Individual Details

William was a woollen draper and merchant of Ashford, Wye, and Sandwich, Co. Kent, England. In preparation for his journey to the colonies, William Hatch moved his family from Wye to Sandwich sometime before 1634. Sandwich is on the seacoast, directly east of Canterbury. He sailed from Sandwich in the ship Hercules with his wife Jane, five children, and six servants in March 1634/5. His cousin Lydia (Huckstep) and her husband Nathaniel Tilden and their children came in the same ship along with Dr. Comfort Starr and his family.
All the children of Elder William are identified in the christening/baptism records in England(47)and the departure record at Sandwich, co. Kent, England. Before William could leave England he needed a certificate verifying that he had taken the "oath of Supremacy & Allegeance." Such a certificate was issued to "William Hatch, of Sandwich, Merchant, and his wife, Jane, by Thomas Gardener, Vicar of St. Maries in Sandwich 17 March, 1634."(48)The certificate names William, his wife Jane, five children, Walter, John,William, Anne and Jane and six servants or apprentices, William Holmes,Joseph Ketchrell, Simon Ketcrell, Robert Jenings, Symon Sutton and Lidia Wells. The certificate names William's residence as Sandwich and implies,but does not state with certainty, that this was William's first trip tothe colonies. Elizabeth French-Bartlett verified the list and made a "verbatim"copy in 1911 that was made from the original Sandwich records and then submitted a correction to the New England Historical Society.(49)The only changes she made on William and Jane were the spellings on thenames of two of their servants. She changed Joseph Ketchrell and Simon Ketcrell to Joseph Ketchell and Simon Ketchell.
William and family settled in Scituate where he built a house on Kent Street, on a lot that was the first south of Greenfield lane. He was admitted freeman on 5 Jan. 1635/6. He returned to England and came back in April 1638, probably with his brother Thomas and his family, plus his sister Elizabeth Soan and her son William on the ship Castle.
He was a man of influence at Scituate. William served as Deputy to the General Court, Plymouth, 1642, 1645, and in 1649. He was commissioned Lieut. Scituate Co., Oct. 10, 1643. Also in 1643, he was chosen the first ruling elder of the Second Church of Scituate, founded in 1644 for William Witherell, after long agitations following the removal of Lathrop to Barnstable. In Aug of that year, his eldest sons, Walter and John, appear on the list as being able to bear arms. He was also in that year lieutenant of the trainband.
His granddaughter Damaris Torrey, who was but ten days old at that date, was mentioned among others in his will. (Pope) See New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol 4, p. 320, for transcription of 5 Nov 1651 will of William Hatch, Sr., of Scituate, MA, listing her as his granddaughter.





William Hatch and his family settled at Scituate where he built a house on Kent Street. His house lot was the first south of Greenfield Lane.(14)An old map of Scituate(15)has the location of his property closer to Kent Street and MeetinghouseLane. William was admitted a freeman on 5 January 1635/6 and became a planter.(16)He returned to England as a joint venturer on the Castle of Londonwith Thomas Rucke of Charlestowne and Joseph Meriam of Concord. The Castle"was docked at London on the River Thames in April of 1638 and arrivedat the ports of Boston and Charlestowne in New England in July 1638."(17)Passengers were on the ship. It is possible that William's brother, Thomas,and their sister, Elizabeth Soan, the wife of Robert Soan, deceased, ofBrasted, England, and her son, William, were on the Castle. Elizabethlater became the second wife of John Stockbridge.(18)In1643 William Hatch was chosen the first ruling elder of the Second (Vassal's)Church of Scituate(19)andhe became known as "Elder William Hatch." TheSecond Church of Scituate was founded in 1643, for William Witherell,after long agitations following the removal of Lathrop to Barnstable.(20)In August of that year, William and his sons, Walter and John appear onthe list of those in Scituate able to bear arms.(21)William was also lieutenant of the Scituate trainband or military company.(22)"In 1638, William Vassall and William Hatch were appointed by the Colonycourt to exercise the people in arms at Scituate."(23)

Birth	Abt 1598	England, Kent, Ashford, Tenterden
Marriage	Abt 1621	UNK UNK
Marriage	9 Jul 1624	England, Kent, Thanington, near Canterbury - Jane Young
Will	5 Nov 1651	Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, British America
Death	6 Nov 1651	Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, British America

Spouse	Jane Young (1596 - 1653)
Child	John Hatch (1625 - 1651)
Child	Anne Hatch (1626 - 1691)
Child	Son Hatch (1628 - 1628)
Child	William Hatch (1629 - 1653)
Child	Jane Hatch (1631 - )
Child	Andrew Hatch (1633 - 1633)

Spouse	UNK UNK ( - 1623)
Child	Walter Hatch (1623 - 1699)

Father	William Hatche (1563 - 1611)
Mother	Anne Tilden? (1566 - 1629)
Sibling	John Hatch (1594 - )
Sibling	Thomas Hatch (1596 - 1646)
Sibling	Elizabeth Hatch (1600 - 1649)
Sibling	Judith Hatch (1602 - 1628)
Sibling	Margaret Hatch (1604 - 1629)
Sibling	Mary Hatch (1606 - )
Sibling	Hatch (1609 - 1628)
Sibling	Anne Hatch (1612 - )

Notes