Notes:

Surname: Also spelled STERNES in Billerica Vital Records
Death: In a deed dated 14 Oct 1728 (_Billerica Deeds_, 3:190), Capt. JohnStearns of Billerica gave for parental love and affection to SamuelStearns, "my grandson, the only son of my son, Samuel Stearns ofBillerica, deceased," a seventy-acre messuage of house lot near what isnow the Billerica-Bedford town line and a nine-acre lot near one DanielBarney's land in present-day Bedford.

Samuel married Rachel CROSBEY about 1719 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Rachel (daughter of Joseph CROSBY and Sarah FRENCH) was born on 18 Apr 1695 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Rachel STEARNS was born on 6 Jun 1720 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died on 25 Jul 1795 in Milford, Hillsborough, Massachusetts; was buried in Jul 1795 in Elm St Cemetery, Milford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

Notes:

His is the first recorded birth in Billerica, Massachusetts.
Recorded as 'May "the seconde weeke," 1654'.

John married Elizabeth BIGELOW on 6 Sep 1676 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of John BIGELOW and Mary WARREN) was born on 18 Jun 1657 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died on 18 Apr 1694 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

One of the first settlers of Billerica, Massachusetts. At the townmeeting of November 9, 1658, it was recorded that he was alloted 2 sharesof land (125 acres each) in an area called the "Dudley Farm".

John married Sarah MIXER about 1653 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Isaac MIXER and Sarah THURSTON) was born between 1632 and 1633 in Suffolk, England; died on 4 Jun 1656 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The rector of Wrentham Parish, England in 1617 was Rev. John Phillips,who later emigrated to Dedham Mass. During his years in Dedham, Phillipsonce stated that the blacksmith John Biglelow of Watertown, was the sameinfant whom he had baptized on Feb 16, 1617 as the son of "RandleBeageley", and that he had "known John Biglo from earliest youth upward."In a civil case in Watertown during his lifetime, John Bigelow took thewitness stand and identified himself as "John Biglo, formerly ofWrentham, England."

John Bigelow seems to have arrived in Watertown about 1632. He probablycame with an older relative, Elizabeth Bigeloe, second wife of DeaconRichard Butler, who after a short stay in Massachusetts, followed theRev. Thomas Hooker to Connecticut.

John took part in the Pequot War of 1636, serving from Watertown. Thenext public mention of him is his marriage in Watertown on 30 October1642 - the first marriage recorded in Watertown - before Mr. Nowell, toMary Warren, daughter of John and Margaret Warren. In the book "TheWinthrop Woman", which is well researched, there is a cannon-ballpitching contest between Will Hallet and "his opponent - Bigelow, theblacksmith." The contest was held in the Common of "Little Boston", onElection Day in the mid to late 1630's.

John Bigelow took oath of fidelity 1652 and was a selectman in 1665, 1670and 1671. He became a Freeman 18 April 1690. His occupation wasblacksmith, which we find from town records, "Agreed with John Biglo thatfor ten trees the towne allowed him for the setting up of a shop for aSmithes forge, that he shall eighter go on with his promise of setting uphis trade, which is the trade of a Smith, within one twelfmonth after thedate hereof or else to pay unto the towne ten shillings for these tentrees he acknowledged to have off the towne." Dated 4 March 1651. Hishomesite consisted of six acres and was bounded north by Richard Amblerand William Parker, east by Thomas Straight, south by the highway and onthe west by Miles Ives.

John's wife Mary died Oct. 19, 1691, and he married again on Oct. 2,1694, to Sarah, the daughter of Joseph Bemis of Watertown. John died 14July 1703. His will of 4 Jan. of that year was probated July 28, 1704.

John married Mary WARREN on 30 Oct 1642 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of John WARREN and Margaret FOWLE) was born before 12 Sep 1624 in Nayland, Suffolk, England; died on 12 Sep 1691 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Isaac Stearns who settled in Watertown, came in the Winthrop Fleet,arriving at Salem in April and July, 1630. His is listed with wife Mary,and children John, Abigail, Elizabeth and Hannah, "of Stroke Nayland,Suffolk", and bound for Watertown. He is probably the ancestor of nearlyall of his name in Massachusetts.

He was admitted freeman May 18, 1631, perhaps because he had been calledto serve on the first jury that tried a civic cause in New England, whenlarge damages were given against Endicott for his assault on ThomasDexter in the same month.

He died 19 Jun 1671, and his will of June 14 provides for wife Mary, forchildren of his son John, the children of his daughter Mary, the childrenon daughter Sarah, and for Elizabeth and Abigail. Also mentioned is hiskinsman Charles Stearns (it is believed that he raised Charles andNathaniel, his orphaned nephews and sons of deceased brother Shubael) andhe makes his sons Isaac & Samuel executors.

His widow, Mary, died 2 Apr 1677.

Isaac married Mary BARKER on 20 May 1622 in Stoke By Nayland, Sudbury, Suffolk, England. Mary was born on 1 Jan 1604 in Stoke By Nayland, Sudbury, Suffolkshire, England; died on 2 Apr 1677 in Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Isaac immigrated to America with his wife, Sarah, and son Isaac, Jr. onthe Elizabeth of Ipswich, which arrived at boston in July, 1634. He islisted as "of Capel Saint Mary, county Suffolk", and bound for Watertown.Ages are given as 31 for Isaac Sr., 33 for Sarah, and 4 for son Isaac.

The name of Isaac Mixer is on the earliest list of proprietors ofWatertown (Feb. 1636-7). He was admitted Freeman there on May 2, 1638.

He appears in the Inventory of Grants and the Composite Inventory, butnot in the Inventory of Possessions, indicating that at least for hisfirst decade in Watertown he did not acquire any land from otherWatertown landholders.

In the Inventory of Grants he was credited with six parcels: Homestall ofsix acres; one acre of meadow in Patch Meadow; thirty acres in the GreatDividend; four acres in Beaverbrook Plowlands; four acres of RemoteMeadow; and another homestall of six acres (which was really his grant inthe Town Plot). The Composite Inventory lists four of these pieces ofland, along with the Farm, showing that he had in some manner disposed ofhis parcels in Patch Meadow and the Town Plot.

He was Clerk of the Training Band, April 4, 1654.

He died in 1655. His Will, dated May 8, 1655, mentions his wife Sarah,his son Isaac, and his daughter Sarah Stearns. To his daughter he gave,among other things, "one half of my vessel Diligent." His widow Sarahdied Nov. 24, 1681.

Isaac married Sarah THURSTON on 11 May 1629 in St Mary, Capel, Suffolk, England. Sarah was born between 1599 and 1600 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England; died on 24 Nov 1681 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Randall - d. 1626. Married Jane, and moved from Cheshire to Wrentham inSuffolk by 1603, where their five youngest children were baptized.
Francis - Probable son. Blacksmith at Wrentham, Suffolk. His will, datedOct. 20, 1656, names brother John in New England.
Elizabeth - d. Sep. 11, 1691, Hartford CT. Probable daughter. She marriedRichard BUTLER (d. Aug. 6, 1684, Hartford, CT), as his second wife.
Persis - bap. 1604, Wrentham Parish, Suffolk, England.
Susan - bap. 1606, Wrentham Parish, Suffolk, England.
William - bap. 1608, Wrentham Parish, Suffolk, England; d. 1621.
Margaret - bap. 1611, Wrentham Parish, Suffolk, England.
John - b. 1616/7, Wrentham Parish, Suffolk, England; d. Jul. 14, 1703,Watertown, MA.

Randall married Jane UNKNOWN. Jane was born about 1585 in Cheshire, England; died in Wrentham, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John and Margaret Warren came to America in the Winthrop Fleet of 1630,which arrived at Boston in April and July of that year. He is listed "ofNayland, Suffolk", and bound for Watertown. Family tradition says thatthey were on the "Arabella", the flagship of the fleet, but there is noevidence left today that can confirm this.

John is supposedly a descendent of William de Warren, a Norman baron whofought at Battle of Hastings.

John was admitted Freeman on May 18, 1631. In 1635 he was appointed withAbraham Browne to lay out all highways, and he served as Selectman from1636 to 1640.

John had a house lot of 12 acres and several other lots totalling 176acres.

He sympathized with Quakers. In 1651 he and Thomas Arnold were fined 20 sfor an offense against baptism laws. In 1658 he was "to be warned" fornot attending worship, but "old Massachusetts Warren was not to be foundin town." On May 27, 1661 the houses of "old Warren and goodman Hammond"were ordered searched for Quakers. [Bond, Geneal Watertown]

He died 13 Dec. 1667, aged 82. His will is dated Nov. 30, 1667 and namedfour children.

John was the 6th Great-grandfather of President James Garfield and anancestor of Eli Whitney Jr.

John married Margaret FOWLE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]