Generation 1

ROBERT FLETCHER (d. 1677) of Concord

Parents: Unknown

Robert Fletcher died on 3 Apr 1677, age 85. [Ref]

Robert settled at Concord in 1630, five years before the town was organised. [Ref]

Children of Robert Fletcher:

1. Luke Fletcher
2. William Fletcher was born in England about 1622. He died on 6 Nov 1677. He married Lydia (Unknown) Bates.
3. Samuel Fletcher
4. Cary Fletcher

Generation 2

WILLIAM FLETCHER of Concord and Chelmsford

Parents: Robert Fletcher

William Fletcher was born in England about 1622. [Ref] He died on 6 Nov 1677. [Ref] He married Lydia (Unknown) Bates on 7 Oct 1645 [Ref, 1;45] in Concord. [Ref] She was the widow of Edward Bates.

William was eight years old when he came to New England with his father. [Ref] He was admitted freeman on 10 May 1643. [Ref] He was one of the first inhabitants of Chelmsford. [Ref] He was chosen Selectman on 22 Nov 1654 and the first public meeting was held at his house. [Ref]

The origin of Chelmsford was a 1652 petition signed by citizens of Concord and Woburn requesting the right to look at land on the other side of the Concord River. In May 19 May 1653 29 men, including Isaac Learned, James and Joseph Parker, John Sternes, Edmund and Wiliam Chamberlain, Thomas Adams, William Fletcher, Robert Proctor and Richard Hildreth requested a grant of six square miles. [Ref]

The first problem for the new community at Chelmsford was to locate a minister. In the fall of 1654, Rev. John Fiske and his small congregation at Wenham were invited to move to Chelmsford. John Fiske wrote, "Vpon 4 of 7th, 1654 was dated a Lr. vnder the hands of Robt. Fletcher, Tho: Adams, Win. Fletcher, Wm. Buttereck in the na of the rest, engaged in the N. plantation at Chelmsford, whrin the pastor with the rest of this church at Wenham were Invited." They accepted and on 13 Nov 1655 the church of Chelmsford was organised. [Ref]

The first town meeting of Chelmsford was held in William's house on 22 (9) 1654. [Ref] He was one of a committee of seven chosen then to "officiate in Ordering the Public affairs" for the following year. [Ref]

"There being no saw mill nearer than Concord or Woburn, and neither roads nor bridges between those places and Chelmsford, the first who came must have been compelled to erect log houses for their shelter, although there is a tradition that William Fletcher had a frame house in 1654. There is a tradition also that Josiah Richardson's first shelter was partly formed by digging into the bank." [Ref]

William Fletcher and his wife were among the first residents of Chelmsford to join the the church there, joining about 1655. [Ref]

William Fletcher was chosen the first Constable in Chelmsford on 24 (1) 1655. [Ref]

On 11 (4) 1656, after a public fast, several church members in Chelmsford owned the covenant or professed their willingness to do so. These members included William Fletcher; Brother [Thomas] Adams; Mary, the wife of Thomas Chamberlain; Mary, the wife of Isaac Learned; Rose, the wife of Abraham Parker; Mary, the wife of Edmund Parker. [Ref]

Josiah Richardson, Maj. Thomas Henchman and William Fletcher erected the second sawmill in town in 1669. [Ref]

On 30 (3) 1671 the selectman of Chelmsford assessed the residents of the town to pay the minister; William had the second highest rate in town: £3.1.0. [Ref]

Children of William Fletcher and Lydia (Unknown) Bates:

1. Lydia Fletcher was born on 30 Jan 1647 in Concord. [Ref] She married John Fiske. [Ref]
2. Joshua Fletcher was born on 10 (30?) Mar 1648. He died on 21 Nov 1713. He married first Grissell Jewell. He married second Sarah Wiley.
3. Mary Fletcher
4. Paul Fletcher
5. Sarah Fletcher
6. William Fletcher was born on 21 Feb 1657 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died in 1713. [Ref] He married Sarah Richardson, the daughter of Capt. Josiah Richardson, on 19 Sep 1677 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref] He and Sarah had 13 children. [Ref]
   William is on the 11 Mar 1689/90 Chelmsford list of freemen. [Ref]
   some descendants of William Fletcher
   
7. Esther Fletcher married first Isaac Parker, the son of Abraham Parker and Rose Whitlock, [Ref] on 11 Apr 1681 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 22 Feb 1688/9 and she married second James Proctor on 3 Dec 1691 in Chemsford. [Ref]
8. Samuel Fletcher was assessed £1.101.8 on 30 (3) 1671 to pay for the minister in Chelmsford. [Ref] Samuel is on the 11 Mar 1689/90 Chelmsford list of freemen. [Ref]

Generation 3

JOSHUA FLETCHER (1648-1713) of Chelmsford

Parents: William Fletcher and Lydia (Unknown) Bates

Joshua Fletcher was born on 10 (30?) Mar 1648. [Ref] He died on 21 Nov 1713 [Ref] in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married first Grisell Jewel on 4 May 1668 [Ref] in Chelmsford. [Ref] She died on 17 Mar 1682. [Ref says 16 Jan] in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married second Sarah Wiley on 18 Jul 1682 [Ref] in Chelmsford. [Ref] Sarah may be the Sarah Wiley, daughter of John Wiley of Reading, born 4 Feb 1658.

Joshua Fletcher is on the 11 Mar 1689/90 Chelmsford list of freemen. [Ref]

In the Middlesex county court files there is a record of a suit filed by Rev. Fisk against Joshua Fletcher, "for breaking into his house accompanying his mayd servant." There is also recorded Joshua's confession of a crime with Grissell Jewel in Mr. Fisk's house. [Ref]

Joshua was assessed £0.13.4 on 30 (3) 1671 to pay for the minister in Chelmsford. [Ref]

Children of Joshua Fletcher and Grisell Jewell

1. Joshua Fletcher was born on 4 Jan 1677 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Dorothy Halde on 3 Mar 1701 in Chelmsford. [Ref]
2. Son Fletcher was born on 23 Oct 1679 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He may be the Paul Fletcher who married Deliverance Stevens on 12 Apr 1705 in Charlestown. [Ref]
3. William Fletcher (possibly the above) died on 6 Mar 1682 in Chelmsford. [Ref]

Children of Joshua Fletcher and Sarah Willy:

1. Rachel Fletcher was born on 27 Jun 1683 in Chelmsford. [Ref]
2. Timothy Fletcher was born on 20 Oct 1685 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 2 Mar 1705 in Chelmsford. [Ref]
3. John Fletcher was born on 7 May 1687 in Chemsford. [Ref]
4. Captain Joseph Fletcher was born on 10 Jun 1689 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 4 Oct 1772 in Westport. He married first Sarah Adams. He married second the widow Kezia Nutting.
5. Sarah Fletcher was born on 21 or 17 Jan 1690/1 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She may be the Sarah Fletcher who married Thomas Reed on 14 Mar 1709 in Charlestown. [Ref]
6. Jonathan Fletcher was born on 10 Aug 1693 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Deborah Bates after 8 Nov 1719 (int.) in Chelmsford. [Ref]
7. Jonas Fletcher was born on 25 Dec 1694 (?) in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Robbins after 8 Nov 1722 (int.) in Chelmsford. [Ref]
8. Elizabeth Fletcher was born on 10 Jun 1698 in Chemsford. [Ref] She may be the Elizabeth Fletcher who married Joseph Keyes after 28 Feb 1719/20 (int.) in Chelmsford [Ref] or she may be the Elizabeth Fletcher who married Samuel Hartwell of Concord on 6 Feb 1723/4 in Concord. [Ref]

Generation 4

CAPT. JOSEPH FLETCHER (1689 - 1772) of Westford

Parents: Joshua Fletcher and Sarah Wiley [Ref]

Captain Joseph Fletcher was born on 10 Jun 1689 [Ref] in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref][Ref] He died on 4 Oct 1772 in Westford. [Ref][Ref] He married first Sarah Adams on 8 Jun 1711 in Charlestown. [Ref recorded at Chelmsford][Ref][Ref says 17 Nov 1712 in Concord] Sarah was born in 1691 and died on 24 Apr 1761. [Ref] Joseph married second the widow Kezia Nutting after 5 May 1764 (int.) in Westford. [Ref]

Joseph and Sarah lived in the part of Chelmsford that became Westford in 1729. [Ref]

Children of Joseph Fletcher and Sarah Adams:

1. Joseph Fletcher was born on 6 Jul 1713 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Underwood on 21 May 1735 in Westford. [Ref]
   Joseph is the 5 x great-grandfather of Dick Cheney (Jonathan Fletcher, Joseph Fletcher, Lucy Fletcher, Samuel Fletcher Cheney, Thomas Herbert Cheney, Richard Herbert Cheney, Richard Bruce Cheney). See William Addams Reitwiesner's research.
   
2. Benjamin Fletcher was born on 8 Aug 1716 in Chelmsford. [Ref]
3. Timothy Fletcher was born on 12 Apr 1719 in Chelmsford. He married first Bridget Richardson. He married second Huldah (Putnam) Perley. He married third Hannah Proctor.
4. Thomas Fletcher was born on 16 Mar 1721 in Chelmsford. [Ref]
5. Sarah Fletcher was born on 16 May 1723 in Chelmsford. [Ref]
6. Edith Fletcher was born on 8 Apr 1725 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref][Ref, 1;64] She died on 13 Aug 1813 in Westford. [Ref][Ref, 1;64, says 9 Aug] She married Benjamin Carver on 23 May 1745 in Westford. [Ref][Ref, 1;64] Benjamin was the son of David Carver and Sarah Bates. [Ref, 1;64]
7. Pelatiah Fletcher was born on 3 May 1727 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref]
8. Jonathan Fletcher was baptised on 17 Aug 1729 in the Second Church of Westford. [Ref][Ref]
9. Joshua Fletcher was born on 10 Nov 1731 in Westford. [Ref]
10. Ruth Fletcher was born on 28 Aug 1733 in Westford. [Ref]
11. Mary Fletcher was born on 19 Aug 1735 in Westford. [Ref]

Generation 5

TIMOTHY FLETCHER (1719 - 1786) of Cavendish

Parents: Capt. Joseph Fletcher and Sarah Adams

Timothy Fletcher was born on 12 Apr 1719 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref][Ref] He died on 15 Apr 1786. [Ref] He married first Bridget Richardson [Ref] after 15 Feb 1745/6 (int.) in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married second Huldah (Putnam) Perley, a sister of Gen. Israel Putnam. [Ref] He married third Hannah Proctor, the daughter of Philip Proctor and granddaugher of Thomas Proctor, on 25 Nov 1778. [Ref] Hannah died on 7 Jul 1837, age 90. [Ref]

Children of Timothy Fletcher and Bridget Richardson:

1. Rev. Elijah Fletcher was born on 8 Jun 1747 [Ref gives only the year] in Westford. [Ref] He died on 8 Apr 1786 in Hopkinton. [Ref] He married Rebecca Chamberlain of Westford on 24 May 1773. [Ref] She died on 9 Jul 1821. [Ref] She married second Rev. Christopher Paige. [Ref] Elijah and Rebecca had ten children. [Ref]
   Elijah graduated from Harvard in 1769. [Ref][Ref] He was the second Congregational minister in Hopkinton, NH, [Ref] ordained on 27 Jan 1773. [Ref] His daughter Grace was the first wife of Daniel Webster and mother of his children. [Ref][Ref]
2. Josiah Fletcher was born on 19 Oct 1749 [Ref gives only the year] in Wesford. [Ref] He died on 27 Feb 1825. [Ref] He married Margaret Fletcher. [Ref] They had four children.
   Josiah was a Revolutionary soldier and fought at Bunker Hill, White Plains, Bennington and Ticonderoga. [Ref] He was an adjutant in the Rhode Island campaign 1778 - 79. [Ref] He was the first town clerk of Cavendish in 1781. [Ref] He settled in the neighbouring town of Ludlow, VT. [Ref][Ref]
3. Bridget Fletcher was born in 1751. [Ref] She died young. [Ref]
4. Lucy Fletcher was born in 1754. [Ref]
5. Bridget Fletcher was born on 12 Aug 1760. She married Isaac Parker.
6. Jesse Fletcher was born on 9 Nov 1762 [Ref gives only the year] in Westford. [Ref] He died in Feb 1831. [Ref] He married Lucy Keyes [Ref] of Westford on 8 Aug 1782. [Ref] Lucy was born on 15 Nov 1765. [Ref] Jesse and Lucy had 15 children. [Ref]
   Jesse settled in Ludlow, VT, [Ref] where he was the first town clerk and the second representative. [Ref]

Generation 6

BRIDGET FLETCHER (1760 - 1804)

Parents: Timothy Fletcher and Bridget Richardson

Bridget Fletcher was born on 12 Aug 1760. [Ref][Ref gives only the year] She died on 16 Jul 1804 age 44 years, 11 months and 4 days. [Ref] Mrs. Bridget Parket, the wife of Isaac, is buried in the Proctor Cemetery. [Ref] She married Isaac Parker on 7 Feb 1785. [Ref]

References

Cemeteries

Proctor Cemetery, Proctorsvsille, Windsor County, Vermont, Cemetery Transcription Library, www.Interment.net

Family Genealogies

Farwell, John Dennis, The Farwell Family: A history of Henry Farwell and his wife Olive (Welby) Farwell of Boston, England, and Concord and Chelmsford, Mass., 1605-1927, with twelve generations of their descendants: also lineages of many allied families: records of John Dennis Farwell, Orange, TX, F.H. Farwell and F.B. Farwell, 1929.

Fletcher, Edward H., Fletcher Genealogy: An Account of the Descendants of Robert Fletcher of Concord, Mass., Alfred Mudge & Son, Boston, 1871.

Jones, William, "'Robert Carver of Marshfield and some of his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 88, 1934, 215-231.

Proctor, Mr. and Mrs. William Lawrence, Genealogy of Descendants of Robert Proctor of Concord and Chelmsford, Mass., Republican & Journal Print, Ogdensburg, NY, 1898.

Vinton, John Adams, Richardson Memorial, Maine, Briwn Thurston & Co., 1876.

Local Histories

Hodgman, Edwin R., History of the Town of Westford in the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts: 1659-1883, Westford, Westford Town History Association, 1883.

Waters, Wilson, History of Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Courier-Citizen Co., Lowell, MA, c. 1917.

Memoirs

Ackerman, Arthur Wilmot, "Mrs. Laura (Fletcher) Hodges," Memoirs section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 79, 1925, 319-320.

Editors, "Hon. Daniel Webster," Marriages and Deaths section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7, 1853, 95-103.

Vital Records

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.