GENERATION 11

GENERATION 10

Biography

JOHN BIGLO was baptised Feb. 16, 1616/17, in Wrentham Parish, Suffolk, England. The rector of Wrentham Parish in 1617 was Rev. John Phillips, who later emigrated to Dedham, Norfolk, MA. During his years in Dedham, Rev. Phillips once stated that "the blacksmith John Biglo of Watertown, Massachusetts, was the same infant whom he had baptised in 1617, as the son of Randall Baguley, and that he had known John Biglo from earliest youth upward."

Further, in a civil case in Watertown, JOHN BIGELOW took the witness stand and identified himself as "John Biglo, formerly of Wrentham, England." From this event, and the statement of Rev. Phillips, along with parish and probate records in England, the identity and parentage of JOHN is proven.

JOHN seems to have arrived in Watertown about 1632. He probably came over with his sister, Elizabeth, second wife of Deacon Richard Butler, who after a short stay in Massachusetts, followed the Rev. Thomas Hooker to Connecticut. No ship's records exist showing the exact date of arrival. It is probable that JOHN BIGLO and/or MARY WARREN came over on one of the ships of the Winthrop Fleet.

JOHN BIGLO took part in the Pequot War of 1636, serving from Watertown. The next public mention of him is his marriage to MARY in Watertown on Oct. 30, 1642, the first marriage recorded in Watertown.

JOHN was a member of the Watertown Train Band in 1650, having taken the "Oath of Fidelity".

The Watertown records of Mar. 4, 1651, state "Agreed with John Biglo that for ten trees the towne allowed him for the setting up of a shop for a Smithes forge, that he shall either go on with his promise of setting up his trade, which is the trade of a Smith, within one twelfmonth after the date hereof or else to pay unto the towne ten shillings for these ten trees he acknowledged to have off the towne."

JOHN BIGLO was chosen a surveyor of highways in 1652 and 1660, a constable (tax collector) in 1663, and one of the selectmen or town council, in 1665, 1670, and 1671. His homesite consisted of six acres and was bounded north by Richard Ambler and William Parker, east by Thomas Straight, south by the highway, and on the west by Miles Ives.

He was a soldier, under Capt. John Cutler, in King Philip's War in 1675. He served with two son-in-law's in that war, Michael Flagg and Isaac Larned. JOHN became a freeman on Apr. 18, 1690.

After the death of MARY October 19, 1691, JOHN married second on Oct. 2, 1694, Sarah Bemis, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Bemis. She was 26 years younger and outlived him. JOHN died Jul. 14, 1703, at the age of 86 years, as recorded by the town records. His will was dated Jan. 4, 1703 and proved Jul. 23, 1703.