A Colonial Era Life and Death Anchored by Faith
William Chandler: 1595-1641
I truly love New England records. I am always amazed at how
far back in time they extend, and how vivid they often are. The first colonists
lived in small communities. Everyone knew their neighbors intimately, and the
records often reflect that intimacy. They are far from the dry, factual records
of our modern age, often including biographical and personal details and
references to faith. One of the most striking examples I found were the records
of the life and death of my ninth-great-grandfather William Chandler.
William was born, according to most secondary sources and
limited primary sources, on October 12, 1595 in Hertfordshire, England. His
parents were probably Henry and Anne Chandler. He married Annis Agnes Bayford
in 1625, and they had four children by the time they set sail for New England.
The family settled in Roxbury (now a part of Boston) in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637. William Chandler is listed among the early
householders of Roxbury, and was admitted as a freeman of Massachusetts on May
13, 1640. (Records of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, printed, vol. 1, p.
377.) Sadly, William’s health deteriorated just a few years later; his
condition was labeled consumption. He died November (or January—sources
disagree) 26, 1641.
“William Chandler, a Christian, Godly brother, died of a
Consumption month 11, day 26, 1641, and was buried 29 11 1641, in Roxbury.”
The Roxbury city records (as printed in the Norfolk County
Journal) are even more richly detailed, and resemble an obituary:
“William Chandler came to N. E. about the year 1637. He
brought four small children: Thomas, Hannah, John, William; his fifth child
Sarah was born here; he lived a very religious and godly life among us, and
fell into a Consumption to which he had, a long time, been inclined; he lay
near a year sick, in all which time his faith, patience & Godliness &
Contention So Shined that Christ was much glorified in him—he was a man of
Weake parts but Excellent faith and holiness; he was a very thankful man, and
much magnified Gods goodness. He was poor, but God prepared the hearts of his
people to him that he never wanted that which was (at least in his Esteem) Very
plentiful and Comfortable to him—he died—in the year 1641, and left a Sweet
memory and Savor behind him.”
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| Roxbury visisble on map at Marking pt. |
What an amazing record of a man of faith! He worshipped God
even as lay abed ill for an entire year. The description gives us some idea of
how these pious colonists worshipped: he gave thanks, he exhibited faith and
patience no matter how poorly he felt. This type of worship went far beyond the
weekly attendance at church services—he lived and exhibited faith in his
everyday life.
The record also indicates that his worshipful life inspired
his neighbors to provide support while he ailed: “God prepared the hearts of
his people to him that he never wanted”: his neighbors helped to care for his
family when he could not.
We often think of worship as only happening in a church, but
as this record shows, seventeenth century colonists incorporated acts of faith
in every aspect of life unto death. The final sentence of the Roxbury record
provides a vivid glimpse of my ancestor’s nature: “he left a Sweet memory and
Savor behind him.” A person exhibiting a rigid, priggish faith would not have
inspired that sentence. William Chandler must have been a kind and decent man.
This type of faith is probably what led William and his family to risk
traveling to Massachusetts, despite his less than hearty constitution. He had trust
that God would provide in this new country.
While God may not have provided quite as William had
expected, another man stepped in to care for his family. John Dane, another of my
ninth great-grandfathers, married William’s widow, Annis Chandler, in 1643.
Dane took charge of the twenty-plus acres of land William Chandler had owned,
along with the care of Chandler’s children. As the following records note, the land
was poor compensation:
“'1649. At a Gen'all Co'te at Boston, the 17th of the 8th
Mo. Upon the petition of John Dayne, the house & land w'ch was Wm Chamb'rs
[sic] is settled upon he said Dayne, he haveinbg paid more debts of Chamb'rs
[sic] then he house & land was worth, & also brought up ye children of
Chandler, w'ch have bene chargable to him.'”
“19 Oct. 1649. In ans'r to the peticon of John Dajne ffor
the settling the howse and lands of Wm Chandler (whose wyddow he marryed, &
children brought up) on him, the said John Dajne, his request was graunted,
& ye said howse and lands confirmed on him by this Courte.' (Records of the
Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, printed, vol. 2, p. 283, vol. 3, p. 177.)”
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| Monument in New Hampshire for Chandlers |
Annis outlived John Dane, who died in 1658. She then took a
third husband, John Parmenter, before her own death March 16, 1683 at the age
of 79.
While William Chandler’s dream of a new life in
Massachusetts was short-lived, his faith was rewarded through his children, who
survived, married, and whose descendants can now be found across the nation.
Sources:
Records of the
governor and company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. William
White, printer to the Commonwealth. Vol. 1, pg 377; Vol. 2, pg 283; Vol. 3, pg.
177.
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