General Notes

BIOGRAPHY
John Bechelder was the son of Joseph Bachelder and Elizabeth
Dickenson.  He was one of the witchcraft jury in 1692.  Her father,
Robert G oodell, deeded forty acres of land to them September 20, 1666
as a wedding gif t.  They sold it the same year to their brother-in-law
Lot Killam

John lived in Wenham MA and in all probablility, John served in the milita mustered on Dedham Plain, 10 Dec. 1675, to march against Narragansett Fort (King Phillip's War). I believe this to be true, as we know that John's brother Mark was killed in this battle and according to Tarbox, heirs of the militia that served in this battle were awarded land in 1728 by the General Court in what is now Amherst NH, where several of John's grandsons were a pioneer settlers. Pierce describes the prelude and the battle for Narragansett swamp like this:

In 1675 King Philip's War broke out and continued for two years. It was the principal struggle made by the Indians for their homes and hunting grounds. They fought with the energy of despair, and inflicted many a severe loss upon the 'pale faced intruders.' About 600 of the whites were killed and many more severely wounded; 13 towns and 600 houses were destroyed; and the expenses of the war have been estimated at $500,000, an enormous sum for those days, considering the scarcity of money and the small number of those upon whom the loss fell.

But heavy as were the losses of the feeble colonists, those of the enemy were still greater. They were routed from their old fastnesses and their power effectively broken. Their subsequent struggles were less for victory than revenge. No place was safe, and at no time were the colonists free from danger. The law of 1676 that each town should 'scout and war' and clear up the brush along the ways, 'to prevent the skulking of the enemy,' was rigourously obeyed. Farmers carried their arms and ammunition, as well as implements of husbandry to their fields and some worked while others were posted as sentinels about the clearing. Memebers of the church attended divine worship with their guns and sentinels paced their rounds about the little edifice while others were listening to the word. A fortification was raised in every town to provide against an attack, and often the whole population was massed in the stckade, while at other times neighbors were massed in the garrison houses.

In the depth of winter a force of 550 men was collected in Massachusetts, and being joined by reinforcements from Plymouth and Connecticut colonies, they made a forced march through the snows and over the frozen ground till they reached, Dec. 19, 1675, a swamp in the country of the Narragansetts where the Indians had built a fort and gathered their bravest warriors. Notwithstanding tht they had camped out the previous night 'with no other covering than a cold and moist fleece of snow,' and had marched 19 miles that day, wading through the drifts, the troops rushed at once to the attack. The Indians retreated to the middle of the swamps, where they had fortified an island, covering five or six acres with palisades and a hedge nearly a rod thick. ' There were two entrances, one over a long tree upon a place of water, the other at a corner,' and commanded by a log house in front, and on the left by a 'flanker'.

At this point an attack was made by the Massachusetts troops, led by Capt. Johnson, who unfortunately fell at the first fire, with Mark Batcheller. So many of the soldiers were killed or wounded that they were obliged to retreat. Again, however, they were rallied by their valiant leaders; again they rushed to the charge, carrying block house and flanker and fairly establishing themselves upon the island. The Indians then retreated to the middle of the fort, and the whole mass was quickly engaged in desperate and deadly struggle. The strife was long and bloody, for the savages outnumbered the whites more than three to one, but 'manifest destiny' was against them. They were routed, their wigwams burned and their corn and other stores destroyed by the flames. Three hundred warriors are said to have been slain, while as many more were taken prisoners. But this success was not purchased without severe loss to the Massachusetts troops, for more than 100 were killed or wounded .. (including) Capt. Joseph Gardiner."

John served on the famous "Salem witch trial" jury in 1692 which resulted in the deaths of 23 men and women (19 by hanging, 1 pressed to death, 3 died in prison see Salem MA Witchcraft Hysteria for more information). That he came to regret the results of this civic duty is evidenced by the following "Declaration of Regret" which was signed inby John and the other members of the jury.

"We whose names are underwritten, being in the year 1692 called to serve as jurors in court at Salem, on trial of many who were by some suspected guilty of doing acts of witchcraft upon the bodies of sundry persons, we confess that we ourselves were not capable to understand, nor able to withstand, the mysterious delusions of the powers of darkness and Prince of the air, but were, for want of knowledge in ourselves and better information from others, prevailed with to take with such evidence against the accused, as, on further consideration and better information, we justly fear was insufficient for the touching the lives of any (Deut. xvi 1) whereby we fear we have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon ourselves and this people of the Lord the guilt of innocent blood; which sin the Lord saith in Scripture he would not pardon (2 Kings xxiv. 4) - that is, we suppose, in regard to his temporal judgments. We do therefore hereby signify to all in general, and to the surviving sufferers in special, our deep sense of, and sorrow for, our errors in acting on such evidence to the condemning of any person; and do hereby declare, that we justly fear that we were sadly deluded and mistaken - for which we are much disquieted and distresed in our minds, and do therefore humbly beg forgiveness, first of God, for Christ's sake, for this our error, and pray that God would impute the guilt of it to ourselves nor others, and we also pray that we may be considered candidly and aright by the living sufferers, as being then under a strong and general delusion, utterly unacquainted with, and not experienced in, matters of that nature.

We do hereby ask forgiveness of you all, whom we have justly offended, and do declare, according to our present minds, we would none of us do such things again, on such grounds, for the whole world - praying you to accept of this in way of satisfaction for our offense, and that you would bless the inheritance of the Lord, that he may be entreated for the land.
Thomas Fisk, Foreman Thomas Pearly, Sr.
William Fisk John Peabody
John Bacheler Thomas Perkins
Thomas Fisk Samuel Sayer
John Dane Andrew Eliot
Joseph Evelith Henry Herrick, Sr."

John's will was dated 16 Dec 1698 and probated 16 Jan 1698 and named Ebenzer as Executor. I was particularly interested in the degree of detail of how the widow Sarah was to be provided for; John specifies her entitlements down to the specific room in the house and the size of the pot she can use!:

"In ye Name of God Amen I John Batchelder Senr. of Wenham in ye Co. of Essex in his Majestic Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman, being Weake in body yett of perfect understanding and memory through ye Mercy and goodness of God and Nott knowing how short my time may be here in this world and being Willing to settle that little worldly Estate that God in his Goodness has been pleased to bestow upon me I doe make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and Forme following: Imp. I committ my Soul into ye hands of Almighty God in and through ye merritts and mediation of ye Lord Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer and Sanctifier in hope a blesed and glorious resurection and my body to ye earth to be decently buried in such decent manner as my Executer with ye advice of my overseers whom I shall Appoint shall see meet. And for that little Worldly Estate which God hath given me I dispose of it as followeth, my honest and just debts and funeral charges being Satisfied and Discharged in ye First place the Remainder I dispose of as is hereafter expressed.

Item. My will is that Sarah my beloved wife shall be Taken Care of by my Exectr. And that she be Decently and honourably Kept and maintained by him out of my estate left in ye hands of my Exectr. So long as she lives and Remains my widow and also my Will that she my said wife shall have ye use of ye Little Room or Westwardly end of my now Dwelling house to live in if she shall see cause to accept of itt free to her self and that she have good bed and bed Clothes to itt with Curtains and Vallance to itt and a bedstead & an Iron Pott that will hold about two Gallons to be free to her to dispose of after her decease if she shall see meett.

Item. My will is that Joseph Batchelder my Eldest son shall have and Enjoy to him and his heirs Exectr., Admin. And assigns forever all that land which he is now in possession of being about fifty five acres & on part of the land his dwelling house standeth in full of his Share or portion in my Estate and any right or interest that he might have to ye estate left by my brother Marke Batchelder Deed.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Son John Batchelder and his heirs and Exec. And Assigns forever ye dwelling house in which he now liveth and all ye land both upland and meadow belonging to me which he is now in possession of, he paying out of ye same Ten pounds money to my Exectr. Within two years after my decease. Viz. Five pounds one year, & ye other five pounds ye next year following.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth ye Wife of Thomas Millett Thirty Shillings money to be paid to her within twelve months after my decease by my Exectr. Which with what I have already bestowed upon her I do account it her Full Share or part of my Estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my three daughters, Hannah, Mary and Sarah to each of them Twenty Seven pounds apiece to be paid them in money or almony by my Exectr. Within five years after my decease Viz. To each of them in part of said sums Six pounds apiece within two years after my decease, and six pounds apiece more annually to each of them the two Next Years Following and Nine pounds apiece to Each of them ye next Year following being to Complete ye sd. Sum of Twenty Seven pound apiece to Each of them beside what I have already Given them which is a cow to Each of them I also now give to my daughter Hannah a yearling calf and a pair of Weaver's Looms all which legacies to bee free to their Disposal respectively.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Son David Batchildor and his heirs, Exectrs., and Assigns forever when he shall Come to ye age of Twenty One Year Eighteen Acre of upland and Meadow ground to be laid out and Delivered to him and a legall Conveyance Given him by my Exectr. To be laid out of that parcell of land which my brother Mark Batchelder formerly lived on and dyed possessed of if there be Soe much remaining in Sd. Parcell of land & to leave and acre of land to ye dwelling house which my son Ebenezer hath built and Sett up on said land and also Sd. David and his heir and Assigns to have liberty of a convenient way to pass to and from Said land from time and at all times as occasion shall desire without lawful lett, hindrance or Interruption of my Exectr., his heirs or assigns.

Item. I give and bequeath Unto my Son: Ebenezer Batchelder all ye reservation and Remainder of my estate Either in housing or land, goods or chattels whatsoever not before disposed of to be free to him, his heirs Exectrs., Adminrs., or Assigns forever and all Debt belonging unto me from any person or persons and I do hereby Nominate, ordain, Constitute and Appoint my Said Son Ebenezer to be Sole Executor of this my last will and testament and I desire my Loving Friend Ltt. William Fisk and Mr. John Newman to be overseers of this my last will and testament and in Witness whereof I shall hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this sixteenth day of Dec. Anno Dom. Sixteen hundred & Ninety Eight, 1698

Signed, Sealed, Published. John Batchelder & a Seal.
Declared in ye presence of Wm. Fisk, John Newman and the mark of Bethia H. Herrick.

Before ye Hon. Jonathan Corwin Esp. Judge of Probate of Wills etc. at Salem 16 Jan. 1698.
Mr. Wm. Fisk, Mr. John Newman, and Bethia Herrick personally Appeared and made oath that they were present and Did See John Batchelder Decd. Sign, Seal, and heard him Declare, Publish and Declare ye above written Instrument to be his last will and Testament and that he was then of a disposing mind to their best judgement & that they then Sett to their names as Witnesses.

Sworn Attest John Higginson, Regr. Upon which this will is declared Approved and allowed being presented by ye Executer. Attest John Higginson, Recr. Exam'd

The inventory of John's estate was filed in March 1698/9 and amounted to almost £ 480:

"An inventory of the Estate of John Batcheler Late of Wenham deed as it was apprised by us whose names are hereunto subjoined this 20 March 1698-9":
Impe. The dwelling house & Barn and homestead being about 40 acres upland and meadow £ 180.00.00
A parcell of land wch Joseph Batcheler cont. About 55 acres of upland & meadow and Given him by his father's will 110.00.00
About 35 Acres of upland and meadow on which John Batcheler dwells 070.00.00
A parcell of land cont. About 9 acres with a small orchyard on it and being the land which was formerly Mark Batcheler's decd 040.00.00
6 acres ¼ of Salt marsh lying in Ipswich bought of Jacob Pirkins 31.05.00
4 young Cows 50prs. Sis a three year old steer 4 of 12.00.00
2 year old & att 30 ps. Js and two horse kynd one at 301 and the other at 241 5.14.00
14 sheep att 87 ps. P £ 5.12.0 his wearing apparel £ 4 and armes rcs. 10.12.00
bed bedding, Curtains & Vallances, Coverlids and sheets 8.00.00
Bedsted, & bed Covs. 1vs Val. A Cupbord, table chests boxes and chairs 44 2.16.00
Pewter, Brass, and Iron Ke. 14.0 & Sauce Spider at 10s pc. Beef and Pork 40 & 54 Bush. Barley, ?.2.0 9.4.
Indien Corn & Meal £ 5 15.2
Oats 15s flax wool, yarn & wool meal sacks 45s a saddle and bridle 12s 3.12.
1 Cart, Sled, plow, plow-irons, axes, chains, and other utensils of husbandry £ 3 7s 3.53
In all sorts of wooden ware of Earthen war Tin & Glass bottles 5s 15.
Syder mill and press £ 4, a grindstone Cl. Old bbl. And tubbs 5.10.
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£ 507.15.
We find in debts owning to the Estate Viz. From John Batchelerr Junr. £ 10 and other small debts from Several persons thirty shillings in all 11.10
Wee find in debts due from the estate to Several mercht. Docters, tradsemen etc.. £ 30 and the funeral charges £ 10, is 40.00.
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Rests 479.05
Wm. Fisk
John Newman

Ebenezer presented the inventory to the Hon. Jon. Corwin Esp. Judge of Probate on 27 Mar 1699.

Sources: History of the Town of Amherst NH - 1883; PAF for GOODALE; Tarbox, Blyney and Allied Families, compied by George E. Tarbox, Jr. Denver, Colorado 1965; Massachusetts Colonial Records; Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy by Pierce, Frederick Clifton - 1898; A Genealogy of the Descendants of Robert Goodale / Goodell of Salem Mass by Williams, Geo E. - 1984; Essex County Probate Records

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