Thomas Hanscom

Thomas Hanscombe was possibly the Thomas who was baptized in Campton, Bedfordshire, England, 18 January 1618, the son of Thomas and Katherine (Alcock) Hanscombe. However, more proof is required to say this with any degree of certainty. It is now believed, however, that the Thomas Hanscombe who settled in America was just a boy when he came to Salem, Mass., 29 June 1629, with the family of Richard Claydon. Richard Claydon was his brother-in-law, the husband of Thomas' older sister [probably half-sister], Joan (Hanscombe) Claydon (married in Sutton, Bedfordshire, England, 29 July 1627). The Claydon-Hanscombe party attempted to depart on the "Mayflower II" which left Salem in the spring of 1629. But they were not yet ready to leave, and had to delay the trip. Ultimately they embarked on the "Talbot" which sailed from England in May 1629.

Thomas Hanscombe likely had the status of indentured servant over the next two decades. He may have worked for his brother-in-law Claydon, who constructed one of Salem's first Custom Houses; but he may also have been indentured to other parties as well.

By 15 March 1649/50, Thomas had left Salem and is seen as an early settler of Kittery, Maine. His first appearance in New England records was to be named as a defendant in a lawsuit for debt brought against him by William Hilton. In 1651, the same William Hilton sued both Thomas Hanscom and one Robert Mendum for trespassing on his property. He was obviously on the wrong side of Hilton, who was one of the wealthiest men in Kittery.

In 1654, the town of Kittery warned Thomas Hanscom not to live with Mrs. Mary Batchelder, estranged wife of the Rev. Stephen Batchelder. [Mrs. Batchelder's earlier adultery conviction had mandated that she wear the letter "A" on her clothing; she is believed to have been the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter".]

The next few years were relatively quiet for Thomas Hanscom. He married his wife, Ann, b. 1646, on 16 May 1664. She was nearly 30 years his junior. Her maiden name is not provided in the marriage record, but it appears possible that she may have been a daughter of early Kittery settlers, Dennis and Anne Downing. Twice the Downings and the Hanscoms were fined together for failing to attend "meeting" [church]. On 23 July 1683, Thomas Hanscom, "age 60" [but, if we're right about his birthdate, he was 65], testified at a deposition concerning the boundaries of Joshua Downing's fence. If Ann Hanscom was a Downing, then Joshua was Thomas Hanscom's brother-in-law.

Thomas Hanscom was still alive in late summer, 1695, but had died by early spring 1696. His real estate, comprising approximately 60 acres on the Piscataqua River, remained undivided until a family squabble forced its allocation in 1719.

• *******

"A Pair of Black Sheep"

by Marian Foster Fraser of Salvador Bahia, Brazil

Apparently Nathaniel Hawthorne heard the story of Mary Batchelder, who was presented at court for adultery and forced to wear an insignia indicating her guilt. It is presumed that Hester Prynne of The Scarlet Letter was based on her story. Even today the men in the case (and the lady could not have committed her crime all by herself) would not have been subjected to the same sort of punishment as the Hester prototype, but surely their behavior rates them as black sheep. On October 16, 1651, George Rogers was convicted of adultery with Mrs. Stephen Batchelder, and his children were placed with other families. In June 1654, the court of Kittery, Maine, ordered Thomas Hanscom not to live with Mary Batchelder. Since Thomas's grandson, another Thomas, married George's granddaughter, Alice, both of these rascals are my ancestors. One must find greatness (or notoriety) where one can, so I am charmed to be thus connected to Hawthorne and Hester Prynne.