Thomas TROWBRIDGE

Notes:

Name:
Thomas Trowbridge was named in his father John's nuncupative will 1 July 1649 as "eldest son" when he moved from Taunton to Exeter, where he was fined for freeman L12. On 20 Dec. 1624, according to registers of St. Mary Arches, he m. Elizabeth Marshall. In his own parish of St. Petrocks were b. to him: 6 Mar 1627, Elizabeth;
5 Nov. 1629, John;
11 Dec. 1631, Thomas;
and Sept. 1633, William.

The child Eliz. d.y. & john, the s. & h. remained in England, d. 1653; local will, naming John Manning of New England, merchant, William Davis of Muskeeta, Newfoundland, implied that he had sailed the sea with father. sons Thomas (Jr.) and William emigrated with parents to Dorchester, Mass., were James Trowbridge was born; they moved to New Haven, where Elizabeth the mother died. three children remained to have large families. Thomas Sr. returned to Exeter to remarry, by license, widow Frances Shattuck 10 Feb. 1640 in St. David's church. She, his cousin, was dau of Dorothy Trowbridge, dau. of Thos. Trowbridge (sr.) of Taunton. Thomas, Jr. paid L4 subsidy at West Munction, nr. Taunton. by 1643 they were back inNew Haven, a family of 5, rated at L500. When Taunton, under colonel, later admiral Robert Blake, was besieged by the royalists, Thomas, served as captain in Cromwell's army, 1645. Later, he supported a wounded soldier's pension claim at Taunton Court of Sessions. He gave his New England sons power of attorney for property there 14 Jan. 1664. He and they traded to the Azores from both sides of the Atlantic. He was buried at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Taunton Somerset, 7 Feb 1672.

Elizabeth, first wife of Thomas Trowbridge, and other of his children, was bapt. at St. Mary Arches Church, Exeter, 24 Mar. 1602 of a family of centre of commercial and civic power in the cathedral city. This was amply set forth in 1905 in an article by Emory McClintock, "Thomas Trowbridge and Elizabeth," NEHG 59 (1905): 291-297. Elizabeth's father, the Alderman John Marshall, Mayor in 1615, was d. by the dau.'s marriage. Her mother Alice was the second dau. of the name, bapt. at St. Kerrians church, Exeter, 7 June 1572, and marshall's bride 30 Aug 1695 at St. Mary Arches. Alice, bur. there 13 Jan. 1630/1, left her favourite dau. Mrs. Elizabeth Trowbridge, L50 and L10 piece of place. Alice's father was Richard Beavis, who d. in office as Mayor of Exeter 26 Aug. 1603. He had m. (1) Elizabeth Price, from the Welsh "Ap Rhys." mother of Alice marshall, and (2) Jane Huish, dau. of Henry Huish of Sands.

He had been engaged as mercer in Exeter in 1632, and appears to have come to New England in 1636. He had been on voyages to and from the Barbadoes. It may be that he did not intend to settle permanently in New England for he left his oldest son in England under the care of his father in Taunton. He brought his wife and two youngest sons and first settled at Dorchester, Mass. By 1639, he had removed to New Haven. He and his wife are noted in the records of the town and church as "Mr. and Mrs.', a distinction that at that time was conferred only on persons of established gentility. In 1643, in the census, his estate is given as 500 pounds; a large sum for that time and place. (N.E. Reg., 59, p. 292). Soon after this, he returned to England, leaving his boys and property in the care of his steward, Henry Gibbons, from whom, after more than twenty years, it was not easy to obtain an accounting. (Savage 4, p. 333.) He never came back. After his return to England, he issued Jan. 19, 1663-4 a power-of-attorney, to his sons in New Haven. He was a merchant, having dealings with the West Indies and a man of Prominence in Taunton.

Thomas married Elizabeth MARSHALL on 20 Dec 1624 in St. Mary Arches. Elizabeth was christened on 24 Mar 1602 in St. Mary Arches Church, Exeter; died in poss. 1641 in New Haven, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Frances SHATTUCK on 10 Feb 1640 in St. David's Church. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Sarah RUTHERFORD on 24 Jun 1657. Sarah (daughter of Henry RUTHERFORD and Sarah ?) was born on 31 Jul 1641 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut; was christened on 1 Oct 1643; died on 5 Jan 1687. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hannah NASH. Hannah (daughter of Major John NASH and Elizabeth TAPP) was born on 24 Jul 1655; died on 3 Feb 1708. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: Nov 1688

William married Elizabeth LAMBERTON on 9 Mar 1656/7 in Milford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Margaret ATHERTON on 30 Dec 1659 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Margaret died on 17 Aug 1672. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Margaret JACKSON on 30 Jan 1673/4. Margaret was born about 1649; died on 16 Sep 1727. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]