Thomas Judd Sr (abt. 1608 - 1688)

Born about 1608 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Clemence (UNKNOWN) Judd — married 2 Dec 1679 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1688 at about age 80 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile managers: David Dexter [send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], and Michelle Sandhu [send private message]

Thomas Judd Sr migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 121) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Thomas Judd was born about 1608 (based on estimated date of marriage); probably in England. His origins are unknown.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Thomas Judd came to New England in 1634, and settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts.^[1] His home lot of four acres was granted 4 August 1634. ^[1] It was in that part of Cambridge called the "West-End", on the northeast side of the highway to Watertown. ^[1] His name is among those who were to receive their proportion of meadow ground, 20 August 1635; and also on the list of those who has a house or houses in Cambridge 8 February 1636. ^[1]

Freeman of Connecticut Colony - 1636

Thomas Judd was admitted freeman of the colony 25 May 1636.^[1]

He removed to Hartford in 1636, ^[1] and it is not improbable that he was one of that company of about a hundred men, women and children who departed from Cambridge on the last day of May 1636, and traveled through the wilderness to the Connecticut River.^[2] His house lot at Hartford is thus described in the records:^[3] "one parcel of land on which his dwelling house now standeth, with other out houses, yards and gardens thereon being, containing by estimation two acres, more or less. Abutting on the highway leading from William Gibben's to the ox-pasture on the east, on James Cole's land on the south, on the highway leading from John Moody's towards Wethersfield on the west, and on Mr Willy's land on the north." Thomas Judd's house lot was on the south side of the Willy's house lot, which is distinguished by the charter oak and both lots extended westward to the highway leading to Wethersfield.

He was recognized as one of the founders of Hartford by inscription on the original Founders Monument in the Ancient Burying Ground, also sometimes referred to at the 'Old' or 'Center' Cemetery. The cemetery is located at the rear of the First Congregational ('Center') Church at the corner of Main and Gold Streets in Hartford. The original brownstone Monument erected in 1837 was replaced by one of pink Connecticut granite in 1986.

Farmington, Connecticut

Thomas Judd was one of the first proprietors and settlers in Farmington. The year in which he removed from Hartford is said by Robert Charles Anderson to have been 1646. His home lot was the third lot from the north end of the main street, on both sides of the street, and extended westward to Farmington River. He was a substantial farmer and an influential man. Farmington first sent deputies, viz., Stephen Hart and Thomas Judd to the General Court in May 1647. Thomas Judd was subsequently a deputy at the sessions from May 1648 to October 1679.

Deacon Thomas Judd was one of the 84 proprietors of Farmington among whom the lands of that extensive township, now embracing five or six townships, were to be divided, according to an agreement made January 8, 1673. Many divisions were made after his decease, and administrators on his estate were appointed once or twice after 1708. Large tracts of his lands were distributed to his children and grandchildren at several times between 1708 and 1730. Five of his sons were also among the 84 proprietors. Samuel was not of age in 1673 and not a proprietor. In March 1662, the General Court granted to Thomas Judd, probably for some public services, 200 acres of land, which were located and called Judd's Farm, but some years after, the land was found to be within the bounds of Wallingford, and was given up, and an equivalent taken elsewhere.^[4]

Marriages

The first wife of Thomas Judd was Elizabeth, her surname and origins are unknown. She died in Farmington about 1678; her death is not recorded. They had children: ^[1]

1. Elizabeth, b. abt 1633; m. Dec.27, 1653 to Samuel Loomis son of Joseph Loomis.
2. William, b. by 1635; m. Mar 31, 1657 Farmington to Mary Steele dau of John Steele.
3. Thomas, b. abt 1638; m. by 1663 to Sarah Steele dau of John Steele.
4. John, b. abt 1640; m. by abt 1670 to Mary Howkins, dau of Anthony Howkins.
5. Benjamin, b. abt 1643; m. by 1668 to Mary Lewis, dau of Wm Lewis.
6. Mary, b. abt 1645; m. at Windsor January 1, 1662/3 Thomas Loomis son of Joseph Loomis
7. Ruth, bp Hartford Feb 7, 1646/7; m by 1679 to John Steele.
8. Philip, bp Hartford Sept 2, 1649; m. by 1681 to Hannah Loomis dau of Thomas Loomis.
9. Samuel, b. abt 1651; m by 1682 to Mary Strong, dau of Thomas Strong.

His 2nd wife was Clemence (Unknown surname), the widow of Thomas Mason, of Northampton. He died in 1678, leaving a widow Clemence, with a good estate and no children. On the 2nd of December 1679^[5], Thomas Judd married widow Clemence (Unknown) Mason, and resided with her in Northampton most of the time during the remainder of his life. Her homestead was on the east side of Pleasant Street and the front extended from two or three rods below the great elm down to Hawley street; and she owned about forty acres of meadow land. Thomas Judd was one of the selectmen of Northampton in 1682; his youngest son, Samuel, came to Northampton and lived with his father, and after his decease, took care of his widow Clemence and she gave to him her estate.

She died about 1678 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut. (2) Clemence Mason, born 1608 and died 20 November 1696. They were married 12 December 1679. THOMAS JUDD died 12 November 1688 at Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts.

Deacon at Farmington and Northampton

Thomas Judd was a member of the church under the care or Reverend Thomas Hooker and Reverend Samuel Stone both at Cambridge and Hartford, and his connection with the Hartford Church continued until a church was gathered at Farmington, 13 October 1652. Some of his children were carried from Farmington to Hartford to be baptized. He was one of the seven pillars of the church of Farmington at its organization and his wife united in November, 1652. The first pastor was Reverend Roger Newton, 1652, and the second, Reverend Thomas Hooker, 1661. Stephen Hart was the first deacon, and Thomas Judd the second. He is styled deacon in the Connecticut Colony records in 1668 and after; and he bore the same title in Northampton. Deacon Thomas Judd died 12 November 1688, His death is not in the Northampton record, but it was registered by the County Clerk at Springfield. His age must have been about 80, perhaps above 80. His second wife, Clemence, died 22 November 1696. He was probably married before he came from England. (see note page 2). Neither the family name nor Christian name of his first wife has been found. He settled his estate by deeds and not by will. Several of his deeds to his children are dated 1683, 1684 and 1685.

Thomas Judd was a member of the church under the care of Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Samuel Stone both at Cambridge and Hartford, and his connection with the Hartford church continued until a church was gathered at Farmington on 13 October 1652. Thomas Judd was one of the first proprietors of Farmington. The year in which he removed from Hartford is not known.

Death

November 12, 1688 Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts^[4]

Research Notes

Origins

Thomas Judd is purported to have been from Langley Parish,^[6] born 09 FEB 1607/8 in Kent, England, however Robert Charles Anderson, writing in The Great Migration Directory (2015), on page 190, states that the origin for Thomas Judd is unknown. See also The Great Migration, Vol I-L, by Robert Charles Anderson, where he states on page 121 the origin of Thomas Judd is unknown.

Langley Parish - Vision of Britain lists Langley in eleven different counties of England.^[7] How it was decided that the right county was Kent, or the exact date, may be in some other reference.

Disputed Parents and Siblings

NOTE: Although speculative parents and siblings have been proposed for the immigrant Thomas Judd, Sr., no evidence has been offered to confirm them, and Robert Charles Anderson has found no proof of their relationship to Thomas Judd, Sr.

William Judd is said by some to be the father of Thomas Judd. Robert Charles Anderson found no evidence for the parents of Thomas Judd, so William has been disconnected from this profile.

Katherine Jane (Norwood) Judd is said by some to the mother of Thomas Judd. Robert Charles Anderson found no evidence for the parents of Thomas Judd, so Katherine has been disconnected from this profile.

William Alexander Judde is said by some to be the father of Thomas Judd, Sr. Robert Charles Anderson found no evidence for the parents of Thomas Judd, so William will be disconnected from the merged profile.

John Rowland Judde is said by some to be the brother of Thomas Judd, Sr. Robert Charles Anderson found no evidence for siblings of Thomas Judd, so John will be disconnected from the merged profile.

Note about parentage

If Katharine Norwood Judd was really born in 1545 and Thomas was born in 1608, then she is NOT his mother as she would have been 63 yrs old at that time. On the other hand, her birth year may have been much later. I Walter Harrington have located some other websites giving different parentage that at least would have been of childbearing age at the time of Thomas Judd's stated birth year of 1608. http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/judd/1496/ and http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ancestrysearch/judde.html

Both websites give William Judd as father, both stating born in/about 1569 and the wife as born in/about 1569.

Unknown Immigrant Ship

Thomas Judd is said to have immigrated to Massachusetts in 1632 aboard the ship Hopewell -- however Anderson found no evidence for such a claim.

Disputed Wife

Thomas Judd did not marry Elizabeth Freeman It also has been erroneously published that:

THOMAS JUDD was married 9 February 1633 to (1) SARAH FREEMAN. She was born about 1612 and was of Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut.

This is an error, as his first wife was Elizabeth, whose last name at birth is Unknown, according to Robert Charles Anderson in Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, pages 121 - 126.

There are many proofs on this error, to mention just one:

Thomas Judd is not found in New England before 1634, and then he was in Cambridge.^[1]

Marriage Notes

circa 1632 married Elizabeth unknown in Cambridge MA^[8]The date of 1668 is not possible as his children were born between the years 1635 and 1651.

The birth date of Thomas Judd is yet to be discovered. He came from England, in 1633 or 1634, and settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Admitted as a freeman of the colony, May 25 1636, he removed to Hartford that same year. After a period in Hartford, he removed, about 1644 to Farmington. He was a farmer and influential man. He was sent with Stephen Hart to the General Court in May 1647. His first wife, Elizabeth Judd, of whom little recorded information has been found, died in Farmington about 1678. Thomas Mason, of Northampton, also died in 1678, leaving Clemence a widow. On 2 September 1679, Thomas Judd married her. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Great Migration 1634-1635, I-L, by Robert Charles Anderson, Entry for Thomas Judd pages 121 - 126
2. ↑ Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford
3. ↑ The Founders of Hartford
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Judd, Sylvester. Thomas Judd and His Descendants (J. & L. Metcalf, Northampton, Mass., 1856). Pages 9-10
5. ↑ Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1998, Northampton town records Accessed 23 Aug 2016
6. ↑ Topographical dictionary of 2885 English emigrants to New England, 1620-1650, by Charles Edward Banks, (1937), page 45
7. ↑ GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Langley, in Maidstone and Kent | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time, Date accessed: 01st July 2018
8. ↑ John and Lois Stormont Descendants of Thomas Judd' https://web.archive.org/web/20091027062437/http://www.geocities.com/janet_reid/judd.html (Archived page from 27 October 2009) no sources cited

• Anderson, Robert Charles, Great Migration 1634-1635, I-L. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005. Entry for Thomas Judd, pages 121 - 126

• Paige, Lucius R.. List of Freemen of Massachusetts. Boston, MA, USA: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1849. C. R., Vol. I. p. 194.

• Judd, Sylvester. Thomas Judd and His Descendants (J. & L. Metcalf, Northampton, Mass., 1856, pp. 9-10.) Page 9

• Banks, Charles Edward, Topographical dictionary of 2885 English emigrants to New England, 1620-1650, at HathiTrust.org, Original: (Philadelphia, Elijah Ellsworth Brownell, B.B.B. 1937), page 45

• Barbour, Lucius Barnes, 1982, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, Maryland and Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc., Glastonbury, Connecticut pp.342

See also:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20091027062437/http://www.geocities.com/janet_reid/judd.html (Archived page from 27 October 2009) B: 1608, Langley Parrish, Kent England, D: Nov 12 1688, Northampton, Hampshire, MA + Ann, Trevalga, Cornwall, England, D: BEF 1679

• Torrey, Clarence Almon. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1985)

• Geni Tree: https://www.geni.com/people/Dea-Thomas-Judd/6000000006586019041

• Savage, John. A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England. Boston, Little, Brown and company. 1860. Volume 2, page 574, under JUDD [1]