Rev. Thomas Weld

Thomas Weld (minister)

Thomas Weld (bap. 1595, d. 1661[1]), who came to Boston on 5 June 1632 on the "William and Francis", was a Puritan emigrant from England and the first minister of the First Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts from 1632 to 1641.

Thomas Weld was baptised in 1595 in Terling, Essex.[2] He received degrees from Trinity College at Cambridge University in England in 1613 and 1618. In 1624 he served as a minister at Terling. After moving to New England in 1632 he became a strong opponent of John Wheelwright in the Antinomian debate and authored a book on the topic.[3] Weld also assisted in the composition of the Bay Psalm Book and became an overseer of the newly founded Harvard College. He was also an inquisitor at the trials of Anne Hutchinson during the Antinomian Controversy, and was one of her most vocal opponents.[4]

In 1641, he left most of his family in Massachusetts Bay Colony and returned to England on business for the General Court of Massachusetts. Among his instructions were the acquisition of an extension to the colonial charter to include the territory of present-day Rhode Island. This territory had been settled by Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, to the dismay of the Puritan leaders of Massachusetts. Weld created a fraudulent document (known as the "Narragansett Patent") to bolster the Massachusetts claim to the territory.[5] His failure in this effort contributed to his dismissal as a colonial agent. Weld later became a minister to Oliver Cromwell, serving until the latter's death.

Weld's son remained in Massachusetts, and was the ancestor of Theodore Dwight Weld and Ezra Greenleaf Weld, two important figures of the 19th century abolitionist movement.

Thomas Weld's younger brother, who also remained in the New World, was the ancestor of the richest and most famous branch of the Weld Family in America, including former Governor of Massachusetts William Weld and actress Tuesday Weld. Two buildings at Harvard (Weld Hall and Weld Boathouse) are named for his descendants.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Weld_%28minister%29

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• Dictionary of national biography (1885) Vol. LX. Watson - Whewell
• https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati60stepuoft
• https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofnati60stepuoft#page/160/mode...
• Pg.160
• WELD, WELDE, or WELLS, THOMAS (1590?-1662), puritan divine, was born in the south of England about 1590, and educated at Cambridge, where he graduated in 1613. He was instituted vicar of Terling, Essex, in 1624. On 10 Nov. 1629 he joined in the puritan petition to William Laud [q. v.], then bishop of London, in favour of Thomas Hooker [q. v.] On 3 Sept. 1631 he was deprived by Laud for nonconformity, and succeeded by John Stalham [q. v.] He emigrated to New England, arriving at Boston on 5 June 1632. In July he was appointed 'pastor' of First Roxbury, Massachusetts. On 5 Nov. John Eliot [q. v.], 'the Indian apostle,' was associated with him as 'teacher.' He was a member of the 'assembly of the churches' (the first of the puritan synods of New England) which met for three weeks at Newtown (renamed Cambridge in 1638), and condemned on 30 Aug. 1637 the antinomian views of John Wheelwright (1592?-1679) of Braintree, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Anne Hutchinson [q. v.] In the interval between the two trials of Mrs. Hutchinson before the civil court at Newtown (October 1637) and the ecclesiastical court at Boston (15 March 1638), she was detained in Weld's charge at Roxbury under sentence of banishment.
• In July 1638 John Josselyn [q.v.] brought to Boston from Francis Quarles [q. v.] a new metrical version of six psalms. This suggested the preparation of a psalter to supersede Sternhold and Hopkins. Weld took part in the work (which Neal calls 'a mean performance') with Eliot and Richard Mather [q. v.] It was published as 'The Whole Booke of Psalmes, faithfully translated into English Metre,' 1640, 8vo ; no place or printer is given, but it was printed at Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Stephen Daye [q. v.] Known as the 'Bay Psalm Book,' it is memorable as the first volume printed in the American colonies. In August 1641 Weld was sent to England with Hugh Peters [q. v.] as one of the agents of the colony. He visited Laud in the Tower, claiming redress for former grievances. Laud 'remembered no such thing' (BURTON, Grand Impostor Unmasked, [1645]). In 1642 he accompanied Peters in the Irish expedition under Alexander, lord Forbes.
• Being in London in 1644 he met with an account of the Wheelwright and Hutchinson case, 'newly come forth of the presse,' with title 'A Catalogue of Erroneous Opinions condemned in New England,' 1644, 4to (re-printed 1692), 'and, being earnestly pressed by diverse to perfect it,' he added a preface and a conclusion. It was issued as 'A Short Story of the Rise, Reign, and Ruin of the Antinomians, Familists, & Libertines, that infected the Churches of New-England,' 1644, 4to. It has been conjectured that the main account was drawn up by John Winthrop [q. v.] Wheelwright replied in 'Mercurius Americanus,' 1645, 4to. In 1646 Weld was relieved of his agency and recalled to New England. He did not return, and appears to have remained in London.
• In 1649 he was put into the rectory of St. Mary's, Gateshead. Here he took part with William Durant (d. 1681), Samuel Hammond, D.D. [q. v.], and others, in controversy with quakers and in exposing the imposture of Thomas Ramsay [q. v.] According to the church books his connection with Gateshead ceased in 1657 ; it is not improbable that he made some stay in Ireland. He signed the declaration against the insurrection of fifth-monarchy men issued (January 1661) by congregational ministers 'in and about the city of London.' His successor at Gateshead (John Laidler) was not presented till 16 March 1660-1. Weld is said to have died in England on 23 March 1661-2. He was twice married. His eldest son, Thomas Weld, graduated M. A. at Harvard in 1641, and remained in New England. Another son, Edmund Weld, graduated at Harvard in 1650, became one of Cromwell's chaplains in Ireland, was independent minister at Kinsale, co. Cork, in 1655, and later at Blarney Castle, co. Cork, and died in 1668, aged 37. This Edmund Weld was father of Nathaniel Weld (1660-1730), independent minister at Eustace Street, Dublin, and grandfather of Isaac Weld (1710- 1778), his successor, whose grandsons were Isaac Weld fq.v.] and Charles Richard Weld [q. v.]
• Besides the above he published : 1. 'An Answer to W. R. his Narration of the Opinions and Practises of the Churches . . . in New England,' 1644, 4to; William Rathband the elder (d. 1645) had treated the disorders above mentioned as the natural
• https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofnati60stepuoft#page/161/mode...
• Pg.161
• result of independency. 2. 'The Perfect Pharisee under Monkish Holines ... in the Generation . . . called Quakers,' Gateside [Gateshead], 1653, 4to ; reprinted London, 1654, 4to, by Weld, Richard Prideaux, Hammond, William Cole, and Durant. 3. 'A False Jew,' Newcastle, 1653, 2 pts. 4to ; account of Ramsay, by Weld, Hammond, C. Sidenham, and Durant. 4. 'A further Discovery of that Generation . . . called Quakers,' Gateside [Gateshead], 1654, 4to. 5. 'A Vindication of Mr. Weld,' 1658, 4to ; in reply to Wheelwright. .... etc.
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• The pioneers of Massachusetts, a descriptive list, drawn from records of the colonies, towns and churches and other contemporaneous documents (1900)
• https://archive.org/details/pioneersofmassac00pope
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  • WELD, WELDE, WELLS,
• https://archive.org/stream/pioneersofmassac00pope#page/486/mode/1up
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• Joseph, Roxbury, captain, householder, propr., town officer, deputy. Wife Elizabeth d. Oct. 1638. He m. April 30, 1639, Barbara, dau. of Nicholas Clap of Venn Ottery, Eng. Ch. Edmund b. July 14, 1636, Sarah bapt. Dec. 21 1640, Daniel b. Sept. 18, 1642, Joseph bapt. 9 (12) 1644, d. 7 (10) 1645, Marah b. Aug. 2, 1646.
• He was bur. Oct. 7, 1646. See accounts in A. Will dated at Ipsqich, 2 (4) 1646, prob. 10 (8) 1646, beq. to wife Barbara and her children Daniel, Sarah and Mara: to his ch. by first wife, John, Thomas, Edmund, Mary and Hannah; to dau. Dennison; to the college at Cambridge; annuity to Mr. Cuddington; to the poor of the church; referes to Mr. Hooker. [Reb. VII, 33.] Mary m. Daniel Harris; Sarah m. John Franck; Marah m. Comfort Starr. Mortg. discharged 4 July, 1666. The widow m. 2. Anthony Stoddard.
• Rev. Thomas, vicar at Terling, co. Essex, Eng. from 1624 to 1632; was noted by archbishop Laud as "uncomformable" Nov. 25, 1630; fined 16 Nov. 1631. Came to Roxbury with his family, arriving June 5, 1632. Was minister alone some months, and then ordained pastor, in company with Mr. John Eliot, teacher, Nov., 1632. Was in full sympathy with the Winthrop party against Mrs. Hutchinson and Mr. Wheelwright in 1637. Wrote preface to second edition of Winthrop's Antinomians and Familists Con- demned in 1643. Wrote The Bay Psalm Book, jointly with Richard Mather and John Eliot in 1639. Wrote other books. Was sent by the government to England with Mr. Hugh Peter and Mr. William Hibbens in 1641, and accomplished much in advancing the interests of the colony during the period of the Revolution. After much public service, he became vicar of Gateshead parish, at Newcastle, Eng. about 1640.
• He d. in London March 23, 1660. [D.] Wife Margaret; ch. rec. at Terling: John bapt. 6 June, 1625, Thomas bapt. 26 July, 1626, Samuel bapt. 8 Oct. 1629, Edmund bapt. 8 July, 1631. Joseph, who also came to Roxbury, was his brother. [Reg. XXXVI, 36, 62 and 405.] Margaret, widow of Thomas Weld late of Gate side by Newcastle, clerk, made will 20 March, 1664, prob. 16 Nov. 1671. Beq. to bro. Mr. William Doget and her sister Anna, his wife; to sister Elizabeth Wade, dec. and their children; to kinsman John Jeffreson. [Reg. LII, 249.]
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• Descendants of Edmund Weld of Sudbury, England
• https://archive.org/services/borrow/descendantsofedm00weld
• https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofedm00weld#page/n108/mode/1up
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  • FIRST GENERATION
• No. 1. EDMUND [1] WELD, b in Sudbury, Suffolk County England in 1559; made his will in Sudbury 5 Dec. 1605, which was probated 5 May 1608; m before 1585 AMY BREWSTER (some say DERESLEYE). He was evidently a very prosperous cloth merchant in Sudbury, into which town weavers had been introduced by Edward III. The town was on its way to becoming the center of the cloth industry in Suffolk County, a prominence it attained completely after the Restoration. Edmund Weld invested the savings from his business in lands, as his will shows. He was prominent in the councils of the Borough, of which we find him "Bailiff" 5 Sept. 1597, (Calendar of the Muniments of the Borough of Sudbury, printed in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archeology, Vol. 13, Town Book). He was a son of Thomas Weld, a draper in Sudbury.
• Children:
  • + 2 i. DANIEL[2] b in Sudbury ca 1585 or 1586. (See No. 2)
  • + 3 ii. JOHN [2] b in Sudbury ca 1591. (See No. 3).
  • iii. EDMUND [2] of whom we know from his brother John't will only that he had a son Edmund [3] living in 1660 to whom John willed twenty shillings; so much less than the other nephews that one infers he was well off.
  • + 4 iv. THOMAS [2] bapt. at St Peter's Sudbury, 15 July 1595. (See No. 4)
  • v. BENJAMIN [2] b about 1597; perhaps that one who m at Acton, 10 Nov. 1619 ELIZABETH BOWEN.
  • + 5 vi. JOSEPH [2] b about 1598. (See No. 5).
  • vii. JAMES [2]
  • Daughters: Eldest, MARY, bequeathed 50 pounds in her father's will. Youngest, ELIZABETH, given certain tenements by her father's will.
  • Perhaps also AMY, wife of William Lewis, in Roxbury, Mass. before 1644 to whom Thwing says was born Weld.
  • Possibly also MARGERY, wife of John Johnson, in Roxbury 1630.
• https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofedm00weld#page/n111/mode/1up
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  • SECOND GENERATION (Continued)
• No. 4. REV. THOMAS [2] WELD (Edmund [1]) bp 15 July 1595 at Sudbury, England; d 23 Mar. 1660/1 in London, England; m (1) MARGARET DERESLEYE who d about 1634/5; m (2) JUDITH ___ who d in England 4 May 1656 and buried at St. Mary's Church at Gateshead where Rev. Thomas was Rector. He m (3) MARGARET ___ who survived him and d before 16 Nov. 1671, when her will, dated 20 Mar. 1664, was probated.
• Thomas Weld matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1611. He took his B. A. in 1613 and his M. A. in 1618. He was ordained by the Bishop of Peterborough, deacon, 1 Mar. priest, 2 Mar. 1618/9. He became Vicar of Haverhill, Suffolk and in 1624 of Terling, Essex. He belonged to the Puritan party, then strong in Essex. Laud, on his accession to the bishopric of London, proceeded to cleanse the church of irregularities and excommunicated Weld. He departed from London on the ship "William and Francis" 5 June 1632.
• Children:
  • i. JOHN [3] bp. at Terling 6 June 1625; came with his parents an two brothers on the William and Francis in 1632. When his father returned to England, he remained in Mass. and studied for a time at Harvard College. He returned to England where he was minister of Ryton.
  • + 6 ii. THOMAS [3] bp. at Terling 26 July 1627. (See No. 6).
  • iii. SAMUEL [3] bp at Terling 8 Oct. 1629; prob. d. y.
  • + 7 iv. EDMUND [3] bp at Terling 8 July 1631. (See No. 7).
  • + 8 v. DANIEL [3] b either in America or England is not certain. (See No. 8).
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• History of the Weld family, from 1632 to 1878 (1879) by Mrs. Charlotte Weld Fowler
• https://archive.org/details/historytweldfam00fowlgoog
• https://archive.org/stream/historytweldfam00fowlgoog#page/n11/mode/1up
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• .... However, I will give an accurate account as far back as my knowledge extends, and all I can gather from others.
• Rev. Thomas Weld was the first Weld that ever crossed the water to the shores of America. He came from England on board the ship William Francis, June 5th, 1632, and landed at Boston, Mass. Joseph Weld, his brother, came the following year. They settled in Roxbury, Mass.
• Rev. Thomas Weld was settled over the church in Roxbury the same year he came from England. In 1648 Joseph Weld's daughter Mary married Daniel Harris of Middletown, Conn.
• My next information is that my great grandfather, Daniel Weld, married Miss Mary Warren, sister to Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell in battle at Bunker Hill. .... etc.
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http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr02/rr02_190.html (usually fairly reliable and well researched)

Rev. Thomas Weld. Born ca 1595 in Sudbury, Suffolk. Thomas was baptized in St Peters, Sudbury, Suffolk, on 13 Jul 1595.118 Thomas died on 23 Mar 1660/1 in London, England.118 Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, B.A. 1613/4, M.A. 1618.5

“Rev. Thomas Weld, brother of Captain Joseph Weld, was vicar at Terling, county Essex, England, from 1624 to 1632; was noted by Archbishop Laud as ‘unfonformable’ November 25, 1630, and fined November 16, 1631. He came to Roxbury, Massachusetts, with his family, arriving June 5, 1632, and was minister of that town for several months alone and then was ordained pastor in company with Mr. John Eliot, teacher, in November, 1632. He was in full sympathy with the course of Governor Winthrop and his party against Mrs. Hutchinson and Mr. Wheelwright in 1637 and wrote a preface to the second edition of Winthrop’s book ‘Antimonians and Familists Condemned’ (1643). He compiled the famous Bay State Psalm Book, jointly with Richard Mathaer and John Eliot in 1639. He wrote other books. He was sent by the colonial government to England with Mr. Hugh Peter and Mr. William Hibbens in 1641, and accomplished much in advancing the interests of the colony during the period of the revolution in England. After much public service, he became vicar of Gateshead parish at Newcastle, England, about 1649.”

ca 1624/5 Thomas first married Margaret [Weld]. Margaret died bef 1636. Religion: admitted to Roxbury church as member #19.

Their chidren include: John Weld (ca Jun 1625-) Thomas Weld (ca Jul 1626-17 Jan 1682/3) Samuel Weld (ca Oct 1629-) Rev. Edmund Weld (ca Jul 1631-2 Mar 1668)

ca 1636 Thomas second married Judith [Weld]. Judith died in May 1656 in England. Buried on 4 May 1656 in Gateshead, Durham.5

Judith’s monumental inscription reads “Here sleeps Mrs. Judith Weld, who was to 3 godly ministers a good wife, to Christ a faithful servant, to the church an affectionate member, for piety, prudence, & patience eminent. She departed this life the [blank] 1656. In Jesu dormio, splendide resurgam.”

Thomas third married Margaret [Weld]. Margaret died between 20 Mar 1664/5 and 16 Nov 1671.5

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• Links
• http://books.google.com/books?id=WZoiAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22thomas%20weld%2...
• http://books.google.com/books?id=AxLVAAAAMAAJ&q=weld#v=snippet&q=we...
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Rev. Thomas Weld was vicar at Terling, Essex, England from 1624-1632 and arrived at Roxbury, MA 5 Jun 1632 with his family. He compiled the Bay State Psalm Book with Richard Mathaer and John Eliot in 1639. He was sent back to England to represent the colonial government in 1641, and he became vicar of Gateshead Parish at Newcastle, England about 1649. He died in Roxbury, Mass Bay Colony in 1662.

GEDCOM Source

@R-949392495@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=58965726&pid...