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Thomas Pope
b.Bef 1612
d.Bet 9 Jul 1683 and 4 Aug 1683 Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 28 Jul 1637
(edit)
m. 29 May 1646
Facts and Events
From various sources Thomas Pope and John Pope possibly came to America on the Mary and John, leaving Plymouth, England March 20, 1629/30 and arriving at Nantasket (now Hull) on May 30, 1630. John was a freeman of Dorchester September 3, 1634, and in his will, dated 1646 he mentions a brother Thomas, who is supposed, "with some reason", to be Thomas of Plymouth. "Know all men by these prsents that I Thomas Pope of New Plymouth Cooper doe Remise Release acquite and discharge George Bonum of the Towne aforsaid husbandman hee his heires executors and adminestrators of and from all bills bonds debts dues specialties summes of money and demaunds whatsoever due owing and payable unto mee the said Thomas Pope from him the said George Bonum at any time whatso" From what is known of Thomas through wills, deeds and altercations with Plymouth officials, he was apparently a fairly contentious individual, and ultimately removed from Plymouth to Dartmouth where two of his children were killed in the disastrous Indian raids upon the town, i.e., Susannah, her husband, Jacob Mitchell (descendant of Experience Mitchell and either his wife Mary or Jane Cooke) and John. There are these references to Thomas Pope: 1631 Thomas named Jan 2 1632/3 taxed 9s March 25 1633 assessed 9s in the tax list Jan 2 1633/4 taxed 9s March 27 1634 assessed 9s Oct 6 1636 granted five acres of land "at the fishing point next Slowly field, and said Thomas be allowed to build." Nov 7 1636 discovered the place designated for the above grant did not quite allow the full five acres Jun 7 1637 Thomas one of the volunteers to go under Mr. Prence on an expedition against the Pequots (Pequot War) 1638 one of those of Plymouth who took the Oath of Fidelity Aug 28 1640 sold the property at the fishing point to John Bonham, perhaps on account of his wife's death Nov 2 1640 granted five acres of meadow in South Meadows towards Gavans Colbrook meadows 1643 listed as able to bear arms Jun 4 1645 chosen Constable Jun 5 1651 Surveyor of Highways Jun 7 1652 Surveyor of Highways Oct 30 1652 acquitted George Bonum of all debts owed to Pope May 17 1658 sold to Joseph Warren a parcel of marsh meadow at Eel River Aug 2 1659 Frances Cooke arbitrator in a land dispute between Thomas Pope and William Shurtleff March 24 1661 sold to Robert Tansome "all the right, title and interest he hath in his land at Lakenham... both upland and meadow" in exchange for "twenty-five acres of upland which lyeth with a parcel of upland belonging to Jonathan Pratt lying and being at a place called Acushenah with two acres of meadow which is yet unlaid out at Acushenah aforesaid" 1673 petitioned the Court for a grant of land at Saconnett (now Little Compton, RI). For unknown reasons it was denied. "Granted leave since he and others cannot secure Saconnettneck according to the grant, to look out some other place, undisposed of, for their accommodation." He secured a large tract on the east side of the Acushnet River at Dartmouth, tradition says by direct purchase from the Indians. abt. 1674 moved to Dartmouth Jul 1675 son John, daughter Susannah & her husband Jacob Mitchell were killed by a party of Philip's Indians "early in the morning as they were fleeing on horseback to the garrison, whither the Mitchell children had been sent the afternoon before." The settlement at Dartmouth, being scattered, isolated, and difficult to defend, was shortly abandoned and the deserted plantations were quickly laid waste and the buildings burned by the savages. Jul 5 1677 made a deed of gift to "Seth Pope my eldest son" of "all that my one-half share or portion" at Saconett. Oct 31 1680 sold to Charles Stockbridge of Scituate, cooper, "all that my one fourth or quarter part of a grist or corn mill" in the town of Plymouth, along with one-fourth of the implements and the three acres of land associated with the mill, and also "one small piece of land containing twenty-six rods" Nov 2 1680 Thomas Pope Senior and Seth Pope both of the town of Dartmouth sold to David Lake their share in the grant of land at Saconnet, divided and undivided, the divided part amounting to one hundred acres His will bequeathed to "my son Seth as an addition to that I have formerly given him ten shillings in money, also I give unto my grandson Thomas Pope all that my twenty-five acres of upland and two acres of meadow lying and being on the west side of Acushenett River... my son Seth shall... pay three pounds sterling unto my granson Jacob Mitchell when he comes to age of twenth-one years... my daughter Deborah Pope five pounds in money and to each of my other daughters five pound apiece in money, also my meadow lying at the South Meadows in Plymouth or the value of it I give to be equally divided amongst all my sons and daughters... to my son Isacke all my seat of land where I now dwell with all the meadows belonging thereunto" except that if he die before twenty-one years without an heir, this land to go to "the sons of my son Seth"... son Isaac to be residuary legatee. His sons Seth and Isaac took out letters of administration on November 2, 1683. The inventory of the estate, dated August 4, 1683, totaled L274, of which L130 was real estate. "the housing and the seat of land belonging thereunto" L100 25 acres of upland and two acres of meadow lying on the west side of Cushenett River" L10 and "seven acres of upland and seven acres of meadow at Plymouth" L20. From Pioneer Popes Thomas Pope was an able man of decided opinions, of independent positive character, and of considerable importance in the colony. He received a grant of land, served in the colonial army, was surveyor, constable, and served on the jury. His tendency to express his opinions freely, together with his ready temper, involved him in disputes which led to arrests and fines on several occasions. In 1673 he removed with his family to Dartmouth. He landed on the shores of the Acushnet river, where he negotiated with the Wampanoag Indians, the tribe of King Philip and his father Wamsutta, for one hundred seventy-two acres of land which became the Pope homestead and today comprises the larger portion of the site of the city of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Thomas Pope willed this homestead to his youngest son Isaac. References
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