Thomas Tileston (abt. 1610 - 1694)

Born about 1610 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Tileston — married 1636 in Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 24 Jun 1694 at about age 84 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Thomas Tileston migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 7, p. 46) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Thomas Tilestone was born about 1610 in England. The precise origin of his birth is unknown,^[1]but it could be that the family was from Tilston, Cheshire, England. (At Huxley in Cheshire there lived a Thomas Tilson in 1580 who may have been an ancestor.)^[2]

He migrated to New England in 1634, residing in Dorchester where he received a land grant on September 1, 1634. He became a freeman when he was admitted to the Dorchester church before March 9, 1636/7.

He married about 1636 to Elizabeth (_____) whose surname is unknown. She was admitted to the Dorchester church about 1638.

Children:

1. Timothy Tilestone was born about 1636. He married on April 28, 1659 at Dorchester to Sarah Bridgmen, daughter of James Bridgeman.
2. Elizabeth Tilestone was baptized at Dorchester on August 3, 1639. She died unmarried by 1660.
3. Ruth Tilestone was baptized at Dorchester on October 3, 1641. She married (1st) to Richard Denton at Dorchester on December 11, 1657; married (2nd) to Timothy Foster at Dorchester on October 13, 1663.
4. Cornelius Tilestone was baptized at Dorchester on May 17, 1646. He had died by 1655 when his younger sibling was also named "Cornelius."
5. Naomi Tilestone was baptized at Dorchester on May 7, 1648.
6. Bathshua Tilestone was baptized at Dorchester on September 16, 1649. By 1670 she had married John Payson, son of Edward Payson. On February 18, 1671 "Bathshuah the daughter of Thomas Tilstone who married with Jno. Pason was dismissed to join to the church at Rocksbery, she was not in full communion as yet."
7. Onesiphorus Tilestone was baptized on October 19, 1651. He married at Boston on August 12, 1688 to Sarah Munson.
8. Cornelius Tilestone was baptized at Dorchester on July 15, 1655. He died there on July 20, 1659.

He signed his name as "Thomas Tilstone" on February 7, 1641; it was a document establishing a free school at Dorchester. He was constable in 1655; Fenceviewer in 1652, 1656, 1659, 1662, 1664, 1672, 1674, and 1684; Highway supervisor in 1665, 1676, and 1677; and Tithingman in 1679.^[1] He planted elms on the meeting house hill in 1676; later cut down in 1775.^[2]

A meetinghouse seating list on March 17, 1693/4 reveals "Father Tilestone" with the first place "at the table;" a very prominent place to be seated.

Thomas Tilestone died at Dorchester on June 24, 1694 at 83 years of age and was buried in the Dorchester Old Burial Ground.^[3][4]

His will was dated February 19, 1693/4 and proved July 12, 1694. He is known as "Thomas Tilestone of Dorchester" in his will; in it he bequeathed 10 acres, the Sheep Pen, lot on south side of Naponsett River, undivided lands in common with town of Dorchester, 1 acre of fresh meadow, and 10 # of money to his eldest son Timothy Tilestone. Onisiphoris Tilestone and his children (and wife Sarah should Onisiphoris die) were bequeathed all the housing and lands not already given to Timothy. Onisiphoris also received all the moveable goods, except his feather bed which was given to his granddaughter Ruth Foster (instead of 40 shillings). Forth shillings were to be given to each of his grandchildren when they become of age: daughter Ruth Foster's children, daughter Bathsheba Pason's children. His inventory included books valued at L6 which were to be divided between his grandchildren, with his Bible given to his son, Timothy. Timothy was his sole executor. The inventory totaled L332 3s. 6d.^[5]

Research Notes

1. The Torrey source, (New England Marriages) says that Thomas Tilestone had a 2nd wife named Sarah who is named in his will. This is INCORRECT. Torrey was confusing the wife of Cornelius named "Sarah" with a 2nd wife of Thomas. Thomas Tilestone had ONLY 1 WIFE, named "Elizabeth (unknown surname)"^[1]
2. Thomas Tilestone DID NOT have a son named Thomas, no evidence exists. Savage may have misread the name of Tilestone and Tolman, as Thomas Tolman died on the 12th of September 1718.^[1]
3. One branch altered the name to Tillotson about 1600, of which family was John, Archbishop of Canterbury.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Great Migration 1634-1635, T-Y. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} New England Historical and Genealogical Register. White, J. Gardner. "Tileston." Vol. 13, p. 121, 122.
3. ↑ Trask, WB. Inscriptions for the Old Burial Ground in Dorchester, MS[sic], The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1850) Vol 4, page 169. Inscription: "Here Leth Ye Body of Thomas Tilesto'ne Aged 83 Yeares Dec'd June ye 24 1694"
4. ↑ Find a Grave memorial page for Thomas Tileston (1611–24 Jun 1694), Find A Grave: Memorial #20742610 (Accessed 06 April 2020), citing Dorchester North Burying Ground, Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by V. Nareen Lake (contributor 46613568).
5. ↑ Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017-2019. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org) Case 2158: Will

• Great Migration 1634-1635, T-Y. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, pp 46 - 50; by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Featured Sketch: Thomas Tilestone.subscribers$
• New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Vol. 3, p. 1520.subscribers$
• New England Historical and Genealogical Register. White, J. Gardner. "Tileston." Vol. 13, p. 121, 122.see at googlebooks.

See also:

• White, Melvin Lawrence (1850-?) of Randolph, Mass. and New York. . Unpublished genealogical research records Repository: Barbara J. Beake
• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010