The Batchelder family ascends from Jeremiah Leavitt I [LLQV-DX4] through his mother Lydia Sanborn, Lydia Dearborn, and Abigail Batchelder [KCVB-M4Q].

For the history of Stephen Bachiler, father of the following Nathaniel, see Christopher Hussey's "Memories," [KFGB-726].

Nathaniel Bachiler was the son of Stephen Bachiler and Helen and was born in 1590 in or around Wherwell, Hampshire, England. Because of the fact that these people were non-conformists, a record of their births, marriages and deaths apparently has not been preserved in church records. Nathaniel married Hester Mercer, born August 1, 1602, daughter of Francis Mercer and Jennie LaClerca who were also from Wherwell. This connection with the Mercer and LeClerca lines, which are French, have led some to suppose that the Bachiler line is also French, but nothing has been proven on it one way or another.

Less is known of the life of Nathaniel than that of his illustrious father. He grew up under the tudorship of a father that was more and more inclined to the Calvinistic beliefs, however, and this caused persecution to fall upon all of the family as time went by. Some of them were forced to abandon England because of it. Apparently Nathaniel did not. Being the oldest of the sons, he married and was likely involved in a life of his own by the time the worst of these persecutions fell upon the family.

Nathaniel and Hester settled for a time, at least, in Wherwell, Hampshire, England, just south of Andover and northwest of Winchester. This was probably around 1625. They had four sons and two daughters, the last two probably being born in Massachusetts and the first four in England, around the Wherwell area:

Stephen born about 1624. He was living in London in 1685.

Anna born about 1626; died before 1661; married Daniel DuCornet. Daniel was of Middleboro, Massachusetts.

Francis born about 1628; probably died in England.

Nathaniel (our ancestor) born 1630; died January 17 or 19, 1709; married 1st December 10, 1656, Deborah Smith; married 2nd Mrs. Mary Carter Wyman; married 3rd Mrs. Elizabeth Knill.

Benjamin born about 1632; probably died in England.

A daughter born about 1634; married Thomas Wenborne.

Nathaniel died about 1645 but Hester must have died after 1661 as she is mentioned in her uncle Paul Mercer's will. Paul Mercer was a merchant of Southampton. His will was written in June 1661 and proven September 9, 1661. "To the children of my brother Francis Mercer, clerk, named Peter, John, Francis, Jane and Hester Mercer, to every one of them one hundred pounds at twenty-one or days of marriage, etc."

The children of Nathaniel and Hester are also mentioned in the above will. "Item, I give unto 'my niessce Anna de (sic) daughter of late Nathaniel and Hester Bachiler, now the wife of Daniel du Cornet, of Middleborough, merchant," as a marriage portion, three hundred pounds current Flemish money or, in lieu thereof, one hundred and four score pounds current English money, at my executor's choice. To her three younger brothers, my nephews, named Francis, Nathaniel and Benjamin Bachiler, two hundred pounds, to be equally divided amongst them or their survivors of them."

Nathaniel Batchelder was the son of Nathaniel Bachiler and Hester Mercer. He was born in 1630 or 1631 at Wherwell, Hampshire, England. He married December 10, 1656, Deborah Smith, daughter of John Smith and Deborah Parkhurst of Martha's Vineyard. 

It isn't certain when Nathaniel came to America, but possibly it was as a baby when his grandfather came over. Deborah's birth date isn't certain but our records give three different dates: 1636, 1640 and 1645. The earliest date is probably correct. She died giving birth to her ninth child, March 8, 1675/1676.

After her death, Nathaniel married twice more. His second wife was Mary Wyman, a widow, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Carter and widow of John Wyman of Woburn. She was born July 24, 1648. Mary was a cousin of Deborah Smith. They were married October 31, 1676, at Hampton, New Hampshire. She died about 1688. His third wife as we have it was named ElizabethB. Knell, widown of John Knell. She survived him and was admitted as a member of the Charlestown church on September 2, 1677. In all the children of Nathaniel were seventeen.

Nathaniel was always a resident of Hampton and held many offices of trust and honor in town and church. He was for some time constable, and for nine years was a selectman. He made deposition at Hampton on December 9, 1680, and was then about fifty years old. His province rate (tax) was the fifth in size in 1680 of 150 inhabitants of Hampton. He was constable in 1683.

The following anecdote is told of him: When after the death of his first wife, he had determined to marry again, he resolved to be governed in his choice by the direction in which his staff, held perpendicularly over the floor, should fall, when dropped from his hand. The experiment being tried, the staff fell towards the southwest, and in that direction he bent his steps. Having traveled as far as Woburn, he called on the Widow Wyman and offered her his hand, stating that he was going to Boston and would call for her answer on his return. It was favorable, for they were at once married. 

Nathaniel died suddenly on January 2, 1710. He lived at Hampton at the time of his death. His widow Elizabeth, and children, made an agreement on March 17, 1710, in addition to his will, which is dated February 14, 1706/1707. The parties were the widow, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Mary Palmer, Samuel, Jonathan, Thomas, and Joseph Batcheller: Joseph Palmer for his wife Deborah; Samuel Shaw for his wife Esther; John Dearborn for his wife Abigail; Benjamin Lampree for his wife Jane; Samuel Devotion for his wife Mercy; and Maurice Hobbs for his wife, Theodate. The son, Stephen, was appointed to make the division. It may be possible that Mary Palmer was a daughter, but more probably a granddaughter, as she received only a cow and three sheeps.

Children of Nathaniel Batchelder and Deborah Smith, all born at Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire.

Deborah born October 12, 1657; married January 25, 1676/1677.

Nathaniel born December 24, 1659; died 1745; married about 1685, Elizabeth Foss.

Ruth born May 9, 1662; died January 11, 1752; married July 8, 1684, Deacon James Blake.

Esther born December 22, 1664; died January 24, 1715; married Deacon Samuel Shaw.

Abigail (our ancestor) born December 28, 1667; died November 14, 1736; married November 4, 1689, Deacon John Dearborn.

Jane born born January 8, 1669/1670; married November 10, 1687, Benjamin Lampree.

Stephen born July 31, 1672; died December 7, 1672.

Benjamin born September 19, 1673; died January 12, 1718; married December 25, 1696, Susanna Page.

Stephen born March 8, 1675/1676; died September 19, 1748; married August 25, 1698; married Mary Dearborn.

Children of Nathaniel Batchelder and Mary (Carter) Wyman, all born at Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire:

Mercy born December 11, 1677; married July 12, 1694, Samuel Dearborn.

Mary born September 18, 1679; died young.

Samuel born January 10, 1681/1682; married 1st, probably, April 1, 1706, Elizabeth Davis; married 2nd , December 2, 1708, Sarah Blake

Jonathan born 1683. 

Thomas born 1685; died February 10, 1774; married 1st, March 14, 1712, Mary Moulton; and 2nd January 16, 1718, Sarah Tuck.

Joseph born August 9, 1687; died October 26, 1750; married December 11, 1712.

Mary born October 17, 1688; died young. 

Theodate born 1684; married November 18, 1703, Maurice/Morris Hobbs.