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| Notes for Elizabeth BITFIELD | ||||||||||||
| 901Elizabeth Bitfield was probably born in England. | ||||||||||||
| Notes for William (Spouse 1) | ||||||||||||
| 478William Stevens, from Gousham, England, came to Newbury, Mass. in April 1638, probably on the ship "Confidence". He married Elizabeth Bitfield 19 May 1645 in Newbury and died there 19 May 1653. 1273Will of William Stevens - The will of William Stevens of Newbury was proved in the Salem court 30 : 4 : 1653. The following copy was taken from the original on file in the office of the clerk of courts at Salem, volume II, leaf 57. Witneャe by theテ preテnts that I william Steuens of Newbury in the County of Eャex in Newengland yeoman, being ナcke and weake of body but through gods mercy of perfect memory do make my laフ will and teフament firフ I bequeath my バule into the hands of my bleャed Redeemer, with aャured hope of a bleャed reブrrection, and when it ドall pleaテ the lord to take me out of this world I bequeath my body to bee buryed in the burying place of Newbury, and for my worldly Goods I bequeath my houテ and two parts of my land both vpland and meadow to my eldeフ Son when hee ドall be of the age of one and twenty yers and twenty pounds to my バn Samuell Steuens when he ドalbe of the like age of twenty one yeares, and I appoint Elizabeth my wife my Sole executrix of this my laフ will and teフament and all the reフ of my worldly goods vndiパoテd of I giue to my wife to bring vp my children in the feare of god till they ドalbe at the aforeピaid age only the third parte of my land after my wiues deceaテ given to my Son John Steuens, and in caテ either of my children ドold dye before they ドall come to the age of twenty one yeares then the twenty pounds ドall returne to my wife. In witneャe whereof I the ヂid william Steuens haue テt my hand and テale may 19th 1653 Signed and Sealed(SEAL) in the pテnce of vswillam フeuenes Anthony Somerby Rich : lowle Robertt Long Anthony morテ Benieman Swett 1274Will of William Stevens of Newbury, yeoman, proved by Robert Long, aged about 32 years (sworn 27 : 4 : 1653, by Wm. Gerrish, commissioner), and Anthony Somerby (sworn 28 : 4: 1653). Inventory of the estate of said deceased taken June 13, 1653 by Samuell Betfeild (signed Bidfield), George Little, Anthony somerby, ffrancis Plumer and Nicholas Noyes. Amount, ｣166, 14s, 6d. Real estate, ｣71; personal, ｣95, 14s, 6d. Meadow near Nich: Noyes' neck; house, barn, land, etc., land near the mill: and meadow at the little river. Sworn to by Elizabeth Stevens (signed by x mark), late wife of the deceased, and Samuel Bidfeild, on of the appraisers, 27 : 4 : 1653, before Wm. Gerrish, commissionser. William Stevens died May 19, 1653. | ||||||||||||
| Research | ||||||||||||
| 1272William Stevens, of Caversham, co. Oxford, and of Newbury, Mass., husbandman. He came to New England in 1638 in the Confidence from Southampton, being described on the passenger list as a husbandman, aged 21, his brother John, John's wife Elizabeth, and their mother Alice Stephens being fellow passengers in the same ship. He settled at Newbury, where he was a proprietor, and he was admitted freeman 18 May 1642, on the same day as his brother. In his will, dated 19 May 1653 and proved 30 June 1653, he names only his wife Elizabeth, whom he appoints as executrix, and his sons John and Samuel. | ||||||||||||
| Notes for William (Spouse 2) | ||||||||||||
| 1279The first and probably the only emigrant bearing our surname, was born at Ogburne St. George, a parish in the County of Wiltshire, England, baptised there 6 August 1620, eldest son of William and Alice (Coleman) Titcomb, of that parish1280. He died at Newbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony, New England, 24 September 1676. On 24 March 1633/4 he took the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance at Southampton, England, "to pass for New England in the Mary and John of London, Robert Sayres, master." The majority of his fellow passengers were from Wiltshire and Hampshire. Included in the group were three Puritan parsons, Mr. Thomas Parker, Mr. James Noyes and Mr. John Woodbridge. William Titcomb was one of six who were left behind "to oversee the Chattle (cattle) to pass in the Hercules," John Kiddey, master, which embarked from Southampton on 16 April 16341281. Both ships arrived at Boston, New England, in May or early June, 1634, and most of the company went to Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony1282. From there, a year later, they removed a few miles up the coast and founded the village which was to become the town of Newbury. William Titcomb's sister Millicent died at Ogburne St. George in 1659 making the following bequest in her will dated 24 February of that year: "To my brother William, living in Newbury, New England, all my goods, monyes, and chattells whatsoever upon the condition that he come over or send for it within two years.1280" He married (1), about 1638/9, Joanna, daughter of Richard Bartlett, Sr. of Newberry, Mass. (Richard Bartlett mentions his daughter, Joanna Titcomb in his will, 1647.) Joanna died 28 June 1653, the day her seventh child was born. He married (2) on 3 March 1653/4, at Newbury, Elizabeth (Bitsfield) Stevens. She was a daughter os Samuel Bitsfield and widow of William Stevens who died 19 May 1653. William Titcomb took the Freeman's Oath on 22 June 1642. At a general town meeting on 10 December 1646, the town being informed that Mr. thomas Parker was unwilling to act any longer in any matters concerning the new town and that Mr. Cutting was going to sea, "did make choyse of Nicholas Noyes and William Titcomb to be added to the rest of the new towne men for six weeks.1283" At a court held at Ipswich on 3 June 1651, "William Tittcombe sworn Constable of Newbery." At another court held there on 27 March 1655, "William Tittcum and Harchales Woodman sworn Commisionaers for Newbery.1284" On 23 May 1655, he was chosen as Newbury's Representative at the General Court1285. On 30 March 1658, Mr. Edward Woodman, Nicholas Noyes and William Titcombe of Newbury were sworn as Commisioners to end small causes. And on 25 March 1662, 25 September 1666, and on 26 march 1667, William Titcomb was a member of the Grand Jury for courts held at Ipswich. He was again Deputy or Representative for Newbury at the General Court 16571286. He was often the moderator at town meetings. Mr. Titcomb was also active in church affairs, In the long controversy between the Reverand Thomas Parker and Mr. Edward Woodman, he was one of Mr. Woodman's chief supporters. In 1670, several of the petitions to the General Court from Mr. Woodman's party were wigned by William Totcomb and Caleb Moody "in the name of the rest.1287" On one occasion William Totcomb was in trouble with the law. At a court held at Ipswich on 9 April 1657, he was presented for lying at a general town meeting at Newbury "when they voted for governor." Some twenty of his neighbors came to his defense certifying in a petition to the court, "that to their great grief, their neighbor, William Titcomb, was complained of." They testified that they had known him for years, "an observed him to be honest and christianlike in his conversations and not a liar, etc.1288" As one of the original proprietors he must have shared in all the early land grants of Newbury. On 19 September 1670, "the town granted to William Titcomb and Amos Stickney the little pine swamp to be their propriety, with skirts of the common, provided they make and maintain a sufficient fence about the hole for the safety of the cattle from time to time.1289" William Titcomb's will, dated 18 September 1676, was probated at Ipswich eight days later. He gave to his eldest daughters, Sarah and Mary, twenty shillings each as they had received their portions during his lifetime' to daughter Elizabeth Bartlett ten pounds she having received part of her portion during his lifetime; to sons Benaiah, William, Thomas and John, and to his other four daughters, Rebecca, Tirzah, Lydia and Anne, twenty pounds each to be paid within one year after his decease to as many as shall be of age, but sons under twenty-one and daughters under eighteen years of age are not to receive their portions until they are of age; to his wife the thirds of his lands and housing during her natural life, then to return to his heir; son Penual to be his heir and executor; in case his heir should die without children, all of his land and housing to be posessed and enjoyed by his son benaiah. Witnesses: Richard Bartlett, Thomas Bartlett. An inventory was taken on 26 September 1676 by Anthony Somerby, John Bartlett, Sr., Samuel Plumer, Sr., and Richard Bartlett, Sr. His clothing was valued at ｣10, his housing and lands at ｣420. There were the usual farm implements, cattle, and furniture. The inventory totalled ｣829:12:01290. 1291William Titcomb came from Newbury, Berkshire, England, in 1634. "He had taken passage," we are told by Savage, "in the Mary and John, from London, the 24th of March, of the same year, but was casually deprived of the opportunity, and came next month in the Hercules." He settled in Quascacumquen, which was incorporated the following year as the town of Newbury, -- so named in honor of the Rev. Thomas Parker, their first minister, who had preached for some time in Newbury, England, before coming to America. The name of William Titcomb is in the list of original proprietors who had grants of eighty acres or less. In 1670, the town granted to "William Titcomb and Amos Stickney the little pine swamp, to be their property, with skirts of the common, provided they make and maintain a sufficient fence about the hole for the safety of the cattle from time to time." The pine swamp is the tract of land on the south side of Oak Hill cemetery, and was, it appears, surrounded by the common. In 1646 he was chosen a selectman, and probably filled that office at other times, as his name appears in the list of selectmen of 1675-6, who were instructed by the Council to see about fortifying from Merrimac River to Charlestown River. At a general meeting of the freemen, he was chosen, with others "to be a committee for the towne to view the passages into Plum Island, and to inform the courte by way of petition concerning the righte the towne hath to the said island," etc. In 1655, he was chosen Representative to the General Court. In 1645, began a long and bitter controversy between the Rev. Thomas Parker and a part of the church, which was not finally settled till a short time before Mr. Parker's death which occurred in 1677. This was occasioned by the change which took place in the views of Mr. Parker concerning church government, he holding that the church should be governed by elders or presbyters, and not by consent and election as held by the Congregational body. We are told by Savage that the famous Cambridge platform erected by the synod in 1648, "was in great degree occasioned by the change of sentiment respecting church discipline, entertained by the ministers at Newbury, Mr. Parker and Mr. Noyes" (his colleague). Johnson, in his "Wonder Working Providence," says: "The teaching elders in this place [Newbury] have carried it very lovingly toward their people, permitting them to assist in admitting of persons into church society, and in church censures, so long as they act regularly, but in case of maladministration they assume the power wholly to themselves." Mr. Coffin, in his "History of Newbury," says: "A majority of the church demanded as a right, what Messrs. Parker and Noyes, in the language of Johnson, 'lovingly permitted' as a favor, and believing that the church in its corporate capacity had a right, and were therefore under a sacred obligation, to manage its own affairs, they contended most strenuously, and with untiring pertinacity, against their 'elders' assuming under any pretext, the power wholly to themselves." In 1669, the trouble had arisen to such a height, that an appeal to the civil authority was deemed necessary, the whole church and town being in a very "excited and unbrotherly state." The church was divided into two nearly equal parties; one being called Mr. Parker's party and the other, Mr. Woodman's, -- so called from Mr. Edward Woodman, "a man of talents, influence, firmness and decision." | ||||||||||||
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