Rearranging facts
During my research for this article on William Sanderson I had to wade through a lot of sources including general genealogy books and town records as well as other blogs trying to decide if Robert Sanderson was in fact William's father, as is claimed by many, many people. I have to say that I did not see anything that would lead me to believe this to be true. There is no birth record for William and Robert did not name him as a son in his will, nor were William's children named as grandchildren in either Robert or his third wife's will. In the genealogical books written at the turn of the century, one writer suggested that maybe William was Roberts son, and another that there was no proof. One other bit of telling evidence is that he, unlike all of Robert's sons, did not train as a silversmith. It seems unlikely that this would be so. Also, Robert left Watertown for Boston in 1652. Why was William still in Watertown, young unmarried men were not allowed to live alone, so who did he live with? I think that people badly want him to be Robert's son, and rearrange the facts to make their story fit.
During my research for this article on William Sanderson I had to wade through a lot of sources including general genealogy books and town records as well as other blogs trying to decide if Robert Sanderson was in fact William's father, as is claimed by many, many people. I have to say that I did not see anything that would lead me to believe this to be true. There is no birth record for William and Robert did not name him as a son in his will, nor were William's children named as grandchildren in either Robert or his third wife's will. In the genealogical books written at the turn of the century, one writer suggested that maybe William was Roberts son, and another that there was no proof. One other bit of telling evidence is that he, unlike all of Robert's sons, did not train as a silversmith. It seems unlikely that this would be so. Also, Robert left Watertown for Boston in 1652. Why was William still in Watertown, young unmarried men were not allowed to live alone, so who did he live with? I think that people badly want him to be Robert's son, and rearrange the facts to make their story fit.
Birth
William's year of birth is generally given as 1641. This date seems to be based on information given during a deposition in 1681 when he gave his age as 40. If he were born that year, and if he was the son of Robert and Lydia, he would have to have been born in Hampton, just prior to Lydia's death. But there are two other clues about his age that seem to have been ignored. William was also deposed in 1683 and this time he gave his age as 48. This would give him a birth year of 1635. This makes much more sense when you consider that he took the Oath of Fidelity in 1652. If he was born in 41 he would have been only eleven years old at that time, but if he was born in 35 he would have been 17 years of age. Now, I am pretty sure that boys of eleven did not take the oath, but a young man of 17 would.
In his book about Watertown, Roger Thompson describes the "peopling" of the town. Many of the newcomers, those who came after the first two waves of migration, were extended family members of the original settlers. Also a majority of the population were originally for the East Anglia area of England. If Robert were from Norfolk, it makes sense that he would assist other members of his family to immigrate to Massachusetts. So I am running with a birth year of 1635 in England.
Watertown
After taking the oath in 1652, William disappears from the records until his marriage in Watertown to Sarah Unknown on Dec 18, 1666. In the records Williams surname is spelled Sandors, Sanders and Sanderson. There are no clues about the surname of his wife Sarah to be found. Many internet tree say it was Marr, but I do not know where they come by this name, there does not seem to be an Marr's in Watertown.
The births and baptisms of his children are recorded in the Watertown records. His name is also mentioned in a Middlesex County Court record dated Oct 1668. He testified in the drowning death of the son of Thomas Hastings.
His children were:
John born 16 October 1667 name was spelled Sandors
Sarah born 17 March 1668
William born 6 September 1670
Mary 30 November 1671 Batized 13 Jan 1688/89 Baptized 28 Nov 1686
Hannah born 8 March 1674
Lydia born 21 April 1679 Baptized on 20 May 1688
Joseph born 28 August 1679 Baptized on 20 May 1688
William is said to have had a daughter Hannah b. 3 May 1674 in Groton, but I think she might be confused with the Hannah Sanders born in Watertown on 8 May 1674 to John Sanders.
Sarah was a member of the church, but it seems that William was not. When the children's baptisms were recorded the records say that Sarah "owned the covenant" meaning she was a full church member, William was not identified as a church member.
Groton
Groton is a town north and west of Watertown. It was incorporated in 1655. A large number of early proprietor of Groton were from Watertown. On November 25, 1670 John Morse the town clerk of Groton recorded the sale of 20 acres of upland by Abraham Parker to William Sanderson. William "Sanders" is recorded in the early records of Groton as one of the first 73 heads of families in Groton. On March 13 1676 the town of Groton was burned to the ground, save four garrison houses, and was abandoned until 1678. In 1681 he was charged a rate for payment of the ministers salary, so presumably he returned after the end of King Phillip's War and the hostilities by the Indians.
death
On July 27th 1694 a band of Abenaki warriors attacked the town of Groton at dawn. 20 of the townspeople were killed and 12 carried of into captivity. One of those killed was William Sanderson. He died without a will, but his son William probated his estate.
Children
Sarah born 1668 married in Watertown, 1694 to Andrew White.
William born 1670 married first Abigail Traine and second in 1704 Anna Shattuck. They married in Watertown but settled in Sudbury.
Joseph married Sarah Page in Groton on 30 July 1714. On 30 August 1714 Bethia Kemp had a child out of wedlock and named Joseph Sanderson as the father. Joseph died in Groton 1736.
Other Options
According to Roger Thompson in his book on Watertown, "Divided We Stand", William was the son of Edward Sanderson and Mary Eggleston of Watertown. Since Edward married in 1645, William would have been born sometime after that. This would mean that there was a second man named William Sanderson who could have taken the oath of fidelity in 1652 and was also the one who was deposed giving a birth date closer to 1635. If anyone reading this has access to the archives of Middlesex County look it up and report back!
Related posts:
Robert Sanderson of Watertown
Edward Sanderson of Watertown
Andrew White of Watertown Sources:
Middlesex Co. MA: Abstract of Court Records, 1643-1674
Torreys Marriages Prior to 1700
Watertown Vital Records
Watertown Records: East Congregational and Precinct Affairs (source for baptisms)
Samuel Abbott Green, Groton Historical Series
Watertown
The births and baptisms of his children are recorded in the Watertown records. His name is also mentioned in a Middlesex County Court record dated Oct 1668. He testified in the drowning death of the son of Thomas Hastings.
His children were:
John born 16 October 1667 name was spelled Sandors
Sarah born 17 March 1668
William born 6 September 1670
Mary 30 November 1671 Batized 13 Jan 1688/89 Baptized 28 Nov 1686
Hannah born 8 March 1674
Lydia born 21 April 1679 Baptized on 20 May 1688
Joseph born 28 August 1679 Baptized on 20 May 1688
William is said to have had a daughter Hannah b. 3 May 1674 in Groton, but I think she might be confused with the Hannah Sanders born in Watertown on 8 May 1674 to John Sanders.
Sarah was a member of the church, but it seems that William was not. When the children's baptisms were recorded the records say that Sarah "owned the covenant" meaning she was a full church member, William was not identified as a church member.
Groton
death
On July 27th 1694 a band of Abenaki warriors attacked the town of Groton at dawn. 20 of the townspeople were killed and 12 carried of into captivity. One of those killed was William Sanderson. He died without a will, but his son William probated his estate.
Children
Sarah born 1668 married in Watertown, 1694 to Andrew White.
William born 1670 married first Abigail Traine and second in 1704 Anna Shattuck. They married in Watertown but settled in Sudbury.
Joseph married Sarah Page in Groton on 30 July 1714. On 30 August 1714 Bethia Kemp had a child out of wedlock and named Joseph Sanderson as the father. Joseph died in Groton 1736.
Other Options
According to Roger Thompson in his book on Watertown, "Divided We Stand", William was the son of Edward Sanderson and Mary Eggleston of Watertown. Since Edward married in 1645, William would have been born sometime after that. This would mean that there was a second man named William Sanderson who could have taken the oath of fidelity in 1652 and was also the one who was deposed giving a birth date closer to 1635. If anyone reading this has access to the archives of Middlesex County look it up and report back!
Related posts:
Robert Sanderson of Watertown
Edward Sanderson of Watertown
Andrew White of Watertown Sources:
Middlesex Co. MA: Abstract of Court Records, 1643-1674
Torreys Marriages Prior to 1700
Watertown Vital Records
Watertown Records: East Congregational and Precinct Affairs (source for baptisms)
Samuel Abbott Green, Groton Historical Series
James Monroe Crafts, History of the Town of Whatley, 1661-1899
Roger Thompson, Divided We Stand: Watertown 1630-1680
Roger Thompson, Divided We Stand: Watertown 1630-1680
Comments, questions, confrontations welcome
cite your sources please
