THOMAS HARVEY (Thomas2, Thomas1). He was born in Taunton about 1643. In 1668 he was married to his cousin (8) Experience Harvey, daughter of (4) William, and the next year was the proprietor of an "ordinary," or eating-house, in Taunton. [See Propr. Records, Taunton, IV.: 25—this being one of the earliest records of an "ordinary" in Taunton.]
Thomas was the original owner of lot No. 77 in the Taunton "South Purchase." 17 Dec, 1673, he was a Sergeant in the Taunton military company raised by Plymouth Colony to be sent in the expedition against the Dutch in New York and New Jersey. [See Plym. Records, V.: 136.] In 1689 he was one of the grantees named in the Bradford deed. In 1691 he was chosen Fourth Sergeant of the "First Military Company" (train-band) of Taunton, and in 1700 he was still a member of the company. [See original papers of Capt. Thos. Leonard, City Hall, Taunton.]
During King William's War (which was waged between the New England Colonies and the Canadian French and Indians in a desultory manner for several years, and which was ended by the treaty of peace at Ryswick in 1698) many of the English King's subjects in the Colonies who were able to bear arms were impressed* into the military service. In an "impress-warrant" issued 24 July, 1695 (and now preserved at Taunton), appears the following : "William Harvey or his brother Thomas Harvey."
In March, 1714, being then about 71 years of age, Thomas conveyed to his son Ebenezer his dwelling house in Taunton and the homestead whereon it stands, comprising 400 acres."
This property adjoined lands of Thomas' sons Thomas and Ebenezer, and was on the highway leading to Brown's Brook. The consideration for it was the grantor's "love and good-will for and to" Ebenezer, and the condition that the latter should "take care of him the said Thomas and his wife, and also pay;£IO to his daughters Experience Hayward and Mary Harvey."
Thomas died at Taunton in 1726, having survived his wife Experience about six or seven years.
