Thomas Hatton, Secretary

HATTON, THOMAS (?-1654/55).

BORN England.

IMMIGRATED: in 1648 as a free adult with his wife and two sons.

RESIDED: at "Pope's Freehold," St. Mary's County.

FAMILY BACKGROUND.

FATHER: John Hatton.

BROTHERS: Richard (?-by 1649); John (?-1654), of London, England; Henry; and Samuel.

SISTERS: Sarah; Susan; and Hanna.

MARRIED Margaret (?-1657).

CHILDREN.

SONS: Robert; Thomas (ca. 1642/43-1675), who married first, (first name unknown), daughter of Randolph Hanson, and second, Elizabeth, daughter of John Waughop.

PRIVATE CAREER.

EDUCATION: literate, with considerable clerical skills.

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Protestant.

SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: brought two servants with him on his arrival in the colony, and the next year assisted his sister-in-law and her children, including his nephew William Hatton (?-1712), in settling in Maryland; had a commission as a Councilor and secretary on his arrival in the colony; probably met Cecil Calvert through his friend Thomas Motham, Gent., a clerk in Chancery Lane.

OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: placeman; planter.

PUBLIC CAREER.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Assembly, special writ 1649; Upper House, 1650-1650/51 (Laws 1); Parliamentary Commission, 1652-1653; Assembly, Potomac (St. Mary's County), 1654 (declined to sit because of his oath to Lord Baltimore).

OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES: Council, 1648-1654; justice, Provincial Court, 1648-1654; secretary, 1648-1654; judge of Probate, 1648-1654; receiver general, 1648-1651; attorney general, 1650-1654.

STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: staunch supporter of Lord Baltimore's rights against the assumption of government by the Parliamentary Commissioners, 1654.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.

LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 500 acres in 1650; acquired an additional 600 acres in 1652.

WEALTH AT DEATH.

DIED: on March 5, 1654/55; killed at the Battle of the Severn.

PERSONAL PROPERTY: no inventory, but owned much livestock.

LAND: 1,600 acres.

Source: http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/0...

Notes

From http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I09558...

Maryland Calendar of Wills: Volume 1 page 72 [p.72] Hatton, John, London, 14th Dec., 1654;

• To sisters and brothers, viz., Sarah, Susan, Hanna, Henry and Samuel, personalty.
• Brother Thomas, residuary legatee of estate, real and personal, including lands left by father, John Hatton.
• Exes.: Thos. Hatton afsd., Robt. Llewelin.
• Test: Richd. Colchester, Hercules Commander, Sr. 1. 519.