The TILDEN Family of Tenterden, Kent, England and Scituate

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  RICHARD BIGGE (d. 1474) of Benenden m. Agnes Unknown
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  ROBERT BIGGE (d. 1500) of Benenden
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  EDWARD BIGGE of Benenden m. Alice Unknown
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RICHARD TILDEN (d. 1566) m. Elizabeth Unknown
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ROBERT BIGGE (d. 1548) of Benenden
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THOMAS TILDEN (bu. 1617) of Tenterden m. ALICE BIGGE (bu. 1593)
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ELDER NATHANIEL TILDEN (bp. 1583 - 1641) of Tenterden and Scituate m. Lydia Huckstep
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LYDIA TILDEN (bp. 1625) m. Dea. Richard Garrett


First Generation

RICHARD BIGGE (d. 1474) of Benenden

Parents: Unknown

Richard Bigge died between 12 May and 14 Jun 1474. He married Agnes Unknown.

Richard Bigge of Benenden signed his will on 12 May 1474; it was proved on 14 Jun 1474. He asked to be buried in the parish church of St. George. His son Robert was his principal heir: he left him his tenement called Bowmannys with seven acres; his land and woods called Strodes with five acres; a piece of land called Pettefield with five acres; two pieces of land called Southfields in Maythammys marsh, containing eight acres and one acre. He also left bequests to his sons Thomas and John and two Agnes and Johan, the daughters of Robert Bygge. He left a detailed provision for his wife. [Ref]

Sadly, the original church of St. George in Benenden was destroyed in a lightening storm on 30 Dec 1672.

Children of Richard and Agnes Unknown

  1. Robert Bigge died between 1 Jul and 15 Sep 1500.
  2. Thomas Bigge
  3. John Bigge died between 21 Oct 1479, when his will was signed, and 17 May 1780, when it was proved. He married Alice Unknown. He left bequests to his mother Agnes Bygge, his sons and his sister Katherine. He also mentions his deceased father Richard and his wife Alice. [Ref]
  4. Katherine Bigge

Second Generation

ROBERT BIGGE (d. 1500) of Benenden

Parents: Richard Bigge and Agnes Unknown

Robert Bigge died between 1 Jul and 15 Sep 1500. [Ref]

Robert Bigge of Benenden signed his will on 1 Jul 1500; it was proved on 15 Sep 1500. He asked to be buried in the parish church of St. George. He left bequests for his daughters Agnes Watt, Johan Lellysden and Elizabeth. [Ref]

Children of Robert Bigge:

  1. Agnes Bigge was born before 12 May 1474. She married [John?] Watt. [Ref]
  2. Johan Bigge was born before 12 May 1474. She married Thomas Lellysden. [Ref]
  3. Edward Bigge married Alice Unknown
  4. Parnell Bigge married Richard Astyn. [Ref]
  5. Elizabeth Bigge died between 17 Jul, when she signed her will, and 15 Sep 1500, when it was proved. In her will she mentions, among others, her goddaughter Johane Watt; the sons of Richard Astyn and Thomas Lellysden; her sister Pnell Astyn; Alice, wife of Edward Bigge; her brother Thomas and Edward Bigge. [Ref]

Third Generation

EDWARD BIGGE of Benenden

Parents: Robert Bigge

Edward Bigge married Alice Unknown.

Children of Edward Bigge and Alice Unknown:

  1. Robert Bigge (probable son) died between 13 Jan 1547/8 and 2 Jun 1548. He married Elizabeth Unknown.

 

Fourth Generation

RICHARD TILDEN (d. 1566) of Tenterden

Parents: Unknown

Richard Tilden was probably born at Benenden, Kent. He died between 22 Jan 1565/6, when he signed his will, and 15 May 1566, when it was proved. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Unknown. [Ref]

Richard was a yeoman of Tenterden, Kent. [Ref]

Children of Richard Tilden and Elizabeth Unknown:

  1. John Tilden married Patience Casslen on 23 Jan 1569/70. [Ref] She was buried on 23 Nov 1615 in Tenterden. [Ref] Mr. John Tilden was a jurat in 1587, 1615 and 1625. [Ref]
  2. Thomas Tilden was buried on 6 Jun 1617 in Wye, Kent. He married first Alice Bigge. He married second the widow Ellen Evernden. He married third Alice Unknown.
  3. Julian Tilden married Thomas Fynche on 21 Jun 1568 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  4. Agnes Tilden married Peter Pierse on 14 Feb 1568/9 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  5. Thomasen Tilden
  6. Catherine Tilden was baptised on 30 Sep 1554 in Tenterden. [Ref] She probably died young. [Ref]
  7. Mary Tilden was baptised on 8 Jun 1556 in Tenterden. [Ref] She probably died young.
  8. Alice Tilden was baptised on 6 Apr 1559 in Tenterden. [Ref] She was buried on 30 Sep 1560 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  9. Mary Tilden was baptised on 15 May 1561 in Tenterden. [Ref]

ROBERT BIGGE (d. 1548) of Benenden

Parents: Edward Bigge and Alice Unknown

Robert Bigge died between 13 Jan 1547/8 and 2 Jun 1548. He married Elizabeth Unknown.

Robert Bigge of Benenden signed his will on 13 Jan 1547/8; it was proved on 2 Jun 1548. He asked to be buried in the parish church of St. George. He left bequests for his wife Elizabeth; his son Walter; his sons Richard and Thomas when they reached 18; his daughters Elizabeth, Dorothe, Elionor, and Alyce when they reached 18 or married. [Ref]

Children of Robert Bigge and Elizabeth Unknown: all except Walter born before 13 Jan 1529/30.

  1. Walter Bigge may have married Marian Asten on 16 Dec 1554 in Benenden. [Ref] Administration on the estate of Walter Bigge of Benenten was granted to his widow Marian on 17 Aug 1575. [Ref]
  2. Richard Bigge
  3. Thomas Bigge
  4. John Bigge
  5. Elizabeth Bigge
  6. Dorothy Bigge
  7. Eleanor Bigge
  8. Alice Bigge married Thomas Tilden on 10 Mar 1576/7 in Benenden.

Fifth Generation

THOMAS TILDEN (bu. 1617) of Tenterden

Parents: Richard Tilden and Elizabeth Unknown

Thomas Tilden was probably born after 1541 in Benenden, Kent. [Ref] He was buried on 6 Jun 1617 in Wye, Kent. [Ref] He married first Alice Biggs [Ref] on 10 Mar 1576/7 in Tenterden. [Ref] She was buried on 13 May 1593 in Tenterden. [Ref] He married second the widow Ellen Evernden of Rolvinden on 13 Nov 1593. [Ref] He married third Alice Unknown. [Ref]

In his will, Thomas mentions his wife Alice and his sons Joseph, Thomas, Nathaniel, Hopestill and Freegift

ALICE BIGGE

Parents: Robert Bigge and Elizabeth Unknown

Alice Bigge was buried on 13 May 1593 in Tenterden. [Ref] She married Thomas Tilden [Ref] on 10 Mar 1576/7 in Tenterden. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Tilden and Alice Bigge:

  1. Sarah Tilden was baptised on 30 August 1579 inTenterden. [Ref] She probably married John Stanshame on 20 Nov 1600. [Ref]
  2. Abigail Tilden was baptised on 26 Feb 181/2 in Tenterden. [Ref] She was buried on 5 Aug 1582 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  3. Nathaniel Tilden was baptised on 28 Jul 1583 in Tenterden. He died between 25 May and 31 Jul 1641. He married Lydia Huckstep.
  4. Joseph Tilden was baptised on 28 Nov 1585 in Tenterden. [Ref] He died after 1 Feb 1642, when he wrote his will. [Ref] He was a citizen and girdler of London. [Ref]
  5. Hopestill Tilden was baptised on 1 May 1588 in Tenterden. [Ref] He died between 19 Nov 1661, when he signed his will, and 9 Feb 1661/2, when it was proved. [Ref] He married Deborah Unknown. [Ref] He was a grocer. [Ref] He lived in Sandwich, England. [Ref] His will mentions his brother Nathaniel Tilden, gentleman, late of Tenterden. [Ref]
  6. Theophilus Tilden was baptised on 11 Oct 1690 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  7. Thomas Tilden was baptised on 1 May 1593 in Tenterden. [Ref] He married and had a son baptised in Wye on 5 Feb 1617/8. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Tilden and either Ellen Evernden or (more likely) Alice Unknown

  1. Freegift Tilden was baptised on 29 May 1604 in Tenterden. [Ref] He was living in 1660. [Ref]

Sixth Generation

ELDER NATHANIEL TILDEN (bp. 1583 - 1641) of Tenterden and Scituate

Parents: Thomas Tilden and Alice Bigge

Nathaniel Tilden was baptised on 28 Jul 1583 in Tenterden. [Ref] He died between 25 May 1641, when he signed his will, and 31 Jul 1641, when the inventory was taken. [Ref][Ref] He married Lydia Huckstep. [Ref] Lydia married second Timothy Hatherly. [Ref]

Lydia was a cousin of Thomas Hatch, who came to New England on the Hercules. [Ref]

Nathaniel was mayor of Tenterden in 1622. [Ref] He was jurat in 1624, 1625, 1627 and 1628. [Ref] He came to New England on the Hercules in Mar 1634/5 with his wife, seven children and seven servants. [Ref]

Nathaniel moved to Scituate, where he was chosen ruling Elder of the church. [Ref] He was given a houselot alongside Greenfield Lane in Scituate.

Nathaniel was from the gentry and was addressed as "Mr."; he was one of the wealthier residents of Scituate. [Ref]

In his will, Nathaniel mentions his wife Lydia and his children Stephen; Lydia; Joseph; Thomas; Judith; Mary, the wife of Stephen Lapham; Sarah, the wife of George Sutton. He also mentions his two indentured servants Edward Jenkins and Edward Tarte. [Ref]

Children of Nathaniel Tilden:

  1. Thomas Tilden was baptised on 28 Oct 1608 in Tenterden. [Ref] He was buried on 19 Jan 1618/9 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  2. Mary Tilden was baptised on 20 May 1610 in Tenterden. [Ref] She married Thomas Lapham on 13 Mar 1636/7. [Ref] Mary and her sister Sarah were married on the same day and their husbands were their father's servants. [Ref]
  3. Joseph Tilden was baptised on 12 Jan 1611/2 in Tenterden. [Ref] He was buried on 15 Mar 1611/2 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  4. Sarah Tilden was baptised on 18 Jun 1613 in Tenterden. [Ref] She married George Sutten on 13 Mar 1636/7. [Ref]
  5. Joseph Tilden was baptised on 29 Apr 1615 in Tenterden. [Ref] He married Alice or Elizabeth Twisden [Ref] on 20 Nov 1649. [Ref] She was the widow or daughter of John Twisden. [Ref]
    some descendants of Joseph
  6. Stephen Tilden was baptised on 31 Mar 1617 in Tenterden. [Ref] He was buried on 21 Oct 1619 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  7. Thomas Tilden was baptised on 19 Jan 1618/9 in Tenterden. [Ref] He married Elizabeth (Bourne) Waterman. [Ref] She was the widow of Robert Waterman and daughter of Thomas Bourne of Marshfield. [Ref] They lived in Marshfield. [Ref]
  8. Judith Tilden was bapised on 22 Oct 1622 in Tenterden. [Ref] She married Abraham Preble. [Ref]
  9. Winifred Tilden was baptised on 20 Oct 1622 in Tenterden. [Ref] She was buried on 14 Sep 1627 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  10. Lydia Tilden was baptised on 30 May 1624 in Tenterden. [Ref] She was buried on 15 Sep 1624 in Tenterden. [Ref]
  11. Lydia Tilden was baptised on 28 Sep 1625 in Tenterden. [Ref] She married Dea. Richard Garrett.
  12. Stephen Tilden was baptised on 11 Oct 1629 in Tenterden. [Ref] He married Hannah Little [Ref] on 25 Jan 1661/2. [Ref] They lived in Marshfield. [Ref]

Seventh Generation

LYDIA TILDEN (bp. 1625)

Parents: Elder Nathaniel Tilden and Lydia Huckstep

Lydia Tilden was baptised on 28 Sep 1625 [Ref] in Tenterden. [Ref] She married Dea. Richard Garrett by 1648. [Ref][Ref]

After Lydia's husband died on 29 Mar 1662 in Boston, her stepfather and brother petitioned the court to allow her to sell strong liquor. [Ref]

References

Encyclopedias

Family Genealogies

Clark, David Sanders, Notes on the Otis family and Related Families, Washington, DC, unknown, 1965.

French, Elizabeth, "Genealogical Research in England," in Gary Boyd Roberts, ed., English Origins of New England Families, from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, v. 1-3, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984.

French, Elizabeth, "Genealogical Research in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 66, 1913, 54-61.

Stratton, Eugene Aubrey, Plymouth Colony: Its History and People 1620 - 1691, Salt Lake City, Ancestry, 1986.

Local History

Deane, Samuel, History of Scituate Massachusetts, Digital Scanning Inc, 2002.

Vital Records

Torry, Clarence A, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.