In our family records we have a listing of the following sons of John Totman, all of whom reputedly fought in the Revolution:
Ebenezer Totman, Capt. Thomas Fish's Co., Col. Nathan Tyler's Regiment
Elkanah Totman, private, Capt. Seth Pierce's Co., Col. Seth Murray's Regt.
George Totman, private, Capt. Thomas Mayhew's Co.
John Totman, private, Capt. Joseph Soper's Co.
John Totman, private, Capt. Timothy Bigelow's Co.
Joseph Totman, Capt. Porter's Co.
Joshua Totman, private, Capt. Jesse Harlow's Co.
Nathaniel Totman, private, Capt. William Marian's Co.
Reuben Totman, private, Capt. Aaron Hayne's Co.
Samuel Totman, private, Capt. Gardener's Co.
Seth Totman, private, Capt. Abram Washburn's Col. Gerrish's Regt.
Stephen Totman, private, Capt. John Clap's Co.
Stoddard Totman, private, Capt. Nathaniel Shaw's Co.
Thomas Totman, Corporal, Capt. John Clap's Co.
All probably fought with Massachusetts units. John Totman, then age 17, came to Massachusetts to join the Pilgrims there on the vessel Lyon in 1632 as an indentured servant, according to records of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Six years later he was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Company, so had worked off his passage. He married Johanna here in the new world. His name apparently was spelled somewhat randomly either as Totman or Tatman, and both lineages hailing back to Massachusetts in the 1600s are his descendants.
Some hold that the name Totman was a corruption of Tottenham, and is a locality name associated with Middlesex, England. Hard to say. There are a number of Tatmans in the UK. Prior to the 20th century, most were around Milton Keynes, according to UK census info, but now most seem to be in the vicinity of Devonshire.
