John Beageley, or Bigelow, as most descendants spell their name, was born in or near Wrentham, Suffolk, England, and baptized there February 16, 1617.

The John Bigelow Page at the Bigelow Association page discusses the evidence that supports that conclusion.
 

See the Suffolk, England Heritage Page.

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Bigelow, John - A relatively young fella (born 1617, would have been 19 in 1636, when he is first seen in America). After his arrival, he met and married Mary Warren, daughter of another of our immigrant ancestors, John Warren.
 

Born:   February 16, 1617 in Wrentham, Suffolk, England

Immigration:   1634-1636. Perhaps with Richard Butler and his wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth may have been a sister or cousin of John. John would have been a young man, only 17 in 1634.

Earliest record:   There is a record of a John Biglo, who participated in the Pequot War of 1636-7, probably our fella.

Occupation: Blacksmith

Residences:  Watertown, Mass, from immigration until death.

Spouses:
 

1) Mary Warren, October 30, 1642, in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass. Mary was born September 12, 1624, in Nayland, Suffolk Co, England. He was 25, she was 18. She died October 19, 1691, in Watertown, Mass, age 67. They had 13 children, of which 11 lived to adulthood.

2) Sarah Bemis, October 2, 1694, in Watertown. No children. There seems to be confusion and doubt about whether this Sarah Bemis was the widow of Joseph Bemis, born about 1612, or the daughter of Joseph Bemis, Sarah Bemis, born January 15, 1643. He would have been 25 years older than the daughter. Both ladies were apparently living and "available" during this time of marriage. Torrey reports whichever one it was died before 1712.
 

Death:  July 14, 1703, in Watertown, Mass

On-line biographies of John Bigelow
 
The John Bigelow Page at the Bigelow Society Home Page, including his will, biography and photographs around Wrentham, England, his home before migration.

See the Bigelow - Warren Page of Stephen Lawson for biographical material of the Warrens and Bigelows.

The Michael Roman Page, for a description of John Bigelow in Watertown plus the generations down in the line of the author.

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Notable Bigelows include:
 
Clara Barton - A founder of modern nursing
President James Garfield.

The Bigelow Family in America, written by Gilman Bigelow Howe, 1890. Published by Charles Hamilton of Boston.

Bond's Genealogies & History of Watertown

NEHGR - Oct 1910

Who Was Second Wife of John Bigelow?

It is accepted, from a marriage record, that John Bigelow married for his second wife, a lady by the name of Sarah Bemis. There were two ladies who had that name that were available at that time: the widow, and the daughter of Joseph Bemis. John would have been 25 years older than the daughter...??

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John and Mary had thirteen children, eleven of which lived to adulthood! Surnames of the main branches from the second generation are: Flagg, Stearns, Learned, Woods, Harrington.  Three of the Bigelow kids married three of the Flagg children.

 1   John Bigelow 1617 - 1703 b: February 16, 1617 in Wrentham, Suffolk Co, England
..  +Mary Warren 1624 - 1691 b: September 12, 1624 in Nayland, Suffolk, England
.................. 2   John Bigelow II 1643 - 1721 b: October 27, 1643 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Sarah Wheate 1643 - b: Abt. 1643 in England or Mass
..................  *2nd Wife of John Bigelow II:
......................  +Rebecca Olmstead or Butler 1648 - b: March 12, 1648 in Mass or Conn
.................. 2   Jonathan Bigelow 1646 - 1710 b: December 11, 1646 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Rebecca Shepard 1650 - 1686 b: Abt. 1650 in Cambridge, Mass
..................  *2nd Wife of Jonathan Bigelow:
......................  +Mary Alcott 1660 - 1697 b: Bef. 1660
..................  *3rd Wife of Jonathan Bigelow:
......................  +Mary Benton 1655 - 1752 b: April 14, 1655 in Milford, Conn
.................. 2   Mary Bigelow 1649 - 1704 b: March 18, 1649 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Michael Flagg 1651 - 1711 b: March 23, 1651 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
.................. 2   Daniel Bigelow 1650 - 1715 b: December 01, 1650 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Abigail Pratt 1650 - b: Abt. 1650
.................. 2   Samuel Bigelow 1653 - 1731 b: October 28, 1653 in Watertown, MA, USA
......................  +Mary Flagg 1658 - 1720 b: January 14, 1658 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
.................. 2   Joshua Bigelow 1655 - 1745 b: November 05, 1655 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, MA, USA
......................  +Elizabeth Flagg 1657 - 1729 b: March 22, 1657 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, MA, USA
.................. 2   Elizabeth Bigelow 1657 - 1694 b: June 18, 1657 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +John Stearns 1654 - 1728 b: May 1654
.................. 2   Sarah Bigelow 1659 - 1703 b: September 29, 1659 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Isaac Learned 1655 - 1737 b: October 06, 1655 in Chelmsford, Mass
.................. 2   James Bigelow 1660 - 1728 b: Abt. 1660 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Patience Brown 1669 - 1690 b: March 06, 1669 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
..................  *2nd Wife of James Bigelow:
......................  +Elizabeth Child 1670 - 1707 b: July 24, 1670 in Watertown, Middlesex Co,  Mass
..................  *3rd Wife of James Bigelow:
......................  +Joanna Erikson 1690 - b: Bef. 1690
.................. 2   Martha Bigelow 1662 - 1703 b: April 01, 1662 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Obidiah Woods 1662 - 1712 b: Abt. 1662
.................. 2   Abigail Bigelow 1663 - 1754 b: February 04, 1663 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
......................  +Benjamin Harrington 1661 - 1724 b: January 26, 1661 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
.................. 2   Hannah Bigelow 1666 - 1666 b: March 03, 1666 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
.................. 2   Infant Bigelow 1667 - 1667 b: December 18, 1667 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
  *2nd Wife of John Bigelow:
..  +Sarah Bemis 1643 - b: January 15, 1643 in England or Mass

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 1   John Bigelow 1617 - 1703 b: February 16, 1617 in Wrentham, Suffolk Co, England
....  +Mary Warren 1624 - 1691 b: September 12, 1624 in Nayland, Suffolk, England
. 2   Samuel Bigelow 1653 - 1731 b: October 28, 1653 in Watertown, MA, USA
.......  +Mary Flagg 1658 - 1720 b: January 14, 1658 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, Mass
.... 3   Mary Bigelow 1677 - 1708 b: September 12, 1677 in Watertown, Middlesex Co, MA, USA
....  *2nd Husband of Mary Bigelow:
..........  +Thomas Read 1678 - 1755 b: March 22, 1678 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co, Mass
........ 4   Katherine Read 1707 - b: January 31, 1707 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co,  Mass
..............  +Joseph Joslin 1699 - 1761 b: November 23, 1699 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co,  Mass
........... 5   Abigail Joslin 1735 - b: September 05, 1735 in Westborough, Mass
.................  +Nathaniel Whitney IV 1728 - 1776 b: July 22, 1728 in Westborough, Worcester Co, Mass
.............. 6   Abigail Whitney 1763 - 1847 b: April 11, 1763 in Grafton, Worcester Co, Mass
....................  +Elijah Bruce 1760 - 1835 b: January 20, 1760 in Westborough, Worcester Co, Mass
.................. 7   Abigail Whitney Bruce 1806 - 1884 b: April 02, 1806 in Marlboro, Windham Co,  Vermont
........................  +Nehemiah Willis Fisher 1805 - 1859 b: June 23, 1805 in Marlboro, Windham Co,  Vermont

Eleanor Serepta Fisher kept a diary of the family's move to Kansas. She was an accomplished woman who had at least one song published (I have a copy of the sheet music for that song).

..................... 8   Eleanor Serepta Fisher 1843 - 1924 b: October 30, 1843 in Marlboro, Windham Co,  Vermont
...........................  +Henry Gilbert Baldwin 1836 - 1894 b: June 14, 1836 in Dover, Vermont, USA
........................ 9   Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961 b: July 06, 1876 in Near Ada, Fountain Twp, Ottawa Co, Kans
..............................  +Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976 b: October 14, 1886 in Near Milo, Lincoln Co, Kans

Related Links:

   Bigelow Links
 
 

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