The STEARNS Family of Higham and Stoke Nayland, co. Suffolk, England, Watertown, Middlesex, MA and Billerica, Middlesex, MA | Send comments and corrections to anneb0704@yahoo.co.uk |
JOHN MAWLE (c. 1489 - 1561) |? |
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RICHARD BARKER (1505/10 - 1561) of Nayland m. Alice Unknown (d. 1560) |
JOHN MAWLE (1510/15 - 1579/80) of Stoke Nayland m. Margaret Unknown (d. 1586/7) |
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JOHN BARKER (c. 1535/8 - 1588) |
MARGARET MAWLE (d. 1590) |
RICHARD WALTER (1520/35 - 1569/70) of Nayland m. Margaret Unknown (b. 1530/40) |
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JOHN BARKER (bp. 1563 - 1617) of Nayland m. |
MARGARET WALTER (bp. 1564 - aft. 1640) |
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ISAAC STEARNS (c. 1590 - 1671) of Higham, Stoke Nayland and Watertown m.
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MARY BARKER (c. 1600 - 1695) of Stoke Nayland and Watertown |
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SARAH STEARNS (b. 1694)
m. Joshua Child
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INDEX TO THE STEARNS FAMILY FILES
JOHN MAWLE (c. 1489-1561) Parents: Unknown. Mawles had lived in Hornchurch, co. Essex for several generations and it is "fairly sure" that John descended from them. John Mawle was born about 1489. John, senior, was buried in Stoke Nayland on 5 Feb 1560/1, aged 72. [Ref, p. 447] Children of John Mawle:
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St Mary's Church was rebuilt in the fifteenth century and renovated in 1865. See the Stoke Nayland Wikipedia article. |
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RICHARD BARKER (1505/10 - 1561) of Nayland
Parents: Unknown
Richard Barker was probably born between about 1505 and 1510. [Ref, p. 445] Richard, householder, was buried on 27 Jul 1561. [Ref, p. 445] He married Alice Unknown. Alice, the wife of Richard Barker, was buried on 27 Dec 1560 in Nayland. [Ref, p. 445]
Richard had several brothers and a sister Ellen. Thomas Barker, who had a daughter Katherine was baptised on 18 Sep 1559 in Nayland, and William Barker, whose daughter Elizabeth was buried on 15 Jun 1560, were probably his brothers. [Ref, p. 445]
Richard was a prosperous property owner. [Ref, p. 445] He owned a mill in Wormingford, Essex. [Ref, p. 445]
Richard of Nayland signed his will on 23 Jul 1561. He mentioned his sons John and Thomas Barker; his underage son Richard Barker; his daughers Katherine, Margaret and Elizabeth Barker; John Barker, his kinsman of Colchester; his brothers and his sister Ellen. The supervisors were to be John Mawle and Thomas Rose. [Ref, pp. 445-6]
A barker is a tanner.
Children of Richard Barker and Alice Unknown:
JOHN MAWLE (1510/5 - 1579/80) of Stoke Nayland Parents: Probably John Mawle John Mawle was probably born between about 1510 and 1515. [Ref, p. 447] He died between 5 Sep 1579 and 26 Jan 1579/80. He was probably the son of John Mawle. [Ref, p. 447] The Christine, wife of John Mawle, who was buried on 9 May 1561 might have between his father's widow or a wife he married before Margaret. [Ref, p. 447] He married Margaret Unknown. John was a prosperous clothier with considerable propery in and around Nayland and in Essex county. [Ref, p. 447] John Mawle, clothier of Nayland, being "sick in body", made his will on 5 Sep 1579. It was proved on 26 Jan 1579/80. He left his wife Margaret the messuage in Nayland that he lived in for life and one little hog yard that was managed by John Barker. After her death they were to go to his son James. If James died before his wife, who was also named Margaret, then this wife Margaret was to recieve five pounds a year for life. He left his wife Margaret a tenement in Nayland for life. After her death it was to go to his son Robert. [Ref, pp. 448-50, transcription of the will] He left his wife Margaret all of his copyhold lands called Noches, a messuage over against the fulling mill and another tenement in Nayland for life. After her death they were to go to his son George. He left his wife Margaret all of his properties in Monte Bures and Whether Muntforde alias Wormingwood in co. Essex. After her death they were to go to his son John. He left his wife Margaret all rights in lands, pastures, etc. in House croft Much Fayerfield and Bulmers Nayland. He divided his other land between his sons. His son James was to pay his son John five pounds a year; his son John was to deliver his wife Margaret 20 loads of wood a year. He left 100 pounds to his wife and to John. He left his son George 100 marks and all his shears etc. for the the occupation of a shearsman. He left his wife all the household moveables. He left ten pounds to each child of his daughter Barker at age 16. He left John Mawle, the son of his son George, lands in Thorpe, Essex that were to revert to him after the death of Thomas Mawle and his wife Joan. He named his son James his executor. [Ref, pp. 448-50, transcription of the will] John's will is held by the United Kingdom's National Archives in Kew. Click here to order an electronic copy for a fee. Margaret, a widow of Nayland next Stoke, "being sick in body" made her will on 3 Dec 1586. It was proved on 11 Feb 1586/7. She asked to be buried in the church in Nayland. She left James, the younger son of her son James, the messuage or tenement she lived in, the tenement her son George lived in, a tenement she had purchased and all of her indentures of lease in lands called Horscroft and Much Fayrefild. She left Anne, the daughter of her son James indentures of lease of Kingsfylde. If either James or Anne were to die before they were 21, the other would inherit; if both died their father would get their share. She also left both siblings household goods. She left her son George her indenture in lands called Bullmers in Nayfield and some household goods. She left her son John one of her best silver goblets providing that he return the dozen silver spoons that she had loaned to him. She also left him some household goods. She left her son Robert some household goods. He left her daughter Margaret her "great danske chest in the parlor with my apparel that is in it will all the linen in the hutch at the great bed, she to distribute it among her daughters, and the Hutch [she gave] unto Katherine her daughter." She left her son George's children each two silver spoons; her daughter Barker's unmarried children each one silver spoon and her son John's children each on silver spoon. She also left bequests to Margaret Abbes, otherwide Skarlett, her kinswoman and to Anne Abbes, otherwise Leach, Margaret Abbes's sister and to Elizabeth Barker. She named John Gente of Walton, co. Essex her executor and John Winterflood of Assington, gentleman, her supervisor [of the executor]. The witnesses were John Barker the elder, Thomas Legate and Edward Swayne. [Ref, pp. 448-50] |
Fragment from John Mawle's will |
Children of John Mawle and Margaret Unknown:
JOHN BARKER (c. 1535/8 - 1588) of Nayland Parents: John Barker and Margaret Mawle John Barker was probably born between 1535 and 1538. [Ref, p. 446] John Barker the elder, householder, was buried on 22 Oct 1588 in Nayland. [Ref, p. 441] He married Margaret Mawle of Nayland on 26 May 1562 in Nayland. [Ref, p. 441] John was a clother. [Ref, p. 446] John Barker, a clothier of Nayland signed his will on 24 Jun 1587. It was proved on 10 Dec 1588. He mentioned his wife Margaret; his son John; his three younger sons Richard, Thomas and William; his four youngest daughters daughters Dorothy, Alice, Anne and Joyce Barker; daughter Katherine Beriffe, son Legate, cousin John Leache, Margret Fenner, cousin William Killmache, (underage) cousin Thomas Koppine; Dorothy Prestone; son-in-law John Beriffe. His son-in-law John Beriffe and son John were to be the supervisors. [Ref, p. 441] |
abstract of John's will from [Ref, p. 274] |
Parents: John Mawle and Margaret Unknown Margaret, a widow, was buried on 11 Jan 1589/90 in Nayland. [Ref, p. 441] Margaret of Nayland married John Barker on 26 May 1562 in Nayland. [Ref, p. 441] Margaret signed her will on 24 Dec 1589. It was proved on 7 Feb 1589/90. She mentioned her brother James Mawle of Nayland, his wife and his three children James and Anne [sic]; her late husband John Barker; her son John Barker of Nayland; son Richard Barker; son Thomas Barker; daughter Alice Barker and the rest of her daughters; John Gent, yeoman of Walton on the Naze in Sooke, Essex; daughter Margaret Legatt; Thomas Legatt, gentleman of Sutton in Horchurch, Essex; grandchild Margaret Barker; Margaret Fenner; grandchild John Beriffe; her brother John Mawle and his two children John and Robert; her brother George Mawle and his children John and Margaret; the underage children of her brother Richard Barker; her sons Richard, Thomas and William; John Bowes and his wife Margaret; her cousin Kynwellmarshe's wife; the wife of William Fisher of Buers; her cousin Leache. Executors were to be Mr. Thomas Waldegrave, Esquire, of Buers in Essex and her son-in-law John Beriffe of Brightelingsey. Supervisos were to be Mr. Wynterflood of Assington and William Fisher of Buers. [Ref, pp. 441 - 2] Children of John Barker and Margaret Mawle:
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abstract of Margaret's will from [Ref, p. 275] |
RICHARD WALTER (1520/35 - 1569/70)
Parents: Unknown
Richard Walter was probably born between 1520 and 1535. [Ref, p. 443] He died between 17 May 1569 and 11 May 1570. He apparently married first Elizabeth Unknown. [Ref, p. 443] Elizabeth, the wife of Richard Walter, was buried on 13 Dec 1562 in Nayland. [Ref, p. 443] He married second Margaret Unknown in 1563. [Ref, p. 443] Margaret was probably born betwen 1530 and 1540. [Ref, p. 443]
Richard apparently had a sister who married John Winterflood. [Ref, p. 443]
Richard was a beer brewer. [Ref, p. 443]
Richard, a beer brewer of Nayland, being sick, signed his will on 17 May 1569; it was proved on 11 May 1570. He mentioned his wife Margaret; his son Richard; his daughter Margaret; the child his wife was pregnant with; Thomas Winterflood, the son of John Winterflood of Assington; the underage Peter Walter. Executors were to be his wife Margaret and his brother John Winterflood. [Ref, p. 442-3]
Children of Richard Walter and Margaret Unknown:
JOHN BARKER (bp. 1563 - 1617) of Stoke Nayland
Parents: John Barker and Margaret
John Barker was baptised on 30 Apr 1563 as the son of John at Nayland. [Ref, p. 439] John Barker, householder, was buried on 10 Mar 1616/7 at Stoke Nayland. [Ref, p. 439] He married Margaret Walter on 29 Jun 1585 at Nayland. [Ref, p. 439]
John Barker was a clothier of Stoke Nayland. [Ref]
MARGARET WALTER (bp. 1564 - aft. 1640)
Parents: Richard Walter and Alice Unknown
Margaret Walter was baptised on 8 Sep 1564 as the daugher of Richard and Margaret Walter at Nayland. [Ref, p. 439] She was living in 1640. [Ref, p. 439] She married first John Barker on 29 Jun 1585 at Nayland [Ref, p. 439] . She married second Unknown Munnings of Gaines Colne, co. Essex, [Ref] now known as Colne Engaine. [Ref, p. 435]
Unknown Munnings (Mulling?) of Engaine, Colne, co. Suffolk was a farmer. [Ref]
Isaac Sterne of Watertown, late of Stoke Nayland, co. Suffolk, and his wife Mary, daughter of John Barker of Stoke Nayland appointed Thomas Gilson of Sudbury, co. Suffolk to collect five pounds from one Munnings of Gaynes, Colne, co. Essex, due on a bound given by Munnings before his marriage to Mary's mother, Margaret Barker. [Ref, 40;272]
Children of John Barker and Margaret Walter:
ISAAC STEARNS (c. 1590 - 1671) of Higham, co. Suffolk, Stoke Nayland and Watertown Parents: Unknown |
Signature from Isaac's will, five days before his death. [Ref, p. 452] |
Isaac Stearns was born about 1590. [Ref, p. 435] He died on 19 Jun 1671 [Ref][Ref, pp. 1747-50] in Watertown. [Ref] He married Mary Barker [Ref][Ref, p. 44][Ref] [Ref, pp. 1747-50] on 20 May 1622 in Stoke Nayland, co. Suffolk, the parish adjacent to Higham. [Ref, p. 435]
Iaac was Higham, co. Suffolk. [Ref, p. 435] He was a tailor in Stoke Nayland. [Ref][Ref, pp. 1747-50]
Isaac probably came to New England in the Winthrop fleet. The first five ships departed from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, on 8 Apr 1630 and arrived in Salem on 12 Jun. The other six ships sailed in May and arrived in June. The colonists moved from Salem to Charleston and then to Watertown where they settled. Isaac settled near Mount Auburn. [Ref, p. 435]
Isaac Stearns was on a trial jury on 3 May 1631. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was a freeman on 18 May 1631. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was a selectman on 8 Nov 1646 and 7 Nov 1670 in Watertown. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was on a committee to design a bridge on 28 Dec 1647. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was a fence viewer on 13 Jun 1648. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was a rater in 1652. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was a viewer of land on 3 Jan 1658/9. [Ref] The town meeting was held at his house on 8 Dec 1659 and 13 Dec 1670. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was a constable in 1659 - 1661. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was surveyor of highways on 12 Jan 1662/3. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was on a committee to speak with William Knopp about the education of his daughter. [Ref, pp. 1747-50]
Isaac was granted 50 acres in the Great Dividend on 25 Jul 1636. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He received 11 acres in the Beaverbrook Plowlands on 28 Feb 1636/7. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He received 11 acres in the Remote Meadows on 26 Jun 1637. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] He was granted a farm of 259 acres on 10 May 1642. [Ref, pp. 1747-50]
On 16 Apr 1664 Isaac Stearns of Watertown deeded to his son Samuel one messuage or tenement in Watertown that was Samuel's dwelling hose, containing a house and four acres and one parcel of five acres of meadow in the meadow called Nonesuch. [Ref, pp. 1747-50]
Isaac Stearns of Watertown signed his will on 14 Jun 1671; it was proved on Oct 1671. He left his entire estate to his wife Mary during her widowhood. He left bequests to his grandchildren, the son of his son John; his son Isaac Stearns; his son Samuel Stearns; his grandchildren, the children of his daughter Mary, naming her son Isaac Learned; hs daughter Sarah Stone; his daughter Abigail Morse; his kinsman Charles Stearns. He named his sons Isaac and Samuel his executors. [Ref, pp. 1747-50]
The inventory of Isaac Stearns, who had deceased on 19 Jun 1671, was taken on 28 Jun 1671. It amounted to 524 pounds and four shillings, of which 407 pounds was real estate. [Ref, pp. 1747-50]
"Probably all the families of the name Stearns in the United States are descended from three early immigrants, viz. Isaac or Charles, who settled in Watertown, or Nathaniel, who settled in Dedham." [Ref, p. 435]
MARY BARKER (c. 1600 - 1677) of Stoke Nayland and Watertown
Parents: John Barker and Margaret Walter [Ref, p. 435][Ref, pp. 1747-50]
Mary Barker was born about 1600. [Ref, p. 439] The widow Mary died on 23 Apr 1677 in Watertown. [Ref] She married Isaac Stearns [Ref][Ref, p. 44][Ref] [Ref, pp. 1747-50] on 20 May 1622 in Stoke Nayland, co. Suffolk. [Ref, p. 435]
"Goodwife Stearns Senior" was one of several Watertown residents warned for not "attending their seats in the meetinghouse appointed them by the town". [Ref, pp. 1747-50]
Children of Isaac Stearns and Mary Unknown:
MARY STEARNS (bp. 1626 - 1633)
Parents: Isaac Stearns and Mary Barker
Mary Stearns was baptised on 6 Jan 1625/6 in Nayland with Wissington. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] She died on 8 or 9 Jan 1663 [Ref, p. 43] in Chelmsford. [Ref, 8 Jan] She married first Isaac Learned on 9 Jul 1646 in Woburn. [Ref, pp. 1747-50, s. William] She married second John Burge, "late of Weymouth", [Ref] on 9 Jun 1662. [Ref, p. 43][Ref][Ref, p. 22] He died on 22 Oct 1678 in Dorchester. [Ref] John and Mary had no children. [Ref, p. 22] John married first Rebecca Unknown. [Ref] He married third Grissell Fletcher. [Ref] He married fourth Jane Gornell, the wealthy widow of John Gornell. [Ref]
The inventory of Mary's estate is dated 21 Dec 1663 and it amounted to 222 pounds. [Ref, p. 22] On 17 Apr 1664 the court allowed a division of the estate between John Burge and the children of Isaac Learned. [Ref, p. 22]
Mary is an ancestor of Leka I, King (Claimant) of Albania. See her first husband's entry.
JOHN STEARNS (d. 1668) of Watertown and Billerica
Parents: Isaac Stearns and Mary Barker
John Stearns died on 5 Mar 1667/8 in Billerica. [Ref, h. Mary] He married first Sarah Mixer by 1654. [Ref, pp. 1747-50] Sarah was the daughter of Isaac Mixer of Capel, England and Watertown and Sarah Thurston. [Ref] She died on 10 or 18 Jun 1656 in Billerica. [Ref, w. John][Ref, pp. 1747-50, w. John] He married second Mary Lothrop on 20 Nov 1656 in Barnstable. [Ref][Ref] Mary married second Lieut. William French on 6 May 1669 in Billerica. [Ref, wid.]
In his 8 May 1655 will, Isaac Mixer calls his daughter Sarah the wife of John Stearns. [Ref][Ref, pp. 1747-50]
John was one of the first settlers of Billerica. [Ref, p. 453] On 9 (9) 1658 the proprietors of Billerica met on Mr Dudley's farm and the inhabitants signed an agreement that those who had already taken up an allotment granted in town should be equally accomodated with upland and meadow as those on Mr Dudley's farm. William Chamberlain, John Stearns and George Farley were three of the three of the 18 signatories. [Ref]
John was a constable in Billerica in 1688. [Ref] John Stearns was a soldier in King Philip's War on 24 Jun 1676. [Ref] John and Samuel Stearns were soldiers at Watertown on 24 Aug 1676. [Ref]
Inventory was taken on John's estate on 23 Mar 1668/9. It amounted to pounds 390.18.4. [Ref, p. 453]
Children of John Stearns and Sarah Mixer:
Children of John Stearns and Mary Lothrop:
Generation 7
THOMAS STEARNS (1655-1697) of Billerica
Parents: John Stearns and Mary Lothrop [Ref][Ref, p. 45]
Thomas Stearns was born on 6 Dec 1665 [Ref][Ref, p. 45] in Billerica. [Ref, s. John and Mary] He died on 9 Feb 1696/7 [Ref] in Billerica. [Ref, h. Rebecca] He married Rebecca Chamberlain on 20 Jun 1688 in Concord. [Ref]
Thomas was apprenticed to his stepfather William French in 1675. [Ref][Ref, p. 453] Thomas was taxed on 24 Aug 1688 in Billerica. [Ref]
Thomas signed his will on 18 Nov 1690; it was deposed on 2 Mar 1702. [Ref] His will empowered his executors — his brother John Stearns and John Shed — to sell as much land as required to support his four daughters. [Ref]
Children of Thomas Stearns and Rebecca Chamberlain:
SARAH STEARNS (b. 1694)
Parents: Thomas Stearns and Rebecca Chamberlain
Sarah Stearns was born on 27 Apr 1694 in Billerica. [Ref, d. Thomas and Rebecca] She married Joshua Child of Weston in Jan 1720/1 in Charlestown. [Ref]
Sarah owned the covenant on 19 Jun 1724. [Ref, p. 740] She was admitted to full communion on 11 Feb 1728. [Ref, p. 740] Joshua and Sarah were dismissed from the Watertown church to Worceter on 13 Jan 1733/4. [Ref, p. 740]
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