William Thorne II (bef. 1636 - aft. 1699)

Born before 1636 in England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 24 Feb 1699 after age 63 in Hempstead, Queens, Province of New York

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Biography

William Thorne was the apparently eldest son of William and Susannah (Booth) Thorne, born no later than 1636. It is unclear whether his parents were in England or Massachusetts at the time, though England may be the more likely.^[1]

Some date before 28 February 1643, William Thorne (I) and Michael Millner (of whom see below) were reported as removed from Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts to Long Island. William was facing charges of "refusing to watch in the military watch,"^[2] this with other records putting William among those who were deemed under the influence of Ann Hutchinson.

Young William did not have an easy rearing. If his family remained on Long Island through the ensuing year, they were lucky to survive – the people's council of Eight Men of New Netherland wrote to Europe in appeal for assistance on 24 October 1643, citing an outbreak of war with the Indians and noting that "Long Island is destitute also of inhabitants and stock, except a few insignificant places over against the main, which are about to be abandoned. The English who have settled among us have not escaped. They too, except one place, are all murdered and burnt."^[3] They may have sheltered in this time at Lady Moody's settlement at Gravesend, which was being fortified in the spring of '43.^[4]

It was around the time that William II, the proband, was likely reaching or had recently reached the age of majority, when on 18 February 1656/7, the nascent town of Rustdorp, soon to be renamed Jamaica, granted a house lot to William Thorne "upon ye west quarter."^[5] It is unclear whether this grant was to William or his father. There isn't any evidence that either of them ever became a resident of Jamaica.

At a Flushing town meeting on 27 December 1657, held at fellow Massachusetts refugee Michael Milner's house, a document drafted by Edward Hart, which came to be known as the Flushing Remonstrance, was read. It proclaimed their refusal to uphold the governor's law against Quakers and asserted that "the law of love, peace and liberty in the states extending to Jews, Turks and Egyptians, as they are considered sons of Adam, which is the glory of the outward state of Holland, soe love, peace and liberty, extending to all in Christ Jesus, condemns hatred, war and bondage. And because our Saviour sayeth it is impossible but that offences will come, but woe unto him by whom they cometh, our desire is not to offend one of his little ones, in whatsoever form, name or title hee appears in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker, but shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them, desiring to doe unto all men as we desire all men should doe unto us, which is the true law both of Church and State; for our Saviour sayeth this is the law and the prophets."

William Thorne "seignor" became its third signatory, and "The marke of [W] William Thorne junior" appears just below. It is by the proband's public act in signing the remonstrance that we fix his birth date as no later than 1636.

William probably married his wife, Winnifred, whose origins are unknonwn, around 1662. Their son William (III) was baptized on 23 May 1663 at the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam. Unfortunately, it appears that the Dominie misunderstood Winnifred's name and recorded her as Winne Fruyt, ommiting her last name at birth.^[6] If their son John is properly identified in New York City and Albany, then John was born in the City,^[7] and presumably William was, as well. If so, it's unclear at what point William and Winnifred removed to back to Queens, though they were certainly there by 2 April 1677, on which date the town of Hempstead, by a majority vote of a general meeting, granted to William Thorne "a small Parsell of Medow lying a littell above his hous by the bay side on the west sid of Madnans Neck that Medow that lys against his owne land."^[8] Madnans Neck is now called Great Neck.

On 23 November 1667, "'Tho Slatham of Flushing' conveyed to 'William Thorne of Hempstead, planter,' 50 acres at 'Great mad nans Neck' adjoining lands of John Baley and Thomas Rushmore,"^[9] and Wm Thorne is listed among the inhabitants of the town of Hempstead in 1673.^[10]

William was signatory to a request for a piece of commons lying between John Locosens lot and a lot of Nathaniel Pearsall on the east side of ye neck, which land was ceded by Jonathan Burdge on 3 October 1681.^[11]

A series of five successively recorded deeds clearly demonstrates the recent provenance of two parcels in Westchester County which William Thorne of Madnans Neck purchased of Thomas Whitlock in July 1682, both witnessed by Thomas Mullenex and Frances French. On 13 March 1698/9, William's son, William III, assigned one of these, a certain parcel of meadow lying and being in Westchester in the west meadow, to his brother Samuel Ward.^[12] The other appears to have become the property of another of the proband's sons – Richard – whose widow sold it out of his estate in 1716.^[13]

"Edmund Titus conveyed to 'Will Thorne of Mad nans neck' a 'lott of land on the east side of said neck in number fifty-nine and in quantity of acres thirty three as it was at the first layd out by the surveyors so appointed.'"^[14]

An account of ye valuation of the estates of thee Inhabitants of ye Towne of Hempstead, 11 October 1683, lists William Thorne with heads: 1, land and meadow: 16, oxen: 2, cowes: 4, three year oulds: 3, two year oulds: 2, year oulds: 4, hoggs: 3.^[15]

On 1 March 1683/4, Winnifruit Thorne, wife of William Thorne, sued Hannah Cornwall, wife of John Cornwall, for defamation. The court entered a judgement of nonsuit against the plaintiff with cost of suit.^[16]

William Thorne Se. registered an earmark on 26 April 1685,^[17] and was among the inhabitants of Hempstead agreeing to sponsor John Stuard to serve as a cooper and surgeon for the town on 11 July 1691.^[18]

On 7 June 1697, "William Thorne, 'Richard Thorne his mark,' William THorne Junr and 'IT John Thorne his mark' were among those consenting that John Treadwell Senr. might join the "land he bought of Slidwell to the land that was formerly John Hickes."^[19]

William Thorne, Winnethrift Thorne and Richrd Thorne were listed adjacently and probably in a household together in the 1698 census of Hempstead. The proband and his wife oughtn't be confused with his son William's children, also named William and Winnethrift, who are listed below under William and Cathrene Thorne.^[20]

There are signs that William may have believed he was nearing the end of his life in the spring of 1699. On 24 February 1698/9, "'Will Thorne Senier, residence on Great Neck,' conveyed to 'my son Richard Thorne... all and every parcell & parcells of land I have on said great neck together with all the housings, priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging,'" Wenifred Thorne co-signed with her mark.^[21] As noted above, his son William was in possession of one of his Westchester tracts by 13 March 1698/9.^[12]

No further record of William has been found.

Children of William (II) and Winnifred Thorne:

• William Thorne (III), bap. 23 May 1663, m. Catherine Linington^[6][20][22]
• John Thorne, b. abt. 1665, prob. m. (1) Geertje Bresser, (2) Mary (Breestede) Fleming^{[7][23][24][25][26]}
• Elizabeth Thorne, b. abt. 1667, m. Richbell Mott^[27][28]
• Hannah Thorne, b. abt. 1670, m. Samuel Ward^[12][29]
• Denton Thorne, b. abt. 1673^[29][30]
• Richard Thorne, b. abt. 1676, m. Phebe Denton
• Sarah Thorne, b. abt. 1678, m. (1) Roger Pedley, (2) John Chappel^[20][27][31]
• Abraham Thorne, b. abt. 1681^[20][32]
• Margaret Thorne, b. abt. 1683, m. Thomas Rattoone^{[20][33][34][35]}

Sources

1. ↑ The first known appearance of William Thorne I in colonial records occured when he was made a freeman of Massachusetts on 2 May 1638. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. Boston: William White for the Commonwealth of Mass., 1853, 1:374.
2. ↑ Michael Millner and William Thorne both reported as removed to Long Island at Salem Court, 28 February 1642. Dow, George F. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. Salem, Mass: Essex Institute, 1911, 1:50-1. Although not apparent in the printed transcription, examination of the original document shows that text "but his name was John" was written after the fact by a different hand. Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Court records, 1636-1641. FamilySearch, Film # 8,121,376, image 222.
3. ↑ O'Callaghan, E B. History of New Netherland: Or, New York Under the Dutch. New York: D. Appleton & Co, 1846, 1:289-90.
4. ↑ Gerard, James W. Lady Deborah Moody: a Discourse Delivered Before the New York Historical Society, May 1880. New York: F.B. Patterson, 1880, 25-6.
5. ↑ Frost, Josephine C., ed. Records of the Town of Jamaica, Long Island, New York, 1656-1751. Brooklyn, N.Y: Long Island Historical Society, 1914, 1:1, citing Jamaica Town Records 1:1.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} 1663 – 23 May; Wilt Toorn, Winne Fruyt; Willem; no witnesses. "New Amsterdam (New York City) New York Reformed Dutch Church Baptisms 1661 - 1665 (archived)," Olive Tree Genealogy, Lorine McGinnis Schulze, 1996-present, citing Evans, Thomas Grier. Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam and New York. Baptisms from 25 December, 1639 to 27 December, 1730. Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol 2. New York: Printed for the Society, 1901.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} John Thorn, a young man born at New York and living at Albany, married Geertje Bresser, born at Kingston, in Poughkeepsie on 7 February 1705/6. Holland Society of New York. Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1905. New York: Holland Society of New York, 1905, p. 5.
8. ↑ Hicks, 1:309, citing Liber B:237.
9. ↑ Dickinson, 92:178, citing Queens County Deeds A:84.
10. ↑ DHNY, 1:658.
11. ↑ Hicks, 1:479, citing Liber C:110.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Thomas Vaile to Thomas Whitlock; Thomas Whitlock to William Thorne; John Jennings to Thomas Whitlock; Thomas Whitlock to William Thorne; William Thorne [II] to brother Samuel Ward. Westchester County Deeds, B:395-6. "New York Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Westchester > Deeds 1681-1698 vol A-B > image 390 of 396; county courthouses, New York.
13. ↑ Robert Mitchell and wife Phebe, admx. of est. of Richard Thorne, to Thomas Baxter, 4 April 1716. Westchester County Deeds, E:163-4. "New York Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Westchester > Deeds 1708-1730 vol D-F > images 241-2 of 584; county courthouses, New York.
14. ↑ Dickinson, 92:180, citing Queens County Deeds A:143.
15. ↑ DHNY, 2:527.
16. ↑ Hicks, 1:423, citing Liber C:54.
17. ↑ Hicks, 2:115, citing Liber C:257.
18. ↑ Hicks, 2:110-11, citing Liber C:252.
19. ↑ Dickinson, 92:181, citing Queens County Deeds, B:396.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4} Harris, Edward D., contrib. "The Hempstead Census of 1698." The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1914, 45:62. In the right-hand column, William and Winnethrift Thorne and son Richard, listed above their son William and his wife Cathrene and their children, in turn listed above Sarah, Abraham and Margreat Thorne, apparently in the household of Mary Danells.
21. ↑ Dickinson, 92:182, citing Queens County Deeds, A:137.
22. ↑ Henry Linington bequeathed 20 acres to son-in-law William Thorne in 1691. Abstract of the last will of Henry Linington. Canfield, Amos. "Abstracts of Early Wills of Queens County, New York." The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1934, 65:118; also available as Henry B. Hoff. Long Island Source Records. From The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1987, pp. 131-2; Ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.
23. ↑ John Thorne, who made is mark as "I. T." in Hempstead records, last appeared there witnessing a deed from Thomas Hicks to his son Thomas Hicks on 18 March 1697/8. Hicks, 3:242-3, citing Liber E:72. He does not appear in the 1698 census of Hempstead. Subsequently, a John Thorne appears in records of New York City and Albany with an actual signature. That he would have begun signing his name later in life is not inconsistent with other members of his family, but the change makes connection of the John Thorne of Hempstead to the one in New York City and Albany a bit tenuous.
24. ↑ John Thorn m. Maria Flamin, 26 May 1710. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Marriages From 1639 to 1801 In the Reformed Dutch Church, New Amsterdam, New York City. New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1940, 9:113.
25. ↑ Peter Brested made bequests to his sister Mary Thorne and to John and George Thorne. Last will and testament of Peter Brested, ex. 15 February 1724/5, pr. 1 June 1725. New York County Wills, 10:57-60. "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (28 May 2014), New York > Wills 1724-1728 vol 10 > images 64-6 of 272; county courthouses, New York.
26. ↑ See Thorn Dickinson's profile of 8. John^3 Thorne, 93:91-3 for further records and notes on establishing John Thorne's identity.
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1} Marriage licenses – Thorne, Elizabeth with Rigebell Mott; Thorne, Richard with Phebe Denton; Thorne, Sarah with Roger Pedley. New York (State); Howell, George Rogers. Supplementary List Of Marriage Licenses. State Library Bulletin No. 1. Albany: University of the State of New York, 1898, p. 41.
28. ↑ Elizabeth Mott made a bequests to her cousin Mary Pudney, widow, and cousin Phebe Thorne, daughter of Richard Thorne, and named her kinsman Richard Thorne of Hempstead as sole executor of her will. All three were actually her nieces and nephew by her deceased brother Richard. Last will and testament of Elizabeth Mott, ex. 7 Mar 1737/8, pr. 16 April 1739. New York County Wills, 13:285-90. "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (28 May 2014), New York > Wills 1736-1741 vol 13 > images 180-2 of 352; county courthouses, New York.
29. ↑ ^{29.0 29.1} Samuel and Hannah Ward appeared in the 1698 census of Eastchester, New York, followed by Abigail Ward, Michael Slaghter and Denton Thorne. Miller, Robert B., contrib. "New York Colonial Manuscripts, Vol. XLII, Page 60, New York State Library, Albany." The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1907, 38:134.
30. ↑ Denton Thorne is only known by his appearance in the Eastchester Census with his apparent sister Hannah Ward. It may be that his given name was the proximate cause for some to surmise that someone in the family was a Denton, but there are is no real evidence of Dentons in the Thorne family until Denton's brother Richard married Phebe Denton, which took place in 1699. Denton was nonetheless likely named in honor of Rev. Richard Denton, even if not due to any familial tie.
31. ↑ Sarah Pedley of Great Neck m. John Chappel at Sarah Pedley's house, 6th day of the 1st month, 1704/5. Hinshaw, William W. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Edwards brothers, inc., 1940, 3:67.
32. ↑ Abraham Thorn was on the muster roll of Capt. Joshua Cornell's Company of Queens County Militia in 1715, along with his brothers-in-law Righbilt Mott and John Chapel. New York Colonial Muster Rolls, 1664-1775: Report of the State Historian of the State of New York. Baltimore, Md: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1999, 1:494-5; Ancestry.com. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1997-2019.
33. ↑ Richard Thorne made a bequest to his sister Margarett Ratton, to be paid after the decease of his mother Winnifret Thorne. Last will and testament of Richard Thorne, ex. 8 November 1706, pr. 17 February 1706/7. New York County Wills, 7:386-8. "New York, Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (accessed 18 September 2015), New York > Wills 1702-1704 vol 7 > images 242-3 of 374; county courthouses, New York. Richard named all of their children in his will.
34. ↑ Margaret ye Wife of Thos Rattoon was buried 26 April 1718 at Flushing. Grace Church, Jamaica, p. 287.
35. ↑ That Margaret was among the youngest of the family is supported by the fact that her daughter Sarah was baptized 16 April 1713. Grace Church, Jamaica, p. 270.

• Dickinson, Thorn. "Early History of the Thorne Family of Long Island." The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1961-2. Profiles of 1. William^1 Thorne, 92:2-4 and 2. William^2 Thorne, 92:178-182, 92:208-12.
• Hicks, Benjamin D., ed. Records of the towns of North and South Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., 1654-1880. Jamaica, New York: Long Island Farmer Print, 1896.
• Ladd, Horatio O. The Origin and History of Grace Church, Jamaica, New York. Shakespeare Press: New York, 1914.
• New York (State). Secretary's Office. The Documentary History of the State of New-York. Albany, N. Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co., 1849.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flushing_Remonstrance