Thomas Marshall

LIFE OF THOMAS MARSHALL

1587-1664, ENGLAND TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BY COLONY, NEW ENGLAND

[Sailed 1634:] Thomas Marshall family of five, came with the Rev. John Cotton party from Lincolnshire, England along with Rev. John Cotton lately of St. Botolph's church in Boston, England and his wife; the Abraham Mellows family of nine; the Thomas Leverett family of four; William Dinely and wife; the Valentine Hill family of three; the William & Anna Marbury Hutchinson family of fifteen; the Richard Scott family of eight; the Atherton Hough family of three; the Richard Bellingham family of four; Nathaniel Heaton & wife; William Pearce and Richard Truesdale.

Thomas's wife Lydia and the two daughters age 6 and 2 died on the voyage. Thomas Marshall, a shoemaker and widower, came to Boston, Ma., in 1634. On March 4,1634/35, he took the oath of freeman for the first time. It was about this time that he married the widow, Alice (Mason) Willey who was the widow of Allen Willey, who had 2 little girls and after their marriage, they had two sons. Alice died on May 20,1664. Thomas was chosen to run the ferry between Boston and Charleston across the Charles River in 1636. In 1637, Thomas was penalized and his weapons taken from him because he supported Anne Marbury Hutchinson in the Antinomian Controversy, which was a religious dispute between Puritans who held sway in Massachusetts at the time, and a more liberal group, led by Hutchinson. It was at this time that he may have left Boston and gone with a group from Dorchester to establish Windsor, CT. Connecticut records show him elected to represent that community in the general court in 1638. He was also named as a founder of that town. If his absence from Boston for several years is true, he returned there in a couple of years. He was re-instated to his voting privileges as he is listed as taking the Oath of Freeman in Boston on June 4, 1641 and freeman could vote. Thomas established a residence in an area bound by the Mill Creek on the east, Hancock street on the north, Union street on the west and a marsh to the southeast. The area is know as the Blackstone District in modern times and a pathway that he donated through his property in 1652 is now known as Marshall Street in present day Boston. In 1647, Thomas was elected selectman for 10 consecutive years and as such, he partipated in many important decisions for Boston. In 1650, Thomas served as Deacon for thirteen years in the First Church, the oldest church in Boston, Massachusetts. On July 4,1663, Thomas, described as "shoemaker"..."for natural affection and love"granted his "well beloved son Samuel Marshall of Windsor in New England...his dwelling house, garden, yard and orchard in Boston, Bounden south-east by John Cleare, east by Thomas Fitch, northeast by Hugh Drury, northwest by the highway leading to the watermill. "On the same day, Samuel leased the property back to his father for life. Thomas may have been buried in King's Chapel, the oldest burial ground in Boston, Massachusetts.

Anestry Chain: [10th gr. grandfather] Thomas MARSHALL Immigrant b.1610, Captain Samuel MARSHALL Immigrant b.1630, Deacon Thomas MARSHALL b.1663, Catherine MARSHALL b.1699, Catherine FOWLER b.1723, Lydia NOBLE b.1768, Horace Datus ENSIGN b.1797, Martin Luther ENSIGN b.1831, Harriett Camilla ENSIGN b.1859, George Ensign SMITH b.1898, Camilla SMITH b.1926, Lark, JR.

Anestry Chain: [12th gr. grandfather] Abraham MELLOWES Immigrant b.1570, Christian MELLOWES Immigrant b.1611, Sarah PETIT b.1648, Elsje SKILLMAN b.1672, Jannetje ATEN b.1704, Thomas LUCAS b.1730, Abraham LUCAS b.1761, Thomas LUCAS b.1788, Marcy Jane LUCAS b.1814, Polly WILLIAMS b.1838, Elizabeth Ann DAVIS b.1859, Laura Elizabeth PARKER b.1889, Kirt DeMar WOOD b.1923, Lark WOOD, TR.