William Fletcher (abt. 1622 - 1677)

William Fletcher migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

William Fletcher is related to US President Franklin Pierce. Here is the trail.

William Fletcher was born in England in 1622, the second son of Robert Fletcher and Sarah (UNKNOWN) Fletcher.^[1]

Migration to America

He migrated to Massachusetts with his father in 1630. He was eight years old when his father settled in Concord, Massachusetts. He was one of the first settlers in Chelmsford, Mass., locating there in 1653, his tract of land embracing what is now the city of Lowell. ^[1]

Marriages and Children

William was married twice:

He married first to Rachel, whose maiden name is yet unknown. She was born say 1624 and died by 1645.^[2]

They had one child at Concord:^[2]

1. Joshua Fletcher, b. 10 Mar 16[44/5] (Year in record damaged, 1644? 1645?);^[3] bp. 1 Feb 1656/57 aged abt. 12 yrs., at Chelmsford with siblings;^[4] d. 21 Nov713; m(1). Grissies Jewell in 1668, m(2) Sarah Willey.

His second marriage was to, Lydia ____, the widow of Edward Bates, whom he married in Concord, October 7, 1645^[5][6][7] She survived him many years, dying October 12, 1704.^[8]

They had five children:^[2]

1. Lydia Fletcher, b. 30 Mar 1647 in Concord;^[9][10] m. Rev. John Fiske.
2. Samuel Fletcher, b. ca. 1653; bp. 1 Feb 1656/7 (age 4) in Chelmsford.^[4]
3. Paul Fletcher, b. ca. 1655; bp. 1 Feb 1656/7 (age 2) in Chelmsford; ^[11] d. 1676.^[12]
4. William Fletcher, b. 21 Feb 1656[/7] in Chelmsford;^[13][14][15] m. Sarah Richardson.
5. Mary Fletcher, b. 4 Oct 1658 in Chelmsford. ^[16][17]
6. Esther Fletcher, b. Apr. 12, 1664.^[18][19][20]

Death & Estate

William died on 6 November 1677 in Chelmsford^{[21][22][23][24]} and is said to have been buried in the Forefathers Burial Ground in Chelmsford. ^[25]. His will was probated in Chelmsford in 1677 ^[26]

William Fletcher of Chelmsford made his will on 7 September 1674, proved 18 Dec 1677, in which he named his son Joshua and "Grissel his now wife;" son-in-law [stepson] John Bates; son Samuel; daughter Mary; daughter ___; son Paull; son William; daughter Lidia; wife to be executrix.^[27]

Research questions

• Spouse Rachel ?
• Spouse Lydia Fairbanks LNAB, previously m. Edward Bates?
• Children John and Sarah are doubtful

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Fletcher, Edward H.. Fletcher Genealogy, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1847-); Vol. 22, pp.389-392
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Smith, Dean Crawford; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. "Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton" (1996) vol. 4: 276-7. (Archive.org)
3. ↑ Town of Concord, Concord, Massachusetts, Births Marriages & Deaths 1635-1850 (Concord, MA: Town of Concord, 1895), p. 6
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Essex Institute, compiler, Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1914), p. 64
5. ↑ Tolman, George. Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850 (Beacon Press, Boston, Mass., 1895); Page 6; "Concord Mariages: William ffletcher and Lidia Bats the 7th (9)mo, 1645."
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPC7-J4ZW : 19 April 2021), William Fletcher and Lydia Bates, 17 Sep 1645; citing Marriage, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011227.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-6YBH : 29 November 2018), William Fletcher and Lydia Bates, 7 Oct 1645; citing Marriage, Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007578571.
8. ↑ Chelmsford VRs, p. 391. "Fletcher,Lydya, wid., Oct. 12, 1704"
9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ6W-FSH : 5 January 2021), William Fletcher in entry for Lidia Fletcher, 1647.
10. ↑ Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1914); p. 65
11. ↑ Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1914); p. 66
12. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YR29 : 10 November 2020), William Fletcher in entry for Paul Fletcher, 9 Aug 1676; citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
13. ↑ Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1914); p. 67
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YRHD : 10 November 2020), William Fletcher in entry for William Fletcher, 22 Feb 1656; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
15. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YL36 : 10 November 2020), William Fletcher in entry for William Fletcher, 22 Feb 1656; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
16. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YLQK : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Mari Fletcher, 04 Oct 1658; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
17. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YRCG : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Mary Fletcher, 04 Oct 1658; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
18. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCMB-CM1 : 3 November 2017), Willm. Fletcher in entry for Ester Fletcher, 12 Apr 1664; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
19. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YPP6 : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Ester Fletcher, 12 Apr 1664; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
20. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YYGT : 3 November 2017), William Fletcher in entry for Easter Fletcher, 12 Apr 1664; citing Birth, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 868,435.
21. ↑ New England Historic Genealogical Society. Massachusetts, U.S., Town Death Records, 1620-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. William Flecher in the Massachusetts, U.S., Town Death Records, 1620-1850.
22. ↑ Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1914); p. 389 "Flecher."
23. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YL9Q : 10 November 2020), William Flecher, 6 Nov 1677; citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
24. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-YRTL : 10 November 2020), Ensign William Fletcher, 6 Nov 1677; citing Death, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934228.
25. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18168439/william-fletcher: accessed August 27, 2025), memorial page for Ens William Fletcher (1 Sep 1622–6 Nov 1677), Find A Grave: Memorial #18168439, citing Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Redriver (contributor 47269236). (No gravestone extant.)
26. ↑ Flint, James, comp. Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1648-1870 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
27. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) file #7950, William Fletcher, 1677, Will & Inventory.

See also:

• Crane, Ellery. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts (Lewis Pub. Co., New York & Chicago, 1907); p. 437

• Shattuck, Lemuel. The History of the Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; and of the Adjoining Towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln and Carlisle, Etc. 1835. Appendix III; Notes of Early Settlers and Distinguished Men, page 370.

• Pope, Charles Henry: "Pioneers of Massachusetts"; page 170 (Fletcher)

• Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) Will

Acknowledgements

Thanks to David McKnight , Jon Myers, Robin Craig, William Ramage, Theresa Ellenwood and all who contributed to this profile.