1611 Joshua 4 Bigelow, son of Joshua 3 ( Joshua 2, Johnl) and Hannah (FISKE) BIGELOW, was born in Watertown, Midd1esex co, MA, 05 February 1702. He married there 23 January 1725 Lydia HASTINGS of Weston. She was born 27 February 1704/1705, the dau of Joseph and Elizabeth (Edwards) Hastings. (see below). They lived in Weston until 1745, when he bought 75 acres of land in Worcester from Samuel ANDREWS, father-in-law to Col. Timothy BIGELOW. In 1749 he bought the adjoining tract of land, giving him altogether 300 acres. On 30 January 1750 his house was destroyed by fire, and a son and daughter burned to death. The Boston News-Letter reported the fire "caused by a stick rolling off the log in the kitchen." Joshua lived the remainder of his life in Worcester, and was representative to the General Court from 1768 to 1774, a selectman in 1747, then 1767 to 1773, 1775, and 1778; in later years he led a retired life, In September 1788 his son was appointed his guardian His death was reported in the Boston Centinel issue of 05 June 1790. His will, dated 1787, mentions son, William, Thaddeus, and Asa, daughters Esther MOORE and Anna, and grandson William MOORE. Asa was appointed executor. After his death son Thaddeus acquired the property but later removed to Rutland.
Children of Joshua and Lydia (HASTINGS) BIGELOW, all but the youngest born Weston, Middlesex co, MA:
16111. William, b l0 Apr 1727; d 13 July 1815 Brattleborough. VT; m 28 May 1753 (Cambridge) Margaret GATES; res Athol, MA. 2 children.
16112. Thaddeus, b 26 Sep 1728; d ______ Rutland; m 28 Mar 1754 Rebecca WARREN; res Worcester & Rutland; 6 children.
16113. Jerusha, b 22 Jun 1730; not named in father's will.
16114. David, b 6 Mar 1732; d in house fire 30 Jan 1750.
16115. Lydia. b 13 Mar 1734; d in house fire 30 Jan 1750.
16116. Esther,b 23 Feb 1736;d ______; m 11 Sep 1760 John MOORE (he died 1793, was in Rev War).
16117. Asa, b 13 Sep 1738; d 22 Sep 1807 Brookfield, MA; m Feb 1766 Rebecca RICHARDSON; res Brookfield, MA. 11 children.
16118. Anna, b 25 Mar 1740; d l2 Jan 1826 Weston; m 3 Jan 1771 Nathan HAGER; res Weston. 10 children.
16119. Hannah, b 2 July 1748 Worcester; d 29 December 1829, aged eighty-two years; m 13 May 1770 Joel WESTON (WESSON). Hannah not mentioned in father's will.(see below)
Sources:
The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol I pg 64;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America;
Weston vital records;
Obits in Boston newspapers;
Vermont vital records.
2009 Notes from Bigelow
Society Library:
Lydia HASTINGS of Weston. She was born 27 February 1704/1705, the dau
of Joseph and Elizabeth (Edwards) Hastings.
Joseph Hastings was born 06 May 1669; d _____ ; Elizabeth (Edwards) ,
b 21 Nov 1679; d _____ ;
Joseph Hastings was the son of John and Lidea (Champney) Hastings; John,
b ca 1630; d ____ ; Lidea, b ca 1642; d 23 Jan 1690/1691;
Elizabeth Edwards, was the dau of Matthew and Mary (Pooll) Edwards; Matthew,
b ca 1631; d 22 Dec 1683; Mary Pooll, no dates;
Note:
Subject: Hannah BIGELOW - Joel WESTON
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 01:39:55 EST
From: Adele Just Afjust@aol.com
Rod, I am descended from a Betsey WESSON/WESTON of Grafton who married
at Worcester in 1803 to James BAIRD, son of Daniel BAIRD of Worcester and
Auburn. I thought you might be interested in the following biographical
material from the Wesson family section in "Historic Homes and Institutions
and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts,
with a History of Worcester Society of Antiquity." Prepared under
the editorial supervision of Ellery Bicknell Crane; published 1907 by The
Lewis Publishing Company.
Volume I, pages 228-231:
(V) Joel WESSON, son of John WESSON (4), was born probably about 1746,
at Framingham. He married Hannah BIGELOW, born in Worcester,
July 3, 1748, daughter of Joshua 4 and Lydia BIGELOW.
They lived for a few years in the
seventies, in Brookfield, but for the greater part of their lives in
Worcester. He held much real estate, and paid one of the largest taxes
in that town. He was a juror in 1785 and on the school committee in
1787. He was a plow-maker by trade and was in Framingham in 1789, plying
his trade there. Hannah, his widow, died December 29, 1829, aged
eighty-two years.
Their children were:
1. Hulda, married Lewis WITHERBY, of Shrewsbury.
2. Hannah, married _____ BARTLETT.
3. Mary, married Charles WARREN, November 16, 1808; she was called
Polly.
4. Sewell.
5. Joel, Jr., born April 7, 1775, at Brookfield, Massachusetts;
married Thankful NEWTON, in Shrewsbury, September 15, 1796; she was born
January 15, 1796; she was born January 4, 1778; they had two sons:
David, married Anna BURBANK, of Worcester, November 1, 1827; and Andrew,
born November 14, 1808, at north parish of Sutton, now Millbury, who had
a son Frank B., now (1905) of New York city.
6. Rufus (see forward).
Joel WESSON and his brothers were the owners
of a large part of "the Gore," which was claimed by both Worcester and
Grafton. Joel was considered an inhabitant of Grafton until 1785,
when the title of Worcester to the section was acknowledged formally.
A very important deed in tracing this genealogy is recorded at Worcester.
Joel WESSON and his brother Levi WESSON deeded to their brothers, John,
Jr. and Samuel, October 24, 1777, certain lands in "the Gore," and the
deed gives the names of the children of John and Ruth (DEATH) WESSON.
Joel sold his farm in North Brookfield to his brother, John WESSON, June
25, 1789.
This Wesson biographical material continues
with the line of their son, Rufus WESSON, who married Betsey BAIRD, daughter
of Daniel BAIRD of Worcester. They named one of their sons Daniel Baird WESSON
and he invented and went on, with Horace SMITH, to manufacture the Smith
& Wesson "volcanic" rifle, and other arms.
I imagine a simple explanation that Hannah
BIGELOW WESSON was not mentioned in her father's will could be the fact
that she was obviously in comfortable financial circumstances.
Adele Just/Seattle
AFJust@aol.com
New Note:
"History of Worcester and its People" by Charles Nutt; Lewis Historical
Publishing Company; NY; 1919; Volume 1
page 56
Joshua 4 Bigelow, son of Joshua 3 ( Joshua 2, Johnl), born at Watertown, Feb 5
1702, died 1792; married Jan 2 1725, Lydia HASTINGS, of Weston.
He bought 75 acres of land of Samuel ANDREWS, father-in-law of Col.
Timothy BIGELOW and settled in Worcester. His home was at Lake
Quinsigamond, near the present B & A (Boston & Albany) tracks. His home
burned June 30, 1750, and his children David & Lydia lost their lives in
the fire. His land extended from the lake to Francis HARRINGTON's place. (See
Lake Park) He was representative to the General Court from Worcester 1768 &
1774; selectman 1747, 1767 to 1773,1775 and 1778. His will is dated Oct. 23 1787.
Children born at Watertown:
William, b 10 Apr 1727, settled at Athol
Thaddeus, b Weston (part of Watertown), 25 Sept 1728
Jerusha, b 22 June 1730
David, b 6 March 1732
Lydia, b 13 March 1734
Esther, b 23 Feb 1736; married John MOORE
Asa, b 13 Sept 1738; married Rebecca RICHARDSON
Anna, b 25 March 1740; married 3 Jan 1771, Nathan HAGAR
Hannah, b 2 July 1748; married 13 July 1770, Joel WESSON
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
