Henry "the Settler" Tomlinson

Opened the first tavern in Milford 1654.

Henry Tomlinson was baptized at St. Peter's Church at St. Werburgh, Derbyshire, England in November of 1606. His family belonged to the "Landed Gentry" of England. Henry's occupation was that of a weaver, as probably was his father's.

Birth: 1606 Derby, England Death: Mar. 16, 1681 Stratford Fairfield County Connecticut, USA

The son of George & Maria (Hyde) Tomlinson, Henry was baptized at St. Peter's Church at St. Werburgh, Derbyshire, England in November of 1606. His family belonged to the "Landed Gentry" of England. Henry's occupation was that of a weaver, as probably was his father's.

Henry & his wife, Alice, with two or three children cam to New England, probably living in New Haven first, and eventually settling in Milford, Conn. by 1652. He was appointed to keep an "Ordinary" (inn) at Milford. In 1654, he was fined for non-payment of duties on imported wine, which he refused to pay since he had paid all "legal" duties. He brought charges in the courts against the Governor of New Haven, Colony for over-stepping the law causing the Governor to be arrested. There were several Tomlinsons in that area of New Haven colony at the time, Thomas, Robert, Jonas, & William, but no connection of Henry to them is known.

On April 1, 1657, he purchased the estate of Joshua Atwater in Stratford. Along with Joseph Hawley, Henry Tomlinson purchased a considerable tract of land in Derby, Conn. of the Indians, and much of this land owned by Henry was transferred to his son, Jonas, and kept in the family for generations. He along with others also purchased a large tract of land of the Indians at New Milford. On January 2, 1670 Henry Tomlinson was chosen to keep an inn in Stratford.

Henry Tomlinson brought a Coat-of-Arms to America with him which was passed down the family.

His will written March 15, 1680/81 in Stratford showed his strong faith in Almighty God and the saving power of Jesus Christ. He bequeathed as follows: ...to my loving wife, "Allice" Tomlinson and to my son, Agur Tomlinson, all my houses & buildings with all my lands in Stratford. If she remarry, she is to receive 1/3 and the remainder to Augur. After her death, Augur is to recieve her share. He states that he had already given sufficient estate to his son, Jonas and daughters, Harger, Mary Pierson, Tabatha Worster, Phebe Worster, and Bashua Stiles, but that son, Augur was to give daughter, Margaret five pounds the year after our death, to Jonas four pound the second year after our death, to daughter, Mary Pierson five pounds the third year after our death, to daughter Tabetha Worster five pounds the fourth year after our death, to Phebe Worster twenty pounds the fifth year after our death, and to Basshua Stiles five pounds the sixth year. If any of them should die, their amount shall go to Jonas & his heirs. If Augur shall die & leave no heirs, his portion shall return to Jonas, and Jonas shall pay the above named heirs twenty pounds each on the above yearly schedule. ....to the two sons, Jonas & Augur, his Indian purchases at Derby, and his guns. Augur is to receive a horse, oxen, bed & furniture. ....to grandchildren, Timothy Worster and Abigail Harger, if they stay with the widow or Agur for four years, one mare each. The wife was appointed executrix; friends, Richard Blaklidg and Joseph Hawley along with son [son-in-law], Ephraim Stiles, to be overseers. His will was proved April 28, 1681 and his estate was about 518 pounds. The widow married my ancestor, DEACON JOHN BIRDSEYE in 1688.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Alice Hyde Tomlinson Birdseye (1606 - 1698)*

Children:

 Jonas Tomlinson (____ - 1693)*

 Margaret Tomlinson Tibbals (1642 - 1698)*

 Tabitha Tomlinson Hull (1646 - 1691)*

 Phebe Tomlinson Wooster (1656 - 1740)*

 Agur Tomlinson (1658 - 1727)*

 Bethsheba Tomlinson Curtiss (1661 - 1735)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Old Congregational Burying Ground Stratford Fairfield County Connecticut, USA

Created by: Nareen, et al Record added: Jun 26, 2009

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=tomlinson&GS...

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Having settled in Milford, Ct., the next record shows Henry Tomlinson as "Keeper of the Ordinary" at Milford, to which position he was elected by the town, as one of its most honorable offices. The articles of agreement could not have been very clear, for at the end of two years, when Henry " A General Court at Milford, this 9th of December, 1652. "Henry Tomlinson propounded to the Court for the gift of a home lott near the water side to sit down in and improve his trade of weaving, which he is resolved to follow wherever he inhabits, which, according to his proposition to follow his trade of weaving, the towne did grant him an acre lott before or against Ensignes lott, out of the land reserved for elders, with this proviso, to follow his trade, and in case of removal from the plantation, he shall resign it to the town, they promising to give him the value of the same as two indifferent men shall Judge thereof."

  It was a custom in all the plantations, if a family would settle to stay, to give them a home lot, and especially a person having a useful trade, and often further inducements were offered, as in this case, for seven days later the following record was made at Milford: " A General Court, Dec. 16, 1652. "Henry Tomlinson hath taken the oath of fidelity, and also Renewing his motion to the Court for some small accommodation of meadow, the Court gave him a piece of meadow in the Beaverspond meadow that was made use of by John Smith the last year, judged  to be about three acres, more or less, on both sides the Creeke, for his Encouragement to dwell and follow his trade amongst us according to his resolution therein." Here it is expressly staled that he had taken the " oath of fidelity." That meant fidelity to the plantation under New Haven Colony, which oath secured all the rights of an inhabitant as to property and protection, but not the right to vote ; to secure which in that Colony it was necessary to become a member of the Church. This he does not appear to have done, but afterwards united with the Church at Stratford. 

  Tomlinson claimed the house as his property, both Alexander Bryan, of whom the property was obtained, and the town disputed the claim. The matter was taken to the court, where it was amicably settled. 

  On June 13th, 1654, Henry Tomlinson, Ensign Alexander Bryan, and Mr. East were summoned before the court of New Haven for non-payment of duties on imported wines. The two latter paid their fines, but Henry Tomlinson made decided opposition, claiming that he had paid all legal duties, and under a legal process, caused the arrest of the Governor of the New Haven Colony, believing that the Governor was acting above all law. For this he was called before the court and fined one hundred pounds, which seems to have been only a show of honor for the Governor, as payment was never demanded. 

  In the autumn of 1656, or the next spring, Henry Tomlinson removed with his family to Stratford, Ct., and, on April 1, 1657, purchased of Joshua Atwater the estate which Mr. Atwater had bought of William Quenby, one of the original proprietors of the township. 

 In 1668, he and Joseph Hawley purchased a considerable tract of land in Derby, Ct., of the Indians, and this land, in whole or part he gave to his son Jonas, who, with many of his descendants, resided on it for several generations. 

 In 1671, he and others purchased a large tract of land  of the Indians at Weantinock, now New Milford, Ct., sufficient for a township, but his sons to whom he gave it never realized much from it because of trouble with the Indians and the General Court. 

 The record of the town meeting of Stratford, Ct., for January 2, 1670, says: "Henry Tomlinson is chosen and desired to bee an ordinary keeper, ye which he accepts," and which he accepted several years. 

    Henry Tomlinson died at Stratford, Conn., March 16, 1681, leaving a widow, two sons, and five  daughters, all married except Agur, his younger 

 " Be it known to all Christian people, Indians and others whom it may concern, that I Pocono, and Ringo, and Quoconoco, and Whimta, who are right owners of one island in the great river Oautenock where Mr. Goodyear had a trading house, and also the lands on both sides of the river, we do by this present writing grant . . . unto Henry Tomlinson of Stratford, the above mentioned island and the land on both sides of the river, three miles down the river south-east, and the laud on both sides of the river upward north-west, which amounts to seven miles in length, and accordingly of three miles in breadth, which amounts to six miles in breadth ; all which tract of land and island to have and hold. . . . We confess to have received one piece of cloth and other good pay to our satisfaction.  April 25, 1671.  Pocono, his mark.  Ocomunhed, his mark.  Wesonco, his mark.  POMUNTOCK, his mark.  Kinco, his mark.  Cosiiusiiamock, his mark.  Mataret, the Sachem's eldest son.  TOMO, his mark, the second son of Mataret.  Quocanoco, his mark.  Wkkki-enos, his mark.  TOTO, his mark.  Moiiemat, his mark.  Ciietemiikiiu, his mark.  OthobON, bis mark.  Papisconas, his mark." 

The remains were probably buried in the first burying ground adjoining the first meetinghouse near Sandy-Hollow. 

   In his will, which is given below, the closing paragraph contains most beautiful and perfect commendation to his children, such as is seldom seen in a will. 

The Will of Henry Tomlinson copied from The Fairfield Probate Record*.

"March 15, 1680-81.

" In the name of God Amen. I Henry. Tomlinson of Stratford in the county of Fairfield and in the Colloney of Conecticnt being weak in body but I bless God for His mercy and goodness unto me, I am in good understanding. I doe make this my last will and Testament in maner and form as followeth :

   " Imp'mes. I give my soul into the hands of my Merciful Father Almighty God ; and unto Jesus Christ in whom I doe believe that he hath redeemed my soul from sin death and hell by his own merits and blood shedding : notwithstanding all my unworthiness, and hath prepared a rest for my soul in heaven to live with him and remain with him in joy unto all eternity. 

" Item. I give my body after death to a decent burial in the earth from whence it came and thereto remain till the great day of the resurrection.

"Item. As concerning my worldly goods I am possessed of under God at my death after my debts are payd and my funeral accomplished, I doe dispose of them as followeth :

" Item. I give unto my loving wife Allice Tomlinson and to my son Agur Tomlinson all my housing and buildings with all my lands in Stratford during her natural life. And yf my wife incline to live alone by herself then my will is that shee shall make her choyce which end of the house and what of the sellars she will re-serve for herself. And yf my wife shall see cause to change her condition after my death then I leave her to the thirds of my estate and the other two parts to remain to my son Agur ; and after the death of my wife then the land to return unto my son Agur Tomlinson for him and his heirs to enjoy forever provided as followeth :

  ' I have given unto all my children that are married my sonn Jonas, my daughter Harger, my daughter Mary Pierson, my daughter Tabatha Worster. my daughter Phebe Worster, and my daughter Bashua Stiles ahead}- such portions as God did enable me and as I saw cause yet this is my will that my son Agur after the death of me and my wife shall pay unto my daughter Margaret five pounds the next year after our death, and four pounds to my  son Jonas Tomlinson the second year after our death, and five pounds to my daughter Mary Pierson the third year after our death, and five pounds to my daughter Tabetha Worster the fourth year after our death, and five pounds to my daughter Phebe Worster the fifth year after our death, aud to my daughter Bathshua the sixth year after our death. If any of these my children should be taken away by death before payment be made then it shall be to the children of the deceased. Ye God in his providence should take away my son Agur by death and leave no heirs  or heir to inherit this land then it is my will it shall return to Jonas my son and his heirs to enjoy forever my son Jonas paying unto Margaret Harger my daughter twenty pounds the first year, and to my daughter Tabathy Worster twenty pound the second year after his decease and to my daughter Mary Peirson twenty pound the third year ; to my daughter Phebe Worster twenty pound the fourth year and to my daughter Basshua Stiles the fifth  year after our decease. 

  "I give to my two sons and the Longer Liver of them my Indian purchases of Wyantenuck. I give to Jonas and Agur my two sons all my guns to be divided between them as they best can agree. Moreover I give to my sonn Agur a horse fit for draught, two young oxen, one bed and furniture, all husbandry Tackling, that my wife hath not occasion to use and what else my wife sees cause to give him.  

 " Moreover I give to my grand child Timothy Worster if he continue with my wife or Agur four years one mare, and likewise to Abigail Harger I give one mare yf she continue with my wife four years ; And my wife to add what she please ; and I make my wife executrix of this my last will and Testament. And I do request my loving friends Richard Blaklidg and Joseph Hawley to joyn with my son Ephraim Stiles to be my overseers of this my last will : and  I declare this to be my act by subscribing my name. 

" Witness " Henry Tomlinson.

" Joseph Hawi i j , " Richard Bi.a< m.id«..

And this last of all I commend to you all my children as my last blessing : Live in love and peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

The Will proved m Fairfield Court.

" 28 April 1681. Mr. Joseph Hawley and Mr. Richard Blacklidg make oath before the Court that the above said will to which they are witnesses was signed by Henry Tomlinson in his life time in their presence and witness of his last will ; and that the said Tomlinson when he signed as above was of good understanding.

"Willm Hill, Clerk."

"An Inventory of the estate of Henry Tomlinson deceased March 16 : 1680 or 1681. Taken by the Townsmen of Stratford this 26 ,h of March 1681.

Impr. By his wearing apparel In money and plate .

Books

2 oxen 20 lb 3 cows ll lb 3 calves 9 lb

2 yearliDgs horses 8 14 sheep

3 yds. of cotton 9| 6 , bed, bedstead blanket sheets

it and off

Trnnckle bed and bedding upon it all In the chamber a bed and furnishings Another bed in the chamber Another bed ......

A loome and the rest of weavers tackling

A loome and the rest of weavers tackling

Chest and liniu in the chamber

Old chest in the parlor and linin in it

Pins great and small

Pepper — and other spices

Buttons fidsting and othe small things .

Hony, Sugar and the things they want in

sweetings ....

Cu and other small things

Amunition ....

In Pewter, scales and other things Chest and box .... Hetchels .....

Sope

Pilleon and cloth upon coffee and £13 13

7 00

8

4 00

40 00

10 10

6 00

16 00

3 10

11 00

5 00

1 10

5 10

5 10

18 10

1 5

1 15

10

8

1 00

2 00

16

1 06

1 05

1 00

1 10

15

L2

Chains and cushiugs joint stools

Augurs Chissels and other tools and old iron .

Shovels and other small thiugs 101* fiels 6| 6

Guns and sword

Iron pots and kettels and old iron Brass kettles great and small .... Wooden and tin ware ..... Cart, plowe and other husbandry tackling Earthen and wooden vessels .... Cider Butter and hogs fat 1"' 15 , barrels and other things Tobacoe, flax crackled and uncrackled "2 frying pans, clock and other things Wool, corn and meal — hay and cart : Hogshead and barrels, sope, ziddler and sives Oats £1 10| 8 . Rye and barley £2 10-6, Wheat 3 lb 10 Hops and , bees and hives — beef and porke looking glass and paper . Ink — Penknife and spectacles and other Wheels and baggs Ciderpress and tackling ..... House lot and buildings, rear lot trees upon it 5 Acres of meadow 50 11 acres upland New pasture

; cres upland in the great neck .

acres in the old feild . .

2 1 2 ' acres in the new feild

64 acres of division in the woods Division, the town li£ acres and 16 rods

a 10

5 10

o 17

-, on 7 10 5

10 15

.i 1 4 1 I

14 00 05 03 00 00 10

7 10

8 08 i 01

06

i is

4 00

14

61 00

1 00 12 00

16 00 4 00

An Indian Coat

9 of laud .

a s land . Pasture 6 acres and \f 2 — new

£0 12 4 4 2 00

•i 00

•I

£509 15 8

9 00 6

" A tract of land at Weanteuuck we know not what value to put upon it.

By us Townsmen of Stratford

Josepfi Hawley,

S LMTJEL SlIEKV

James Clarke,

Timothy Wii.<<>< ksok, John Bi'iirit."

Line of Henry Tomlinson. 13

After the decease of Henry Tomlinson, his widow Alice married John Birdsey, Sen., in 168S. 5 He died April 4, 1690, aged 74 years. She died January 25, 1698, probably about 90 years of age.

Henry Tomlinson brought with him "a coat-of- arms," painted in colors according to the rules of heraldry, which is still preserved, and is in possession of Mrs. Catherine (Plant) Sterling, of Stratford, Ct. This lady, whose mother was Catharine Tomlinson, had a copy of the original, some years ago, which she supposed was the original, and gave it to Mr. William Agur Tomlinson, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Afterwards the present one

5 " This indenture witnesseth that John Birdsey aud Alice Tom- linson. upon consideration of marriage intended, have come to this agreement for prevention of any after trouble between relations, on one or the other side, as follows : That John Birdsev shall have, enjoy, possess and dispose of any or all of his own estate, in life or death, and Alice Tomlinson shall have full power to dispose of all or any part of her estate of which she is now possessed, in life or death, without any interposition of John Birdsev, or any under heir, or if either of them should be disabled by sickness, then they would mutually contribute out of both of their estates for main- tainance of each other during life time, or while they live together. It is furthermore agreed that should Alice Tomlinson outlive John Birdsey, she shall have and enjoy the dwelling-house, garden and yard of John Birdsey. Sen., during the time of her natural life, and it is agreed that John Birdsey, Sen., during the time of her natural

shall winter and summer and have six cows for her use.

This is the agreement of all hands before marriage, 8 th October,

1688..

Signed and sealed,

Israel Chatjncey, John Birdsey (T) mark.

Richard Blackleacii. Alice Tomlinson (A) mark."

Witnesses.

14 Tomlinsons in America.

came into her possession, which in itself, and by the family who preserved it, is known to be the original one brought by Henry Tomlinson to America. Of this "coat-of-arms v a print of a care- fully executed engraving is presented as "Frontis- piece" in this book. For further account of the Tomlinson coat-of-arms, see introductory pages of this book. Governor Gideon Tomlinson had also a copy of the original.

Tin children of Henry and Alice Tomlinson were:

2 I. Abraham, 2 born in England and died on bis way to America.

3 II. JONAS,* settled in Derby, Ct.-f

4 III. Margaret, 5 born about 1642; married, November 5, 1662,

Jabez Harger, a Huguenot from New Rochelle, N. Y. They settled in Stratford, Ct., where they resided eight or nine years, then removed to Derby, Ct., on Sentinel Hill, where he died in 1618. His widow, Margaret, died Mar. 17, 1698, aged about 56 years. Their chi'dn n wt re :

I. Samuel 3 Harger, born Sept. 29, 1663; married, and

had three daughters, who were married. II. Sarah 3 Harger, born Feb. 5, 1666.

III. Anna 3 Harger, born Feb. 23, 1668 ; married John

Chatfield Feb. 15, 1684, when she was fourteen years of age, and from them were descended A. Bronson Alcott and his daughter Louisa M. Alcott, the well-known authoress.

IV. Mary Harger, born Feb. IT, 1669; died Sept. 17,

1673. V. AbigaiF Harger, born March 2, 1671-2. VI. Mary Harger, bom Mar. — , 1673. No account of her. VII. Ebenezer Harger, born Dec. 25, 1674 ; married and had four sons.

Line of Henry Tomlhison. 15

VIII. Abraham* Harger, bora April 1, 1677 ; married and had sons and daughters. IX. Jabez 3 Harger, born after his father's decease ; mar- ried and had eight children.

5 IV. Mary, 5 born ; married Stephen Pierson, of Derby, Ct.,

about the year 1675. She died Sept. 25. 1715. He married

2d Esther , and he died in Oxford, Ct., May 14, 1739,

aged 94 years. They had :

I. Stephen 3 Pierson, married, and had a family.

II. Sarah ; Pierson, married John Twitchell, ancestor of

the Rev. Joseph Twitchell. of Hartford, Ct.

III. Abraham ; Pierson, whose daughter Hannah married

Solomon Chatfield, ancestor in the line of his mother, of A. Bronson Alcott, of Massa- chusetts, and his daughter, the authoress, Louise M. Alcott.

IV. John Pierson, died before 170-4.

V. Mary Pierson, married Josiah Baldwin. VI. Bathsheba 3 Pierson, married Adam Blakeman, of Stratford. Ct.. April 6, 1708.

6 V. Tabith.v,- ; married Edward Wooster, of Derby,

as second wife in 1669. She had several children probably. Timothy, her son, is mentioned in his grandfather Totnlin- son's will.

7 VI. Piiebe,- born Aug. 14, 1756. in Milford ; married Lieut.

Thomas Wooster, of Derby, about 1672. Her husband was son of Edward Wooster, and hence step-sou of her sister Tabitha. Their children were :

I. Phebe Leavenworth 3 Wooster, died Mar. 26, 1696.

II. Zervia ; Wooster, died Aug. 19, 1682

III. Alice 3 Wooster, born Sept. 6, 1680; died in 1682.

IV. Elizabeth : Wooster, born Sept. 1, 1685 ; married her

first cousin, John Toinlinson, son of Jonas, (No. 12.) V. Thomas 3 Wooster, born Feb. 18, 1692.

16 TomZinsons in America.

VI. Thankful Wooster, born Nov. 7, 1695; died Not 18, 1706.

8 VII. A.GU*, 1 bom Nov. 1, 1658, in Stratford, Ct.-f-

9 VIII. Bathsheka, born Jan. 3, 1661. in Stratford ; married

Ephraim Stiles, of Stratford, Ct., as second wife, about 1685. He wsb a prominent citizen of Stratford, a repre- sentative to the General Assembly several years. His first wife was Ruth, widow of Obadiah Wheeler. He died June 81, 1714, and she married (2d) Benjamin Curtis, and died in 17: J »."), aged 74 years.

7//.v ck&dn n by the second <cife: I. Elizabeth Stiles, born Feb. 18, 1687 ; married June

26, 1707. Ephraim Curtiss, of Stratford, aud had

ten children. II. Sarah Stiles, born Nov. 4, 1693: married Aug. 31,

1710, Thomas Welles, of Stratford ; had nine

children. III. Phebe Stiles, born Mar. 35, 1696; married Oct. 29

1713. David Judson, of Stratford; had teu chil- dren, and died May 20, 1765.

10 IX. Abraham,- born May 30, 1662 : died same day.

The son of George & Maria (Hyde) Tomlinson, Henry was baptized at St. Peter's Church at St. Werburgh, Derbyshire, England in November of 1606. His family belonged to the "Landed Gentry" of England. Henry's occupation was that of a weaver, as probably was his father's.

Henry & his wife, Alice, with two or three children cam to New England, probably living in New Haven first, and eventually settling in Milford, Conn. by 1652. He was appointed to keep an "Ordinary" (inn) at Milford. In 1654, he was fined for non-payment of duties on imported wine, which he refused to pay since he had paid all "legal" duties. He brought charges in the courts against the Governor of New Haven, Colony for over-stepping the law causing the Governor to be arrested. There were several Tomlinsons in that area of New Haven colony at the time, Thomas, Robert, Jonas, & William, but no connection of Henry to them is known.

On April 1, 1657, he purchased the estate of Joshua Atwater in Stratford. Along with Joseph Hawley, Henry Tomlinson purchased a considerable tract of land in Derby, Conn. of the Indians, and much of this land owned by Henry was transferred to his son, Jonas, and kept in the family for generations. He along with others also purchased a large tract of land of the Indians at New Milford. On January 2, 1670 Henry Tomlinson was chosen to keep an inn in Stratford.

Henry Tomlinson brought a Coat-of-Arms to America with him which was passed down the family.

His will written March 15, 1680/81 in Stratford showed his strong faith in Almighty God and the saving power of Jesus Christ. He bequeathed as follows: ...to my loving wife, "Allice" Tomlinson and to my son, Agur Tomlinson, all my houses & buildings with all my lands in Stratford. If she remarry, she is to receive 1/3 and the remainder to Augur. After her death, Augur is to recieve her share. He states that he had already given sufficient estate to his son, Jonas and daughters, Harger, Mary Pierson, Tabatha Worster, Phebe Worster, and Bashua Stiles, but that son, Augur was to give daughter, Margaret five pounds the year after our death, to Jonas four pound the second year after our death, to daughter, Mary Pierson five pounds the third year after our death, to daughter Tabetha Worster five pounds the fourth year after our death, to Phebe Worster twenty pounds the fifth year after our death, and to Basshua Stiles five pounds the sixth year. If any of them should die, their amount shall go to Jonas & his heirs. If Augur shall die & leave no heirs, his portion shall return to Jonas, and Jonas shall pay the above named heirs twenty pounds each on the above yearly schedule. ....to the two sons, Jonas & Augur, his Indian purchases at Derby, and his guns. Augur is to receive a horse, oxen, bed & furniture. ....to grandchildren, Timothy Worster and Abigail Harger, if they stay with the widow or Agur for four years, one mare each. The wife was appointed executrix; friends, Richard Blaklidg and Joseph Hawley along with son [son-in-law], Ephraim Stiles, to be overseers. His will was proved April 28, 1681 and his estate was about 518 pounds. The widow married my ancestor, DEACON JOHN BIRDSEYE in 1688.

Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38786786/henry-tomlinson