This is part of a series about my New England colonial ancestors who arrived by during the Great Migration. If you have early Massachusetts ancestry, be sure to check out AmericanAncestors, as the Great Migration Study Project can be viewed there with a membership to the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Today’s family sketch is that of William Hatch and Jane Young, who migrated from Kent, England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634.

William and Jane are two of my 10X great grandparents. There will be some future posts on the ancestry of William Hatch, as I have discovered some articles in the New England Historic Genealogical Registers that document this family through English probate records back into the 1400s!

William Hatch was born c1599, most likely in Kent, England, the son of William and Anne (MNU) Hatch. He married (1) an unknown wife, who probably was the mother of his first son, Walter. born c1623. Jane Young was his second wife and was a couple of years older than William, born c1597, also likely in Kent. They married on 9 July 1624 by license, which was filed in the Diocesan Registry, Canterbury, England.

William had one child with his first wife and seven more with Jane, most of whom were baptized at Wye, Kent, England.

William Hatch wrote his will on 3 November 1651; it was proved on 3 June 1652 in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Children:

1. Walter, born c1623, probably Kent, England; died before 1 April 1701, when his estate inventory was done, Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts; married (1) Elizabeth Holbrook, 6 May 1650, Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts (2) Mary (MNU), 1 August 1674. Walter’s mother is unknown.
2. John, baptized 7 August 1625, Wye, Kent, England; died after 1643, when he appears in a list of Plymouth County men who could bear arms. No further record.
3. Anne, baptized 3 December 1626, Wye, Kent, England; married (1) James Torrey, 2 November 1643, Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts (2) John Phillips, 3 April 1677, Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
4. Son, buried 31 July 1628, Wye, Kent, England.
5. William, baptized 9 August 1629, Wye, Kent, England; died before 13 June 1657 when Abigail is called the widow of William; married Abigail Hewes, by 1653.
6. Jane, baptized 19 June 1631, Wye, Kent, England; married John Lovell, by 1651.
7. Andrew, baptized 3 November 1633, Wye, Kent, England; buried 6 November 1633, Wye, Kent, England.

The Great Migration Study details a number of court records in which William Hatch is mentioned between 1637 and 1644.

His occupation is not identified, but he had some education, as he was able to keep accounts, had some knowledge of law and books were included in the inventory of his estate.

William Hatch also made at least one return trip to England, sailing back to Massachusetts Bay in 1638 on the Castle. He was also not the only family member to leave England. His sister, Elizabeth Soane and his brother, Thomas Hatch, also made new lives for themselves in New England.

William Hatch died  on 6 November 1651 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Widow Jane married (2) Thomas King on 31 March 1653, also in Scituate. However, she passed away a few months later, on 8 October 1653.

My line of descent:

1. William Hatch & Jane Young
2. James Torrey & Anne Hatch
3. Jonathan Torrey & Ruth Fry/e
4. John Norton & Mary Torrey
5. Joseph Coleman & Rachel Norton
6. Joseph Coleman & Eunice Coffin
7. Joseph Coleman & Ruth Spur
9. Thomas Coleman & Mary Elizabeth Astle
10. William Coleman & Sarah Moriah Crouse
11. Hartwell Thomas Coleman & Anna Elisabeth Jensen
12. Vernon Tarbox Adams & Hazel Ethel Coleman
13. George Michael Sabo & Doris Priscilla Adams
14. Linda Anne (Sabo) Stufflebean – Me!