Thomas Willey, of Oyster River

notes

Date of birth might specifically be 1617.

comments

Date and place of death have also been (erroneously?) reported to be September 7, 1681 at Oyster River Parish (which does not seem to have existed), Strafford County, New Hampshire.

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From https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/LCX6-3DG/details

It is not certain when Thomas Willey arrived in the colonies, but prior to 1639. Some trees indicate that Allan Willey, of Boston is his father, while others indicate his father is a Frederyck. Please provide DNA or other evidence so that this may be permanently documented. Family legend indicates that 3 Willey brothers arrived from England. At the current time, nothing confirms whether the early Willey's in the colonies are related.

He was taxed in what is now Dover, NH in 1648 and 1650.

Prior to 1650, he was married to the Margaret, the widow of Stephen Crafford (Crawford) who was a fishing master at the Isles of Shoals. Stephen's partner was Wm Seavey - who ended up being the guardian for their two daughters, Susan and Sarah. In 1649, proceedings commenced to move the guardianship to Margaret (their mother), and Thomas Willey. Susan had already died after some doctoring, but Sarah and her father's inheritance were put under the administration of the Willey's. Stephen was cast away in a shallop before July 1642. Margaret's maiden name is not confirmed yet (please provide any evidence that you might have so we can put this to rest as well). Some list her name as Graffit (which some say is a misspelling of Crawford - but maybe it is Griffiths or something similar). Others say her maiden name is Long, or Ward or Leathers. Any evidence would be useful.

In 1651, Thomas Willey was sworn in as the constable of Oyster River.

They had 4 children. Sons, Samuel, Stephen, William, and John. Abigail and her husband William Leathers gave receipt of all dues from the beginning of the world to Margaret Squires (Thomas's widow). It is thought Abigail is his daughter, but she is his granddaughter.

Land was obtained on the Oyster River - and for the next 50 years or more, residents bordering the river, and in Oyster River Plantation area wanted to be considered separate from the neighboring communities of Durham or Dover. In 1669, Thomas signed a petition to the governing body in Boston for the citizens of Oyster River area to build, at their own expense, a meeting house for worship.

In Sep 3, 1680, Thomas Willey and his wife, Margaret, were deposed for another land matter. He indicated that he was 63, and she was 65. He indicated that he had farmed land there for about 40 years (so since at least 1640) - indicating they were some of the earliest settlers in that area. In 1640, it is believed he was living with the family of Darby Field. A creek there was named Willey's creek, and one of the points along the Oyster river was named Willey's point. The road to Durham was also called the Willey's creek road. Much of this land was handed down through at least 4 generations of Willey's. In 1694, 3 of Thomas' grandchildren were carried captive by Indians/Frenchmen into Canada, and the home there was burned.

His estate was managed by his widow Margaret and son John. Originally Samuel was to be the administrator, but passed away prior to his fathers death. Thomas died about 1680.

Margaret remarried Bernard Squire.

https://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.geocities.com/...

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Willey-65

Thomas Willey (1617 - 1681)

Thomas Willey

Born 1617 in Lancashire, England

Son of Rycherd Willey and [mother unknown]

[sibling%28s%29 unknown]

Husband of Margaret (Geaffit) Squier — married 6 Oct 1645 in Oyster River, Strafford, New Hampshire

Father of Samuel Willey, William Willey, Stephen Willey, Sarah Willey and John Willey

Died 1681 at about age 64 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire

Profile last modified 5 Nov 2021 | Created 20 Feb 2011

Biography

Thomas Willey migrated from England to USA. Flag of USA
Willey New Hampshire Line is located at this web source: http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.geocities.com/P...

Y-DNA Information: There are a number of descendants of Thomas Willey who have taken the BigY700 "next generation sequencing" test at FTDNA. They have a "terminal SNP" of I-FGC10448. The information can be viewed in Group 6 of the FTDNA "Wiley Project." Some researchers have suggested that Thomas had a brother named Isaac Willey, but some descendants of Isaac may be part of the R-M269 haplogroup. [William Archerd, co-administrator of the Wiley Project; 23 Nov 2020.]

References

• New England Marriages Prior to 1700
• History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) : with genealogical notes
• Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn,. History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) : with genealogical notes. Durham, N.H.:Vol. 1 by Everett S. Stackpole and Lucien Thompson: v. 2 by Everett S. Stackpole and Winthrop S. Meserve.
• New Hampshire Probate Records, 1635-1753
• Batchellor, Albert Stillman, ed. Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire 1635-1740. Concord, NH, USA: Rumford Printing Co., 1907. Metcalf, Henry Harrison, edi
• Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623-1660. n.p., 1908.Original data: Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623-1
• Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire
• Willey - New Hampshire line PDF
• History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes. by Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn, 1850-; Thompson, Lucien, 1859- joint author; Meserve, Winthrop Smith, 1838- joint author (Publication date 1913). Page 382. < Archive.Org >
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Geaffit-1