Elder Nathaniel Tilden came from Tenterden in Kent, with his family, before 1628. He was chosen Ruling Elder of the first Church in Scituate 1634. His house lot was on Kent-street, the 3d. south of Greenfield lane. He had also lands at Long marsh: and lands also in 1640, on the east side of the North River, below Gravelly beach.

Nathaniel arrived in New England in 1634 in the ship Hercules, of Dover, with his wife and children (Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Judith, Lydia, Stephen, and Thomas), and the following, who came under the designation of 'servants:' Thomas Lapham, George Sutton, Edward Ford, Edward Jenkins, James Bennett, Sarah Couchman, and Mary Perien. The Rev. William Witherell came on this same boat.

Nathaniel Tilden was among the earliest of the 'Men of Kent' who established plantations at Satuit before 1628, others being Anthony Annable, Thomas Bird, Edward Foster, William Gillson, Henry Merritt, Henry Rowley, Nathaniel Tilden, and Deane says, 'perhaps others.'

Nathaniel was a Magistrate in Tenterden, and elected to the office of Mayor.

Elder Nath'l Tilden was the ancestor of nearly all the Tildens in Marshfield. He was one of three borothers, and they were called 'Men of Kent,' from England. He came to Scituate at that portion called 'Tow Mile' tract, now known as North Marshfield, in 1628. His farm extended both sides of North River, part of it being on 'Gravelly beach’.

Nathaniel came in the Hercules in 1635 from Sandwich, in Co. Kent, being one of an old family at Tenterden, near Cranbrook, in that shire, bringing wife Lydia, seven children and seven servants. He may have visited our country before and went home to bring his household; but it does not appear by any facts. He settled in Scituate. In May 1637, with his friend Hatherly, he was appointed by Plymouth Colony to settle the bounds between it and the Massachusetts Colony. He was ruling elder in the church and died 1641, the inventory being of 31 July, and his will of 25 May preceding in that year. It names his wife Lydia, perhaps daughter of Thomas Bourne of Marshfield, yet married in England to which he gives his home at Tenterden, all the seven children Joseph; Thomas, b. a. 1621; Mary, the w. of Thomas Lapham, m. 13 Mar. 1637; Sarah, the w. of George Sutton; Judith; Lydia; and Stephen; also two servants who should serve his eldest son..

All the children of Nathaniel and Lydia Tilden were born in England, five dying there prior to the family's departure. The children were Thomas, who died young; Mary, who married Thomas Lapham; Joseph, who died young; Sarah, who married George Sutton; Joseph, who married Alice or Elizabeth Twisden; Stephen, who died young; Thomas, who married Elizabeth (Bourne) Waterman; Judith, who married Abraham Preble; Winifred, who died young; Lydia, who died young; Lydia, who married Richard Garrett; and Stephen, who married Hannah Little. Mary and Sarah were married on the same day, 13 March 1636/37 (NEHGR 9:286), and their husbands were Tilden's servants. ’Ä®’Ä®After his death, his widow Lydia married Timothy Hatherly. Elizabeth French shows in NEHGR 70:256 that Lydia (Huckstep) (Tilden) Hatherly was a cousin of Thomas Hatch, q.v., who also came to New England in the Hercules and settled at Scituate. ’Ä®’Ä®Tilden was of the gentry and addressed as "Mr.," and he was one of the wealthier Scituate residents. He dated his will 25 May 1641, inventory 31 July 1641, and he named his wife Lydia and his children Stephen; Lydia; Joseph; Thomas; Judith; Mary, the wife of Thomas Lapham; and Sarah, the wife of George Sutton; and he also mentioned his two indentured servants, Edward Jenkins and Edward Tarte (MD 3:220).

Nathaniel Tilden‘s descendants flourished in America, such as the Hon Samuel Jones Tilden, who served as Governor of New York State and was a presidential candidate in 1875.

Nathaniel’s Will, proved July 31, 1641

An Inventorie of the goods and chattells of Nathaniell Tilden late of Scittuate in New England in America gen Deceased made & prized the xxxith Day of July 1641 by us whose names are hereunder written:

Imprimis in the Hall one table one forme & chaires 00 23 00

It one booke of martirs one great bible Calvins instucons wilson on the romans 3 of Mr Downams 3 of Dotr Prestons Dod upon the Comaundnts Sibbs upon the covenant 3 of Doctr Stortons mr Dikes works & thirty other bookes 05 00 00

It i muskett i sword & birding peece 01 00 00
It in the Innter rooms i bed furnished 03 00 00
It 3 pair of sheets two pair of pillowcoats i duzn & half of napkins two table cloaths two towells 03 00 00
It i peece of fusteon 00 14 00
It xii peecs of pewter 00 12 00
It iii silver spoones 00 15 00
It two cloakes 02 00 00
It i truncke 00 06 08
It in the hall chamber i bed furnished 03 00 00
It three chests 00 14 00
It in the Inner Chamber one flock bed furnished 01 10 00
It three chests 00 06 00
It i smale paire of brand Irons 00 02 06
It i old case of bottells 00 03 00
It 2 old flock beds two boulsters three blanketts & a pillow 02 00 00
It in the servants chambers two flock beds furnished 02 00 00
It ix paire of sheets 02 10 00
It vi paire of pillow coats 00 15 00
It vii table cloathes 00 16 00
It iii duzzen & three napkins 01 00 00
It v Towells 00 10 00
It iiii old table clothes & other old linnen 00 02 00
It x silver spoones 0* 00 00
It six prcells of fusteon 03 18 00
It the rest of his weareing apparell 05 10 00
It a pillion & a pillion cloth 00 10 00
It six cusheons 00 09 00
It the rest of the pewter 03 10 00
It the bras 05 00 00
It the irons belonging to the chimney 00 14 00
It iii iron potts 00 16 00
It ii frying pans & a dripping pan 00 10 00
It scales and waights 00 12 00
It i grindle stone 00 05 00
It i one Jacke 00 14 00
It brewing vessells & milk vessells & beere vessells kneading troughs & other tubbs 05 00 00
It certaine spruce boards 01 00 00
It other smale things necessary about the house 00 10 00
It all the Iron and workeing tooles belonging to husbandry 03 10 00
It the Cart & all things belonging to yt & a set of harrow tynes 03 06 08
It two oxen two bulls two steeres 1 yearling one Cow and a calfe 50 00 00
It ii hoggs and foure piggs 07 00 00
It foules about the house 00 13 04
It tenn stocks & swarmes of bees 10 00 00
It fishing netts 01 00 00
It pouder & shott 01 06 08
It Indean Corne in the house about 37 bushells about 3 bushells of sumer wheate 1 bushell and halfe of peas & about one bushell & half of mault 07 00 00
It xiiii acrees of Corne on the ground 30 00 00
It in Debts hopefull & Desprate 27 00 00

Prized as abovesaid by us
Willm Vassall
Thomas Chambers
Willm Hatch

(From the Mayflower Descendant, Vol. III, pp. 220)

* [This is either a 2 or a 3.]

Background on his family is given in NEHGR 65:322, 75:226, and 114:153.