Sarah Chapman (Royce) - Death date for Sarah Royce

These are good points and questions! I too can't find any record of her dying in 1688 and given the birth of her sons after such date it seems highly improbable.
Our family record doesn't record this Sarah's birth name but has her born ca 1674 but firm on her passing nov 30 1749 in Colchester.
It's likely that at least 2 Sarah's are being merged together here and I suspect at least a 3rd.

@Sarah Chapman (Royce) This profile definitely looks suspicious. That many children by age 23 AND 2 husbands. It should be disconnected until there is more information.

Please see this reference

http://www.chapmanfamilies.org/GENEALOGIES/wil633en.pdf

Looks to me like John Chapman, of New London & Colchester married 1) Desire 2) Sarah

Neither wives have known parents.

I am undoing merges so please let me know research efforts.

This article needs to be read:

In 2004 American Ancestors supported the conclusion that Sarah Chapman Sarah Chapman was the daughter of Jonathan Royce. No discussion about Samuel Lincoln that I can see, though.

http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Sarah_Royce_%281%29

Meanwhile I've separated the two Sarah's (almost done) while you all discuss.

More information about the idea of Samuel Lincoln & Sarah Royce having parted, leaving her free to re marry around 1685:

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http://www.jfredpeterson.com/tree/g09linc.htm

SAMUEL is further connected with Sarah Royce, when he is mentioned in the distribution of the estate of Jonathan Royce, Sep. 22, 1690: "Samuel Linkon received five pounds." Lydia is mentioned in the distribution of the estate of her grandfather THOMAS LINCOLN of Taunton, 1694, in which he distributes his property to his surviving children: "to Thomas, his son, he gave 5 parcels of land which he may sell if needed for his maintenance provided that Thomas cause to be payable to Lidiah, daughter of THOMAS, Sr's son, SAMUEL, 50 shillings when she shall arrive at the age of 18 years." (Bristol County Deeds, 2:260). The same provision is requested for "Lidiah" in the deed of land to Jonah, son of THOMAS, Sr.

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If Sarah Royce had separated from Samuel Lincoln, why is he getting a legacy from her family in 1690? Unless it was on behalf of daughter Lydia?

A stretch?

Thanks Erica,
The fact that William Chapman of Colchester (son of John Chapman) was an heir of David Royce (Sarah Royce's brother) is the most important evidence, and Sarah Royce being his mother explains why David Royce was his uncle. I've seen some people mention this evidence, but claim that it was William Chapman Jr. (John Chapman's brother), but William Chapman Jr. never lived in Colchester.
And it is not surprising that Jonathan Royce left five pounds to Samuel Lincoln, since Lydia Lincoln would have been Jonathan's granddaughter (albeit an illegitimate one). Lydia would have only been 7 or 8 years old in 1690, and it was probably understood that the five pounds was for her benefit.
Anyway, there seems to be no evidence that Samuel Lincoln ever married until the marriage in 1692. Therefore, there is no merit to the argument that Sarah Royce died before 1692. I'm still not entirely sure if Desire was John Chapman's first or second wife.

Remember that Lydia Lincoln (Sarah Royce's daughter) married William Chapman, so clearly the families intertwined.

See http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Lydia_Lincoln_(1)_

And http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:William_Chapman_%283%29

... William Chapman the immigrant had two sons, John Chapman (senior) and William Chapman (William Chapman II), both of whom had sons named William. Colchester town records between 1715 and 1734, however, appear to refer to William Chapman, son of John as William Chapman Junior. This designation was apparently made in town records in order to differentiate between the two adult William Chapmans living in Colchester at that time: John Chapman's son William, born circa 1689, and John's own brother, William (William Chapman II), born circa 1654.

Ah - Sarah Royce & Samuel Lincoln must have married or Lydia would have been known as Lydia Royce; we have the will evidence for her maiden name. If Sarah & Samuel Lincoln had divorced there would be evidence of it in Mass court records. So since we have Samuel's 2nd marriage in 1692, I don't see any other way that could be except that she died before then.

We have Sarah Royce's birth record in 1665; for what it's worth, Sarah Chapman's birth date is estimated at 1658.

Do we have good birth dates for Sarah Chapman's children? (I think they're estimated ...)

I agree that illegitimate children are usually given their mother's surname, and it is necessary in cases where the father is unknown or the mother won't identify him. And in most cases it is the mother who raises the illegitimate child.
However in this case, since the father Samuel Lincoln was clearly known, and Lydia was raised by him, couldn't she still be called Lydia Lincoln even if her parents were never married? It would have been needlessly embarrassing for Samuel Lincoln to raise her with the name Lydia Royce (and reminding people that he was convicted of fornication before marriage).