Thomas LATHROP

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He always lived in Norwich, and well sustained the social position to which he was born. He was especially held in remembrance as one who used his large wealth generously for the deserving poor; and as exhibiting to his generation a noble specimen of the old-time gentleman. His will bears date July 16, 1810, and his death, according to his headstone in the cemetery, occurred Dec. 28, 1817.

Thomas married Lydia HUBBARD on 9 Oct 1783 in Boston, Massachusetts. Lydia was born on 5 Jul 1765 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died on 26 Dec 1790. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lydia Austin LATHROP was born on 21 Sep 1792 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 29 May 1818 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Thomas married Hannah BILL on 21 Sep 1791. Hannah was born on 21 Sep 1769; died on 28 Jan 1862. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Graduated at Yale College in 1743. He became eminent among the business men of his native town. His brother Daniel and himself are reported in the sketch of Dr. Woodward as having been "successively the most celebrated druggists of their day in Connecticut. Importing medicines directly from Europe, they not only supplied a wide area of country about home, but also received orders from New York".

The following tribute, from mrs. Sigourney's "POST MERIDIAN" is well worth a place in this family memorial:
"Among childhood's unfading sketches of my native [lace, is the figure of a beautiful ole man of eight-four, Dr. Joshua Lathrop, who, until the brief illness that preceded dissolution, took daily equestrian excursions, withheld only by very inclement weather. Methinks I clearly see him now; his small, well-knit; perfectly upright form, mounted upon his noble, lustrous black horse, readily urged to an easy canter, his servant a little in the rear. I see the large, fair, white wig, with its depth of curls, the swarthy cocked hat, the rich buckles at knee and shoe, and the nicely plaited ruffles, over hand and bosom, that in those days designated the gentleman of the old school. Repeated rides in that varied and romantic region, were so full of suggestive thought to his religious mind, that he was led to construct a good little book, in dialogue form, on the works of nature and nature's God, entitled, 'The Father and the Son,' which we younglings received with great gratitude from its kind-hearted author His quick, elastic step in walking, his agility in mounting his steed, as well as his calm and happy temperament, were remarkable, ad a model for younger men."

His will, dated May 29, 1795, names as legtees his wife, "Mercy, son Thomas, daughter Lydia Austin, friends and nieces Abigail Gardiner, Hannah Thomas, Mehetabel Carew, and Sally Eells, living with me."

His death occurred Oct. 29, 1807, and that of his widow, July 7, 1833, at ninety-one years of age.

Joshua married Mercy EELLS on 5 Nov 1761. Mercy (daughter of Rev Nathaniel EELLS and Mary CUSHING) was born about 1742; died on 7 Jul 1833. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Eels, of Stonington