Person:William Eldred (1)

"William Eldredge was a resident of Yarmouth by 3 March 1645. He does not appear to be of Plymouth Colony in 1643. It is possible that William of Yarmouth, Robert of Yarmouth and Samuel of Cambridge and Stonington were all brothers, coming from England in 1635. They all appear to men of standing and substance.

It is also supected by some that the Eldredges of Massachusetts were in some way related to John Eldred of Great Saxham in Suffolk, England. John was one of the founders of Virginia and was a member of His Majesty's Council for the Virginia Company of London. The Pilgrims had received a patent from the London Company, intending to plant their colony in Virginia, even though the wind carried them far from their mark to Cape Cod. John Eldred of Great Saxham was at that time, as well as for the next 15 years, a director of the Virginia Company of London. It is quite possible that our New England Eldredges were related to him in some manner.

The name is frequently spelled Eldred in the early days, as well as Eldredge and Eldridge.

William Eldredge was appointed constable in Yarmouth and he was also surveyor of highways." Rootsweb, Pam Wood Waugh

From "Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts", editor, William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams, Vol. II:

The name Eldredge, Eldridge or Eldred, is originally Saxon. Eldred was the name of several kings in the eighth and ninth centuries. Eldred was king of Chester in 951. At the time of the Domesday survey (A. D. 1805), men of the name were living in the counties of Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Gloucester, Shropshire, York and others. John Eldred, of Great Saxham, in Suffolk, descended from an ancient family claiming Saxon origin. Tradition says that he purchased the Great Saxham estate because of his belief that his ancestors, in remote ages, as Saxon kings, had held the Saxhams as their great Saxon home. He was born in 1552 and died in 1632. He was a great traveller and his ships and merchandise went to all parts of the world of commerce. He was one of the founders of Virginia, and from 1609 to 1624 was a member of His Majesty's Council for the Virginia Company of London. There is reason to believe that the first American settlers of this surname were relatives of this John Eldred, and that William Eldredge had brothers, Robert, who settled at Yarmouth and Mono- moy, and Samuel, who settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Stonington, Connecticut. Even at the present time the spelling of the name differs, all three forms still being in use in different branches of the family.

(I) William Eldredge, immigrant ancestor, was born in England and settled in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He was appointed constable of that place and served in 1657-62-74-75-77. He was also surveyor of highways. As the records of Yarmouth were destroyed by fire, it is difficult to trace his family and descendants. The lineage given here is believed to be correct. Certainly it is in the main. He married Anne Lumpkin, who was buried November i, 1676, daughter of William and Tamesin Lumpkin, of Yarmouth. Lumpkin came over in 1637, was deputy to the general court and held many town offices. Lumpkin in his will, dated July 23, 1668, bequeathed to grandchildren Elisha and Bethia Eldred. Children, as far as known:

• 1. Anne, born in Yarmouth, December 16, 1648.
• 2. Sarah, Yarmouth, October 10, 1650.
• 3. Elisha, 1653, resided in Harwich and Eastham, where he died October 14, 1739.
• 4. Bethia.

The following are also believed to be the children of William Eldredge:

• 5. Jehosiphat, died 1732; married Elizabeth and had Edward, born in Chatham, July 17, 1702, Nathaniel, Elisha, Elnathan, Ebenezer, Barnabas and Elizabeth.
• 6. Samuel, mentioned below.
• 7. John.

1. ↑ Eldred Family, Particularly the Descendants of William of Yarmouth... (The). Eldred, O. W., Chicago, 1940
   Page 12.
2. ↑ McAllister, Ruth Brown. An Eldredge genealogy. (Denver, Colorado: Privately published, 1966)
   Page 1.
3. ↑ Eldredge, Zoeth S. Eldredge genealogy : a record of some of the descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth. (Boston: Printed for private distribution, 1896)
   Page 5.
4.   Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   2:107.

   WILLIAM, Yarmouth, m. a d. of William Lumpkin of the
   same, whose bapt. name is not seen by me, had Ann, b. a. 16 Dec. 1648; and
   Sarah, 10 Oct. 1650, beside Elisha, and Bethia; of wh. the last two are
   nam. in the will of their gr.f.L. Very often it is Eldridge.

5.   Birth - This varies from around 1620 to around 1628, however, it is more likely to have been around 1615.
   We believe he sailed from England to USA around 1635. Being born in 1620 would make him 15, being born any later makes him even younger.
   A key piece of evidence is his fathers will, which states "To my son WILLIAM ELDRED, 200 marks to be paid him at age of 24" This will was proved in 1624, when I believe he was 9 years old.