Descendants of Roger Bigge


Roger Bygge(Bigge) of Benenden,Kent died before 1471/72 leaving a widow,Joan, who almost certainly a second wife and not the mother of son John whose will identifies them. She perhaps was the mother of William who seems to have been several years younger than the others.Benenden is a smaller village about 3 miles southeast of Cranbrook,Kent.


Our Richard was of the right age and most probably was the son of Roger. We know little of the specifics of Roger Bygge(Bigge) life and circumstances. In reviewing subsequent wills of this lineage, we find that there were parcels of land in the family and as such Roger might have been a Yoeman(farmer) as many of the inhabitants of Kent were. As noted above the name of his first wife and the mother of Richard is unknown.


Richard Bigge of Benenden,Kent(where the Bigge family lived many generations). His wife Agnes and one Thomas Henley were named as executors of his estate; it is possible that this Agnes was a sister of Thomas. Richard’s will was dated 12 May 1474 and proved 14 Jun 1474. It speaks of many pieces of land as well as various monetary bequests. As such, one would assune that that Richard was “fairly well off” for the time period involved. The lineage from Richard on extends thru two of Richard’s sons,i.e., through son Robert and through son John.


John Biggs of Beneden,Kent was born 1450+\-. He married Alice Glover who was the daughter of John Glover of Beneden,Kent. This information is derived from the wills of her father and her brother. John Biggs died at and early age of about 30 years. We assume that he was “ailing” as he made his will on 27 Oct 1479 and the will was proved 17 May 1480 which was almost 7 months after the date of the will. His mother “Agnes Bigge(Hendley?) Was named as executrix of his will. It notes that “his sons” were under the age of eighteen.


Richard Bigge who was born about 1475-80 in Benenden,Kent.was a wealthy cloth merchant of Cranbrook. He married Joan (–) whose surname and parentage is unknown. Richard made his will on 4 Nov 1532 which was proved on 5 August1533. He named his wife Joan and nine children. Joan was sued in Chancery Court between 1538 and 1544 by Robert Bigge regarding dentention of deeds on the “denne” of Walkhurst in Benenden. Joan Bigge, widow of Bnenden made her will and died in 1550 naming 10 children, 5 of which were not named by Richard and omitting 4 that he did name. Did Joan marry again to another named Bigge? It could be assumed that there were some errors or omissions. It is clear that James was a son of Richard. Joan may or may not have been the mother of James.


James Bigge was born about 1530 at Cranbrook,Kent.He with his family settled in Capell which is about 10 miles northwest of Cranbrook. James, like many of the rest of the family, seems to have been in the cloth business, which at that time was flourishing in Cranbrook and nearby small towns. He married Anne whose surname and parentage are unknown. James died atan early age leaving his wife, Anne, and three small children. He appointed his brother “Jarvis” i.e. “Gervase” as sole executor of his will which was written 31 May 1562 and proved 27 May 1563. While not spoken of, one could assume that J ames was not a well man in writing his will at such a young age. The will also indicates that James was a fairly wealthy “young” man.


John Bigge of Cranbroook,Kent was born about 1561; he, like many other family members, was a fairly successful cloth merchant. He married at Tenterden,Kent, 5 miles east/northeast of Benenden, 14 Sept 1583, Rachel Martin, daughter of James and Joan (Adam) Martin. John was buried at Cranbrook on 13 August 1605. His will, dated 11 August 1605 and proved 20 October 1605 with wife Rachel and son Smallhope being the executors reflects that John was fairly successful in his cloth material endeavors.


Mrs. Rachel Bigge, age 66, with her widowed daughter Mrs Patience Foster, age 40, and grandson Hopestill Foster age 14, embarked on 17 April 1635 on the Ship “Elizabeth” for New England. They arrived at Boston in mid-summer, and settled in Dorchester where Mrs. Rachel Bigge was a member of the church and a proprietor in1637. Rachel Bigge made her will 17 Nov 1646 which was proved 30 June 1647. Hers was a will of a woman of property and some education. Rachel (Martin) Bigge’s son John, sister of our Patience Bigg who married Richard Foster, came earlier to New Englad. He died in 1642; His will dated 17 August 1640 and proved 7 Feb 1642 is a very extensive document, a bonanza for the genealogists. In this document there are many references to our Patience and her mother, Rachel Martin Bigge. This John Bigge was a very very wealthy man and probably one of the more successful “cloth makers”.


In summary, the Bigge fmily appears to have been one of the wealthier clothier families of Kent. Why they would leave the “comforts of the good life” and embark on an arduous journey to a new “frontier” community” is debatable; religius freedom must have been a strong consideration.


Patience Bigge, b in 1588 at Cranbrook, Kent, m Richard Foster in 1616 at Rorchester,Dorset. He died in England and Patience came to America in 1635 on the ship “Elizabeth”, William Stagg-Master. She came with her Mother, Rachel Martin Bigge.


References:FH6:2162,4324,8648,17296,34592,69184;FH7:1stV1:178-179;FH138:34-35; NEHGR:V29:253-260;PH17:176-177;PH97:49;PH211:88