Capt. Thomas Trowbridge

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71496973/thomas-trowbridge

The Trowbridges first arrived in America in 1636 when Thomas Trowbridge, a woolen merchant from Taunton, England, and his family settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay colony. Finding the political and religious climate intolerant, he moved his family to New Haven, Connecticut Colony a few years later. Following the death of his wife, Elizabeth Marshall, Thomas returned to England in the 1640s. He would later participate in the English Civil War, on the side of the Parliamentary forces known as the "Roundheads" against King Charles I of England. He left his sons Thomas, James, and William behind, who started one of the earliest families to settle New England.

When Rev. F.W. Chapman published his Trowbridge genealogy in 1872, he believed that Thomas was the son of Edmund Trowbridge, son of John of Hutton (d.1575). This theory was supplanted by the discovery of the will of John Trowbridge of Taunton (d.1649) in 1908; which, along with the will of Thomas's son John (1629-53), conclusively proved Thomas's parentage to be John and Agnes (Prowse), as given in Francis Bacon's genealogy.

Thomas is a direct descendant of Charlemagne The Great (742-814) through his mother's line. Thomas's own descendants include actress and model Cindy Crawford, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Ernest Hemmingway, and US President Rutherford B. Hayes.

Occupations: wool mercer (merchant), merchant, West Indies trade routes (Trinidad)

Military Service: Captain, Blake's Taunton Regiment, "Roundheads"

Parliamentary Forces, (anti-royalist army under Cromwell), English Civil War

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U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

Virkus, Frederick A. The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy. Vol.1. p. 994.:

TROWBRIDGE, Thomas, from Eng. to Dorchester, Mass., 1634; settled at New Haven, Conn., 1639; returned to England leaving his sons; of their direct male descendants 56 fought in Am. Rev.; 41 in War of 1812; 152 in Civil War; m. Elizabeth Marshall.

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Copied from a Family Tree Maker File:

Notes for THOMAS TROWBRIDGE:

THOMAS TROWBRIDGE, THE PATRIARC OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY LINE, CAME FROM ENGLAND TO DORCHESTER, MASS. IN 1634 AND MOVED ON TO NEW HAVEN, CONN. IN 1639. AFTER HIS WIFE'S DEATH IN 1642 HE LEFT HIS WELL ESTABLISHED BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, AS WELL AS HIS SONS HERE IN THE COLONIES WITH HIS BUSINESS PARDNERS THOMAS JEFFREYS AND HENRY GIBBONS, AND RETURNED TO COMBE ST. NICHOLAS, ABOUT 10 OR 12 MILES S.E. OF TAUNTON, NEAR THE BORDER OF DEVON IN COUNTY SOMERSET, ENGLAND. HE WOULD NEVER RETURN, BUT DID TRAVEL TO AND FROM BARBADOES SEVERAL TIMES.

OF HIS DIRECT LINE MALE DESCENDANTS; 56 FOUGHT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 41 SERVED IN THE WAR OF 1812, AND 152 TOOK UP ARMS DURING THE WAR FOR SOUTHERN INDEPENDANCE.

More About THOMAS TROWBRIDGE:

OCCUPATION: LANDLORD & RETAIL MERCHANT

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Thomas Trowbridge, the first of his family to come to America, was the son, as heretofore shown, of John Trowbridge, a wealthy merchant and prominent citizen of Taunton, Somersetshire. His father had long been identified with the woolen trade in Taunton, which was noted for its manufacture of that staple, and it was natural that the son when he grew up should turn his attention to some branch of that industry, and he is found in early manhood established in business as a mercer in the neighboring city of Exeter in Devonshire.

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Settled at New Haven, Conn. 1639; ret. to Eng. leaving his sons. Of their direct male descendants, 56 fought in American Revolution, 41 in 1812, 152 in Civil War.

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settled at New Haven, Conn 1639; ret. to Eng. leaving his sons. Of their direct male descendants, 56 fought in American Revolution, 41 in 1812, 152 in Civil War.

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As a young man, Thomas Trowbridge settled in Exeter where he was engaged in business as a wool mercer. He became a member of the powerful Merchants and Adventurer's Guild. His wife Elizabeth Marshall's father, John Marshall, was Sheriff, Alderman and Mayor of Exeter (1615) and her grandfather, Richard Bevys (Beavis), was Mayor of Exeter from 1600 - 1603 when he died in office. John Marshall, in addition to his political offices, was a successful merchant. It was probably through his connections that Thomas was able to gain entrance to this Guild.

Possibly, in hopes of furthering his fortune, Thomas decided to take his family to America to set up his business there. He apparently did not intend to make the American Colonies his home because he left his oldest son, John, with his father in Taunton. He landed his family at Dorchester, MA. in about 1636. He and his wife are noted in Dorchester church records as "Mr. and Mrs." Trowbridge, a distinction confined at that time to persons of established gentility. His wife was a member of the Dorchester church in 1637-38 and their youngest son, James, was baptized there. Thomas and Elizabeth must have found it a considerable hardship to live in the newly settled town of Dorchester, accustomed as they were to the comforts of a city like Exeter. Additionally, there was considerable friction among differing factions within the church.

Thomas and his family left Dorchester in about 1638 and moved to the New Haven Plantation. His name does not appear among those subscribed to the articles of agreement at the organization of the church or body politic there in June, 1639. He may have been absent from New Haven at the time or, as this Fundamental Agreement, as it was afterward called, required that "church members only shall be free burgesses". He may not have been eligible to sign it for there is no evidence that he ever severed his connections with the Church of England and became a member of the Puritan Church.

New Haven records nearly always recorded his name with the prefix, "Mr." In the list of Proprietors of the Plantation in 1641, he was credited with five heads in his family. They were: himself, his wife and three sons, Thomas, William and James. His estate was given as 500 pounds, a large sum for that place and time and it was among the larger of the 123 estates mentioned in the listing.

He appeared to have spent very little time in New Haven, making several voyages to Barbados and England in pursuit of his business. His wife died in about 1641, possibly in the spring or summer. He returned to England at about this time, possibly to settle her estate and intended to send for his sons at a later date. No record has been found proving the exact date he left but it was before the fall of 1641. When he returned to Taunton he got caught up in the English Civil War which started about that time. He served as a Captain in the Parlimentary Troops, serving under Colonel Blake in the defence of Taunton. He never returned to America.

Some sources say that he married his first cousin, Frances Godsall, widow Shattuck, daughter of his aunt Dorothie Trowbridge Godsall in England in February, 1640. The author questions whether this assumption is correct. There was another Thomas Trowbridge mentioned in the 1620 will of Thomas Trowbridge, the Elder, as a nephew. It is logical to assume that this latter Thomas was probably the man who married Frances in 1640, he being possibly an elderly man and she a middle aged widow.

During his final absence Thomas left his sons under the care of his steward, Henry Gibbons, who appeared to be an unfaithful servant who seized Thomas' property and deserted the three boys. Town records show where the boys were declared wards of the Colony in November, 1641 and the court placed them under the care of a nearby neighbor, Sergeant Thomas Jeffreys and his wife, who took them into their home to rear and educate until "such time as their father shall come over or send to take order concerning them." Thomas regularily corresponded from England to the authorities in New Haven to bring Gibbons to an account for his breach of trust, but Gibbons kept the property for many years. When his sons became of age, Thomas gave them power of attorney to regain his property from Gibbons. The sons sued Gibbons and were successful in reclaiming their father's estate in 1680 which he had previously given them on a share and share alike basis. Gibbons died without any children in 1686.

Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "THE TROWBRIDGE ANCESTRY IN ENGLAND" by Donald Lines Jacobus, "THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST", 18:3, pps. 129-137)
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Thomas Trowbridge in America

TROWBRIDGE, THE FAMILY THAT HAS DONE ITS FULL SHARE IN THE BUILDING OF AMERICA 1980 by George Nas (edited and revised 2004).

The Trowbridges first arrived in America in 1636 when Thomas Trowbridge, a woolen merchant from Taunton, England, and his family settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay colony. Finding the political and religious climate intolerant, he moved his family to New Haven, Connecticut Colony a few years later. Following the death of his wife, Elizabeth Marshall, Thomas returned to England in the 1640s. He would later participate in the English Civil War, on the side of the Parliamentary forces known as the "Roundheads" against King Charles I of England. He left his sons Thomas, James, and William behind, who started one of the earliest families to settle New England. By 1730, David Trowbridge, a grandson of William Trowbridge, moved out of New Haven Colony with his mother Ann Sherwood, and his step-father Caleb Fairchild, and their family, and settled Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey. As an adult, David would later homestead a part of Morris county that became known as Trowbridge Mountain, according to Morris Plains historian Julia Beers, purchased land from the Indians. That area became known as Trowbridge Mountain according to Francis Bacon Trowbridge:, "because David, his sons, and grandsons built their farms there." Later, several of David's sons left Morris County, and settled in other parts of the country, especially what was then known as the Northwest Territories (Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, etc.), Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee. In fact, many of the Trowbridges that now live all over the United States are his descendents.

The Trowbridge direct line goes back to:

Thomas Trowbridge. He was the primitive ancestor of a very large majority of the Trowbridges in America. He came to America in the seventeenth century, from Taunton, Somersetshire, England. He first arrived at the colony of Massachusetts Bay. With some of the Massachusetts Bay Colony laws not being favorable to sane, the Trowbridges moved to the plantation of New Haven, in the New Haven Colony.

Thomas' son, Thomas Trowbridge II was a very enterprising man and became very successful. By 1662, having built Warehouses &Warf Inc., timbering out land on the Common for the building of a vessel, he had became a prominent merchant trading with England, the West Indies, the Sandwich Islands and many other ports. Eventually came the ownership of many sailing ships, which sailed out of New Haven CT. and businesses were established, land was purchased, plantations, formation of companies. At New Haven the Union Wharf Co. was established. He purchased several acres of land from the neighboring Indians. The Indians who sold the land to Thomas T. are on record in New Haven CT. In 1673, with the prospect of war with the Dutch, Thomas Trowbridge was appointed commissary for the New Haven Colony to fit out the troops. He was a confirmed lieutenant with the Conn. troops and probably saw active service in King Philip's War. He was treasurer of the town from. 1679-1680. In later years he was chosen Townsman and held office for 8 years. He acted as agent and purchased much of the land for the town, from the Indians, thus ending Indian ownership within the boundaries of the town of New Haven. Later, the Trowbridge name was considered to be the head of the West India Business in the United States. Thomas also purchased land in the newly acquired colony of New Jersey, mostly as an investment.

George Trowbridge served on board the ship Constitution during the War of 1812 when the famous battle took place with the Guerrier.

Elihu Trowbridge was chosen for the position of one of General George Washington's life-guards in 1776 during the revolution. He served for nine months.

There were more than 100 Trowbridges who served during the Revolutionary War at both land and sea. During the Civil War a regiment could have been formed with those who had the Trowbridge name alone. All of these were from privates to high-ranking officers. Going back to Thomas Trowbridge, there were also direct descendents in the Trowbridge family that served with the Confederate armies. They fought in the Black Hawk wars, Seminole wars, and the Spanish American war. World War I, World War II and in Vietnam. Many were ranch owners and cowboys as well. They went west during the gold rush of 1849. There were authors, many books were published. There were famous Doctors, a music composer in New England, bridge builders, manufacturers, participants in the building of the Erie Canal, in the management capacity.

There was also a Congressman {Ebenezer Rowland Trowbridge},

Many Trowbridge ministers of different faiths; there were sheriffs, a Texas Ranger, pioneers in covered wagons.

Wilber E. Trowbridge was a Sgt. at Fort Yates D.T. in charge of guarding Chief Sitting Bull after his surrender in 1884.

Capt. Roswell Trowbridge captured by British at sea.

Trowbridge's, Early tavern owners.

Benedict Arnold, when transferred in Colonial Army, a Trowbridge took his place.

Thomas Trowbridge, challenged to a duel with pistols by Benedict Arnold.

Stephen Trowbridge with the Green Mountain Boys under Ethan Alien during the Revolutionary War.

Capt. John Trowbridge with troops in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, N.J. Huts in winter of 1779-80.

John Townsend Trowbridge, famous 19th century American writer and poet.

Trowbridges, some sea captains, and some seamen lost at sea and never heard of again.

A Trowbridge who prospected in the West and all the Pacific State Territories.

W. O. Trowbridge, Civil War Veteran, worked on Union Pacific R.R. until completed.

Trowbridges, war with Mexico, 1847.

Early Trowbridges in England - Back to approx. 1100 A.D.

Peter De Trowbridge, listed as the Barton (Baron) of Trowbridge during the reign of King Edward I approx. 1300 A.D.

Trowbridges in America, Early New England colonies and settlements.

Professor John T. Trowbridge taught at M.I.T.

William Petit Trowbridge, General with Army Corps of Engineers during the Civil War.

Trowbridges, Ships and Shipping and Bombardier - peacetime and war time during early wars.

Gilbert T. Trowbridge, 3 years on whaling vessel.

George T. Trowbridge, Co A. 27th. Conn. Infantry in Battle of Gettysburg.

Early shipping and adventures of the Trowbridges of the New Haven Colonies.

Harold Rutherford Trowbridge - Mountain Climber.

Miles M. Trowbridge - Color Bearer Co. "C", 1st. Wisconsin, during Civil War.

Caleb Trowbridge at 14 joined Co. M. 1st. Conn. Vol. Rode with the cavalry and participated in most all of Sheridan's Campaigns during Civil War.

Trowbridges extensive business and land holdings in the British West Indies.

There were Trowbridges who were Townsmen and Leaders, schoolteachers, college professors, and inventors.

Dr. Amasa Trowbridge was a professor of Surgery in 1834.

The Honorable Charles C. Trowbridge, Special Indian Agent. Personal involvement with land purchases from the Indians Early Explorations and Expeditions in the Wisconsin and Michigan areas. Traveled in birch bark canoe. The true story relating to Charles C. Trowbridge is incredible.

General Luther S. Trowbridge was associated with Gen. George Armstrong Custer on several occasions. A Lt. Col. during the Battle of Gettysburg, his horse was killed under him while leading the charge of the 5th Michigan Cavalry.

Col. Charles Tyler Trowbridge led the first all black Union Army regiment during the Civil War (predating Col. Shaw's regiment.)

There were Trowbridges at the 1st battle of Bull Run and there were Trowbridges present during the surrender at Appomattox. There were surveyors, even one with the Powell expedition. Railroad officials, a telegraph operator in the Yukon.

Frederic O. Trowbridge in 1891 before he was 16 joined the cavalry and served three years with Custers old regiment-the 7th US Cav. Co H.

Jonathon Trowbridge was a traveling companion of Daniel Boone.

Judge Edmund Goff Trowbridge presided over the trial of the four British soldiers who participated in the Boston Massacre of 1770.

Winston S. Trowbridge was appointed in 1852 to United States Consul for Barbados and adjacent Islands, by President Fillmore with credentials from Queen Victoria.

In writing about sons of the Trowbridge family, many who were early settlers and pioneers in America mentioned above, were all our ancestors. There is substantial documentation and information to prove this is true."

1982, George S. Nas, whose mother was a Trowbridge

from Randolph (Trowbridge Mountain), Morris County, New Jersey.

" THE TROWBRIDGE GENEALOGY" BY F.B. TROWBRIDGE IS NOW AVAILABLE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD IN PDF, TXT,

AND OTHER FORMATS AT THE INTERNET ARCHIVE, THANKS TO THE ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AT FT. WAYNE, INDIANA.

http://www.geocities.com/trowbridgemountain/

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The Trowbridges first arrived in America in 1636 when Thomas Trowbridge, a woolen merchant from Taunton, England, and his family settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay colony. Finding the political and religious climate intolerant, he moved his family to New Haven, Connecticut Colony a few years later. Following the death of his wife, Elizabeth Marshall, Thomas returned to England in the 1640s. He would later participate in the English Civil War, on the side of the Parliamentary forces known as the "Roundheads" against King Charles I of England. He left his sons Thomas, James, and William behind, who started one of the earliest families to settle New England. When Rev. F.W. Chapman published his Trowbridge genealogy in 1872, he believed that Thomas was the son of Edmund Trowbridge, son of John of Hutton (d.1575). This theory was supplanted by the discovery of the will of John Trowbridge of Taunton (d.1649) in 1908; which, along with the will of Thomas's son John (1629­53), conclusively proved Thomas's parentage, as given in Francis Bacon's genealogy. Thomas is a direct descendant of Charlemagne The Great (742­814) through his mother's line. Thomas's own descendants include actress and model Cindy Crawford, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Ernest Hemmingway, and US President Rutherford B. Hayes. Occupations: wool mercer (merchant), merchant, West Indies trade routes (Trinidad) Military Service: Captain, Blake's Taunton Regiment, "Roundheads" Parliamentary Forces, (anti­royalist army under Cromwell), English Civil War

TROWBRIDGE, Thomas, from Eng. to Dorchester, Mass., 1634; settled at New Haven, Conn., 1639; returned to England leaving his sons; of their direct male descendants 56 fought in Am. Rev.; 41 in War of 1812; 152 in Civil War; m. Elizabeth Marshall.

_­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Copied from a Family Tree Maker File: Notes for THOMAS TROWBRIDGE: THOMAS TROWBRIDGE, THE PATRIARC OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY LINE, CAME FROM ENGLAND TO DORCHESTER, MASS. IN 1634 AND MOVED ON TO NEW HAVEN, CONN. IN 1639. AFTER HIS WIFE'S DEATH IN 1642 HE LEFT HIS WELL ESTABLISHED BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, AS WELL AS HIS SONS HERE IN THE COLONIES WITH HIS BUSINESS PARDNERS THOMAS JEFFREYS AND HENRY GIBBONS, AND RETURNED TO COMBE ST. NICHOLAS, ABOUT 10 OR 12 MILES S.E. OF TAUNTON, NEAR THE BORDER OF DEVON IN COUNTY SOMERSET, ENGLAND. HE WOULD NEVER RETURN, BUT DID TRAVEL TO AND FROM BARBADOES SEVERAL TIMES. OF HIS DIRECT LINE MALE DESCENDANTS; 56 FOUGHT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 41 SERVED IN THE WAR OF 1812, AND 152 TOOK UP ARMS DURING THE WAR FOR SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE.

More About THOMAS TROWBRIDGE: OCCUPATION: LANDLORD & RETAIL MERCHANT ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Thomas Trowbridge, the first of his family to come to America, was the son, as heretofore shown, of John Trowbridge, a wealthy merchant and prominent citizen of Taunton, Somersetshire. His father had long been identified with the woolen trade in Taunton, which was noted for its manufacture of that staple, and it was natural that the son when he grew up should turn his attention to some branch of that industry, and he is found in early manhood established in business as a mercer in the neighboring city of Exeter in Devonshire. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Settled at New Haven, Conn. 1639; ret. to Eng. leaving his sons. Of their direct male descendants, 56 fought in American Revolution, 41 in 1812, 152 in Civil War. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ As a young man, Thomas Trowbridge settled in Exeter where he was engaged in business as a wool mercer. He became a member of the powerful Merchants and Adventurer's Guild. His wife Elizabeth Marshall's father, John Marshall, was Sheriff, Alderman and Mayor of Exeter (1615) and her grandfather, Richard Bevys (Beavis), was Mayor of Exeter from 1600 ­- 1603 when he died in office. John Marshall, in addition to his political offices, was a successful merchant. It was probably through his connections that Thomas was able to gain entrance to this Guild. Possibly, in hopes of furthering his fortune, Thomas decided to take his family to America to set up his business there. He apparently did not intend to make the American Colonies his home because he left his oldest son, John, with his father in Taunton. He landed his family at Dorchester, MA. in about 1636. He and his wife are noted in Dorchester church records as "Mr. and Mrs." Trowbridge, a distinction confined at that time to persons of established gentility. His wife was a member of the Dorchester church in 1637­38 and their youngest son, James, was baptized there. Thomas and Elizabeth must have found it a considerable hardship to live in the newly settled town of Dorchester, accustomed as they were to the comforts of a city like Exeter. Additionally, there was considerable friction among differing factions within the church. Thomas and his family left Dorchester in about 1638 and moved to the New Haven Plantation. His name does not appear among those subscribed to the articles of agreement at the organization of the church or body politic there in June, 1639. He may have been absent from New Haven at the time or, as this Fundamental Agreement, as it was afterward called, required that "church members only shall be free burgesses". He may not have been eligible to sign it for there is no evidence that he ever severed his connections with the Church of England and became a member of the Puritan Church. New Haven records nearly always recorded his name with the prefix, "Mr." In the list of Proprietors of the Plantation in 1641, he was credited with five heads in his family. They were: himself, his wife and three sons, Thomas, William and James. His estate was given as 500 pounds, a large sum for that place and time and it was among the larger of the 123 estates mentioned in the listing.

He appeared to have spent very little time in New Haven, making several voyages to Barbados and England in pursuit of his business. His wife died in about 1641, possibly in the spring or summer. He returned to England at about this time, possibly to settle her estate and intended to send for his sons at a later date. No record has been found proving the exact date he left but it was before the fall of 1641. When he returned to Taunton he got caught up in the English Civil War which started about that time. He served as a Captain in the Parlimentary Troops, serving under Colonel Blake in the defense of Taunton. He never returned to America.

Some sources say that he married his first cousin, Frances Godsall, widow Shattuck, daughter of his aunt Dorothie Trowbridge Godsall in England in February, 1640. The author questions whether this assumption is correct. There was another Thomas Trowbridge mentioned in the 1620 will of Thomas Trowbridge, the Elder, as a nephew. It is logical to assume that this latter Thomas was probably the man who married Frances in 1640, he being possibly an elderly man and she a middle aged widow. During his final absence Thomas left his sons under the care of his steward, Henry Gibbons, who appeared to be an unfaithful servant who seized Thomas' property and deserted the three boys. Town records show where the boys were declared wards of the Colony in November, 1641 and the court placed them under the care of a nearby neighbor, Sergeant Thomas Jeffreys and his wife, who took them into their home to rear and educate until "such time as their father shall come over or send to take order concerning them." Thomas regularily corresponded from England to the authorities in New Haven to bring Gibbons to an account for his breach of trust, but Gibbons kept the property for many years. When his sons became of age, Thomas gave them power of attorney to regain his property from Gibbons. The sons sued Gibbons and were successful in reclaiming their father's estate in 1680 which he had previously given them on a share and share alike basis. Gibbons died without any children in 1686. Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "THE TROWBRIDGE ANCESTRY IN ENGLAND" by Donald Lines Jacobus, "THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST", 18:3, pps. 129­137) ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Thomas Trowbridge in America TROWBRIDGE, THE FAMILY THAT HAS DONE ITS FULL SHARE IN THE BUILDING OF AMERICA 1980 by George Nas (edited and revised 2004). The Trowbridges first arrived in America in 1636 when Thomas Trowbridge, a woolen merchant from Taunton, England, and his family settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay colony. Finding the political and religious climate intolerant, he moved his family to New Haven, Connecticut Colony a few years later. Following the death of his wife, Elizabeth Marshall, Thomas returned to England in the 1640s. He would later participate in the English Civil War, on the side of the Parliamentary forces known as the "Roundheads" against King Charles I of England. He left his sons Thomas, James, and William behind, who started one of the earliest families to settle New England. By 1730, David Trowbridge, a grandson of William Trowbridge, moved out of New Haven Colony with his mother Ann Sherwood, and his step­ father Caleb Fairchild, and their family, and settled Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey. As an adult, David would later homestead a part of Morris county that became known as Trowbridge Mountain, according to Morris Plains historian Julia Beers, purchased land from the Indians. That area became known as Trowbridge Mountain according to Francis Bacon Trowbridge:, "because David, his sons, and grandsons built their farms there." Later, several of David's sons left Morris County, and settled in other parts of the country, especially what was then known as the Northwest Territories (Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, etc.), Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee. In fact, many of the Trowbridges that now live all over the United States are his descendents. The Trowbridge direct line goes back to: Thomas Trowbridge. He was the primitive ancestor of a very large majority of the Trowbridges in America. He came to America in the seventeenth century, from Taunton, Somersetshire, England. He first arrived at the colony of Massachusetts Bay. With some of the Massachusetts Bay Colony laws not being favorable to sane, the Trowbridges moved to the plantation of New Haven, in the New Haven Colony. Thomas' son, Thomas Trowbridge II was a very enterprising man and became very successful. By 1662, having built Warehouses & Warf Inc., timbering out land on the Common for the building of a vessel, he had became a prominent merchant trading with England, the West Indies, the Sandwich Islands and many other ports. Eventually came the ownership of many sailing ships, which sailed out of New Haven CT. and businesses were established, land was purchased, plantations, formation of companies. At New Haven the Union Wharf Co. was established. He purchased several acres of land from the neighboring Indians. The Indians who sold the land to Thomas T. are on record in New Haven CT. In 1673, with the prospect of war with the Dutch, Thomas Trowbridge was appointed commissary for the New Haven Colony to fit out the troops. He was a confirmed lieutenant with the Conn. troops and probably saw active service in King Philip's War. He was treasurer of the town from. 1679­1680. In later years he was chosen Townsman and held office for 8 years. He acted as agent and purchased much of the land for the town, from the Indians, thus ending Indian ownership within the boundaries of the town of New Haven. Later, the Trowbridge name was considered to be the head of the West India Business in the United States. Thomas also purchased land in the newly acquired colony of New Jersey, mostly as an investment. George Trowbridge served on board the ship Constitution during the War of 1812 when the famous battle took place with the Guerrier. Elihu Trowbridge was chosen for the position of one of General George Washington's life­guards in 1776 during the revolution. He served for nine months. There were more than 100 Trowbridges who served during the Revolutionary War at both land and sea. During the Civil War a regiment could have been formed with those who had the Trowbridge name alone. All of these were from privates to high­ranking officers. Going back to Thomas Trowbridge, there were also direct descendents in the Trowbridge family that served with the Confederate armies. They fought in the Black Hawk wars, Seminole wars, and the Spanish American war. World War I, World War II and in Vietnam. Many were ranch owners and cowboys as well. They went west during the gold rush of 1849. There were authors, many books were published. There were famous Doctors, a music composer in New England, bridge builders, manufacturers, participants in the building of the Erie Canal, in the management capacity. There was also a Congressman {Ebenezer Rowland Trowbridge}, Many Trowbridge ministers of different faiths; there were sheriffs, a Texas Ranger, pioneers in covered wagons. Wilber E. Trowbridge was a Sgt. at Fort Yates D.T. in charge of guarding Chief Sitting Bull after his surrender in 1884. Capt. Roswell Trowbridge captured by British at sea. Trowbridge's, Early tavern owners. Benedict Arnold, when transferred in Colonial Army, a Trowbridge took his place. Thomas Trowbridge, challenged to a duel with pistols by Benedict Arnold. Stephen Trowbridge with the Green Mountain Boys under Ethan Alien during the Revolutionary War. Capt. John Trowbridge with troops in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, N.J. Huts in winter of 1779­80. John Townsend Trowbridge, famous 19th century American writer and poet. Trowbridges, some sea captains, and some seamen lost at sea and never heard of again. A Trowbridge who prospected in the West and all the Pacific State Territories. W. O. Trowbridge, Civil War Veteran, worked on Union Pacific R.R. until completed. Trowbridges, war with Mexico, 1847. Early Trowbridges in England ­ Back to approx. 1100 A.D. Peter De Trowbridge, listed as the Barton (Baron) of Trowbridge during the reign of King Edward I approx. 1300 A.D. Trowbridges in America, Early New England colonies and settlements. Professor John T. Trowbridge taught at M.I.T. William Petit Trowbridge, General with Army Corps of Engineers during the Civil War. Trowbridges, Ships and Shipping and Bombardier ­ peacetime and war time during early wars. Gilbert T. Trowbridge, 3 years on whaling vessel. George T. Trowbridge, Co A. 27th. Conn. Infantry in Battle of Gettysburg. Early shipping and adventures of the Trowbridges of the New Haven Colonies. Harold Rutherford Trowbridge ­ Mountain Climber. Miles M. Trowbridge ­ Color Bearer Co. "C", 1st. Wisconsin, during Civil War. Caleb Trowbridge at 14 joined Co. M. 1st. Conn. Vol. Rode with the cavalry and participated in most all of Sheridan's Campaigns during Civil War. Trowbridges extensive business and land holdings in the British West Indies. There were Trowbridges who were Townsmen and Leaders, schoolteachers, college professors, and inventors. Dr. Amasa Trowbridge was a professor of Surgery in 1834.purchases from the Indians Early Explorations and Expeditions in the Wisconsin and Michigan areas. Traveled in birch bark canoe. The true story relating to Charles C. Trowbridge is incredible. General Luther S. Trowbridge was associated with Gen. George Armstrong Custer on several occasions. A Lt. Col. during the Battle of Gettysburg, his horse was killed under him while leading the charge of the 5th Michigan Cavalry. Col. Charles Tyler Trowbridge led the first all black Union Army regiment during the Civil War (predating Col. Shaw's regiment.) There were Trowbridges at the 1st battle of Bull Run and there were Trowbridges present during the surrender at Appomattox. There were surveyors, even one with the Powell expedition. Railroad officials, a telegraph operator in the Yukon. Frederic O. Trowbridge in 1891 before he was 16 joined the cavalry and served three years with Custers old regiment­the 7th US Cav. Co H. Jonathon Trowbridge was a traveling companion of Daniel Boone. Judge Edmund Goff Trowbridge presided over the trial of the four British soldiers who participated in the Boston Massacre of 1770. Winston S. Trowbridge was appointed in 1852 to United States Consul for Barbados and adjacent Islands, by President Fillmore with credentials from Queen Victoria. In writing about sons of the Trowbridge family, many who were early settlers and pioneers in America mentioned above, were all our ancestors. There is substantial documentation and information to prove this is true." 1982, George S. Nas, whose mother was a Trowbridge from Randolph (Trowbridge Mountain), Morris County, New Jersey.

" THE TROWBRIDGE GENEALOGY" BY F.B. TROWBRIDGE IS NOW AVAILABLE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD IN PDF, TXT, AND OTHER FORMATS AT THE INTERNET ARCHIVE, THANKS TO THE ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AT FT. WAYNE, INDIANA. http://www.geocities.com/trowbridgemountain/ The Honorable Charles C. Trowbridge, Special Indian Agent. Personal involvement with land

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The ancestry of Thomas Trowbridge can be traced back to Hugh Capet, King of France, died 996 and his wife, Adelaide of Poitou, and to Charelagme, through Thomas's mother, Agnes Prowse.[7] Of their direct male descendants, 56 fought in American Revolution, 41 in 1812, 152 in Civil War. Thomas's own descendants include Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Ernest Hemingway, Cindy Crawford, and US President Rutherford B. Hayes. Thomas was one of the early settlers of Dorchester, MA, and of New Haven, CT, a merchant engaged in the Barbados trade from Jan. 1637 to 1639. He came from Taunton, Somerset, where his father had established a charity for poor widows which was still being administered in the mid-19th century. He was at Dorchester in 1636, where his wife became a member of the church in 1638. Their son James was baptized there in 1637 or 1638. They are referred to in Dorchester records as "Mr. & Mrs." a distinction confined at that time to persons of gentility. He was likely a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company there, the name 'Thomas Strawbridge, 1638' likely a misspelling of his name. Finding the political and religious climate intolerant, he moved his family to New Haven, Connecticut Colony, 1639-1641 and appears in the census of 1641. His estate is given at 500 pounds, a large sum for the time, and his household consisted of 5 persons (he, his wife and 3 surviving sons. Records seem to indicate that his wife had died by the end of 1643, possibly in 1641. He returned to England about 1641-1644 and left his 3 sons in charge of Sgt. Thomas Jeffries who came from the vicinity of Taunton, England and appears in probate records at New Haven, CT and was at Dorchester 1634 and New Haven 1637 or 1638. Thomas sailed for England leaving his houses, goods, lots and estates and chattel in trust with his steward, Henry Gibbons, who kept possession of Thomas's estates at New Haven for many years. It appears that Thomas never returned to New England. He was a Captain in Colonel Blake's Taunton Regiment, in the English Civil War, on the side of the Parliamentary forces known as the "Roundheads" against King Charles I of England. He was in the siege of Taunton, July 1644 to July 1645, one of the Parliamentary strongholds, before the royalist forces were forced to leave to battle Oliver Cromwell.[8] Some sources say that he married his first cousin, Frances Godsall, widow Shattuck, daughter of his aunt Dorothie Trowbridge Godsall in England in February, 1640. There was another Thomas Trowbridge mentioned in the 1620 will of Thomas Trowbridge, the Elder, as a nephew. It is logical to assume that this latter Thomas was probably the man who married Frances in 1640, he being possibly an elderly man and she a middle aged widow. Henry Gibbons appeared to be an unfaithful servant who seized Thomas' property and deserted the three boys. Town records show where the boys were declared wards of the Colony in November, 1641 and the court placed them under the care of a nearby neighbor, Sergeant Thomas Jeffreys and his wife, who took them into their home to rear and educate until "such time as their father shall come over or send to take order concerning them." Thomas regularly corresponded from England to the authorities in New Haven to bring Gibbons to an account for his breach of trust, but Gibbons kept the property for many years. In 1662, when his sons became of age, Thomas gave them power of attorney to regain his property from Gibbons, making his property over to them jointly and severally, and they sued Gibbons for possession. They were successful in reclaiming their father's estate in 1680. The suit was finally settled by Gibbons making a deed of property to Thomas, Jr. to take effect after the death of Gibbons. Gibbons died without any children in 1686.[2] "To all Christian people in whom this present writing shall come greeting: Know ye that I Thomas Trowbridge of Taunton in ye county of Somerset. Gent doe hereby make ordaine, constitute and depute and in my place and stead put my three sons Thomas Trowbridge and William Trowbridge of New Haven, and James Trowbridge of Dorchester in ye Bay in New England in ye ports of America beyond ye seas, to be my true and lawfull attornies, jointly, and severally for me and to my name to aske, sue for, and chattles whatsover, which I left in trust in New England aftersaid with Henry Gibbons, sometimes my servant, or doe otherwise belongs unto me and upon detaining thereof or of any particular parcell therof, to are or any particular parcell theroff, to arrest, attach, call to an account, sue implead and imprison ye said Henry Gibbons, and all and every other person and persons whatsover in whose lands, custody, or possession of my estate, houses, lotts, goods, eattel and chattels whatsoever are or have or hath beene in any way or course of law or equity. And ye same suit or suits to persecute and issue to judegement, sentence and final execution, until recovery shall be had off my said estate, houses, lotts, goods, cattle and chattels whatsoever with all costs and deamages to be had for detaining the same. And upon receipt htereof or of so much thereof as my said attourneys or any or eyther of them shall agree for and accept by way of composition, the said person of persons soe by my said atturnies or any or eyther of them said atturneyes or any or eyther of them sued or imprisoned, out of prison to release and discharge and also to make seale and deliver acquittances releases or other sufficient discharge to and for the same or any part therof, and I doe hereby given and grant unto my said attornies, jointly and severally, my full and whole power and authoirty in and around the premises and by the aforesaid or any other lawful waies and means whatever to get in and recover my said estate, houses, lotts, goods, cattle and chattles whatsover in as full and ample manner in every respect to all intents considerations and purposes as allowing and confirming whatsover my said atturnies or any or either of them sall lawfully doe or cause to be done in ye premises by virtue of these presents, and I do alsoe hereby order and appoint that all and whatsover of my said este, houses lott goods cattle or chattels whatsover shall be recovered and received by my said attornies or any or either of them shall be kept and enjoyed by my three sons Thomas William and James equally divided etween them to their own use and behoff without any account to be rendered unto me for ye same. In whitness thereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale, the nineteenth day of Jan. in ye fourteenth year of ye reign of King Charles the second et Anno gr. deus 1663." Thom. Trowbridge, [Seale] Sealed and delivered in ye presence of Henry Chase Notary Publick. Robert Chase, John Chambers The above written is a true record of the originel composed therewith and recorded ye 26th day of Feb., 1683.

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