Person:Thomas West (34)

DR. THOMAS WEST. The first of the name of West to come to the Vineyard was Thomas, a son of Francis West of Duxbury, and from him have descended many of his name who became noted in succeeding generations in the ministry and learned professions, and distinguished in colonial military affairs. Francis West, his father, was born about 1606 and lived in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. He was a carpenter by trade, and is said to have come to Duxbury as a single man, upon the invitation of Nathaniel Thomas of Marshfield, and after his arrival in his new home, married Margaret Reeves, Feb. 27, 1639, by whom he had five children, Mary (1640), Samuel (1643), Thomas (1646), Peter (1648), and Ruth (1651). He died Jan. 2, 1692, aged 86 years. The descendants of Samuel are mostly found in Connecticut, and those of Peter in Plymouth Colony. [ See N. E. Gen. Reg., LX, 142.] The claims made in print and private that Thomas West was the son of Admiral Francis West of the well known English family have no bases in fact.] Few traces of Thomas are found in the Massachusetts records prior to his emigration to the Vineyard. He witnessed a deed in 1667, [Plymouth Deeds, III, 101] and is mentioned in the county Treasurer's accounts of June, 1674. [Plymouth Col. Rec. VIII, 133.] Between that date and Sept. 30, 1673, he came to this island, probably through his association with the Skiffes, as his sister Ruth became the wife of Nathaniel in later years. It is possible that West resided in Newport, R. I., prior to his removal hither. On Sept. 30, 1673, he entered suit against the townsmen of Tisbury respecting his property rights, and his lot, mentioned the following year, was situated on the west side of Old Mill river to the north of the old cemetery, next that of James Skiffe, Sr. [Tisbury Records, 8.] Thomas West was evidently a man of education and superior ability, and the first known practitioner of medicine and surgery on the Vineyard. In addition to this qualification he must have been learned in the law, for he was the ' Kings Attorney' in June, 1681, and is mentioned in 1687 and the three following years as the King's Solicitor and 'Their Majesties Attorney.' It is probable he held this office continuously from the first recorded date. He prosecuted the first trials for murder held on the island in the years mentioned.[Dukes County Court Records.] Thomas West also has some further distinction in his religious affiliations. With his wife he became a member of the Third Sabbatarian (Seventh Day) Baptist Church of Newport, R. I., at some time prior to 1692, and various West descendants were attached to that communion for many years after. [Records Sabbatarian Baptist Church; at the same time Peter and Ruth West are found in the list of members 1692, and it is probable they were his brother and sister of these names.] His daughter and their children in other names are to be found among the members of this church. In 1702, however, he was excommunicated for disobeying the tenets of the communion, but his wife and other members of his family continued in good standing. [The order is as follows: 'At a General meeting of the Church at Westerly Sept. 19, 1702, at Thomas Burdicks house, upon debate of the case of Thomas West of Martha's Vineyard, who having been several times admonished for his breach of the Sabbath, the church did proceed to a rejection of said West and appointed Bro. Wm. Gibson to draw up sentence of the congregation relating 'hereunto in writing to be sent to said West.']
In the spring of 1682 he sold his lot in West Tisbury and made the first of a series of land purchases at Homes Hole, which from that time to his death became his residence.[He bought land at Homes Hole on February 8, 1681-2, and sold his lot on Old Mill river, April 10, 1682. (Dukes Deeds, I, 31, 375)] This property, by continued acquisition extended from the Lagoon on the north to the Cottle property (head of Lagoon) on the south, and his house was situated near the site of the U. S. Marine Hospital. After his death it descended to his sons in shares and 'set offs,' but in time his eldest son, Abner, acquired the most of it by purchase from the other heirs. During his life he had the usual experiences observed among his neighbors as respects his business and social relations. He was indicted and fined in 1678 for 'unsavourie speeches' and sued for defamation in 1687 by Simon Athearn. [Dukes Co. Court Records.] He was elected 'townsman' of Tisbury in 1678, and in 1679 was on a committee to 'make rates.' [Tisbury Records, 12, 13.] Beyond these references other mention of him in the records is incidental. He made his will on Jan. 15, 1698, and died Sept. 6, 1706, in the sixtieth year of his age. In this document he bequeaths to his 'eldest son' Abner the estate as far south as 'Chunckes' swamp. To son Thomas certain land next southerly, and to son Peter a tract adjoining the previous bequest; to son William 'all that creek stuff or meadow land which I bought of Mr Sam' (Indian). 'Nextly' it continues, 'I will and bequeath all my books and surgery instruments unto my son Thomas, a gun to my son Sackfield and a sword to my son Judah.' His movable estate was left to the widow Elizabeth, 'for bringing up the children,' and he mentions his 'four' daughters in this connection. 'My will is,' he directs in conclusion, 'that none of my children be disposed of without the advice of Brother Nathaniel Skiffe and my son Abner, whom I do make overseers to this my will.[Dukes Co. Probate, I, 8. The property was not finally divided until April 3, 1722, when the children who did not receive landed bequests by will were given their shares (ibid. I, 125).] The name of one of his younger sons, Sackfield, is of curious coincidence, as Sackville is one of the family names of the noble West family, Lords De la Warr of the peerage of England. [No emigrant to New England of the name of Sackfield or Sackville in the 17th century has come to the notice of the author, and it does not seem, therefore, to be the name of the wife of Thomas West whose name was thus perpetuated. It should be said that the Sackville connection with the Wests is of comparatively recent date, and no importance can be attached to it as it relates to our Sackfield West.] It is not to be supposed, however, that the Duxbury carpenter had any connection whatever with this armigerous family. Diligents earch has failed to disclose the maiden name of his wife, Elizabeth, who was born in 1653 or 4, and survived her husband many years. She died Feb. 16, 1728, 'in the 75th year of her age,' and the gravestones of both the Doctor and his wife are in good preservation at West Tisbury. At least six of their descendants were graduates of Harvard College before 1800, and were men distinguished in the annals of the New England pulpit. Annals of Tisbury pp. 19 - 31

1. ↑ Banks, Charles Edward. The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts. (Boston: G H Dean, 1911)
   III:126-145.
2. ↑ Cornwall, Edward E. Francis West of Duxbury, Mass: and some of his Descendants. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1906)
   4.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston, Mass: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1910)
   242.

   WEST, Thomas, Dr. [h. Elizabeth], (died) Sept. 6, 1706, in 60th y. [gravestone record, Village Cemetery, West Tisbury].