From St. John's College, Oxford, he was fortunate, indeed, to become a vicar at an early age. Of his early ministry, little is known. Stephen was ejected from his vicarage post in 1605 and was persecuted as one of the earliest of the non-conformists.

On the death of Elizabeth in 1603, James I, of the House of Stuart, came to the throne. In 1604 the famous or infamous Hampton Court Conference was held, when King James stormed out against the Puritans: "I will make them conform, or I will harry them out of the kingdom." The next year the king's threat was carried out against Stephen, and he suffered much at the hands of the bishops.

In 1631, Stephen went to Holland to visit his children. It was here that his daughter, Theodate, met Christopher Hussey, who became enamoured of her. He sought her hand, and Stephen consented to the union only if they would accompany him to America.

Mr. Bachiler left England for Boston in 1632 aboard the William and Francis, with sixty passengers. After eighty-eight days they landed at Boston. Among his fellow travelers were Governor Winslow of Plymouth and a Mr. Richard Dummer. A relationship existed between the Bachilers and the Dummers no one to date has been able to trace. Records have been found in which Dummer referred to Stephen Batchelder as 'cusson'.

During Stephen's time in the Colonies he seemed to be followed by trouble, and by women both single and married. This coat-tailing swathed him in unrelenting problems for the remainder of his life. Stephen had four wives: 1. Ann Bate; 2. Christian Weare; 3. Helen Mason; 4. Mary Beedle.

The names of four children of Stephen Bachiler are known with certainty:

1. Deborah b. 1592 married Rev. John Wing

2. Stephen b. 1594

3. Ann b. 1601 married a Samborn

4. Theodate b. 1588; died 10/20/1649 at Hampton, New Hampshire; married Christopher Hussey

Whoever considers that Stephen Bachiler's life was wasted because he obtained neither riches nor temporal honors were obtained by him knows little of the manner in which reforms are accomplished. One thing for which Stephen bitterly contended is universally conceded - the separation of church and state. We know now that he had that firmness which rendered him utterly unmovable regardless of consequences to himself, when conscious that his motives and judgment were right. He died near London in 1660.

I claim Stephen Batchelder through Theodate, who married Christopher Hussey.

A noteworthy descendant of Stephen Batchelder is the notable orator and politician Daniel Webster. Mr. Webster's grandmother was Susana, who married Ebenezer Webster in 1738.