Person:Thomas Canney (1)

Great Migration Newsletter 11:2 notes that there is no evidence of Thomas Canney in New England before 1640 when he signed the Dover Combination. The “Mason list” which leads to earlier claims (i.e. Savage’s entry, 1:332) is a forgery. Principe agrees that the Mason list is a fake, but still thinks Thomas was in New Hampshire extremely early, before 1635.

Thomas could not write (he signed with a mark), but he was an active member of the community. He was a freeman in 1653 and appears as a selectman, constable, grand jury member and partner of a sawmill (in 1652). He also appears frequently between 1643 and 1670 suing and being sued over debts.

His home life was not happy. He was married to his second wife Jane by 1652, when she appears in court for beating him. In 1655, she was charged with beating his daughter Mary and her husband Jeremiah Tibbetts. In 1660, Thomas was in court for "Temapting Ane Jinkines wife of Ranald Jenckings to unchastity." The charge was not proven and he was let off with a fine. Between 1666 and 1681, he was indicted five times for public drunkeness. His son paid a fine for him in June 1681, which is the last record of him.

Thomas had a 3 acre grant in Kittery in 1643, 16 acres at Thompson's Point in 1656 and 120 acres at Dover in 1656. In 1661, he conveyed land to his daughter Hannah and her husband Henry Hobbs. In 1673, he conveyed land to his sons Thomas and Joseph; he seems to have gotten rid of most of his land before his death.

Principe, researching in 2002, found no records of Thomas's parents and did not identify his first wife.

1. ↑ Principe, Bill. Thomas Canney of Dover. New Hampshire Genealogical Record. (2002)
   New Hampshire Genealogical Record, 19:1-7, 2002.
2. ↑ Quint, Reverend Alonzo H. Genealogical Items Relating to the Early Settlers of Dover, N.H. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Oct 1851; Jan, Jul, Oct 1852; Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct 1853; Jan, Apr, Jul 1854; Jan 1855)
   5:542-43.

   Canney, (variously spelled Cany, Canny, Canne, Cannie, Canie, Kenny), &c. Thomas¹ was sent over by Capt. Mason on or before 1631; took a lot of Capt. Wiggans in 1634, which in 1647 was bounded thus: "butting upon y^e high street west, and on y^e east nere y^e riuer of Nechechoewannicke, on V lands of Joseph Austin, south, and upon y^e lands adioyning to y^e spring north." He was taxed in 1648 and to 1668, and was alive in 1677. Had grants of land in 1652, '56, &c. Was freeman in 1653. He was twice married; his second wife's name was Jane. 8 Aug., 1655. "Jane, wife of Thomas Canney, presented for beating her son-in-law, Jeremie Tebbets & his wife & her husband." Court Records. 26 June 1661. "Tho: Canney of Dover desireing the Court to ffree him from Comon training by reason he hath lost his eyesight, [it] is granted him."

3. ↑ 3 Thomas Canney, in Noyes, Sybil; Charles Thornton Libby; and Walter Goodwin Davis. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. (Portland, Maine: Southworth Press, 1928-1939)
   127.

   3 Thomas Canney. Constable 1648, gr.j. 1643, 1656, petty j. 1651. … Bef. 1656 he had bot 'Thompson's Point,' and was then granted 16 a. adj. 'the outmost point turning up to Cochecho.' In 1652 he adm. Henry Plympton's est. In 1653 his eyesight had become impaired, reputation later. In 1671 he had rem. to York, but went back to Dover, last ment. in ct. for intox. June 1681. In 1723 his right in the ox pasture, 1-25th of Dover Point, was sold by John (and wife Esther) Hall. Kn. ch: Dau., m. Matthew Austin (5). Mary, m. 1655 Jeremy Tibbetts. Thomas. Hannah, b. 1641, m. Henry Hobbs. Joseph.