Person:Robert Paddock (2)

There is apparently no conclusive proof that Robert is the son of John Paddock and Jane Jennings; however, both John and Robert were blacksmiths, and Robert's children shared names with those of John's family and descendents.

Died intestate, but a document in November 1650 has widow Mary confirming that son John, age 5, is to go to the guardianship of Capt. Thomas Willet. (Curfman, Paddock Genealogy)

After Robert's death, his children were listed in the Plymouth vital records along with his surrogate son (and eventual son-in-law) William Palmer. The mystery about this William Palmer is detailed in an article in the Colonial Genealogist which notes that there were apparently two Williams born to William Palmer, Sr. - one in 1634, the other posthumously in 1638, who claimed his inheritance at age 21 on 29 Apr 1659. Since if the 1634 William were the son of William, Jr. b. 1612, he would have been born only 3 months after the marriage, that seems an unlikely solution for a Puritan community. One possibility is that the father is indeed William, Jr (or I suppose, anyone), by servant Mary Trine (who joined the Palmer household after Sarah Palmer Rowley died). In order to protect his son, William Sr. married the young Mary and arranged with his friend Robert Paddock to care for the child. William's will mentions his young wife and a coming heir. The inventory also shows a debt to goodwife Paddock "for the child". The theory is that the earlier child was officially disowned, but William was providing for his care. To add yet another wrinkle to this story, Mary Trine Palmer then married Robert Paddock.

(See “The Circumstantial Evidence Leading to a Possible Solution to the “Palmer-Paddock Puzzle”, ” The Colonial Genealogist, Vol XII, No. 1-2, The Augustan Society, 1984.)

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Curfman, Robert Joseph. The Paddock Genealogy: Descendants of Robert Paddock of Plymouth Colony, blacksmith and constable, 1646.