Person:Thomas Launder (1)

The known and proven ancestry, spouse and children, and biography of Thomas Launder was published in the bookj "The Great Migration, Volume IV, I-L" by Robert Charles Anderson, published in 2005. Lydia B. (Finney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean compiled a five generation genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Launder in the male line in the article "Thomas Landers of Sandwich, Mass. (ca 1613 - 1675), published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 124:42-69, 209-224, 266-284, 1970).

The English origins of Thomas Launder are not known. He may have come from Sussex, and been either a kinsman or servant of Dennis Geere. Dennis Geere of Saugus in New England made a will and included a bequest of 3 pounds to Thomas Launder on 10 December 1635. Dennis Geere resided in Sussex during the early 1630's, and was a passenger on the "Abigail" in 1635.

Thomas Launder immigrated in 1635 on the ship "Abigail" (on 1 July 1635, "Tho[mas] Launder," age 22, was enrolled at London as a passenger for New England on the "Abigail" (Hotten, page 97)).

He resided first at Lynn, and then removed to Sandwich in Plymouth Colony by 1639. He was on thel ist of those who had taken the oath of fidelity in the Sandwich section of the Plymouth Colony list (Plymouth Court Records, 8:184).

Thomas Launder was granted one acre of meadow in Sandwich on 16 April 1640 (Plymouth Colony Records, 1:150).

Thomas Launder was in the Sandwich section of the 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms (Plymouth Court Records, 8:192).

Although Thomas Launder was never presented for attending Quaker meetings or related activities, he was from 1651 until the end of his life regularly associated with those at Sandwich who were. For instance, Thomas Launder was one of the sureties for his father-in-law, Richard Kirby, when he was presented at the Plymouth General Court on 7 October 1651 (Plymouth Court Records, 2:173).

On 2 March 1651/2, "Thomas Launders, of the town of Sandwidge," was presented for "having a child born within thirty weeks after marriage" (Plymouth Court Records, 3:6). On 6 December 1653, "Thomas Launders, of Sandwidge, for special consideration was freed of paying forty shillings of his fine amerced for his fornication with his now wife" (Plymouth County Records, 3:42, 66).

On 3 February 1656/7, "complaint was made against Jane, the wife of William (sic) Launder of Sandwidge, and Sarah, the daughter of Richard Kerbey, for disturbance by them made in the public worship of God on the Lord's day at Sandwidge, by opposing and abusing the speaker amongst them, whereupon the said parties were summoned to appear at the next court to answer for their said misdemeanor (Plymouth Court Records, 3:111). On 5 March 1656/7, "Jane, the wife of William (sic) Launder, for the like offense, viz: disturbing the publis worship of God on the Lord's day, at Sandwich, is sentenced to be publicly whipped, only the execution thereof is respited, that in case she shall be warned by the present sentence and admonition to offend no more in this kind, that then the said punishment not to be inflicted, or otherwise to be executed." (Plymouth Court Records, 3:112).

Thomas Launder died intestate. Edmond Freeman, George allen and John Newland, all recognized Quakers, were appraisers of the estate of Thomas Launder on 15 November 1675. The inventory included a musket and sword and belt, valued at 1 pound. The estate was valued at 51 pounds, 5 shillings, with no real estate included (Plymouth County Probate Records, Volume 3, Part 1, Page 176).

The will of yeoman Joseph Launder of Sandwich, the youngest son of Thomas Launder, provides a list of the children of Thomas and Jane (Kirby) Launder. The will was dated 27 July 1749 and proved 4 May 1750 (Barnstable County Probate Records, 8:393). The will includes:

"...to my loving wife Rebecka the use and improvement of all my estate during her widowhood;" to "my wife's son Judah Allin all my estate both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever reserving the use to my wife...he the said Judah paying the several and following mentioned legacies;" to "my loving brother Richard Launders ten pounds and to his daughter Abigal five pounds and to my sister Hepadiah Even fifteen pounds per annum...the granddaughter of my kinsman Amos Launders and daughter of said Amoses late daughter Sarah deceased sixty pounds;" to "Zilpha Moon who once dwelt with me ten pounds and to each of the children of my late brother Thomas Launders five pounds and to my kinsman Joseph Weight son of my late sister Tabatha five pounds;" to "the use and service of the Meeting of the people called Quakers in Sandwich ten pounds;" "my son-in-law the above-named Judah Allin" to be sole executor.