Glynn Patrick & Associates
Baldwin Family History
The practice of using surnames to link man to wife, and child to parent, didn’t become popular in England until the 10th or 11th
century. However, you’ll find the name BALDWIN in various spellings -- Bawdewyn, Bawdwin, Baldwyn, Baldwen, and
Baldwin -- in documents dating back as far as 672 A.D. – a couple hundred years before Egbert of Wessex united the kingdom
under his “over-lordship” to become the first King of England (827 A.D). Baldwins were named as Earls of Flanders at the time
of Alfred the Great (who overcame the Danes in 878 A.D.).
Our direct line becomes quite evident around the days of Henry VIII in England. At that time, the Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas of England (in other words, a judge) was ancestor Sir John Baldwin of Bucks County.
Historical records prove he kept the job from 1536 to 1545, when he died. The will for his estate then mentions a number of
Baldwins, whose relationship to him is uncertain. But of these mentioned sons, nephews, and/or brothers, GP&A has traced a
line back to a great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather,
Richard Baldwin. Let's begin with the youngest member of the family and show his direct ancestry:
1. Patrick Daniel -- Chicago, IL
2. Summer Erin -- Chicago, IL
3. Josephine Ann Webster -- Macomb, IL to Chicago, IL
4. Marilyn Joyce Webster (b. 1934) -- Denver, Co to Macomb, IL
5. Eural Dale Webster (b.1912) & Sarah Lucille Miller – From Hancock Co., to Denver, Co
6. Clyde Daniel Webster (b.1880) & Bertha Idella Mecum – From Hancock Co to Schuyler Co., IL
7. Edwin Hernandez Webster (b.1846) & Sarrah Ann Thomas – Macon to Hancock Co., IL
8. Isaac Shuart Webster (b.1825) & Cynthia Ann Williams –OH, to IA, to IL
9. Amos Webster (b. 1792) & Susannah Wright (b.1800) – Butler Co., OH, to IN, to IL
10. Sarah BALDWIN (b.1777) & William Wright –NJ, to OH, to MI
11. Gabriel BALDWIN (b.1740) & Hannah Lum – Connecticut Farms, NJ
12. Ezekiel BALDWIN (b.1719) & Sarah BALDWIN – Connecticut Farms, NJ
13. John BALDWIN (b.1688) & Mary Crane – Milford, New Haven, CT
14. Jonathan BALDWIN (b.1648) & Hannah Ward – Milford, New Haven, CT
15. Joseph BALDWIN (b.1609) & Hannah Whitelock – Cholesbury, ENG to Hadley, MA
16. Richard BALDWIN (b.1576) & Isabell Harding – Cholesbury, Bucks Co., ENG
17. Richard BADLWIN (b.1540) & Isabel Chase – Ashton Clinton, Bucks Co., ENG
18. Richard BALDWIN (b.1503) & Ellen Apuke – Ashton Clinton, Bucks Co., ENG
19. John Robert BALDWIN (b.1475) & Agnes Dolte – Chesham, Buckinghamshire, ENG
20. William BALDWIN (b.1441) & Jane Aylesbury – Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, ENG
When he died, Sir John Baldwin (#19) left Richard Baldwin (#18), part of the parish of Dundridge or "Donrigge.” When Richard
became the lord of this property, he was thereafter known as Richard of Donrigge. Richard gave his namesake grandson
Richard (#16) some land in Cholesbury, and so this man became known as Richard of Cholesbury. The younger Richard then
married and had son Joseph Baldwin (#15) -- later to become known as Joseph of Milford, because he would become a pioneer
founder of Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Joseph also founded the direct line of American Baldwins written about here.
When this Joseph was less than 30 years old, during the reign of King Charles I in England, increasing numbers of people were
emigrating from England to the American colonies, including a number of Baldwins from County Bucks and adjoining counties.
Some colonists were sent by England, chosen on the basis of occupation and use in colonizing the new settlements. But many of
these early American colonists were also fleeing England in rebellion against the persecution of the prelates of the Church of
England. If you did not follow church rules, you could be punished very harshly and even branded with a branding iron or have
your ears cut off or your nose slit. It was not uncommon for those of other faiths to be imprisoned, whipped, or executed on
wild charges.
The events which led to the founding of the town of Milford, Connecticut, began in May 1637 when the ship Hector sailed from
London to Boston with a group under the leadership of John Davenport and Theophilus Katon. Five weeks later, another ship
carried a group headed by the Rev. Peter Prudden. You’ll recognize these names in this family tree, if you check the branches
sprouted in Connecticut.
The new arrivals stayed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for almost a year, but Reverend Prudden and John Davenport had
come to America to found their own colony. History tells us that Theophilus Eaton had made an exploratory journey to the
Connecticut wilderness, and he was so enthusiastic upon his return that a settlement party was formed to pioneer the area. In
April 1638, the group took passage on a ship, sailing through Long Island Sound to the mouth of the river. They stopped to
await the arrival of more friends from England – including Joseph Baldwin – when they located a small colony established for
the purpose of settling a wilderness known as New Haven.
The pioneers faced harsh conditions. They cleared land, built crude dwellings, and planted crops as part of the New Haven
colony, but still, the group wanted a settlement of their own. Some ten months later, five of their group journeyed westward
along the Long Island shore to the mouth of the Wepammug River to negotiate for land with the Paugusett Native Americans,
who had a village on its banks.
On February 12, 1639, the five entered into a ceremonial agreement with Ansantawae, sachem of the tribe, and they purchased
what became the site of Milford. The price was "six coats, 10 blankets, one kettle, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, two dozen knives, and
one dozen small mirrors." The Paugusset tribe sold the land hoping to enlist English protection against the Mohawks, who were
continually raiding their territory.
When the five negotiators returned to the New Haven settlement, they called their group together in a barn which was used as a
meeting place. The 40 or more who intended moving to Wepawaug (or Milford, as it later was named) laid their plans and
formed the First Church of Milford.
Joseph Baldwin undoubtedly attended these meetings as one of the founders, because his name appears on the original land plots
of the new town.
With their land purchased and their church organized, the main body of Reverend Prudden's party migrated from New Haven
late in the summer of 1639. One account states: "They followed the devious Indian footpath, driving their cattle and other
domestic animals before them, while their household and farming utensils and the materials for the 'common house' were taken
around by water.” After arrival, they built a few crude huts for temporary residence and immediately began clearing the land.
At the first town meeting on November 20, 1639, Joseph and 43 other church members were granted the franchise as "free
planters." The following summer, roads were laid along the banks of the river and 41 plots of about three acres each were
staked out.
Joseph Baldwin and his wife, Hannah Whitlock, settled on one of these plots -- that’s how he became known as Joseph of
Milford.
Life was one of arduous toil. Each of the settlers had to be a jack-of-all-trades, felling timber, milling it, building a home, planting
crops, tilling and harvesting them. In this primitive and rigorous way of life, Joseph and his wife reared four children.
There also were other Baldwins in Connecticut, undoubtedly related more or less distantly to Joseph, for they, too, had
emigrated from neighboring counties around Bucks in England. But the descendants of Joseph-of-Milford and Hannah Whitlock
alone were so prolific that more than 3,000 of them are listed in C. C. Baldwin's History of the Baldwin family.
century. However, you’ll find the name BALDWIN in various spellings -- Bawdewyn, Bawdwin, Baldwyn, Baldwen, and
Baldwin -- in documents dating back as far as 672 A.D. – a couple hundred years before Egbert of Wessex united the kingdom
under his “over-lordship” to become the first King of England (827 A.D). Baldwins were named as Earls of Flanders at the time
of Alfred the Great (who overcame the Danes in 878 A.D.).
Our direct line becomes quite evident around the days of Henry VIII in England. At that time, the Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas of England (in other words, a judge) was ancestor Sir John Baldwin of Bucks County.
Historical records prove he kept the job from 1536 to 1545, when he died. The will for his estate then mentions a number of
Baldwins, whose relationship to him is uncertain. But of these mentioned sons, nephews, and/or brothers, GP&A has traced a
line back to a great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather,
Richard Baldwin. Let's begin with the youngest member of the family and show his direct ancestry:
1. Patrick Daniel -- Chicago, IL
2. Summer Erin -- Chicago, IL
3. Josephine Ann Webster -- Macomb, IL to Chicago, IL
4. Marilyn Joyce Webster (b. 1934) -- Denver, Co to Macomb, IL
5. Eural Dale Webster (b.1912) & Sarah Lucille Miller – From Hancock Co., to Denver, Co
6. Clyde Daniel Webster (b.1880) & Bertha Idella Mecum – From Hancock Co to Schuyler Co., IL
7. Edwin Hernandez Webster (b.1846) & Sarrah Ann Thomas – Macon to Hancock Co., IL
8. Isaac Shuart Webster (b.1825) & Cynthia Ann Williams –OH, to IA, to IL
9. Amos Webster (b. 1792) & Susannah Wright (b.1800) – Butler Co., OH, to IN, to IL
10. Sarah BALDWIN (b.1777) & William Wright –NJ, to OH, to MI
11. Gabriel BALDWIN (b.1740) & Hannah Lum – Connecticut Farms, NJ
12. Ezekiel BALDWIN (b.1719) & Sarah BALDWIN – Connecticut Farms, NJ
13. John BALDWIN (b.1688) & Mary Crane – Milford, New Haven, CT
14. Jonathan BALDWIN (b.1648) & Hannah Ward – Milford, New Haven, CT
15. Joseph BALDWIN (b.1609) & Hannah Whitelock – Cholesbury, ENG to Hadley, MA
16. Richard BALDWIN (b.1576) & Isabell Harding – Cholesbury, Bucks Co., ENG
17. Richard BADLWIN (b.1540) & Isabel Chase – Ashton Clinton, Bucks Co., ENG
18. Richard BALDWIN (b.1503) & Ellen Apuke – Ashton Clinton, Bucks Co., ENG
19. John Robert BALDWIN (b.1475) & Agnes Dolte – Chesham, Buckinghamshire, ENG
20. William BALDWIN (b.1441) & Jane Aylesbury – Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, ENG
When he died, Sir John Baldwin (#19) left Richard Baldwin (#18), part of the parish of Dundridge or "Donrigge.” When Richard
became the lord of this property, he was thereafter known as Richard of Donrigge. Richard gave his namesake grandson
Richard (#16) some land in Cholesbury, and so this man became known as Richard of Cholesbury. The younger Richard then
married and had son Joseph Baldwin (#15) -- later to become known as Joseph of Milford, because he would become a pioneer
founder of Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Joseph also founded the direct line of American Baldwins written about here.
When this Joseph was less than 30 years old, during the reign of King Charles I in England, increasing numbers of people were
emigrating from England to the American colonies, including a number of Baldwins from County Bucks and adjoining counties.
Some colonists were sent by England, chosen on the basis of occupation and use in colonizing the new settlements. But many of
these early American colonists were also fleeing England in rebellion against the persecution of the prelates of the Church of
England. If you did not follow church rules, you could be punished very harshly and even branded with a branding iron or have
your ears cut off or your nose slit. It was not uncommon for those of other faiths to be imprisoned, whipped, or executed on
wild charges.
The events which led to the founding of the town of Milford, Connecticut, began in May 1637 when the ship Hector sailed from
London to Boston with a group under the leadership of John Davenport and Theophilus Katon. Five weeks later, another ship
carried a group headed by the Rev. Peter Prudden. You’ll recognize these names in this family tree, if you check the branches
sprouted in Connecticut.
The new arrivals stayed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for almost a year, but Reverend Prudden and John Davenport had
come to America to found their own colony. History tells us that Theophilus Eaton had made an exploratory journey to the
Connecticut wilderness, and he was so enthusiastic upon his return that a settlement party was formed to pioneer the area. In
April 1638, the group took passage on a ship, sailing through Long Island Sound to the mouth of the river. They stopped to
await the arrival of more friends from England – including Joseph Baldwin – when they located a small colony established for
the purpose of settling a wilderness known as New Haven.
The pioneers faced harsh conditions. They cleared land, built crude dwellings, and planted crops as part of the New Haven
colony, but still, the group wanted a settlement of their own. Some ten months later, five of their group journeyed westward
along the Long Island shore to the mouth of the Wepammug River to negotiate for land with the Paugusett Native Americans,
who had a village on its banks.
On February 12, 1639, the five entered into a ceremonial agreement with Ansantawae, sachem of the tribe, and they purchased
what became the site of Milford. The price was "six coats, 10 blankets, one kettle, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, two dozen knives, and
one dozen small mirrors." The Paugusset tribe sold the land hoping to enlist English protection against the Mohawks, who were
continually raiding their territory.
When the five negotiators returned to the New Haven settlement, they called their group together in a barn which was used as a
meeting place. The 40 or more who intended moving to Wepawaug (or Milford, as it later was named) laid their plans and
formed the First Church of Milford.
Joseph Baldwin undoubtedly attended these meetings as one of the founders, because his name appears on the original land plots
of the new town.
With their land purchased and their church organized, the main body of Reverend Prudden's party migrated from New Haven
late in the summer of 1639. One account states: "They followed the devious Indian footpath, driving their cattle and other
domestic animals before them, while their household and farming utensils and the materials for the 'common house' were taken
around by water.” After arrival, they built a few crude huts for temporary residence and immediately began clearing the land.
At the first town meeting on November 20, 1639, Joseph and 43 other church members were granted the franchise as "free
planters." The following summer, roads were laid along the banks of the river and 41 plots of about three acres each were
staked out.
Joseph Baldwin and his wife, Hannah Whitlock, settled on one of these plots -- that’s how he became known as Joseph of
Milford.
Life was one of arduous toil. Each of the settlers had to be a jack-of-all-trades, felling timber, milling it, building a home, planting
crops, tilling and harvesting them. In this primitive and rigorous way of life, Joseph and his wife reared four children.
There also were other Baldwins in Connecticut, undoubtedly related more or less distantly to Joseph, for they, too, had
emigrated from neighboring counties around Bucks in England. But the descendants of Joseph-of-Milford and Hannah Whitlock
alone were so prolific that more than 3,000 of them are listed in C. C. Baldwin's History of the Baldwin family.
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