Joseph Patchen

  Noted events in his life were:

• Biography: From History of Fairfield Familiies by Jacobus. Patchen, Joseph.

Born abt. 1610; testified as Joseph, Sr., ae. 56, in the Benfield case, 1 May 1666. He settled first in Roxbury, Mass., where he m. (1) 18 Apr. 1642, Elizabeth, widow of Stephen Iggleden, Jr. She came from Biddenden, co. Kent, on the Castle in 1638, with husband and children, of whom the former d. on the passage. Another passenger d. at sea and left money to Elizabeth for her care of him.

"Goodwife Patchin, a poor old woman," who joined Roxbury Church in 1649, may have been mother of Joseph. Yet his wife Elizabeth must have been considerably, perhaps a decade, older than himself, and in the view of that period a woman of 50 years was sometimes qualified for the term "old."

He rem. to Fairfield by 1652, was granted a homelot 1655/6, and was one of four "poor men" whose debts were forgiven by Dr. Pell in his will 1669. He was living 1689, when his son was stiIl "Jr."

He m. (2) Mary ---,* who also testified in the Benfield case, 1666. Much of his property in Fairfield came into possession of the Edward Adams family, probe not by inheritance. Quite likely there was relationship, but just what we cannot say; Patchen realty may have been turned over to the Adamses in return for maintenance.

Joseph may have been stepfather of John Eggleden of Fairfield; if we may suppose that Elizabeth named a child John by both husbands, a duplication sometimes found.

Children [by first wife], recorded at Roxbury:

Joseph, b. 14 Apr. 1643, bapt. 24 Mar. 1650, d. a.t Fairfield in 1689, apparently unm. He was appointed 1680 to sweep the meetinghouse. Inv. 10 Dec. 1689; Est. insolvent; no land; clothing and tobacco at house of Nathan Adams. Adm'n granted to Jonathan Morehouse.

John, b. 20 Dec. 1644, bapt. 24 Mar. 1650; was living, a poor old man, at Stratfield in 1712, when he was provided for in the will of Dea. Isaac Wheeler, whose servant he had been for thirty years.

Prob. child [by second wife] :

+Jacob, b. abt. 1663. * Possibly dau. of Thomas Morehouse. See JONATHAN MOREHOUSE.

Joseph married Elizabeth on 18 Apr 1642 in Roxbury, Massachusets.

Joseph next married Mary.