord of the Manor of Ollerton Hall, Chestershire, England, left many descendants in Ollerton. (IV) Ralph de Baguley, of Ollerton Hall, made his will, and died in 1540, leaving two sons, Randall and Nicholas. (V) Randall de Baguley of Ollerton Hall, married Eleanor ____, and died in 1556, leaving sons Philip and Robert. (VI) Robert de Baguley, of Ollerton, was buried at Knutsford Nov. 4, 1582, leaving sons Randall and John. (VII) Randall Baguley, son of Robert, of Ollerton, married Jane ____, and died at Wrentham, Suffolk in May, 1626. Their children were: Persis, Susan, William, Margaret and John. (I) John Baguley, Biglo or Bigelow, son of Randall and Jane Baguley, is accorded the honor of having been the American ancestor of the now numerous and highly respectable family of the surname of Bigelow in this country. He wa of Watertown, Colony of Massachusetts Bay, as early as 1642, and was one of the proprietors of the town. He bought a house and land there in 1649, took the oath of fideltiy in 1652, but appears not to have been admitted freeman until 1690. He was a blacksmith by trade and planeter by principal occupation, and evidently a man of some consequence in the town; was surveyor of highways in 1652 and 1660, constable in 1663, and selectman in 1665 and 1670-71. He married (first) Aug. 30, 1642, Mary, daughter of John and Margaret Warren, theirs being the first marriage recorded in Watertown. She died Oct. 19, 1691, and he married (second) Oct. 2, 1694, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Bemis, of Watertown. The marriage of John Bigelow and Mary Warren united two famous New England families. John WARREN, father of Mary, was on the list of one hundred and eighteen freemen of Watertown in 1631, and he was selected one of those charged with the duty of laying out and caring for highways, and was selectman from 1636 to 1640. The descent of the New England WARRENs, whose immigrant ancestor was John Warren, of Watertown, has been traced from William the Conqueror, in the Norman line, and in the Saxon line from A.D. 495; also back through the royal lines of France, Germany and Italy. William de Warren was a Norman knight and fought at Hastings. John BIGELOW died July 14, 1703, aged eighty-six years. Children of 1st wife, all b. in Watertown: 1. John, born March 14, 1643. 2. Jonathan, born Dec. 11, 1646. 3. Mary, born March 14, 1648. 4. Daniel, born Dec. 1, 1650. 5. Samuel, born Oct. 28, 1653. 6. Joshua, born Nov. 5, 1655. 7. Elizabeth, born June 15, 1657. 8. Sarah, born Sept. 20, 1659. 9. James, lived in Watertown. 10. Martha, born April 1, 1662. 11. Abigail, born Feb. 4, 1664. 12. Hannah, born March 4, 1666. 13. A son, Dec. 18, 1667. (II) Joshua, son of John and Mary (Warren) Bigelow, was born in Watertown Nov. 5, 1655, and lived many years in that town, although the latter part of his life was spent in Narragansett No. 2, now Westminster, Mass., where he died Feb. 1, 1745. During King Philip's war he was a soldier in Captain Ting's company, and was wounded in battle with the Indians, and in consideration of his services he received from the general court a grant of land in what was known as Narragansett No. 2, but now is the town of Westminster. When he was quite old he went there with his son Ezekiel and made a home. He married Oct. 20, 1676, Elizabeth Flagg, born March 22, 1657, died Aug. 9, 1729, daughter of Thomas and Mary Flagg. Children: 1. Joshua, born Nov. 25, 1677; married Hannah Fiske. 2. Jonathan, born March 22, 1679. 3. John, born Dec. 20, 1681. 4. Benjamin, born Jan. 20, 1683, died Oct. 27, 1709. 5. Jabez, supposed to have gone to live in Bristol, England. 6. Elizabeth, born Aug. 3, 1687; married Feb. 28, 1724, Jonathan Harrington. 7. David, born April 30, 1694. 8. Joseph, born Dec. 29, 1695. 9. Daniel, born Aug. 29, 1697. 10. Ebenezer, born Sept. 4, 1698. 11. Gershom, born Sept. 6, 1701. 12. Eleizer, born March 14, 1705. (III) Jonathan, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Flagg) Bigelow, was born in Watertown, March 22, 1679, and died after Jan. 30, 1746. He was a farmer, and lived in the town of Weston, where all of his five children are believed to have been born. He married (first) June 11, 1702, Elizabeth Bemis, died Jan. 11, 1734, and (second) Jan. 29, 1742, Mary Rice, of Sudbury. Children: 1. Jonathan, born Jan. 11, 1707. 2. Benjamin, born Dec. 8, 1709. 3. Elizabeth, born about Aug. 9, 1713. 4. Sarah, born July 26, 1719, died Nov. 22, 1739. 5. James, born May 17, 1722. (IV) James, youngest child of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Bemis) Bigelow, was born in Weston, May 17, 1722, and while little appears to be known of him he is believed to have lived for a time at least in Worcester, Mass. The baptismal name of his wife was Sarah, and they had at least two children: 1. James, born Jan. 26, 1742 (one record says Jan. 1, 1743). 2. Enoch, born Oct. 2, 1746; married Betty Clemons, and lived in Charlton. (V) James (2), son of James (1) and Sarah Bigelow, was born in "Western" (Weston), probably Jan. 26, 1742, and the tradition is that "his father was a roving man and that little was known of him or what became of him." It is said, too, that the son James was taken when a small child and brought up in a family of another name; and "from what little we learn of him he appears to have been of a roving disposition and had no regular abiding place." However, about 1758, when sixteen years old, he enlisted for service in the French and Indian war and continued in service until its close. During the revolution he enlisted, April 19, 1775, in Colonel Doolittle's regiment, and served throughout the war; and he never received either bounty or pension for his services. He married, about 1763, Mary Sawyer, born in Kittery, Maine, Oct. 29, 1740. They settled in Templeton, Mass., and lived there until 1786, then removed to Maine and settled in Bloomfield, now Skowhegan. He died there Jan. 27, 1829, aged eighty-seven years, and his wife Mary died there May 29, 1817. Children: 1. Betty, born May 1, 1764; married Solomon Steward. 2. James, born Jan. 1, 1766. 3. George, twin, born Jan. 17, 1768; married Mary Clark. 4. Mary, twin, born Jan. 17, 1768; died young. 5. Samuel, born Nov. 3, 1769; married Rebecca Steward. 6. Ephraim, born March 23, 1772; married Esther Coburn. 7. Molly, born Dec. 30, 1774, died Aug. 26, 1777. 8. Abraham, born Aug. 20, 1777; married Susan Emery. 9. Polly, born Aug. 16, 1779; married James Pratt. 10. Levi, born Jan. 22, 1782; married Sally Emery. (VI) James (3), son of James (2) and Mary (Sawyer) Bigelow, was born in Templeton, Mass., Jan. 1, 1766, and spent his early life in Skowhegan, Maine; he married Betty (Betsey) Davis. Children, b. in Skowhegan: 1. Cushman, born Dec. 15, 1797. 2. Amasa, born Sept. 22, 1799. 3. Mary, born May 5, 1801. 4. Susan, born Dec. 29, 1803. 5. James, born March 18, 1805. 6. Joann, born Sept. 21, 1808. 7. Jonathan, born Oct. 17, 1811. 8. Betsey, born Aug. 25, 1814. 9. Sarah, born Dec. 20, 1817. 10. Hannah, born April 27, 1820. 11. Louisa, born Jan. 20m 1824. (VII) Susan Bigelow, daughter of James (3) and Betsey (Davis) Bigelow, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, Dec. 29, 1803, and married June 22, 1826, Sullivan Lothrop. They lived at St. Albans, where Mr. Lothrop died Oct. 7, 1882. BIGELOW John Bigelow, the immigrant ancestor, is believed to have come from England, but variatons in spelling at the time of his emigration to New England make it difficult to trace this name, which was spelled according to the fancy of the writers. He was born in 1617, and came to America before 1642. The first mention of him is found in Watertown, Mass., where, Sept. 30, 1642, he married Mary Warren, who died Oct. 19, 1691, daughter of John and Margaret Warren. He took the oath of fidelity there in 1652, and was admitted a freeman April 18, 1690. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was allowed certgain timber by the town for the building of his forge. He was a highway surveyor in 1663; selectman 1665-70-71. His homstead consisted of six acres. He married (second) Oct. 2, 1694, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Bemis, of Watertown. He died July 14, 1703. His will was dated Jan. 4, 1703, and proved July 23, 1703. Children, all by 1st wife: 1. John, born Oct. 27, 1643; married Rebecca Olmstead; resided in Hartford, Connecticut. 2. Mary, born March 23, 1651; died before 1711; married June 3, 1674, Michael Flagg. 3. Daniel, born Dec. 1, 1650, married Abigail Pratt and resided in Framingham. 4. Samuel, born Oct. 28, 1653; married Mary Flagg. 5. Joshua, born Nov. 5, 1655; mentioned below. 6. Elizabeth, born June 15, 1657; married Lieut. John Stearns; died April 18, 1694. 7. Sary, born Sept. 29, 1659; married July 23, 1679, Isaac Learned. 8. James, married thrice; resided in Watertown. 9. Martha, born April 1, 1662; married twice. 10. Abigail, born Feb. 4, 1664; married Dec. 10, 1684, Benjamin Harrington. 11. Hannah, born March 4, 1666; died March 8, 1666. 12. A son, born and died Dec. 18, 1667. (II) Joshua Bigelow, son of John Bigelow, was born Nov. 5, 1655. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, in Captain Ting's company, and was wounded. In consideration of his services the general court gave him a grant of land in Narragansett No. 2. He lived in Watertown most of his life and his children were born there. Late in life, in his eighty-seventh year, being anxious to reside on the land he had earned at the peril of his life, he and his son Eleazer removed to the grant at Narragansett No. 2, now Westminster, making the journey June 9, 1742. He died there Feb. 1, 1745, in the ninetieth year of his age, and was the first adult who died in the new town. He married Oct. 20, 1676, Elizabeth Flagg, born March 22, 1657, died Aug. 9, 1729, daughter of Thomas and Mary Flagg. Children: 1. Joshua, born Nov. 25, 1677; married Hannah Fiske. 2. Jonathan, born March 22, 1679; mentioned below. 3. John, born Dec. 20, 1681; married Hannah ____. 4. Benjamin, born Jan. 20, 1683; was in public service, and injured by being thown from his horse; died Oct. 27, 1709. 5. Jabez, settled probably in Bristol, England. 6. Elizabeth, born Aug. 3, 1687; married Feb. 28, 1724, Jonathan Harrington. 7. David, born April 30, 1694. 8. Joseph, born Dec. 29, 1695. 9. Daniel, born Aug. 29, 1697; married Elizabeth Whitney. 10. Ebenezer, born Sept. 4, 1698; married Hannah Browne. 11. Gershom, born Sept. 6, 1701; married Rachel Gale. 12. Eleizer, born March 14, 1705; married Mary Fiske. (III) Jonathan Bigelow, son of Joshua Bigelow, was born at Watertown, March 22, 1679. He married (first) June 11, 1702, Elizabeth Bemis, and they resided in Weston, where she died Jan. 11, 1734. He married (second) Jan. 29, 1742, Mary Rice, of Sudbury. His will, dated Jan. 30, 1746, mentions wife Mary, sons Benjamin and James, and grandson John Newton Parmenter. The will of his wife Mary, dated May 8, 1777, proved March, 1780, mentions her sister, widow Hannah Stone, of Sudbury, and grandson John Newton Parmenter, to whom she left the greatest part of her property. Children, b. in Weston, all by 1st wife: 1. Jonathan, born Jan. 11, 1707; married Mary Snow. 2. Benjamin, born Dec. 8, 1709; married Mindwell Coolidge. 3. Elizabeth, born Aug. 9, 1713. 4. Sarah, born July 26, 1719; died Nov. 22, 1739. 5. James, mentioned below. (IV) James Bigelow, son of Jonathan Bigelow, was born in Weston, May 17, 1722. He resided a part of his life in Worcester, where one of his children is recorded. He married Sarah ____. Children: 1. James, born Jan. 16, 1742, in Weston. 2. Enoch, born Oct. 2, 1746; married Betty Clemons; resided in Charlton. (V) James Bigelow, son of James Bigelow, was born in Weston Jan. 1, 1743. He was brought up by a family of another name, and at the age of sixteen enlisted in the French and Indian war, serving to its close. He was in the revolution also, in Col. Doolittle's regiment, and answered the alarm April 19, 1775. He served the greater part of the war. He mararied aout 1763, Mary Sawyer, born probably in Kittery, Maine, Oct. 29, 1740. They settled in Templeton, Mass. About 1786 he removed to Kennebec valley, Maine, and settled in the new town of Bloomfield, now a part of Skowhegan, and died there Jan. 27, 1829. His wife died May 29, 1817, aged seventy-six. Children: 1. Betty, born May 1, 1764; married Solomon Steward. 2. James, born 1766; married Betsey Davis. 3. George, born Jan. 17, 1768; mentioned below. 4. Mary (twin), born Jan. 17, 1768; died young. 5. Samuel, born Nov. 3, 1769; married Rebecca Steward. 6. Ephraim, born March 23, 1772; married Esther Coburn. 7. Molly, born Dec. 30, 1774; died Aug. 26, 1777. 8. Abraham, born Aug. 20, 1777; married Susan Emery. 9. Polly, born Aug. 16, 1779; married Jan. 4, 1810, James Pratt; died July 19, 1834. 10. Levi, born Jan. 22, 1782; married Sally Emery. (VI) George Bigelow, son of James Bigelow, was born in Templeton, Jan. 17, 1768. He married Mary Clark, and resided in Bloomfield, Maine, where he died May 22, 1855. Children: 1. Hannah, born June, 1794; married William Weston. 2. Mary Sawyer, born June, 1796; married Oliver Goodrich. 3. Aholiab, born July 1, 1798; married Rebecca Bray. 4. John E., born March 19, 1800; married Cynthia Hopkins. 5. Abraham, born Aug. 12, 1802; married Lydia Knowles. 6. Joseph, born May 13, 1804; married Laura Russell. 7. George, born May 28, 1806; mentioned below. 8. Josiah, born Aug. 13, 1808; married Susan Perkins. 9. Benjamin F., born July 6, 1812; married Lavinia Herring. 10. Hiram, born April 3, 1816; married Hannah McPeters. 11. Nathan, born Sept., 1818; married Sophronia Richards; died July, 1855. (VII) George Bigelow, son of George Bigelow, was born May 28, 1806, and died in 1889. He married June 17, 1830, Martha King Boardman, born in Newmarket, N. H. Jan. 4, 1808, died Aug., 1863. He resided in Skowhegan, Maine. Children: 1. Cordelia, born March 19, 1831; married Amos Longley; died Nov., 1884. 2. Leander L., born Feb. 7, 1833; married Mary Shehan. 3. William H., born Oct. 25, 1835; married Elvira Howe. 4. Julia A., born Oct. 4, 1837; married Feb. 21, 1859, Amasa Bixby; died Feb. 24, 1862. 5. Samuel B., born Jan. 10, 1840; died July 10, 1863. 6. Martha J., born Dec. 7, 1841; married Aug. 10, 1866, Amasa Bixby. 7. George Quincy, born Nov. 14, 1843. 8. Augustus W., mentioned below. (VIII) Augustus W. Bigelow, son of George Bigelow, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, Sept. 24, 1846, and died May 20, 1896. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He learned the trade of ax-making, and followed it a number of years. For fifteen years he was a clerk in the U. S. railway mail service, on the route from Portland to Bangor, Portland to Skowhegan, and from Farmington, Maine to Rangeley, and held this position at the time of his death. He was a Republican in politics. He married May 1, 1873, Georgianna Friend, born at Aetna, Maine, March 15, 1855. Children: 1. Georgia Evelyn, born April 8, 1874; married May 9, 1895, Everett Benton Currier. 2. Anna W., born Feb. 11, 1876. 3. Frank M., born Dec. 2, 1883; died Oct. 19, 1901. 4. Vonia (?) M., born June 22, 1885, died in infancy.