Nathaniel Tilden was baptized 28 July 1583 at St. Mildred’s Church, Tenterden, Kent, son of Richard Tilden. [NEHGS Register, hereafter “NEHGR” 65:326] His mother’s name was Elizabeth whose maiden name is not recorded. His surname is also spelled Tylden and Tyldon in records. Nathaniel is my 12th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.
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| St. Mildred's, Tenterden |
On 13 October 1606, Nathaniel Tilden married Lydia Huckstep at Bethersden, Kent. [NEHGR 161:165] She was baptized 11 February 1587/8 at St. Mildred’s, Tenterden, the daughter of Stephen Huckstep and Winifred Hatch. [NEHGR 67:47] She was first cousin of William Hatch, Thomas Hatch, and Elizabeth Somes of Scituate. [Davis]
Lydia and Nathaniel had 12 children baptized St. Mildred’s, Tenterden [NEHGR 65:327]:
- Thomas Tilden baptized 23 October 1608; buried Tenterden 19 January 1618/19 at age 10 [NEHGR 65:328]
- Mary Tilden baptized 20 May 1610; married 1st Scituate 13 March 1636/7 Thomas Lapham [NEHGR 9:286; Anderson 2:4:234-36]; married 2nd after 1651 but before 12 December 1664 William Bassett [Anderson 1:127-30]
- Joseph Tilden baptized 12 January 1611/12; buried Tenterden 15 March 1611/12, age about 2 months [NEHGR 65:328]
- Sarah Tilden baptized 13 June 1613; married Scituate 13 March 1636/7 George Sutton [NEHGR 9:286; Anderson 2:6:604-7]
- Joseph Tilden baptized 29 April 1615; married Scituate 20 November 1649 Elizabeth Twisden, daughter of John Twisden [Noyes et al p. 700-1]; was a Deacon
- Stephen Tilden baptized 31 March 1617; buried Tenterden 21 October 1619 at age 2 [NEHGR 65:328]
- Thomas Tilden baptized 19 January 1618/19; married 1st by 1654 Elizabeth (Bourne) Waterman, daughter of Thomas Bourne and widow of Robert Waterman [The Mayflower Descendant hereafter “MD” 11:100-4]; married 2nd Marshfield 24 January 1664[?/5] Mary Holmes [Marshfield VR p 5], daughter of William Holmes [Anderson 2:3:392-97]
- viii.Judith Tilden baptized 22 October 1620; married by 1641 Abraham Preble [NEHGR 22:311-17; Noyes et al p. 565-6]
- Winifred Tilden baptized 20 October 1622; buried Tenterden 14 September 1627 at age 4 [NEHGR 65:328]
- Lydia Tilden baptized 30 May 1624; buried Tenterden 15 September 1624 at about 3 months [NEHGR 65:328]
- Lydia Tilden baptized 28 September 1625; married by 1648 Richard Garrett [MD 16:159]
- Stephen Tilden baptized 11 October 1629; married Scituate 25 January 1661[?/2] Hannah Little, daughter of Thomas Little [Anderson 2:1189-92; Mayflower Families 18:1:19-20]
Of their 12 children, five died very young. I descend from Thomas and his first wife Elizabeth Bourne.
Tilden was a prominent, wealthy member of the gentry. He had deep roots in Tenterden, where he served as mayor in 1622 and as a jurat (justice) in 1624, 1625, 1627, and 1629 and likely in the intervening years. [Davis] Tenterden was a prosperous town in Nathaniel’s day and also an area of religious turmoil with a substantial number of non-conformists, many of whom migrated to the New World. Unfortunately in 1661 the town’s medieval courthouse burned down and many early documents were lost. [Tenterden’s Wikipedia page]
Nathaniel’s father Thomas Tilden was a large landholder who wrote his will at Wye, Kent, 14 March 1616/7 leaving his son Nathaniell “one peece of fresh mersh land with the appurtenances called or knowne by the name of the Fyve acres lyinge & being in the aforesaid Parish of East Guyldeford together with a sufficient carrying way to carry drive goe to & …one peece of land called the upper peece of the lesser Spanyards lyinge in Guyldfford aforesaid.” [French]
On 4 March 1634/5 “Nathaniel Tilden of Tenterden in Kent, yeoman, & Lidia his wife,” children “Joseph, Thomas, Stephen, Marie, Sara, Judeth [and] Lidia,” and servants “Thos Lapham, Geo Sutton, Edwd Ford, Edwd Jeakins, Sara Couchman, Marie Perien [and] James Bennt” were enrolled at Sandwich as passengers for New England on the Hercules. [NEHGR 75:218] Traveling with seven servants indicates his wealth and social stature.
The Tilden family settled at Scituate in Plymouth Colony where Nathaniel is remembered as one of the founders referred to as “The Men of Kent.” He lived in the part of town called the Two Mile Tract that later became North Marshfield. [Deane] Currently an area called Two Mile Farm is preserved and owned by The Trustees of Reservations.
Scituate map Source: Scituate Historical Society
“Mr. Tilden” appears in Rev. John Lothrop’s list of houses built in Scituate between September 1634 and October 1636. Nathaniel’s farm was on Kent Street, between Greenfield Lane and the Driftway, on both sides of the North River down to the sea. He also had land at Long Marsh on Third Cliff and on the east side of North River below Gravelly Beach. [NEHGR 10:42; Scituate Town Records 1:17; Pratt]
Nathaniel was a well-educated man with a particular interest in Puritan theology, as shown by the books listed in his inventory which included “one Book of Martyrs, one great Bible, Calvin’s Institutions, Wilson on the Romans, 3 of Mr. Downam’s, 3 of Doctor Preston’s, Dod upon the Commandments, Sibbs upon the Covenant, 3 of Doctor Storton’s, Mr Dikes Works & thirty other books” valued at £5 [MD 3:222, transcribing Plymouth Colony Probate Records hereafter PCPR 1:38; Davis].
He was a prominent man in the colony, indicated by his being addressed as “Mr.” In his 1661 will, his brother Hopestill refers to Nathaniel as “gentleman.” He and Henry Cobb were selected as the first ruling elders of the Scituate Church in 1634. [Woolson; Deane]
On 17 May 1637 “Mr Tymothy Heatherly, & Mr. [blank] Tylden, with Mr. Willia Aspinwall & Joseph Androws, were appointed to view the bounds between us [Mass Bay] & Plimoth, & make return how they find the like to both courts.” [Mass Bay Colony Records 1:196] In 1637 Tilden and Timothy Hatherly were appointed the Plymouth Colony’s commissioners to meet with two representatives of Mass Bay to determine the boundary between the two colonies. Unable to come to an agreement. [Davis]
He served in the militia as indicated by his inventory including “1 musket, 1 sword & birding piece” valued at £1. [MD 3:222, transcribing PCPR 1:38]
Nathaniel was involved in many land transactions:
- He bought land in Scituate on 10 April 1628 [the year is clearly an error] by deed of Henry Merritt, planter, conveying to him “all the land which I had of Goodman Byrd lying with the fence at the North end of the third cliff.” [Records of New Plymouth Colony hereafter “PCR” 12:102, 103]
- On 20 February 1634/5 a second assignment of house lots was made. Mr. Lothrop had arrived with 30 of his church who were chiefly from London. The area was called Greenfield because it had been an Indian planting ground and was not covered with wood. At Greenfield Lane the 3rd lot of five acres that abutted Kent Street, was assigned to Nathaniel Tilden. At the time houses were generally log houses, covered with thatch cut from the sedges of the salt marshes. What a change from how the family lived in England! [Deane]
- He bought five acres in the third cliff from John Emerson in 1636, nine acres of marsh at New Harbor from same grantor in 1639, and two acres of marsh from William Crocker in 1638. [PCR 12:102, 103]
- On 2 February 1636 John Emerson of Scituate for 40 shillings sold to Nathaniell Tilden of Scituate, planter, land upon the third cliff and marshland adjoining estimating five acres. Mentions borders land of John Stockbridg and Thomas Byrd. Deed recorded 22 April 1644. [PCR 12:102]
- Another deed recorded the same day, John Emerson to Nathaniell Tilden of Scituate, all marshland bordering land of Humphrey Turner and Thomas Chambers and the north river. Dated 10 October 1639. [PCR 12:103]
- “The first book of records for lands being lost the towns [sic] gave order to the town clerk to enter Mr. Tilden’s land that Lyeth at Long Marsh according to evidence the 1 day of May 1666, given by the Freemen of Sittiate one tract of upland containing one hundred and twenty acres and a proportional quantity of marsh according as other men’s lots were on the river at Long Marsh to Mr. Nathanell Tilden in the year 1636 or thereabouts to him and his heirs and assigns forever this grant of land was the first grant that the free men of Sittiate made at that place.” [Scituate Town Records 1:83, 256-7]
- On 2 February 1636[/7], “John Emerson of Scittuate in America, planter,” sold to “Nathaniell Tilden of Scittuate aforesaid, planter, all my lands upon the third cliff and marsh land thereunto adjoining…containing by estimation five acres.” [PCR 12:102]
- On 10 April 1638, “Henry Merritt of Scituate in America, planter,” sold to “Nathaniell Tilden of Scittuate, planter,…all that land which I had of Goodman Tilden of Scittuate, planter,…all that land which I had of Goodman Byrd lying within the fence at the north end of the third cliff.” [PCR 12:103]
- On 16 May 1638, “William Crocker of Scituatte in America, planter,” sold to “Nathaniell Tilden of Scittuate aforesaid, planter, two acres of marsh land.” [PCR 12:103-4]
- On 10 October 1639, “John Emerson of Scittuate in America, planter,” sold to “Nathaniell Tilde of Scittuate aforesaid, planter, all my marsh land in New Harbor Marshes laid out to me and to my use by Edward Foster by the town’s appointment…being nine acres more or less.” [PCR 12:102-3]
There are only a few legal cases involving Nathaniel:
- On 3 January 1636/7, “Nathaneill Tilden, of Scituate, complains against Comfort Starr of New Towne, in Massachusetts Bay, in a plea upon the case, to the damage of one hundred pounds; in which action the said plaintiff did not personally appear, but sent a declaration; wherefore the action was referred to the ordered and ending of Mr. James Cudworth and Samuell Hinckley, of Scituate; and if they cannot agree, the same then to take a third man unto them, and so to end the same; but if the said Mr. Tilden shall refuse their end and arbirament, that then he shall pay Mr. Starr, the defendant his charges, and the defendant to be subject of a new action.” [PCR 7:3]
- On 4 Sept 1638 “Nathaniell Tilden [was] presented or denying a land way that formerly Mr Besbeech & others had used by grant from the town of Scituate.” [PCR 1:98] On 25 Oct 1638, “Nathaniell Tilden complains against Henry Ewell, in an action upon the case, to the damage of [blank].” [PCR 7:10]
- At 25 October 1638 Court, Nathaniell Tilden complaines agst Henry Ewell, in an action upon the case to the damage of [blank] [PCR 7:10]
Records indicate Nathaniel was close with his brothers—he and his wife were remembered in several of their wills. In his 1 February 1642 will, his brother Joseph Tilden writes: “to my sister Lydia Tilden, late wife of my brother Nathaniel Tilden…and to her two daughters who are married in New England.” [French] Joseph was one of the London Merchant Adventurers who financed the Pilgrims. He named nephew Joseph Tilden, son of his brother Nathaniel, sole executor. By codicil he bequeaths the residue of his estate to Joseph Tilden. Letters of administration issued 18 March 1642 to his brother Hopestill Tilden during the absence of Joseph Tilden “now dwelling in the parts beyond the sea.” [Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 28 Crane]
His brother Hopestill Tilden of Sandwich, Kent, wrote his will 19 November 1661. He bequeathed “unto the children of my brother Nathaniel Tilden late of Tenterden in the said county, gent.” £100 to be equally divided. [French] Hopestill was a grocer and justice in Sandwich who left a widow Deborah. [Archdeaconry of Canterbury vol 71, folio 194; Davis]
Lydia Tilden’s uncle John Huckstep, in his 4 Nov 1624 will, left £5 to “my kinswoman Lydia Tilden, wife of Nathaniel Tilden.”
Nathaniel died between 25 May 1641 (date of will) and 31 July 1641 (date of inventory). He was 57 years old. Nathaniel's memorial stone was his death as 31 July 1641, but this was date of his inventory.
Nathaniel's gravestone erected by ancestors, Men of Kent Cemetery
In his will dated 25 May 1641, “Nathaniell Tilden of Scittuate” gent., was sick and weak of body. He left bequests to:
- “Lidea my well beloved wife” her wearing apparel, one bed furnished, the great trunk, other household items including valuable silver spoons, foodstuffs, a cow, and “the profits of one house and lands thereunto belonging wherein one Richard Lambert now dwelleth being in the parish of Tenterden in Kent in Old England”
- “my two youngest children Lidea & Steeven shall be maintained both for meats, drink, apparel & lodging by mine executor”
- “my son Joseph a double portion, viz: as much more as my other sons, that is as much as both my other sons Thomas and Steeven equally to be divided out of my l ands and goods”
- “my youngest daughter Lidea shall have half as much as one of my younger sons Thomas and Steeven”
- “my daughter Judet one cow”
- “Mary my daughter the wife of Thomas Lapham ten shillings”
- “Sara my daughter the wife of Georg Sutton ten shillings”
- “my two servants Edward Ginkins and Edward Tarte shall serve up the remainder of their time of service which by covenant is due unto me with my son Joseph”
He provides additional details on how son Joseph, who was named sole executor, was expected to provide for his younger siblings. Joseph to “have full power and authority to sell my house with all the buildings thereunto belonging and also all my lands situate and being in Scittuate & Tenterden.” Nathaniel signed the will which was witnessed by Symon Sutton and Thomas Hatch. [MD 3:220-22, transcribing PCPR 1:37]
The inventory of the estate of “Nathaniell Tilden late of Scittuate … gentleman, deceased,” was taken 31 July 1641. It was untotaled and contained no real estate. [MD 3:222-23, transcribing PCPR 1:38] It contains several interesting items in addition to the usual items found in a house and farm: a musket, sword, a “birding-peece,” great quantity of linen, 13 silver spoons, a large library of about 45 books, ten hives of bees were valued at £1 a piece. [Davis] This is the earliest mention of bee keeping in the colony. [Deane]
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| Men of Kent Memorial |
Lydia Tilden made an excellent second marriage when after 1641 she married Timothy Hatherly. [Anderson] He was Nathaniel’s good friend and the wealthiest, most prominent Scituate resident. He was a member of the Merchant Adventurers in London who financed the Mayflower voyage and new-world venture. [Davis]
Timothy is said to have been a man of extraordinary generosity. He gave the parsonage house and land to the church in 1654 and seven years later added his Musquaschcut farm and buildings to the gift. He was deeply involved in public service at high levels—he was treasurer of the colony, councillor or assistant for 13 years, and commissioner of the United Colonies for three years. In 1658 he took a firm stand against persecution of Quakers.
A few days before his October 1666 death, Timothy, who did not have surviving children of is own, conveyed to his step-son Joseph Tilden his homestead farm and 130 acres.
His will is dated 20 December 1664 and he left many generous bequests that included members of the Tilden family:
- Wife Lydia his house and all of his land, silver plate, pewter and brass, linen, furniture, his wearing clothes, a gray mare, two cows and two oxen.
- Lydia Garrett my wife’s daughter three acres of land part of which her house now stands on and £5; her four children to receive 40 shillings apiece when they come to the age of 21 years
- George Sutton and his wife [Sarah Tilden] and children £5
- Widow Preble my wife’s daughter [Judith[ 50 shillings
- Lydia Lapham one heiffer worth 50 shillings or 50 shillings in goods
- Thomas Lapham 30 shillings [husband or perhaps son of Lydia’s daughter Mary]
- Additional grandchildren of L
- The wife of Willm Bassett my wife’s daughter [Mary] £5
- Stephen Tilden £5 [Lydia’s son]
- All the rest of goods and lands not given and bequeathed, my debts and legacies payed and funeral charges discharged, given to Joseph Tilden.
His step-son Joseph Tilden, whom he calls “my highly and well beloved friend,” was named executor. He at first declined to serve, but he changed his mind and was appointed administrator by the court. Lydia’s sons Stephen and Thomas are not named in the will, but Timothy had perhaps already gifted them land.
Timothy’s nephew Thomas Hanford, who received a bequest of £10, tried to set aside the deed of land to Joseph Tilden and the will itself and the matter was not settled until 7 June 1673 when Hanford signed a release acknowledging that he received £20 in in silver money and English goods from Nathaniel and John Tilden twice. By that time, Joseph Tilden had deeded the land in question to his sons Nathaniel and John Tilden, and had passed away.
[MD 16:158-60 citing PCPR 2:2:34; Pratt]
“Mistress Hatherly” was still living in 1670 at the age of 82 when her son Joseph died. [Davis] Findagrave.com Memorial ID 24305908 has Lydia Hatherly dying 31 July 1672 at Scituate, without any known burial details, but I cannot find a primary source for this date.
Sources:
Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, 3:43-46, 1995
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. (New York: AMS Press, 1968)
Elizabeth French (transcribed by) and communicated by Committee of English Research, NEHGS Register, “Genealogical Research in England,” Reg 65:322-333 (Oct 1911
Lysander Salmon Richards, History of Marshfield, 1905, volume 2
Samuel Deane, History of Scituate Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831, 1831
Lula May (Fenno) Woolson, The Woolson-Fenno Ancestry and Allied Lines, privately printed, 1907
Walter Goodwin Davis, The Ancestry of Joseph Neal 1769-c 1835 of LItchfield, Maine, 1945
Sybil Noyes, Charles Libby and Walter Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, 1928-1939
Harvey Hunter Pratt, Early Planters of Scituate, 1929
