Thomas Millett, of Dorchester

4. Thomas4 Millet (John3, William2, John1) was baptized on 24 Oct 1604 at Newbury, Berkshire, England.11 Thomas Millet's birth was also reported as in 1605 at Chertsey, Surrey, England, but this was later disproved.12 He was the son of Eleanor Pritchard and John Millet, not the son of Henry Millett. He died on 3 Jun 1675 at Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, at age 70.13,14

Marriage

1. Thomas, age 24 married Mary Greenoway, age 23, daughter of John Greenoway and Mary (-?-), on 1 May 1629 at England.13,14

He and Mary Greenoway immigrated in Apr 1635 to Dorchester, Massachusetts, on the Elizabeth.13

Their children:

1. John: Born in England. Died in infancy.
2. Thomas: Born in England, 1633. Lived to the age of 75, had 4 children.
3. John: Born May 8, 1635. Lived to the age of 43. Had 7 children.
4. Jonathan: Born May 27, 1638. Died in infancy.
5. Mary: Born June 26, 1639. Died at Gloucester, MA. January 23, 1695 at the age of 55. Had 9 children. She married Thomas Riggs of Gloucester. He lived to the age of 90, “was highly educated” and was the Gloucester town clerk for 51 years (1665-1716).
6. Mehetable: Born June 1, 1641. Lived to the age of 57. Had 10 children.
7. Bethia: Born June 1, 1643. Lived to the age of 56. Had 1 child.
8. Nathaniel: Born 1647. Lived to the age of 72. Had 11 children.

Ref: Reed, Paul C. & Mahler, Leslie (April 2000) "The Correct English Origin Of Thomas Millett Of Dorchester, Massachusetts." The American Genealogist, 75(2), 81-93.

origins

From (1) The First Millett Generation in America: Thomas Millett (1604-1675) and Mary Greenoway (1605-1682)

Reed and Mahler carefully document their claim that Thomas Millett was not the son of Henry Millett of Chertsey, and build a well-documented case that he was the son of John Millett of Newbury. They trace this Millett line three generations back in Newbury to the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), at which time they say it is believable that the Millett family moved to Newbury to join this prosperous town, which was becoming world famous for it's manufacture of cloth.
Since Reed and Mahler have published their research in the American Genealogist, John Cardinal has published the Descendents of John Millett (1513-1564) of Newbury on the Internet. His tree goes from John (1 - Newbury), to William (2 - Newbury) to John (3 - Newbury) to Thomas (4 - Newbury/Dorchester) to Nathaniel (5 - Dorchester) and then follows Nathaniel's son Thomas for eight more generations to many branches of the Millett Family that lead to Nova Scotia (the Clinton Babbit line follows Nathaniel's son Nathan). To see the four generations of the Millett's in Newbury click HERE. To see John Cardinal's thirteen generations of Millett's from Newbury click HERE.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Millett-106

supporting data

Belonged to the Herefordshire branch of the family. COAT OF ARMS:

Arms: Silver a fess gules between three dragon heads erased vert.

Crest: Out of a mural crown gules an arm, erect the sleeve gold grasping in silver dragon's hand erased vert.

(New England Historical and Genealogical Register Vol CVII, Jan 1953)

This is a very old and distinguished Coat of Arms. it was granted to the Millet family in the early 1600 century (John Millet 1616).

The dragon or griffin, imaginary monsters, are represented as strong and fierce animals. In armory they are properly applied to tyranny or the overthrow of vicious enemy.

The mural crown was given by the Romans to him who first mounted an enemy breach, hence its designation: "Muralis" signifying, in Latin, "relating to wall".

The hand grasping the griffin or dragon is well descriped in the motto:

"Manus Haec Inimica Tyrannis"

"This hand is hostile to tyrants

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baptized on 24 Oct 1604 at Newbury, Berkshire, England. Thomas Millet's birth was also reported as in 1605 at Chertsey, Surrey, England, but this was later disproved. Thomas, age 24 married Mary Greenoway, age 23, daughter of John Greenoway and Mary (--?--), on 1 May 1629 at England. He died on 3 Jun 1675 at Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, at age 70.

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Resided: London (Southwark)

Came to New England on the ship "Elizabeth" in 1635. He settled in Dorchester, afterwards in Gloucester, where for several generations the name was a common one.

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Thomas (1604-1675) and Mary Greenoway (1605-1682)

In April of 1635, Thomas Millett and his wife Mary Greenoway Millett (daughter of John and Mary) set sail for America on the ship Elizabeth of London. They came with their 2-year old son, Thomas, and with Mary’s older sister Ursula. They settled in Dorchester where they lived for the next twenty years (Dorchester is now an area of southeast Boston).

Life in early Dorchester: XXX

Soon after arriving, On May 8, 1935, Mary gave birth to John, their first child born in America. Over the next few years Mary gave birth to five more children, all born in Dorchester. In birth order the children are (most of the genealogical data in this story come from References 3 and 4 listed at the end):

John: Born in England. Died in infancy.

Thomas: Born in England, 1633. Lived to the age of 75, had 4 children.

John: Born May 8, 1635. Lived to the age of 43. Had 7 children.

Jonathan: Born May 27, 1638. Died in infancy.

Mary: Born June 26, 1639. Died at Gloucester, MA. January 23, 1695 at the age of 55. Had 9 children. She married Thomas Riggs of Gloucester. He lived to the age of 90, “was highly educated” and was the Gloucester town clerk for 51 years (1665-1716).

Mehetable: Born June 1, 1641. Lived to the age of 57. Had 10 children.

Bethia: Born June 1, 1643. Lived to the age of 56. Had 1 child.

Nathaniel: Born 1647. Lived to the age of 72. Had 11 children.

Bold and blue signifies the direct line to Clinton Babbit Millett (1879-1946).

Note to 13th generation descendants of Thomas and Mary: 16,380 people have contributed to your genetic makeup since Nathaniel was born and if Mary hadn’t had her 8th child, you wouldn’t be here!

Giving birth in early colonial times: XXX

Thomas joined the Dorchester Church about 1636, was made Freeman about 1637, and was a grantee of land the same year.

Religion in early Dorchester: XXX

Bonnie Riggs: Today I read some of Roger Williams writings from 1642 (he was expelled from Massachusetts in 1636 for advocating that all land be bought rather than confiscated from the Indians, among other heretical ideas.) Talk about a man WAY before his time. I knew that he founded Rhode Island as a haven for religious freedom and tolerance, but I didn't realize how eloquently he argued for the separation of church and state. Those in power today would do well to read his thoughts. He also argued that there is no such thing as a "holy war". In a holy war, both sides profess to be doing the will of God against evil, but the true will of God is peace. There is never reason for a spiritual war to be fought with material weapons, even a war against evil. Spiritual wars are to be fought with spiritual weapons like love, tolerance, example and prayer. The only legitimate reason for a secular war is to free those who are being oppressed.

The Big Woods: XXX

After 20 years in Dorchester, Thomas and Mary moved to Gloucester (30 miles northeast of Boston where he was a teaching elder of the First Church. In 1665 he conveyed to his son, Thomas, lands lying in Gloucester near the old meeting house plain.

Early Gloucester: XXX

At some point Thomas and Mary moved to Brookfield (50 miles west of Boston). In Brookfield they had a home and land on Town Neck It seems possible that Thomas perished when Brookfield was destroyed during King Philip's War and may have been killed by the Indians. The year was 1675; he was 71 years old. Mary somehow got back to the family in Dorchester where she died September 27, 1682 at the age of 77.

Brookfield – the Colonial frontier: XXX

From Rebecca Chickering: I haven't seen any direct reference as to why Thomas moved to Brookfield. I do know that many settlers liked the open farmland that was available there. The land is very rich and fertile. Most of the houses sat on top of Foster hill, which back then, it was written that you could see for a few miles. You could see wildlife, deer, turkey etc out in the fields at quite a distance.

In order to get their petition, they needed to have a certain number of families living there. They also needed to have a preacher on site as well. They offered their preacher a house, land etc. in return for church work.

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"The History of Androscoggin"

In 1655 he was a resident of Gloucester and performed ministerial services for the first church. He subsequently removed to Brookfield, and with his daughter and three grandchildren, was killed by the Indians in 1676. Elder Thomas Millett was an Englishman of good family........

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"History of the Town of Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine"

Thomas brought to the states a certificate of his conformity from the rector of the church of St. Saviour's in Southworth and was a teacher in the church. He was straightway made a freeman in Dorchester, where he lived until 1655, when he moved to Glouchester, having purchased there all the possessions of William Perkins, a teaching elder of that town. He succeeded Mr Perkins in his religious office, the exercise of which gave him the right to the rare title of Mr. Though not an ordained minister, he received a salary, "not always voluntarily bestowed" we are told. It was probably his function of teaching elder that carried him to Gloucester and afterward to Brookfield, for when an ordained minister was settled in the Cape ANn town Mr. Millet went to Brookfield to succeed Mr. Younglove in ministerial duties, though neither was ever ordained. He owned much real estate in Gloucester. When he died does not appear, but his wife entered his estate for probate in 1676. Besides the son born in England, they had six other children all born in Dorchester.

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References:

3) Manuscript: Millett Family by Reverend Daniel Caldwell Millett, 1870, Holmesburg, Pennsylvania. (Note on the last page of the manuscript held by Gregg Baldwin Millett --: “The foregoing work is a copy of work done by Stephen C. Millett, Jr. and borrowed from him on September 9, 1934 by Clinton Charles Millett, Omaha, Nebraska”).

4) Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas Millett, from Chertsey, Surreyshire, England to Dorchester, Massachusetts, and His Wife Mary Greenoway, by George Francis Millett, 1959. A copy of this book is in the NYS Library in Albany.

Reed and Mahler, "English Origins of Thomas Millett of Dorchester, Mass.", 93.

George Francis Millett, Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas Millett from Chertsey, Surreyshire, England to Dorchester, Massachusetts and His Wife, Mary Greenoway (n.p.: Privately Published, 1959), 1, but the English origins portion of this reference was later disproved by Paul C. Reed and Leslie Mahler in their English Origins of Thomas Millett of Dorchester, Mass. Hereinafter cited as Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas Millett.

"The History Of Androscoggin County", Chapter XXXII, Pg580-581 (A digital copy of this reference can be found on ancestry.com)

"History of the Town of Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine" Pg43 (A digital copy of this reference can be found on ancestry.com)

Thomas arrived in New England from London in 1635 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", and settled in Dorchester.  He moved to Gloucester in 1655, when he bought land of William Perkins.  He was a Teaching Elder in the Church there for many years.  Babson supposes that he left town several years before his death and settled in Brookfield Massachusetts.

http://www.wainwrightfamily.org/milletfhr.html

The following information came from "Millett Family

"A typed, unbound manuscript was given to me, Gregg Millett, by my father, Clinton Charles Millett. It contains a 4-page introduction, 78 additional pages and concludes with 9 pages on the English Milletts. On page 2 it says that the work is by Daniel Caldwell Millett, 1870, Holmesburg, Pennsylvania. On page 10a, in the handwriting of my father, it says "the foregoing work is a copy of work done by Stephen C. Millett Jr. and borrowed from Stephen C. Millett, September 9, 1934. Clinton C. Millett -- Omaha, Nebraska."

Here is the forward of the writer:

"In the year of our Blessed Lord 1870 - The

Reverand Daniel Caldwell Millett began these records

for his own pleasure and also for the purpose of hand-

iIng down in the family some record of the ancestors of

the Family of Millett. It is his earnest desire that

this book may be preserved in the family, and such ad-

ditions made from time to time as may be required.

D. C. Millett"

Holesburg, Pa.

October 6th A.D. 1870

Thomas Millett

Born in Chertsey, England, A.D. 1605.

Married Mary Greenoway in England, A.D. 1630.

Mary Greenoway born in England, A.D. 1606.

Mary Greenoway died Sept. 27, A.D. 1682

Thomas died in Brookfield, Mass., A.D. 1675

Children

• Page 12: Thomas - Born in England 1633.
• Page 16: John - Born in Dorchester, Mass., May 8 1935.
• Jonathan - Born May 27th, 1638, died June 15, 1638
• Page 17: Mary - born June 26, 1939.
• Mary married - Riggs - Died at Gloucester, Mass., Jan. 23, 1695.
• Page 18: Mehitable - Born June 1, 1641, in Dorchester, Mass.
• Page 19: Bethia - Born June 1, 1643 in Dorchester, Mass.
• Page 20: Nathaniel - Born 1647, in Dorchester, Mass.

Page 8

Thomas Millet, Senior came to the U.S. in 1635 from Southwark, England (a parishioner of St. Saviour's Church), In the Ship Elizabeth - Capt. Stagg, of London, with his wife Mary, daughter of John Greenoway. They brought with them their son Thomas, aged 2 years. They settled in Dor- chester, Mass., where they resided about twenty years. Thomas joined the Dorchester Church about 1636, was made "Freeman about 1637, and was a grantee of land the same year. In 1655 Thomas bought of William Perkins, who had been a teaching elder in the church in Gloucester, all the property the latter owned in the town. He came here (Gloucester) with the rare title of "Mr." - a distinction to which he was entitled by the place he filled in the Church, for he was the successor of Mr. William Perkins in his religious office, as well as in the possession of his lands. His name does not appear among the Ministers of his time, but it is certain he labored here in spiritual things. Tho' perhaps his office in the Church was an anomalous one, its pecuniary rewards were not always Voluntarily bestowed as the court records testify and indeed these alone furnish information that he was engaged here in the Ministry of all. It is supposed he removed from town several years before his death, and became a resident of Brookfield at which place he and his wife gave their consent June 3, 1675 (?) to the sale of a house and land on town Neck to Francis Norwood. He died within a year from that time and his wife was deceased September 27, 1682. In 1665 he conveyed to his son, Thomas, lands lying in Gloucester near the old meeting house plain. -- Gloucester Records.

Page 10

From Dover Enquirer, August 1866

Thomas and his wife were at Brookfield June 3, 1665.

He bought land of Goodman Cox and paid for the same in

part with two cows - showing that he removed to Brookfield

with his effects. In about two month after that time

Brookfield was destroyed by the Indians and what became of

Mr. Thomas Millet, or when he died, is unknown. His es-

tate was entered in Essex Probate Court in 1676 and his

widow lived with her children in Gloucester, Mass. 'till

1782 when she died. (See also foot note in N.E. Register 1881).

"His house was burned in 1657 and a part of the

town records were destroyed by the fire". History of

Dorchester - Ursula Greenoway (Mrs. Millet's sister) ac-

companied them to this country July 31, 1635. Israel

Stoughton to John Winthrop speaks of "Brother Millet".

Mass. Hist. - Coll. Vol. 1

== Source ==

Paul C. Reed, FASG and Leslie Mahler. The Correct English Origin of Thomas Millett of Dorchester, Massachusetts. The American Genealogist, April 2000, vol. 75 no. 2, p. 81-93;. Citing George Francis Millett, Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas Millett, Mesa AZ, 1959. Later TAG article (Oct, 2000) verifies he is not the son of Henry of Chertsey, Surrey England. (Paul Reed and Leslie Mahler write: that claim " … is false.

The New England immigrant

(Thomas Millett) hailed from Newbury, having temporarily settled in a London suburb before leaving for
America."), Reed and Mahler carefully document their claim that Thomas Millett was not the son of Henry Millett of Chertsey, and build a well-documented case that he was the son of John Millett of Newbury. They trace this Millett line three generations back in Newbury to the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), at which time they say it is believable that the Millett family moved to Newbury to join this prosperous town, which was becoming world famous for it's manufacture of cloth. Since Reed and Mahler have published their research in the American Genealogist, John Cardinal has published the Descendents of John Millett (1513-1564) of Newbury on the Internet. His tree goes from John (1 - Newbury), to William (2 - Newbury) to John (3 - Newbury) to Thomas (4 - Newbury/Dorchester) to Nathaniel (5 - Dorchester) and then follows Nathaniel's son Thomas for eight more generations to many branches of the Millett Family that lead to Nova Scotia (the Clinton Babbit line follows Nathaniel's son Nathan).

• http://www.greggmillett.com/Millett_1st%20Generation_Thomas_Millett...

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See "The Great Migration." Came to Dorchester in 1635. Baptized 24 Oct 1604 at Newbury, Berkshire. Died between June and 28 Sept 1675.