(From the book; The Ancestors of Robert Abell

EDWARD DILLINGHAM, baptized Dec. 6, 1595, at Cottesbach, Leicestershire, England; died at Sandwich between May 1, 1666 and June 5, 1667, the dates of drawing and proving respectively of his will; married Ursula Carter, at Cottesbach, Feb. 14, 1614. She died Feb. 6, 1656, and was buried Feb. 9, in Sandwich. Several authorities give it as Drusilla, the original records being difficult to decipher; but the entry in the Cottesbach register settles the problem.

He was made executor of the will of his father, who died in 1625, and was left nearly all of his property becoming thereby a freeholder in Bitteswell, and adjoining parish.

He married at Cottesbach, Ursula Carter, by whom he had at least seven children. But three of these came with him to America, Oseth, Henry and John. All the others probably died young, although the oldest, Elizabeth, may have married and remained in England. The parentage of Ursula Carter was not found, but in the parish register of Cottesbach, in the list of rectors, immediately preceding the record of death of Rev. Henry Dillingham, is given "Edward Carter, 1601". It may be found that Ursula was his daughter.

The Cottesbach parish register shows that John Dillingham, son of Edward, was baptized 1 May 1629, and that a son John was buried 9 May the same year. This shows that Edward must have had another son John, as it is certain that a son of that name accompanied him to America. John, son of Edward, died in Harwich, Mass., 27 May 1715, aged 85.

Edward came over in the ship "William Francis", arriving in Boston in 1632, and very soon after settled in Lynn, Mass., his brother John having arrived two years earlier, Edward brought with him his wife Ursula, sons Honry and John and daughter Oseth. He was called "Gentleman," is said to have borne arms and appears to have been a man of education and considerable property for the times.

Among the old records in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court in Boston, in a deposition sworn to by Edward Kibbe, 28 September 1680, referring to an event which happened "about forty and one years since," he mentions "Mr. Dillingham, with rest of the solectmen of Lyn." It ?? not appear from the ?? On Apr. 3, 1637 he was one of the "tenn men of Saugust" (Lynn being then called Saugus) to receive a large grant of land on Cape Cod, and soon after in the same year removed there and assisted in founding the town of Sandwich, where he resided the rest of his life. At the time the settlement was made the place was called Shaume.

Sept. 1, 1640, Edward was on a jury in a action of trepass.

Mar. 2, 1640-1, He was Surveyor of Highways, Sandwich.

Mar. 1, 1641-2, Mr. Edward Dillingham was on juries in severel cases; an action of debt, another of damage for assult and another of trepass.

Apr. 16, 1641, he was appointed to divide meadow lands in Sandwich, of which he had six acres.

Sept. 7, 1641, he with another was appointed to apprize the "swyne" of Wm. Newland.

Mar. 1, 1641-2, he was one of two men appointed ao adjust differences between two fellow townsmen.

He was on the list of those able to bear arms (between the ages of 16 and 60) in 1643, and took the oath of fidelity in 1644.

He filled various public offices, being surveyor of highways in 1640, 1641 and again in 1653.

Sept. 27, 1642, he was chosen deputy from Sandwich to the General Court at Plymouth, to provide forces on account of the Indians, and was also a member the next year, Oct. 10.

June 1644, Edward on a jury in an action of trepass.

June 4, 1645, He was on juries in three actions of trepass.

In the will of Thomas Howell of Duxbury, made June 6, 1647, there is given, under debts, "Oweing unto me," from Mr. Dillingham.

Nov. 29, 1647, he was one of three arbitrators chosen to settle a dispute between a couple of men over some horses.

Sept. 20, 1647, Edward Dillingham and five others gave their assent that Thomas Dexter the younger should have two certain islands in a marsh.

Dec. 4, 1647, he took inventory of the estate of Joseph Holwaip. Estate signed by Edward Dillingham.

In 1647 and 1648, he was one of those appointed to take inventories of the property of James Holloway and George Knot.

Mar. 6, 1648-9, he was allowed 3 shillings for witness fees, in attendance at the Court of Plymouth.

Jan. 7, 1650, he was on a committee to divide meadow lands, receiving 8 acres for his share.

Oct. 2, 1650, Mr. Edward Dillingham and sixteen others, brought an action of slander against William Nikarson. At the same court he and others brought an action of trespass against three men and asked damages of sixty pounds. The Court used its good offices to smooth over the affairs.

May 13, 1653, he was one of four to make a levy for 37 pounds, and in 1654 was one of a committee to frame a petition to the General Court for grant to purchase Manomet.

June 26, 1654, he was on a committee to rebuild the mill.

He served on the Grand Jury in 1655.

May 18, 1655, with Thomas Dexter, he was appointed to make a rate of so much as will bring the town out of debt; and in the same year he signed a petition to the minister of the church in Sandwich to continue his lahors, and was also one of two appointed to make a tax of 19 pounds.??

Juno 5, 1656, Edward Dillingham in court, authorized to answer a suit commenced against Jonathan Fish by Stephen Winge. He acknowledged a judgement of six pounds in behalf of the said Jonathan Fish, whereupon the said Stephen Wing rested, satisfied.

In 1658, he was appointed one of a committee to determine the true boundary of every inhabitant's land in Sandwich;and was sued by Peter, a Mashpee Indian, his horse having eaten the Indian's corn.

June 8, 1659, Edward Dillingham one of those who took inventory of the estate of Sara Perry, as was also his son Henry.

Edward Dillingham seems to have been independent in thought and action, which caused him to come in conflict with the civil and religious authorities. In 1657, he was arrested and admonished for showing sympathy with the Quakers, and for "speaking approbriesly to the cunstables deputie of Sandwich was admonished and cleared."

He was a legatee of his brother John of Ipswich, who died in 1634 or 1635.

His will is recorded in Book 4, Colonial Records, and published in the New Eng. Hist. Gen. Society's Register, vol. VII, page 225.

It is supposed that the persons of Leicestershire mentioned by Mr. Dillingham in his will, had sent over cattle to receive back their increase in after years. He evidently was engaged in this line of work from time of arriving in America, as letters written by Emanuel Downing, of London and Salem, to his brother-in-law, John Winthrop, of Massachusetts, in Nov. 1632, and in 1639 and 1640, show that Edward Dillingham held cattle belonging to Downing, and that Richard Saltonstall of Ipswich, was also connected in a business way with Edward. (See "Winthrop Papers" in Mass. Historical Society Collection, Vols. 6 and 7).

Children all baptized in Cottesbach, Leicestershire, England:

Elizabeth, bapt. Apr. 2, 1616. She is mentioned in her grandfather Henry's will, 1624.

Marie, bapt. Dec. 2, 1618; prob. d. young.

Oseth, bapt. Feb. 10, 1621-2, as "Osee", Her namo in the Sandwich rec. has been read as Oseah, but the parish reg. of Cottesbach and Deane give the name of her aunt and grandmother as Oseth. She m. Stephen Wing, a Quaker, in Sandwich, in 1646-7, son of Rev. John and Deborah (Batchelder) Wing. They had two children: Deborah and Mercy. Oseth died 4th mo. 9th (or 29th) day, 1653-4. Stephen m2. Sarah Briggs, Jan. 7, 1655.

3. Henry, bapt. Oct. 13, 1624.

Sarah, bapt. June 23, 1627; bur. Feb. 1, 1628-9.

John, bapt. May 1, 1629; bur. May 9, 1629.

John, b. about 1630; d. May 27, 1715, in Harwich, Mass.