Thomas Sawyer, of Lancaster

Possible parents: John Sawyer & Agnes May Sawyer

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5/9/2021 edit. As of today, the parents of Thomas Sawyer have not been proven. It is only circumstantial evidence that Thomas Sawyer, of Lancaster, Edward Sawyer, of Rowley, and William Sawyer, of Newbury were brothers.

Family history is that 3 Sawyer brothers came to Mass from Lincolnshire on a ship commanded by Capt. Parker, but no records in England have as yet been found, and there is no evidence in any wills reviewed so far in Mass that would support that story. However, DNA has shown similarities between Thomas and William, so they could have been brothers. The fact that Edward and Thomas arrived in Rowley near the same time and lived near each other, and William lived in adjacent Newberry is why people accept the story as true (but it hasn't been proven).

The parents were supposed to have been John Sawyer and Agnes Sharp if the family history is true.

The text below the line was not edited 5/9/2021 and may or may not be correct.
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THOMAS (1) SAWYER, of Rowley and Lancaster, Massachusetts USA, was born in England about 1616. His father's name is said to have been JOHN. Thomas was one of "three brothers" (Thomas, Edward, and William) who came to Massachusetts after 1640. Thomas and Edward were at Rowley in 1643; in 1647 Thomas went to Lancaster. This is the oldest town in Worcester County; it was incorporated in 1653, but from 1676 to 1681 it was abondoned as unsafe, owing to Indian incursions during King Phiilip's War.

THOMAS SAWYER was one of the first six settlers, and one of the Prudential Managers and Dividers of Land. In 1648 he married MARY(2) PRESCOTT, daughter of JOHN(1) PRESCOTT, the head man of the settlement; she was baptized at Sowerby, England, February twenty-fourth, 1630/1.

THOMAS SAWYER lived next south of his father-in-law, at Lancaster, on ground "recently [1884] occupied by the Seventh Day Advent Society, and now the residence of his descendant, Sally (Sawyer) Chase." He took part in King Philip's War, a garrison ("Sawyer's") being established on his land. In King Philip's attack, Frebruary tenth, 1675/6, his son Ephraim was killed, either at "Sawyer's" or at "Prescott's," in Clinton. All the Sawyers west of Middlesex County seem to have been descendants of THOMAS(1).

In the Lancaster Cemetery is his grave stone, inscribed as follows: THOMAS SAWYER Dec'd September 12 1706

[above copied from the book: A Munsey-Hopkins Genealogy, Author: D.O.S. Lowell, published Boston 1920. Call Number R929.2 M97]

During King Phillip's war the Sawyer house was one of the town garrisons and in the fierce attack of February 10, 1675/6 it escaped destruction, but Ephraim Sawyer, aged twenty-six, was killed at his grandfather Prescott's garrison house. Though the town had to be abandoned for about three years, the Sawyer's were one of the first families to return,

Thomas will, dated March 6 1705/6, appointed his wife, Mary sole executrix. He named in it his eldest son Thomas, "other fouer sons" Joshua, James, Caleb and Nathaniel, and daughter Mary Wilder, widow of Lt. Nathaniel Wilder, who had been killed by Indians the 31st of July 1704.

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Thomas Sawyer probably emigrated from Lancashire, England before 16 36, but by 1642, his name makes an appearance at Rowley, Massachusetts a long with his brother Edward and possibly William. Rowley records show t hat he was awarded land next to Edward Sawyer in the second land divisi on of 1645. Sometime after 1642, Thomas met Marie or Mary Prescott who w as living at nearby Watertown and by 1647/8 they were married, possibly a t Rowley but most likely at Lancaster. Her father, John Prescott had t aken his family into the wilderness in 1645 and started what became a n ew settlement, first called Prescott but changed to Lancaster. Thomas f ollowed his father-in-law to Lancaster and was most likely one of the f irst six permanent residents there by 1648. It was here his father-in- law taught him the skill of being a blacksmith.

By a General Court appointment in May 1653, Thomas became one of si x persons chosen to be a Prudential Manager of Lancaster-thus having th e power to admit freemen, govern the town and allot land.

When the Indian war with King Philip was eminent, Lancaster hastily f ortified six homes into garrisons, which included his and his father-in -law's. On February 10, 1675/6, 400 Indians under Monoco descended on L ancaster, their first targeted town. Their destruction of the town was c omplete. Several occupants of the garrisons were killed; including his s on Ephraim aged 26 in the Prescott garrison. In all, total casualties f or the town probably exceeded 50 and 24 were taken captive. Many survi vors took refuge in the Stevens and Sawyer garrisons. This attack, Lan caster's second devastation of the town, led to its abandonment.

A tablet at the corner of Main and Prescott Streets today marks the s ite of the Thomas Sawyer garrison. The marker reads:

Site Of Thomas Sawyer's Garrison House - Between The Massacre Of Fe bruary 10, 1675-6 - And The Abandonment Of The Town - The Inhabitants T ook Refuge - In The Stevens And Sawyer Garrisons.

After the King Philip War, Thomas and his father-in-law, John Presc ott, returned to Lancaster. In October 1679, they obtained permission f rom the Middlesex County Court to rebuild the town after hearing a peti tion from some of the past residents.

Mr. Sawyer was witness to another war at Lancaster. In 1689 the Ki ng Williams War was started, setting Indians again against the English s ettlers for the next eight years. In September 1697, Lancaster was att acked and twenty inhabitants, with their minister were killed. John Sa wyer was a witness to many events at Lancaster before his death at age n inty. Lancaster is now called Clinton.

Thomas drew up a will on March 6, 1705/6. His estate was not inven toried until April 1, 1720 and proven April 12, 1720, fourteen years af ter his death. He was buried in the old Lancaster graveyard, marked by a h eadstone.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sawyer-238

Thomas Sawyer

Born about 1616 in Lincoln, England

Son of John Sawyer and Agnes (Sharpe) Sawyer

Brother of Edward Sawyer, William Sawyer and Edmund Sawyer

Husband of Mary (Prescott) Sawyer — married 1648 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts

Father of Thomas Sawyer Jr., Ephraim Sawyer, Mary (Sawyer) Wilder, Joshua Sawyer, James Sawyer, Caleb Sawyer, John Sawyer, Elizabeth (Sawyer) Hosmer, Deborah Sawyer, Hannah (Sawyer) Blood, Nathaniel Sawyer, Martha Sawyer and John Sawyer

Died 12 Sep 1706 in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay

Profile last modified 17 Feb 2020 | Created 25 Sep 2010

Thomas Sawyer is a part of Massachusetts history.

Biography House lots of Thomas and Edward Sawyer, Rowley 1643

Tradition says that three Sawyer brothers emigrated to America from Lincolnshire, England, sailing in a ship commanded by Captain Parker, and that their names were William, Edmund and Thomas. There is no hard evidence this is true, though the fact that Thomas and Edward were initially direct neighbours in Rowley, with William in directly adjacent Newbury are circumstantial evidence. Preliminary Y-DNA results indicate that Thomas and William were both haplogroup R-M269, therefore the brothers theory cannot yet be absolutely abandoned, pending additional Y-DNA (or other) data. Please see error section for a more complete discussion. Thomas Sawyer is first found in New England in Rowley, Massachusetts. This town was founded by Rev. Ezeliel Rogers in 1639, though the earliest surviving records do not begin until 1643. A land survey of Rowley in 1643 shows Thomas Sawyer owning 1 1/2 acres of land in the east part of town in what was called Bachelours Plain.[1] Almost adjacent to him was the house lot of Edward Sawyer who is often presumed to be his brother, though this is not proven. As this was a survey of established residents of Rowley and not new grants, it is likely that Thomas Sawyer was among the original setters of Rowley in 1639. Sometime between 1647 and 1649, Thomas Sawyer removed to Lancaster, Massachusetts. The birth of his first son is recorded in Lancaster in 1649. In 1653 when the Nashaway Plantation was officially incorporated into the town of Lancaster, the family of Thomas Sawyer was noted as one of nine already living there. There were only five full-fledged freemen in the town of Lancaster in 1654, Edward Breck, Richard Smith, William Kerley, John Whitcomb and Thomas Sawyer. During King Phillip's war the Sawyer house was one of the town garrisons and in the fierce attack of February 10, 1675/6 it escaped destruction, but Ephraim Sawyer, aged twenty-six, was killed at his grandfather Prescott's garrison house. Lancaster remained desolate for some three years, and where the family of Sawyer resided during that time is not evident but it is certain that they soon reappeared and helped rebuild the town, and he took a prominent part in its growth and prosperity during the next thirty years. Thomas will, dated March 6 1705/6, appointed his wife, Mary sole executrix. He named in it his eldest son Thomas, "other fouer sons" Joshua, James, Caleb and Nathaniel, and daughter Mary Wilder. Of son Thomas, he said "For his settlement I gave him fourty acres of Land and a pair of young oxen & a mare with help towards ---ing for his comfortable settlement."[2] His will was dated March 6, 1705-06, and proved April 12, 1720. He bequeathed to wife Mary, sons Thomas, Joshua, James, Caleb and Nathaniel, and daughter Mary Wilder. The latter testified that she had her father and mother during eight or nine months while her brother Thomas was in captivity. Her name and that of her mother was generally spelled Marie. Origins

The origins and name of the parents of Thomas Sawyer of Lancaster, Massachusetts are unknown. He is commonly held to be a brother of Edward Sawyer of Rowley, Massachusetts and of William Sawyer of Newbury, Massachusetts. This is most likely true of Edward and Thomas Sawyer as they both arrived in Rowley around the same time and lived near each other. However, there is no actual evidence that proves the relationships between the men and Sawyer was an extremely common name in England. The three "brothers" are also often said to be sons of John Sawyer and Agnes Sharp. Recent investigations have failed to find any evidence to support this assertion.[3] There are no wills or baptisms to support the identification. Eleanor Grace Sawyer, while researching her book, most recently made several trips to England to prove the origins of the Sawyer brothers failed to find to find any evidence to support any parents. Birth

Born: About 1616. Gravestone gives his age as about 90 years old at death. It is possibly an exaggeration as it means he did not marry until age 32 and continued having children into his late 50s. Marriage

Married: Mary Prescott on 1648 in Laccaster, Massachusetts.[4] She was baptized at Sowerby, Halifax parish, Yorkshire, England on 24 February 1630, daughter of John and Mary (Gawkroger) Prescott. Children of Thomas Sawyer and Mary Prescott:[5][6] Thomas Sawyer Born 2 July 1649 in Lancaster.[7] Married 4 times and had a total of 6 known children. He died 5 September 1736 in Lancaster. Ephraim Sawyer. Born on January 16, 1650/1 in Lancaster.[8] Killed by Indians on 10 February 1676 at the Prescott garrison in Lancaster. No known marriages or children. Mary Sawyer. Born on 4 January 1652/3 in Lancaster.[9] She married Nathaniel Wilder on 24 January 1723/4 in Lancaster. She died shortly before 22 January 1740/1 when her son was appointed administrator of her estate. Joshua Sawyer. Born on 13 March 1655/6 in Lancaster.[10] Died July 14, 1738; married, January 2, 1677-78, Sarah Potter James Sawyer. Born on 22 March 1657/8 in Lancaster.[11] He married (first) Mary Marble on 4 February 1677/8; married 2nd Mary Unknown (Prescott?). He died 27 January 1753 in Pomfret, Connecticut. Caleb Sawyer. Born on 20 April 1659 in Lancaster.[12] He married Sarah Houghton on 28 December 1687. He died 12 February 1755 in Harvard, Massachusetts. John Sawyer. Born on 6 April 1661 in Lancaster.[13] Elizabeth Sawyer. Born on 5 January 1663/4 in Lancaster.[14] Deborah Sawyer. Born about 1666 (no actual birth or baptism record). She died 17 July 1666 in Lancaster. Nathaniel Sawyer. Born on 24 November 1670 in Lancaster.[15] Martha Sawyer. Born on 10 August 1673 in Lancaster.[16] Hannah Sawyer. Born say 1680. No birth record is recorded, however, that she is a daughter of Thomas Sawyer is proven by property records.

Death Thomas Sawyer Footstone

Thomas Sawyer Gravestone

Died: 12 September 1706 in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts. Buried: Old Settlers Burial in Worcester, Middlesex, Massachusetts.[17][18] Will: of Thomas Sawyer of Lancaster, [y]oman.[2] Dated 6 March 1705/6; Though written in 1706, the will of Thomas Sawyer was not probated until 1720. This was likely due to a number of circumstances. He had already given away the vast majority of his land to his children, so there was no great need to establish title to any land. His oldest son Thomas had been captured by Indians and carried to Canada, so probate may have been delayed during his captivity. In 1706, his second surviving son Joshua did present the will to the court, and the widow Mary Sawyer was named to be executrix. However, she failed to follow trough with the administration of the estate. Following her death 1716, it was discovered that there was land in the estate of Thomas Sawyer which had never been properly disposed of and eventually the will and a new inventory was presented to the courts again. Following the death of Thomas Sawyer Jr. in 1736 it was discovered there was still land not properly distributed and probate was reopened. Final settlement of the estate of Thomas Sawyer did not occur until 5 November 1740, 34 years after his death. The primary importance of all the legal proceedings is they prove children which do not occur in other records. Summary: - My dear and well beloved wife Mary Sawyer... - my eldest son Thomas Sawyer... - my daughter Mary Wilder... - my other fouer sons Joshua, James, Caleb and Nathaniel
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Common Errors to Avoid

John Sawyer and Agnes Sharpe were married in Leverton, Lincolnshire, England in 1603.[19] They are proven by baptism records to have had four children, namely Elizabeth, Ellen, Susan and William.[20][21][22][23] They are of interest as they are often said to be the parents of New England immigrants William Sawyer of Newbury, Massachusetts, Thomas Sawyer of Lancaster, Massachusetts and of Edward Sawyer of Rowley, Massachusetts. However, none of these immigrants can be said to be proven children of John and Agnes Sawyer. The one most likely to be true is William Sawyer of Newbury. He was said to be aged 65 when he took the Oath of Allegiance in 1678. This almost matches the baptism John and Agnes' son William in November 1614; he would have been aged 63, not 65, in the summer of 1678. Still finding a single name with an approximately correct birth date is not good enough to establish the English origins of a Great Migration immigrant. We need a will, additional baptisms or other corroborating evidence before the identification can be made. There is no evidence whatsoever that John and Agnes Sawyer had sons Edward and Thomas - no baptisms or wills give these names. It appears William Sawyer has been assumed to be a son of John and Agnes Sawyer based on the birth date. Edward and Thomas have been said to be brothers of William based solely on them having the same last name. Therefore, Edward and Thomas must have also been sons John and Agnes Sawyer. However, since there is absolutely no evidence that Edward and Thomas were related to William Sawyer, this argument must be rejected. Marriage date: This profile previously stated he was married on 2 July 1648. There are no records to support this exact date. The Vital Records of Lancaster sinply state they were married in 1648. Even this does not appear to be an actual contemporary record but may be an addition based on the birth of their child in 1649. Immigration: Thomas Sawyer is often said to have arrived in New England with his "brothers" in 1636 on a ship commanded by Capt. Parker. There is no evidence to support this assertion. The earliest record of Thomas Sawyer in New England is the land survey of Rowley, Massachusetts in 1643. Sources

Footnotes and citations: ↑ Mighill. Early Records of Rowley. (1894): page 41. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Middlesex Probate, Probate #19992, Thomas Sawyer, 1706. ↑ Sawyer. Sawyer Families II (2005): page vi "Sawyer of England." ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 20. ↑ TAG, vol. 30 (1954): pages 74-77. ↑ Cutter, page 1545. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 10. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 10. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 10. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 10. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 10. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 10. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 11. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 11. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 13. ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 14. ↑ Carter. Sawyer Families in America. (1883). ↑ Nourse. Lancaster Records (1890): page 406. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVVS-C6B), John Sawer and Agnes Sharpe, 04 Sep 1603; citing Leverton,Lincoln,England. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMDS-8VZ ). Elizabeth Sawer, 06 Apr 1606; citing Leverton,Lincoln,England. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWHD-Q29 ). Ellyn Sawer, 23 Oct 1608; citing Leverton,Lincoln,England. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGFS-KHR ) Susan Sawre, 29 Mar 1612; citing Leverton,Lincoln,England. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J33K-Q7Z ). Willym Sawre, 17 Nov 1614; citing Leverton,Lincoln,England. Source list: The American Genealogist, vol. 30 (1954): pages 74-77."The Children of Thomas Sawyer of Lancaster", by Claude W. Barlow. AmericanAncestors.org Link Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871. (AmericanAncestors.org online database, NEHGS, 2014). Probate #19992, Thomas Sawyer, 1706. Mighill, Benjamin P. and George B. Blodgette, The Early Records of the Town of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1639-1672. (Rowley, 1894): page 41. Archive.org link. Nourse, Henry. The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1643-1725. (Lancaster, 1884). Books.Google.com link. Nourse, Henry. The Birth, Marriage, and Death Register, Church Records and Epitaphs of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1643-1850. (Lancaster, 1890). Archive.org Link Sawyer, Eleanor Grace. Sawyer Families II: Edward. William, Thomas 1636-2005. (Rockport, ME: Penobscot Press, 2005): pages 233, 237. Sawyer, Fred E. A Genealogical Dictionary of the Early Sawyer Families of New England CA 1632 - 1900. (Blackfoot, ID: Neves Printing Co., 1983): page 131. Hutchins, Marvin Clayton. Nicholas Hutchins of Lynn and Groton, Massachusetts. (C. Boyer, Santa Clarita, Calif., 1989) Page 325 Wakefield, Homer. Wakefield Memorial : comprising an historical, genealogical and biographical register of the name and family of Wakefield. (1897): page 58. Carter, Amory. Sawyers in America. Worcester, Mass.: Press of Edward R. Fiske, 1883. Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Family History of Central New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People, vol. 3. (New York, 1912): page 1545. Holman, Mary. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and His Wife Frances Helen Miller (Rumford Press, Concord, N.H., 1948) Vol. 1, Page 47

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My 8th Great Grandfather, Thomas sailed to the new world from his home in Lincolnshire, England in 1636 with his 2 brothers, Wm. and Edward. He first settled in Ipswich, and Rowley. In 1646 he moved west to what is now Lancaster, MA, with 5 other families, thereby becoming the first settlers in that area. In 1648 he married Mary Prescott, daughter of John Prescott and Mary Platt. Thomas contributed much to the settlement and development of Lancaster. he served as Prudential manager, Selectman, and Freeman. not only a blacksmith, he was a builder as well, and with his father-in-law, John Prescott, erected many saw mills and grist mills. like most settlers, he was also a part-time soldier, and the Sawyer home was one of five garrison houses where town in habitants took refuge during Indian raids. Son Ephraim died during the so-called Great Massacre of Feb. 10, 1676, when King Phillip, (an Indian chief given that name by the Engliash, in order to flatter him) and some 1500 warriors atttacked the town. Thomas Sawyer lived most of his lief in a house on a low-lying lot beside the Nashua River, bordering the Narrow Lane in South lancaster near the Atherton Bridge. i being one of perhaps many hundreds of his descendants.

Thank you to Eleanor G. Sawyer for the biograpical info taken from her book, "SAWYER FAMILIES II, EDWARD, WILLIAM, THOMAS 1636-2005" Penobscot Press. 2005

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Thomas Sawyer, our immigrant ancestor, was one of the nine persons in 1653 who organized the town of Lancaster. He was a blacksmith and farmer, and was one of the prominent citizens. His farm was on the present ground of the Seventh Day Adventists, between North Lancaster and Clinton. His house was in the most central part of the Indian raid, but he seems to have escaped with all his family, except his son Ephraim who was killed at or near the house of his grandfather, John PRESCOTT. Thomas SAWYER's garrison was a safe defence against the French and Indians, and there was said to be with the garrison a high French officer who was mortally wounded in the fight. Lancaster was deserted for three years, when the SAWYER family helped to build up the town again, and was prominent in its affairs for the next 30 years. Thomas SAWYER took the oath of allegiance in 1647, and was on the list of proprietors in Lancaster in 1648. He was admitted a freeman in 1654, when there were only five men who were freemen. He died September 12, 1706, aged about 90 years. His will was dated March 6, 1705-06, proved April 12, 1720. He mentioned wife Mary, sons Thomas, Joshua, James, Caleb and Nathaniel, and daughter Mary WILDER, whose name was usually spelled Marie.

Thomas SAWYER married Marie, daughter of John PRESCOTT, a blacksmith from Sowerby in the parish of Halifax, England, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he married Mary BLATTS, of Yorkshire. He was born in Lancashire, England, and came to Lancaster, Massachusetts, in 1645-46, for the purpose of building up the town, and he took the oath of allegiance in 1652. His family escaped the massacre and returned to the town in 1682. Children: Thomas, born July 2, 1649, mentioned below; Ephraim, January 16, 1650-51, died February 10, 1676, killed by Indians at Prescott garrison; Mary, November 4, 1652-53, married, 1673, Nathaniel WILDER; Elizabeth, January, 1654, died young; Joshua, March 13, 1655, died July 14, 1738, married, January 2, 1677-78, Sarah POTTER; James, January 22, 1657, married (first) February 4, 1677, Mary MARBLE, and (second) Mary PRESCOTT, of Pomfret, Connecticut; Caleb, February 20, 1659; John, April, 1661, married, January 16, 1686, Mary BULL, of Worcester; Elizabeth, baptized January 5, 1663-64, married James HOSMER, of Marlborough; Deborah, 1666, died young; Nathaniel, October 24, 1670, married (first) Mary _____ and (second) 1695, Elizabeth ____.

Tradition says that three brothers came to America from Lincolnshire, England, in a ship commanded by Captain PARKER. Their names were William, Edmund and Thomas Sawyer, and they arrived in 1636, although Savage finds no records of William and Thomas until 1643. In the ROWLEY records, Edmund is given as Edward, who received land in 1643, with Thomas SAWYER, one of the boundaries of each lot being next the ocean. This seems to prove that the brothers, William, Thomas and Edward, came over just before 1643, and that Edmund came over several years earlier.

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Thomas Sawyer immigrated to Massachusetts from England in 1643.

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Came with his brothers Edmund and William to America in 1635-36 Passengers with Capt Parker.

Oct 15, 1705

Thomas set up his blacksmith shop and garrison not far from his father-in-law, John Prescott. He and his sons Thomas Jr. and Elias were abducted by Indians. Thomas Jr. escaped but Thomas Sr. and Elias were carried to Montreal. Thomas was tortured along the way but he negotiated for the release of Elias with the French governor Vaudreuid. He promised to build a saw mill. Thomas was tied to a stake and they were lighting it a friar appeared and was able to convince the Indians that they would go to hell. They believed him and released Thomas. It took a year to build the mill. Elias stayed another year to teach them how to use it. The first sawmill in Canada. They returned to Lancaster.

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• https://www.smokykin.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I12391&tree=Smo...
  • Thomas Sawyer was a blacksmith and farmer. He was buried in the Old Settlers Burial Field. Reference: "The Prescott Memorial", William Prescott, 1870, p 41. Janet I. Weston, 1129 Riverside Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21230, 18 November 1994, p 2.

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Thomas was a yeoman/blacksmith by trade in England. To escape religious persecution in England, he along with two brothers (Edward & William) sailed from England to America in 1636 on a ship commanded by a Captain Parker. Records show that a piece of land bordering on the ocean was awarded to Thomas in 1643. He took the oath of allegiance in 1647. He was one of the first six original settlers in Lancaster, Massachusetts. In 1654 he was admitted a "freeman". He was one of the leading men in the town for the rest of his life, and he was a prominent member of the Church and through the years held many official offices. (wab)

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