| 1. | [[Category: Puritanism, North America]] [[Category:17th Century American Immigration]] [[Category:Puritan Great Migration]] {{Puritan Great Migration}} == Biography ==Thomas Marshfield was born about 1601<ref name=GM>Great Migration 1634-1635, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, p. 48 -54; by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007. Featured name Thomas Marshfield.[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-v-m-p/image?pageName=48 subscription site] </ref> or sometime between 1600 and 1605 at Exeter, Devon England.<ref name=TAG63_161-163>The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) ''"The English Origin of Thomas Marshfield of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn.; New Light on His Wife and Children"'' By Douglas Richardson. Vol. 63, p. 161-163.[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/american-genealogist-the/image?pageName=161&volumeId=12792 subscription site] </ref>In 1633 he was at Exeter andby 1635 he was at Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay, serving as the agent for James Marshall, an Exeter merchant. With a corrected reading of Winthrop's Journal , Thomas is identified as arriving from Barnstable, Devonshire aboard the ''Regard'' in 1634. The revised entry for Nov. 13, 1634 is: "The ''Regard'', a ship of Barnstable, of about two hundred tons, arrived in 1634 with twenty passengers and about fifty cattle. Thomas Marshfield was on board and migrated on this ship.<ref name=GM /> John Winthrop wrote the following about him: "One thing I think fit to observe, as a witness of God's providence for this plantation. There came in this ship one Marisfeild, a poor godly man of Exeter, being very desirous to come to us, but not able to transport his family. There was in the city a rich merchant, one Marshall, who being troubled in his dreams about the said poor man, couldnot be quiet till he had sent for him and given him £50, and lent him £100, willing him withal, that, if he wanted, he should send to himfor more. This Marsfeild grew suddenly rich, and then lost his godliness, and his wealth soon after.<ref name=TAG74_225>"The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) ''"A Further Note on Thomas Marshfield of Windsor, Connecticut"'' By Robert Charles Anderson. Vol. 74, p. 225.[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/american-genealogist-the/image?pageName=225&volumeId=13222&rId=24783383 subscription site]</ref> He was accepted into membership of the First Dorchester Church beforeMay 6, 1635 as he became a freeman on that date. He was the third ina sequence of four Dorchester men. He was deputy for Windsor to the Connecticut General Court in 1637, 1638 which would indicate he had been a prominent man of high standing in England prior to his migration.<ref name=GM /> Thomas was granted 12 acres at Squantum Neck at Dorchester in Massachusetts Bay on January 18, 1635/6.<ref name=TAG63_161-163>The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 -.) ''"The English Origin of Thomas Marshfield of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn.; New Light on His Wife and Children"'' By Douglas Richardson. Vol. 63, p. 161-163.[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/american-genealogist-the/image?pageName=161&volumeId=12792 subscription site] </ref>He later moved to Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut by May 15, 1637 for at that time he was a witness to the Plymouth Company. Prior he had received a land grant and sold part of it on August 10, 1642 to Thomas Newell.<ref name=Jacobus>Jacobus, Donald Lines. ''"Hale House and Related Families"'' Genealogical Publishing Co.,Inc. Baltimore. 1978. pp 710 - 712.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89066151523;view=1up;seq=732 see at hathitrust] </ref> On Oct. 14, 1642, Thomas was relieved of his entire estate to pay debts incurred, probably from a shipping venture begun in 1640 with HenryWOLCOTT, Samuel WAKEMAN and the WYLLYS family.<ref name=GM />The following is part of the October 14, 1642 record: "Whereas many sutes com into the Court agt Tho: Marshfield, and he is wthdrawn and non soluit, The Court hath appoynted Henry Woolcott & Tho: Ford to take into their chardge or custody all the estate, goods & chattells of the said Tho: Marshfields, as they shall be able to discouryt, and to dispose ofyt to the best aduantage for the vse of the creditors, and the same to accoumpt to the Court wn they shall be therevnto cauled."<ref name=Jacobus />Additionally he had been deeply involved in mercantile dealings with Governor Samuel Wyllys and his family as on May 6, 1641 GeorgeWyllys Junior wrote from Bristol England to his father the Governor that "Mr. marshfeild of windsore hath beene in a great of trouble hereand was inforced to make over his wholl estate to one mr tarrey for the paiment of his debts here and old accounts for the ships tht he andGoodman wakeman were undertakers in the last yeere so tht his coming is as yet somwt uncertaine and they wil not suppose gayne so much as supposed..." The Wyllys seemed to believe they had been deceived, although in what manner is unclear.<ref name=TAG74_127>The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) ''"A Note on Thomas Marshfield of Windsor, Connecticut"'' by David L. Green. Vol. 74 (1999) p. 127.[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/american-genealogist-the/image?pageName=127&volumeId=13222&rId=24783285 subscribers$] </ref> The courts meaning of the term "withdrawal" is unknown and there are several guesses about Thomas Marshfield's whereabouts after 1642. Anderson in ''"Great Migration"'' says he may have moved to Springfield where his wife and children later resided;<ref name=GM />Jacobus says he probably returned to England and died there;<ref name=Jacobus />Anderson says he died after he was sued on June 1, 1644 and before his widow appeared at court on May 29, 1649;<ref name=GM /> Savage states that no further records were found and 'Perhaps he was lost at sea;'{{citation needed}} and Ballou on page 273 says he "disappeared, leaving his family destitute."<ref>The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-.(Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol 87, pp. 270 - 273. (see footnotes on p.273.) ''"Nathaniel Patten of Dorchester, Mass., Early Planter and Boston Merchant"'' by Hosea Starr Ballou of Brookline, Mass. https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/new-england-historical-and-genealogical-register/image?pageName=270&volumeId=11739 subscription site] </ref> === Wife and Children ===Thomas Marshfield was married by about 1626; her surname is unknown but it is likely that her given name was Mercy.<ref name=TAG67_11-14>The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) ''"Thomas Marshfield's Wife Mercy; Did Their Daughter Mercy Marry John Dumbleton? by Douglas Richardson. Vol. 67, page 11 -14.[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/american-genealogist-the/image?pageName=11&volumeId=12962 subscription site] </ref>His wifeis mentioned in a New England record of December 1, 1640 at Springfield, where in she was accused of being a witch; again her given name was not included.<ref name=TAG63_161-163 /><ref name=GM />Their children were:#Samuel was born about 1625 - 1628 and died at Springfield on May 8, 1692. He married Hester Wright, daughter of Deacon Samuel and Margaret _____ Wright on February 13, 1651; she died April 3, 1664. Samuel and Hester had 6 children. He married (2nd) on December 28, 1664 to Catherine (Chapin) (Bliss) Gilbert who was the daughter of Deacon Samueland Cicely (Penny) Chapin and the widow of Nathaniel Bliss and ThomasGilbert. They had 4 children and she died February 4, 1712.<ref name=Jacobus /><ref name=TAG63_161-163 />#daughter, probably named Mercy<ref name=TAG67_11-14 /> was born about 1629; <ref name=GM />married by May 1649,<ref name=TAG63_161-163 />likely to John Dumbleton.<ref name=TAG67_11-14 />#Sarah. A record for Sarah, daughter of Thomas Marshfield was found indicating baptism on August 25, 1633 at St. Mary Arches, Exeter, Devon, England.<ref name=TAG63_161-163 /><ref name=GM />She married on October 12, 1649 to Thomas Miller, died at the hands of Indians at the burning of Springfield on October 5, 1675. She married (2nd) on January17, 1684 to Edward Foster who died February 22, 1719/20. Edward's 1st wife had been Hester Bliss.<ref name=Jacobus /><ref name=TAG63_161-163 />#(probably) Priscilla who died at Windsor on October 20, 1639.<ref name=TAG63_161-163 /><ref name=Jacobus /> No record has been found regarding a guardianship for the unmarried children. They may have been indentured to Windsor families since theirfather's wealth had been eliminated.<ref name=TAG74_127 /> === Research Notes ===''"The Mary and John Clearing House"'' inaccurately states that Thomas Marshfield, approx age 30; from Exeter, Devon, Eng.; sailed on ''"Mary and John"'' in 1630 with unknown wife, aged 28 and children: Sarahage 3; Samuel age 2; and Mercy age 1.<ref>''"The Mary and John Clearing House"''[http://www.maryandjohn1630.com/passengerlist_a.html see here] </ref>"The Mary and John passenger list is completely reconstructed often from guesses based on the migrants place where they settled. More people are credited with being on the Mary and John than the ship could possibly hold. Given that their daughter Sarah was born in England in 1633 and the first record of the family in New England isn't until 1635, the Mary and John supposition as the immigrant ship is clearly an old error." - Joe Cochoit == Sources == <references /> ===Acknowledgements===* WikiTree profile Marshfield-21 created through the import of JOSEPH~1.GED on Jul 14, 2012 by [[Stalnaker-102 | Joseph Stalnaker]]. |