Family talk:Thomas Sherwood and Alice Tiler (1)

I have this in my notes, but without a source for it:

Sources differ as to his roots in England and the surname of his first wife. He may have been the son of Esdras and Dorcas SHERWOOD, and married first Alice GILLETT on Oct. 21, 1604 at St. Nicholas, Ipswich. He is not the Thomas Sherwood who married Alice Seabrooke, daughter of Robert and Alice (Goodspeed) Seabrooke. (Jacobus notes it was Thomas of Stratford (see below) who married Alice Seabrook.]) Theories that he may been from Nottingham and married Alice Miles are pure speculation according to Jacobus.

Thomas and Alice arrived in Boston aboard the 'Francis' in 1634 with four of their children, the other four arriving sometime later. They settled in 1635 at Wethersfield, CT. Alice died in 1639, and Thomas removed to Stamford, CT in 1640, and to Fairfield in 1648. Thomas was Deputy to the General Court at Hartford, Committeeman on Military Affairs, and served in the Pequot War. His will was dated Jul. 21, 1655 and proved Oct. 25, 1655.

Jacobus: Kids by first wife, in order: Jane, Tamsin (Thomasine), Margaret, Rebecca, 2 not listed, and Jane (TAG July 1951).

This would all mean that Ruth isn't Alice's daughter, whatever her name is.

One of the Thomases is supposed to appear in The Great Migration, which should give as definitive answers as possible.

--Amelia.Gerlicher 22:44, 12 June 2007 (MDT)

(Wish list item: "Discussion button" to be highlighted when text hasn't been read by user *before* adding new material to project page). In the last couple of days researching this family, I have come across the same info as you. The bottom line is that there were three Thomas Sherwood's present in Connecticut at the same time and these men have been confused one with the other.

1. Thomas Sherwood of Fairfield, called Thomas the Elder, or Thomas the Immigrant, or Thomas, Sr.
2. Thomas Sherwood of Fairfield, called Thomas the Younger, or Thomas, Jr. (son of Thomas the Immigrant)
3. Thomas Sherwood of Stratford, relationship (if any) to the other Thomas Sherwoods is unknown.

Thomas the Immigrant is the one that came over on the "Francis" with his wife Alice and 4 children. His will names his children by his "first wife" and then he writes "to my loving and well beloved wife Mary Sherwood" and names his children as: Mary, Stephen, Matthew, Abigail, Ruth and Isaac. This source says "let's set the record straight about his two wives and determine, once and for all, that their last names have never been found."

THE THREE 17th CENTURY THOMAS SHERWOODS OF CONNECTICUT
by Jura Mclean Sherwood, (c)1998
http://www.sherwoodfam.plus.com/emigration_from_uk.htm

Great article. Clears up the confusion.

--Ronni 10:53, 20 June 2007 (MDT)