Sylvester Baldwin

A MEMORIAL GRAVE was erected at St Michael And All Saints Churchyard, Aston-Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England in remembrance.

Biographical Summary #1:

Sylvester Baldwin (1595-1638). Before coming to America, lived at St. Leonards in Aston-Clinton, near Dundridge, where he owned the "Chapel Farm." He married Sarah Bryan, early in 1620. In 1638, Sylvester and his wife Sarah and six living children, sailed for America in the ship Martin. They belonged to the "New Haven Company." Sylvester died on the passage, "in mid ocean." July 21, 1638. His will was admitted to probate, in Boston, where the ship Martin arrived. He left a large estate. His widow and six children settled with the rest of the emigrating company in New Haven. In 1643, "the Widow Baldwin" was recorded in New Haven as one of the wealthiest proprietors. In 1643 she married Capt. John Astwood/ they settled in Milford, Connecticut. Capt. Astwood died in London in 1654. She died in Milford in 1669.

Children:

1. SARAH BALDWIN, b. 22 Apr 1621. m. Benjamin Fenn
2. RICHARD BALDWIN, b. 25 Aug 1622. Afterward known as Richard,of Milford
3. MARY BALDWIN, b. 28 Feb 1624; d. 1624.
4. MARY BALDWIN, b. 19 Feb 1625.m. 1)Robert Plum and 2) William East
5. MARTHA BALDWIN, b. 20 Apr 1628.,died unmarried
6. SAMUEL BALDWIN, b. July 1, 1632; buried Jan 1633.
7. ELIZABETH BALDWIN, b. 28 Jan 1633; d. 3 days later
8. JOHN BALDWIN, b. 1635; d. 19 Aug 1683.

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https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/9HP3-W5B
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Baldwin-129

Emigrant to America, died aboard the ship "Martin" in 1638"

Mentioned in his grandmothers will dated 2 Jun 1622 . Believed to be the emigrant to New England. The latest date of any record of him in England is 29 Nov 1636, when he proved his Uncle Richard's will[1], as executor and residuary legatee—a, a high compliment to his nephew from a man of property and apparent sence of Richard, a prominent attorney, especially as the next heir of Richard[2]

Sylvester Baldwin Jr., married Sarah Bryan, whose surname, Hon. John D. Baldwin, of Worcester, informed, author, Charles Candee Baldwin, long since, on the authority of Hon. Ralph D. Smith, of Guilford, Conn., was Bryant [sic][3].

Mr. Smith, a very high authority in early relationships in Connecticut, could not some years after, give his authority. "The fact, however, will appear very probable, as the English relationship and acquaintance of the Bryants was then unknown, having been afterwards discoverd by myself"[3].

Children of Sylvester Baldwin Jr. According to the Aston Clinton Registers:[1]

   Sarah, bapt. 22 April, 1621, m. Benjamin Fenn[1][4]

   Richard. bapt. 25 Aug, 1622, m. Elizabeth Alsop[1][4]

   Mary (1), bapt. 28 Feb, 1623/4; buried 3 Nov. 1625[1]

   Mary (2), bapt. 19 Feb, 1625/6, m. Robert Plumb of Milford[1][4]

   Martha, bapt. 20 April, 1628[1][4]

   Samuel, bapt. 1 July 1632; buried 4 January, 1633[1]

   Elizabeth, bapt. 28th and buried 31st January, 1633/4[1]

   John (known as John Baldwin of Stonington), bapt. 28th October, 1635, m. Rebecca (Palmer) Chesebrough[1][4]

   Ruth (not shown on Aston Clinton Register but mentioned in her fathers nuncupative will in 1638 aboard ship "Martin".[3] 

Sylvester Baldwin Jr., died at sea June of 1638 aboard the ship "Martin" en-route to America with his wife Sarah Bryant or Bryan and his surviving children[3][1][4]

Will of Sylvester Baldwin, Jr.

In the first volume of the Massachusetts Record (p. 234) is a minute of the probate of Sylvester's nuncupative will (a courte of assistents held at Boston the 4th of the 7th month, 1638. On 4 Sept. the will of Sylvester Baldwin was presented into the court, and his wife Sarah and sonne Ricd were allowed executors according to the will. [1].

There were witnesses to the will, one being a John Baldwin.

Mr. Savage gives the following account of this will:

   On the main ocean, bound for N.E., his noncupative will was made 21 June, and proved 13 July, of that year, before Dept. Gov. Dudley, by oaths of Chad Brown, Francis Bolt, James Weeded and John Baldwin. The estate was good and provision liberal for the six children, as well as the widow, to whom, with son Richard, our general court, 4 Sept. following, committed the administration[2]. 

Note: There has been information written by other sources stating John Baldwin (Witness to Sylvester's will) was brother to Sylvester, or son of Sylvester[2]. John Baldwin, brother to Sylvester, died in 1632, and John Baldwin, son of Sylvester, would have only been 5 years old in 1638. Joseph Chester states "The witness likely was either John Baldwin of Norwich or John Baldwin of Milford." [1].

John D Baldwin in his book "Descendants of John Baldwin of Stonington, states "John Baldwin of Norwich traveled with Sylvester's family on ship "Martin" but was only 6 or 7 yrs old".[5]

Sarah Baldwin, widow of Sylvester Jr., went with the emigrants to New Haven, Connecticut, and was enrolled among the first planters there, five in her family, and £300 in the list, and Property lots were afterward drawn in her right. [3].

Sarah Baldwin, widow, remarried John Astwood, of Milford in 1640[3].

Information in another source[6] Information on the family differs: Children named are a little different than here. All children have baptism records in parish of Aston Clinton 1)Sarah is the same & d. 29 April 1663 in Milford, New Haven, CT. 2) Mary died. 3) Elizabeth died. 4) Mary-2 same d. 1 Feb 1708, m. 19 Jan 1642. & 2nd m. 2 March 1676 Wm East. Others about the same. Child Richard has 2 pages of info.

Research notes

Temperance (Baldwin) Birdsall (abt.1620-1716) wife of Nathan Birdsall is identified as a daughter of Sylvester Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs (1911), but there is no evidence supporting this relationship.

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SOURCE:

1. The New England historical & genealogical register and antiquarian journal, Volume 26 (1872), page 295 "Notes on the Ancestry of Sylvester Baldwin," Charles C. Baldwin, A.M., of Cleveland, Ohio.
2. Families of Early Milford, Susan Emma Woodruff Abbot. Genealogical Publishing Com, 2004. p. 57.
3. Investigations concerning the family of Baldwin, of Aston Clinton (Google eBook) Joseph Lemuel Chester, 1884.
4. REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING THE FAMILY OF BALDWIN, OF ASTON CLINTON, CO. BUCKS By the late Col. Joseph L. Chester, D.C.L., LL.D., of London, Eng. in The New England historical and genealogical register, Volume 38 (Google eBook) Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, New England Historic Genealogical Society. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1884. 5.)http://www.archive.org/details/baldwingenealogy00bald: The Baldwin Genealogy 1500-1881, by C.C. Baldwin, pg. 41-44

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Despite reservations voiced by the Find a grave researcher regarding a grave found in England for Sylvester, I believe that a 'memorial grave' would have been erected by his family. It is almost impossible that his remains were returned to England after his death on board the 'Martin' on June 21, 1738. The ship did not reach Boston until July 13, 1638; there was no way to store a body, and there was at that time a widespread belief that carrying a body on a ship would spell death for all aboard (the odor alone would have been prohibative and dangerous and there was no refrigeration). It is probable that a letter was sent back to England to inform the family of his death and they erected a memorial monument in his memory; much as has occurred in many instances before and after in history.

Birth: 1600 Aston, England Death: Jun. 21, 1638

~MY ANCESTOR~ SYLVESTER and SARAH (possibly BRYAN) BALDWIN, and their five children who were all baptized in Aston, Clinton, Bucks, England, left England on the good ship, "Martin". He made a nuncupative (oral will at sea on June 21, 1638, and he died aboard the ship on the same day. I assume that he was buried at sea since the ship arrived in Boston three weeks later on July 13, 1638. It was proved July 4, 1638 before Dep. Gov. Dudley in Boston making Sarah, his wife, and Richard, his son, executors of his estate. The widow, Sarah, married (2) John Astwood.

He was the son of SYLVESTER, SR. & JANE (WELLS) BALDWIN.

Family links:

Parents:

 Sylvester Baldwin (1560 - 1632)

Spouse:

 Sarah Bryan Baldwin Astwood (1606 - 1669)

Children:

 John Baldwin (1619 - 1681)*

 Sarah Baldwin Fenn (1621 - 1663)*

 Richard Baldwin (1622 - 1665)*

 Mary Baldwin Plumb (1626 - 1708)*

 John Baldwin (1635 - 1683)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Body buried at sea

Created by: Nareen, et al Record added: Jul 12, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 28224393

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NOTES ON THE ANCESTRY OF SYLVESTER BALDWIN BY CHARLES C. BALDWIN, A.M., CLEVELAND, OHIO. Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1872. BOSTON: DAVID CLAPP & SON 1 8 7 2 .=
Sylvester Baldwin, of Aston Clinton, co. Bucks, from whom most of Baldwins whose ancestors are found upon the early records of CT claim descent or kinship, took passage with his family for New-England on the ship "Martin," in 1638. He died at sea, and devised by his nuncupative will certain estates in England to his wife Sarah. One of these she subsequently conveyed by deed to Edward Baldwin, of Guilford, co. Surrey, E describing it as having been "indentured" to Richard Baldwin, of St. Leonard's, in the parish of Aston Clinton, for 1000 years, and by the said Richard bequeathed to Sylvester, and by him to her. An examination of the will of the Richard Baldwin (uncle of Sylvester, the emigrant, referred to in this deed, and other investigations made by the writer in England, establishes by a chain of testimony which seems to be conclusive. ..

“ … The line of Sylvester, the emigrant, plainly appears. He was son of Silvester, deceased, and nephew, and not son, of Richard, of Dundridge. Silvester, the emigrant, married Sarah Bryan, probably sister or other near relative of Alexander Bryan, the first, of Milford, whose wife Ann is mentioned in the will. Sylvester and Sarah Baldwin had children baptized in Aston Clinton as follows:Sarah, April 22 1621; Richard, Aug. 25 1622 ; Mary, Feb. 28, 1623 ; Mary again, Feb. 19, 1625 ; Martha, April 20, 1628; Samuel, Jan. 1, 1632, buried next 4th of June; Elizabeth, Jan. 25, 1633, buried Jan. 31, 1633. They also had children John and Ruth, no doubt younger ; all the living children seem to have come hither and settled in Milford, Conn. John was afterward of Stonington, and was probably born in 1634 or 1635.”

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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Richard Anson Wheeler, New London, CT, 1900, p. 223-224

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Died at sea during immigration.

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Sylvester Baldwin Jr. BIRTH 1600 England DEATH 21 Jun 1638 (aged 37–38) At Sea BURIAL Body buried at sea MEMORIAL ID 28224393 · View Source SHARE SAVE TO SUGGEST EDITS MEMORIAL PHOTOS 2 FLOWERS 50 ~MY ANCESTOR~ SYLVESTER and SARAH (possibly BRYAN) BALDWIN, and their five children who were all baptized in Aston, Clinton, Bucks, England, left England on the good ship, "Martin". He made a nuncupative (oral) will at sea on June 21, 1638, and he died aboard the ship on the same day. I assume that he was buried at sea since the ship arrived in Boston three weeks later on July 3, 1638. It was proved July 4, 1638 before Dep. Gov. Dudley in Boston making Sarah, his wife, and Richard, his son, executors of his estate. The widow, Sarah, married (2) John Astwood.

He was the son of SYLVESTER, SR. & JANE (WELLS) BALDWIN (from a FAG contributor).

According to FAG contributor, D Mahle: " I do not think John's father is Sylvester. I believe Sylvester Baldwin was John's cousin, not his father. John's father was John Baldwin Sr. born circa 1565 who was a brother to Sylvester's father Sylvester. John's mother was Hannah Birchard Baldwin, born circa 1670. Sylvester did have a son John who went on to marry Rebecca Palmer and settled in Stonington, Connecticut".

Note: John I (supposed to be the father of John (the immigrant )was born c. 1565, which would have made him 49 at the birth of John, the immigrant which seems quite old. Also, John, the immigrant was not named in John 1's will. Whereas Sylvester Baldwin would have been 19 yrs. of age at the birth of John (the immigrant)/

Family Members Parents Sylvester Baldwin 1560–1632 Jane Wells Baldwin 1569–1669 Spouse Photo Sarah Bryan Astwood 1606–1669 Siblings Richard Baldwin 1594 – unknown Children Photo John Baldwin 1619–1681 Photo Sarah Baldwin Fenn 1621–1663 Photo Richard Baldwin 1622–1665 Mary Baldwin 1624–1625 Photo Mary Baldwin Plumb 1626–1708 Photo John Baldwin 1635–1683

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Reviewing the following sources: Ackley-Bosworth 182-86: TG 11:111-15; Charles Candee Baldwin, The Baldwin Genealogy From 1500-1881 (Cleveland 1881); NEHGR 26:294-303; 38:160-70, 289-99, 372-376, 110:310, 113:245-48 I see no record for this child. I see only these:

Children of Sylvester Baldwin Jr. According to the Aston Clinton Registers:[1]

Sarah, bapt. 22 April, 1621, m. Benjamin Fenn[1][4]
Richard. bapt. 25 Aug, 1622, m. Elizabeth Alsop[1][4]
Mary (1), bapt. 28 Feb, 1623/4; buried 3 Nov. 1625[1]
Mary (2), bapt. 19 Feb, 1625/6, m. Robert Plumb of Milford[1][4]
Martha, bapt. 20 April, 1628[1][4]
Samuel, bapt. 1 July 1632; buried 4 January, 1633[1]
Elizabeth, bapt. 28th and buried 31st January, 1633/4[1]
John (known as John Baldwin of Stonington), bapt. 28th October, 1635, m. Rebecca (Palmer) Chesebrough[1][4]
Ruth (not shown on Aston Clinton Register but mentioned in her fathers nuncupative will in 1638 aboard ship "Martin".