Jane Chandler

Jane (last name unknown) was born around 1647 and was married to George Chandler around 1667.

Between 1668 - 1684 they had 8 children, all but the youngest baptized in the parish church of Pewsey, Wiltshire, England.

Around 1685, George and his brother John bought land in the colony of Pennsylvania. They set sail with Jane and the 7 younger children (no record of John, the eldest, accompanying them) in 1687. George died of smallpox during the voyage and was buried at sea in December, 1687.

Jane and her children spent their first winter in Pennsylvnia living in a cave in the banks of the Delaware River. Many new arrivals lived in these dugout caves. The Indians gave or sold them food, and were helpful and hospitable.

In the summer of 1688 Jane married William Hawkes. There are several legal documents relating to her property (owned jointly with her brother-in-law John Chandler), and her children, which fix the time of her re-marriage as being in July or August of that year. They lived in Chichester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. William Hawkes died in November, 1694, leaving his estate to Jane and her children.

Within a year, Jane married James Bayliss. They lived in Chester Township at first, and later in Moyamensing Township, Philadelphia County, which is now part of the city of Philadelphia. James Bayliss died there around the end of 1716. He died intestate, but on January 3, 1717 the court granted his widow, Jane, administration of his estate. This is the last mention of Jane.