Person:Thomas Roberts (11)

"Thomas Roberts was born in England about 1600, according to deposition. Rev. Dr. Everett S. Stackpole imparts the information that he had learned on 'excellent authority' that Thomas Roberts was apprenticed to a fishmonger of London, as 'son of John Roberts, of Wollaston Co.,[sic] Worcester, 29 April, 1622, and probably came over at once, as an apprentice to Edward Hilton, and lived within a stone's throw of Hilton's house, on Hilton Point.' He was not married at the time of coming over, but probably was married in 1627. The maiden name of his wife is not known, but there is a tradition she was sister of Edward Hilton. Further than that we know not.

Thomas Roberts, of Dover, New Hampshire came with the Hiltons. He was a fellow member of the Fishmongers Co. of London with Richard Hilton, both marked 'in New England' in a list of 1641. It is presumed that he is that Thomas Roberts, son of John Roberts of Woolaston, apprenticed 29 Apr. 1622.

In 1639-40 he was elected 'President of the Court," an office of agency for the Bristol Co., the proprietors of Dover, from which fact he is sometimes called 'Gov.' although the territory under his authority was only one town. Signed the Dover Combination, 1640; gr.j. 1643, 1646,1656.

Various deed, grants and suits Sewall's 'History of the Quakers' states that he rebuked his sons for their official cruelty to that sect. His name appears on Mr. Corbett's petition of 26 Jul 1665. It appears in Dover petition dated 'Northam, 4 1 month, (1640) concerning N.H. coming under the rule of Mass. before the patentees are heard from. His name appears on the 'Dover Combination."

He received lot #1 in the distribution of 20-acre lots laid out in 1642. He appears on the Dover tax lists of 19 Dec., 1648, 8 Dec., 1649, Dec, 1650. He is listed as a freeman able to vote, and having taken the oath of fidelity (no date). He appears on the Dover tax lists between the dates of Jul 1657 and 1666.

He was a member of the inquest for one Hannah Stokes 21 Sep. 1674. He was listed in sham land grants surreptitiously entered into the Dover records as of 1659-60. He is listed in a document showing the distances of inhabitants to the old meeting house. (none of the afore-mentioned documents are displayed.)

In 1670 he gave land to sons John (5) and Thomas (12), and in 1671 half his remaining estate to his daughter Sarah Rich. Will, 27 Sep. 1673 -- proved 30 June 1674, giving his homestead to Richard Rich and naming him his executor, names children:

1. John b. ab. 1628.
2. Thomas b. ab. 1635.
3. Hester, m. John Martyn (7).
4. Anna m. 1st James Philbrick (1), m. 2d William Marston (11).
5. Elizabeth m. Benjamin Heard (2).
6. Sarah m. Richard Rich.

The first mention of him appears in 1640 in Winthrop's Journal p 329 - 330: link

The Great Migration Directory says that he was the Thomas Roberts who came from London to Dover in 1640. Why London? He was in the Fishmongers guild there and came with Richard Hilton also a guild member. How do we know? We have the original record:

On page 7 of the book in the year 1615: “Thomas Roberts, son of John Roberts of Woolston in the county of Wooster, yeoman put apprentice to William Adys for eight years from”.

Entry of Freeman and Apprentices Between 1614 & 1650 On page 56: “Thomas Roberts, my apprentice, William Adys… presented and admitted… to Fishmongers Guild, admitted and sworn on 29 April 1623”.

He was the son of one John Roberts of Woolston in the county of Wooster, yeoman. We don't know where Woolston, Worcester is - was that an error? Was it actually Woolstone, Gloucester which is on the border with Worcester? The Woolstone parish registers do not survive, and there are only scattered years that the Bishop's Transcripts survive. George Roberts son of John Roberts of "Wolstone, Goucester" was bound in London in 1617 as an apprentice in the Drapers Guild and granted his freedom in 1625. However, the this John Roberts did not name a son John in his will. We simply do not know who John Roberts, yeoman of Woolston, Worcester actually is. We just know he is father to the immigrant.

Sir Thomas Roberts did have a son named Thomas Roberts christened 11 October 1590 at Cranbrook, Kent, England. We have his will, proved 1645. He never married, and left no issue [means he was childless] and was buried 3 May 1645 at Cranbrook, Kent, England. This couple had only the one son named Thomas Roberts, no others. Extract of his will names his mother, brother John Roberts, cousin/nephew Walter Roberts son of Sir Walter Roberts, and leaves no doubt as to his paternity.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, (1907) Vol. 61, p. 92 and p 199 [see citation (1906) Vol 60:399], provides an abstract of original records published by Rev. Dr. Everett S. Stackpole, a noted genealogist. He checked the original records of the Fishmonger's Company, London, and found Gov. Thomas Roberts's father to be John Roberts, yeoman of of Woolaston... Not Thomas Roberts listed above. You can not enter the guild without doing an apprenticeship first. And this is the only Thomas Roberts who apprenticed so we know exactly who his father was. And in the List of Emigrant Liverymen of London in the Public Record Office in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1641 are a list of fishmonger guild members who are marked as "Gone to New England" and that list includes Edward Hilton, Thomas Roberts and Henry Watts. So there is no doubt that Thomas Roberts of Dover was a fishmonger son of John, yeoman of Woolston in the county of Wooster. link1 link2

Will of Thomas Roberts
"In the name of God Amen

I Thomas Robearts Senr of the Towne of Dover in Piscattaqua River, in New England yeoman beeing weake of Body... Item I give and bequeath unto my Sone John Robearts, of Dover, aforesaid, the sume of Twenty shills in Currant money of New England, to be paid, by my Executor, three monethes, after my discease

Item I given and bequeath, unto my Sone, Thomas Robearts, the sum'e of fiver shillings, in money to be paid at or within the Space of three monethes, after my disease, by my Executor

Item I give, and bequeath, unto my Daughter, Hester (now the wife of John Martyn, of New Jarze) the sume of five shillings in money, to be paid, by my Executor, three monethes, after my discease, if demanded-

Item I give, and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne (now the wife of James Philbrooke of Hampton) the sum'e of five shills in money to be paid, by my Executor, at or within the Space, of three monethes, after my discease, as is above men'coned.-

Item I give, and bequeath, unto my daughter Elizabeth, no the wife, of Benjamin Heard, of Cochechock, the sume of five shillings, in money to be paid, at, or within, the Space, of three monethes, after my discease by my Executor.

Item I give, and bequeath, unto my Sone, in Law Richard Rich, the husband, of my dearly beloved daughter Sarah, and to his heires, Lawfully begotten (or to bee begotten) on the Body of my said Daughter (be it Either Males, or females) the Males, to bee Ever prferred, before the females, and the elder, before the younger, and to his, and their assignes forever, my dwelling house, where in, I now dwell, Lieing and Scituate, in Dover aforesaid, to gether also, with all, and Singular, the Out houseing, Orchards, planting Land, and pastures, within fence, or Laying, in Common priviledge, of Commons, proffitts, or Commodities, Advantages, hereditamts, and appurtenances, whatsoever, thereunto belonging, or in any wise, appertaining, and now in my owne Tenure, and occupac'on, and also, a Lott of fouer Acres, of planting Land, lieing and Scituate, in Dover aforesaid, neare my Said dwelling house, and Likewise three Acres, of marsh, by Estimac'on, bee it more or Lesse, Lieing, and Scituate, at the mouth of Winnycott River, neare Greeneland, in Piscattaqua River, aforesaid, which I doe now possess, and Enjoy, and also, I doe nomminate, make choice of, and appoint, my sd Sone in Law Richd Rich to bee my whole and Sole Exeuctor, (& in Case of Mortallity, my Daughtr Sarah above menc'oned) to Execute, or see Executed, this my Last will, and Testament, according to the purport, true Intent, and meaning thereof, and in Testimony, that this is my Last will, and Testament, Irrevocably, I have hereunto, putt my hand and seale Dated in Dover, aforemenc'oned, this Twenty Seaventh day of Septembr, One Thousand Six hundred Seaventy & three. 1673.
Thomas Roberts
Signed Sealed and Delivrd
in the presents of us.
Job Clements Sener
Job Clements Ju witnesseth
Richard Allexander" [proved 30 June 1674]"

Note no "Jane Roberts," is ever mentioned in his will. There is no birth of death record. He never had a daughter "Jane Roberts."

Extensive studies have been made of the Hilton family in England and New England and no Rebecca Hilton existed in this family. The baptisms of the children of William Hilton of Witton cum Twamsbrook, Cheshire are recorded in the parish records. His children include Edward, William and Richard who all immigrated to New Hampshire. There is also a son John, and daughters Margaret, Mary and Elizabeth. There is no Rebecca. There is no known date of birth and there is no known date of death. There is no record of their marriage. They did not even name a daughter after her and interestingly only one of her five children named a girl Rebecca. Everything that is written about her is pure conjecture and not fact. I'm not even sure her name was really Rebecca.

John Robert of Woolstone, Gloucestershire died intestate (did not leave a will). His administration papers are in Act books, 1615-1628, 1640-1649,1668-1876 Family History Library British B1 High Density 91501 8037692 Act book 20. The film itself is here but can't be viewed outside a library annex:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/008037692?cat=262266

The index page is here:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/262266?availability=Family%20History%20Library

A copy has been uploaded on and John and Margaret Roberts' profiles under sources. On line 5 John Roberts [of] Woolston [Woolstone] Diocese.
Line 6 starts with Glouc[ester] and ends with Margaret Roberts relict.
Line 8 starts with obligati---- which I assume to mean her security and then has Richard Roberts and Edward Roberts. [Edward would be her brother-in-law].

So the document doesn't help us identify his children. However, see below for the indentures of Thomas Roberts and his brother George which see to clearly indicate they were both sons of Thomas and Margaret Roberts of Woolstone, Gloucestershire.

A screenshot was uploaded under sources by Rick Saunders after I helped him locate the image:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LDMS-V5V