Peter A. Rhodes of Enfield, Ct.:Information about STEPHEN BACHILER

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STEPHEN BACHILER (b. 23 Jun 1561, d. date unknown)

STEPHEN BACHILER (son of PHILLIP DE BACHILER and ANN FLANDERS) was born 23 Jun 1561 in YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, and died date unknown. He married ANNE BATES, daughter of JOHN BATES.

Notes for STEPHEN BACHILER:
The surname is also spelled Batchelder.
Stephen graduated from St. John's College, Oxford, England with a B.A. 17 Nov 1581.
He served as Vicar at Wherwell, Hants until 1605 when he was removed for his Calvinistic opinions. He continued to live there until 1614 and then in South Stoneham, Hants to 1631. He became involved with a group of merchant adventurers called the Plough Company and he arrived in Cambridge, Mass on the William & Francis 5 Jun 1632 at age 71. He preached in Lynn, Mass., the first year and was made a Freeman there in 1635. Stephen was among the first settlers in New Hampshire and was a leading non-conformist. He returned to England several years before his death.
Stephen married 3 times and all of his children were born in England.

Stephen married his housekeeper in 1650 and he was 89 years old when he petitioned the Church for an annulment, charging her with adultery. The petition was denied saying, "you married her, you live with her". Whereupon he returned to England in 1654 and died there in his 100th year.
He is said to have married again in England in 1656 without divorcing his wife in New Hampshire.

Rev Stephen Batchelor is listed the founder of Hampton, N.H. in "History of Rockingham and Stratford Counties, New hampshire..." complied by D.H. Hurd, 1882. Hurd got his information from an unpublished manuscript by E.W. Toppan states the following: "The settlement of this (Hampton) ancient town dates back to 1638, when the Rev. Stephen Batchelder (Bachiler) and a company of adventurous pioneers located upon its fertile lands". He goes on to name some of those who came with Rev. Stephen Bachiler including these men who are related to my family: Abraham Perkins, Thomas Marston (son of William who also went to Hampton the following summer), Moses Cox (who must be the father of Moses and grandfather of Leah), Daniel Hendrick, and others who are associated with my family, but not directly. The town of Hampton was incorporated 22 May 1639, by a court held in Boston. It had previously been called "Winnacunnet" but was ordered to be called Hampton. Also early settlers with Stephen were his grandsons (from daughter Ann Bachiler and John Sanborn) Stephen, John, and William Sanborn. John was a Lieutenant and in 1683 signed the Weare's petition to thr King. Rev. Stephen Batchelder gave a bell for the meeting house (which was 40 feet long, 22 feet wide and 13 feet high between 'joynts'). This bell was to be rung every evening at nine throughout the year and at eight on Sundays (per a 1650 law).
According to Hurd, the Congregational Church in Hampton was the oldest existing church in the state (in 1882), and the sventeenth formed in the Massachusetts Colony. The first pastor was Rev. Stephen Bachelor, then seventy-seven years of age, who had been a minister in England for many years. he remained until 1641. In 1639, Rev Timothy Dalton became associated with Mr. bachelor and replaced him in 1641.

More About STEPHEN BACHILER:
Burial: 31 Oct 1656, ALL HALLOWS STAINING CHURCH CEMETERY, LONDON, ENGLAND.
Emigration: 05 Jun 1632, WILLIAM & FRANCIS.
Individual Note: 10th great granduncle of Lee Fowler.
Occupation: REVEREND.

Children of STEPHEN BACHILER and ANNE BATES are:

+DEBORAH BATCHELDER, b. Abt. Jan 1591/92, WHERWELL, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, d. 31 Jan 1691/92, YARMOUTH, MASS..