ANCESTRAL LINES OF THE WIVES OF THE BIGELOWS
I. WARREN (Mary Warren m. John Bigelow)
According to many sources the Warrens were direct descendants of William the
Conqueror and of William de Warren who fought at the Battle of Hastings and
received 298 manors in England. (Whatever did he do with them?) He founded
the Abbey of Lewes in Surrey, and was buried there. There were so many lines
of royalty for the Warrens listed in the Bigelow book by Howe that I wrote
"Kings Galore!" in my notes.
1. John Warren, son of John and Elizabeth Scarlett Warren, was born in 1585 in
England. He and his wife, Margaret, sailed on the ARBELLA with the Win-
throp Fleet in 1630. Sir Richard Saltonstall came over on that ship.
They landed at Salem, Mass., and soon moved to Watertown, Mass. They
were among the first settlers there, John being made a Freeman in 1631.
Many prominent men were made Selectmen many years before they became
Freemen. He was appointed surveyor in 1635, and possessed 176 acres in
1642. In 1658 John Warren incurred the wrath of the church fathers by
"neglecting to attend public worship." He was fined three pounds, ten
shillings. Of course the Puritans had extremely strict rules. In some
towns the mother could be fined for kissing her child on Sunday! John
paid this fine, under protest, but asked why they had left England for
religious freedom if there were to be denied it here. He vowed that he
would never pay a fine for a similar offense. Evidently he left town in
indignation when he was assessed another fine, as the town records state:
"Old Warin is not to be found in town." He must have stayed away until
things calmed down and then returned, as his house was searched for
Quakers in 1661. (It was also an offense to harbor a Quaker.) In spite
of all this "John died in peace" in December 1667 at the age of eighty-
two.
2. Mary Warren was born in England and came to America with her parents. The
first wedding in Watertown, Mass., was that of John Bigelow and Mary
Warren on August 30, 1642. Bans were posted for three successive weeks.
The ceremony was performed by Mr. Norwell, an elder, as no parson was
authorized to marry the early Puritan couples. The bride was allowed to
select the text. Let Ella Bigelow describe the wedding: "The old trea-
sure chest from England had been unlocked by her mother weeks before, and
an outfit found for the bride, which caused pleasant gossip for many a
day. A beautiful silken gown, a string of gold beads taken right from
the neck of the proud mother, a dainty bit of lace, a pair of high-heeled
slippers, and a kerchief prettily knotted turned Mary into a living pic-
ture and a worthy mate for honest John in knee breeches, square-skirted
coat and nicely crimped shirt front, silken stockings low shoes with
silver buckles, and cue well beribboned. The house was put in apple-pie
order, the floor freshly sanded, and the table loaded with refreshments
for the guests. Some of them, living a mile or more away, rode upon
horseback, the women on pillion behind."
There is an adorable copy of a watercolor, JOHN BIGELOW AND MARY WARREN
DANCING AT THEIR WEDDING IN WATERTOWN, in Ella's book. I also saw it in
a book on Watertown by Howe. Ella says that Mary was fifty when she died,
but does not give dates.
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II. FLAGG (Mary Flagg m. Samuel Bigelow)
1. Thomas Flagg was born in 1618 in Scratly, Norfolk, England. He was a yeoman.
Thomas was indentured to Richard Carver and came over on the ROSE with
him in 1637. He settled at Watertown, Mass., and became a prominent Inn-
keeper, a lieutenant, a proprietor, and a town officer. He petitioned
in 1659 concerning the loss of his left eye by a gun. His wife, Mary, was
deposed in 1657. Thomas was in the Train Band until 1681. He died in
1698.
2. Mary Flagg, the ninth of twelve children born to Thomas and Mary Flagg, was
born Jan. 14, 1658. She married Samuel Bigelow June 3, 1764, and died
Sept. 7, 1720.
III. WARREN (Ruth Warren m. Samuel Bigelow, Jr.)
Ruth was the granddaughter of John Warren.
1. John Warren m. Margaret ---.
2. John Warren, Jr., brother of Mary Warren, was born in England in 1622.
He came to America with his parents in 1630. He lived in Watertown
and married Michal, widow of Richard Bloys. John, Jr., was a Cap-
tain and Selectman. He and Michal had seven sons and five daughters.
Their son:
3. David m. Eunice ---. The daughter of this couple:
4. Ruth m. Samuel Bigelow, Jr., grandson of John Bigelow and Mary Warren.
Ruth was born March 28, 1708, in Watertown, Mass. She was married
June 21, 1731. After her death Samuel married Mary Gleason.
IV. HATHRON (Jedidah Hathron m. Samuel Bigelow III)
This family is discussed in the next article.
V. NEWTON (Sarah Newton m. Solomon Bigelow)
There is also a separate story on this family.
VI. PRIDE (Abigail Pride m. Barna Bigelow)
Their story is also treated separately.
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