USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of the town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire : from the time of the first settlement within its borders, 1640 until 1900 > Part 14
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March 28. Theodore Lovering of Kensington and Betty Brown. April 12, Joseph Blake and Nancy Nason.
146
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
1803. December 12, Dearborn Blake of Kensington and Betsey Melcher.
1804, November 15, Jonathan Cram, 3d, and Sally Dodge.
1808, November 21, Dearborn Lane and Hannah Merrill.
1764, March 22, David Perkins and AAbigail Griffin.
1793, January 1, John Sanborn and Elisebeth Batchelder. 1794, June S, Jesse Prescott and Abigail Towle. January 14, Nathan Robie and Lydia Steward.
1785, November 22, Jonathan Cram and Rhoda Tilton.
1787. October 4. Simeon Prescott and Ruth Wadleigh.
1798, March 1, Levi Lane and Anna Batehelder.
1802, February 11, Rev. Jacob Abbot and Catherine Thayer.
1799, February 19, Zephaniah Brown and Elisebeth Lane.
1800, March 1, Ebeneazer Tilton and Sarah Tuck.
1805, September 3, Benjamin Sinclair and Polly Cram.
1803, April ?, James Prescott, 3d. and Margaret Babb.
1806, September 11. Jonathan Tilton and Mary Dodge. May 1. Joseph Tilton and Nancy Healey.
December 19, Horatio Gates Prescott of Gilmanton and Lear Prescott Wadleigh.
1807, February 4, Benjamin Hale of Newburyport and Sally Wells. February 5, Reuben Batehelder and Betsy Tilton.
September 3, Rhodolphus Dearborn of North Hampton and Betsy Tilton.
September 9, John Porter and Hannah Weare.
September 29, Caleb Knight and Betsey Tilton.
1808, January 6. Nathaniel Tappan of East Kingston and Martha Cram.
June 28, Stephen Dodge and Mary Diman of Stratham.
September 23, Levi Healey and Eunice Goodwin.
October 14, David George of Kensington and Eunice Lock, both of K.
1810, March 27, John Bickford of Epsom and Elisebeth Lane. October 8, Joseph Plumer of Milton and Sally Brown.
October S, Isaiah Berry of Pittsfield and Nancy Brown.
1813, November 4, William Otis and Hannah Bowles.
1818, November 23, Luke Averill and Mrs. Betsey Marshall.
1810, January 24, Benjamin Brown and Naney Wiggin.
1800, February 19, David Tilton and Mary Merrill.
1814, April 29, George Vickery and Sally Henderson, both of Exeter. July 10, Ephrium Eaton and Sarah Tilton, both of Seabrook.
September 1, Jonathan Fairfield of Waterville, Me., and Caroline Rogers, Exeter.
December 28, Paul True of Pittsfield and Nancy Cram of H. F. December 28. Joseph Sanborn and Betsey Cram.
December 29, Ilis Excellency John Taylor Gilman and Mrs. Char- lotte Hamilton, both of Exeter.
1809, January 1, Moses Batchelder and Abigail Drake of Hampton.
147
RECORD OF MARRIAGES.
1816, February 21, Joseph Prescott Chandler of Monmouth, Me., and Hannah Cram.
April 16, Thomas Marston. Jr., of North Hampton, and Mary Leavitt, Hampton.
April 16, John Moulton and Nancy Shannon, both of Hampton.
September 16, Joseph Philbrick and Betsey Palmer, both of Hampton.
October 21, Alaxander Hill Everett of Boston and Lucretia Orne Peabody, Exeter.
1817. January 22. John Nudd and Mary Worthen, both of Kensington. May 14, Jewett Sanborn, Jr., of Kensington, and Betsey Melcher. June 22. Samuel Perkins of Seabrook and Mary M. Stockman, Salisbury.
June 26. Aaron Merrill and Cynthia Sanborn.
July 17, Capt. Myrick Piper of Stratham and Abigail Johnson, Hampton.
October 9, Levi Tilton, East Kingston, and Betsey Wadleigh, Kensington.
October 9. John Gilman, Jr., of Exeter and Lavina Lock, Ken- sington.
October 16. Benjamin Moulton. Jr., Kensington, and Mehitable Brown.
December 28. Theophilus M. Hilliard and Catherine Moulton, both of Kensington.
1818, January 13, John Flanders of Salisbury, Mass., and Ruth Dow. January 18. Abraham Rowe and Mary Ann Wadleigh.
February 9, Arno Bitteirs of Roxbury, Mass., and Parmelia Melcher.
March 18. Thomas Leavitt and Polly Marston.
August 9, Richard Fisk, Jr., of Framingham, Mass., and Betsey Lowell. Kensington.
September 10, Josiah Rollins and Dorcas P. Flanders of Exeter. September 17, John Weare and Sarah W. French, both of Ken- sington.
October 15, Richard Dodge and Clarisa Lock.
November 26, John Hersty of Berwick, Me., and Elisebeth Dow.
December 31, Benjamin Webster of East Kingston and Sally Prescott.
December 31, Luther D. Barter of Salem, Mass., and Mary Tuck of Kensington.
1801, March 3, Jonathan Hardy and Susanna Tilton.
1819, January 5, Lt. Joseph Akerman and Mrs. Harriet Simmerton.
April 4. Thomas True Merrill of South Hampton and Olivia Merrill.
June 24, Oliver James and Meriam Sias.
November 11, Nathaniel Robinson of Concord and Deborah Gil- more of Exeter.
. December 27, Moses Leavitt of Chichester and Sarah Blake.
148
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
1820, February 28, Peter Tilton and Sarah Gilbert.
March 2, Richard B. Prescott and Mary Pervear, both of Kingston. May 16, Enoch Greenlief and Betsy J. Davis, both of Seabrook.
June 8, Samuel Fellows and Betsey Sanborn, both of Kensington. September 19, James Dearborn and Jemima Nudd, both of Ken- sington.
December 21, Jonathan Nason and Mary Gordon.
1810, March 7, Benjamin Tilton and Sarah Marston.
1821, February 26, Sewell Wadleigh and Susan Sanborn, both of Ken- sington.
June 16, Lt. William Judkins and Annie Smith, both of Kingston. June 17, Joshua Eaton, 3d, and Dorcas Eaton, both of Seabrook.
November 12, Isaac L. Fairbanks of Winthrop, Me., and Rhoda Cram.
December 2, William Palmer and Dolly Lock, both of Ken- sington.
1822, January 24, Jonathan M. Lock and Mary Elkins, both of Hampton. January 30, Robert Smith Prescott and Almira Melcher.
March 20, Joseph Cram and Sally Sanborn.
June 4, Joseph Moulton and Jemima Dearborn, both of Ken- sington.
June 4, Abraham Smith and Mary Chase, both of Seabrook.
November 19, George Falls and Sarah Brown, both of Seabrook.
December 22, Ebeneazer Pearson of Newburyport and Lydia Weare, Kensington.
1817, February 27, Thomas Brown and Elisebeth Drake.
1823, January 13, Samuel Batchelder of Pittsfield and Mary Ann Lane. January 30, Nathaniel Cotton and Sally Blake, both of Hampton. February 13, Newell Brown and Abigail Leavitt, both of Seabrook.
April 3, William Henry Hartwell and Abigail Rogers, both of Exeter.
July 28, John Gale and Harriet Boynton, both South Hampton. 1824, January 1, Samuel Towle and Fanny Jenness.
January 1, Joseph Akerman and Ruth Williams.
January 1, Jonathan Smith of South Hampton and Betsy Weare, Seabrook.
January 24, John P. Sanborn and Sally Cram.
April 20, Caleb Tilton Sanborn and Polly Melcher.
June 9, Rev. Thomas Tracy of Biddeford, Me., and Ann Bromfield of Newburyport.
June 17, Moses Shaw and Martha Hoag, both of Kensington.
July 1, Giles Eaton and Waty Collins.
October 25, Edward I. Sanborn and Charlotte Gove, both of Kensington.
September 14. Joseph Batchelder and Sarah Philbrick, both of Ryc.
1821, February 1. Henry Roby and Dilla Drake.
149
RECORD OF MARRIAGES.
1825, February 16, Moses Thompson of Deerfield and Olive Fellows of Kensington.
March 15. Daniel Caldwell of Augusta, Me., and Abigail Batch- elder.
March 29, Daniel Lovering of North Hampton and Rhoda Tilton of II. F.
April 3. Jacob Green and Nancy George, both of Seabrook.
May 26, Tappan Chase of HI. F. and Abigail Chase of Seabrook. July 28. Henry Brown and Hannah G. Chase, both of Seabrook. September 25, Reuben Smith and Merrium Morrill, both of Sea- brook.
November 24. Joseph Brown of Kensington and Mary Ann Weare of Seabrook.
November 29. Daniel Lord of South Berwick. Me., and Sally Goss. December 7. Benjamin Rowe and Lydia Chase, both of Seabrook. 1826, January 4, Caleb Searle of Rowley, Mass .. and Annie C. Sanborn of Kingston.
February 20, Joshua Janvrin and Mary Dodge.
August 29, Samuel D. Bell of Chester and Mary Healey of Ken- sington.
1818, Aaron Sanborn and Lydia Leavitt.
1795, Thomas Leavitt and Hannah Melcher.
MARRIAGES BY REV. MOSES DOW.
1830, September 23, Daniel L. Gove and Eunice H. Hull, both of Sea- brook.
1831, January 1, Richard C. Marsh and Mary M. Pike.
January 20, William Lane of Newbury, Mass., and Lucretia Pres- cott.
June 14, Nehemiah Brown and Rebecca Page, both of Kensington. July 4, John Collins, Jr., and Jemima M. Sanborn, both of Ken- sington.
October 10, Josiah P. Moody of Lowell. Mass., and Hannah Dow. November 24. Col. Barnard Jewell of South Hampton and Maria French. Kensington.
November 24. Retire H. Parker of Bradford. Mass., and Hannah Chase, H. F.
1832, April 23, David Marston and Sarah Ann Dearborn. both Hampton. April 24, George Garland and Eliza M. Marston, both of Hampton. May 3. David Chase. Jr., and Sally Janvrin, both of Seabrook.
May 22, George E. Sillsbee of Bradford, Mass., and Hannah P. Wells.
July. Thomas Capen of Stoughton. Mass .. and Hannah Melcher. October 4, David Flemming of Stratham and Eunice Williams. October 4, Enoch Chase and Betsy Fogg. both of Seabrook.
1833, February 10. Israel Tibbetts of Salisbury. Mass .. and Eliza James. Kensington.
150
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
MARRIAGES FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
1835, January 18, John Philbrick and Adaline Lock. both of Seabrook. Angust 25, Benjamin Hoit Tilton and Adaline Sanborn, both East Kingston.
April 13. Benjamin Taylor and Mary Leavitt.
April 13. Walter P. Dow of Seabrook and Belinda Smith, H. F.
October 12, John Chase. Jr., and Harriet N. Eaton, both of Sea- brook.
November 1. Francis Holmes of Boston, Mass., and Nancy Brown of Seabrook.
1835, November 25. Oliver Ayer and Caroline P. Garland of New York. 1834, May 8. John B. Brown and Sarah M. Leavitt.
1838, January 1, Oliver Hobbs and Elisebeth A. Blake.
1827, JJanuary 18, Samuel Brown and Sarah Lane of Pittsfield.
1833, March 19. Josiah Brown and Elisebeth Batchelder.
1838. April 29. Jacob Perkins of Reading, Mass .. and Eunice L. Cram.
August 29. Elezar Johnson of Salisbury and Mary A. French, Kensington.
December 27, Caleb Woodbury of Newbury, Mass., and Eunice T. Prescott.
1835, January 15. True M. Prescott and Sarah Ann Pike.
1839, Henry L. Dwight and Sarah 1. Dow. both of Seabrook.
July 15, Stacy L. Nudd of Hampton and Mary 1. Dow of Sea- brook.
July 25. Elbridge G. Lane of Exeter and Elisebeth M. Moses.
August 11, Daniel Eastman and Matilda Dow, both of Seabrook. June 3, Daniel Gove and Almira Brown.
September 22. John C. Gove and Ann Smith.
1840, January 13, Oliver Eaton and Merium H. Dow, both of Seabrook. January 30. Weare D. Tilton and Lucy Dow of Kensington.
October 3, Rev. Isaac Woodbury of Haverhill, Mass., and Lucy Arnold of H. F.
October 3. George Turner of Amesbury and Sarah Lane.
1842, October 20. Richard C. Marsh and Hannah Pray.
November 10. Samuel P. Moulton and Betsey J. Brown of Epping. 1844, March 4, Richard C. Laurence of Philadelphia and Lucy J. Mas- ters, II. F.
January 17, Nathaniel Chase of Lynn and Elizebeth Chase, H. F. January 25, Samuel Peryear and AAngeline Gove.
1843, May 7. Jeremiah Wadleigh and Elisebeth Blake. both of Ken- sington.
May 8, Jonathan Rowe and Ruth Wadleigh, both of Kensington. 1847, April 15, Jeremiah Lane and Adeline Baker.
1843, November 10, Samuel P. Tuck and Jane M. Knight.
December 10, George M. Pendergast of Charleston, Mass, and Sarah N. Dearbon, Kensington.
1845, November 5, Sylvester Abbott, Andover, Mass., and Rhoda Batch- elder.
October 15, Emery Stevens of Effingham and Eliza Ann Prescott.
!
ALICE BROWN. AUTHOR OF
Stratford-by-the Sea. [Henry Holt & Co. 1854.
Fools of Nature. Tieknor & Co.| 1857.
Three Heroines of New England Romance. With Harriet Prescott Spofford and Lonise Imogen Guiney. Little, Brown i. ('o.] 1895.
Meadow-Grass. [Copeland & Day. ] 1895.
Robert Louis Stevenson : A Study. With Louise Imogen Guiney. Copeland & Day. ] 1895.
The Rose of Hope. Copeland & Day. 1896.
The Road to Castaly. [Copeland & Day. 1896.
Life of Mercy Warren. [ Chas. Scribner's Sons. | 1896.
By Oak and Thorn. [ Houghton & Mittin. ] 1896.
The Day of His Youth. [ Houghton & Mif- flin. ] 1897.
Tiverton Tales. 1899.
See page 545.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.
1571
MR. BACHILER was born in England in 1951 and received orders in the Established Church. In the early part of his life he enjoyed a good reputation, but being displeased with some of the ceremonies of the church and refusing to continue his conformity, he was de- prived of his permission to perform her services. On leaving Eng- land, Mr. Bachiler went with his family to Holland. where he re- sided several years. He then returned to London, from which place he sailed on the 9th of March, 1632, in the William & Francis, Mr. Thomas, master, with sixty passengers, including Mr. Bachiler and his family. They arrived at Boston on the 5th of June, after a tedious passage of eighty-eight days. He was ?1 years of age when he arrived in this country, and removed with his family to Lynn, where his daughter, Theodate Hussey, wife of Christopher Hussey, resided. In his company were six persons who had be- longed to a church with him in England, and of those he constituted a church at Lynn, to which he admitted such as were desirous of becoming members. and immediately commenced the exercise of the ministerial duties without installation. One of his first minis- trations was to baptize four children, born before his arrival, two of whom, Thomas Newhall and Stephen Hussey, were born the same week. Thomas, being the older, was first presented. Mr. Bachiler put him aside, saying "I will baptize my own child first." Mr. Bachiler had been in the performance of his pastoral duties about four months when a complaint was made of some irregularities in his conduct. He was arraigned before the court in Boston, on the 3d of October, when the following order was passed:
Mr Baehiler is required to forbear exereising his gifts as a pastor, or teacher publiquely in our patent unless it be to those he brought with him, for his contempt of authority, and till some scandals be removed.
151
152
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
In the course of a few months Mr. Bachiler so far succeeded in regaining the esteem of the people that the injunction that he should not preach in the colony was, on the 4th of March, removed, which left him at liberty to resume the performance of his public services.
The dissension, which had commenced in Mr Bachiler's church at an early period, began again to assume a formidable appearance. Some of the members disliked the conduct of the pastor, and. withal, making question whether there were a church or not, withdrew from the communion. In consequence of this a council of min- isters was held on the 15th of March. Being unable to produce a reconciliation, they appointed another meeting and went to attend a lecture in Boston. Mr. Bachiler then requested the disaffected members to present their grievances in writing, but as they refused he resolved to excommunicate them, and wrote to the ministers at Boston, who immediately returned to Lynn. After a deliberation of three days, they decided that although the church had not been properly instituted, yet the mutual exercise of their religious duties had supplied the defect.
The difficulties in Mr. Bachiler's church did not cease with the decision of the council, but continued to increase till Mr Bachiler, perceiving no prospect of their termination, requested a dismission for himself and first members, which was granted.
Winthrop's history says he was convened before the magistrates. "The cause was for that coming out of England with a small body of six or seven persons, and having since received as many more at Saugus (Lynn) and contention growing between him and the great- est part of his church who had at first received him for their pastor, he desired dismission for himself and his first members. which, being granted, upon supposition that he would leave town (as he had given out), he, with the six or seven persons, presently renewed their old covenant, intending to raise another church in Saugus, whereat the most and chief of the town being offended for that it would cross their intentions of calling Mr. Peters or some other minister, they complained to the magistrates, who, foreseeing the distraction which was like to come by this course. had forbidden him to proceed in any such church way until the cause were considered by the other ministers, etc. But he refused to desist, whereupon they sent for him and, upon his delay day after day, the marshal was sent to fetch him. Upon his appearance and submission and prom- ise to move out of town within three months, he was discharged."
153
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
He was admitted a freeman on the 6th of May. 1635, and re- moved from Lynn in February, 1636. He went to Ipswich, where he received a grant of fifty acres of land and had the prospect of a settlement but, some difficulties having arisen, he left the place. In the very cold winter of 1637, he went on foot, with some of his friends, to Matakees, now Yarmouth (he then being ?6 years of age), a distance of about one hundred miles. There he intended to plant a town and establish a church, but, finding the difficulties great and his company being all poor men, he relinquished the design.
ITe then went to Newbury where, on the 6th of July, 1638. the town granted him and his son-in-law. Christopher Hussey. two por- tions of land, which had formerly been given to Edward Rawson, secretary of state, and Mr. Edward Woodman. On the 6th of September the General Court of Massachusetts granted him permis- sion to commence a settlement at Winnecumett, now Hampton. In 1639 the inhabitants of Ipswich voted to give him sixty acres of land on Whortleberry hill and twenty acres of meadow if he would relinquish their previous grant of fifty acres and reside with them three years. but he did not accept their invitation. On the 5th of July he and Christopher Hussey sold their lands in Newbury to Mr. John Oliver for "Six score pounds." and went to Hampton, where a town was begun and a church gathered, of which Mr. Bach- iler became the minister. His company consisted of himself as pastor: Mr. Timothy Dalton, teacher: Christopher Hussey. Mary Hussey. his mother, and twelve others.
Mr. Bachiler had a grant of 10 acres for a house lot; ? 1 acres of fresh meadow by Taylor's river, and 17 acres between the beach and the East field: 15 acres of planting ground, part of it being near his house and the rest in the East field; 200 acres for a farm next to Salisbury line, 16 acres of which was fresh meadow, 120 acres upland, the residue in salt marsh. The residue of his 200 acres, given the 24th of October, 1639, is yet to be appointed. It appears from the town records that he presented the first bell to the town early in 1640.
That he was a man of good judgment and was considered upright, upon his first settling in Hampton, may be inferred from his having been selected umpire in an important controversy existing between George Cleaves and John Wreiter, involving the title of some real estate in Sperwink, and also defamation of character on the part of Cleaves. This dispute was referred to Mr. Bachiler and four
154
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
others, and the parties were severally bound in the sum of £1.000 sterling to submit to their award. These referees reported on the same day at Saco, June 28, 1641, where Mr. Bachiler seems to heve been at that time.
Mr. Bachiler, the pastor of the church at Hampton, who had suffered much at the hands of bishops in England. being about S0 years of age, and having a lusty and comely woman to his wife. did solicit the chastity of his neighbor's wife, who acquainted her husband therewith, whereupon he was dealt with, but denied it. as he had told the woman he would do, and complained to the magis- trates against the woman and her husband for slandering him. The church likewise dealing with him. he stiffly denied it. but soon after, when the Lord's supper was to be administered, he did vol- untarily confess the attempt and that he did intend to have defiled her if she would have consented. The church being moved with his free confession and tears, silently forgave him and communi- cated with him, but after finding how scandalous it was they took advice of other elders, and, after long debate and much pleading and standing upon the church's forgiving and becoming reconciled to him in communicating with him after he had confessed it, they pro- ceeded to cast him out.
After this he went on in a variable course, sometimes seeming very penitent, soon after excusing himself and casting blame upon others, especially his fellow elder, Mr. Dalton (who indeed had not carried himself in this case so well as became him, and was brought to see his failing and acknowledged it to the elders of the other churches, who had taken much pains about this matter). So he be- haved himself to the elders when they dealt with him. He was off and on for a long time, and when he seemed most penitent, so as the church was ready to have received him in again. he would fall back again, and, as it were, repent of his repentance. In this time his house with nearly all his substance was consumed by fire. When he had continued excommunicated nearly two years, and much agi- tation had been about the matter, and the church was divided so he could not be received in. at length the matter was referred to some magistrates and elders, and by their mediation he was re- leased of his excommunication, but not received to his pastor's office. Upon occasion of this meeting for mediation, Mr. Wilson of Boston wrote a letter to him, which Governor Winthrop speaks very highly of, but it is not now known to be in existence.
155
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
The contentions in Hampton were grown to a great height, the whole town was divided into two factions, one with Mr. Bachiler, their late pastor. and the other with Mr. Dalton, their teacher. Both men were passionate and wanting in discretion and modera- tion. Their differences were not in matters of opinion. but of prac- tice. Mr. Dalton's party being mostly of the church, and so freemen. had great advantage of the other, though a considerable party, and some of them of the church also. The former carried all affairs, both in church and town. according to their own minds, and not with that respect to their brethren and neighbors which had been fit. Divers meetings had been held, both of magistrates and elders. and parties had been reconciled, but broke out again, each side being apt to take fire upon any provocation: whereupon Mr. Bachiler was ad- vised to remove and was called to Exeter. whither he intended to go, but they were divided and at great difference also. When one party had appointed a day of humiliation to gather a new church and call Mr. Bachiler. the court sent order to stop it, for they con- sidered they were not in a fit condition for such a work, and Mr. Bachiler had been in other places before and through his means, as was supposed, the churches fell to such divisions as no peace could be had until he was removed. At this court there came petition against petition. both from Hampton and Exeter, whereupon the court ordered two of the magistrates to be sent to Hampton with full power to hear and determine all differences there.
He probably continued in Hampton until 1642. He was living in Portsmouth on the 20th of April of that year, and resided there three years. In 1650 he married his third wife, being then nearly 90 years of age (89). In May he was fined by the court ten pounds for not publishing his marriage according to law, half of which fine was remitted in October. In the same year the court passed the following order in consequence of a matrimonial disagreement:
As is ordered by the Court, that Mr. Bachiler and his wife shall live together as man and wife, as in the Court they have publiquely professed to do, and if either desert one another then hereby the Court doth order that ve Marshall shall apprehend both ve said Mr. Bachiler and Mary his wife and bring them forthwith to Boston. There to be kept till the next quarter Court of assistants, that further consideration may be had .- Both of them moving for a divorce, and this order shall be sufficient warrant to do so. Provided notwith- standing that if they put in £50. Each of them for their appearance with such sureties as the commissioners or any one of them for the
156
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
County shall think good to accept of,-That then they shall be under their bail to appear at the next Court of assistants. And in ease Mary Bachiler shall live out of the jurisdiction, without mutual con- sent for a time, that then the Clark shall give notice to the magis- trate at Boston of her absence that further order may be taken theron.
Soon after this order, Mr. Bachiler returned to England, where he married his fourth wife, his third wife. Mary, being still living. In October. 1656, she petitioned the court, in the following words, to free her from her husband:
To the Honored Gov. Deputy Governor, with the magistrates and Deputies at the General Court at Boston .- The humble petition of Mary Bachiler sheweth, Wheras your petitioner having formerly lived with Mr. Stephen Bachiler in this Colony as his lawful wife & not unknown to divers of you as I coneieve, and the said Mr. Bachiler upon some pretended ends of his own has transported himself unto Old England, for many years since and betaken himself to another wife. as your petitioner hath often been credibly informed, and there continued. Wherby your petitioner is left destitute not only of a guide to herself and her children, But also made incapable therby of disposing herself in the way of marriage to any other without a law- ful permission, and now having two children upon her hands that are chargable to her in regard to a disease God has been pleased to lay upon them both, which is not easily curable, and has so weakened her estate in prosecuting the means of eure That she is not able longer to subsist without utterly ruining her estate. or exposing her- self to the common charity of others which your petitioner is loth to put herself upon, if it may be lawfully avoided as is well known to all or most part of her neighbors. And were she free from her en- gagement to Mr. Bachiler might probably so dispose of herself as that she might obtain a meet helper to assist her to proeure such means for her livelihood and the recovery of her children's health as might keep them from perishing, which your petitioner to her great grief is much afraid of, if not timely prevented .- Your petitioner's humbly request therfore is that this Honored Court would be pleased seri- ously to consider her condition for matter of her relief in her free- dom from the said Mr. Bachiler and that she may be at liberty to dispose of herself in respect of any engagement to him as in your wisdom shall seem most Expedient, and your petitioner Shall humbly pray & co
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