52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #6 John Thomson, Father of Esther

While researching for my last post about Esther Thompson—wife of William Reed and daughter of John Thomson and Mary Cooke—I ran into an unusually large paper trail for Esther’s father and my probable 8th great-grandfather—John Thomson / Tompson / Thompson, born 1616. In addition to two published family histories, I found many web pages, periodical articles, and other write-ups about him. I also came across references to several items once associated with John that are now held in museums. Links to these items are at the end of the post.

John’s name appears in records and later writing as Tomson/Tompson/Thomson, and eventually Thompson. He was born in North Wales in 1616. His father reportedly died soon after his birth, and his mother remarried. Tradition says John arrived in Plymouth in early May 1622, at about age six, on a voyage connected to Thomas Weston—but the exact ship is unclear. The published accounts I’ve seen don’t name his parents or stepfather, which leaves a question:  was “Thomson” his birth surname, or did it come from his stepfather?

The above photo was posted on Find a Grave by Chip5610 and used with the written permission of Chip5610 (#46997557) at Find a Grave. The monument is located along Route 105, at Orchard Circle in Halifax, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

John first lived in Barnstable County, later moved inland, and eventually became an early settler in the town of Middleborough in Plymouth County. He married Mary Cooke on 26 December 1645. Mary was the daughter of Francis Cooke, a Mayflower passenger. John and Mary had eleven known children. John is described as a farmer and carpenter, and some accounts credit him with helping build the first framed meeting house in Plymouth in 1637 and with building houses on his various properties, as well as for others. He also served the community in local offices, including selectman, constable, surveyor,  juror, and deputy. He served in local militias and was promoted to Lieutenant during King Phillip's War.

John died in 1696, and his will and estate papers offer more than a glimpse of the world he lived in. He died at Middleborough on 16 June 1696 (some sources give 26 June). These documents appear together in Plymouth County Probate Records, vol. 1, pp. 241–245. John wrote his will on 23 April 1696, describing himself as “very weak in body” but of sound understanding, and identifying himself as “John Tomson senr of ye Township of Middlebury.”

In his will, John provided for his widow, Mary, during her widowhood, granting her a home, household goods, stock, land, and provisions for her continued support. He appointed four sons—John, Jacob, Thomas, and Peter—as executors, and arranged for the major landholdings to pass through them, while directing additional cash legacies to his daughters.

The inventory, taken 1 July 1696, lists a well-equipped household and farm—cash, books, arms/ammunition, bedding, linens, pewter, tools, provisions, and more—along with extensive land rights and credits. 

John was buried in the first burying ground in Middleborough—Nemasket Hill Cemetery. The above photo was posted on Find a Grave by Chip5610 and used with the written permission of Chip5610 (#46997557) at FindaGrave.

See the links below for much more information—and for the sources I used to learn about John Thomson. 

Pilgrim Hall Museum is home to a ceramic bowl and at least one weapon from the Thomson family.

ARMS AND ARMOR OF THE PILGRIMS 1620-1692 - Includes photos of a sword, a fowling piece, and a pistol once belonging to John Thomson. 

A Genealogy of John Thompson by Ignatius Thomson - 1841

LIEUTENANT JOHN TOMSON'S WILL AND INVENTORY AND THE AGREEMENT OF HIS HEIRS.  The Mayflower descendant: a quarterly magazine of Pilgrim genealogy and history by Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants  -  1899

A genealogy of the descendants of John Thomson of Plymouth, Mass. Also sketches of families of Allen, Cooke and Hutchinson

By Thompson, Charles Hutchinson - 1890 

Memoirs of the Leonard, Thompson, and Haskell families by Caroline Leonard Goodenough - 1928

Middleborough Historical Museum - JOHN TOMSON--MIDDLEBOROUGH’S GREAT PIONEER

 Mark E. Miner, "Lt. John Tomson," Miner Descent, 2010

“John Tomson (abt. 1616–1696),” WikiTree: The Free Family Tree 

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Diana

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