Person:John Wadleigh (5)

Biography

John Wadleigh, planter, was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England by 1607 based on the estimated age of his son Robert.^[3] His place of birth was recorded in his daughters baptism record (see below).^[4] He arrived in Saco, Maine by 1636 and eventually removed to Wells where he died.^[5] His wife's name was Mary and she was living in 18 Apr 1664 but preceded him in death.^[6] His will was dated 7 Jul 1671 and proved "July 3:72." Inventory was taken 19 Jul 1672 (see below).^[7]

He was assessed for the "rate for the minister" on 7 Sep 1636. He was on the grand jury in 1640. Had a grant of land from Vines "in Yeapskessett river" on April 1, 1639. Bought land of from Indians on 18 Oct. 1649. He was an arbitrator between John Richards and Francis Knight, 1640. He removed to Wells by 20 Nov 1645 when Vines granted him and Edmund Littlefield 200 acres on S.W side of the Obumkegg River. He was a Wells selectman in 1647, 1648. He purchased land from Indians by deed in 1649, and in 1650 added Robert as joint purchaser. He took oath of allegiance 5 July, 1653. With wife Mary sold land 19 Dec. 1663. Son Robert joined with the father in purchase of land from Indians and in sale of same March 13, 1659 [York Deeds 1:149]. He sold land to Francis Littlefield in Wells which the Indians granted him on 18 Oct 1649. The deed was witnessed by his son Robert Deeds [York Deeds 1:128]^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

Children

1. ROBERT b. about 1628, England; m. Sarah, Esq., millwright, Exeter,
2. Martha, born probably about 1680, Bristol, Eng., m. Thomas Mills of Saco. Among her children was a daughter Mary whom John Cloyes, a daughter Sarah who married Nathaniel Cloyes, and a daughter Martha who married .James Smith of Berwick. Martha was carried to Canada, in an Indian raid, and was baptized there, the baptizmal record stating that she was born in "Saco en la Nouvelle Angleterre" 18 Jan. 1665, child of Thomas Mills, a native of Exeter in old England and "Marie Wadels" a native of Bristol, near London.
3. Joan, b. prob. about 1682, d. after 9 Oct. 1676; m. about 1664, JONATHAN Thing, b. about 1621, deposed aged 46 in 1667, d. before 29 Apr. 1674. She married second to Bartholomew Tipping.

Will

• Date 7 Jul 1671
• Proved "July 3:72"
• Inventory 19 Jul 1672 by James Gooch and James Smyth, £453.^[7]

"The last will and testament of John Wadligh Senr of Well in the County of Yorke though weak in body yett perfectt mind and memory.

First I committ my Soule into the hands of god and doe desier my body may bee desently buried by the care of my Executor and the place of my burial to bee by my wife her grave who is now deseced: I thought it requesett to sett my house in order by this my last will and testement, herby Revoking and making void all former wills.

In Primuss I doe make my aonn Robert Wadligh my sole heyre of and unto all my housses and lands in new England and middowes & from him my sd sonn Robert after his descease to descend Hereditarily unto his heyers after him forever.

Itt I bequeath and frely give unto my daughter Mary Mills a pare of oxen called Sparke and Berey which are in the hands of John Cloyce the which are and shall bee hers Even now in the tyme of my life in all Respects to make use of and dispose of as unto her shall see mete, and allso the use of all my house bould stuff whilst I live and at my death to Receve lay Clame and Injoy the same for ever.

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Mills Tow thordes of all my stocke to witt Cattell to bee Delivered unto her at or before the Expiration of Eight Mounths after my decease and in case that my daughter afore ed decease and depart this life before the Receving of this my bequeath unto her that then the afore ed tow Thords of my stock viz: Cattell shall fall into into[sic] the hands of that person or persons that unto her shall see mete to dispose of the same unto.

ltt I bequeath unto my daughter Joan Thing one sixt part of my stocke viz: Cattell to be Delivered unto her accordiing to the tyme of the disposing of the legacie a bove sd and in case of decease befor the Receveing there of It shall become the Right of whomesoever she shall seem meet.

Itt I bequeath unto my sonn Rob: Wadligh the oather sixt part of my stocke to dispose of as hee shall see cause: and that this my will and Testiment may bee in all Respects fullfiled I make my sd sonn Robert Wadligh my Executor Requesting Mr. Edward Rishworth of Yorke and Mr. Samuell Wheelwright of Wells to become supervirers of this my sade will that in all things itt bee duly and Truly performed as is before Expressed and for the Ratifycation and Conformation I here unto sett my hand and seal this seventh day of July one Thousand six hundred and seventy one

John Wadligh

• Signed in the presence of us:
• Samll: Wheelwright
• Robert Paine Jun
• Sam Austin^[7]

Will abstract: dated 7 Jul 1671, probated 3 Jul 1672, mentions "my sonn Robert Wadligh" [executor], "my daughter Mary Mills", "my daughter Joan Thing", "Requesting Mr. Edward Rishworth of Yorke and Mr. Samuell Wheelwright of Wells to become supervizers".

1. ↑ Source:Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury, p. 227 says John taxed in Saco, ME, in 1636, so born bef. 1615 to be of legal age but before 1607 to have a son born 1628. The baptism of daughter Martha Mills was in *Maine.* His wife Mary (Unknown) was baptized in Bristol, England (not the daughter), so he was married and had at least one children before emigration and at least one child after emigration.
2. ↑ his will was probated, i.e., 3 Jul 1672. Source:Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury, p. 2:227, which says "died in Wells, Maine, between 7 July and 20 Sept. 1671". The first date is the date of his will. The 2nd date of 20 Sep 1671 is the date of inventory. However, probate was 3 Jul 1672 so he died before this date.
3. ↑ Mary Lovering Holman, Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury ... 2 vols. (Concord 1938), 2:227: John taxed in Saco, ME, in 1636, so born bef. 1615 to be of legal age. However, it also says the baptism of granddaughter Martha Mills mentions that her mother Mary (Wadleigh) Mills was baptized in Bristol, England, so he was married and had children before emigration, so probably older than that. Died in Wells, Maine, between 7 Jul 1671 (will) and 3 July 1672 (proved).
4. ↑ New England Historical and Genealogical Register , Volume 1 through present (1847+) "Mills" 69:189, 28:158-160
5. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640 (Boston, Massachusetts. New England Historic and Genealogical Society. 2015) 353: Unknown; 1636; Saco, Wells [MPCR 1:1xii; Trelawny 234; GDMNH 707; Pillsbury Anc 2:227-29 (clue)]
6. ↑ Torrey 3:1575: 1625 Saco, York, Maine, United States WADLEIGH, John1 (-1671) & Mary ____; by 1629, ca 1625; Saco, ME/Wells, ME {Salisbury Fam. 605; Cram 27; Pillsbury Anc. 227; Reg. 86:229; GDMNH 707}
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Province and Court Records of Maine, 6 volumes (Portland 1928-1975; volumes 1­3 rpt. Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1991) 1:1xii
8. ↑ Trelawny Papers: The Trelawny Papers, James Phinney Baxter, ed., in Collections of the Maine Historical Society, 2nd Series, Volume 3 (Portland, Maine, 1884) 234, 237
9. ↑ Sybil Noyes, Charles Thornton Libby and Walter Goodwin Davis,Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Portland, Maine, 1928-1939; rpt. Baltimore 1972) 707 2 JOHN, planter, Saco, Wells
10. ↑ Cram, Charles M. Genealogical Outline of the Cram, Walker, and Weeks Families (Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; 1934) 27
11. ↑ Edward Elbridge Salisbury and Evelyn McCurdy Salisbury,Family Histories and Genealogy , 3 vols. in 5 (New Haven 1892) 605
12. ↑ Leonard, Clarence Ettienne, The Fulton- Hayden-Warner Ancestry in America (New York: T. A. Wright, 1923) 350