M. about 1616 in England2
Wife: Sarah ________
D. 3 Apr 1677 in Concord, Massachusetts1
When the Puritans first settled in New England, their main concern was setting up a religious haven for themselves. But as a practical matter, they also needed to grow their own food, and many soon found out that the soil of their new home wasn't ideally suited for that. This was a fact that played into the story of Robert Fletcher.
Robert was born in about 1592 in England;1 some have speculated he was from Yorkshire, but his name is too common to say that conclusively. Later documents showed that he couldn’t sign his name, so he was likely uneducated. Robert married a woman named Sarah,2 and they had a daughter and two sons by the time they arrived in Massachusetts around 1631.3 Two more sons were born during the next few years.
During the early 1630s, the population of the colony grew quickly, and the people looked to form new towns. In 1635, Concord, Massachusetts became the first settlement to be established inland, and it’s likely that the Fletchers were among the original 12 families. The settlers arrived late in the year, setting up some rough dwellings for the winter. The following year, they formalized ownership of the land by paying the Indians for it with “wampum, hatchets, hoes, knives, cotton-cloth and shirts.”4 By 1637, a few other families had joined the community,4 and Robert was appointed the town constable, a post he held for one year.5
During the early 1630s, the population of the colony grew quickly, and the people looked to form new towns. In 1635, Concord, Massachusetts became the first settlement to be established inland, and it’s likely that the Fletchers were among the original 12 families. The settlers arrived late in the year, setting up some rough dwellings for the winter. The following year, they formalized ownership of the land by paying the Indians for it with “wampum, hatchets, hoes, knives, cotton-cloth and shirts.”4 By 1637, a few other families had joined the community,4 and Robert was appointed the town constable, a post he held for one year.5
Wampam belts — the currency of early New England.
It wasn’t a certainty that the town of Concord would last. Quite a number of people left within the first few years, moving to newer communities in Connecticut.4 Those who stayed struggled to make a profit with their farms. In 1645, Robert joined 11 other men in a petition to the governor and General Court of the colony, asking that their “common charges” be lowered due to their poverty. The petition described the “badness and wetness of the meadows,” and that no matter how hard they worked, they couldn’t produce good crops.3
Robert and the other settlers stuck it out, and Concord survived. He lived out his life there, his name appearing in various other petitions and documents over the years. He wrote a will in 1672 mentioning his three living sons, William, Samuel and Francis.6 Robert died in Concord on April 3, 1677.1 His wife died a month later.7
Famous descendants of William Fletcher include Franklin Pierce, First Lady Abigail (Powers) Fillmore, and Billie Jean King.8
Children:
1. Grizelle Fletcher — B. about 1618, England;9 D. 9 Jul 1669, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;9 M. (1) Thomas Jewell (~1608-~1654), about 1641;10 (2) Humphrey Greggs, 1 Nov 1655, Braintree, Massachusetts;11 (3) Henry Kibbe (1611-1661), 8 Oct 1657, Dorchester, Massachusetts;12 (4) John Gurney, 12 Nov 1661, Braintree, Massachusetts;9 John Burge, 3 Jul 1667, Chelmsford, Massachusetts13
2. Luke Fletcher — B. about 1625, England;3 D. 21 May 1665, Concord, Massachusetts14
4. Samuel Fletcher — B. about 1632, (probably) Massachusetts;5 D. 9 Dec 1697, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;17 M. Margaret Hailstone (~1639-~1697), 14 Oct 1659, Concord, Massachusetts5
5. Francis Fletcher — B. 1636, Massachusetts;18 D. aft 14 Jun 1704;19 M. Elizabeth Wheeler (1635-1704), 11 Oct 1656, Concord, Massachusetts20
Sources:
1 Find-a-Grave listing of Robert Fletcher
2 Estimated marriage date based on estimated birth year of oldest child Grizelle
3 Fletcher Family History: The Descendants of Robert Fletcher of Concord, Mass, Part 1, Edward Hatch Fletcher, 1881
4 History of Massachusetts Blog (website)
5 Robert Fletcher of Concord, Mass., 1637, Winifred Lovering Holman, 1930
6 Probate record of Robert Fletcher, Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Ancestry.com
7 Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah Fletcher
8 FamousKin.com listing of Robert Fletcher
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Grissell (Fletcher) Burge
10 Marriage date based on birth of Hannah Jewell, Grissell’s oldest child, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
11 Marriage record of Humphrey Griggs and Grissell Griggs, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12 Marriage record of Henry Kibbe and Grissell Jewell, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 Marriage record of John Burge and Grissell Gurney, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14 Death record of Luke Fletcher, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Marriage record of William Fletcher and Lydia Bates, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Death record of William Fletcher, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Death record of Samuel Fletcher, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Birth record of Francis Fletcher, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19 Find-a-Grave listing of Francis Fletcher
20 Marriage record of Francis Fletcher and Elizabeth Wheeler, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
