1727Walter Hatch was born about 1623 in England, and was about twelve years old when he came to New England with his father and family on the Hercules. He married in Scituate on May 6, 1650, Elizabeth Holbrook. His wife lived until 1669 or later, the date of her death not being of record. On August 5, 1674, at Marshfield, Hatch married as his second wife Mary, whose surname is illegible on the record, but who is said by his descendants to have been Mary Stable. (Note, there is no family of Stable found in New England. Possibly the name was Staple or Staples.
Walter Hatch was entered in the list of Scituate men able to bear arms in 1643. He was constable of the town in 1654 and when serving a warrant on William Randall, he was attacked by that angry individual and his wife Wlizabeth and had the warrant snatched away and his hand cut, the Randalls being haled before the court of March 6, 1654/5. He and his cousin Jeremiah Hatch were admitted freemen on June 1, 1658. Walter Hatch's home was in that part of Scituate called "The Two Miles" which later became part of Marshfield and the house that he built was still standing in 1916. He had a shipyard, in partnership with his cousin Jeremiah, on the North river. In 1652 he and his brother William had joint suits with Mr. Joseph Tilden over land which their father had sold to Tilden but not converyed, settlement being by agreement. He sued John Sylvester for trespass in cutting timber on his land in 1664 and won a verdict. In 1674/5 he complained that the committee appointed to lay out new lands at Scituate had given him less than justice, but the court decided that his claim was not well founded. In 1681 he exchanged his land at Puncateeset for that of Mr. Edward Gray at Sepecan.
Walter hatch made a will on March 3, 1681/2, but thereafter his son Antipas became mentally deranged, and his final will was signed on August 20, 1698, and proved April 2, 1701. It consists of three seperate memoranda, the first dated July 5 and the second and third July 9, 1698. To his son Samuel Hatch he left the land Samuel lived on, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of upland and ten acres of meadow in Rochester, fifty acres in Hammar's Hook, two committee lots of ten and three acres in Scituate and his share in the iron works. To his sons John Hatch and Israel Hatch, all the lands he lived upon with the corn mill and the fulling mill and all his houses, consisting of two hundred and sixty acres of upland and twenty acres of meadow on the east side of the North River in Scituate, also a committee lot of fifty acres at burnt plain, his share of the saw-mill pond and the share bought from one of the Turners, and all rights in Scituate commons. John and Israel are to pay their mother's dowry and to provide for Antipas Hatch "my son & their Brother a Comfortable Livelyhood." If Joseph Hatch be not settled upon his own before the testator's death, he is to share charge and profits with his brothers John and Israel for four years. To Joseph Hatch, the great lot and meadow at Freetown, sixteen acres at Swansea, a lot on the cove on the west side of Taunton river, all his part of the freeman's land on the west side of Taunton river and £20 in money towards building himself a house and barn. To his daughter Jane Sherman, £20 in silver money. To his daughter Bethyah foord, £20 in money and a cow. To his wife Mary, £5 a year while she bears his name, but if she marries again she is to return the articles lent to her and receive 40s. He lends her a bed and various household articles. If a son dies without issue his share is to go to his brothers or their children, but if he leaves a widow she is to have her thirds. The land bought of his cousin Thomas Hatch at Tunk, containing 3375 acres, to his four sons. To each of his sons John, israel and Joseph, one yoke of oxen and two cows, and to them his farm tools. To all of his grandchildren born before his death, 10s. apiece to buy them Bibles, the remainder to be laid outin other good books. Residue to four sons and two daughters. Executors: sons John and Israel. Witnesses: Thomas Ouldum, Joseph Lapham, Samuel Lapham.1728 |