Thomas Wetmore of Middletown

Deacon Thomas Wetmore

• aka Whitmore
• born about 1615 in Royden, Essex, England
• Died 11 Dec 1681 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut Colony
• Parents: John Whitmore and Unknown (Unknown) Whitmore.
• brother of Anne (Whitmore) Farrar, Francis Whitmore, Mary (Whitmore) Brewer and John Whitmore
• Husband of Sarah (Hall) Wetmore — married 11 Dec 1645 (to after 7 Dec 1664) in Hartford, Connecticut
• Husband of Mary (Platt) Wetmore — married 3 Feb 1666 (to 1 Jun 1669) in Middletown, Connecticut
• Husband of Catherine (Leete) Wetmore — married 8 Oct 1673 (to 11 Dec 1681) in Middletown, Connecticut
• Father of John Whitmore, Elizabeth (Wetmore) Adkins, Mary (Whitmore) Stow, Sarah Whitmore, Thomas Whitmore Jr., Hannah (Whitmore) Stow, Samuel Wetmore, Israhiah Wetmore, Beriah Whitmore, Nathanial Whitmore, Joseph Whitmore, Sarah (Whitmore) Bacon, Josiah Whitmore, Mehitable (Whitmore) Bacon, Benjamin Whitmore, Abigail (Whitmore) Bishop and Hannah Sharon (Whitmore) Bacon

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wetmore-5

Thomas Wetmore was born about 1615 in England. He emigrated from a port in Bristol, England to Roxbury in the Colony of Massachusetts. He first shows up in Connecticut records in Watertown in 1635. (Watertown CT was founded in 1684. Watertown, Massachusetts was found in 1630. 1640 Wethersfield, Connecticut records bear his name regarding land he was granted. Both towns have documents that list his name as Whitmore. Since the surname Wetmore does not exist in England, it has been assumed the surname of Thomas was actually Whitmore. Thomas was one of the early settlers granted land in Hartford, Connecticut. The Founders Monument honoring the original founders of Hartford does not bear Thomas Whitmore's name.

In March 1652 he arrived in Middletown, Connecticut where he was one of the original settlers and founders of that town. In Middletown, Thomas put down roots and remained there until his death.

Life In Middletown:

Thomas moved to the new settlement called Mattabeseck (now called Middletown) where he was one of the first 25 settlers. He was very active in Middletown and held several posts there. He was a freeman, In 1652 and 1653 Thomas was sworn in as a Constable for the town and again in 1662. He represented the town in the general court in 1654 and 1655. He held the posts of townsman, pounder, rate maker and grand levy man.

The Three Wives of Thomas Wetmore:

Sarah Hall; The First Wife of Thomas Wetmore:

Sarah Hall was born on 9 August 1622 in Kent, England to John Hall and his wife. The father of Sarah was a ship builder. Her family lived on 5 acres of land that was adjacent to the property of Thomas Wetmore. She would bear Thomas 13 children until her death shortly after the birth of their last child on December 7, 1665. Thomas would have 2 more wives and 4 more children after the death of Sarah.

Mary Platt Atkinson; The second wife of Thomas Whitmore;

Mary was born in 1629, in Royden, Essex, England to Richard Platt and Mary (Wood) Platt. The marriage was short lived. Mary died after giving birth to their first child, a daughter Mahitable, on 1 June 1669.

Catherine Leete Robards was the third wife of Thomas. Catherine was born about 1642. She was a widow with 3 children named William, Samuel and John Robards. After their marriage in 1683, they had 3 children together and named them Benjamin, Abigail and Hannah. Catherine died in Middletown on October 13, 1693.

The 3 Wives and 17 Children of Thomas Wetmore

Thomas Wetmore married Sarah Hall on December 11, 1645. They had the following children:

1. John, b. 6 Sept. 1646 at Hartford, d. 31 Aug. 1696 at Middletown, m. Abigail Warner and Mary Savage
2. Elizabeth, b. 1648 at Hartford, d. Abt 1700 at Middletown, m. William Adkins
3. Mary, b. 1649 at Hartford, d. aft 1728, m. John Stow in Middletown, Connecticut on 13 Nov 1668 [1]
4. Sarah, b. Apr 1650, d. 14 July 1655 at Middletown
5. Thomas, b. 19 Oct 1652 at Middletown, d. 11 Feb 1689 at Middletown, m. Elizabeth Hubbard
6. Hannah, b. 13 Feb 1653 at Middletown, d. Oct 1704, m. Nathaniel Stow 4 Apr 1677 in Middletown. [1]
7. Samuel, b. 10 Sept 1655 at Middletown, d. 12 Apr 1746 at Middlefield, CT, m. Mary Bacon 13 Dec 1687 at Middletown [1] Samuel's sister Sarah married John Bacon, brother of Samuel's wife Mary Bacon.
8. Izrahiah, b. 8 Mar 1656/7 at Middletown, d. abt 1742 at Middletown, m. Rachel Stow, dau. of Samuel Stowe, at Middletown, 13 May 1692 [2] 7th child was Rachel Stowe, b. 13 Mar 1667 [Izrahiah's brother Beriah married Margaret Stowe, his wife Rachel's sister.]
9. Beriah, b. 2 Nov 1658 at Middletown, d. 11 Apr 1756, m. Margaret Stow, dau. of Samuel Stow, at Middletown, 1 Sept. 1691 [2] 8th child was Margaret Stowe, b. abt. 1668 at Middletown. [Beriah's brother Izrahiah married Rachel Stowe, sister of Margaret, in 1692.]
10. Nathaniel, b. 21 Apr 1661 at Middletown, d. 7 Nov 1708/9, m. Dorcas (Wright) Allen
11. Joseph Born 5 Mar 1662/3 Died 25 Mar 1717, m. Lydia Bacon
12. Sarah b. 27 Nov 1664 at Middletown, d. 14 Feb 1698 at Middletown, m. John Bacon 27 Nov 1689 at Middletown [1] [John Bacon's sister Mary married Samuel Wetmore, brother of John's wife Sarah Wetmore.]
13. Josiah b. 29 May 1667/8 at Middletown, d. aft 1681, m. (unknown)

Thomas and Mary Platt Atkinson married in Middletown on February 3, 1666.

The Children of Thomas Wetmore and Mary (Platt) Atkinson:

1. Mehitable Born 17 June. 1669 Died 19 Jan 1732, m. Andrew Bacon
2. Thomas married Catherine on October 8, 1673.
3. The Children of Thomas Wetmore and Catherine (Leete) Wetmore
4. Benjamin Born 6 Nov 1674 Died 1699
5. Abigail Born 6 Nov 1678 Died 30 Mar 1762, m. Samuel Bishop
6. Hannah Born 4 Jan 1680 Died 7 Sep 1722, m. Nathaniel Bacon II, son of Nathaniel Bacon on 5 Feb 1701/2 in Middletown. [3] [Hannah's older half-sister also named Hannah m. Nathaniel Stowe, son of Thomas Stowe.]

Research Notes

Close Family Ties to the Bacon Family

The family of Thomas Wetmore had an unusually close relationship to the family of Nathaniel Bacon, who was another First Settler of Middletown. Five of Thomas Wetmore's seventeen children married five of Nathaniel Bacon's eleven children. The marriages, all in Middletown, went as follows, in order by eldest Wetmore first:

• Samuel Wetmore married Mary Bacon 13 Dec 1687
• Joseph Wetmore married Lydia Bacon 18 Feb 1672
• Sarah Wetmore married John Bacon 26 Nov 1689
• Mehitable Wetmore married Andrew bacon 12 Feb 1691

Close Family Ties to the Stowe Family

• Samuel Stowe, another First Settler of Middletown by 1652, had two daughters who married into the family of Thomas Wetmore. Samuel's youngest daughter, Margaret, married Beriah Wetmore, and her next-eldest sister Rachel, married Izrahiah Wetmore.
• Thomas Stowe, Samuel's elder brother, also came to live in Middletown, in 1669. Two of Thomas Stowe's sons married into Thomas Wetmore's family. his eldest son John Stowe married Mary Wetmore, and his youngest son married Hannah Wetmore, daughter of Thomas Wetmore's first wife, Sarah Hall .

Same Name Confusion to Avoid in the Wetmore Family

• Thomas Wetmore had two daughters named Hannah. The eldest, daughter of his first wife Sarah (Hall) Wetmore, is the Hannah Wetmore who married John Stowe. Hannah Wetmore the younger, daughter of Catherine (Leete) Wetmore, is the Hannah Wetmore who married Nathaniel Bacon II, the son of Nathaniel Bacon the First Settler of Middletown.

Thomas was born in 1626. He passed away in 1681.

Thomas Whitmore was born 1615 in England,the 13th year of the reign of James1,came to America in 1635, and died December 11, 1681. He married (1) SARAH HALL December 11, 1645 in Hartford, daughter of JOHN HALL and ANN WILLOCKE. She died December 07, 1665 in December 07, 1664/65. He married (2) MARY PLATT ATCONSON January 03, 1666/67. She died June 10, 1669 in after giving birth to Mahitable. He married (3) KATHARINE LEET ROBARDS October 08, 1673 in widow of Mr Robards. She died October 13, 1693.

http://genforum.genealogy.com/wetmore/messages/711.html

Thomas Whitmore was a founder of Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut Colony. In 1650, he, John Hall, and several others settled the plantation of Massabeseck, the original Indian name. The next year, the name was changed to Middletown, confirmed by the Connecticut General Court in 1653. Thomas represented Middletown in the General Assembly in 1654 and 1655.

Thomas, Middletown who spelled his name WETMORE as have all the descendants, son of 1st John, md. 16 December 1645 Sarah, daughter of John Hall and had Mary 1649 (Savage)

Thomas came to American in 1635 when he was 20 years old; came to Hartford from the west of England (The Wetmore Family of America:11) He supposedly sailed from Bristol, England (Wetmore History)

Stadel: Whitmore Manor Hall: "ancient ancestral home of the family in Staffordshire, England. It was built between the years 800 - 900 A.D., Domesday survey lists Whitmore Hall, its Saxon proprietor, acreage and villeins. (p. 3)

7th great-grandfather of Winston Churchill

From the WorldConnect Database: "Sanford-Shulsen Family", by Evelyn Beran:

"Savage says Thomas was born in England; NYGBR says he was born in Wales. Thomas owned land at Wethersfield in 1639-1640. He removed to Hartford, and then removed from Hartford to Middletown Connecticut as one of the first settlers, about 1650. On 20 May 1652 he was made freeman. Thomas Wetmore and Robert Webster represented Middletown in the General Court in 1654 and 1655. Thomas served in the Pequot War. He was a deacon. He died 11 December, 1681, aged 1681.

The name is also spelled Whitmore, although this family seems to have been consistent in spelling it Wetmore.

Albert Savage believed him to be the son of John.

Thomas and Sarah (Hall) Wetmore were ancestors of Winston Churchill through their daughter Mary who married John Stow.

Will

His will was recorded at Hartford.

"The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Whitmore Senior, aged about sixty and six years, being at present under some considerable weakness of body, yet having through ye mercy of God, ye comfortable use of my understanding as formerly, is as followeth:

After committing my soul to God as to a faithful creator, and my body to a decent burial, I doe here leave this as my last Will and testament for the disposal of that portion of worldly estate Which God hath given me, amongst these my children and relations which I shall leave behind me, as followeth:

Imprimis. I give to my son John Whitmore a part of my lot in ye boggy meadow quarter. That is twenty rods wide of yt part of ye land Within the fence that now is to lie on ye south west side that lot, and to go from yt fence as far east as my land goeth, Moreover I give to my said son three quarters of my great lott that lyeth westward from the town, to take the whole breadth, half ye length, beginning at ye farther end and likewise the half ye breadth of ye other half next ye town and to take it on ye North Side. And my Will is yt my son Berriah shall have the other half of that part next the town. Moreover it is my will yt my said son John shall have all my proportion and interest in the three mile lott on the east side of ye great river, that is the father three miles on yt side eastward, Moreover I give to my said son a part of my meadow at Wauggunk being that piece which lying athward east and west and from the north side of yt on the east of my meadow to Deacon Allyns meadow.

It. I give to my son Thos. Whitmore my long meadow lott lying on the north side, Moreover I give to my said son Thomas half my lott at Longer chunk and the other half to my daughter Hanna Stow to be equally divided between them as they shall agree or if they agree not, as indeifferent men which they shall choose shall judge equal.

It. I give my son Samuel Whitmore a parcell of land on ye North Side of ye three Mile River which I bought from Goodman Savage by exchange of land being about ten acres lying at ye west End Goodman Savage's lott, only Reservding fourteen acres of yt land for my Daughter _____ if she survive me, Moreover I give my said Son two acres of meadow lying in ye farther neck; and a piece of swamp in the Round meadow swamp being one acre and sixteen rods lying between Capt. Harris's swamp and swamp which was Thos. Hubbards. Moreover I give my said son Round Meadow lott being near six acres only Reserving and Willing a third part of it for my daughter Abigaill if she survive me or lese to Remain to Samuel.

It. I give to my son Jzrahiah Whitmore my upland lott, on the east side of the Great River being about twenty and two acres lying in ye half mile lott, as also a piece of meadow at Wauggunk adjoining to his Brother John's line from John's North to a piece of meadow we call Flee Meadow, as also four acres in ye pond on the east side ye great River between Ensign Cheeny and Mr. Nathaniel Collins's meadow. I give my said son one parcell of land in ye last half mile division on ye east side the Great River, that is all I have in yt division on yt side.

It. I give my son Berriah Whitmore that piece of meadow at Waugunk called ye Flee Meadow, and it is my will herein that my sons yt have meadows there, shall all of them allow each other a lane highway, as shall be needful to come to their land there. Moreover I give to my said son yt parcell of upland in my westermost lott by his brother John's as above specified. Moreover I give to my said son one acre of my home lott next the Great River, on this condition that he come settle upon it, but if not he shall not have it, but it shall remain to the lott for them I shall appoint that lott to, On further consideration, I see not cause to give my said son that acre of my house lott.

It. I give to my son Nathaniel Whitmore half my land in the boggy meadow quarter of that which ly7eth without the fence as it now standeth, and the other half to my son Joseph Whitmore Northward to be on the north Side that land and Joseph on the south side, and the other part within ye fence which is not disposed of to John Whitmore, I give to Nathaniel and Joseph to be delivered equally between them. Nathaniel on the north side, and Joseph next John, and it is my will herein to reserve a piece of land in Nathaniels part of the two acres which lieth within the compass of ye swamp, to be for my wife, as long as she liveth, and in order hereunto I do appoint & it is my will herein, that John and Nathaniel and Joseph, shall clear and break up that to fit it for improvement, Moreover I give to my said Sons Nathaniel and Joseph part of my boggy meadows, That is all the Westermost end coming down to the head of John Stow's answering the Crook of the River, and I do herein engage on yt I doe interest in yt meadow not to hinder each other for water courses through ye land, where shall be for ye good of ye whole.

It. I give to my Daughter Sarah Whitmore & my son Josia Whitmore & my Daughter Mehetable, my great lott at the Straits Hills to be equally divided among them three, Sarah first, and Josia next, and Mehetable last from ye homeward side.

It. I give Katheren my loving wife the rest of my home lott, with all the housing thereon, during her natural life as also, the one half of my long meadow on the south side of yt lott, and a parcell of land which I have at Pasehoug on the east side the Great River, and the remainder of my boggy meadow to be devided between my wife and my son Thomas, and after my wife's decease, my will is that my son Thomas shall possess as his own. My home lott, that is all but that disposed of and the other half of my long meadow & also my land at Pascouchoug. Moreover I give to my loving wife my field lott during her natural life or until Benjamin fulfill the age of twenty-one years and then it shall be settled on him as his, Moreover as I received of my wife Katheren twenty pounds of her estate, six pounds whereof I have already paid her, yet I appoint and my will is that twenty be paid her out of my estate in household stuff and stock, so as may be most convenient to her and not hurtful to ye estate. Moreover I give to my loving wife two Cows, the two Cows to be a part of the twenty pounds above specified.

It. I give to my Daughters Sarah, Mehetable, Abigaill and Hanna junior, six pounds apiece out of my estate & to this my youngest daughter Hanna one piece of land of twenty acres lying near the straits on the west side of the Great River. To my other three daughters I give ten shilings a piece as a Remembrance of me, they being already disposed of and provided for.

Futher I give Thomas and Joseph my Carpentering tools between them. Moreover it is my will to leave my loving wife and my son John my sole Executors of this my last will and testament, appointing yt when my just debts are paid out ye estate and ye legacies likewise paid also, if then, the Estate arise to leave anything more my will is that my Executors shall have the one half of that as theirs, and the other half to be devided eq2ually, to my children which are yet unmarried to be paid to them at their mothers death, or at her marriage if she marry again.

Further it is my will that my son Thomas at my decease shall enjoy one acre of my home lott next the great river for his present use with the housings that are there upon it, and I intent herein and it is my will that my son Thomas, shall take care of the orchard to look after it, and that his mother and he shall part the fruit as they shall agree, as also Thomas shall have the liberty to make use of a part of the barne for his own use and this is my full intent in this My last Will and Testament, I testify by setting to my hand and fixing my seal July 20th 1681.

Thomas Whitmore Senior. Seald.

Signed sealed and delivered

in presence of us

Deacon Samuel Stocking

John Hall, Senior.

I also request my loving and trusty Friends, Deacon Samuel Stocking and my brother John Hall to answer to this my last will, to lend their help and advise to the performance thereof as need shall be.

The names of the children are recorded in the Probate office at Hartford, immediately after the will, and their ages annexed.

Sons: John 36 years old, Thomas 29, Samuel 26, Izrahiah 25, Beriah 23, Nathaniel 20, Joseph 18, Josiah 13, Benjamin 7.

Daughters: Elizabeth 32 years old, Mary 31, Hannah 28, Sarah 17, Mahitable 13, Abigail 3, Hannah 1. "

Thomas is the ancestor of the "Wetmore" line whereas his brothers used the name "Whitmore".

He was one of the first settlers of Middletown. He was constable. 1652-1653, and 1662-1663 townsman; grand levy man; rate maker; and pound keeper; deputy 1654-1655, he with ten others were appointed by the General Court a committee "to press men and necesaries", for the expedition against the Narragansett Indians. In 1668 the General Court "Abated Thomas Whitmore his rate that was payable this year to the country for his services in ferrying Assistants and Deputies over the river". His five acre home lot was on the east side of Main Street, between Green and Ferry Streets. Some of the descendants of his family moved to Ohio soon after the Revolution.

He was a deacon in the church of Middletown. He was the richest man in Middletown. His nine boys and seven girls are listed as legatees, inlcuding their ages, in the inventory of his estate.The following was found on the internet on ancestry.com web page.

A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS 1677 TO 1687

Page 89-90 Name: Thomas Whitemore Senior Location: Middletown Invt. oe468-02-03 Taken 7 January, 1681-2, by Nathaniel White, Robert Warner, John Savage. Legatees: John 36 years of age, Thomas 29, Samuel 26, Israhiah 25, Beriah 23, Nathaniel 20, Joseph 18, Josiah 13, Benjamin 7, Elizabeth 32, Mary 31, Hannah 28, Sarah 17, Mehetabell 13, Abigail 3, Hannah 1 year old. Will dated 20 July, 1681.

The last Will of Thomas Wetmore senr., aged 66 years, is a followeth: I give to my son John Wetmore part of my Lott in the Boggy Meadow Quarter, that is, 20 Rods wide lying on the south side of that lott, going as far East as my Land goeth; moreover I give to my son John 3/4 of my Great Lott that lyeth West from the Town, to take the whole Bredth half the length, beginning at the farther end, and likewise half the Bredth of the other half next to the Town, and to take it on the North side. And my Will is that my son Beriah shall have the other of that half next to the Town. Moreover it is my Will that my sd. son John shall have all my proportions or Interest in the Three Mile Lott on the East side of the Great River, that is, the Meadow Lott, lying on the North side; morreover I give to my sd. son Thomas half my Lott at Caugenchawke, and the other half I give to my daughter Hannah Stow. I give to my son Samuel Whetmore a parcell of Land on the NOrth side of the Small River which I bought of Goodman Savage, being about 10 acres lying on the West End of Goodman Savage's Lott, only reserving 4 acres of that Land for my daughter if she survive. I give my sd. son my Round Meadow Lott, being near 6 acres, only reserving and willing 1-3 part of it for my daughter Abigail if she survive, or else to remain to Samuel. I give to my son Israhiah Whetmore my Upland Lott on the East side of the great River, being about 22 acres lying in the Half Mile Lotts against the town, as also a piece of Meadow at Wongunk joining to his brother John; also 4 acres in the Pond on the East side of the Great River between Ensign Cheeny & Mr. Nathaniel Collins; moreover I give my sd. son one parcell of land in the last Half Mile Division on the East side of the Great River. I give to my son Beriah Whetmore that piece of Meadow at Wongunk called the Platt Meadow; I give to my sd. son one acre of my Homelott next to the Great River, on the Condition that he come to settle upon it; if not, he shall not have it. I give to my son Nathaniel Whetmore half my Land in the boggy Meadow Quarter and that which lyeth without the Fence as it now standeth, and the other half to my son Joseph Whetmorew. I give to my daughter Sarah Whetmore and my son Josiah Whetmore & my daughter Mehetabel my Great Lott at Streights Hill, to be divided equally among them. I give to Katharine, my lovig wife, the rest of my Homelott, with all the Houseing thereon, during her natural life; also 1/2 of my Long Meadow on the South side & a parcel of Land which I have at Passenchauge on the East side of the Great River. I give to my wife my Fields Lott during her natural life or until Benjamin fulfills the age of 21 years, then it shall be settled on him as his. Moreover, as I have received of my wife Katharine oe20 of her Estate be paid oe6 whereof I have already paid her, yet notwithstanding I appoint and my Will is that oe20 be paid to her out of my Estate in Household Stuffe & Stock. I give to my daughters Sarah & Mehetable & Abigial & Hannah Jr. oe 6 apiece, and to this my youngest daughter Hannah one piece of land of 20 acres lying near the Streights on the West side of the Great River. I give to Thomas & Joseph all my Carpenter Tools. I appoint my wife and son John sole Executors.

Witness: Deacon Samuel Stocking, John Hall Senior.

Thomas Whetmore Senior ls. Court Record, Page 50--2 March, 1681-2: Will proven. Dist. File: We whose name are here under written, the proper Children now living and representatives of such as are deceased, of Thomas Whetmore senior of MIddletown, decd, have unanimously Consented and agreed that the Estate of Benjamin Whetmore, decd, our Brother, both Personal and Real, shall be divided and distributed in manner following, that is to say: That Abigail Whetmore, now wife of Samuel Bishop, and Hannah Whetmore, shall each of them have a double portion of the sd. Estate, and the remainder shall be equally divided amongst the (proper) Children of sd. Thomas Whetmore and their Representatives. As Witness our Hands and Seals, 6 March, 1699-1700. Samuel Bishop, Samuel Wetmore, LS. Hannah Whetmore, Israhiah Wettmore, Ls. Elizabeth Whetmore, Beriah Wettmore, Ls. Elizabeth Adkins, Nathaniel Wettmore, Ls. Mary Stow, Joseph Wettmore, Ls. Nathaniel Stow, Josiah Wettmore, LS. Mary, Widow of John Wetmore & Elizabeth Wetmore, humbly request the honoured Court to appoint Israhiah Wettmore, Beriah Wettmore, and John Bacon, Andrew Bacon & Alexander Rollo, Distributors.

Court Record, Page 10--(Vol. VII) 8 April, 1701: Israhiah Wetmore of Middletown presented to this Court an Account of his Adms. & Dist. of the Estate of Benjamin Whitmore, late of Middletown, Decd, as also an Agreement under the Hands of the Brethren & Sisters of the sd. Benjamin manifesting their Satisfaction respecting the Disposal of the sd Estate, which the Court accepts. Ordered recorded and kept on File. Also this Court grant him a Quietus Est.

Thomas is the ancestor of the "Wetmore" line whereas his brothers used the name "Whitmore".

He was one of the first settlers of Middletown. He was constable 1652-1653, and 1662-1663 townsman; grand levy man; rate maker; and pound keeper; deputy 1654-1655, he with ten others were appointed by the General Court a committee "to press men and necessaries" for the exepedition against the Narragansett Indians. In 1668 the General Court "Abated Thomas Whitmore his rate that was payable this year to the country for his services in ferrying Assistants and Deputies over the river". His five acre home lot was on the east side of Main Street, between Green and Ferry Streets. Some of the descendants of his family moved to Ohio soon after the Revolution. Made Freemen 1652. Only 10 of 35 propietors showed higher assessment in 1670.

He was deacon in the church of Middletown. He was the richest man in Middletown. His nine boys and seven girls are listed as legatees, including their ages, in the inventory of his estate.

Son of John Whitmore, probably from the village of Whitmore in Staffordshire. His father, having buried Thomas's mother in England, immigrated with four of his five children to the Massachuchetts Bay region about 1630.

His father later married the widow of John Jessup of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Her name was Hannah [Johanna]; however, they had no children together.

The children of John and his first wife were [some dates are approx.]: Thomas 1615-1681, Anne 1621-1660, Mary 1623-1684 and Francis 1625-1685.

Thomas married (1) Sarah Hall, 11 December 1645 at Hartford, Hartford, Conn. (2) Mary Platt, [widow of Luke Atkinson] 3 January 1666 at Middletown, Middlesex, Conn. (3) Katherine Leete, [widow of Samuel Roberts] 8 October 1673 at Middletown, Middlesex, Conn.

Thomas and his 2nd wife, Mary Platt, had one son - Josiah, born 29 March 1668; and this is their only daughter:

MEHITABLE ; she married Andrew Bacon.

This is concluded because MOST records list Mehitable Whitmore (Wetmore) as a daughter of Thomas Whitmore and Mary Platt; plus, the Mehitable linked ABOVE was born on the day Mary Platt died, both at Middletown, and both buried at this cemetery.

Sources

• https://middletown1650.org/HallJohnSrInDepth.pdf
• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 In-Depth First Settler Profile: Thomas Wetmore (1650)/Sarah (Hall) Wetmore, A Compilation by The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, compiled by R.W. Bacon Link
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 In Depth First Settler Profile: Samuel Stowe (1651)/Hope (Fletcher) Stowe, compiler R.S. Bacon
• ↑ In-Depth First Settler Profile: Nathaniel Bacon (1650) / Ann (Miller) Bacon, A Compilation by The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, compiled by R.W. Bacon
• The Wetmore Family of America, at Archive.org, by James Carnahan Wetmore, published Albany, 1861
• Records of Hartford and Middletown
• Genealogy of the Hall family compiled by Omar O. Hall
• Various documents and newspaper articles found in the State of Connecticut Library
• New England Marriages Prior To 1700 by Clarence Torrey
• Middletown, Connecticut Vital Records
• Barbour Collection of Vital Records
• Early American Ancestors, profile for Thomas Whitmore/Wetmore
• Fairfield, CT: Families of Old Fairfield. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. Compiled and edited by Donald Lines Jacobus. 2 vols. New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1930-1932. Families of Old Fairfield, Vol 1, page 336, bio for John Jessup, Note: his widow Joanna m. John Whitmore 1639
• ANCESTRY.COM
• GEDCOM Note per David Wetmore tree on ancestry 11/2010
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 17 2021, 20:48:04 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

The last will & testament of Thomas Whetmore Senior aged about sixty & six years being at present under some considerable weakness of body yet having through the mercy of God the comfortable use of my understanding as formerly in as followeth after the committing of my soule to God as to a faythfull creator. & my body to a decent buriall, I doe here leave this as my last will & testament for the dissposale of that portion of worldly estate which God hath given me amongst these my children & relations which I shall leave behind me as followeth Inpr mis I give to my son John Whitmore [sic] a part of my lott in the boggy meadowe quarter that is twenty rods wide of that part of the land with in the fence that now is to lye on the south side that lott & to goe from that fence as fare east as my land goeth, more over I give to my sayd son three quarter of my great lott that lyeth westward from the towne to take the whole bredth halfe the length begining at the farther end, & likewise halfe the bredth of the other halfe next the town & to take it on the North Side & my will is that my son Berriah [sic] shall have the other halfe of that part next the Towne, Moreover it is my will that my sayd son John shall have all my proportions or interest in the Three mile lotts on the east side the great river that is the farther three miles on that side east ward, more over I give unto my sayd son a part of my Meadow at Wonggunck being the piece which runns a thwart east & west & from the North side of that all the rest of my meadow to Deacon Allyns Meadow. It: I give to my son Thomas Whetmore halfe my long meadow lott lyeing on the North side more over I give to my sayd sonn Thomas half my lott at caugen chatuke, & the other halfe I give to my daughtere Hannah Stow to be equally divided between them as they shall agree or if they agree not as ___ ___ men which they shall chuse shall judg equale. It. I give to my son Samuel Whatmore [sic] a parcell of land on the north side the smale River which I bought of Goodman Savage by exchang of land being about ten acres lyeing at the west end of Goodman Savedges lott onely reserving foure acres of that land for my daughter If she survives moreover I give my sayd sonn Two acres of meadow lying in the far Neck, & a peice of swamp in the round meadow swampe, being one acre & sixteen rods Lyeing between Capt n Harris swamp & swamp which was Thomas Hubbards more over I give my sayd sonn my round meadow lott being neer six acres onely reserving & willing a third part of it for my daughter abigail If she survive or else to remain to Samuel. It. I give to my son Israhiah Whetmore my upland Lott on the east side of the great River being about twenty & two acres lyeing in the halfe mile Lotts against the Towne as also a peice of meadow At wongunek joyneing to his brother Johns from Johns North line to a peice of meadow we call flea Meadow as also 4 acres in the pond on the east side the great River between Eng: Cheeny & Mr Nath Collinses more over I give my sayd son one parcel of Land in the east halfe Mile difision, on the east side the great river that is all that I have in that division on that side. It I give to my son Beriah Whetmore that peice of meadow at wongunck called the Flea meadow it is my will herein that my sonns that have meadow there shall all of them alow each other a lane(?) Highway as shall be needfull to com to there land there more over I give my sayd sonn that percell of upland in my westermost lott by his brother Johns above specified, more over I give to my sayd sonn one acre of my Home lott next the great River on this condition that he come setle upon it, but if not he shall not have it but it shall remayn to the lot for them I shall appoynt that lott to on farether consideration I see not cause to give my sayd sonn that acre of my Home lott. It I give to my son Nathaniel Whetmore halfe my land in the bobby meadow quarter of that which lyeth without the fence as it now standeth & the other halfe to my son Joseph Wetmore [sic] Nathaniels to ly on the North side that land & Josephs on the South side & the other part within the fence which is not disposed of to John Whetmore I give to Nathaniell & Joseph to be divided equally between them Nathaniel on the North side & Joseph next John, & it is my will herein to reserve a peice of that land in Nath. parte of Two acres which lyeth within the compass of the swamp to be for my wives use as long as she liveth, & in order here unto I doe appoynt & it is my will herein that John & Nathaniel & Joseph shall cleare & break up that two acres fitt for Improvement, more over I give to my sayd sonns Nathaniel & Joseph part of my boggy meadow that is all the westermost end, coming down to the head of John Stows Answi??? the crook of the River & I doe herein engage all that I doe Interest in that meadow not to hinder each other for water courses through the land where shall be for the good of the whole It I give to my daughter Sarah Whetmore & my son Josia Whetmore & my Daughter Mehetebell my Great Lott at the Streits Hill to be divided equally among Them three Sarah first & Josia next & Mehetabele last from the Homeward side. It. I give to Katheren my loving wife the rest of my Homelott with all the houseing thereon during Her natureall life as also the one halfe of my long meadow one the south side of that lott & a parcel of land which I have at passeachauge on the east side of the great river & the remainder of my boggy meadow, that Boggy meadow to be divided between my wife & my son Thomas & after my wives deceasse my will is that my son Thomas shall possess on his own my Home lott that is all but that disposed of. And the other halfe of my long meadow & also my land at passenchaug more over I give To my loveing wife my field lot during her naturall live or until Benjamin fullfiling The age of twenty and one years. & then that it shall be settled on him as his. More over As I received of my wife Katherin twenty pounds of her estate six pound whereof I have already payd her, yet noth withstanding I appoint & my will is that twenty Pounds be payd to her out of my estate in houshold stuff & stock so as may Be most convenient to her & not hurtfull to the estate moreover I give to my Loving wife two cowes the two cowes to be part of the twenty pounds above Specified. It. I give to my daughters Sarah & Mehetabele & Abigaile & Hanna Junior six pound Apiece out of my estate & to this my youngest daughter Hanna one piece of Land of twenty acres lyeing neere the Streights on the west side the great river To my other three daughters I give ten shillings apiece as a remembrance of me They bein already dispose of & provided for Farther I give Thomas & Joseph all my carpentery tooles between them. More over it is my will to leave my loving wife & my Sonn John my sole executors Of this my last will & Testament apoynting that when my Just debts are payd out of the estate, & the legacies likewise payd also if then the estate arise to leave any thing more my will is that my executors shall have the one halfe of that as theirs & the other halfe to be divided equally to my children which are yet unmarryed to be payd to them at their mothers death or at her marriage if she marry againe. Farther it is my will that my son Thomas at my decease shall enjoy one acre of my home lott next the great river for his present use with the houseing that are then upon it & I intend herein & is my will that my son Thomas shall take care of the orchard to looke after it, & that his mother & he shall part the fruit as they shall agree as also that Thomas shll have the liberty to make use of part of the barn for his owne use. & that this is my full intent in this my last will & testament I testify by setting to my hand and fixing my seale July 20, 1681. Thomas Whetmore Senr & a seale Signed Sealed & delivered I doe request my loveing and Trusty friends Deacon Samuel In the presence of us Stocking & my Brother John Hall as over seers to Deacon Samuel Stocking this my last will to lend their help & advise to John All Senior the performance thereof as need shall bee January the 7 1681.