Person:Thomas Atkinson (1)

Origins

The origins of Thomas must be considered unknown.

Thomas was made a freeman 1636^[4], which suggest he was of legal age in 1636, so born before 1615. Possibly he was even older than this, as he apparently owned property before leaving for New England (according to letter from brother in probate file, mentioned below).

Some sources (e.g., Cutter, p. 4:1765) suggest Thomas was brother to Theodore Atkinson, feltmaker and hatter of Boston, and assume origin in either Bury, Lancashire or Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk based on that relationship. Under "Theodore Atkinson", Anderson says "Savage claims that Theodore Atkinson was 'from Bury in Co. Lancaster', while Pope has him coming 'from Bury St. Edmunds [Suffolk].' There is no solid evidence for either location...", though Pope is the most likely of the two. However, Anderson does not mention any relationship between Thomas and Theodore.

Cutter also says that John Atkinson, the nephew who was raised by Theodore Atkinson, was the child of Thomas Atkinson. Holman, p. 719, studied John Atkinson, and could not identify his origins and never mentions Thomas as his father.

According to Pope, Thomas' probate contains a letter from a brother, Robert Atkinson, who was living in the parish of Halifax, Yorkshire, England.^[3]

There was a Thomas Atkinson, age 27, on the passenger list for the ship Alice, bound for Virginia on July 1635. Him? Did this ship continue on to New England (or stop there first)? There is also a Miles Atkinson, 22, on the same ship. ["Passengers for Virginia, July 1635," NEHGS Register, Volume 5, p. 61] BUT a later NEHGS Register (vol. 47, p. 194) implies that this Thos bound for Virginia actually stayed there. See "Certificates of Head Rights, Va." [11 Dec 1652] Certf. granted to John Hatton for 300 acres for 6 persons [including]... Thomas Atkinson.

Life in New England

1636 (7 Dec): declared freeman in Concord Abt 1638: Married Susannah Doyle

Legacy

Savage indicates he had three daughters-- two of whom [Savage says] married Caleb Brooks (Susanna and Hannah), the third (Rebecca) who married John Heywood Sr. He also indicates that the Atkinson's widow, Susannah Doyle Atkinson, married second William Allen. Savage also indicates he died November 1646 in Concord, and that his inventory was deposed on Sep. 16, 1646.^[1]

Probate abstract (intestate): Thomas Atkinson, of Concord.-- Inventory 16 (9) 1646 [16 Nov 1646]. Simon Willard, Tho. Brookes, George Wheeler, prizers. Indebted 9 lbs, 10 shillings. The sum which debts pay, 59 pounds, 5s, 1d. He had 80 lbs. in England to rec. & some little he hath rec. but it is not knowne what, until intelligence comes the next yeare. Administration granted to Susan, his wife, 25 (9) 1646.^[2]

Additional Sources

(incorporate into Sources)

1. Harold Clarke Durrell, "Lizzie Daniel Rose Atkinson, MD," NEHGS Register, volume 89 (1935), p. 47

1. ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   1:75.

   "ATKINSON, THOMAS, Concord, freem. 7 Dec. 1636, by w. Susanna had Susanna, b. 28 Apr. 1641; and Hannah, 5 Mar. 1644; and he d. Nov. 1646. Both of the ds. m. Caleb Brooks, the elder on 10 Apr. 1660, and d. 19 Jan. 1669. But he had an elder d. Rebecca, that m. John Hayward; and the wid. of Atkinson m. William Allen."

2. ↑ "Abstracts of Early Wills", in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
   8:57.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Pope, Charles Henry. Pioneers of Massachusetts (1620-1650): A Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns and Churches. (Boston: The Author, 1900)
   23.

   Thomas Atkinson of Concord "d. 18 (1) 1643. Admin. gr. to his widow 25 (9) 1646". [These dates are 18 Mar 1642/43, 25 Nov 1646.]

4. ↑ "List of Freeman" , in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
   3:94.

   Under date 7 Dec 1636.