It is likely that Martha Bigger and her second husband James Bigger were buried in now-unmarked graves in this churchyard. A descendent writes: "In 2001 we were in Niagara Falls, Ont. and visited the museum at Lundys Lane/Drummond Hill. I looked thru the genealogy folders that have been donated over the years and found a hand-written page with no attribution. At the top of the page it said 'Martha Flemen 1765 or 1766?' Written below in parenthesis was this paragraph which I assumed was from a book: 'Together they lie to the side of the Church. Na'er a stone marks the spot in Old Bethlehem Churchyard.' "
They lived in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon, NJ and were members of this church as were her Fleming sons.
Some report that her birth name was Murphy, but I have seen no proof.
Her first husband was Malcolm Fleming "of Tullywagan", a weaver and yeoman, in Derryloren, Cookstown, Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Perhaps she was his second wife. They had three sons born 1715-1720. This would imply she was born c. 1695 at the latest and that they married c. 1714. He may have been married previously because he had another son Samuel Fleming, later the namesake of Flemington, NJ, born in 1707. It seems unlikely that Martha was his mother. She did not mention Samuel in her will.
According to a probate index in Ireland, Malcolm Fleming died in 1720. This would have left Martha a young widow with three small children. That there was a will (now gone) implies that she was not left penniless.
She married James Bigger in 1730 and they had three sons, probably in Ireland. Bigger had been a trustee for the interests of her three Fleming sons and there is a existing document regarding this in 1736 in Ireland. This refers to them as minors but by 1736 all would have been adults. However, since their father died in 1720, they would have been minors with property for all of their childhoods. Perhaps this document was about the conclusion of the trust.
It is not clear when the Biggers immigrated to New Jersey, but the three Fleming sons as adults immigrated c. 1751. Possible step-son Samuel Fleming immigrated by 1746 and probably earlier.
James Bigger died in 1756 in leaving a will citing Martha and their three sons.
Martha Bigger died in 1766 also leaving a will that mentioned her Fleming (Flemen) and Bigger (Riggerd) sons, two grandchildren, and five living daughters-in-law. (Samuel Fleming was not mentioned supporting the idea that he was not her son although he is believed to have been a half-brother of her sons.)
It is remarkable that she left a will since most often widows were dependent on their sons. Clearly she had means of her own. In a time when people had few clothes, she had enough apparel to leave to her FIVE daughters-in-law. Also her inventory mentioned that she owned 25 books. This was astonishing for the time.
Her sons were:
William Fleming 1715 - 1792
Thomas Fleming 1717-1783
Andrew Fleming 1720 -1777
* Joseph Bigger 1731-1773?
Robert Bigger 1733-1766 (died in Bethlehem, Hunterdon)
James Bigger 1735-1792 (died in Hardwick, Sussex)
* Martha and James had a son Joseph probably born in Ireland shortly after their marriage in 1730. There are earmarks recorded for him in 1762 and 1768 in Bethlehem, NJ. His brothers left probate records in NJ. He did not, perhaps implying that he was no longer in NJ. The Joseph Bigger who died in SC in 1786 is sometimes thought to be him. However, that gravestone lists his age at death as 64 which would make him born in 1722. According to Martha's will his wife's name was Ann. He probably was not the son of James and Martha.
Some report Joseph died in 1773 but I have seen no source.
They lived in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon, NJ and were members of this church as were her Fleming sons.
Some report that her birth name was Murphy, but I have seen no proof.
Her first husband was Malcolm Fleming "of Tullywagan", a weaver and yeoman, in Derryloren, Cookstown, Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Perhaps she was his second wife. They had three sons born 1715-1720. This would imply she was born c. 1695 at the latest and that they married c. 1714. He may have been married previously because he had another son Samuel Fleming, later the namesake of Flemington, NJ, born in 1707. It seems unlikely that Martha was his mother. She did not mention Samuel in her will.
According to a probate index in Ireland, Malcolm Fleming died in 1720. This would have left Martha a young widow with three small children. That there was a will (now gone) implies that she was not left penniless.
She married James Bigger in 1730 and they had three sons, probably in Ireland. Bigger had been a trustee for the interests of her three Fleming sons and there is a existing document regarding this in 1736 in Ireland. This refers to them as minors but by 1736 all would have been adults. However, since their father died in 1720, they would have been minors with property for all of their childhoods. Perhaps this document was about the conclusion of the trust.
It is not clear when the Biggers immigrated to New Jersey, but the three Fleming sons as adults immigrated c. 1751. Possible step-son Samuel Fleming immigrated by 1746 and probably earlier.
James Bigger died in 1756 in leaving a will citing Martha and their three sons.
Martha Bigger died in 1766 also leaving a will that mentioned her Fleming (Flemen) and Bigger (Riggerd) sons, two grandchildren, and five living daughters-in-law. (Samuel Fleming was not mentioned supporting the idea that he was not her son although he is believed to have been a half-brother of her sons.)
It is remarkable that she left a will since most often widows were dependent on their sons. Clearly she had means of her own. In a time when people had few clothes, she had enough apparel to leave to her FIVE daughters-in-law. Also her inventory mentioned that she owned 25 books. This was astonishing for the time.
Her sons were:
William Fleming 1715 - 1792
Thomas Fleming 1717-1783
Andrew Fleming 1720 -1777
* Joseph Bigger 1731-1773?
Robert Bigger 1733-1766 (died in Bethlehem, Hunterdon)
James Bigger 1735-1792 (died in Hardwick, Sussex)
* Martha and James had a son Joseph probably born in Ireland shortly after their marriage in 1730. There are earmarks recorded for him in 1762 and 1768 in Bethlehem, NJ. His brothers left probate records in NJ. He did not, perhaps implying that he was no longer in NJ. The Joseph Bigger who died in SC in 1786 is sometimes thought to be him. However, that gravestone lists his age at death as 64 which would make him born in 1722. According to Martha's will his wife's name was Ann. He probably was not the son of James and Martha.
Some report Joseph died in 1773 but I have seen no source.
It is likely that Martha Bigger and her second husband James Bigger were buried in now-unmarked graves in this churchyard. A descendent writes: "In 2001 we were in Niagara Falls, Ont. and visited the museum at Lundys Lane/Drummond Hill. I looked thru the genealogy folders that have been donated over the years and found a hand-written page with no attribution. At the top of the page it said 'Martha Flemen 1765 or 1766?' Written below in parenthesis was this paragraph which I assumed was from a book: 'Together they lie to the side of the Church. Na'er a stone marks the spot in Old Bethlehem Churchyard.' "
They lived in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon, NJ and were members of this church as were her Fleming sons.
Some report that her birth name was Murphy, but I have seen no proof.
Her first husband was Malcolm Fleming "of Tullywagan", a weaver and yeoman, in Derryloren, Cookstown, Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Perhaps she was his second wife. They had three sons born 1715-1720. This would imply she was born c. 1695 at the latest and that they married c. 1714. He may have been married previously because he had another son Samuel Fleming, later the namesake of Flemington, NJ, born in 1707. It seems unlikely that Martha was his mother. She did not mention Samuel in her will.
According to a probate index in Ireland, Malcolm Fleming died in 1720. This would have left Martha a young widow with three small children. That there was a will (now gone) implies that she was not left penniless.
She married James Bigger in 1730 and they had three sons, probably in Ireland. Bigger had been a trustee for the interests of her three Fleming sons and there is a existing document regarding this in 1736 in Ireland. This refers to them as minors but by 1736 all would have been adults. However, since their father died in 1720, they would have been minors with property for all of their childhoods. Perhaps this document was about the conclusion of the trust.
It is not clear when the Biggers immigrated to New Jersey, but the three Fleming sons as adults immigrated c. 1751. Possible step-son Samuel Fleming immigrated by 1746 and probably earlier.
James Bigger died in 1756 in leaving a will citing Martha and their three sons.
Martha Bigger died in 1766 also leaving a will that mentioned her Fleming (Flemen) and Bigger (Riggerd) sons, two grandchildren, and five living daughters-in-law. (Samuel Fleming was not mentioned supporting the idea that he was not her son although he is believed to have been a half-brother of her sons.)
It is remarkable that she left a will since most often widows were dependent on their sons. Clearly she had means of her own. In a time when people had few clothes, she had enough apparel to leave to her FIVE daughters-in-law. Also her inventory mentioned that she owned 25 books. This was astonishing for the time.
Her sons were:
William Fleming 1715 - 1792
Thomas Fleming 1717-1783
Andrew Fleming 1720 -1777
* Joseph Bigger 1731-1773?
Robert Bigger 1733-1766 (died in Bethlehem, Hunterdon)
James Bigger 1735-1792 (died in Hardwick, Sussex)
* Martha and James had a son Joseph probably born in Ireland shortly after their marriage in 1730. There are earmarks recorded for him in 1762 and 1768 in Bethlehem, NJ. His brothers left probate records in NJ. He did not, perhaps implying that he was no longer in NJ. The Joseph Bigger who died in SC in 1786 is sometimes thought to be him. However, that gravestone lists his age at death as 64 which would make him born in 1722. According to Martha's will his wife's name was Ann. He probably was not the son of James and Martha.
Some report Joseph died in 1773 but I have seen no source.
They lived in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon, NJ and were members of this church as were her Fleming sons.
Some report that her birth name was Murphy, but I have seen no proof.
Her first husband was Malcolm Fleming "of Tullywagan", a weaver and yeoman, in Derryloren, Cookstown, Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Perhaps she was his second wife. They had three sons born 1715-1720. This would imply she was born c. 1695 at the latest and that they married c. 1714. He may have been married previously because he had another son Samuel Fleming, later the namesake of Flemington, NJ, born in 1707. It seems unlikely that Martha was his mother. She did not mention Samuel in her will.
According to a probate index in Ireland, Malcolm Fleming died in 1720. This would have left Martha a young widow with three small children. That there was a will (now gone) implies that she was not left penniless.
She married James Bigger in 1730 and they had three sons, probably in Ireland. Bigger had been a trustee for the interests of her three Fleming sons and there is a existing document regarding this in 1736 in Ireland. This refers to them as minors but by 1736 all would have been adults. However, since their father died in 1720, they would have been minors with property for all of their childhoods. Perhaps this document was about the conclusion of the trust.
It is not clear when the Biggers immigrated to New Jersey, but the three Fleming sons as adults immigrated c. 1751. Possible step-son Samuel Fleming immigrated by 1746 and probably earlier.
James Bigger died in 1756 in leaving a will citing Martha and their three sons.
Martha Bigger died in 1766 also leaving a will that mentioned her Fleming (Flemen) and Bigger (Riggerd) sons, two grandchildren, and five living daughters-in-law. (Samuel Fleming was not mentioned supporting the idea that he was not her son although he is believed to have been a half-brother of her sons.)
It is remarkable that she left a will since most often widows were dependent on their sons. Clearly she had means of her own. In a time when people had few clothes, she had enough apparel to leave to her FIVE daughters-in-law. Also her inventory mentioned that she owned 25 books. This was astonishing for the time.
Her sons were:
William Fleming 1715 - 1792
Thomas Fleming 1717-1783
Andrew Fleming 1720 -1777
* Joseph Bigger 1731-1773?
Robert Bigger 1733-1766 (died in Bethlehem, Hunterdon)
James Bigger 1735-1792 (died in Hardwick, Sussex)
* Martha and James had a son Joseph probably born in Ireland shortly after their marriage in 1730. There are earmarks recorded for him in 1762 and 1768 in Bethlehem, NJ. His brothers left probate records in NJ. He did not, perhaps implying that he was no longer in NJ. The Joseph Bigger who died in SC in 1786 is sometimes thought to be him. However, that gravestone lists his age at death as 64 which would make him born in 1722. According to Martha's will his wife's name was Ann. He probably was not the son of James and Martha.
Some report Joseph died in 1773 but I have seen no source.
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