Joshua Fletcher

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Joshua Fletcher (c. 1644–1713), son of William Fletcher and Lydia Unknown

Sarah Wiley (b. 1658), probable daughter of John Wiley and Elizabeth Clough.

Joshua Fletcher was born about 1644. He was baptized on 1: 12m 1656, age about 12, in Chelmsford. [1] He died on 21 November 1713 in Chelmsford. [1] He married first [his first cousin] Grissell Jewell on 4 May 1668 in Chelmsford. [1] Grissell was the daughter of Thomas Jewell and Grissell Fletcher. She died on 17: 1 m. 1682 in Chelmsford [1] at about 31. [2] He married second Sarah Wiley on 18 July 1682 in Chelmsford. [2][3, of Reading] She is probably the daughter of John Wiley.

Sarah Wiley was born on 4 February 1658 in Reading. [4]

Joshua Fletcher was on a 1671 tax list in Chelmsford, [5, 59–60] He was on a 1 September 1674 list of able-bodied men in Chelmsford. [5, 90] He was a selectman in 1691 and 1692. [5, 754–6]

Children of Joshua Fletcher and Grissell Jewell: [1]

i. Deacon Joshua Fletcher was born on 4 January 1677 in Chelmsford. He died before 11 November 1732 when administration on his estate was granted to his widow Dorothy. [6] He married Dorothy Heald on 3 March 1701 in Chelmsford.

ii. [record torn] Fletcher was born on 23 October 1679 in Chelmsford. He may be the William, son of Joshua, who died young on 6: 1: 1682 in Chelmsford. [2]

Children of Joshua Fletcher and Sarah Wiley: [1]

iii. Rachel Fletcher was born on 27 June 1683 in Chelmsford.

iv. Timothy Fletcher was born on 20 October 1685 in Chelmsford. He died on 2 March 1705 in Chelmsford.

v. John Fletcher was born on 7 May 1687 in Chelmsford.

vi. Joseph Fletcher was born on 10 June 1689 in Chelmsford. He married first Sarah Adams. He married second Keziah (Butterfield) Nutting.

vii. Sarah Fletcher was born on 21 or 27 January 1690/1 in Chelmsford. She may be the Sarah who married Thomas Read in Charlestown on 14 March 1709.

vii. Jonas Fletcher was born on 25 December 1694 in Chelmsford. He married Elizabeth Robbins by an intention of 8 November 1722 in Chelmsford.

Jonathan Fletcher (possible son) married Deborah Bates by an intention dated 8 November 1719 in Chelmsford.

Paul Fletcher was the son of Joshua Fletcher. [5, 142]

Endnotes:

1.Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1914). Fletcher: baptism of Joshua (as. s. William), births of Joshua and [torn] as sons of Joshua and Grissell, births of Rachel, Timothy, John, Joseph, Sarah, Jonah (as, ch. Joshua and Sarah), 61–67. Joshua and Grissell's marriage, Joshua's marriage, Sarah's marriage, Jonathan's marriage, Jonas's marriage, pp. 228–233. Deaths of Joshua, Grissell (w. Joshua) and Timothy, pp. 389–93.

2. "Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620–1680," database with images, Ancestry > Chelmsford > Vital Records Appendix and Bibliography, image 17.

3. Clarence Almon Torrey, "New England Marriages to 1700," database with images, AmericanAncestors, vol. 1: 553.

4. Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital Records of Reading, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1850 (Boston: Wright & Potter, 1912). Births, 250–2; marriages, 475–9; deaths, 583–5.

5. Wilson Waters, History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Lowell, MA: Courier-Citizen, 1917).

6. "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648–1871," database with images, AmericanAncestors, 7875.

Revised 04-Jun-2023