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Doris R. Sheridan, Troy NY 12180
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REICE BEDORTHA and BLANCHE LEWIS, THOMAS & MERCY MARSHFIELD & SAMUEL &
MARGARET WRIGHT all of SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
1. REICE1 BEDORTHA, born say 1620; died 18 Mar 1682 in Springfield, Hampden Co.,
MA1. He married in 1646 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, BLANCHE LEWIS, born
say 1625; died aft. 1683.
On 18 Mar 1682/83 a Sunday, Reice and his family were crossing the
Connecticut River to attend or having attended church when their boat capsized. Reice,
his son John, his daughter-in-law Lydia wife of Joseph Bedortha and his infant
granddaughter Mercy, daughter of Samuel Bedortha all drowned. They may have been
going to or from the baby's christening.2
Reice Bedortha lived in that part of Springfield, MA which is now West
Springfield. On 10 Jan 1644 Reice leased land from Wm. Vaughn for a time
period of six years.3 He was taxed at the rate of 5s6d on 20 acres of land in the Year
1646.4 On 22 Jan. 1651 Reice was granted one acre of meadow land in Lot 13 and
one more in Lot 18.5 On 21 Nov. 1654 he was granted three acres of meadowland and
four acres of wood lot.6 He was granted two acres of meadow land in the seventh lot
on 30 Jan 1655.7 Six more acres of meadowland came to him by grant on 12 Feb.
1660.8
On 7 Feb. 1661 he had another grant of six acres of land on the Chicopee plain for
his house lot.9 On 19 Feb 1661 a four acre wood lot was granted to him adjoining the
west side of his house lot.10 On 6 Feb 1664 he was granted 10 acres of land joining
the ten acres he purchased of Anthony Dorchester at Chicopee Plain, west side of the
great weather.11 On 1 Feb. 1665 another grant of 30 acres was given to him.12 This
grant involved acreage beyond the block bridge. On 19 Aug. 1670 Reice was granted
five or six acres of wetland.13 On 2 May 1672 he was granted 30 more acres of land
on the west side of the great river between great pond and Samuel Terrey's land above
Chicopee.14 On 4 Mar 1667 he received land by the side of the hill near his house.15
On 1 Feb.1680 Reice exchanged 20 acres of land on the west side of former grant for
20 more acres on the east side.16
Reice served in many town offices in Springfield. He was fence viewer in
1659, 1661, 1665, 1671,1672, 1675 & 1680.17 In his office of fence viewer he and
John Bagg were fined five shillings each for being derelict in their duties.18 Bagg also
accused Reice of having a defective fence of his own.19 Reice was town constable in
1666 & 1676.20 He was overseer of highways in 1657 & 1666.21 Reice served as
surveyor of highways in 1675.22 Reice was a prizer of the stock in 1666.23 He served in
the office of hayward.24 and in the year 1680 while serving as selectman he was fined
for being absent from a town meeting.25
Reice Bedortha was a member of the First Church of Springfield and
contracted the sum of five shillings on 10 Feb. 1647 to maintain the minister.26
He had the fifth seat in the meetinghouse in 1659 and moved to the fourth seat in
1662.27 In 1670 he donated five shillings worth of wheat to the minister 28 and in 1670
he promised to contribute four shillings for the new meetinghouse.29
Reice had an account in William Pynchon's Springfield store and one of the
entries was a credit "By your Cannoe a voyadages downe ye falls at 3s per
voyadage". Another entry was "for fetching hay from Agawan" for which Reice
was paid five shillings.30
Reice Bedortha was engaged in a lawsuit with John Bagg caused by the
burning of a house he leased to Bagg. Reice also sued a man for setting up a
ferry and injuring his home lot.31
In the Year 1648 Blanche Bodortha testified in a witchcraft trial against
Hugh & Mary Parsons, her neighbors. One day when Hugh Parsons was talking with
Reice about a matter of bricks, Blanche joined in the conversation.Parsons said to
Blanche "Gammer32 you needed not have said anything. I spake not to you but I shall
remember you when you think on it." Blanche did not like being told to hold her tongue
and harbored a grudge against Pardsons A short time later while preparing for bed one
evening Blanche saw three flashes of light supposedly coming through the inside of the
waistcoat she was about to hang on a peg. She immediately thought of Hugh Parsons
threat of rememberance. A month later Mrs. B. gave birth to a child and during her
recovery she complained about sharp knife like pains in three different parts of her
body. Again she thought of Hugh's remarks. Blanche's nurse during her
convelescence was Mrs. Mercy Marshfield, mother of Samuel Marshfield who came
from Windsor, CT and was supposed to be rather a character and a known gossip. Mrs.
Marshfield and Hugh Parsons wife Mary had a falling out and some of this trouble might
have had its origins in the Bedortha household. One thing led to another and all kinds
of accusations were made against the Parsons. One of these accusations was that
Blanche Bedortha's two year old child cried out one day that it was afraid of the
Parsons dog. Since the Parsons did not own a dog, all thoughts turned to witchcraft.
The Parsons were tried on this charge and sentenced to hang. Mary Parsons died
before the sentence could be carried out and her husband's conviction was not upheld
by the General Court .33
The old adage " Hell Hath no Fury like a woman scorned" certainly applies
here. Blanche's fury was not the only cause of the Parsons predicament but it did add
fuel to the fire already burning. Hugh Parsons probably rued the day he spoke harshly
to Blanche Bedortha.
Children of REICE BEDORTHA and BLANCHE LEWIS34
2 i Son2 (---), born 14 May 1646 in Springfield, MA; died in d young.
3 ii JOHN2 BEDORTHA, born 13 May 1647 in Springfield, MA; died 30
May 1648 in Springfield, MA.
+ 4 iii JOSEPH2 BEDORTHA, born 15 Mar 1648/49 in Springfield,
Hampden Co., MA. He married (1) MARY DUMBLETON. He married
(2) LYDIA LEONARD DUMBLETON. He married (3) HANNAH
MARSHFIELD.
5 iv SAMUEL2 BEDORTHA, born 1 Dec 1651 in Springfield, MA; died 14
Sep 1728 in Springfield, MA. He married (1) on 28 Apr 1681 in
Springfield, MA, MERCY DUMBLETON, died 6 Jun 1689 in
Springfield, MA daughter of JOHN & MERCY DUMBLETON . He
married (2) on 30 Jul 1691 in Springfield, MA, MARY REMINGTON
LEONARD,widow of ABEL LEONARD died 27 Dec 1747 in
Springfield, MA.
6 v JOHN2 BEDORTHA, born 12 Jun 1654 in Springfield, MA; died 18
Mar 1682/83 in Springfield, MA.
Generation 2
4. JOSEPH2 BEDORTHA (REICE1), born 15 Mar 1648/49 in Springfield, Hampden Co.,
MA; died aft. 29 Mar 172635 He married (1) on 10 Jan 1671/72 in Springfield, MA,
MARY DUMBLETON36, died 3 Feb 1675/76 in Springfield, MA, daughter of JOHN
DUMBLETON and MERCY (---)37 He married (2) on 2 Oct 1678 in Springfield, MA,
LYDIA LEONARD DUMBLETON, died 18 Mar 1682 in Springfield, MA, daughter of
JOHN LEONARD and SARAH (---),38 He married (3) on 24 Jul 1684 in Springfield,
Hampden Co., MA39, HANNAH MARSHFIELD, born 20 Jul 1661 in Springfield,
Hampden Co., MA;40 died 10 Nov 1711 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, daughter of
SAMUEL MARSHFIELD and HESTER WRIGHT.41
Joseph probably served in the local militia during the Indian wars as the
Pynchon Account Books calls him Sergeant42 He is referred to as
Lt in parish records.43
Joseph Bedortha was granted 20 acres of land in Springfield on 20 Mar
1671/2.44 He was granted two or three acres at rear of his father's lot at Chicopee area
of Springfield.45 He gave Thomas Dewey 10 acres of land on 3 Feb. 1685/6.46 On 10
May 1698 he was granted 20 acres on Paucatucke Brooke below the pond.47 On 9 Mar
1712/13 he measured out land amounting to 20 acres which was granted to him 10
May 1712.48
Among the Joseph Bedortha deeds filed Hampden County Massachusetts
Registry of Deeds are the following:
On 21 Jan 1721 Joseph exchanged land located in Springfield with William
Scott. The land consisted of several tracts and parcels and was recorded 31
Jan. 1721 transaction witnessed by Samuel Ely, Samuel Ely Jr. & Benjamin Leonard.49
On 9 Apr 1723 for the consideration of "love and good will paternal
affection", Joseph gave land to his son John Bedortha. This land was called
part of the land formerly owned by Wm. Scott and consisted of one-half of
Joseph's whole living. John was to receive one half of the mansion house,
barn and profits of the land. The deed was acknowledged by Joseph on 29 March
1726 when it was recorded. The document was witnessed by Joseph Barker,
Nathaniel Downing and John Woodbridge50
Joseph Bedortha was very active in Springfield town affairs. He served as
hayward in 1673, 1682, 1700, 1707/8.51 He was tithingman in 1708/09, 1718/1952 He
was constable in 1678 & 1689.53 and fence viewer in 1677, 1681
1693,1700,1707/08.54 In 1678 he helped to layout boundaries between the towns of
Springfield & Southfield and Springfield and Westfield. In 1715/16 he engaged in this
task for boundry lines between Springfield and Northampton.55
Joseph Bedortha was fined for letting his cattle trespass 15 May 166956
Joseph was paid for two trips to Northampton MA on town business on 31 Dec.
1681 he was paid 00-06-00 and the same amount in Jan 1681 Mar 1671/2.57 He
received the sum of 00-04-90 for helping to raise Mr. Glover's house in Feb. 1681.58On
26 July 1695 Joseph applied for permission to build a saw mill on the stream of the
Paucatuck and six acres of land were granted to him for this purpose 19 Mar 1695/6 .59
On 24 Dec. 1698 Joseph Bedortha reported that he had found a stray horse of"about
foure years old as he guesseth of a Browneish Couler Branded with a K on his neare
Shoulder a halfe peny cut on the near ear."60
Children of JOSEPH BEDORTHA and MARY DUMBLETON61:
7 i JOHN3 BEDORTHA, born 3 Feb 1675 in Springfield, MA; died 24
Nov 1684 in Springfield, MA.
Children of JOSEPH BEDORTHA and LYDIA LEONARD DUMBLETON62
8 i MARY3 BEDORTHA, born 4 Sep 1679 in Springfield, MA; died 27
May 1684 in Springfield, MA. 63
9 ii SARAH3 BEDORTHA, born 18 Oct 1681 in Springfield, MA; died 8
May 1766 in 85th year of her age, in West Springfield, MA64. She
married on 7 Dec 1704 in Springfield, MA, SAMUEL ELY, died 23
Aug 1732 in 64th year, W.Springfield, MA.65
Children of JOSEPH BEDORTHA and HANNAH MARSHFIELD66
10 i HANNAH3 BEDORTHA, born 4 Nov 1685 in Springfield, MA. She
married on 8 May 1708 in Farmington, CT, JONATHAN SMITH.
11 ii JOSEPH3 BEDORTHA, born 12 Dec 1686 in Springfield, MA; died 9
May 1708 in Springfield, MA.
+ 12 iii MARY3 BEDORTHA, born 19 Sep 1691 in Springfield, Hampden Co.,
MA. She married BENJAMIN JR SMITH.
13 iv ESTHER3 BEDORTHA, born 23 Dec 1693 in Springfield, MA; died
13 Feb 1693/94 in Springfield, MA.
14 v DESIRE3 BEDORTHA, born 20 Jun 1696 in Springfield, MA. She
married (1) on 11 Apr 1723/24 in Springfield, MA, SAMUEL SMITH,
born 24 Aug 1689 in Westfield, MA; died 1 Jul 1724/25 in
Springfield, MA. son of BENJAMIN Sr. SMITH and RUTH LOOMIS.
15 vi JOHN3 BEDORTHA, born 15 Dec 1698 in Springfield, MA; died abt.
1731/32. He married on 27 Nov 1717 in Springfield, MA, RUTH LEE,
died 8 Sep 1758 in West Springfield, MA. John Bedortha of
Springfield died of smallpox, brought from the Dutch country where
he had been trading67
16 vii JACOB3 BEDORTHA, born 16 Mar 1701/02 in Springfield, MA; died
23 Mar 1701/02 in Springfield, MA.
17 viii MARTHA3 BEDORTHA, born 15 Jul 1703 in Springfield, MA; died 1
Apr 1748. She married (1) on 7 Aug 1729 in Springfield, MA, JOB
SMITH, born 29 Dec 1700 in Westfield, MA;died 23 Aug 1786 in
West Springfield, MA. son of BENJAMIN Sr. SMITH and RUTH
LOOMIS.
Generation 3
12. MARY3 BEDORTHA (JOSEPH2, REICE1), born 19 Sep 1691 in Springfield,
Hampden Co., MA; died 26 Feb 1715/16 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. She married
on 8 Jan 1712/13 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, BENJAMIN JR SMITH, born 14
Feb 1687; died Dec 1758 in West Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, son of BENJAMIN Sr
SMITH and RUTH LOOMIS. SEE SMITH FAMILY BY COMPILER
Children of MARY BEDORTHA and BENJAMIN JR SMITH were as follows:
18 i MARY4 SMITH, born 25 Nov 1713 in Springfield, MA.
19 ii. HANNAH4 SMITH, born 12 Feb 1715/16 in Springfield, Hampden Co.,
MA
DESCENDANTS of THOMAS MARSHFIELD and MERCY (---)
1. THOMAS1 MARSHFIELD, born say 1625, died aft. 1642 when he sold part of his
land grant at Windsor, CT and before 1649 when his wife living in Springfield, MA was
called widow. He married MERCY (---), born say 1630, died 13 Sep 1654 in
Springfield, Hampden Co., MA.68
In 1633 Thomas Marshfield was living in Exeter, Co. Devon, England where
his daughter Sarah was baptized.69 By the year 1635 he was at Dorchester, MA when
on 18 Jan. 1635/36 it was ordered that Thomas Marshfield shall have 12 acres of
planting ground on Squantum Necke which was formerly granted him for his great
Lott".70 On 1 Dec. 1640 the court ordered "that John Twogood should be sent to his
dame, the wife of Thomas Marshfield at Connecticut, by Rob't Fen, the father of the
said Twogood haveing put him a servant to Tho: Marshfield".71
Thomas removed to Windsor, Connecticut before 15 May 1637 where he was a
witness to the Plymouth Company. He had a land grant and sold part of it to
Thomas Newell 10 Aug. 1642. The balance of the land was sold to pay his debts. On
14 Oct 1642 a lawsuit was filed against Thomas by several creditors.72
At a court held on 29 & 30 May 1648 Widow Marshfield complained against
Mary, the wife of Hugh Parsons of Springfield for reporting her "to be
suspected for being a witch". John Matthews testified that Mary Parsons tould
him how she was taught to try a witch by a widdow woman that now lived in
Springfield and that she had lived in Windsor and had 3 children and that one
of them was married.73
Children of THOMAS MARSHFIELD and MERCY (---)
2 i CHILD2 MARSHFIELD
+ 3 ii SAMUEL2 MARSHFIELD, born abt. 1625. He married (1) HESTER
WRIGHT. He married (2) CATHERINE BLISS GILBERT CHAPIN.
4 iii SARAH2 MARSHFIELD, christened 25 Aug 1633 in St. Mary Arches,
Exeter, Devon, England74, died 9 Mar 1709 in Springfield, MA.75 She
married (1) on 12 Oct 1649 in Springfield, MA, THOMAS MILLER,
killed by the Indians at the burning of Springfield 5 Oct 167576 She
married (2) on 17 Jan 168477 in Springfield, MA, EDWARD FOSTER,
may have been bapt 22 June 1637 Chipping Barnet, co. Hertford,
England son of EDWARD* DIONIS FOSTER78died 22 Feb 1719/20
in Springfield, MA.79 The will of Thomas Miller, Sarah’s son makes
reference to my Uncle Marshfield80
5 iv PRISCILLA2 MARSHFIELD, died 20 Oct 1639 in Windsor, CT81.
Generation 2
3. SAMUEL2 MARSHFIELD (THOMAS1), born abt. 1625; died 8 May 1692 82in
Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. He married (1) on 18 Feb 165183 in Springfield,
Hampden Co., MA, HESTER WRIGHT, died 3 Apr 166484 in Springfield, Hampden Co.,
MA, daughter of SAMUEL WRIGHT and MARGARET (---). He married (2) on 28 Dec
1664 in Springfield, MA, CATHERINE BLISS GILBERT CHAPIN, bapt 1626 Berry
Pomeroy, co. Devon Eng., dau of SAMUEL CHAPIN & CICELY PENNY85 died 4 Feb
1712 in Springfield, MA.86
Samuel Marshfield probably lived in Windsor, CT before coming to
Springfield which was before 1648 when he was ordered to make a cartway.87
Samuel Marshfield was a land owner in Springfield receiving
many grants of land. In 1651 he was granted one acre of land.88In 1652 he was
granted six acres of planting ground.89 In 1654 he was granted 14-7-3 acres of land .90
In 1655 he was granted one acre in the 4th section .91 In 1658/59 Samuel was given
four acres of swampland. He also requested to purchase a piece of Indian lands on
the other side of the river which was granted .92 In 1659 he was granted land that lyes
between Pacowsick Brook and the last of the lots granted on this side of said land 93 In
1660 he was given some meadowland .94 In 1661 he asked the selectmen to confirm
his deed of mortgage from the Indians and this was done .95 Twenty acres of land was
granted to Marshfield in 1664.96 and 10 acres of swampland was granted to him the
following year .97
In the Year 1667 Samuel lost all of his housing and lands on "this side of
ye great River to cleare ye debts of L53 14s" This same year he was granted
land in the nearby town of Westfield, Mass.98Two years later he was granted 40 acres
of land at the high falls. 99
In 1655 Samuel was granted 10 acres of land under the hill .100
Also in the year 1665 he asked the town if his land on west side of the great
River could be carried a little higher .101 This same year he was
granted some swampland .102 In 1668, liberty to jutt their fence
toward the brow of the great hill was granted to Samuel and others. 103 In 1669 Samuel
was granted 60 more acres of land .104
Samuel Marshfield was very involved in the town affairs of Springfield
serving in a variety of town offices. He served over the years as selectman.105 On 26
Feb. 1665 he was fined six shillings for missing as selectmen's meeting .106 Marshfield
served as constable107; surveyor of highways 108; fence viewer 109, town measurer .110
He was tithingman in 1681. 111
Samuel also made his presence known on many committees regarding town
problems and activities In 1675 he served on a committee to build a new
meetinghouse.112 In 1662 he served on a committee to bind the town concerning a toll
at the mill.113 In 1665 he served on a committee for a corn mill 114 In 1668 he was on
a committee to examine town accounts .115
Samuel took time out from his busy schedule to hunt as in the years 1648 &
1680 he was paid bounty money for the killing of wolves .116
Marshfield was apparently a jack of all trades. In 1665 he was give
permission to erect a saw mill .117 He worked as a carpenter and in
this capacity he was in charge of laying out the town stocks.118 In 1679 he was paid by
the town to mend the stocks and staple.119 He was paid for making a ladder for the
meetinghouse and altering the floors there 120 The John Pynchon Store Accounts
Book reflects the purchase by Samuel of needles and credits for"taylery" work .121 This
same account book shows credits to Samuel for shearing sheep, getting stones out of
the river and bringing up sheep from Windsor as well as other tasks.122 In 1668 he
was paid by the town to brand horses.123
In 1659 Samuel was given the fourth seat in the Meetinghouse and by 1662
he had moved up to the fourth seat .124
On 5 Mar 1659/60 Samuel Marshfield was given permission to "Keepe an
ordinary or house for comon entertaine & to sell wine, liquor &c". 125On 31 Dec. 1660
the selectmen ordred that Samuel Marshfield (now keeper ye ordinary) should have
one acre of meadow land to use for his business.126
See Burt, Volumes 1 & 2 for other activities of Samuel Marshfield which are
too numerous to mention here.
Samuel Marshfield died intestate. His son Josiah Marshfield was appointed
administrator of the estate on 29 Sept. 1692, document witnessed by Obadiah Miller &
Samuel Largigg. The inventory was taken in May 1692 by Rouland Thomas, John
Barbar & John Miller (Hampden Co. Probate - file not cited) The following are the
worldly possessions of Samuel Marshfield as shown in the inventory of his estate:
2 cows, one heifer of 3 years old, 08-00-00
one yearling bull, 01-00-00
2 mares at 04-10-00
five swine 02-07-00
one bedstead, bedd and furniture at 07-00-00
one bedstead, bedd with covering at 05-10-00
one boat and what belongeth to it 03-00-00
seven sheets/sheates? at 03-10-00
five pilebears? and tabel linning all at 02-05-00
his waring clothes 06-09-00
three chests and box 01-00-00
2 brass kettles 04-03-00
one iron pott & one iron kittle, 3 skilets 01-10-00
to 8 puter platers and other puter 05-00-00
earthen ware 00-09-00
to wooding ware 02-00-00
to Bibel and other books 00-07-00
to one hachet, one gun, one cutlis 02-07-00
to andirons, frame___fiar____ & other iron things 04-13-00
to half bushel load 00-02-00
to pare of ___ ____ Rings and other iron 00-15-00
to one cubord, seven chairs 01-00-00
to one pare _____ at 00-03-00
to linning yarn 03-00-00
to one frying pan, warming pan 00-06-00
In 1704 the court ordered that Samuel Bliss, Nanthaiel Bliss, Henry
Gilbert,Josiah Marshfield, all her sons (second wife Catherine) by her three
marriages and her sons-in-law Ephraim Colton, Ebenezer Parsons each pay her 25
shillings annually for her support .127
Children of SAMUEL MARSHFIELD and HESTER WRIGHT128
6 i MERCY3 MARSHFIELD, born 1 May 1653 in Springfield, MA; died 3
May 1653 in Springfield, MA.
7 ii THOMAS3 MARSHFIELD, born 6 Aug 1654 in Springfield, MA; died
21 Jun 1673 in Springfield, MA.
8 iii SARAH3 MARSHFIELD, born 2 Feb 1656/57 in Springfield, MA; died
abt. 1711 in Hartford, CT. She married (1) WILLIAM HOLTON, died
abt. 1711 in Hartford, CT.129 SARAH died after 24 Dec. 1711 when
whe wrote her will and before 7 Jan. 1711/12 when the will was
exhibited in the Hartford Probate Court. Sarah divided her estate
among her three granddaughters: Mary Strong to get 3 parts,
Hannah Strong, 2 parts & Esther Strong, one part of real and
personal estate that is not otherwise disposed of. Mahumah Stebbin
received the 40 acre lot in Lebanon and Sarah's brother Josiah
Marshfield received her husband's cloak. Joseph Bradford, the
executor, received her husband's best hat.130
9 iv SAMUEL3 MARSHFIELD, born 25 Mar 1659 in Springfield, MA; died
1 Mar 1673/74 in Springfield, MA.
+ 10 v HANNAH3 MARSHFIELD, born 20 Jul 1661 in Springfield, Hampden
Co., MA. She married JOSEPH BEDORTHA.
11 vi ABILENE3 MARSHFIELD, born 2 Apr 1664 in Springfield, MA; died
26 Nov 1689. She married on 4 Aug 1680 in Springfield, MA,
THOMAS GILBERT, died 14 May 1698 in Springfield, MA.
Children of SAMUEL MARSHFIELD and CATHERINE BLISS GILBERT CHAPIN
12 i JOSIAH3 MARSHFIELD, born 29 Sep 1665 in Springfield, MA; died
25 Jun 1712 in Hartford, CT. He married on 22 Sep 1686 in
Springfield, MA, RACHEL GILBERT, died 13 Nov 1754 in Hartford,
CT.
13 ii ESTHER3 MARSHFIELD, born 6 Sep 1667 in Springfield, MA; died
20 Jan 1714. She married on 26 Mar 1685 in Springfield, MA,
EPHRAIM COLTON, died 14 May 1713 in Enfield, CT.
14 iii CHILD3 MARSHFIELD, born 17 Nov 1669 in Springfield, MA;
stillborn.
15 iv MARGARET3 MARSHFIELD, born 3 Dec 1670 in Springfield, MA;
died 12 Jun 1758, ae 88 in West Springfield, MA131. She married
EBENEZER PARSONS, died 12 Sep 1752 in 84th yr, in West
Springfield, MA.132
Generation 3
10. HANNAH3 MARSHFIELD (SAMUEL2, THOMAS1), born 20 Jul 1661 in Springfield,
Hampden Co., MA; died 10 Nov 1711 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. She married
on 24 Jul 1684 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, JOSEPH BEDORTHA, born 15 Mar
1648/49 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA; died aft. 29 Mar 1726, son of REICE
BEDORTHA and BLANCHE LEWIS. SEE BEDORTHA FAMILY BY COMPILER
WITHIN
Children of HANNAH MARSHFIELD and JOSEPH BEDORTHA133
16 I. HANNAH BEDORTHA, born 4 Nov. 1885 in Springfield,MA
17 ii JOSEPH4 BEDORTHA, born 12 Dec 1686 in Springfield, MA;
18 iii MARY4 BEDORTHA, born 19 Sep 1691 in Springfield, Hampden Co.,
MA
19 iv ESTHER4 BEDORTHA, born 23 Dec 1693 in Springfield, MA;
20 v DESIRE4 BEDORTHA, born 20 Jun 1696 in Springfield, MA.
21 vi JOHN4 BEDORTHA, born 15 Dec 1698 in Springfield, MA;
22 vii JACOB4 BEDORTHA, born 16 Mar 1701/02 in Springfield, MA
23 viii MARTHA4 BEDORTHA, born 15 Jul 1703 in Springfield, MA
Descendants of SAMUEL WRIGHT and MARGARET
(---)
1. SAMUEL1 WRIGHT, born say 1600, died 17 Oct 1665 in Northampton, Hampshire
Co., MA.134 He married MARGARET (---), born say 1605, died 24 July 1671
Northampton,MA.135
See NEHGS Register Oct. 1850 & July 1886 for notes on possible English
ancestry of Samyel Wright of Springfield & Northampton, MA .
In 1638 Samuel Wright Sr was granted land in Springfield.136 Samuel was granted
13-3-4 more acres of land in Lot #20 in Apr of 1646 .137 He was granted additional
acerage in Lot 18 shortly after.138 On 24 Feb.1649 he was granted 1-1/2 acres of
planting land .139 On 8 Feb. 1654 Wright was granted six acres of land "PROVIDED HE
STAY IN TOWN .140 On 30 Jan 1655 another grant of land came his way .141
On 7 Nov. 1648, among others, he made a cartway .142 On 10 Feb.
1647 he contributed five pounds toward minister's maintenance .143 He conducted
religious services in place of the minister various times in the year 1656 .144 On 24 Mar
1656 he served on a committee to obtain minister Thompson's place .145 He was one
of the owner's of toll gate in March of 1648 .146 On 6 May 1644 he paid 0-12-05 toward
payment of land purchased from the Indians .147 In 1646 he paid 11-11-06 for the
41-1/2 acres of land purchased from the Indians .148
On 29 & 30 May 1649 Samuel Wright, among others, was fined for the breach
of a town order in leaving their oxen over the great River since the first of
May last without a keeper. Each teame of oxen was liable for a fine of 5
shillings per teame. Samuel had one teame there.149
On 1 Nov. 1653 he was presented to the Court for a breach of town
orders and ordered to pay 0-02s-0.150
SamueL Wright removed to Northampton MA about 1655 where he owned Home
Lot of four acres and 54 acres of meadowland.151 He donated four acres of land to the
town on 6 Jan. 1658 .152
Samuel's will was dated 16 Sept. 1633 and was probated 27 Mar 1666
bequeathed to wife Margaret, sons James & Judah Wright and remainder to son
Samuel Wright - also to daughters Mary, Margaret, Hester & Lydia.153
Children of SAMUEL WRIGHT and MARGARET (---)154
2 i SAMUEL2 WRIGHT, died 2 Sep 1675 in Northfield, MA. He married
on 24 Nov 1658 in Springfield, MA, ELIZABETH BURT, born 1638 in
Springfield, MA. On 2 Sept. 1675 while the bulk of the people and
the garrison soldiers were at work in the fields, a large body of
Indians attacked the town of Northfield which at the time consisted of
16 families. Sgt Samuel Wright, age 45, of Northfield was one of
those killed 155
3 ii JAMES2 WRIGHT, died 1723 in Northampton, MA. He married on 18
Jan 1664 in Springfield, MA, ABIGAIL JESS.
4 iii MARY2 WRIGHT married JONATHAN TAYLOR.
5 iv MARGARET2 WRIGHT married on 8 Dec 1653 in Springfield, MA,
THOMAS BANCROFT.
+ 6 v HESTER2 WRIGHT married SAMUEL MARSHFIELD.
7 vi LYDIA2 WRIGHT, died 13 Feb 1699 in Springfield, MA. She married
(1) on 25 Oct 1654 in Springfield, MA, LAWRENCE BLISS, died
1676 in Springfield, MA. She married (2) on 31 Oct 1678 in
Springfield, MA, JOHN NORTON, died 24 Aug 1687 in Springfield,
MA. She married (3) on 27 Jan 1687/88 in Springfield, MA, JOHN
LAMB, died 28 Sep 1690 in Springfield, MA. She married (4) on 1
Mar 1691/92 in Springfield, MA, GEORGE COLTON, died 17 Dec
1699 in Springfield, MA.
8 vii JUDAH2 WRIGHT, born 10 May 1642 in Springfield, MA; died 26 Nov
1725 in Northampton, MA. He married (1) on 8 Jan 1666/67 in
Springfield, MA, MERCY BURT, born 27 Sep 1647 in Springfield,
MA; died bef. 11 Jul 1706. He married (2) on 11 Jul 1706 in
Northampton, MA, SARAH ALLEN WOODFORD BURKE, died 31
Mar 1712/13 in Northampton, MA.
9 viii HELPED2 WRIGHT, born 15 Sep 1644 in Springfield, MA; died
young.
Generation 2
6. HESTER2 WRIGHT (SAMUEL1), died 3 Apr 1664 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA.
She married on 18 Feb 1651 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, SAMUEL
MARSHFIELD, born abt. 1625; died 1692 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, son of
THOMAS MARSHFIELD and MERCY (---). SEE MARSHFIELD FAMILY BY
COMPILER WITHIN
Children of HESTER WRIGHT and SAMUEL MARSHFIELD 156
10 i. MERCY MARSHFIELD, born 1 May 1653 in Springfield, MA
11 ii THOMAS3 MARSHFIELD, born 6 Aug 1654 in Springfield, MA
12 iii SARAH3 MARSHFIELD, born 2 Feb 1656/57 in Springfield,
13 iv SAMUEL3 MARSHFIELD, born 25 Mar 1659 in Springfield, MA
14 v HANNAH3 MARSHFIELD, born 20 Jul 1661 in Springfield, Hampden
Co., MA
15 vi ABILENE3 MARSHFIELD, born 2 Apr 1664 in Springfield, MA
End Notes
1. Thomas B. Warren, Springfield Families {NEHG Transcript 1934/5} 48 hereinafter Springfield Families
2. Esther M. Swift, History of West Springfield Massachusetts {Springfield, 1969} . 23
3. Henry M. Burt, The First Century of the History of Springfield - The Official Records from 1636 to 1736 {1899 Springfield} 2 Volumes Vol.1:176 hereinafter Burt
4. Ibid, 1:91
5. Ibid, 1:121
6. Ibid 1:233
7. Ibid 1:240
8. Ibid 1:294
9. Ibid 1:293
10. Ibid 1:297
11. Ibid 1:326
12. Ibid 1:348
13. Ibid 1:387
14. Ibid 1:400
15. Ibid 2:219
16 Ibid
17. Ibid 1:56,242,275,296,337,397,319,413,434
18. Ibid 1:338
19. Ibid 1:56
20. Ibid 2:85 & 129
21. Ibid
22 Ibid
23. Ibid, 1:356
24. Ibid 2:105 & 113
25. Ibid 1:433
26. Ibid 1:192
27. Ibid 1:329, 126/7
28. Ibid 1:389
29. Ibid 2:136
30. Ibid 1:528
31. H. Maria Bodurtha, A record of the Bodurtha family 1645-1896 {Agawan, MA(s.n.) 1896} 9
32. An old woman or an old wife
33. Mason A. Green, Springfield Massachusetts 1638 - 1886. History of Town & City {1888} 101.
34. Springfield Families 48 Note: All information on Reice’s children from Springfield Families unless otherwise noted.
35. Ibid
36. Ibid
37. Ibid
38. Ibid
39. Ibid
40. Ibid
41. Ibid
42. Ibid
43. See note 31, 16
44. Burt, Vol. 1:240
45. Ibid 1:251
46. Ibid 2:269
47. Ibid 2:290
48. Ibid 2:32
49. Springfield LR Bk.D:423.
50. Ibid Bk. D:559
51. Burt 2:119,154,356,378
52. Vol.2:382,409
53. Ibid Vol.2:139,198
54. Ibid 418,440
55. Ibid 2:191,397
56. Ibid Vol. 1:381
57. Ibid 438/439
58. Ibid
59. Ibid 2:286/7,343
60. Ibid, 516
61. Springfield Families, 48
62. Springfield Families .48 Note: All information on Joseph’s children by 3 marriages from Springfield Families unless otherwise noted
63. Ibid
64. West Springfield printed VR, 228
65. Ibid
66. See note 62
67. Feb 11/1731/32 - Index of Obits in Boston Transcript Newspaper 1704-1800 - Vol.2:74
68. See Note #1, 450
69. The American Genealogist July 1988,Vol.l#3:#1:161
70. Donald Lines Jacobus and Edgar Francis Waterman, Hale House and
Related Families Mainly of the Connecticut River Valley (Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978 reprint}, 711
71. Ibid
72. The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 15 volumes {Hartford 1850-1890} Vol. 1:76,82,87-89,107,115,137
73. Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts: The Pynchon Court Record {Cambridge, MA 1961} 219,220
74. See Note 69
75. Ibid
76. Ibid
77. Ibid
78. Ibid
79. Ibid
80. Ibid
81. Ibid
82. Ibid
83. Ibid
84. Ibid
85. Ibid
86. Ibid
87. Burt,1:196
88. Ibid, 1:221
89. Ibid 1:223
90. Ibid 1:232
91. Ibid 2:241
92. Ibid 1:262
93. Ibid 1:284
94. Ibid 1:283
95. Ibid 1:291
96. Ibid 1:316
97. Ibid 1:341
98. John H. Lockwood, History of Westfield Massachusetts (printed by the author 1922} Vol. 1:59
99. Burt 2:237
100. Ibid 2:215
101. Ibid 2:217
102. Ibid 2:224
103. Ibid 2:231
104. Ibid 1:234
105: Ibid,Vol.1:27-29,127,305-307,330,334,337,339,343,357,368,371,376-77,380-382,3 92-394,404,410,412-13,418,420-1,428,431,435
106. Ibid 1:354
107. Ibid 1:251, 255
108. Ibid 1:252, 292
109. Ibid 1:235, 254
110. Ibid 1:281, 305
111. Ibid 1:441
112. Ibid 1:149
113. Ibid 1:301
114. Ibid 1:352
115. Ibid 1:367
116. Ibid 1:432, 436, 438, 439
117. Ibid 1:322
118. Ibid 1:410, 422
119. Ibid 1:427
120. Ibid 2:59
121 Ibid 1:602
122. Ibid
123. Ibid 2:101
124. Ibid 1:12/8, 329/30
125. Ibid 1:275
126. Ibid 1:279
127. Burt, 2:602
128. Springfield Families, 450 - note: information on Samuel’s children taken from Springfield Families unless otherwise noted.
129. Wm. Holton’s will is dated 16 Dec. 11 -nuncupative mentions his wife, granddaughters Mary, Hannah & Esther Strong. Administration granted to Joseph Bradford of Lebanon, CT 7 Jan. 1711/12 (Charles William Manwaring, A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records Hartford District 1700-1729 {Hartford, R.S. Peck, 1904} Vol. 2:231/2
130. Ibid,Vol.2:231
131. West Springfield printed Vr, 273
132. Ibid, 272
133. See Note #1
134. Ibid
135. Ibid
136. Burt, 1:167
137. Ibid 1:172
138. Ibid 1:173
139. Ibid 1:198
140. Ibid 1:243
141. Ibid 1:241
142. Ibid 1:196
143. Ibid 1:192
144. Ibid 1:126, 146, 248, 254
145. Ibid 1:247
146. Ibid 1:53
147. Ibid 1:175
148. Ibid 1:248
149. Colonial Justice in western Massachusetts, 1639 - 1702; the Pynchon court record, an original judge's diary of the administration of justice in the Springfield courts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony edited by Joseph Henry SMITH {1961} 270
150. Ibid 229
151. James R. Trumbull, History of Northampton Massachusetts from its
Settlement in 1654 {1898 Northampton} Vol.1:146
152. Ibid 77
153. Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts {Baltimore,
Genealogical Publishing Co. 1969 reprint}517
154. Springfield Families, 770 - note: all information on Samuel’s children taken from Springfield Families unless otherwise noted
155. George Madison Bodge, Soldiers in King Philip's War being a Critical Account of that War (Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976 reprint}, 130
156. See Note #128