Snow, Thankful (b. 7 FEB 1702, d. AFT 17 FEB 1755)

Note: BIOGRAPHY: The will of Nicholas Snow of Rochester, yeoman, "of advancedage" was made 25 June 1751 and proved 17 Jul 1754. He mentioned his daughter Thankful Burge was born on 7 Feb 1701 at Hardwick, Worcester Co, Massachusetts; ibid, Vol. 6 Stephen Hopkins,by John D. Austin.; ibid, The admission records of East Yarmouth church noted that Thankful Burg was dismissed from South Eastham on 30 Jun 1728 at East Yarmouth Church, Eastham, Massachusetts; ibid, John D. Austin. She died after 17 Mar 1755 at Plainfield, Windham Co., Connecticut; ibid, Vol. 6 Stephen Hopkins,by John D. Austin.; ibid

Thankful Snow descended from two Mayflower Families -- William Brewster and Stephen Hopkins

Descendant of 1620 Mayflower Passengers Stephen HOPKINS and daughter, from first marriage, Constance HOPKINS. Stephen HOPKINS was a Signer of the Mayflower Compact.

1. Stephen HOPKINS Bef. 1581 - Bef. 1644 +Mary 1580-83 - 1613
2. Constance HOPKINS Abt. 1607 - 1677 +Nicholas SNOW 1598/99 - 1676
3. Mark SNOW 1628 - 1694/95 +Jane PRENCE 1637 - Bef. 1712
4. Nicholas SNOW 1663 - 1753 +Lydia SHAW 1668 - Aft. 1712
5. Thankful SNOW 1701/02 - Aft. 1755 +Joseph BURGESS 1700/01 - Aft. 1757
6. Joseph BURGESS 1734/35 - 1820 +Mehitable SHEPARD 1735 - 1813
7. Benjamin Shepard BURGESS 1779 - 1863 +Rebecca CHAPIN 1782 - 1850

Note: Fought in the Revolutionary War
Was at the Battle of Bunker hill and Stillwater and Burgoyne

Note: Joseph and Thomasine, with Joseph, Jr., and his wife Thankful,were among the early members who constituted the 2nd or East Church in Yarmouth, 6 August 1727.

Note: (There is some question about whether John was born in England or in Massachusetts)

Birth Notes: ||In The Burgess History Tree, p. 73, Paul Burgess states (without citing his source) that John was born 10 February 1627/28 in Truro, Cornwall, England. We have seen no evidence that places our Burgess family in Cornwall or any evidence of the birth dates of any of Thomas and Dorothy's children, other than Elizabeth (based on her age at death).

General Notes: "John Burgess, the second son of Thomas, was admitted a freeman in 1657, and served as grand juror in 1661. He early removed to Yarmouth, and was deputy from that town to the Court at Plymouth in 1680. He married Mary, the daughter of Peter Worden, Sept. 8, 1657, and had a large family." Re. E. Burgess .

1657 admitted a freeman and married Mary Worden
1661 served as grand juror
1680 lived in Yarmouth and was deputy from that town to the Court at Plymouth

Note: BIOGRAPHY: Burgess Genealogy: Memorial of the Family of Thomas andDorothy Burgess. It was printed in 1865. It states" It appears that he (Thomas Burgess) arrived in Salem with a young family not far from 1630 and lodged for a time in Lynn." The earliest record in Duxbury in 1637. The book does mention that he moved to Duxbury after Lynn.

Thomas Burgess arrived in America in 1637 and lived in Sandwich, MA. He is mentioned in many of the early records of Sandwich. A marriage license was found for Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes for 1628 at Tanfield, England, parish of Chester-Le-Street, Durham County. The ancestry of Thomas Burgess is not certain. Research indicates several possible roots. On January 12, 1995, Paul F. Burgess, author of "The Burgess History Tree", wrote a letter to "The Burgess Bulletin" and stated that he had hired a researcher in England. The researcher indicated several possible connections but did state that he was not the Thomas born in 1601 in Truro, which is the one with the Pye/Phippen connections. Other possible connections include: Thomas Burgess baptized 2 Oct 1603, son of Thomas Burgess and Elizabeth Seddon of Lancashire; Another Thomas Burgess was baptized 4 Nov 1603 and his wife, Dorothy Goodman, baptized in 1613 at Coffinswell, Devonshire,England. This leads to speculation since Thomas was known as "The Goodman Burgess" in early New England records.

His gravestone lists the year of death as 1685 and his age as 82 years. This leads to assume the 1603 birth date is correct. If he was born in 1603 he is not the son of Thomas Burgess and Elizabeth Pye. He was christened in 1603 at Truro, Cornwall, England. He and Dorothy (--?--) were engaged at Parish of Chester-Le-Street, Tanfield, Durham Co., England. (This information about the engagement and marriage are true if Dorothy is Dorothy Waynes. If his wife was Dorothy Phippens then the information about Truro is correct. At this time neither one has been proved correct.) He lived circa 1630 at Naumkeag, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts; Naumkeag was later called Salem. This section of land was forfeited by his removal to Sandwich the same year. This land was assigned to Nicholas Robbins, 5 November 1638, who made remuneration to Thomas for fences and culture on 3 April 1637 at Duxbury, Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. He joined the church under the pastoral care of William Leverich. He began his military service in 1645 during the Naragansett War.

In the settlement of Sandwich, Thomas Burgess, became associated with Edmund Freeman, Henry Feake, Richard Chadwell, William Almy, Thomas Tupper, William Wood, Edward Dillingham, John Carman, George Knot and Thomas Dexter. Savage says of him, 'He was a chief man among them.' In process of time he became a large landholder, and with advancing age he was called Goodman Burgess. He served the town in every office, humble or honorable, from road-surveyor to deputy to the Court at Plymouth, for several successive years.

The original deed for Sandwidg plantation was executed by Governor William Bradford. It was ordered that Goodman Thomas Tupper, Goodman Thomas Burges Senr, Nathaniel Willis and William Gifford " Shall have the power to call a town meeting" on 22 May 1651 at Sandwidg Plantation, Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. He left a will on 4 April 1684 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts; Named 4 sons Thomas, John, Jacob, Joseph and son in law Ezra. He died on 13 February 1685 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts, at age 83. He was buried on 15 February 1685 at Old town Cemetery on Grove Street, Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts.

General Notes: DOUBTFUL THOMASES BY COUSIN JOE BURGESS, OREGON, USA.,
"Thomas and Dorothy Burgess and their young family came from Cornwall, England in (or not far from) 1630 and settled in Lynn (or Salem), Massachusetts Bay Colony." All Burgess researchers have seen similar statements - and some have accepted part or all as fact. Our purpose in this article is to question (and perhaps generate some discussion about) the Cornwall origin, but first let us look briefly at the supposed arrival date of the Burgess family in New England. "I do not know who was the first one responsible for the assertion that Thomas came to these shores about 1630, lived in Lynn or Salem, within Essex County, Mass., thence to Plymouth Colony with the Saugus (then part of Lynn) group. But there seems not an iota of documentary proof for the idea.

My careful study shows no evidence that Thomas was ever of the Bay Colony; it is apparently just an example of those myths oft repeated, sans checking, by the copyists." These words are found in Burgess Lineage, a typescript prepared for a client in 1957-1958 by Winifred Lovering Holman, S.B., F.A.S.G., whose manuscript collection is now in the NEHGS Library in Boston. (Miss Holman later married Frank R. Dodge and we will refer to her hereafter as Mrs. Dodge. We consider her discussion of the early Burgess generations in this country to be the most authoritative and best documented we have seen and will cite it several more times in the following paragraphs.)

For the first chapter alone, devoted to the progenitor, Thomas Burgess or Burge, she reviewed nearly ninety references and cited many of them. The first official record for Thomas Burgess places him in Duxbury on 3 July 1637 and shortly thereafter, he is found in Sandwich. Until we see an iota or two of documentary proof, we must consider any statement of Thomas' presence in New England much prior to this date as conjecture. For a time we too believed it very likely that Thomas was from Cornwall; we now consider it only a possibility. We began our genealogical pursuits in 1985 while living in Saudi Arabia where there are no genealogical libraries and our alternative was to create our own.

One of our early acquisitions was the three volume Genealogies of Mayflower Families from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, selected and introduced by Gary Boyd Roberts and published in 1985 by the Genealogical Publishing Company., Inc. A check of the indices quickly led us to Volume III and the article, "Ezra Perry of Sandwich, Mass." by Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean. On page 4, first published in The Register, Vol. 115 (Apr. 1961), we found "Elizabeth (Burges) Perry, born probably in or near Truro, Cornwall, England, about 1629, was the only daughter of Thomas and Dorothy Burges of Sandwich." The compilers did not disclose the basis for this probability, but we were elated; we had a clue! Not long after, we received a letter from a newly discovered cousin telling us that another cousin had told her that our Thomas was believed to have been the son of Thomas Jr. and Elizabeth (Pye) Burges of Truro, Cornwall and the grandson of Thomas and Honner (Sidman) Burges, also of Truro. Because of the Perry/Cornwall link, we had already planned to visit Truro on our next trip to England and we immediately wrote to this cousin, asking for more information about the Truro Thomas and the possibility that he could be identical to the Thomas who married Dorothy Waynes in Tanfield, co. York, in 1628.

Our letter was forwarded to R. A. Lovell, Jr., then the Archivist/Historian at the Sandwich (Mass.) Archives & Historical Center. He replied, "We have resource material on many Cape Cod families, and try to establish what is proven and detailed, as against what is claimed or hopeful. Unfortunately much that is in print and has been used by many researchers is not in the proven category." Mr. Lovell included in his reply a copy of a 15 April 1964 letter found in the Burgess material in Mrs. Dodge's papers in the NEHGS. The author, Benjamin F. Wilbour (also a descendant of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess), told Mrs. Dodge of his discovery of the Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes marriage record and added, "In the Hartford Times someone tied him up to the Burgess family of Truro in Cornwall who had a Thos. bapt. 1601... I think this very wrong, as people did not marry out of their class then, and "Goodman" Burgess who could not sign his name would hardly come from the gentry." Mr. Lovell, referring to Mr. Wilbour, stated "He therefore feels, as we do, that it is much more likely that our Thomas was the one who married Dorothy Waynes in York in 1628. However, there is no proof either way."

Other cousins, in more recent correspondence, have observed that certainly our Thomas, who "served the town in every office, humble or honorable, from road-surveyor to deputy to the Court at Plymouth" and who was called a chief man of the town, must have been literate. They point out that because of age and other infirmities, many literate persons have signed their wills with a mark and that others, especially those with strong religious convictions, signed their wills with a mark closely resembling a cross. Others, citing such works as Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Burgess' Burgess Genealogy, Memorial of the Family of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess, who were Settled at Sandwich, in the Plymouth Colony, in 1637 (Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin & Son, 1865) and Dr. Barry Hovey Burgess' Burgess Genealogy, Kings County, Nova Scotia Branch of the Descendants of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess who came from England in 1630 and settled in Sandwich, Massachusetts (New York: Chas. E. Fitchett, 1941), claim that Thomas actually signed his will with his signature. True, the wills as printed in these volumes contain no indication that they were signed with a mark and the witnesses to the will made oath "that they saw Thomas Burgess sign, seal and declare this to be his last Will and Testament." Dr. Ebenezer Burgess included the notation, "Orthography slightly amended." Dr. Barry Hovey Burgess copied from Dr. Ebenezer Burgess and added, "The compiler has searched in vain for the original document, in the hope of here presenting a photostatic copy. He fails to see any advantage in altering its orthography, for which, in those days, there were no established rules; in fact, a variety of spelling was considered by some a mark of literary skill. The purpose of any document is to convey its intent in unmistakable terms, and in this respect the will of Thomas Burgess compares most favorably with present-day documents, many of which are so encumbered with complicated legal phrases that their interpretation would defy the wisdom of Socrates."

Mrs. Dodge, in Burgess Lineage, gives us a copy of the will with unaltered orthography, with this caveat: "This seems to be an imperfect copy; it is from the official copies of the Plymouth Colony Wills, Mass. Archives, made from the volumes on file at Plymouth, Mass. The Rev. Ebenezer Burgess in his book on the family may have used the copy in the volumes at Plymouth." In addition to the unaltered orthography, the version given by Mrs. Dodge contains a significant difference: "Thomas Burg his T mark (seal)." We thus establish that not only did Thomas sign his will with his mark, but that his mark was not an "X" or a cross, but a "T." At the time he "signed" his will, Thomas was over 80 years of age and his inability to then write his full name is not proof of illiteracy. To establish that fact, we must look at earlier documents bearing his mark. Mrs. Dodge states, "It is entirely clear that neither Thomas or his son, Jacob Burgess, were able to write; few could sign their names in that epoch." In her chapter on Thomas, she cites documents spanning a full thirty years before the date of Thomas' will. It will be noted that in each instance where his mark is described, it is a "T":

5 April 1654 - Thomas Burgis of Sandwidge sold land to ffrancis Allen of Sandwidge, acknowledged by Thomas Burgess senir and Dorothy his wife before Myles Standish: "The marke of Tho T Burgis."

27 Dec 1654 - Thomas Burgis of Sandwidge sold land to John Jenkens of Sandwidge: "Thomas Burgis mark."

11 Jul 1667 - Thomas Burge witnessed, by mark, an Indian deed.

28 May 1668 - An indenture between Thomas Burg and Edmond ffreeman senr: "The mark of Thomas T Burg senior." Mrs. Dodge included a photocopy of a reduced photograph of this indenture, clearly showing Thomas' mark as a "T."

4 Oct 1682 - Inventory of the estate of Mr. Edmond Freeman, late of Sandwich deceased: witnessed by the "Mark of Thomas Burge senir.

4 Apr 1684 - Will of Thomas Burg Senr: "Thomas Burg his T mark."

On our final departure from Saudi Arabia in 1987 we spent a week in the library of the Society of Genealogists in London and then enjoyed a one-on-one tutorial with Gary Boyd Roberts at NEHGS, followed a few weeks later by a week long Come Home to New England Seminar, also at NEHGS. Thomas Burgess was no stranger to any of the professional genealogists who assisted us during those weeks; all advised us that given their knowledge of the resources available in their respective libraries, our limited time would be better spent researching other families where we would be far more likely to be successful. A genealogist at the Society of Genealogists pointed out the improbability of our Thomas being the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Pye) Burgess, noting that in the will of the latter Thomas, written 22 April 1626, his son Thomas was listed last of six sons who had not yet "accomplished the age of one and twenty," suggesting that he was the youngest, born probably not much before 1613 and quite likely several years later. This conclusion was supported by the 1620 Visitation of Truro, listing no Thomas among the children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Pye) Burgess.

Thanks to the advice to look elsewhere, we gathered so much data on other ancestral families during our week and a day at NEHGS that over five years later we are still entering that data into our computer files. In late 1991 we discovered or were discovered by several new Burgess cousins, causing us to look anew at our Burgess data. Edith Spencer, one of our new cousins, reminded us of the Truro Visitation and Cornwall wills - which we had almost forgotten until dusting off our notes - and inspiring us to a renewed effort in talking to our computer. Some of our new cousins are convinced of the Cornwall origin, some share our doubts, and some "just don't know what to believe." Our advice: don't believe anything until it is proven!"

FURTHER:
In April 1964 Benjamin F. Wilbour wrote to Mrs. Frank R. Dodge (Winifred Lovering Holman): "I think I have discovered the marriage of Thomas Burgess, Goodman Burgess. From Paver's Marriage licenses in Yorkshire Archaelogical Journal #20 Page 74 [1909]. 'Thomas Burges and Dorothy Waynes at Tanfield - There 1628.'" (His finding was published later that year in the "Register" (Oct. 1964)). "In the Hartford Times someone tied him up to the Burgess family of Truro in Cornwall who had a Thos. bapt. 1601. See Visitation of the Gentry in Vivian's Cornwall. I think this is very wrong, as people did not marry out of their class then, and 'Goodman' Burgess who could not sign his name would hardly come from the gentry." "There is however one fly in our ointment. Thomas Burgess' eldest son bore arms in 1643 and if at the right age would be 16 and therefore born 1627 but many times wanting to bear arms, they lied about their age." A copy of Mr. Wilbour's letter was provided to us by the Sandwich Archives, who added the following note: "[The day after ones' fifteenth birthday, he was automatically in his 16th year, and thus able to bear arms - Sand. Archives.]" Based only on the Tanfield marriage record, with no further proof, we tentatively place the Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes who married in 1628 as identical to our immigrant Thomas and Dorothy and based on the Sandwich Archives note, we place eldest son Thomas' birthdate as circa 1628."

Others comment:
The ancestry of Thomas Burgess is not certain. Research indicates several
possible roots. On January 12, 1995, Paul F. Burgess, author of "The Burgess
History Tree", wrote a letter to "The Burgess Bulletin" and stated that he had
hired a researcher in England. The researcher indicated several possible
connections but did state that he was not the Thomas born in 1601 in Truro,
which is the one with the Pye/Phippen connections. Other possible connections
include: Thomas Burgess baptized 2 Oct 1603, son of Thomas Burgess and
Elizabeth Seddon of Lancashire; Another Thomas Burgess was baptized 4 Nov 1603 and his wife, Dorothy Goodman, baptized in 1613 at Coffinswell, Devonshire, England. This leads to speculation since Thomas was known as "The Goodman Burgess" in early New England records.

Noted events in his life were:

Will: April 4, 1684, Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

Anecdote: May 22, 1651, Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The original deed for the Sandwich plantation was executed by Governor William Bradford 22 May 1651. It was ordered that four men: Goodman (Thomas) Tupper, Goodman (Thomas) Burgess, Senr., Nathaniel Willis, and William Gifford "shall have power to call a town meeting."

Probate: March 5, 1685.

Thomas married Dorothy WAYNES? in 1628 in Tanfield, Parish Of Chester-Le-Street, Co. Durham. Dorothy was born about 1608 in Probably England, died on February 27, 1687 in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, about age 79,and was buried in March 1687 in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Other names for Dorothy were Mrs., and Dorothy BURGESS.

General Notes: Her grave was honored by a monumental slab imported from England. "This was the only monument set up for any Pilgrim of the first generation." (Otis) The stones of Thomas and Dorothy were restored by descendants in 1917 and in 1994 were called "marvelouly legible." The cemetery is situated almost directly across the mill pond from the Thornton W. Burgess (Jr.) Museum.

THOMAS BURGE, SR., TO EZRA PERRY, 1663 Prence Govr:
The 10th of July 1663

Memorand: That Thomas Burge senr of the Towne of Sandwich in in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England plantor Doth acknowlidg that for and in Consideration of a valluable sume; to him already payed by his son in law Named Esra Perrey of the Towne aforsaid in the Jurisdiction aforsaid plantor; hee hath bargained and sold enfeofed and Confeilmed and by these prsents Doth bargaine allianate sell enfeof and Confeirme unto the said Esra Perrey the one halfe of a Certaine tract of land lying and being att a place Called Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid; which said Tract of land was purchased by Captaine Standish by the appointment of the Court of Josias of Nausett an Indian Sachem; in the behalfe of the said Thomas Burge as appeers by a Deed bearing Date the third Day of march Anno Dom 1652 and is

That Thomas Burgis of Sandwidge hath absolutly barganed and sold to Francis Allen of Sandwidge to him and heires for ever a pcell or tract of land being within a ffence which said upland I the said Thomas Burgis senr bought of Thomas Boardman. as also a pcell of meadow bought of the said Thomas Boardman as aforsaid this meadow bounded with 2 Creekes lying before or Joyning to the aforsaid upland to the said ffrancis Allen to have and to hold to him and his heires forever;

This Bargane and sale acknowlidged by Thomas Burgis senir and Dorathy his wife this 5t of Aprill 1654
before mee Myles Standish
The Marke of Tho T Burgis

"THE SETTLERS OF 1637 TO 1640"
"The names of the first sixty-two settlers here are listed in accordance with their length or stay in the new settlement:
Long-term Settlers George Allen Thomas Butler Joseph Holway Anthony Besse, Edward Dillingham Thomas Landers Robert Bodfish John Fish Benjamin Nye Richard Bourne Nathaniel Fish James Skiff Thomas Burgess Edmund Freeman Thomas Tupper Deborah Wing"

"Sandwich in 1641, was represented [as deputies of the Plymouth Colony Court] By Richard Bourne and George Allen....... In December, 1642, Thomas Burgess and John Allen."


BURIAL: THOMAS BURGESS
BORN IN ENGLAND
SETTLED IN 1637 IN THAT
PART OF SANDWICH NOW
CALLED SAGAMORE
DYED FEB Ye 13 1685
AGED 82 YEARS

THIS STONE ERECTED IN 1917
BY BURGESS DESCENDANTS
FOR BROKEN ORIGINAL

This is a replacement marker or memorial. There is no carving.

Thomas Burge[ss], his wife, Dorothy, their only daughter Elizabeth2 (Burgess) Perry, and her husband, Ezra1 Perry, are buried quite close together near the brow of the hill in the Old Burying Ground on Grove Street in Sandwich. The stones of the immigrant and his wife were restored by descendants in 1917, and so are marvelously legible (2003). Slightly uphill from those of her parents are the stones of Elizabeth and Ezra, both of which appear to be original; these too, thankfully, are legible. The cemetery is situated almost directly across the mill pond from the Thornton9 W. Burgess (Jr.) Museum.

Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1648-1870
Location: Concord
Date: 1684
Subject: Will
Number: 3578
Will: I, Thomas Burgess, Senr., of Sandwich, being through God's goodness full of years, and waiting for my change, and yet having my understanding remaining with me, - blessed be God, - and also through God's great goodness being possed of a competent outward estate, do now on serious consideration make this my las Will and Testament, touching the disposal of my estate after my dear wife and myself be decently buried, and all necessary charges defrayed, and all debts paid, the remaining part I give as followeth:

Item. I guve unto my eldest son Thomas Burgess, of Rhode Island, five pounds out of my moveable estate, to be paid by my executors after our decease.

Item I give unto my son Jacob Burgess, upon good consideration, all my house-lot, dwelling-house, barn, out-houses, all my upland on both sides of the cartway, all that belongs to my homestead dwelling. I also give him all my meadow that I have lying below Michael Blcakwell's dwelling-house on both sides of Scussett river, for him my said son Jacob Burgess to enjoy, use and possess during his natural life; and after his decease I give the said dwelling-house, barn and all the forementioned lands, both upland and meadow, to his son Thomas Burgess, my grandson, to him and his heirs forever. But if my said grandson die without heirs, then my will is that the said house and lands above-mentioned shall return to the next heir of my son Jacob Burgess. I give also to my said son Jacob Burgess all my land lying near and adjacent to Thomas Tupper's lands below the cartway, having Mr Freeman's land on the western side. These I give to him upon the condition, that he, my said son Jacob Burgess, pay or cause to be paid unto my grandson Thomas Burgess, son of my son John Burgess, ten pounds in good pay, to be made to him my grandson, at twenty-three years of age.

Item I give unto my son, Joseph Burgess, the first and second lots that adjoin his other lands near his house, if my said son accept of them so as to pay unto my son, John Burgess, five pounds; but if my son Joseph refuse said lands upon such terms, as to pay said five pounds as aforesaid, then my will is that said land return to my son Ezra Perry, and the he perform the condition, - I mean by two lots, those lots that were once ***; then I give them; I give to my said son Ezra Perry, all my other lands that lie above the said two lots, for him to enjoy forever, the which lands I bought of Mr Edward Freeman, Jr.

Item I give to my dear wife all my movable estate, to be at her own disposing at her decease. I mean chattels of all sorts that I may have.
And I do appoint and ordain my son Ezra Perry, and my son Jacob Burgess, to be my Executors to see this my last Will performed, as I witness under my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, 1684. Thomas Burgess, witness Thomas Tupper. Martha Tupper
Who made oath in Court before the Governor and Mr John Thatcher, Assistant, that they saw Thomas Burgess sign, seal and declare this to be his last Will and Testament, and that to the best of their judgement he was of a disposing mind when he so did. Mar 5 1685.
Atest Nathaniel Morton, Secondary

Dated Apr 4 1864 and proved Mar 5, 1865

Note: came from England in 1630, landing at Salem, and remained for a time in Lynn. He brought his family with him, and July 3 1637, was granted land in Duxbury. This he forfeited by his removal to Sandwich the same year and it was assigned to Nicholas Robbins, who paid him for the improvements which had been made upon the land. Thomas Burgess was on of the first settles of Sandwich, and Savage calls him "a chief man of them."

Note: BURIAL: Dorothy Burgess 1687

Partial inscription from original slate gravestone

DOROTHY BURGESS
AGED ABOUT
DYED
FEBRUARY
Ye 27
1687

Inscription from memorial plaque

DOROTHY
WIDOW OF
THOMAS BURGESS
DYED FEB Ye 27 1687
AGE NOT FOUND AT THE
TIME THIS STONE WAS
ERECTED IN 1917. FROM
BROKEN ORIGINAL BY
HER DESCENDANTS

Source: (Name)
Title: GEDCOM File : ~ATF1.ged
Note: ABBR GEDCOM File : ~ATF1.ged

Data:
Text: 4 DEC 2002

Note: The eldest son of Thomas the Pilgrim, was enrolled to beararms in 1643, when probably 16 years old.

As of 8 November 1648, Thomas was also known as Thomas Burgis. Thomas married first, Elizabeth Basset, daughter of William Bassett and Elizabeth (?), on 8 November 1648 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.

He served as constable in 1654.

He subscribed to repair the meetinghouse, and to support the minister, in 1657.

As of 7 May 1661, Thomas was also known as Thomas Burge , Jr..


Thomas Burge , Jr. posted a bond in the amount of 100 pounds, along with Ezra Perry [his brother-in-law] for fifty pounds, and his father , Thomas Sr., who posted fifty pounds, to guarantee the appearance of Thomas Jr. at the General Court to be held in Plymouth the "first Tusday in June next, to answare for a fact of vncleanes comitted by him." On 7 May 1661 at Court Of Assistants, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.7 He appeared before the court for to answer for the crime of Adultery. A transcription of the record follows:

Thomas Burge, Junir, being bound ouer to the Court to answare for an act of vncleanes comitted by him with Lydia Gaunt, hee was sentanced, according to the law, to bee seuerly whipt, which accordingly was enflicted whiles this Court was in being, and a 2cond time to bee whipt att Sandwich, att the discretion of Mr Hinckley, on the first Munday in July next after the date heerof; and as concerning the capitall letters to be worne according to the law, it is for the psent respited vntill the Court shall descerne beter of his future walkeing.
And wheras Elizabeth, the late wife of the said Thomas Burge, did vrgently sollicite the Court for a divorse, the said Thomas burge manifesting little dislike therof, and some if theire relations concurring therin, the Court, considering the nature of the fact, together with the pticulars mencioned, did see cause to graunt the said Elizabeth her desire, and therfore doe heerby declare, that henceforth they, the said Thomas and Elizabeth, are not to bee reputed husband and wife each to other, but are cleared of theire marriage bond, and are fully and clearly divorced; furthermore, the Court doth allow and determine, that the said Elizabeth, the late wife of the said Thomas Burge, shall haue and enjoy one pte of three [one-third] of all his estate, viz, lands, goods, and chattles, as her proper right foreuer; as alsoe, the said Thomas Burge consenting thervnto, att the same time the Court did allow her an old cotten bed and bolster, a pillow, a sheet, and two blanketts, that were with the paire of sheets, with some other smale thinges that are in Willam Bassetts hands, to the value of forty shillings. On 10 June 1661 at The General Court, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.6 He and Elizabeth Burge were divorced on 10 June 1661 at General Court, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England, This union produced no known children, and a divorce, being granted this date, is reputedly the first in Plymouth Colony, on the grounds of adultery, for which Thomas was whipped and forced to fofeit one third of his net worth.
Thomas married second, Lydia Gaunt between 10 June 1661 and 1668 After Thomas' divorce from Elizabeth, he married Lydia Gaunt and they removed to Newport, RI., where their son, Thomas "III" was born, and who's youngest son, Nathaniel4, eventually returned to Plymouth, then Duxbury. More information regarding this line is available upon request.

1643 Enrolled to bear arms , when probably 16 years old
1648 married Elizabeth Bassett
1654 Served the town as constable
1657 subscribed to repair the meetinghouse and to support the minister
1661 left the Plymouth Colony and removed to Newport and was divorced from Elizabeth Bassett
1661-68 Married Lydia Gaunt

He was admitted a freeman in the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and served as grand juror , in 1667.

Thomas Burge died circa 1687 in Newport, RI, New England.

Note: 1644 helped to repair the meeting-house and was an earlymember of the church
served for many years in the subordinate offices of surveyor, constable and grand juror

1657 took the oath of allegiance

Inherited, on behalf of his son Thomas the paternal estate in Sandwich, while the brothers removed, Thomas to Newport, John to Yarmouth and Joseph to Rochester
Was an Executor of his father's Will

Note: Will: listed in "Little Compton Families" as one of the first settlers ofLittle Compton.
-------------
Will of Thomas burgess page 357. 1/2
Thomas burgess of Little Compton. Will made May 10 1743.
of Little Compton Yeoman.
To wife Patience all house hold goods, except great andirons and one desk called Father Richmond's desk. Use of all my house except great namber chamber, use of one half orchard and the garden at eastward of my dwelling house as long as she remains my widow Etc.
To son Edward Burgess onefourth homestead farm with house, my son Edward now lives in, that is to say to begin at Bailey's land by the seaside and extend northerly to stone wall on south side of seaside meadow, so called and from same wall north west to sea. To extend to the northeast corner of little orchard, to highway with buildings.
To son Joseph Burgess part of my 50 acre lot east of highway called Peckom's lott from ye new wall to creeck with buildings except lot already enclosed in north west corner of sd lot, called pasture meadow.
To son John burgess 2020 acre lot adjoining Thomas Wilbor's.
To son Thomas burgess all part of homestead farm not given to son Edward with all buildins, house and part of orchard in 50 acre lot called paretree meadow; if no heirs to be divided between sons Jacob and Nathaniel.
To son Jacob 200 pds.
To son Nathaniel burgess my little gun and 200 pds.
Sons Edward and Thos Burgess joint executors.
To daughter Deborah Brownell 10 pds.
To daughter Lydia Collins ten pds.
To daughter Aigail Thomas 10 pds.
To daughter Hester Wilbour ten pds.
To daughter Mary Thurston ten pds.
To daughter Rebecca ten pds.
To daughter Martha ten pds.
To grandson Thos Burgess 5 pds.
To grandchildren, children of daughter Mary Wood, Thos, Content, Constant, Martha, Abigail, Mary and Avis Wood. ten shillings each.

Will: Witnesses.
Thomas burgess.
William Richmond
John Peabody Will proved August 16 1743.
Joseph Coe.

Will: Inventory August 4 1743.
7 cows. 2 oxen. 2 cows and bull.
64 sheep and lambs 80 pds.
homestead farm and buildings. 3500. pds.
50 acre lot east of highway called Peckoms lot 1700.
20 acre lot by Thos Wilbor.
Total 6655- 05- 0. (23000 dollars.)
---------------
Rhode Island Land Evidences
1648 -1696
Pub. R.I. Hist Soc. 1921
Pub. Baltimore 1970

Will: Page 106 #146 Thomas Burge to Thomas Ward

Will: Thomas Burge of Newport....for...six and Twenty pounds and tenn shillings
currant Silver mony of New England..paid..by Thomas Ward of
Newport..Merchant..have..sold..one quarter..of a ...share of Land both upland
and medow, beinge at Ashushena in the Towne-shipp of Dartmothk
in...Plymoth..and alsoe one third part..of a halfe..share of Land..both
upland and medow..beinge at..Pescomancusk in the Towne-ship of
Dartmoth..both..percells...I purchassed together with other land of Robert
Bartlett of Plymouth..nine - and Twentith day of July...1671
Wit Thomas Burge
John Read Lillia Burge her X marke
Richard Baily