Rebecca Bayles
born about 1643, probably Southold, Long Island, NY; died before 1660
Married about 1641-1654 at Southold, Suffolk, NY
Note: The Rootsweb archive casts doubt on the last name Stillwell to be accurate
Rebecca Bayles
born about 1643, probably Southold, Long Island, NY; died before 1660
Taken from this page for safe keeping:
The history of the Bayles family was taken from the following web page: http://www.execpc.com/~pipesb/baylesfamily.pdf. It is an interesting fact that the record of the first of our ancestors in this country is more fully documented than that of most of his descendants. There is no question that he was of the pioneer type, restless, active in civic affairs and an inveterate land trader. While it would be tedious to list all of the minor activities of his many descendants, it seems worth while to give the history of John in some detail. 1617. Born in England. While we have no information regarding his family or ancestors, it is clear that he cameof humble yeoman stock, as he never learned to sign his name. The weight of evidence indicates that he came from the Parish of St. Peters of Mancrofts in Norwich, Norfolk, England.
1635. June 10. Sailed from London on the Truelove for Bermuda at the alleged age of 8 [Hotten]. It is customary for a ship to clear for the first port of call. During the colonial period it was very common for ships to make a triangular voyage, calling first at the West Indies with trade goods, thence to New England with molasses and finally back to England with rum and other New England produce. Their prompt appearance in New England proves beyond question that many, if not all, of the passengers on this trip stayed with the Truelove until it reached Boston.
1635-54. We are satisfied that John came to America as an indentured servant of William Wells, born in Norwich in 1605, who was a fellow-passenger on the Truelove. It was common for young men to work their passage in this way. The fact that Hotten gives Wells' age as 17 in 1635 does not alter this conviction. Wells came of a wealthy family, but his older brother John was heir to the estate and all William got was a first-rate legal education and a modest sum of money to start him in life. Wells arrived in Boston in 1635, was in Lynn in 1638, in New Haven in 1639 and in Southold, L. I.,in 1640. [Hayes.]
1640, when Wells moved to Southold, John had worked out his passage and was free to do as he pleased, and it was probably about this time that he married Rebecca. The fact that his marriage is not mentioned in Clemens' Marriages Prior to 1699 proves nothing, as this list is by no means complete. Equally the fact that John does not appear in the earlier records as having been in Boston, Lynn and New Haven, together with William Wells, does not disprove our theory, as only masters and heads of households were so listed. During the period 1640-54 we can only assume that John worked at a trade (we do not know what) and saved what he could.
1654. Southold. The records of the First Church show that John was living there before 1654. [Holgate] The short trip by boat across Long Island Sound would not have been difficult, even for a man with a wife and several children. Whether he made this move at the urging of his old friend and former employer, or was attracted by Rev. John Youngs, whom he may have known in England, we do not know. It seems more probable that Wells, who may have offered him employment, was the attraction.
1656. Southold. Bought a lot on the Town Street of Thomas Scudder. [Case.] He could very well have lived and worked in Southold for some time until he had saved enough to buy a home-lot.
1657. Southold was first settled in 1640. A Town Street was laid out and trees were felled to open it. In 1657 a resolution was passed at Town Meeting that all who owned property on Town Street must remove the stumps in front of their lots. A study of a few wills indicates that very few of the early settlers had horses, and the fact that the stumps were allowed to remain in place so long is strong evidence that still fewer had any sort of wheeled vehicles.[Case.]
1661. Southold. Sept. 22. Sells his house and home lot to John Tuthill. [Moore.]
1661. Jamaica. July 14. Voted in Town Meeting. [RJ 1-101.] probably the sale of his property in Southold was made or agreed upon before John Jan. 30, Jamaica. Candidate for Magistrate. [RJ 1-13. ]
1662. Apr. 3, Jamaica. Licensed to keep an ordinary.
1663. Dec. 3, Jamaica. T. M. voted him a delegate to a meeting of town deputies. [RJ 1-25 ] During this period John was involved in the New Jersey land grant. While he probably did not move his family to New Jersey, he was away from Jamaica most of the time during these two years.
1666. Jamaica. Surveys land. [RJ 1-33 ]
1668. Setauket. Accepted as a townsman by T. M. [BR 1-156 ] 1668-74. Setauket. Resident and taxpayer, proved by numerous entries in the Brookhaven Records. In spite of the fact that John spent six years in Setauket, it seems that none of the many Bayleses in Brookhaven Town (Township), of which Setauket was the principal village, are descended from him. Instead, they trace their lineback to Elias Baylis (Bayles) who came to Setauket in 1656. See Part 3. [Thompson p. 262] Whether Elias of Setauket was any relation to John we do not know. We are only sure that he was not the same person as Elias (4) who was the son of John.
1672. Jan. 10, Setauket. Elected Constable. [BR 1-131 ]
1674. Apr. 22. "John Bayles, now of Setauket" trades land in Brookhaven with Thos. Bigs for land in Jamaica," formerly the property of John Bayles. [BR 1-121 ]
1674. May 28, Jamaica. Attended T. M. [RJ 1-94] 1676.-1682. Jamaica. Many references. [RJ ] 1682. Oct. 18. Made his will. [NYW 1-122 ]
1682. Oct. 20.
Jamaica. Deed to son Elias. [RJ 1-220] 1682. Dec. 13. Jamaica. Will proved
John was married to Rebecca, who survived him. The following list of
children is given in his will. They are arranged according to the order given in
the will, with due allowance for the fact that sons were always named first, and
for the fact that Rebecca (2) must have been old enough to marry, have a child
and die before Rebecca (12) was born. The dates of birth are reasonable
approximations. The marriages are taken in part from the N. Y.Hist. Soc. Coll.,
1892, p. 122.
John b. 1641-2 d. 1696 m. Mar. 12, 1665 Ruth Rusco
Rebecca b. abt.
1643 d. before Rebecca (12) was born m. Nicholas Stilwell, leaving a son, Elias
Elias b. abt. 1645 d. after 1699 m. abt. 1674 Sarah Elizabeth b. abt. 1646 d.
after 1682 m. Dec. 31, 1664 James Hubbard
Thomas b. abt. 1647 d. abt. 1689
Jonathan b. abt. 1650 d. after 1682 m. abt. 1685 Elizabeth Cardell
Mary b. 1654
d. 1733 [C.A.G. 5-187 ] m. 1680 George Hewlett, 1639-1722 9
Damaris b. abt. 1656
d. after 1682 m. Nov. 13, 1679 Nathaniel Lyns of Gravesend
Abigail b. abt. 1658
d. after 1682 m. before 1682 Daniel Smith
Ruth b. abt. 1660 d. after 1682
Rebecca b. abt. 1662 d. after 1694 m. Jan. 11, 1664 Richard More
WILL OF JOHN BAYLES I
In the name of God Amen, the Eighteenth Day of October 1682 I John Bayles Senior of Jameca on Long Island in America being in Good and perfect memory thanks be to almight God for the same Doe make Ordaine andAppoint this my Last Will and Testamt in manner and forme following Revoaking by these prsents Annulling alland all manner of Former Will and Wills Testamt and Testamt heretofore by me made Either by Writeing orword of mouth and this only to be taken for my Last Will and Testamt First and Principally being hartelySorrowfull and and Penitent for my Sinns I humbly Committ my Soule unto the hands of Almighty God mySaviour and Redemer trusting in and through the Merrits of Jesus Christ to Obtain Everlasting Life And my Body to be Decently Buried by my Executrix hereafter named and for my wordly Estate which it hath Pleased God to bestow on me. I Doe Give and Dispose of in manner and Form Following. Item I Doe ordanie my beloved Wife Rebecca Bayles to be whole and Sole Executrix of my Estate Reall and Personall soe Long as she the Said Rebecca Shall after my decease Remaine unmarried, butt in Case of Remarriage I Doe Dispose there of as follows. Item I give to my Sonne John Bayles five shillings Item to my Sonne Elyas the meadow att the ffarthes east neck with the addicon thereunto and three Acres more att the Lower End of the Greate Meadow Item I Give unto my Sonns Thomas and Jonathan Bayles all the Rest ofmy Meadow Fresh and Salt to be Equally Divided between them Only my Sonne Jonathan to take his Choice onwhich Side, as Alsoe all the Rest of my Land and Houseing and Stock to be Likewise Equally Divided betweenmy Said Sonns Thomas and Jonathan they paying out their (share) of all my Debts Legacies and Funerall Charges. Item I Give to my Daughter Elizabeth Hubbard tenn pounds Item I Give to my Daughter Mary Hewlett tenn pounds Item I Give to my Daughter Damares Lyn's five pounds Item I Give to my Daughter Abigail Smith tenn pounds Item I Give to my Daughter Ruth Bayles tenn pounds Item I Give to my Daughter Rebecca Bayles ten pounds Item I Give unto Elyas Stilwell Sonne of Nicholas Stillwell and my Daughter Rebecca his Wife Deceased ten pounds give unto my Grand Child John Bayles one Cow Item I Give unto my Dearly Beloved Wife Rebecca the Disposall of all my Household Goods in Witnesse wherofI have hereunto Sett my Hand and Seale the Day and Yeare first Above written:- Signed Sealed and Published in presence off N.Y. County Wills Liber 1-2 p. 451-2 The Probate of the will of John Bayles Deceased and Admicon Granted to Rebecca Bayles his Widdow and Relict therein named: Anthony Brockholls Espr Commander in Chiefe and the Councell of the Province of New Yorke To all to whom this Shall come or may Concerne Greetings Whereas John Bayles Late of Jameca on Long Island Deceased Did in his Lifetime make Declare and Cause to be put in writing his Last Will and Testamt Intending to Signe Seale and Publish the Same in Usuall forme of Law butt before the Same was EffectedDeparted this Life Now know Yee That att a Court of Sessions held att Jameca aforesaid for the North rideingof Yorkshire on Long Island the 13th 14th &; 15th Dayes of December Last past the said Will hereunto Annexedbeing Produced and Mr Peter Smith the Person who Wrott the Same Declareing upon his Corporall Oath thatthe Same was According to the order and Directions he Received from the said John Bayles and that before hisDecease he Declared the Same as his Last Will and Testamt Itt was Approved Admitted and Allowed ofaccordingly And the Said John Bayles haveing while he Lived and att the time of his Death Goods and Chattles within the said Towne of Jameca and Province and Rebecca Bayles his Widdow and Relict being therein appointed his whole and Sole Executrix the Admicon of all & Singular the Said Goods and Chattles and the said Will is hereby Committed unto the said Rebecca Bayles well and Truly to Administer upon the Same Accordingly to make a full and Just Inventory of all the Goods and Chattles of the Said Deceased and Exhibote the same unto the next Court of Sessions Ensueing the Date and Render A true and Perfect Account of her Admicon in the time by Law Required. Given under my Hand and Seale in New Yorks the 15th Day of Jan. in the thirty fourth Yeare of his Magisties Reigne Annoqe Dom 1682 New York County Wills Liber 1-2 p. 450-1