Lt. John TOMSON (1616 – 1696) was Alex’s 9th Great Grandfather; one of 1,024 in this generation of the Miller linehjwas of Scottish descent.  It is said his father died soon after his birth, and his mother married again.  Even the name of his step-father is not known.  One theory is that his father was Amos THOMPSON who was born in or near Orby, Lincolnshire, England and married Carynthaphuch JACKSON on 10 Nov 1697 in Orby, Lincolnshire, England.

Ignatius Thompson’s “Genealogy of John Thompson” says he came to America in “the third embarkation,” a company under the patronage of Thomas Weston, a merchant of distinction in London. The company contained 60 or 70 men, some of them with families. Among them was John Tompson, then 6 years old. They landed at Plymouth early in May 1622. However, there seems to be some errors in Ignatius’s account.

What is properly called the “third embarkation,” the “Little James and Anne,” actually arrived in Aug 1623 with 60 passengers. There were other other arrivals, the “Sparrow” in May 1622, with seven passengers, was indeed sent by Thomas Weston. Still another arrival was the “Charity and Swan” in Jul 1622, also sent out by Thomas Weston, with sixty colonists bound for Wessagusset or Weymouth, which stopped at Plymouth with letters from Mr. Weston stating that he had quit the “Adventurers.” John Thompson may have indeed arrived in May 1622 as Ingnatius Thompson said, but this was not termed the “third embarkation.”.

John married Mary COOKE on 26 Dec 1645 in Plymouth, Mass.  John died 16 Jun 1696 in Middleboro, Mass.

John Tomson – Memorial, Middleboro, Mass – “In Memory of LIEUT. JOHN THOMPSON, who died June 16, ye 1696, in ye 80th year of his age. This is a debt to nature due, Which I have paid, And so must you.

Mary Cooke was born before 22 May 1627 in Plymouth, Mass.  Her parents were Francis COOKE and Hester MAHIEU. Mary died 21 Mar 1714 in Middleboro, Mass.

Children of John and Mary:

Parents and Siblings

Amos THOMPSON was baptized 5 Apr 1575 in St Margarets, Sibsey, Lincolnshire, England  He married Carynthaphuch JACKSON on 10 Nov 1597 in Orby, Lincolnshire, England. Amos died 10 Nov 1606 in Orby, Lincolnshire, England.

Western Tower, St. Margaret’s Sibsey, Lincolnshire, England

PARISH REGISTERS AT ORBY, LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND, FHL microfilm #504,584, cited in the article by Jane Fletcher Fisk, EDWARD WILCOX of Lincolnshire & Rhode Island, NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. 147, Apr 1993, page 188 & subsequent.
Amos Thompson marryed Carynthaphuch Jackson 10 Nov 1606.
i. Susanna Thompson, the daughter of Amos Thompson, baptized 6 Sep 1607     Edward Wilcocke & Susan Tomson [married] 12 May 1631.
ii.   John THOMPSON, the sonne of Amos Thompson, laborer was bap. Dec’ber 21, 1609
iii.    George [son of] Amos Thopson [baptized] Febrary 13th 1619/20  George Thompson, son of Amos Thompson [buried] June 2, 1620

Lt. John Tomson

John is was a pioneer in three areas inland from Plymouth:  Halifax, Bridgewater and Middleborough.

Halifax, Plymouth, Mass

Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass

Middleborough, Plymouth, Mass

John  was a carpenter, though his primary occupation was a farmer. Besides building his own houses, he built homes for others. In 1637 he and his friend Richard Church built the first framed meeting house in Plymouth. He then sued Thomas Willett, the town’s agent, for not complying with the contract. As compensation for his labor, the town gave him a deed to a piece of land extending back from the market house to the herring brook, later called Spring Hill. He was great friends with Richard Church, and after his death, with his brother, Captain Benjamin Church, the Indian fighter.

On 3 Mar 1645 he purchased a house and garden of Samuel Eddy near Spring Hill in Plymouth.

He purchased his first farm in Sandwich, in that part called Nobscusset, where he lived for a few years. He soon came to the conclusion that he could better his fortune by moving further into the interior.

He selected a place 13 miles west of the village of Plymouth on the outskirts of Bridgewater, Middleborough, and what later became Halifax. He purchased land of William Wetispaquin, sachem of the Neponsets, the purchase having been approved by the Court. The deed is recorded in Book 4, page 41, in the Registry of Deeds for Plymouth County. His homestead, including other purchases other than the above deed, contained more than six thousand acres. It was later divided into more than one hundred farmsteads. It commenced at the herring brook in the northern part of Halifax and extended nearly five miles south into Middleborough. He built a log house in Middleborough, about twenty rods west of the Plymouth line, where he lived until it was burned by the Indians.

Tradition says that he began clearing land with the intention of locating his house near where the saw mill of Ephriam B.Thompson later stood. After working for a while, he became thirsty and went into a valley near by to search for water. Upon finding a lively brook of pure water, he came to the conclusion that the spring could not be far away. He followed the brook up about one hundred rods and came to the fountain of pure, gushing water. A clearing was made here and a log house built.

Charles H. Thompson says, “The importance of locating near a spring of never failing water, instead of attempting to dig wells, at that time, is apparent when we consider that shovels and spades in those times were made of wood instead of iron; wooden shovels were used by the third and fourth generations from John Thomson. When Ebenezer, a grandson of his, had a wooden shovel pointed or shod with iron, it was considered a very great improvement and was borrowed by the neighbors far and near. The ancient practice of building dwelling houses near springs and running water accounts for the very crooked roads in many localities of the old colony.”

John served as representative from Barnstable in 1671 and 1672. He was a sergeant of the military company in 1673. He became a representative for Middleboro about 1674 and served for the next eight years.  He was Selectman in Middleborough from 1674 to 1687. He became a Lieutenant of the military company in 1675, and was in that year a commander of a garrison in King Philips War.

During King Philip’s War (1675–76), Middleborough’s entire populace took shelter within the confines of a fort constructed along the Nemasket River. (The site is located behind the old junior high school (now a kindergarten), and is marked by a state historical commission marker along Route 105.) Before long, the fort was abandoned and the population withdrew to the greater shelter of Plymouth colony; in their absence, the entire village was burned to the ground, and it would be several years before the town would be refounded.

Jun 1675  – The residents of Middleborough, were becoming agitated   “…many occurrences served to confirm the fears of the Middleboro settlers. Some of the Indians were sullen and morose, manifesting unusual eagerness in procuring firearms and powder at almost any cost…the settlers…found their cows milked, and occasionally some animal missing.

Most of the inhabitants, especially those living far from the centre, thought it unsafe to remain about their farms and came to the garrison, some taking their provisions and household furniture, others in such haste that they left everything, on hearing of the attack on Swansea. They were unable to gather their crops, and no aid could be sent from Plymouth, as all of the available forces in the colony had been dispatched to towns where the danger was even greater than at Middleboro.…

John Tomson formed sixteen able-bodied men into a company for their protection….The company was equipped, beside the ordinary gun, which every settler possessed, with a long gun, evidently made for purposes other than hunting. It was seven feet, four and a half inches long…besides these they had a haliberd, a brass pistol, and a sword….

Early in June a band of warriors was seen from the fort on the opposite bank of the river, near the “hand rock,” so called from an impression of a man’s hand upon it. Here for several days an Indian came and offered insults in gestures and words to the garrison to provoke an attack…

After careful consideration it was decided that they should attempt to shoot him. The gun of the commander, especially adapted to a long range, was brought out, and Isaac Howland was selected for his skill as a marksman. He fired, resting the gun on the shoulder of a comrade, and the Indian fell, mortally wounded. The shot was considered remarkable at the time, as the distance was one hundred and fifty-five rods, [850 yards, about half a mile] much beyond the range of the ordinary musket. The Indians, raising a yell, bore the wounded man away to the house of William Nelson…where he died….The house was then burned.

Immediately after the fall of the Indian, the warriors who were about him sought revenge and attacked the grist-mill of Samuel Barrows. They crept along the fence to within gunshot, but Mr. Barrows saw them approach and, suspecting their design, ran out to shut down the mill, and then fled for his life…he escaped unharmed to the fort with some bullet holes in his coat. After the mill was burned, many of the houses were destroyed by fire….The inhabitants who had found refuge in the fort remained about six weeks; then it was deemed wise to go to Plymouth…the inhabitants remained in Plymouth till after the close of the war.

John died 16 Jun 1696 at Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in his 80th year. He was buried in the first burying ground in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

John Tomson – Biography

John Tomson – Biography 2

Children

1. Adam Tomson

Adam was born less than nine months after his parents marriage, for which they were fined.

3. John Tomson

John’s wife Mary Tinkham was born 5 Aug 1661 in Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were Ephraim Tinkham aned Mary Browne. Mary died 1731 in Halifax, Plymouth, Mass

4. Mary TOMSON (See Capt. Thomas Philip TABER‘s page)

5. Esther Tomson

Esther’s husband William Reed was born 15 Dec 1639 Weymouth, Norfolk, Mass. His parents were William Reed and Iris Avis Deacon. William died before 2 Sep 1706 at: Weymouth, Norfolk, Mass.

6. Elizabeth Tomson

Elizabeth’s husband William Swift was born 28 Aug 1654 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co, Mass, His parents were William Swift III and Ruth Tobey. William died 17 Jun 1700 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co, MA.

Some sources say Elizabeth was “not the daughter of John Thomson as often assumed”. and that Elizabeth married Thomas Swift.

Thomas Swift was born on 30 (5) 1659 in Dorchester, Mass. His parents were Thomas Swift and Elizabeth Vose. He is problematic. He died before his father and, in his will, his father appears to suggest that his son Thomas, might not really be his son. Vose says that he was unmarried, but is usually claimed that married Elizabeth Tomson. Some, however, suggest that Elizabeth married a William Swift

7. Sarah Tomson

Never Married

8. Lydia Thompson

Lydia’s husband James Soule was born 4 Oct 1659 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass. His parents were John Soule and Rebecca Simmons. His grandfather George Soule (c. 1595 – 1679) was a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and one of the original 102 Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower.  Soule was born in England about 1595, and as a young man became a teacher to Edward Winslow‘s children. Soule came with Winslow to America on the Mayflower in 1620 probably as an indentured servant. He was present at the time of the “First Thanksgiving” in 1621. In the 1623 Plymouth division of lands, Soule received 1-acre as a passenger on the Mayflower. About 1626, Soule married a woman named Mary (likely Mary Buckett), and they had nine children: Zacariah, John, Nathaniel, George, Susanna West, Mary, Elizabeth, Patience, and Benjamin. In 1637, Soule volunteered to serve during the Pequot War. Soule moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts at some point before 1642 and eventually became a prominent landowner there. He served as a deputy (representative) for Duxbury to the Plymouth General Court and on many committees in Plymouth Colony. Soule died in 1680, leaving a sizable estate. He was likely buried in Miles Standish Burial Ground where a stone was later erected in his memory.

James died 27 Aug 1744 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Mass

James Soule Headstone — Cemetery at The Green Middleboro Plymouth County Mass

Perhaps America first conscientious objector, James Soule was impressed 2 April 1690 “for services of Their Majesties at Canada” and, having refused to serve  on the Canadian expedition., was sentenced 9 Oct 1690 by the Council of War at Plimouth to fine and imprisonment.  His will dated Middleboro 30 Nov 1736, proved 20 Sept 1744, names wife Lydia; daughters Rebecca, and Martha Faunce wife of Joseph; son Jacob who was also named executor.  A codicil dated 22 Aug 1744 notes the death of his wife and son Jacob and names as executor Benjamin Weston, “faithful kinsman of Plympton.”

Lydia Tomson Soule Headstone — Cemetery at The Green Middleboro Plymouth County Mass

9. Jacob Tomson Esq.

Jacob’s wife Abigail Wadsworth  was born 25 Oct 1670.  Her parents were Deacon John Wadsworth and Abigail Andrews of Duxbury.  Abigail died 15 Jan 1744 in Halifax, Plymouth, Mass, in her 75th year, according to her gravestone, beside her husband’s.

Abigail Wadsworth Tomson Headstone — Cemetery at The Green Middleboro Plymouth County Mass.

Jacob was one of the original members of the First Church of Middleborough, Selectman from 1697 to 1702, and again from 1706-1726 and Representative in the General Court in 1716 and 1719. In the local militia he was ensign in 1700 and in 1708 was made Captain.

Middleborough Map drawn by Jacob Tomson in 1718 Jacob surveyed the “26 Men’s Purchase” dividing it among the Proprietors  into lots

Jacob  held a commission of Justice of the Peace a number of years. He was often referred to as “Jacob, Esquire.” He died 1 Sep 1726 in the 65th year of his age. Jacob and Abigail (wadsworth) had ten children, five of them living “beyond the common age allotted to man.” Caleb lived to be 75, John 90, Jacob 94, Barnabas 94, and Mercy 100. Jacob Tomson, his son, was appointed administer of the estate of his father, Jacob, Esq. who died intestate. On 22 Sep 1726 Jacob Tomson, as administrator, Thomas Tomson, and Ichabod King, gave a bond as sureties of Middleborough. The inventory of the estate was reported on 7 Mar 1726/7 with the personal estate valued at £652 19s, 7d. The inventory reported “instruments belonging to  surveying and writing” valued at 16s 2d, and 3s 9d respectively. “paper and parchment” was valued at 7s. The real estate amounted to £4,568  03s, considerable wealth for the time.

Probate, Relating To The Estate Of Jacob Tomson.

On 22 Sep 1726, “mr Jacob Tomson of middleboro” was appointed administrator on the estate of “your Father Jacob Tomson Esqr late of Middleboro …. dyed Intestate”

[From unrecorded bond] On 22 September, 1726 Jacob Tomson, as admirristrator, with Thomas Tomson and Ichabod King, as sureties, all three of Middleborough, gave a bond for £2000. The witnesses were Consider Howland and Nehemiah Bennett.

[From original warrant] On 23 September, 1726, “mr Isaac Cushman mr David Bosworth both of Plimpton and mr Samuell Harrow of Middleborough” were appointed to appraise “all the Estate both Reall and Personall”

An inventory of “ye Estate both Real & Personal” was taken, by the three appraisers, at Middleborough, 7 March, 1726/27. The personal estate was valued at £652, 19s., 7d. “Instruments belonging to Surveying & writing” were valued at £2, 3s., 9d.; “Paper & Parchment” 7s.
The real estate, amounting to £4568, 3s., was as follows:

“His two hundred acre Lotts being in Number ye 12th & ye 18th Lotts with ye 14th Lott of meadow all in ye 26 mens Purchase & given by Deed to His Son Jacob” £220.
“His Lott of meadow in ye upper meadow in sd Purchase” £20.
“His Lott of meadow Ground bought of John Haskall & Isaac Wallker being ye 10th Lott in sd Purchase” £18.
“His Lott of Cedar Swamp bought of Adam Wright being ye 34 Lott in sd Purchase” £60.
“This Lott in ye first allottment in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase in ye Right of anthony Snow being ye 46th Lott” £55.
“His Lott in sd first alkittment bought of Jabez Wood being …. ye Eleventh Lott” £30.
“His two Lotts in ye third allottment in sd Purchase in ye Right of John Haskall being … ye 23d & 24th Lotts with I/4 of ye 18th Lott &: 19th Lotts in Said 3d allottment” £33.
“His 3/4 of ye 44th Lott in ye above sg first allottment” £36.
“His 169th Lott Bought of Samuel Barrows, His one halfe of ye 173 Lott bought of Samuel Dellanoe & His 2/3 of ye 156th & 174th Lotts in ye Right of mr Samuel Fuller all in ye third allottmont in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase” £63.
“Ells 51st & fifty Second Lott & ye Lott which He bought of Samuel Sampson all in ye South Purchase: with His Sixteen
The Estate of Jacob Tomson, Esq. 169
acres Laid out with ye Lands of Ephraim morton in sd Purchase with all ye Comon Land which He bought of Leiut Nathaniel Southworth in Said Purchase Except a Small Parcell thereof Lying on ye west side of ye black Brook” £173.
“His Thirty acre Lott Called ye Pine wood Lott in …. Snipetuit Purchase with ye 14th Lott III sd Purchase as also His Lott of Cedar Swamp adjoyning thereto” £95.
“all His Rights in ye Little Shares in last allottment in Said South Purchase” £8.
“His 3/4 of ye 57th Lott in assawamsett neck in ye Right of Experience michell, with 3/8th of ye Saw: mill on Bartletts Brook £42, 1s.
“His Homestead with Buildings with all His Lands meadows & Swamps whether in middleboro, Plympton, or Pembrooke Lying on ye north side of winnatuxit River Excepting His Lott of meadow Lying on ye north Side of Colchester brook in Plympton” £1099, 5s.
“His 3/8th of ye Saw: mill near His House” £34.
“His Lott of Cedar Swamp :Bought of Samuel Bennett in ye 26 mens Purchase with one third of His 21 acres of Land on ye Beach Island in sd Purchase” £43, 6s.
“His fourty first & fourty Eight Lotts in ye South Purchase” £40.
“His 2/3d of a Lott on assawamsett neck in ye Right of mr Samuel Fuller” £16.
“His Lott of Cedar Swamp Bought of Nathan Howland being ye 16th Lott with one third Part of His 22 acres on ye Beach Island both in ye 26 mens Purchase” £28, 7s.
“His fifty ninth, Eighty Seventh & Eighty Eighth Lotts in ye South Purchase” £80.
“His three twenty five acre Lotts butting on ye great River with His Lott of Cedar Swamp in ye Right of Capt Mathew Fuller & one third Part of His twenty one acres of Land on ye Beach Island all Lying in ye 26 mens Purchase” £183, 7s.
“His Lott of meadow lying on ye north side of Colchester brook in Plympton with 1/8th of ye Saw: mill on Bartletts brook in middleboro” £67, 10s.
His Lott of Land in ye original Right of John morton in ye first allottment in ye 16 Shilling Purchase His 8th 9th & tenth Lotts in ye Second allottment in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase with His Peice of Land bought of Leiut Nathaniel Southworth adjoyning to ye Southerly Side of ye abovesaid tenth Lott” £118.
“His Eleventh Lott in Snipetuit Purchase with His Lott in
170 The Estate of Jacob Tomson, Esq.
ye Cedar Swamp Called black brook Cedar Swamp in sd Purchase. His two Shares & a Halfe in ye fourth allottment in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase” £75.
“His two Lotts in ye first allottment in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase being …. ye 62d & 65th Lott with two thirds of ye 40th Lott in Said first allottment” £97.
“His Halfe Lott of Cedar Swamp bought of david Alden in ye 26 mens Purchase” £11.
“His Quarter of a Share of Cedar Swamp in ye Right of Experience michel in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase with His two & a Quarter acres of meadow on baiting Brook” £3, 10s.
“His 106 acres of Land in ye five mens Purchase with ye 157th Lott in ye South Purchase given by deed to His daughter marcy Bennett” £160.
“His 4th & 20th Lotts in ye South Purchase” £60.
“His 105th & 106th Lotts in sd South Purchase” £60.
“His 107th & 108th Lotts in sd South Purchase £54.
“His 114th & 168th Lotts in sd South Purchase £41.
“His 197th Lott in Said South Purchase” £20.
“The one halfe of His Share of Land in ye Purchase Called Lothrops & Tomsons Purchase adjoyning to Rhochester Lands” £100.
“His 58th & fifty ninth Lotts on assawamsett neck with one third Part of ye Island Called annuxanan in quitticus Pond” £40.
“His 32 acres of Land on sd neck being Part of ye Lott which did formerly belong to Foelix ye Indian” £50.
“His one Halfe of ye Lott of Land at wopanockett in ye Right of william Bradford Junr” £11.
“His 3/4 of ye two Lotts in South Purchase in ye Right of Experience michel” £38.
“The one Halfe of His Share of Land in …. Lothrops & Tomsons Purchase adjoyning to Rhochester Lands” £100.
“His 30th & 37th Lotts with Halfe ye 28th Lott all Lying on assawamsett neck” £64.
“His 6th Lott in Snipetuet Purchase with His 122 acre between sd 6th Lott & Quittagues Pond in sd Snipetuit Purchase” £160.
‘His 37 & fourty Seventh Lotts in ye South Purchase” £45.
His Halfe Lott in ye Second allottment in ye Right of william Bradford Junr being ye 47th Lott” £15.
His 82 d & 98th Lotts in ye third allottment in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase” £38.
His 106th & 1 17 Lotts in sd 3d allottment ‘ £35.
His 121st & 124 Lotts in sd 3d allottment” £48.
The Estate of Jacob Tomson, Esq. 171
“His 128 & 181 Lotts in sd 3d allottment” £48
His 163d & 164 Lotts in sd 3d allottment £30.
“His 2/3d of a Share in ye Right of mr Samuel Fuller & I/4 of a Share in ye Right of Experience michel in ye fourth allottment in ye 16 Shilling Purchase” £1, 18s.
“His Second Lott 69th & 70th Lotts in ye Second allottment in ye 16 Shilling Purchase” £97.
“His 45th 48th & ye 57th Lotts in ye third allotment in ye Sixteen Shilling Purchase with 16 acres at Sprouts meadow near Said Lotts” £128.
His Sixty Second, 74th & 75th Lotts in Said 3d allotment with halfe ye 63 Lott in Said allotment” £110
“His Halfe of ye 53 Lott in sd 3d allotment” £18
His 2/3 of a Share of Cedar Swamp in ye Right of Samuel
“His 4 shares in ye Right of matthew Fuller, Peregrin White, anthony Snow, & I Share bought of Timothy wood in ye South allohnent in sd Purchase” £8.
“His 90 acres of Land laid out to ye westward of the Pond Called ye Elders Pond in ye 16 Shilling Purchase” £160.
all His Interest in ye Lands Laid out on ye Easterly Side of namaskett River on ye northerly Side ye fall brook in sd Sixteen Shilling Purchase” £17.
“His 1/4 of ye Saw: mill on ye Herring River” £30
The inventory was sworn to by “mr Jacob Tomson administrator, and by the three appraisers, on 9 Mar 1726/27.
[5 :230, 231] On 22 Mar 1726/27,

Caleb Tomson, Esther Tomson, Hannah Tomson and Mary Tomson, children of “Jacob Tomson Esqr Late of middleborough”, and all minors between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, chose “mr Thomas Tomson of middleborough as their guardian, and the choice was allowed.

Jacob Tomson Headstone — Cemetery at The Green Middleboro Plymouth County Mass

10. Thomas Tomson

Thomas’ wife Mary Morton was born 15 Dec 1689 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.  Her parents were John Morton and Mary Ring.  Mary died 20 Mar 1781 in Halifax, Plymouth, Mass

Thomas Tomson Jr. Bio

11. Peter Tomson

Peter’s first wife Rebecca Sturtevant was born 1670 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Mass.

Peter’s second wife Sarah Simmons 1670 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were Moses Simmons and Patience Barstow. Sarah died 24 Oct 1742 in Halifax, Plymouth, Mass

Peter’s third wife Sarah Wood was born 1682 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Mass.

11. Mercy Tomson

Never Married

Sources:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onebigfamily/all/aqwg1147.htm#29304

http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Tomson_(1)

http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/cooke/d9.htm#P33

http://www.themorrisclan.com/GENEALOGY/TOMSON%20John%20F3824.html

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=10565523

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=10565523&st=1