Thomas Fish

Thomas Fish (1619-1687)

Thomas left England, together with his brother John Fish and landed at Portsmouth, Newport, RI was called Aquidneck Island. They arrived about 1643. The Portsmouth town meeting record of 5th of October 1643, "Land was ordered layd out to Thomas Fish at the first Brooke". Thomas was appointed to Jury for the present court on 21 November 1649. Thomas was admitted freeman to the Portsmouth, Newport, RI in 1655. He was also a member of the church. On 20 March 1660, Thomas Fish received a deed of house and land from Henry and Ann Ayres, in consideration of fencing two acres, Henry and Ann would live there throughout their lives without paying rent. On 3 December 1772, he and William Hall were appointed to lay out one acre of town land. On 17 February 1663 he has chosen Petty Jury man to the court in Newport. He was chosen constable for the year on 5 June 1665. That same year he bought two parcels of land and a dwelling house, barn and orchard for 50 pounds from James Babcock. He later sold four of these acres to Thomas Lawton.

Thomas's will was recorded on the 9th of February 1687, and proved on the 13th of December 1687. It named his wife, Mary as executrix and mentions four sons, three daughters and seven grandchildren. It bequeathed "to son John land bought of James Babcock. To son Robert 20s, and like amount to daughters Mehitable, Mary and Alice. To grandson, Preserved, son of Thomas, Jr., 5s, to wife remainder of the estate. Inventory, 49 pounds, 10s."

Notes

Baptised 1 January 1618/9.

From the book, "One Hundred and Sixty Allied Families", by John Osborne Austin:

1643.He had a grant of land. Landed at Portsmouth, RI with his brother, John.

1655.His name was in the roll of Freemen (71 in all).

March 20, 1660.He had a deed of house and land from Henry and Ann Ayers, in consideration of fencing two acres, but said Henry and Ann were to enjoy said land for their lives without paying rent.

February 20, 1665.Sold Thomas Lawton 4 acres bounding on John Albro's land, etc.

1667, April 23- Elected delegate to the General Assembly.

1670, June 6- Chosen Constable.

1674, June 1- Chosen member of the Town Council.

1674, October 10- Chosen Deputy for the next General Assembly at Newport, RI.

1675, June 7- Again chosen member of the Town Council.

May 2, 1684.He deeded grandson Preserved Fish, son of Thomas deceased, for love, etc., dwelling house and 15 acres where Thomas Fish, Jr., had lived, and said grandson Preserved to possess it in the year 1700.

1685, September 18- Appointed to Coroners Jury for an Inquest into the hanging of a Scotsman named John Crage, by Coroner, Major John Albro.

February 9, 1687.Will, proved December 13, 1687. Executor, wife Mary. Witnesses, Caleb Arnold, Zuriel Hall.

To son John, land bought of James Babcock. To son Robert 20 shillings, and like amount to daughters Mehitable, Mary and Alice. To grandson Preserved, son of his Son Thomas, 5 shillings. Rest of property to wife.

September 9, 1697.Will, proved 1699. Mary Fish, widow. Executor, son Daniel. Witnesses, Zuriel Hall, Johanna Hall, John Anthony.

To son John. £5. To son Robert, £5, and 1 cow. To daughter Mehitable Tripp, £5, and my brass chafin dish, 1 pewter platter, 3 porringers, 1 chest, and 1 pewter plate. To daughter Mary Brayton £5, and a table, basin, pewter platter, long cup, and plate. To daughter Alice Knowles, £5, and 2 feather pillows, a basin, pewter platter, pewter candlestick, and plate. To daughters Mehitable, Mary, and Alice, all the wearing apparel of their mother, both linen and woolen. She mentions grandchildren Preserved and Mehitable, children of son Thomas deceased, and Comfort, Ruth and Thomas, children of her son Daniel; also Mary daughter of son John, and Robert, son of her son Robert, giving each of them something. To daughter Mehitable Tripp, whatever is due from her, for wool. To son Daniel all the outdoor movables.

July 12, 1699.Codicil. Only a few slight changes in former bequests.

Inventory, £130, 2s.

Family

Father: Robert Fish, Birth: August 12, 1593, Market Harborough Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England, Great Britain

Mother: Alice Fish, Birth: November 6, 1597, Market Harborough, Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England

Siblings: John FISH bapt. 21 January 1620/1; Ruth FISH bapt. 1 September 1622; Mary FISH bapt. 24 January 1623/4-died young; Mary FISH bapt. 24 April 1625; Joseph FISH bapt. 17 September 1626; Nathan FISH bapt. 7 March 1629/30; Tabitha FISH bapt. 8 May 1630; Hanna FISH bapt. 24 November 1633; Christian FISH bapt. 10 December 1637; and Benjamin FISH bapt. 11 August 1639;

Spouse: Mary Fish (Ayres), b. circa 1618, Probably England

Spouse: Mary b. May 1624, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. Married 1645 (??) in Portsmouth RI

Children:

• Thomas Fish, Jr. , born Abt. 1649; married Grizzel Strange December 10, 1668; born Bet. 1649 - 1659.
• Mehitable Fish, born Abt. 1650 in Portsmouth, RI; married Joseph Tripp August 06, 1667; born Bet. 1635 - 1655.
• MaryFish, born Abt. 1652 in Portsmouth, RI; died April 04, 1747 in Portsmouth, RI; married Francis Brayton March 18, 1670/71 in Portsmouth, RI.
• Alice Fish, born Abt. 1655 in Portsmouth, RI; died 1734 in Portsmouth, RI; married William Knowles Abt. 1674; born 1645; died 1727.
• John Fish, born Abt. 1657; married Joanna Fish Unknown.
• Daniel Fish, Sr. , born Abt. 1662; married Abigail Mumford May 01, 1682; born Bet. 1662 - 1672.
• Robert Fish, born Abt. 1665; died 1730; married Mary Hall September 16, 1686; born Bet. 1665 - 1675.

Sources

1. Ancestors of Eleanor Wilder Scott - http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/r/Mary-Harrell/GENE4...
2. Stevens, Mary Edith Guckes Harrell, MEG, ("The Ancestry of Mary Edith Guckes and Margaret Scott Guckes), 105.
3. The Fish family in England and America : genealogical and biographical records and sketches / by Lester Warren Fish, 1899-

Links

• http://jskent.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html ---------------------------
  

[http://jtbullock.com/Tree/AbigailWilbur.html]

https://archive.org/details/fishfamilyinengl00fish/page/12/mode/2up
https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/online-records/nygb-record/566... p. 64
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
"The Fish Family of Great Bowden in Leicestershire, England"

Discusses this Thomas being the Thomas of Portsmouth, RI.

Thomas Fish’s ancestry information comes from an article published in volume 53 of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, called The Fish Family of Great Bowden in Leicestershire, England written by John Dean Fish, who was a Corresponding Member of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. [https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/online-records/nygb-record/566..., p. 64] Although there is no solid proof that his British Thomas is our Portsmouth Thomas, the author's reasoning in connecting the two is sound and logical, so this researcher has accepted it. Thomas Fish was baptized on January 1, 1618/19 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England, the eldest of 11 children born to Robert Fish and Alice Fyshe. His father died when he was about 20 years old and the family disappeared from that area’s records. It is believed that Thomas and some of his siblings immigrated to Portsmouth, Newport County, RI in or just prior to 1643, where he met and married a woman named Mary, whose surname is unknown (see her bio for more on this).

Thomas’ name is mention several times in the The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth, mostly pertaining to land boundaries and as a deed witness. The earliest is on October 15, 1643, when Thomas’ received a grant of land at the first brook in Portsmouth. From December 28, 1648 to December 3, 1662, his name is mentioned on land issues six times. On February 17, 1663 he was named as one of six Pettey Jury men. On June 5, 1665, he was named as Chosen Constable for this yeare. On April 23, 1667, he was again named as Pettey Jury men. On October 16, 1668, he is named as one of the Chosen Graund Jury men. On June 7, 1675, the first time we see him called Senr., he was Chossen to be of the Towne Councell and Engaged. The last entry where we know it was him and not his son is a vote dated July 12, 1675. It states “. . . a Rate of four hundred pound was ordered to be levied in this Island and this Towne to pay one hundred and twenty pounds of the Said 400! The Towne doe order that nine men be chossen to make the Said Rate.” Both mr phillip Shearman and Thomas ffish Senr were on this list of chosen men. The record continues with “. . . they or the Major part of them are Empowred to make the Said Rate and with all Convenient speed Returne it under their hands unto the Treasurer of this Towne.”

By the time Thomas Fish Sr. wrote his will on February 9, 1686/7, his eldest son Thomas was deceased. The will is recorded in the Portsmouth, R.I. Land Evidences 2nd Book, No. 1 and partially reads as follows:

[Main Gate of Old Portsmouth Cemetery on Turner Rd, facing northeast. Photo by James A. Culipher, 2008.] “... Thomas ffish of Portsmouth ... . I ... bequeath unto my dear and beloved wife Mary ffish all and Every part of my Real Estate during her naturall life for her better support comfort and maintainance in her old age and also I give & bequeath to my said Wife a _____ every part of my personall ... estate for her proper use and to be at her own disping after my decease only excespting such legases as are hereafter given & bequeathed. I give ... unto my eldest and well beloved son Daniell ffish my now dwelling house with all the land hereunto belonging only excepting the land which I purchased of James Badcock. I ... bequeath unto my well beloved son John fish all that my Land above mentioned purches of said said Badcock ... I give ... my ... son Robert ffish 20 shillings... . I give unto my three beloved daughters, to wit Mehittabell, Mary & Ales to each ... 20 shillings .... . I give ... unto my grand son Presserved ffish son to Thomas ffish deceased 5 shillings. I .... appoint my ... wife Mary ffish to be ... sole executrix ….”

Thomas Fish Sr. died in Portsmouth sometime prior to December 13, 1687, the date the will was proved. The Inventory of his estate was valued at £49, 10 shillings. It is believed he was buried in the Old Portsmouth Cemetery.

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=1030088&pid=... www.findagrave.com

Thomas Fish
BIRTH 1 Jan 1619
England
DEATH Dec 1687 (aged 68)
Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
BURIAL
Old Portsmouth Cemetery
Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
MEMORIAL ID 5640365

Family Members
Parents
Robert Fishe
1593–1639
Alice Fyshe Fishe
1597–1639

Siblings
Sarah Fish Stark
1620–1685
John Fish
1621–1689
Mary Fish
1624–1624
Nathaniel Fish
1629–1631
Tabitha Fishe
1630–1657

Children
Alice Fish Knowles
1652–1730
John Fish
1657–1742
Robert Fish
1664–1730