Death at Sea

Stephen Eggleston (or Eggleden), son of WHO and WHO, was baptised 17 Jul 1608 in Biddenden, England and died at sea in 1738. He married Elizabeth Jane Bennett, daughter of WHO and WHO, 30 Nov 1628 in Biddenden. She was born abt. 1610 in Biddenden and died 10 Mar 1680/81 in Roxbury, MA.
Among their children was our ancestor Sarah Eggleston who was born abt. 1630 in Biddenden and died 10 Mar 1686/1687. She married John Nutting, son of John Nutting and Elizabeth Rawling, 28 Aug 1650 in Woburn, MA. He was born between 1620-1625 in England and died 13 Mar 1676 in Groton, CT. John was an original proprietor of Groton, CT. We are descended through their son James [Generation 10].

In the summer 1638, Stephen boarded the CASTLE with his wife and children and sailed for New England. Other passengers included a company from Tenterden and vicinity, among them Peter Branch of Halden, County Kent, England (which lies between Tenterden and Biddenden). Stephen died on that passage as did Peter Branch who, by his will dated 15 Jun 1638 and probated in Boston, left a bequest of 5 pounds to “widowe Igleden the late wife of Stephen Igleden or to his children or to her children she had by him”. This bequest was made “for her care of him”.

One can’t help but wonder if the deaths of Stephen and Peter were related to an “unidentified fever” that swept through England in 1638.

Elizabeth settled at Roxbury, MA where, as "Widow Iggulden", she appears on a list of proprietors in 1639. On 10 Apr 1642 she remarried Joseph Patching in Roxbury and bore him two sons. Joseph came to America aboard the ship HERCULES as second servant of Thomas Besbeech of Ashford, England. He died 10 Dec 1690 and is buried in Fairfield, CT with Elizabeth.