Thomas Knowlton Jr. (abt. 1640 - abt. 1716)

Born about Nov 1640 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Green) Knowlton — married 24 Nov 1668 in Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Sarah (Benjamin) Knowlton — married 31 Dec 1708 in Norwichtown, New London, Connecticut

Descendants

Died about 28 Feb 1716 at about age 75 in Norwich, New London, Colony of Connecticut

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Biography

Name

In records/histories of Ipswich from about 1660-1692 he is often referred to as "Thomas Jr." even though he's the son of William. After the decease of Deacon Thomas Knowlton this Thomas is often referred to as Thomas Sr., and his oldest son born 1670 is the Jr.^[1]

Birth

Three Essex Co., MA Court depositions place his birth year at about 1642. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Occupation and Court Appearances

Thomas was a cordwainer (shoemaker). He also appears in court on several occasions:

• Thomas Sues his Brother: In March of 1670, he sued his brother, William. William had agreed to work for his brother as a shoemaker. Thomas paid him in advance, but William didn't do the work. The Court ordered William to pay back his brother plus 5 shillings in damages. ^[5]
• Cited for Disruptive Behavior: In 1674, Thomas had to wear a paper on his chest which read in bold, capital leters "for making disturbance in the meeting." ^[1]
• Cited for "Overdress": In 1675, Thomas had to pay a fine for his wife's "overdress" -- wearing too expensive or fancy clothing for her station. ^[1]
• As Deputy Marshal/Constable: In 1679-1680, Thomas appears in court records serving writs as a deputy marshal and deputy constable. ^[6]

Property and Deeds

• 1 Nov 1666: Brook St (now Spring St). Thomas bought a house and land on Brook St, now called Spring St., from Giles Birdley. The current home at 11 Spring St. is very close to the location of Thomas' original home. ^[7]
• 2 Jun 1671: Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Thomas acknowledged receiving his wife's portion of her father, William Greene's estate. ^[8]
• 1671: Thomas' Uncle, Deacon Thomas Knowlton, bought a house and land from Goodman Younglove, in which Thomas lived rent free for 17 years and received the title in a Gift Deed in 1688 ^[9][10]
• 8 Mar 1691/2: Stocking, in what he tells us is this Thomas' will but is in fact a Deed: "I give and bequeath to my son Thomas...my parlor new chamber, ...a part of my cellar, and the use of water from the pump" and part of the land. ^[11][9]
• 8 Fed 1697/98: South Main St, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Thomas sold to Joseph Califfe. The property was subsequently sold to the Heard family who moved the Knowlton house and erected a mansion on the site that is currently the home of the Heard House Museum at 54 South Main St. ^[12][13]

Residence

In 1698, Thomas moved to Norwich, Connecticut.

Death

02 NOV 1711 Norwich, New London County, Connecticut

Though Stevens-Miller says 3 Apr 1692 in Ipswich, Massachusetts whichconfuses him with his uncle^[14][15]

28 FEB 1716 Norwich, New London, Connecticut

Marriage

24 NOV 1668 Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts^{[16] [17]}

Wife: Hannah Green

Child: Thomas Knowlton

Child: Ebenezer Knowlton

Child: Zerubbabel Knowlton

Child: Mary Knowlton

Child: Patience Knowlton

Child: Hannah Knowlton

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Waters, Thomas Franklin. Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Ipswich Historical Society. Ipswich, MA (1905)
2. ↑ Ancestry.com Depositions Massachusetts Archives; Columbia Point, MA, USA; Index to the Deponent Records of the County of Essex, Massachusetts; Volume: 4; Page: 279; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz, comp. Essex County, Massachusetts Depositions, 1645-1686 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com Depositions Massachusetts Archives; Columbia Point, MA, USA; Index to the Deponent Records of the County of Essex, Massachusetts; Volume: 7; Page: 120. Sanborn, Melinde Lutz, comp. Essex County, Massachusetts Depositions, 1645-1686 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
4. ↑ Ancestry.com Depositions Massachusetts Archives; Columbia Point, MA, USA; Index to the Deponent Records of the County of Essex, Massachusetts; Volume: 7; Page: 220; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz, comp. Essex County, Massachusetts Depositions, 1645-1686 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
5. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts Depositions Vol. 4, pg. 223.
6. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts Depositions Vol. 7, pg. 171, 360; Vol. 8, pg. 13, 15
7. ↑ Waters, Thomas Franklin. Ipswich in the Massachussets Bay Colony pg. 393. The Ipswich Historical Society. Ipswich, MA (1905)
8. ↑ Ancestry.com Abstracts of Early Woburn Deeds recorded at Middlesex County Registry, 1649-1700.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Stocking, Rev. Charles Henry Wright. D.D. The History and Genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America. Vol 2 pg. 21, 24, 560. New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1897. Stocking ID 8.
10. ↑ Waters, Thomas Franklin. Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, pg. 452. The Ipswich Historical Society. Ipswich, MA (1905)
11. ↑ Essex County Deeds Book 12, pg. 108
12. ↑ Essex County Deeds Book 13, pg. 8
13. ↑ Heard House Museum, Ipswich, MA.
14. ↑ #S334 Page: 101-107
15. ↑ #S1421 Page: to Kimball G. Everingham
16. ↑ Ancestry.com Marriage Records Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
17. ↑ Ancestry.com Marriage Records Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).

• Notes and Queries, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1885) Vol. 39, Page 387: "Thomas Knowlton, Jr., married Hannah Green, 20 Nov. 1668."
• Find A Grave memorial #[1]
• S1421: Correspondence from Cameron Knowlton, Abbreviation: CorrKnowlton, Cameron Author: Knowlton, Cameron Repository: #R10
• S334: Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and his Wife Frances HelenMiller, Format: 2 vols. Abbreviation: Stevens Miller Ancestry Author: Holman, Mary Lovering Publication: privately printed at the Rumford Press, Concord, N.H., 1948–1953
• The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, in the County of Middlesexand Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1629–1818, Format: 2 vols. Abbreviation: Gens. and Estates of Charlestown Author: Wyman, Thomas Bellows Publication: David Clapp and Son, Boston, Mass., 1879
• Knowlton, George Henry Errata and Addenda to Dr. Stocking's History ... of The Knowltons. Boston, MA (Everett Press Company) 1903.

• Global, Find A Grave Index for Non-Burials, Burials at Sea, and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current. about Thomas Knowlton
• The Benjamin Genealogy : https://archive.org/details/benjaminfamilyin00bich/page/14
• Connecticut Vital Records, Prior to 1850, The marriage of Sarah Benjamin and Thomas Knowlton; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:78X2-V23Z

Acknowledgments

TheTreeDr Ancestry.com Knowlton Tree (William3 and Descendants) - research notes, commentary, and locating many of the sources for this entry.