Thomas  HUCKINS (1618 – 1679) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Thomas Huckins was born about 1618 in  England.  He came before he was 21 years of age and resided in the vicinity of Boston.  He was one of the twenty-three original members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, charted in 1638. Arthur Perry, son of Edmund PERRY was their drummer.  Thomas bore its standard in 1639.  He first married Mary Wells in 1642 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony.  After Mary died,  he married Rose TILLEY (Hyllier) on 3 Nov 1648 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony.  Thomas and his son Joseph were cast away in his vessel and perished in a gale 9 Nov 1679 .

Rose [__?__] was born in 1616  in England. She first married Hugh Tillie (later known as Hillier in 1640 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.  Hugh died in 1648 and Rose married Thomas.   Rose died in 1687 in Barnstable, Mass..

Hugh Hillier, Rose’s first husband, came to Salem from Dorchester, England in 1629, in the Lyon’s Whelp, the same ship that carried Thomas MINER.  Hugh was under the auspices of the Rev. John White of Dorchester, to serve Sir Richard Saltonstall.

3 Mar 1638/39 –  Mr. Nicholas Sympkins, Heugh Tilley and Giles Hopkins were deposed to the last will and testament of Peter Weden, the elder of Yarmouth, deceased.

1 Mar 1641/42: Heugh Tilley, of Yarmouth (and 3 others) are complained of to the scoffers and jeerers at religion, etc. and making disorders in their town meetings, etc.; are to be sent for to answer the next court, their town meetings, etc.; are to be sent for to answer the next court.

7 Jun 1642 – Before the Grand Enquest: Heugh Tilley, released. Josias Winslow complaints against William Hiller [Hillard], an action of a debt, that he pay forthwith, pay him xiijli [13£?]xvs  upon a bill which he undertake to pay one Boswell. The debt of xiiijli [9£?] was confessed, and judgement granted; 14 days respit for execucon.

William Hiller [Hillard] was born in 1614.  He came to this country in the spring of 1635 on the ship “Elizabeth and Ann”, out of London. He was a carpenter, 21 years of age.  He was involved in lots of Plymouth court cases, see here.  I wonder if he is the reason Hugh changed his name to Hillier?

August, 1643 – the Names of all the Males that are able to beare Armes from xvj [16] Years old to 60 years: Duxborrow–William Hillier [Hillard], 49 Barnstable–Will Tilly, Yarmouth – Heugh Tilly allias Hillier, 49. (this should indicate that Hugh changed his name from Tilley to Hiller).

1644: Names “Surveyors of the Heigh ways in each towne–Yarmouth: Huegh Hillier, Anthony Thather.

1657 – List of names that have taken the Oath of Fidellytye–Hugh Tillie allias Hillier.

Children of Rose [__?__] and Hugh Hillier

Children of Thomas and Mary Wells

Children of Thomas and Rose

The name was written Huckins, Hutckins, Huckens and Huggins, the latter being the early pronunciation

“In 1637, a military company was formed, and Thomas was the 6th signer of the roll.  It was incorporated as The Military Company of Massachusetts on 13 Mar 1639.   In 1639-40, Thomas was chosen ensign.  The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in North America and the third oldest chartered military organization in the world.   While it was originally constituted as a citizen militia serving on active duty in defense of the northern British colonies, it has become, over the centuries primarily an honor guard and a social and ceremonial group in Massachusetts. Today the Company serves as Honor Guard to the Governor of Massachusetts who is also its Commander in Chief.

Governor Winthrop granted a charter in March 1638, and on the first Monday in June following, an election of officers was held on Boston Common. Among the charter members was Nicholas Upsall, who later forsook his membership to join the Quakers. Since that time, the company has continued to hold their annual elections on the Boston Common on the first Monday in June by casting their votes on a drum head. Company membership has long been considered a distinction among the New England gentry in a similar manner to which regimental membership conferred distinction on the sons of the English gentry.   Since 1746, the headquarters of the Company has been located in Faneuil Hall. In this armory, the company maintains a military museum and library containing relics from every war in which the United States has been engaged since its settlement

Thomas was a member of our ancestor, Rev John LOTHROP’s church [See his page for details] and he was one of the tolerant element of that church.  “The criminal calendar records only one charge affecting his moral character. He is charged with having abused a poor servant. No details are given, and no opinion can be formed of the heinousness of the offence. Mr. Huckins was only required to pay the expenses, as he was obliged to do as the boy’s master; no fine nor punishment being imposed on him.” He was a large landowner; and captain of the packet.

Thomas had a landing place or wharf near his house, where he discharged and received freights. He was one of the ‘farmers’ or partners that hired the Cape Cod fisheries. In 1670 considerable quantities of tar were manufactured in the colony, and he was appointed one of the purchasers.  Oct 4, 1675

1646 – Elected Constable; selectman many years;

1 Mar 1653 – Thomas was licensed to sell wines and strong waters until the next June court. He had probably been authorized to keep an ordinary, or public house, during the previous ten years. He was for several years receiver of the excise imposed on the importation of wines and liquors and powder and shot. In the last mentioned year, he was captain of the packet, and he brought into the town for himself 35 gallons of wine and 9 of brandy, besides liquors and powder and shot for other persons. Mr. Otis says:

After the death of Mr. Lothrop the Barnstable church ceased to act in harmony. Mr. Huckins adhered to the party that invited Mr. William sergeant to become the pastor. This faction belonged to the political party that in 1656 had become dominant in the colony, and had adopted the narrow sectarian policy that had always ruled in Massachusetts. That Mr. Huckins adopted the intolerant policy of the party to which he belonged does not appear. Though constable in 1657, he lived on friendly terms with his neighbor Nicholas Davis (of Quaker sympathies), and as the notorious Barlow of Sandwich was employed to search the house of Davis, it may be inferred that Huckins declined to act officially in the case. In 1662, Mr. Huckins cordially united with the other factions of the church in the settlement of Mr. Walley, a man of peace and an able advocate of the ‘tolerant principles of the Rev. Mr. Lothrop.’ He was a large land owner.

“When Mr. Huckins settled there, a stream of fresh water run all the year on the south of his house, through a morass impassable by teams. In this isolated spot he kept an ordinary, as taverns were then called, for the accommodation of travellers. It is however to be presumed that the lovers of ‘strongwater’ knew the paths that lead to his house.”

1669-78 – Elected Deputy

1670 – William Clarke and Edward Gray of Plymouth; Richard Bourne and William Swift of Sandwich; Thomas Hinkley and Thomas HUCKINS of Barnstable; Samuel Sturgis, of Yarmouth and John FREEMAN of Eastham, formed a company to engage and regulate the making and disposing of all the tar made in the colony, at the price of 8 shillings for every small barrel, and 12 shillings for every great barrel, during the full term of 2 years.”**.

1671 – Member of Council of War

1675 – Commisary General  Thomas was on the Regimental Staff of the Plymouth Regiment during the Great Swamp Fight.

The following is taken from Hamlin Family Genealogy, pg. 87.

“Mr. THOMAS HUCKINS,1 b. 1617; m. 1st, 1642, Mary, dau. of Isaac Wells, of Barnstable; who was buried July 28, 1648; m. 2d, Nov. 3, 1648, Rose, widow of Hugh Hyllier of Yarmouth. Mass. Little is known of his early history; he came over before 21 years of age and resided in the vicinity of Boston; member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and bore its standard, 1639. The name was written Huckins, Hutckins, Huckens and Huggins, the latter being the early pronunciation. Several of the name came early to Mass. A Mr. Thomas Hutchins was assistant to the Governor of the Mass. Bay Company, in England, and promoter of the company; which may account for the early settlement of those of this name in Mass.; and for the prominence of the subject of this sketch. He removed to Barnstable, and was presumably one of Mr. Collicut’s Company; a superior business man, wealthy, and was one of the partners who hired the Cape Cod fisheries; constable, 1646; selectman many years; deputy, 1669-78; member of council of war, 1671; Commissary General, 1675; and held other offices of trust and honor; licensed to keep the ordinary and sell wine, 1652-3. He was a member of Mr. Lothrop’s church; of which Otis remarks: “No patent of nobility granted to an ancestor, can confer so much honor on a man as to be able to trace his descent from a member of Mr. Robinson or Mr. Lothrop’s church.” To his everlasting credit be it said, that he was of the tolerant element of that church. He was a large land owner; and captain of the packet. He and his son Joseph were cast away in his vessel and perished in a gale. Nov. 9, 1679. His widow d. 1687, aged about 71 years. “

Children

i. Deborah Hillier

Deborah’s husband John Sargent was born 8 Dec 1639 in Charlestown, Middlesex, Mass. His parents were William Sargent and Sarah Minshall.  After Deborah died, he married 3 Sep 1669 to Mary Bense who died  without issue and finally Lydia Chipman, daughter of John CHIPMAN  about 1674. John died 9 Sep 1716 in Malden, Middlesex, Mass.

“John Sargent (born in Charlestown) went to Barnstable with his father, and was admitted to inhabit there between 1662 and 1666.  He returned to Malden about 1669, where he was a selectman six years. His military service was in 1676 as a soldier in Major Gilliam’s Company, in garrison at Brookfield, Mass.

In May, 1695, the town of Malden made a division of 2,300 acres of common lands.  The distribution was by lot to all freeholders in the town, in proportion to their ratable estates, – an average of about thirty acres to each man.  Among the names are John Sargent, Sr., and John Sargent, Jr.  It was votes by the town – showing confidence in his integrity and fairness – “that John Sargent, sen’r, is the man to draw the lots.”
All his fifteen children are named in his will of May 20, 1708.

John Sargent Headstone — Bell Rock Cemetery Malden Middlesex County Mass

5. Thomas Huckins

Thomas first wife Hannah Chipman was born 14 Jan 1658, Her parents were John CHIPMAN and Hope HOWLAND. Hannah died 4 Nov 1696, Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

Hannah Huckins Headstone — Lothrop Hill Cemetery ,Barnstable, Barnstable County, Mass.

HERE LYETH INTERRED
Ye BODY OF
HANNAH HUCKINS
WIFE OF
THOMAS HUCKINS
DEC’D NOVEMBER Ye 4th
IN Ye 37 YEAR OF HER
AGE 1696 This very old gravestone displays a small winged skull in a small tympanum. It is carved in the style of William Mumford of Boston.

Hannah Huckins Headstone Details

Thomas’ second wife Sarah Pope was born 14 FEB 1657/58 Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were Thomas Pope and Sarah Jenney. After Thomas died, Sarah married 13 Nov 1676 Barnstable, Mass to Samuel Hinckley (1653-1698). Sarah died before 5 Jul 1727.

Sources:

http://capecodhistory.us/genealogy/wellfleet/Names207.htm#HUCKINS

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/b_h.htm

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/hillierrose.htm

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/hillierhugh.htm

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/huckinsthomas.htm

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Doneva-Nell-Shepard/GENE1-0032.html

Amos Otis, “Genealogical notes of Barnstable families,” 1888,

Roberts’s History of The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/d/Harry-C-Hadaway/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0115.html