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     Abel Batchelder was born on 1 May 1737.¹

     John Batchelder was born on 8 April 1739.¹

     Eunice Batchelder was born on 26 August 1744.¹ She married John Wells on 1 June 1769.¹

     John Wells married Eunice Batchelder, daughter of Samuel Batchelder and Hannah White, on 1 June 1769.¹

     Thomas Batchelder was born on 2 March 1746/47.¹

     Thomas White was baptized on 30 June 1630 in Drayton, Somerset co., England.³ He married first Martha (?) before 1658.¹ He married second Ruth Haffield, daughter of Richard Haffield and Martha Mansfield, about 1659 (Demos says 1654).^4,5,6 He died on 1 October 1672 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 42.¹
     He was active in civic affairs in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, served on various committees, helped lay out roads, and helped build the church.¹
     His mother-in-law Martha (Mansfield) Haffield suffered from mental problems late in her life. As a result, on 15 December 1665 her belongings were inventoried, and sent to him. On 9 May 1666 the court ordered that he was to receive the rents from her farm to be used for her support, and on 25 September 1666 she was officially declared non compos mentis (i.e., insane), and he was appointed as her guardian.
     Later that year, acting as guardian of Martha Haffield, he filed suit against Robert Cross. Cross had been paid £21 by Martha's daughter Rachel to buy out the remaining 3 1/2 years of servitude owed him by Lawrence Clinton, who Rachel wanted to marry. The suit claimed that the money was Martha's and that Rachel had no right to it. After multiple verdicts and appeals over the next year, White ended up dropping the suit. However, testimony and depositions from those proceedings make for interesting reading. See Rachel's narrative for details.^6,5
     The identification of Ruth Haffield as the mother of Thomas White's first child is somewhat tentative. That she was the mother of his remaining children is shown by a deed for land sold by their daughter Ruth and her husband John Dennis, which describes land left by John White to his son Thomas White's daughters (i.e., to Ruth (White) Dennis and Martha (White) Dodge), "after the death of their mother Mrs. Ruth White" (i.e., Ruth (Haffield) White). However, the Descendants of John White doesn't give a date for the death of his first wife Martha, other than to say that he and Martha were married before 1658 and that she died "soon." It's therefore possible that the mother of Thomas White's first child was his first wife Martha.⁴
     His estate was inventoried on 27 June 1673 and valued at £130 2s 4d.¹

     Martha (?) married Thomas White, son of John White and Joan West, before 1658.¹ She died soon after her marriage.¹

     Ruth Haffield was born about 1632 in Sudbury, Suffolk Co., England.^1,2 She married Thomas White, son of John White and Joan West, about 1659.^3,1,4 She died on 10 December 1713 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     She came to New England from Sudbury, co. Suffolk, England, with her parents Martha and Richard Haffield in 1635 on the ship Planter.^1,2
     The identification of Ruth Haffield as the mother of Thomas White's first child is somewhat tentative. That she was the mother of his remaining children is shown by a deed for land sold by their daughter Ruth and her husband John Dennis, which describes land left by John White to his son Thomas White's daughters (i.e., to Ruth (White) Dennis and Martha (White) Dodge), "after the death of their mother Mrs. Ruth White" (i.e., Ruth (Haffield) White). However, the Descendants of John White doesn't give a date for the death of his first wife Martha, other than to say that he and Martha were married before 1658 and that she died "soon." It's therefore possible that the mother of Thomas White's first child was his first wife Martha.³
     The inventory of her estate was presented in court on 1 January 1713/14, and valued at £77.²

     Richard Haffield was born about 1581 (based on his age of 54 when he immigrated to New England).¹ He married first Judith (?) by about 1606.³ He married second Martha Mansfield by about 1627.^1,2 He died in 1639.¹
     He and his wife Martha and their three daughters, plus Richard's two daughters from his first marriage, immigrated to New England from Sudbury, co. Suffolk, England, on the ship Planter in 1635^1,2, and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts.¹ In 1635 the town granted him 100 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow and upland, 6 acres for planting, and a house lot.¹
     His will was dated 17 February 1638/39. In it he left £30 to each of his five daughters. For the total of £60 due his older daughters Mary and Sarah, £30 was to come from money owed him from the sale of a house, £20 was in the form of 20 acres of upland and meadow, and £10 was to be in either cash or a calf. His younger three daughters Martha, Rachel, and Ruth were to receive their shares in cash when they turned 16. His wife Martha was named as executrix. The will was never proved in court, and, except for the £30 specifically left to each daughter, his wife Martha retained control over his estate.
     Much later, on 4 April 1668 during the probate process for his wife Martha's will, Symon Thompson stated that Richard Haffield had wanted to leave his two older daughters more than the others, but stated "I dare not; I have given them all portions alike, and what is left [is] to be divided among them." In her will, his wife Martha left just 10 shillings to her stepdaughters Mary and Sarah, effectively disinheriting them from their father's estate. They contested her will, stating that their father's will had stipulated that after the bequests of £30 to each daughter, after his widow's death the remainder of his estate, valued at over £500, was to be divided equally among the five daughters. However, despite the testimony of Symon Thompson, their father's written will itself made no provisions for the distribution of his estate after his widow's death, and after multiple petitions, the court rejected their request.^1,4

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration.
  

     Martha Mansfield was born about 1593 (based on her age of 42 when she immigrated to New England).² She married Richard Haffield by about 1627.^2,3 She died on 22 February 1667/68 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     She and her husband Richard Haffield and their three daughters, plus Richard's two daughters from his first marriage, immigrated to New England from Sudbury, co. Suffolk, England, on the ship Planter in 1635^2,3, and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts.²
     According to testimony presented in court during the settlement of her and her husband's estate, she came from a very poor family, and was working as a maid-servant at the time of her marriage. Her husband Richard, in contrast, was quite prosperous. She apparently was resentful of the privileged upbringing of her stepdaughters Mary and Sarah, and was "very abusive and unreasonable" toward them.^1,2
     She may have suffered from mental problems. She was said to exhibit "strange and forward behavior," and never remarried after her husband's death even though she was just 46. On 15 December 1665 her belongings were inventoried, and sent to her son-in-law Thomas White. On 9 May 1666 the court ordered that Thomas White was to receive the rents from her farm to be used for her support, that John Whipple and Richard Hubberd were to supply her with linens, and that Robert Cross and her daughters Martha and Rachel were to appear at the September court session to further discuss her estate. On 25 September 1666 she was officially declared non compos mentis (i.e., insane), and Thomas White was appointed as her guardian.^1,2
     Her will was dated 11 June 1662 and proved 31 March 1668. She left various household goods and her clothing to her daughters Martha and Ruth. She left her house and remaining household goods to her daughter Rachel. Rachel also received the house and land then occupied by Richard Brabroke, and was to share the rental income equally with her sisters Martha and Ruth. If Rachel were to die without children, this property was to go to Martha and Ruth. Her stepdaughters Mary and Sarah were left just ten shillings each, effectively disinheriting them from their father's estate.
     On 29 April 1668 the stepdaughters and their husbands Josiah Cobbett and John Ilsley contested the will in both county court and the General Court, saying that their father's will had stipulated that after bequests of £30 to each of his five daughters, and after his widow's death, the remainder of his estate, valued at over £500, was to be divided equally among the five daughters. In reality, however, their father's will made no provisions for the distribution of his estate after his widow's death, and after multiple petitions, the court rejected their request.
     The estate was inventoried on 30 March 1668, and valued at £349 16s 6d, with £300 of it being in real estate.^2,4

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration.
  

     Thomas White was born on 6 July 1660 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died young.¹

     Ruth White was born in 1662 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She married John Dennis on 12 June 1679.³ She died before 29 July 1725, when Thomas White wrote a receipt to Josiah Dennis, administrator of the estate of Josiah's father John Dennis, for £12 he had paid for her funeral expenses.³
     She and her husband John Dennis sold the portion of the farm in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, that had been left to her by her grandfather John White, to her brother Thomas White for £75.⁴

     Martha White was born on 26 December 1668.¹ She died as an infant.¹

     Martha White was born on 5 April 1670 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Joseph Dodge, son of Samuel Dodge and Sarah Parker.²
     She and her husband Joseph apparently lived in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from 1696 to 1718.³ Based on land transactions, they later apparently lived in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and possibly in Portsmouth and Nottingham, New Hampshire, and in Scarboro, York Co., Maine.²
     In April 1714 she and her husband Joseph of Wenham sold a house with 54 acres in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to William Maxey, who was then living there.² In 1721 she and her husband Joseph "of Boston" sold the homestead where they formerly lived in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to Faithful Bartlett for £430.²

     John Dennis married Ruth White, daughter of Thomas White and Ruth Haffield, on 12 June 1679.¹ He died in 1724.¹
     He and his wife Ruth sold the portion of the farm in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, that had been left to Ruth by her grandfather John White, to her brother Thomas White for £75.²

     Joseph Dennis was born on 8 February 1680 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Susanna Lucas on 16 November 1710.² He died on 18 January 1714/15 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 34.²
     He and his wife Susanna lived in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² They had two known children, Benjamin and Joseph.²

     Josiah Dennis was born in 1694 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first Bathsheba (?).² He married second Phebe Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins and Sarah Howes, on 16 September 1746.² He died on 31 August 1763.²
     He graduated in 1723 from Harvard College in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts,² then became a minister², and moved to Yarmouth, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts, about 1727/28.²
     He and his first wife Bathsheba had the following known children: Hannah (b 4 October 1730), Sarah (b 6 August 1732, d young), Abigail (b 8 June 1734), Josiah (b 18 April (1736?), d 2 June 1736), Sarah (b 18 August 1737), Josiah (b 22 August (1739?), d 3 September 1739), Bathsheba (b 9 February (1741?), d March 1741).² He and his second wife Phebe had two known children, Bathsheba (b 6 September 1748) and Phoebe (b 30 October 1750).²

     Sarah Dennis was born on 28 August 1699 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Nehemiah Dodge, son of John Dodge and Ruth Grover, intentions published on 26 October 1724.²
     In July 1725, on the same day that her husband purchased land from her father's estate, her uncle Thomas White gave her two tracts of land in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, "about seven acres in both ... for love and goodwill, and affection ... and also for that uncommon pains and tender regard towards my sister, her mother, in her helpless condition in the latter end of her days."²
     After their marriage, she and her husband Nehemiah lived for a time in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts,² then moved to Littleton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.² They had the following known children: Ruth (b 13 April 1727), Lucy (b 13 June 1729), Job (b 2 July 1731, d December 1814), Mary (b 2 November 1733), Sarah (b 28 September 1737), Eunice (b 14 March 1739).³

     Susanna Lucas married Joseph Dennis, son of John Dennis and Ruth White, on 16 November 1710.¹
     She and her husband Joseph lived in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ They had two known children, Benjamin and Joseph.¹

     Bathsheba (?) was born about 1703.¹ She married Josiah Dennis, son of John Dennis and Ruth White.¹ She died on 20 November 1745.¹
     She and Josiah had the following known children: Hannah (b 4 October 1730), Sarah (b 6 August 1732, d young), Abigail (b 8 June 1734), Josiah (b 18 April (1736?), d 2 June 1736), Sarah (b 18 August 1737), Josiah (b 22 August (1739?), d 3 September 1739), Bathsheba (b 9 February (1741?), d March 1741).¹

     Phebe Hopkins married first Samuel Bangs.¹ She married second Jonathan Bangs.¹ She married third Josiah Dennis, son of John Dennis and Ruth White, on 16 September 1746.¹ She died on 2 October 1775.¹
     She and her third husband Josiah had two known children, Bathsheba (b 6 September 1748) and Phoebe (b 30 October 1750).¹

     Nehemiah Dodge was born on 17 January 1698/99.¹ He married Sarah Dennis, daughter of John Dennis and Ruth White, intentions published on 26 October 1724.¹
     In July 1725 he bought a house and 1 1/2 acres of land in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from the estate of John Dennis, probably his father-in-law.¹
     After their marriage, he and his wife Sarah lived for a time in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts,¹ then moved to Littleton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹ They had the following known children: Ruth (b 13 April 1727), Lucy (b 13 June 1729), Job (b 2 July 1731, d December 1814), Mary (b 2 November 1733), Sarah (b 28 September 1737), Eunice (b 14 March 1739).²

     Joseph Dodge was born on 14 February 1670 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Martha White, daughter of Thomas White and Ruth Haffield.¹
     He was an inn keeper, and later a shipwright.¹ He and his wife Martha apparently lived in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from 1696 to 1718.² Based on land transactions, they later apparently lived in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and possibly in Portsmouth and Nottingham, New Hampshire, and in Scarboro, York Co., Maine.¹
     In April 1714 Joseph Dodge and his wife Martha of Wenham sold a house with 54 acres in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to William Maxey, who was then living there.¹ In 1718 Joseph Dodge of Wenham bought land in Portsmouth, New Hampshire,¹ and in June 1723, then described as being "of Boston," sold the same land to G. Warner of Boston.¹ In 1721 Joseph Dodge "of Boston" and his wife Martha sold the homestead where they formerly lived in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to Faithful Bartlett for £430.¹
     In March 1728 he was selected as one of 16 constables in Boston, but was then excused from serving.¹
     He was one of 118 proprietors receiving a land grant in Nottingham, New Hampshire, on 10 May 1722.¹ On 1 January 1738 Joseph Dodge, then of Scarboro, York Co., District of Maine, sold his home lot with 10 acres of land, plus an additional tract of 480 acres in Nottingham, New Hampshire, to his daughter Martha and her husband for £400.¹ On 9 August 1739, then described as a "shipwright of Boston," he sold a house with 10 acres, plus another tract of 453 acres in Nottingham, New Hampshire, to his sons Joseph and Benjamin.¹