Thomas
Thurston
Born about in Thernberry, Gloucestershire, England
[uncertain]
[uncertain]Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Bridget (Unknown) Thurston
— married
[date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants 
Father of
Elizabeth (Thurston) Coale and Elizabeth (Thurston) Ramsey
Died
at about age 71
in Baltimore County, Province of Maryland
Profile last modified
| Created 29 May 2011
This page has been accessed 1,908 times.
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Contents |
Biography
Thomas Thurston was a Maryland colonist.
Thomas Thurston was born about 1622 and from Gloucestershire according to the Speedwell passenger list. His brother was known to live in Thernberry. He apparently returned to England and came again on the Woodhouse (1657?) and while persecuted in several colonies was well-treated by the Native Americans who visited him while he was imprisoned in Virginia. About 1665 he fell away from the Quakers and was 'lost to the Truth' and so George Fox tried to reform him on his American journey in 1673.[1][2]
Thomas Thurston was among the first converts of the Quaker faith to visit the colony of Maryland. He was banished from Boston before his travel through Maryland with Josiah Cole and Thomas Champman in 1658. He was made a prisoner in Anne Arundel County for his efforts to seduce the people and the Governor and Council of Maryland issued orders directing Justices of the Peace to seize any Quakers that might come into their districts, and to whip them from Constable to Constable until they should reach the bounds of the province. [3] Anyone helping him would also be in trouble.
He left Maryland for a few years, but returned with his wife and two daughters in 1663 and settled permanently in Maryland. He represented Baltimore County in the Lower House of the MD legislature from 1689-1692.
He was expelled from Maryland for "gross conduct" but was elected to the Assembly in 1688 and excused from taking the oath.[1]
Thurston claimed a large quantity of land via various patents:
- 1683 Elberton 1000 acs.
- 1684 Strawberry Hill 200 acs.
- 1684 Littleton 600 acs.
- 1684 Come By Chance 200 acs.
Upon the marriage of daughter Ann to Miles Gibson in 1676 he deeded significant property to Miles Gibson.[4]
Children
- Thomas b. abt 1680 d. 11 JAN 1715
- Elizabeth b. abt 1660 m. George Skipwith, William Coale & Samuel Chew
- Ann b. abt 1658 m. Miles Gibson
- Elizabeth Jr. b. abt 1672 m. John Walley & Charles Ramsey
- Sarah b. abt 1675 m. Robert Love
Death
He died leaving a will written 21 DEC 1692 & probated 13 APR 1693. He left Strawberry Hill to his Thomas who was under twenty-one, also part of Come By Chance and 618 acs. of Thornberry. He dau. Eliza, the wife of Charles Ramsey, was to have personality. His daughter, Sarah, was given Littleton and the remainder of Come By Chance. His wife Mary was left her dower rights.[5]
Research Notes
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes 1656-1845, "(2nd visit) Ret'd in 1659. He afterwards fell from the Truth & became a vagabond and a fugitive, in 1672 G Fox sent for him "to bring the Truth over his bad actions.""[6]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tepper, Michael, Ed., Immigrants to the Middle Colonies, A Consolidation of Passenger Lists and Associated Data from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Baltimore, Genealogical Pub Co, 1979, p 150
- ↑ Fox, George, Journal of George Fox, Penney Edition, II:194 p 194
- ↑ Norris, J. Saurin. Early Friends in Maryland. The Maryland Historical Society. Baltimore 1862.
- ↑ Baltimore County Deed Books, transcribed from Lib G No s folio 330 & ca, Book TR RA pg 262-63, transcription attached to profile.
- ↑ Barnes, Robert W. Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759. Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield, 1989. Print.
- ↑ Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1656-1845; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes
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T > Thurston > Thomas Thurston
Categories: Baltimore County, Province of Maryland | Maryland Colonists
Ann Thurston b. abt 1652 married Miles Gibson and had children. Sarah Thurston b.21 Aug 1672 married Robert Love after 1692 and had two children. Thomas Thurston d. 11 Jan 1715 Thank you, Mary
edited by Mary Gresham
This names the first wife of Thomas Thurston as Bridget. The immigration record of 1663 into Maryland says he went into Maryland with a wife and 2 daughters so they would have been born before 1663. Others biographies of the Baltimore Families say the same thing. We do have the birthdate for Sarah, the daughter of his second wife Mary as 21 Aug 1672 and she was still unmarried when the will of Thomas Thurston was written in 1692. We know that son Thomas was still underage in 1692, even though he is mentioned first in the will he is the only boy. We know that his second wife's name is Mary by his will allowing her to keep her dower rights. I am placing Elizabeth Thurston Skipwith Coale Chew and Ann as the two oldest daughters born before 1663 and Elizabeth Thurston Wally Ramsey, Sarah b. 1672 and Thomas the youngest child as children of 2nd wife Mary.
If you look at the birthdates for the children of Elizabeth Thurston and George Skipwith they begin with Elizabeth born 18 Nov 1670. Backing into that by 20 years would put Elizabeth's birthdate about 1650. She married 2nd William Coale b. 1655 in 1685 and their son William was born in 1686. She married 3rd. Samuel Chew in 1704
Editing the estimated birth date for Elizabeth Thurston Skipwith Coale Chew per comments from T. Stanton.
edited by Mary Gresham
Is there anything suggesting that Thomas remained active with a monthly meeting? I'm curious as we know he ran afoul of the Quakers at one point but then was excused from taking an oath in 1688 which would seem to indicate he was still considered of the faith.
Baltimore - in 1693 also included Cecil and Baltimore County
Baltimore - 1659
Cecil - 1674
Harford - 1773
So at his passing - Harford was still a part of Baltimore