Notes for William Bowditch

Notes for William Bowditch

!Data based upon book: Five Genealogies of Bowdish and Bowditch Families in America...by Cyrus and Maryella Bowdish:
Estimated Sarah's birth date at about 1640. It is not known when she died.
William was baptized December 26, 1639. They lived for some time at Lyme Regis. While in England they had a son, William and two daughters, Sarah and Joan. On the March 31, 1671, William made a will listing
himself as a clothier, intending to come to America on the ship "John". He appears in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts in November 1671. In 1676 he was presented to the Court in Salem for living apart from his wife, but, gave satisfaction and the case was dismissed. About 1679, Sarah and son William came to America. She was addicted to strong drink and William did not prosper. He ventured into several enterprises which failed. He is listed as a collector in 1681 when he came to a sudden and untimely death. In 1679 he mortgaged his lands in America to Philip Cromwell of England. Sarah survived many years, and with son William, lived in America. They went to England in 1699 and stayed until he had proved his father's will on November 6, 1705 at Exeter, co. Devon. In 1699-1700 a law suit showing the expense of caring for the two girls was born by the father of William in which he tried to get recompense.
Moriarity is the only one who claims this William and the William Bowdish-Bowditch on page 1 were related. He claims they were father and son.