Rev. William Thompson, of Braintree

Rev. William1 Thompson was born Abt. 1598 in Lancashire, England, and died 10 December 1666 in Braintree, MA1.  He married (1) Abigail Collins about. 1625 in England, daughter of John Collins and Grace Wagger.  She was born before 17 October 1591 in Bramford, Suffolk, England, and died 01 January 1642/43 in Braintree, MA.  He married (2) Ann Brigham2 Abt. 1647, daughter of Thomas Brigham and Isabel Watson.  She was born Abt. 1607 in England, and died 11 October 1675 in Braintree, MA.

A.B. Brazenose College- Oxford 1621/2

Notes for Rev. William Thompson:

The Reverend William Thompson was born at Winwich, Lancashire, and preached there before coming to New England.  He first settled at York, Maine, and was minister there 1637-39; was ordained as minister of the First Congregational Church at Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy), 19 November 1639.  He normally wrote his name [https://www. geni.com/surnames/tompson Tompson], but few scholars have continued to refer to him in that fashion.

William was made freeman of the colony of Massachusetts 13 May 1640 and that same year received a grant of 120 acres for services rendered.  This grant was of triangular shape and lay directly south of Great Pond in present Randolph and bordered west on the inlet to the pond called Norroitry River.  It was laid out and surveyed in Nov 1658 and the original map is now at Mass Historical Society (donated in 1921 by Zenas French of Holbrook.)

In 1645 he was chaplain of the quota of 200 men raised for the campaign against the Narraganset Indians.

William matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, 28 Jan 1620, at the age of 21, but his degree is not found in the Fasti; had been a preacher in Winwick, a parish of his native Lancastershire before he came to American in 1637 and was engaged first at Kittery or York, but after the church institute at Boston 17 Sept 1639 was ordained in company with Rev. Henry Flint 19 November of that year (although some sources say ordained 14 Sept 1639) 

He brought wife Abigail and sons Samuel, William ( Harvard College 1653), perhaps daughter Mary and Elinor who was born 1626. 

Children born in Mass. were Joseph 1 May 1640, Benjamin 14 July 1642, (Harvard College 1662).

Hancock Cemetery, Old Burial Grounds, Quincy, MA.

4 children; 4th Benjamin.

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Rev. William1 Thompson was born Abt. 1598 in Lancashire, England, and died 10 December 1666 in Braintree, MA1. He married (1) Abigail Collins about. 1625 in England, daughter of John Collins and Grace Wagger. She was born before 17 October 1591 in Bramford, Suffolk, England, and died 01 January 1642/43 in Braintree, MA. He married (2) Ann Brigham2 Abt. 1647, daughter of Thomas Brigham and Isabel Watson. She was born Abt. 1607 in England, and died 11 October 1675 in Braintree, MA.

Notes for Rev. William Thompson:

The Reverend William Thompson was born at Winwich, Lancashire, and preached there before coming to New England. He first settled at York, Maine, and was minister there 1637-39; was ordained as minister of the First Congregational Church at Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy), 19 November 1639. He normally wrote his name Tompson, but few scholars have continued to refer to him in that fashion.

William was made freeman of the colony of Massachusetts 13 May 1640 and that same year received a grant of 120 acres for services rendered. This grant was of triangular shape and lay directly south of Great Pond in present Randolph and bordered west on the inlet to the pond called Norroitry River. It was laid out and surveyed in Nov 1658 and the original map is now at Mass Historical Society (donated in 1921 by Zenas French of Holbrook.)

In 1645 he was chaplain of the quota of 200 men raised for the campaign against the Narraganset Indians.

William matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, 28 Jan 1620, at the age of 21, but his degree is not found in the Fasti; had been a preacher in Winwick, a parish of his native Lancastershire before he came to American in 1637 and was engaged first at Kittery or York, but after the church institute at Boston 17 Sept 1639 was ordained in company with Rev. Henry Flint 19 November of that year (although some sources say ordained 14 Sept 1639) He brought wife Abigail and sons Samuel, William, Harvard College 1653, perhaps daughter Mary and Elinor who was born 1626. Children born in Mass. were Joseph 1 May 1640, Benjamin 14 July 1642, (Harvard College 1662).

His wife died 1 Jan 1643 while he was absent on a mission with Rev. John Knowles, and Thomas James, to Virginia begun in October preceding. It took these men eleven weeks to go to Virginia by ship.

He was chosen first minister of the new church at Braintree (now Quincy) where he remained for the rest of his life. In his last years he suffered from a form of melancholy and seldom preached. His assistant or teacher, Rev. Henry Flynt, was called to carry on the work. In conjunction with his friend Rev. Richard Mather of Dorchester he wrote a book entitled 'An Answer to Mr. Charles Herle"

In England he drew the fire of Archbishop Laud and was presented for nonconformity in the fall of 1633 "for receiving the sacrament of the Lord's Supper at Winwick church [while] sitting and leaning" and for baptizing children " in basins of pewter or wood in the chapel" and for omitting the sign of the cross." Bishop Morton, Bridgeman's predecessor, had been no less impressed with Thompson's godliness than with Mather's and called Thompson "a great nonconformist."

Richard Mather left Bristol Spring 1635 on the James arrived Boston 17 Aug 1635. Thompson was in Cambridge by 30 Aug 1637 when he attended the ecclesiastical synod which condemned Antinomianism. The synod went through 22 Sept 1637 and Thompson left for Agamenticus (York) Maine between end of Sept 1637 and March 1658. (New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol CXL, Jan 1986, 3-16.)

A document in the hand of William Thompson discovered in June 1984 at John Rylands University of Manchester England (Ryl.Eng. MS 346/166.2) and reported in the NEHGS Register ( Vol CXL Jan 1986) links Richard Mather and William Thompson as colleagues. It is undated but likely written after they left Lancashire. Both Mather and Thompson had been targets of Laud's persecution for their Puritan leanings.

Edward Johnson's The Wonder Working Providence of Sion's Savior, a History of New England from the English Planting in the Yeare 1652, mentions Mr. Thompson of Braintree ( Chapter XI) "About the year (1642) the Lord was pleased to put it into the heart of some godly people in Virginia, to send to New England for some of the Ministers of Christ, to be helpfull unto them in instructing them in the truth, as it is in Jesus. The Godly Mr. Philip Bennet coming hither, made our reverend Elders acquainted with their desires, who were very studious to take all opportunities for enlarging the kingdome of Christ: and upon serious consideration, the reverend Mr. Knowls of Watertowne, and Mr. Thompson of Braintree were sent unto them, who arriving there in safety, preached openly unto the people for some good space of time, and also from house to house exhorted the people daily, that will full purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord; the harvest they had was plentifull for the little space of time they were there, till being opposed by the Governour and some other malignant spirits, they were forced to return to N. E. again."...[ I changed the "f" to "s" for clearer reading.]

On 18 June 1661 Deacon Samuel Thompson by order of his father William Tompson and mother Anna Tompson sold to John Hull, Edmund Quincy and William Penn 120 acres given by the town of Boston to my father William. ( S.D. 13-49)

He died intestate and an agreement was made mentioning widow Anna "Our youngest sister Hannah" and other children: Samuel Thompson, Joseph Tompson, Benjamin Thomson and William Vezey, children of Mrs. Thomson deceased. "Joseph Crosby, Mrs. Thomson's son shall be security. Mrs. Anna Thomson was administrator with Samuel Thomson, the eldest son in behalf of the rest.

William as had been stated before suffered from melancholia in his later years and seems to have been estranged from several children including Benjamin, the child who was born while his father had gone to Virginia.

James Savage wrote "A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England showing Three Generations of Those Who Came before May, 1692. In it he adamantly states that the William who graduated from Harvard in 1653 was not the son of William of Braintree because the younger William had not been mentioned in the administration of his father's estate. However, when William left New London he was supposedly in poor health and his family probably thought he had died. Records in Surry County, VA, plainly show that he is the same man who left New London and that he had made arrangements to cover any debts there.

Surry Co. Va, Deed Book 1, p 237 1 July 1664. Wm Morton of New England of New London, Gent, have sold to Wm Thompson of Surry Co., VA, minister of God's Word, for considerable sum of money a neck of land sittuate in New London aforesaid disjoyning upon y Great River and was formerly in ye occupation of Richard Blondmore[Blinman?], Minister of ye Parish and from him purchased by me ye sd Morton, and from me to Wm Thompson. Wit. Geo. Jordan, John Gittings.

Notes for Abigail Collins:

Sprague (on microfilm NEHGS) says Abigail was (Collins)Bedle baptized 17 Oct 1591 at Bransford, Co. Suffolk England, daughter of John and Grace (Wagger) Collins and widow of Samuel Bedle of Wolverstone, Suffolk. If this baptismal date is accurate, it is hard to see how she could have been the mother of Benjamin in 1642 at age 50. It is a fact, however, that Benjamin was the son of the Rev. William. It could be that there was another Abigail, perhaps Collins, perhaps not.

Children of Rev. Thompson and Abigail Collins are:

2 i. Hannah2 Thompson.

3 ii. Helen Thompson, born Abt. 1626 in England; died 23 April 1711 in Braintree, Mass. She married William Veazy; born Abt. 1616; died 16 June 1681.

Notes for Helen Thompson:

According to Nola Duffy the first Thompson in America was John Thompson who reached Long Island, New York, by way of Holland in 1634 and went to New England. With him was his son Rev. William Thompson.

Records of Braintree, Norfolk Co., Mass 7 Oct 1642 show that Rev. William Thompson with Rev. Thomas James of New Haven and Rev John Knowles of Watertown have sailed for Virginia.

4 iii. William Thompson, born 01 January 1629/30 in Lancastershire, England; died Abt. 1700 in Surry Co., VA.

5 iv. Samuel Thompson, born 16 February 1629/30 in England; died 18 June 1695 in Braintree, Mass.

6 v. Joseph Thompson, born 01 May 1640 in Braintree, Massachusetts. He married (1) Mary Denison. He married (2) Mary Bracket; born 24 July 1662; died 09 October 1743.

Notes for Joseph Thompson:

He settled in Bellerica where he was a captain and member of the Several Court. (Boddie)

7 vi. Benjamin Thompson, born 14 July 1642 in Braintree, Massachusetts; died 13 April 1714.

8 vii. Eliezer Thompson, born before21 October 1635 in Winwick, Lancashire, England..

Notes for Eliezer Thompson:

The date given is that of his baptism in Winwick, Lancashire, England where his father was then curate of Newton Chapelry.

Child of Rev. Thompson and Ann Brigham is:

9 i. Anna [Hannah]2 Thompson, born 03 May 1648; died 11 October 1737 in Boston, Mass. She married Ebenezer Hayden Abt. 1672.

sources

• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/SGLL-YRF : accessed 26 August 2012), entry for William /Thompson/.

links

• http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncwarren/fam-hist/families/thompson-wm.htm

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http://longislandgenealogy.com/Surname_Pages/thompson.htm Reverend William Thompson, the first member of the family in America, came to New England in 1634, according to his descendant, Benjamin F. Thompson. He was born in England in 1597, and graduated from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1619. He was ordained the first pastor of Braintree Mass. in 1639, and was sent as a missionary to Virginia in 1642. After the Indian Massacre of 1643 he returned to New England where he died in 1666.

   John Thompson probably William's eldest son, was a gun-smith living in Stamford Conn in 1667, according to the Stamford Land Records of that date. In 1668 he moved to Oyster Bay where he was accepted as the town smith.  After some seeming difficulties with the Town fathers he left in 1672,  removing to Setauket in Brookhaven. According to the  Brookhaven Town Records he prospered here as Blacksmith for on June    6th, 1674, "the towne doth ingaege to pay Mr Tomson duely and truly  and every yere for what work he  doth for them in wheet pork Ingen (Indian I.e. wampum) or other pay that doth  Satisfie him."  He seems to have acquired considerable real estate, both by allotments and by purchase, as the records refer to many of his transactions. He stood well in Brookhaven, being made constable in 1684,  and commissioner or  selectman in 1686. In 1691 he  conveyed to his son, Samuel a 50 acre lot on Mount Misery, along with use of the shop.   He died before 1699. John Thompson probably William's eldest son, was a gun-smith living in  Stamford Conn in 1667, according to the Stamford Land Records of that  date. In 1668 he moved to Oyster Bay where he was accepted as the town   smith. 

   After some seeming difficulties with the Town fathers he left in 1672, removing to Setauket in Brookhaven. According to the Brookhaven Town Records he prospered here as Blacksmith for on June    6th, 1674, "the towne doth  ingaege to pay mr Tomson duely and truly  and every yere for what work he  doth for them in wheet pork  Ingen (Indian I.e. wampum) or other pay that doth Satisfie him."  He  seems to have acquired considerable real estate, both by  allotments and  by purchase, as the records refer to many of his transactions. He stood well in Brookhaven, being  made constable in 1684,  and commissioner or selectman in 1686. In 1691  he  conveyed  to his son, Samuel a 50 acre lot on Mount Misery, along  with use of the shop.  John Thompson probably William's eldest son, was a gun-smith living in Stamford Conn in 1667, according to the Stamford Land Records of that date. In 1668 he moved to Oyster Bay where he was accepted as the town smith.  After some seeming difficulties with the Town fathers he left in 1672,  removing to Setauket in Brookhaven. According to the  Brookhaven Town Records he prospered here as Blacksmith for on June  6th, 1674, "the towne doth engage to pay Mr Tomson duely and truly  and every yere for what work he  doth for them in wheet pork Ingen (Indian I.e. wampum) or other pay that doth  Satisfie him."  He seems to have acquired considerable real estate, both by allotments and by purchase, as the records refer to many of his transactions. He stood well in Brookhaven, being made constable in 1684,  and commissioner or  selectman in 1686. In 1691 he  conveyed to his son, Samuel a 50 acre lot on Mount Misery, along with use of the shop.   He died before 1699.

Rev. William Tompson was born in Lancaster, England in 1597. He matriculated at Oxford Unversity 13 March 1617/8 and was admitted to Brazenose College 9 May 1618. He was elected a Nowell Scholar 24 October 1620 and was graguated with a Bachelor of Arts degree on 28 February 1621/2. He was Curate of Newton Chapel Winwick, Lancashire, England 1623 to 1635. He arrived in New England in 1636. He preached at York, Maine 1637 to 1639. He was installed as preacher of the First Church Braintree (now Quincy) Mass. 16 September 1639. He died the 10 December1666. (prepared from original sources by Ralph N. Thompson a tenth generation descendant)

The gravestone reads: HERE LYES BURIED YE / BODY OF YE REVEREND / MR WILLIAM TOMPSON / YE FIRST PASTOR OF / BRAINTRY CHURCH WHO / DECEASED DECEMBER YE 10 / 1666 AETATIS SEE 68 / HE WAS A LEARNED SOLID SOUND DIVINE / WHOS NAME & FAME IN BOATH ENGLANDS / DID SHINE.

GEDCOM Note

1 _UPD 7 NOV 2017 07:24:39 GMT -0600

Rev. William Tompson was born in Lancaster, England in 1597. He matriculated at Oxford Unversity 13 March 1617/8 and was admitted to Brazenose College 9 May 1618. He was elected a Nowell Scholar 24 October 1620 and was graguated with a Bachelor of Arts degree on 28 February 1621/2. He was Curate of Newton Chapel Winwick, Lancashire, England 1623 to 1635. He arrived in New England in 1636. He preached at York, Maine 1637 to 1639. He was installed as preacher of the First Church Braintree (now Quincy) Mass. 16 September 1639. He died the 10 December1666. (prepared from original sources by Ralph N. Thompson a tenth generation descendant)

The gravestone reads: HERE LYES BURIED YE / BODY OF YE REVEREND / MR WILLIAM TOMPSON / YE FIRST PASTOR OF / BRAINTRY CHURCH WHO / DECEASED DECEMBER YE 10 / 1666 AETATIS SEE 68 / HE WAS A LEARNED SOLID SOUND DIVINE / WHOS NAME & FAME IN BOATH ENGLANDS / DID SHINE - from Find a Grave