Person:Trestram Thomas (2)

From the monograph Ancestors and Descendants of Tristram Thomas of Maryland

By Betty Ratliff Carson and Howard S. Hazlewood

Tristram Thomas, son of Christopher and Juliana Thomas, was christened in Orpington Parish, Kent County, England on 20 September 1629. The will for Christopher Thomas, father, of Orpington dated 26 September 1635 (probated 8 February 1635/36) leaves Tristram 200 pounds to be paid by executors one year after the death of Christopher.

The marriage records of St. Michael Parish, Crooked Lane, London, England, list a marriage on 20 May 1652 for Tristram Thomas and Ann King. The records indicate Tristram Thomas was of Erith, Kent and Ann King was of St. Andrew, Eastcheap, London. Erith was located between Orpington-Bromley and London. Based on researchers hired by Mrs. Mary Pirie this Tristram Thomas is not our Tristram Thomas. We cannot prove the Anne (Ann) Thomas mentioned in the will of Tristram Thomas of Maryland is Ann King and must defer to the judgment of the researchers in England. If Tristram Thomas and Ann King married in England in 1652, they had only three living children born between 1652 and 1665. There may have been other children that died at birth or died young. It is remotely possible Tristram Thomas married Ann King and she died with him later marrying a second Ann (Anne). We must leave the maiden name of Ann (Anne) as unproved until more proof can be obtained. The baptismal records for the three oldest sons and any children that might have died young would help our proof. We must still look for another possible marriage record for our Tristram Thomas ca. 1658 or 1659 in England. Also, we wonder who was the Tristram Thomas that married Ann King? We should still keep the possibility open that our Tristram married Ann King, even if we do not have the proof at this time. Since we will show later Ann Coursey did not marry our Tristram Thomas, we must leave the maiden name of his wife unknown.

The Patent Records, Liber 9, Page 327 dated 23 April 1665 show Symon Carpenter assigned rights for 2,050 acres for 41 people to William Coursey on 30 March 1665. Witnesses were John Morgan (Jr.) and Stephen Tulley. On the back of the conditional warrant were entered the rights for the following: Trustram Thomas; Ann Thomas, his wife; Thomas Thomas, Christopher Thomas, Trustram Thomas, his children; Frances Birketton; Jane Richardson; Derrick Peterson; Nelky Petterson; and Peter Peterson. The rights for these ten people complemented the original conditional warrant. We would assume William Coursey transported these ten people to Maryland. The warrant issued was dated 9 April 1666.

Christopher Thomas, brother of Tristram, came to Kent Island, Maryland in 1637, but left after a few years. He returned to Talbot County in 1664 and settled on Chester River and Corsica Creek in an area formerly in Kent County near Kent Island. We covered the first trip in the first part of our story for Christopher Thomas. Part II covered the return trip. We have found no descendants of Christopher.

Juliana Thomas Beedle Russell Coursey, sister of Tristram, came to Kent County, Maryland in 1659 and settled in Kent County where John Russell owned two tracts of land. We covered her history earlier.

Tristram Thomas came to Maryland later than Christopher and Juliana, but he appears to be the only Thomas from our line that left any Thomas descendants in America. Sophia Beedle, granddaughter of Juliana, may have left descendants but we do not know whom she married or when she died. Her children would not be named Thomas. If you relate to a Thomas family from early Maryland, the odds are very good you belong to our Tristram Thomas line.

We have ample proof that will be shown later to prove Thomas Thomas was the eldest son. He was probably named for Thomas Stacy (Stacey), father and/or brother of Juliana Stacy Thomas, mother of Tristram. We have shown he was born ca. 1659. Christopher Thomas is listed next as he was shown second in the land patent record in 1665. He would be named for the father and brother of Tristram.

We show him born ca 1662. Tristram Thomas, (Jr.), third son, was born ca. 1664. He was named for his father. Although we have estimated the dates of birth for the three sons, we hope someone can locate the christening records.

The birth dates for the children born in Maryland are a little more difficult. Anne (Ann) Thomas was born ca. 1667. She was the oldest daughter and was named for her mother. She was the first child that probably was born in Maryland. William Thomas born 18 October 1669 was probably named for William Coursey and/or William Thomas, brother of Tristram. He would be the first son born in Maryland. Juliana Thomas was born 15 October 1671 and was probably named for Juliana Coursey, sister of Tristram and/or his mother, Juliana. Stephen Thomas born 15 January 1673 was probably named for Stephen Thomas, brother, and/or Stephen Tulley. Elizabeth Thomas was born ca 1675 and was probably named for Elizabeth Thomas, sister of Tristram, and/or Elizabeth Carpenter Coursey. The ninth child has not been proven. We show her born ca. 1677 and unknown. We will be glad to show a more exact date of birth for any child upon proof of the date of birth by other researchers.

Christopher Thomas died on 25 March 1670. Since the Julian Calendar starts on the 25th of March, we assume he died on the first day of 1670. William Coursey on 10 November 1670 surveyed a tract of land of 400 acres called "Trustrum" that was given to Tristram Thomas, brother-in-law, "for natural love and affection"which he had for Tristram. The fact that Juliana Coursey was his wife and a sister of Tristram proves the relationship.

William Coursey and Tristram Thomas were named executors for Robert Smith of Talbot County per his will filed in Will Book 1. Page 464 dated 4 May 1671 (probated 19 December 1671). He mentions grandchild, Mary Waterling; Elizabeth King, daughter of Marke King, deceased; Robert King, eldest son of Marke King, deceased; Robert Walters, son of Christopher Walters, deceased; daughter, Anne Emory; and James Symonds, son of Thomas Symonds. William Coursey actually acted as the sole executor based on records dated 9 November 1672. Thomas Jackson and Edward Tomlin were witnesses to the will.

Robert Smith, a freeman of St. Mary's Hundred, in January 1637/38 married Rose Gilbert, widow of Richard Gilbert, in November, 1638 in St. Mary's County. Maryland. Richard and Rose Gilbert bad two daughters, Grace and Elizabeth, whom Robert Smith raised and later called his daughters. Walter Waterling was brought to Maryland as an indentured servant by Richard Gilbert. Mary Waterling was his daughter. He married Grace Gilbert. Elizabeth Gilbert married William Abeston ca 1654. Robert Smith, Thomas Yewell, and Steven Thomas were sued for trespassing on Captain Cornwaly's property in 1642, Also, Robert Smith probably knew Christopher Thomas. Robert Smith requested land on 28 February 1649/50 for himself, Thomas Thomas, Rose Gilbert, Elizabeth Gilbert. Grace Gilbert, Walter Waterling, and a maidservant. Five hundred acres were ordered surveyed for him on the Patuxent River but the patent was never granted, He was granted a patent of 600 acres for "Smeath" surveyed 6 July 1659 on St. Michael River and Morgan's Creek in Kent County.

The Thomas Thomas and Steven Thomas mentioned with Robert Smith have not been proven as relatives. Another Thomas Thomas died in St. Mary's County. Maryland in 1671 per Will Book 1, Pages 411-412 dated 28 December 1670 (Probated 21 February 1671/72). He immigrated to Maryland in 1651 (Land Patents. Liber ABH, Folio

202) with his wife Elizabeth Batten, daughter of William Batten; son. James Thomas, and three servants. Although one of the servants was named Matthew Smith, we find no connection between him and the Matthew Smith that married Elizabeth Higgins Thomas, widow of Christopher Thomas. Thomas Thomas named a second son, William, and daughters, Mary, Grace, and Elizabeth in his will.

Thomas, son, that inherited the home plantation and 100 acres in the woods married Elizabeth--and died in St. Mary's County in 1685. He left "Newinton" to his son, Thomas Thomas, and "Batchell's Rest" to his daughter, Sarah. One hundred acres were left to the "child my wife is pregnant with." Robert Perry was executor; Wm. Pedder and Robert Radcliffe were witnesses to this will for Thomas Thomas. Records for this family are found in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties. We would like to know more about the other Thomas families in Maryland, but we could not research all of the families. The Thomas family in Kent County that includes Walter, Henry, John, Martha, and William has created some problems in the Thomas research, but we find no proven connection to any of these families. It is interesting they also have a connection to a Smith (Smyth) family.

Marke King, servant, was transported to St. Mary's County, Maryland, in 1650 by Robert Broqke per Patent Records, Liber 1, Folio 166. Robert Smith brought him to Kent County where-he and Christopher Walters worked as tenants for Robert Smith. John King, son of Marke King, married Juliana Thomas, daughter of Tristram Thomas, ca. 1692. Anne Smith, daughter of Robert Smith, married Marke King first, and Arthur Emory (Sr), second. Arthur Emory (Sr.) gave this account of the estate belonging to the orphans of Marke King deceased: (Liber BB#2, Page 567)

Robert hath three cowes and a two-year-old heifer. John King hath three cowes and calf and one yearling. Elizabeth King hath (blank)

It is interesting to note Anne Thomas, daughter of Tristram and Ann Thomas, later married Arthur Emory (Jr.), son of Arthur Emory (Sr.) that married Anne Smith King. They married ca. 1687. She died 10 November 1721 in Queen Anne's County.

We will not cover in detail all of the children of Tristram and Ann Thomas, but have included a family group sheet with details found in our research. We will later follow the families of Thomas Thomas, eldest son, and Tristram Thomas, (Jr,) through two generations until many of the descendants move to North Carolina.

We do wish to mention again Tristram Thomas purchased "Barbadoes Hall" of 350 acres from Elizabeth Thomas Smith, widow of Christopher Thomas, on 19 November 1679. The details of this sale were mentioned in the story for Christopher Thomas (Part II).

The quitclaim deed was cloudy and the ownership of the land was still cloudy as shown in the will of Tristram Thomas.

The following item of interest was found in the Maryland Archives Vol. III, Page 609: "6 Nov 1683. An Act for the advancement of trade was passed and the following gentlemen of Talbot County were duly appointed as Commissioners: Col. Henry Coursey, Col, Vincent Lowe, Maj. William Coursey, Mr. Tristram Thomas".

Tristram Thomas died in Talbot County per Will Book 4, Page 226 that includes an undated will probated 22 May 1686. He names Mrs. Ann Thomas (wife), executrix. She was to receive the home plantation with 300 acres of land. Tristram Thomas had increased the original 400 acres of "Trustram" to approximately 1,300 acres. We did not research all of the land additions. He left 233 acres to son, William, on the north side of William's branch. He was to serve his mother until age 21. Christopher Thomas, son, was to receive the land where John Madbury and wife, Elizabeth, lived (300 acres), after their decease. Stephen Thomas, son. received 233 acres by John Glendening. He was to serve his mother until age 21. Trustram Thomas, son, received 233 acres back of Madbury's branch. Thomas Thomas, son, received all the rights of Tristram Thomas for the plantation on Chester River ("Barbadoes Hal 1"-350 acres). You can see the ownership is still cloudy. He left each of his four daughters 10,000 pounds of tobacco payable at marriage. Witnesses to the will were John Stephens, Thomas Gough, and John Glendening. It appears John Stephens was deceased by the time the will was probated on 22 May 1686. William Coursey (Jr) and Peter Sides appraised the estate.

The final accounts for the estate of Tristram Thomas show the 10,000 pounds of tobacco were paid to Anne Thomas, wife of Arthur Emory (Jr.); Juliana Thomas, wife of John King; and Elizabeth Thomas, wife of Robert Blunt. We find no record of payment for the fourth daughter. She lived to at least age 15 as the 40.000 pounds of tobacco was to be divided between the daughters living to at least age 15. The other three daughters only received their 10,000 pounds of tobacco. It is Possible the fourth daughter never married and died after age 15.

Anne Thomas, widow, married William Turlow prior to 3 April 1708 (probably ca. 1695). She died sometime before 1716 but after 1708.

Some Thomas researchers claim Tristram Thomas married Ann Coursey, sister of William Coursey (Sr.). The "Coursey Family" section earlier in our book does not show Henry Coursey (Sr.) had a daughter named Ann. We found no evidence of an Ann Coursey in our research. Since we have proven William Coursey (Sr.) is a brother-in-law of Tristram Thomas through Juliana Thomas, we find little reason to consider Ann Coursey the wife of Tristram Thomas.

The Coursey Family came from Ireland in 1651 and the Thomas Family came from England in 1665. It does not appear logical Ann Coursey, if one exists, and Tristram Thomas married in England. If Henry Coursey (Sr.) had a daughter named Ann. We feel John Coursey or Henry Coursey (Jr.) would have named her in his will. You would also expect Tristram Thomas to name a son Henry.

The land owned by Tristram Thomas will help us prove our connections to Thomas Thomas and Tristram Thomas (Jr.) and their descendants. We will follow these lines for two more generations.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Galliher, Jim & Elanie - tikione@@desoto.net.