This is an account of a certain very old English middle class family wherein two cousins independently emmigrated to America. Early documentation showed one Richard Baldwin of Donrigge, Parish of Aston Clinton,County of Buckinghamshire,England, will proved 21 Feb 1553, as being the prognitor of the above "two cousins". They are known as the Baldwins of Aston Clinton,Bucks, Eng. Subsequent research of various wills and other records gave evidence of this lineage extending back to middle of the 13th century. This extension starts with a John Baldwin who married circa 125x to William who d1314+ to Thomas d1341+ to Richard d1377+ to Richard d1384+ to John 1442+ to John d1483 to John d pr1524 to Robert d pr 16 Apr 1536. ref:FH16:20-38,MD13:V4:14

Richard Baldwin. son of Robert above, yoeman, made his will 16 Jan 1553. His name is spelled Bawldwyn and Baldwyn but for here, the name is Baldwin. His will is quite extensive and speaks of all of his children and his wife Ellen; the monies, properties, and personal effects noted give evidence that, for the time, he was fairly well to do. Aside it should be observed that, for the less then "gentry" level of society, the makers of the will went to great effort to speak of practically every last item they had regardless of value. In Richard's will he gives to his son Henry a "maser",i.e., a bowl or goblet of wood. As Richard spoke of one John Apuke being his "brother-inlaw", it has been assumed that his wofe's name was Ellen Apuke. ref:FH16:20-38,MD13:V4:14

Henry Baldwin, first born son and one of seven children, was born circa 154x. His will dtd 02 Jan 1600 was proved 02 Jul 1602 at London in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. He was buried at Aston Clinton 01 Jun 1601. He m circa 157x Alice King. Her will is dtd 04 Jun 1622; proved 14 Dec 1626. Both of these wills were very extensive. It has been said that hers was a "model" will in that she named, without doubt, every living child and grandchild. Further, the wills reflected a fair amount of property as well as sufficient money to state that Henry Baldwin and family were in very secure financial shape. ref:FH16:20-38, MD13:V4-11.

John Baldwin, third son of the above Henry Baldwin, was born circa 158x and died prior 14 Oct 1637 at which time his widow Hannah was granted letters of administration from the Archdeacon- ry Court of Bucks. He was then described as late of Chesham, Bucks. Nothing further was heard of Hannah. ref:FH16:20-38

John Baldwin, 2nd son of John and Hannah, was born circa 1625. He is known as John Baldwin of Norwich,Conn. vs his cousin Sylvester Baldwin who died on ship Martin 21 Jun 1638 and whose son settled in Milford,Conn. It is assumed that our John probably came from England with his cousin Sylvester; this is spoken of in the old Family Bible of John Baldwin of Stonington, a son of Sylvester who died aboard the ship Martin. Our John first settled in Guild- ford,Conn,where married Hannah Birchard, d/o Thomas and Mary Rob- inson, 12 Apr 1253. He removed, in 1660, to Norwich,Conn., and was one of the thirty "original proprietors of that town. John died sometime between Jan 1685 and Feb 1692. The death of his wife is unknown. ref:FH 16:36-37,269-271, FH170:72,PH7-35.

John Baldwin, 1st born son of John and Hannah above, was born 5 Dec 1654. He was in Norwich where married Experience Abell 1680. The family resided in Lebanon,Conn where he was a grantee in 1695, one of the Selectmen in 1699, a Sargent in the Miltia, and a long time Deacon in the Church. He died 18 Jan 1705 in Lebanon. The death date of his wife is unknown.