William Beardsley

(circa 1604 - 1661)

9-greats-grandfather of Darrell Allen Martin.
William was born in England circa 1604.1,2 He married Mary Harvey in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, on 26 January 1631.3 William Beardsley emigrated with Mary Harvey, Mary Beardsley, John Beardsley, and Joseph Beardsley on 2 April 1635 from Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England. They sailed on the Planter, Nico Trarice Master.4,5 William Beardsley took the oath of allegiance in Massachusetts Bay Colony 7 December 1636, and was admitted a freeman in 1637. He moved to Connecticut, and was one of the first settlers of Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut (first called Piquanoke or Pequonnock Plantation).6 Family tradition says it was he who chose the new name "Stratford" for the town, which was first called that April 1643.7 He was a prominent citizen, and served as a Deputy to the General Court at Hartford (the colonial legislature) eight times from 1645 to 1658.8 He helped found the First Congregational Church of Stratford.8 William died in 1661 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.9
Appears on these charts
Pedigree of Darrell Allen Martin

Children of William Beardsley and Mary Harvey

Cited documentation

  1. [S51] Peter Wilson Coldham., The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987), pg. 128, April 1635 "William Beardsley, mason 30."
  2. [S237] Nellie Beardsley Holt, The Family of William Beardsley, One of the First Settlers of Stratford, Connecticut, offset reprint of original typescript. (Ellsworth, Me.: Downeast Graphics and Printing, Inc., 1951), "born in England, 1605" citing Hotton's passenger list for the ship "Planter" dated "2o Aprilis 1635" in which appears "Wm. Beardsley 30."
  3. [S237] Beardsley Gen. 1951, "married at Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, 26 Jan. 1631."
  4. [S51] Peter Wilson Coldham, The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660, pg. 128, "With certificate from St. Albans parish, Herts."
  5. [S237] Beardsley Gen. 1951, pg. 1, citing Hotton's "List of Persons who went from Great Britain to the American Plantation" ... "2o Aprilis 1635. Theis under written names art to be transported to New England imbarqued in the Planter Nico Trarice Mr bound thither the pties have brought Certificate.from Minister St St (Sic) Albons in Hertfordshire ..." Of the 120 passengers, 38 were from St. Albans. Among those are: "A Mason Wm. Beardsley 30; Marie Beadsley 26; Marie Beadslie 4; John Beadslie 2; and Joseph Beadslie 6 mo."
  6. [S237] Beardsley Gen. 1951, pg. 1, "As yet, we have been unable to definitely determine where he and his family lived from 1636 till 1639, during which time their son Samuel was born. One may presume that they gradually traveled over the route from Massachusetts to Hartford, and Wethersfield, Connecticut, with other colonists. The first we hear of him, after he was made a freeman, was in the Pequonnock Plantation (now known as Stratford, Connecticut), where he was one of the first settlers, in the year, 1639."
  7. [S237] Beardsley Gen. 1951, pg. 2, but only as to the date ""October 10, 1639, at which time the plantation was called Pequonnock, by the Court. In June 1640, it was called Cupheay, and in April 1643, it was first called Stratford."
  8. [S237] Beardsley Gen. 1951, pg. 2.
  9. [S237] Beardsley Gen. 1951, "died at Stratford, Connecticut, 1661."
 
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