vital records sources

A record in England is a snapshot of this family just before they sailed to Massachusetts Bay.

A true roll or list of the names, surnames and qualities of all such persons who have taken passage from the town and port of Sandwich for the American plantations, since the last certificate of such passengers returned into the office of Dovor castle [certified 9 June 1637].

Henry Bachelor of Dovor brewer and Martha his wife, 4 serv.
Joseph Bachelor of Canterbury taylor and Elizabeth his wife, 1 child, 3 serv.
John Bachelor of Canterbury taylor Boys, William, Collections for an history of Sandwich in Kent, etc. (Canterbury, UK: 1792), 752.

     John was admitted as an inhabitant of Salem on 15 April 1639 STR 1:87 and he and his wife, not named, were admitted to the First Church at Salem five weeks later. 23 June 1639 p. 8 Mary Bacheldor was admitted on 13 October 1639. It's unclear who this was. The only adult woman with this name known to have been in Salem at the time was John's wife. If this was John's mother, she didn't come over with her sons.
     With his request for being allowed to live in the town, he also asked for "accomodation," which would come in the form of land. On 20 November 1639 he was given 20 acres near Mr. Bishop. STR 1:93 He was one of the men who took the Colony's freeman's oath on 13 May 1640. GC 1:377
     A surprising record is in the Salem town records for a meeting of "the elders and townsmen" on 29 October 1645:1:138

...they considered that the poorest man or at least he that most was in want was John Batchelor & therefore they have disposed of the second cow unto him which was given by Mr. Andrews of London.

There is no other evidence of his being indigent in any way during his lifetime. It's possible he had a catastrophic loss, such as a house fire.
     John witnessed the will of Thomas Wickes of Salem on 9 September 1654/55 as "John Bacheler," as transcribed. The Probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts, vol. 1 (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1916), 241-2.
When Hannah Gray was brought to court in 1674 for what was deemed very bad behavior, various Salem residents testified against her. John said "that when Hannah Gray lived in this family, she was a lying little devil and his wife Elizabeth could say the same." sworn on 12 January 1673/74 ECQC 5:291. John lived on what is now Bridge Street in the Ryal Side neighborhood of Beverly. In his lifetime it was still part of Salem. Lawrence Leach had land at Ryal Side in Salem near John about 1662. PREC, 1:389. His house is mentioned less specifically in John Friend's inventory in 1655, which includes "20 acres of land bought of Natha. Holton living near to John Bachelor's dwelling." Ibid, 239

3:41-2. I John Batchelor aged 63 being in pfect memory do make this my last Will and Testament in the year of or Lord 1673 and the 25 year of the reigne of or Soveraigne Lord Charlse the Second King of England &e

Inpr I Bequeath my Soul to the Lord Jesus my Redeemer and my Body to my friends by them decently to be intered and what estate the Lord hath given mee I dispose off as flloweth

I give unto my loving Wife Elizabeth my dwelling House during her natural life & then to be my Son John Batchelors allso I give her all my movable estate wheresoever it is, (shee paying fifteen pounds in legacyes as here after is willed) & 6 pound p anu. so long as shee remains unmaried and the keeping of two Cowes, & firewood for her necessary use to be paid for at the charge of my Two Sonns as it is here after expressed also I appoynt her to be my Executrix.

It. I give my Son John Batchelor my house I dwell in, after my wives decease & twenty Acres of Land which I bought of John Scuder (except six Acres more or less as it is now bounded, which I give to John Cressy as is here after expressed) and takes it begining at Abram Warrens well, so downe to the brooke to the Common the brook being the boune between his Land & his Brother Josephs, and allso a piece of Land that lyes at the uper end of the sd twenty Acres without the fence, with the hither end of my salt marsh up to a place commonly called the Rocks where they cart downe wood.

I Give my Son Joseph Batchelor all my land in the field together with the orchard & Barne & the salt marsh lying beyond the sd Rocks commonly called Ducks Cove & halfe an Acree of marsh yt I bought of Joseph Roots & halfe an Acre of Jeoffry Massy, my Will is that my two Sonnes aforesd shall pay their mother the yearly rent of six pound p. anum during her widowood & keep two Cows & provide firewood for her necessary use and the charges there of to be equally borne by each, and the sd 6 pound to be yearly paid in such specia as she shall desire.

Also I give my Daughter Hanah Corning ten pound to be paide by my loving wife before her decease.

It. I give my Grandchild John Cressy six Acres of Land lying within my sonne Johns Land as a foresd along Royals neck & five pound to be paid by my loving wife before her decease.

Allso I intreat mr Henry Bartholmew & Deacon Prince to see this will truly pformed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the year above written may the 17

John Bacheler Senr [seal]

John Swinnerton and Bethiah Archer were the witnesses. The will was brought to court and proved on 22 December 1675. Since his wife Elizabeth died shortly before John, sons John, Jr., and Joseph were appointed executors.

Inventory of the estate of John Bachelor of Salem, who died Nov. 13, 1675, taken Dec. 4, 1675, by John Raiment and Andrew Eliott: 45 acres of upland, 901i.; two Acres of Salt marsh, 10li.; one dwellinge house and one Barne, 30li.; all his wareinge Clothes, 8li. ; all his beddinge, 16li. ; whome made Cloth, Lining and woollen, 30 yds., 4li.; 20 pound of wooll and yarne. 1li. 10s.; Three Bibles. 8s.; other houshold stuff, brass and Iron, 2li. 10s.; one Copper quart with other Earthen ware, 5s.; 2 pewter platters and other smale things 10s.; one Chest and five trays with other wooden ware, 15s.; Irons for husbandry for wheels & ploughs, 2li.; pease and Indian Corne, 11li; fouer bushell of barley, 16s.; one quarter of beafe, 16s. 8d.; one yoke of Oxen, 10li.; two steers, 7li. 10s.; five Cows and one heifer, 18li.; one yearling and two Calves 2li. 10s.; one horse, 2li.; eleaven swine, 7s.; seaventeen sheep, 4li. 5s.; one Lininge wheel, 5s.; totals 230li. 8d. To be paid out in debts, 12li., in legacies, 15li. Attested in Salem court 22 : 10 : 1675 by John and Joseph Bachelor.

Children of John Bachelor and Mary:

1. John, bap. 31 January 1638/39
ii. Mary, bap. 19 September 1640
iii. Abigail, bap. 12 February 1642/43
iv. Hannah, bap. 23 June 1644
v. Hannah, bap. 25 May 1645
vi. John, bap. 23 June 1650
vii. Joseph, bap. 8 May 1653

vital records sources:

1.
Richard D. Pierce, ed., The First Church in Salem, Records, 1629-1736 (hereafter FCS) (Salem: 1974),