Family History 2.35

Bigelow History:

Post-1630

from the Bigelow Society Pages

 Samuel ² BIGELOW, fifth child and fourth son of John¹ and Mary (WARREN) BIGELOW, was born 28 October 1653 in Watertown, Massachusetts. On 03 June 1674 he married Mary FLAGG, daughter of Thomas and Mary  FLAGG. Mary was born in Watertown 14 January 1658.

 

 Howe's Bigelow genealogy gives no death date for Samuel, stating that the will was probated 21 February 1731. However Waltham town records clearly give Samuel's death as 01 February 1732, and since Samuel's son Thomas lived in Waltham from 1720 onward, we assume that Samuel and wife spent their declining years in Thomas' home. Mary, wife of Samuel, died 07 September 1720; her death is recorded in both Watertown and Waltham. Their headstones were still visible in Waltham in 1996:

These stones found in Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, MA. In Sept. 1996. The stones left to right are: Isaac (son of Thomas and Mary); Uriah 1734; Lt Thomas 1756; Samuel; Mary Flagg (his wife); Lt. Thomas again; and his wife Mary. 

  

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The inscription on Samuel's gravestone reads:

 

" Her lyes buried

y Body of Mr.

Samuel Biglo

who died Feb ry

1 , 1731.

in 81 st (year?)

 

Howe's Bigelow Family in America states that Samuel Bigelow "was an important man in Watertown", an innholder from 1702 to 1716, and represented the General Court from 1708 to 1710. Bond's History adds that he was also a carpenter, and in 1686 received from his father a .gift in-deed for 16 acres and a house.

 

Thumbing through the third volume of Watertown town records, which covers the period from 1680 to 1727, we find Samuel's name appearing frequently. Following are a few extracts, which show Samuel's role in village politics, taken verbatim, including original spellings.

 

27 September 1687

Samuel Begaloo chosen survayer.            

7 Novovember 1692 

Samuel Begalo chosen Cunstabel [tax collector].

 

21 December 1696

Samuel Bigelow appointed to the committee to hire or procure housing for the Rev. Samuel Angier, and to take effectual care of the moving of Mr. Angier and family to Watertown.

 

20 January 1697

Samuel.Begelo issued his accounts, as he was constable, by his receipts and payments before the selectmen

.

February 1697
Samuel Begelo elected selectman(town council member]. 

March 1701
Samuel Bigelow given approval to keep a publick house.
 
7 May 1708
Mr. Samuel Bigelow chosen representative for the year ensuing. [The title "Mr." implies that his rank is above that of an ordinary "goodman", perhaps a sign of respect for his new office, and was henceforth used in referring to him.]

 

15 February 1709

Mr. Sam'll Biglow on committee to carry on the work of building a schoolhouse.

    

10 May 1709

Mr. Samuel Bigelow chosen representative.

 

6 March 1710

Mr. Samuel Biglo chosen representative; his nephew Joshua jr appointed hayward.

   

5 January 1711

Samuel Biglo one of several signing an agreement that Nathaniel Green was to be a town charge [i.e.,receive welfare assistance].

 

2 March 1713

Samuel Biglow appointed tithing-man.

 

1 March 1714

Samuel Biglow chosen selectman.

 

8 April 171

Sam'l Biglo appointed to a committee to take care that Nicholas Wyeth and wife be provided with work and kept at it according to their ability.

  

18 July 1714

Town treasurer to pay Samuel Biglo nine shillings for corn provided Nicholas Wyeth and wife

 

10 August 1714

Mr. Samuel Biglo to be paid 18 shillings from town treasury.

 

15 February 1715

Mr. Samuel Biglo chosen selectman

 

9 September 1715

Mr. Samuel Biglo and Samuell Stearns to prepare answers to the petition of the Eastern congregation, which wishes to form a separate town.

 

20 March 1716

Samuell Biglo to bargain with John Cutting to entertain[i.e.,board] Wyeth & wife, and provide them house room, with four cords firewood at reasonable rate-for the ensuing year.

 

20 February 1716

Mr. Samuell Biglo's account for Joseph Cutler's.funerals coffin, 6 shillings; for drink, 8 schillings; grave-digging, 6 shillings. ordered paid by Zachariah Cutting.

 

27 November 1716

Mr. Samuell Biglo to be paid 4 shillings for timber to make over the bridge by the brook by Widow Flagg's.

 

25 December 1716

Mr. Samuell Biglow to provide a shirt for James Holland in his needy condition, at the town's expense. [Note that our Puritan forefathers did not observe Christmas, and that the town council met as usual on December 25.].

 

Our Australian Bigelow connections report that Queensland Bigelows are descended from Samuel's next younger brother, Joshua, but that NSW Bigelows are from the same (Samuel) line as ours.