Jotham Bigelow

1519. Jotham 4, son of John 3 (Samuel 2, John 1) BIGELOW and Jerusha (GARFIELD) BIGELOW, was born in Marlborough, Middlesex co, MA on 01 September 1717. At unknown date he married Persis TEMPLE, daughter of Isaac and Martha (JOSLIN) TEMPLE. She was born 29 December 1718 Marlborough. With his brother John they early moved to that part of Worcester which in 1740 was set off as Holden; he was one of those signing the petition for the new town. With his brother John he was admitted to the church by transfer from Worcester, at the time of the formation of a church in Holden on 22 December 1742. At the first town meeting he was chosen Clerk of the Market.

    There are several missing dates in this family, particularly marriage dates, as early Guilford, VT records are sketchy. Also, a discrepancy appears, in that Jotham's will mentions daughter "Mary", yet apparently the surviving daughter is "Martha" -- the two names frequently interchanged during this period--OR there was an 11th child whose birth was not recorded. Holden town records refer to Jotham's 2nd wife as "Mrs." Mary RICHARDSON. Also, records show that on 11 January 1749 a Persis BIGELOW died; it is not clear who this is; this is presumably Jotham's first wife.

    After Jotham's wife Persis died, he married (2) 23 May 1750 Mary RICHARDSON of Sterling, MA. She was born 14 August 1727 at Woborn, MA, daughter of Capt. William and Mary (WILDER) RICHARDSON of Woborn and Lancaster. Soon after 1761 the entire family moved to Guilford, Windham co, VT, where again he was one of the first settlers of the town. His wife Mary's death is not recorded, but on 20 Jan 1778 in Deerfield, MA he married (3) Hannah KING, who outlived him. Jotham made his will 05 April 1786, and died 08 April 1786. The will mentions wife Hannah, sons Jotham, William, Joel, and Josiah, and daughters Lucretia, wife of Dean CHASE; Persis, wife of William PACKER (or PARKER), and daughter Mary.

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