Capt
Thomas
Munson
Born about in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England
[uncertain]
Ancestors [uncertain]
Son of John Munson
[uncertain]
and Elizabeth (Unknown) Munson
[uncertain]
Brother of
Suzan Munson
Husband of
Johanna (Unknown) Munson
— married
[date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants 
Died
at about age 72
in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
Profile managers:
Anne B 
[send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Bob Hall [send private message], John Clements [send private message], and Jim Graves [send private message]
[send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Bob Hall [send private message], John Clements [send private message], and Jim Graves [send private message]Profile last modified
| Created 27 Jul 2010
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| Thomas Munson migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 236) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
Contents |
Biography
Disputed Wife
Susan Munson migrated on the Elizabeth of Ispwich. She was enrolled at London, 30 April 1634, aged 25, bound for New England.[1] See http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Munson-2360
Anderson in his Great Migration Series, states that no records have been found for this passenger in New England.[2] Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary suggests that Susan was perhaps the wife of Thomas Munson of New Haven.[3] However, Thomas' only known wife was named Joanna.[2][4]
Thomas Munson
Thomas Munson was a captain in the colonial militia. He was a carpenter, held civic office, and was a member of the colonial legislature. He belonged to the Congregational Church. [5]
Baptism
Thomas Munson, son of John and his wife was baptized 13 SEP 1612, in Rattlesden, County Suffolk, England.[6][4] John's wife was Elizabeth. No maiden name was given for his wife.
"There is a strong probability -- although it is not yet a proved fact -- that the Thomas Munson, recorded as having been there baptized on September 13, 1612, was the same man of that name who so distinguished himself in the public affairs of colonial New Haven."[6] No further proof has been located. Does it exist? Or has this strong probability become proofless "fact?"
Hartford
Thomas' arrival in New England was either unrecorded, or the record was lost, or it has not yet been found. No records have been found for Thomas prior to Hartford and it is unknown precisely when he arrived there. The first English settlers arrived in Suckiaug (later Hartford) in 1635 with the Rev. Thomas Hooker. Thomas was 23. Two years later 1637, Thomas joined the military force sent to defeat the Pequot Indians
"First Day of May, 1637, Genr Corte att Harteford. ... It is ordered that there shalbe 90 men levied out of the 3 Plantatacons, Hartford, Weathersfeild & Windsor." Hartford sent 42 men. The 90 Englishmen and 70 Mohegan Indians fought and defeated a force of Pequot Indians.[7]
The Hartford court assigned a fertile field, called soldier's field, as land to be distributed to those who served in the Pequot War. Thomas had a share in this field.[8]
Thomas sold several parcels of land in 1639, in the soldiers field, and on the east side of the Great River. He also owned a houselot in Hartford which he sold before February 1640. A parcel in the North meadow was forfeited and returned to the town.[9]
New Haven
Thomas was not among the first signers of the New Haven Fundamental Agreement on 4 June 1639, but his name was the sixth signer after that date.[10] A military man he was very important to the town and Colony of New Haven. As early as March 1639/40, he was being asked to help solve a problem between two other inhabitants.
- "“Itt is ordered thatt brother Andrewes and brother Mounson shall veiw the grounds of difference betwixt Mr. Malbon and Thomas Moulenor the elder, and acquaint Mr. Turner, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Lamberton and Thomas Fugill w'h the same, who are desired to end the same if they can, or else to certyfye where the impediment lyes.”[10]
His name appears inumerable times in the court records and these entries can be read:
- Hoadley, Charles J, MA. (editor) Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, From 1638 to 1649. Hartford: Case, Tiffany and Company, 1857. Index Munson
- Hoadley, Charles J, MA. (editor) Records of the Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven, From May 1653 to the Union. Hartford: Case, Tiffany and Company, 1858. Index Munson
- Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (editor) Ancient Town Records Vol 1. New Haven Town Records 1649-1662. New Haven: New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1917. Index Munson
- Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (editor) Ancient Town Records Vol II. New Haven Town Records 1662-1684. New Haven: New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1919 Index Munson
Offices Held by Thomas Munson: Sergeant of the New Haven Train Band Aug, 1642; Sergeant of the Artillery Co., March 1645; Sergeant of the New Haven Colony Troop June 1654; Ensign of the New Haven Train Band March 1661 (Munson declined the office, but accepted it on a temporary basis); Lieut of the Train Band May 1664, confirmed July 1665; Deputy from New Haven to the New Haven Legislature May 166, May 1664,; Judge (New Haven Town, June 1662, May 1663, May 1664.[4]
Death
His gravestone says that he died 7th 3d mo 1685 ae 73. 3rd month is May not March. A distribution of his estate was made June 12 1685, so it must be 3rd month 1684/5.[11] Buried at the New Haven Town Green.[4]. Gravestones were relocated from the Green at Center Church to the Grove Street Cemetery. Photos of stone at Find a Grave
The inventory of Thomas' goods was taken 25th 3d mo 85 and was valued at £279:04:02.[12] It consisted of 1/2 house, 1/2 barn, land, corn, cattle, beds, bedding, curtains, cloths, hat, linen, arms & ammunition, tools, seals & weights, brass, iron & pewter, a cupboard, tables, chairs, forms, earthen & wooden ware, chest, trunk & boxes, boots & shoes, a grindstone, bridle, saddle and other furniture (for horses?), 1/2 a mill (must be small not like a sawmill), a plow, & horse geers(?), small things.[13]
The heirs agreed to a distribution 12 Jun 1685: To his grandson Thomas Munson, tools, arms, land and some animals. Thomas was underage and provision was made for use by the other heirs until he came of age. To Samuel Munson the house and homelot and land. Three cows were to go one each to the three signers. The remainder of the movable estate was going, mostly, to Elizabeth Higinbotham and Hanah Tuttell. Signed by Samll Munson, Richard Higinbotham and Joseph Tuttle.[13]
Children
Thomas Munson and wife Joanna had three children.[4]
- Elizabeth m. (1) 19 Oct 1664 in Springfield, Massachusetts Timothy Cooper; m. (2) Richard Higginbotham[4]
- Samuel bpt 7 Aug 1643 in the First Church of New Haven;[14][4] died 1692 in New Haven; m. 26 Oct 1665 New Haven, Martha Bradley, who later married Eliasaph Preston and Matthew Sherman.[4]
- Hannah, bp. 11 Jun 1648 in the First Church;[4][14] died 30 Nov 1695 in Guilford, Connecticut; m. (1) 2 May 1667, New Haven, Joseph Tuttle; m.. (2) 21 Aug 1694, Guilford, Nathan Bradley[4]
Banks Dictionary lists Thomas Munson of Rattlesden, England to Hartford, CT. Married probably 1635. Munson, Thomas (1612-85) from Eng. to Hartford, CT, 1637; recd a grant of land in recognition of his services in the Pequot War; granted land a New Haven; rep. Colonial Assembly 27 sessions; Capt New Haven Co. forces King Philip's War; m. Joanna__ (ca 1610-1678). He received 6 acres of land in New Haven for military service. [15]
Savage Genealogical Dict. under Munson, or Monson states:
- Thomas, Hartford 1641, rem. next yr. to New haven, had Samuel, bapt. prob. 6 Aug. (but not 7, as print. in Geneal. Reg. IX. 361), 1643; and Hannah, 11 June 1648; was rep. 1666, 9, 70-5, and serv. in the Ind. war. He d. 1685, and in the div. of his est. we find ano. ch. Eliz. wi. of Richard Higginbotham. Hannah m. 2 Mar. 1667, Joseph Tuttle. Susan, who came in the Eliz. to Boston, 1634, aged 25, was perhaps his w.
Sources
- ↑ Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. London: John Camden Hotten, 1874 (p. 281)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P. p. 200. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.
- ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. Vol III p. 257. Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Jacobus, Donald Lines (compiler). Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol I-VIII. and Index Vol IX New Haven: 1931. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974, 1981, 1997. Originally published as New Haven Genealogical Magazine, Volumes I-VIII. Rome, NY and New Haven, CT 1922-1932. p. 1285, 1287
- ↑ The Munson Record: A Genelogical and Biographical account of Captain Thomas Munson (a pioneer of Hartford and New Haven) and His Descendants Munson Associatio Munson Association, New Haven, CT, 1895
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rubincam, Milton. :The Munson Family of County Suffok, England, and New Haven, Conn. The American Genealogist 17:129- January 1941.Link to page at American Ancestors (pay site) (quote p. 131)
- ↑ Trumbull, Hammond J. The public records of the Colony of Connecticut prior to the Union with New Haven Colony May 1665. Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850. p 9
- ↑ Munson, Myron A. 1637-1887, the Munson record Volume 1 p. 3 citing Parker, F.H. "The Soldiers Field and Its Original Proprietors" read before the Conn. Historical Society and printed in the Courant June 18, 1887.
- ↑ Munson, Myron A. 1637-1887, the Munson record : a genealogical and biographical account of Captain Thomas Munson, a pioneer of Hartford and New Haven, and his descendants. New Haven, Conn. : Printed for the Munson Association, 1896
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hoadley, Charles J, MA. (editor) Records of the Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven, From May 1653 to the Union. Hartford: Case, Tiffany and Company, 1858. pp. 18, 32
- ↑ Note: Jacobus' Fam. of Anc. New haven has 7 Mar 1685/6
- ↑ “New Haven Probate Records, Vol. 1-2, 1647-1703”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9N2-4 : 7 March 2021), New Haven, Connecticut, FHL microfilm 007626739, image 123. New Haven Probate Record, 1647-1687, Vol. 1, Part 1, page 207.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 New Haven Probate. p. 207 See attached.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "List of Baptisms In the Church in New Haven, Conn., during the Ministry of Rev. John Davenport ... New England Historical and Genealogical Register 9:361. Boston: NEHGS, 1855. At AmericanAncestors NEHGS (membership required) At Google Books
- ↑ Immigrant Ancestors, Extract of Volume VII, Compendium of American Genealogy by Frederick Adam Virkus Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, Chicago, 1942 reprint 1968, Second Date, Compendium of American Genealogy
- Fairfield Historical Society, Reports and Papers (Bridgeport, April 14th, 1882)
- Page 16: "Thomas Munson first settled in Hartford and soon removed to New Haven, which he represented in the General Assembly twenty-four sessions, from 1660 to 1683."
- WikiTree Publication: MyHeritage www.wikitree.com Media: 10109 Collection http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10109/wikitree?s=262784781&itemId=1408252&action=showRecord&indId=individual-262784781-1500023
- Capt. Thomas Munson
Gender: Male
Birth: Sep 13 1612 - Rattlesden, Suffok, England
Marriage: Circa 1634 - New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
Death: Mar 17 1685 - New Haven,New Haven County, Connecticut
Father: John Munson
Mother: Eliabeth Munson (born Sparke)
Spouses: Susan Munson (born UNKNOWN)Joanna Munson (born Mew)
Children: Anne Stebbins (born Munson)Elizabeth MunsonHannah MunsonElisabeth Munson
Sibling: Remember Munson
- Capt. Thomas Munson
- Kane Patricia E, Furniture of the New Haven Colony The Seventeenth-Century Style, (New Haven: The New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1973), pp. 83, 84; borrow at Internet Archive
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Thomas is 18 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 17 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 20 degrees from Maggie Beer, 39 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 27 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 22 degrees from Michael Chow, 18 degrees from Ree Drummond, 20 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 19 degrees from Matty Matheson, 20 degrees from Martha Stewart, 26 degrees from Danny Trejo and 23 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Pre-1700_Profiles#Cite_reliable_sources
WikiTree's Puritan Great Migration project has a Reliable Sources page; please see: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Puritan_Great_Migration_Project_Reliable_Sources and especially: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Puritan_Great_Migration_Project_Reliable_Sources#Unreliable_Sources
Jillaine, project coordinator
Family Search verifies Elizabeth Sparke.
Thomas Munson (1612 - 1685) https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/93TQ-36Y/captain-thomas-munson-1612-1685
Captain Thomas Munson 1612–7 May 1685 (Age 73) Rattlesden, Suffolk, England
The Life Summary of Thomas When Captain Thomas Munson was born in 1612, in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England, his father, John Monson II, was 41 and his mother, Elizabeth Sparke, was 41. He married Sarah Joanna Mew Moye on 3 December 1638, in New Haven, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He immigrated to England, United Kingdom in 1600 and lived in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States in 1669. He registered for military service in 1637. In 1666, at the age of 54, his occupation is listed as deputy of new haven. He died on 7 May 1685, in New Haven, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, at the age of 73, and was buried in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.
There are two Elizabeth Sparkes whose 1576-1577 birth records are transcribed on FreeReg UK in locations within a half dozen miles of Rattlesden: one at Lawshall in 1576, a daughter of William, and one at Badwell Ash in 1577, with no parents named. The Lawshall Elizabeth evidently married a John Cricke, not John Munson, at Lawshall in 1599. There's no other primary Suffolk marriage record in the right time period to be found for an Elizabeth Sparke (or any soundalike variant of the surname), among those available online via FreeReg UK, FamilySearch, NEHGS (americanancestors.org), or Ancestry... either at Rattlesden, or any other location in the county.
So the question remains, where did the claim of the Munson-Sparke marriage originate?? Until we know that, it must be regarded as speculative, and Elizabeth's LNAB needs to be given as Unknown.
edited by Christopher Childs
edited by [Living Ford]
Examining the 8 listed sources for those details, what's found is that the primary records cited for the births of her children give only her first name, as either Elizabeth, Elzabethe, or Elsabeth; there is no record of her maiden surname. The other sources are not primary, nor are they reliable: Find A Grave cannot be relied on unless a _contemporary gravestone shows a death/burial date_ (no gravestone image is offered on Elizabeth's FAG page, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100078957; even if it were shown, in Elizabeth's case it would almost certainly give us only her married surname); ancestral files and the Millennium File are collections of unsorted data from mixed good and bad sources; and census records in America will only show the wife's married name.
Similarly, none of the 5 sources listed under "birth" are actually Elizabeth's birth record. As noted above, there are two candidates shown on FreeReg.org.uk for Elizabeth Sparke who were born nearby, but not at Rattlesden, and in any case we do not have a marriage record -- which is what we really need -- showing that either one married John Munson.
A key difference between WikiTree and many other genealogy sites is the requirement to find high-quality, reliable sources -- preferably, original, primary records -- to establish the veracity of the data on which a profile is based. That is, unfortunately, what is lacking in this case. Even lengthy family traditions, unless backed up by such records as a family Bible _that contains contemporary records_, fall short of proof of dates and relationships.
I can personally testify that research using WikiTree's criteria severed a long-believed genetic tie, in my own family, to a Mayflower passenger. Additional research using those criteria actually showed that my family surname comes not from a paternal 3rd great grandfather, but from the woman who bore his child... out of wedlock. So I am sympathetic to anyone who finds that long-held beliefs and traditions are challenged, to put it mildly, by WikiTree's requirements. But the site's criteria are essential if profiles here are to be regarded as representing actual, rather than wishful or hopeful, genealogy.
edited by [Living Ford]
edited by [Living Ford]
Ah, I see the Susan culprit. Savage's Gen Dict.