Person:Thomas Durfree (2)

Thomas Durfree
b.1643 England
Facts and Events
Name Thomas Durfree
Gender Male
Birth? 1643 England
Marriage to Ann Hill
Marriage to Deliverance Hall
Will[1] 4 Feb 1709/10 Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Death? Bef 17 Jul 1712 Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United StatesWill proved

Thomas' date of birth is from a deposition he made on August 16, 1679, wherein he stated that he was " ... aged about thirty six years ... ". Obviously he did not know his exact age. Rhode Island Land Evidence Volume 1, pages188-189. No other reference to his date or place of birth has been found. It has been assumed by most writers that he was born in England even though there is no positive evidence of it. The fact that he was never referred to as a foreigner or a Frenchman and that he was literate in the English language supports that assumption. The first record of Thomas Durfee in America was as a witness, on a deed dated January 20, 1661(or June 28, 1661), whereby King Alexander (Wamsetta), elder brother of King Philip, and chief of the Wampanog Tribe, sold land to Peter Tallman, of Portsmouth, Newport County, RI. Those who signed as witnesses were Richard Bulgar (alias Archer), Edward Lay, John Sasoman the Interpreter Indian, Thomas Durfi, and Alexander. Lay and Alexander signed with a mark, the others were able to write their names. From Rhode Island Land Evidence Volume 1, page 189, and Plymouth (MA) Court Records Volume 4 or 5. It is likely that he arrived in 1660, or shortly before. It is unlikely that, at about seventeen years of age, he could pay for passage to America and it is possible that he came as an indentured servant, and that he worked for an unknown number of years for whoever paid for his passage. It is my belief that he was bound to Peter Tallman because of his early and long association with Peter and his family. As early as January of 1661, he must have still been working off his debt and he was with Peter Tallman at the time the previously mentioned deed was written. The next record was in May 1662, when he was admitted as a resident of Portsmouth, Newport County, RI, at a Town Meeting by vote of the freemen. This probably marked the end of his servitude. From Town Meeting Records of Portsmouth. On October 13, 1663, he was charged with selling gunpowder to the Indians and fined five pounds. At the same court session he was charged with " ... speaking and uttering words of great contempt against the Government of this Colony ... ". He was required to post a twenty pound bond and forbidden to leave the Colony without the court's permission. From Rhode Island Court Records, Volume 2, page 57, now located in the office of the Rhode Island Secretary of State. The Rhode Island Historical Society published these records in 1920, and in that publication the information appears on page 215. There is no direct or positive evidence that Ann (Hill) Tallman was Thomas' first wife, but there is a substantial amount of circumstantial evidence. A careful study and evaluation of the records of the Rhode Island Court of Trials as published in the Colonial Records of Rhode Island 1664-1677, Volume 2, pages 120-130, and Rhode Island Evidence, Volume 1, pages 188-190 indicates that as early as June 1664, Peter Tallman complained to the court about a relationship between Ann and Thomas and Thomas was ordered to post a good behavior bond of 20 pounds. At the October session of the court, at the insistence of Peter Tallman, Thomas was tried for breach of bond and fined. At the December 1664, session of the Newport County Court of Trials Peter Tallman complained " ... that by reason of the insolent carriadge of Thomas Durfee with sayd Tallman's wife, and the danger therein etc. ... ". Rhode Island Court Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, 1920, Volume 2, pages 57-59. It would appear that Ann and Peter were separated during this entire period beginning before June 1664, until their divorce in May 1665. Thomas' son Robert was born in 1665. Reed stated that he visited Robert's grave and that the headstone was inscribed Lieut. Robert Durfee. Died May 10, 1718. Aged 53 years. It is not known where Reed found the date March 10. On May 15, 1665, Peter Tallman petitioned the court for a divorce from Ann. The court asked her if she would return to her husband and Ann replied " ... that she would rather cast herself on the mercy of God if He take away her life, than returne ... ". Peter was granted a bill of divorcement on the grounds of adultery. At that same court session Thomas was charged with fornication. The evidence of the charge against Ann was a child not fathered by Peter Tallman. In 1665, Peter Tallman sued King Philip, Chief of the Wampanog Tribe for failing to honor the deed of his elder, deceased brother, King Alexander, to Peter Tallman. In this record the date on the deed is June 28, 1661, but in other records the date is January 28, 1661. No doubt this is the result of poor hand writing. Plymouth Court Records, Volume 4 or 5. On May 6, 1673, Thomas was admitted a freeman of Portsmouth, Newport County, RI. Thomas was granted a license to sell victuals and drink to travelers at a town meeting held on April 23, 1679. On August 16, 1679, " Richard Bulgar (alias Archer ) aged seventy years ... and Thomas Durfi aged about thirty six years, all of ... Portsmouth ... doe testify that on January 20, 1661, the ... Indian Sachim caled Wamsetta Sepawquit or Alexander at the time of the signeing ... was in a very sober condition and not any way over-come in or by drink ... it was his free ... act ... the said subscriber was the eldest brother of Sachim Philip ( Who first began the late Indian warr with the English ) and was Chief Sachim of these Parts & deceased before the warr: Edward Lay of ... Portsmouth aged about seventy years ... doth testefie to the truth of all that is above ... 16th of August ... 1679 Before me. John Sanford Assistant ". Rhode Island Evidence Volume 1, page 189. On June 8, 1683, Peter Tallman, late of Portsmouth, Newport County, RI, now of Guilford, CT, cordwainer, sold 8 acres at Common Fence Point in Portsmouth to Thomas Durfee. Thomas deeded this 8 acres and his house to his son Thomas January 30, 1689. The will of Abiel Tripp dated September 9, 1684, and proved October 1, 1684, is recorded in the Portsmouth, Newport County, RI, Land Evidence 2nd Book No 1 page 236. In it he mentions wife Deliverance and son Abiel who is under 16 years of age. Thomas Durfee was appointed constable of Portsmouth, Newport County, RI, on June 14, 1687. Bartlett's Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, Volume 3, page 230. On April 2, 1690, he was appointed constable again. On January 30, 1698, Thomas deeded his son Thomas " ... for love, etc, my dwelling house, and the land belonging to it, situate in a place called Common Fence, near Pocasset River, eight acres in extent ... ". From The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, by John Osborne Austin. Albany. 1887. Page 68. On April 4, 1691, he was chosen one of the Overseers of the Poor. On April 4, 1692, and again on April 20, 1694, he was elected to the town Council. On August 2, 1698, Thomas and his wife Deliverance were granted a license by the Assembly, as was John Border, to continue operating a ferry between Rhode Island and Bristol until Abiel Tripp's heir (his son Abiel Jr.) comes of age in about 7 years. Bartlett's Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, Volume 3 page 346. In his will dated February 4, 1710, and proved July 14, 1712, at Portsmouth, Thomas left seven pounds to Ann Potter, wife of William Potter. He does not state her relationship to him as he does for every other person mentioned in his will. William Reed in The Descendants of Thomas Durfee assumes that Ann was Thomas' daughter, as have many other researchers. Peter and Ann (Hill) Tallman had a daughter named Ann who married 1st Stephen Brayton and 2nd, about 1692, William Potter. Boston Transcript, Genealogy Column, November 10, 1932, # 2544. Ann Potter died in Portsmouth, Newport County, RI, in 1731. There was only one William Potter who lived in Portsmouth at that time and he is the one who married Ann Tallman. It is almost certain that she was the Ann Potter mentioned in Thomas' will. William Potter was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Stokes) Potter. In his will dated February 4, 1710, and proved July 14, 1712, Thomas named his wife Deliverance executrix and left " ... To wife, house and land in Portsmouth for life and then to daughters Patience Tallman, and Deliverance Durfee equally. To eldest son, Robert 5 shillings, having already settled certain lands in Freetown upon him. To son Thomas 5 shillings, he having had already. To son William, 5 shillings, he having had more than 40 pounds. To youngest son, Benjamin, 50 acres in Tiverton. To wife, Deliverance, a Negro called Jock for life, and at her death the value of said slave to two daughters. To grandson Richard, eldest son of Richard, deceased, 5 shillings. To grandson, Thomas, son of Richard, 60 acres in Tiverton. To Ann Potter, wife of William Potter, 7 pounds. To wife, Deliverance, and two daughters, rest of land; to wife all moveable estate. ... ". The will of Deliverance Durfee, Thomas' widow, was dated April 8, 1718, and proved February 13, 1721, at Portsmouth. Genealogies of Rhode Island. Genealogical Publishing Company. Baltimore, MD, 1983. Two Volumes. Volume 2, pages 179-182. The Descendants of Thomas Durfee. William Field Reed. Washington, DC. Two Volumes. 1902 and 1905. Volume 1, pages 14-19. The Descendants of John Warden. William A. Warden. 1901. Pages 44-50. This work contains many errors. Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families. Frank R. Holmes, Compiler. New York. 1923. Page 73. The Descendants of Thomas Wellman of Lynn, Massachusetts. Joshua Wyman Wellman. Boston. 1918. Page 361.

References
  1. Abstracts of Portsmouth Wills, in Rhode Island Genealogical Register. (Princeton, Massachusetts: A. G. Beaman)
    5:45.

    Thomas Durfee of Portsmouth. Will dated 4 Feb 1709/10, proved 17 of 5th month 1712, pps. 222-223.
    Wife Deliverance.
    Sons: Robert (eldest), Thomas, William, Richard deceased and Benjamin (youngest).
    Daughters: Patience Tallman and Deliverance Durfee (youngest).
    Grandsons, sons of son Richard Durfee deceased, viz: Richard Durfee (eldest) and Thomas Durfee.
    Ann Potter wife of William Potter (no relationship given).