John Gladding is assumed to have been born about 1640 in England. We do not know when he emigrated. The Newbury, Massachusetts, marriage records show his marriage on 17 July 1667 to Elizabeth Rogers, the daughter of Robert and Susannah Rogers.1 Her birth is not recorded in Newbury, and she may also have been born in England before her parents came to New England. John took the Oath of Allegiance in 1678 in Newbury. The record shows that he was 37.2 His will indicates that he was a tailor.
The children of John and Elizabeth Gladding, born in Newbury, were:
Susannah, born 6 August 1668. Susannah married Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth, and they are Ezekiel's ancestors.
John, 11 October 1670
William, 25 July 1673
Elizabeth, 15 September 1676
Mary, 14 January 1679
Hannah 8 November 1681.
Sometime between 1681 and 1685, John and Elizabeth Rogers moved to Bristol, Rhode Island where three more children were born to them:
Joshua, born 6 May 1685
Daniel, 8 November 1687
Sarah, 20 November 1691
John’s will was written in January of 1718/19, and mentions his wife, Sarah, which means that Elizabeth must have died before that time. John’s probate record says:
The will of John Gladding of Bristol, "tayler...in 77th year," dated 31 Jan. 1718[/19?] and sworn perhaps on 12 Jan. in 1726/7 [month and day altered so that meaning is unclear], names wife Sarah; eldest son John sole exec. and to have all real and personal estate, he to pay, within six years, "beginning with y eldest daughter and ending with my youngest son' legacies of £8 each to the following: dau. Susanah Millard; son William Gladding; children of [dau.] Elizebeth Willis deceased; dau Mary Williams, dau. Hannah riggs; son "Josuah" Gladding (Bristol Co. PR 6:5.)
A history of Rhode Island says, “According to family mauscripts John Gldding died April 27, 1726, aged eighty-four years.”3
Newbury, Massachusetts Vital Records from 1620-1850, Vol 2, p 193
Materials for the History of Newbury, The NEHGS Register Vol 7, p 349.
Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island, Vol. II p. 718.
Cite “Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915”, database, FamilySeacrh (https://familysearh.org/ark:/61903/.1:1:FZMG-TJW: 15 January 2020) Susanna Glading, 1668.