Thomas (Whitcomb) Whetcome (bef. 1544 - bef. 1618)

Born before 5 Jan 1544 in Colyton, Devon, England

Husband of Joanna (Pope) Whitcomb — married after 19 Mar 1585 in Taunton, Somerset, England

Descendants

Died before 30 Aug 1618 at about age 74 in Taunton, Somerset, England

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Biography

Thomas Whetcome was born in about 1543, in the parish of Colyton in southeast Devon. He was baptised there on 5 January 1543/44, the son of Robert Whetcombe of Mowshole/Mousehole^[1] (Moushole was presumably a place within Colyton parish, which extended well outside the town). His mother's name is unknown.

Thomas had several brothers and sisters. Their births are not recorded at Colyton which may mean they were born elsewhere but, more likely, it may mean that they were older, born before the register was started in 1538. The will of his brother John Whetcombe^[2] of Sherborne, Dorset and brothers-in-law John Hooke^[3] of Branscombe, Devon, and Edmund Lane^[4] of Lillington, Dorset and the Colyton marriage record of his sister Elizabeth,^[5] confirm the family relationships.

Thomas' brothers Hugh and John were merchants based at Sherborne. Thomas followed into the same profession, but lived at Taunton. There he married Joanna Pope, daughter of Thomas Pope, another merchant. The actual marriage date is not recorded - there is a gap in the Taunton register - but there is an agreement in the records of the manor of Taunton dated 19 March 1584/85 which is part of a marriage settlement and so indicates the wedding was soon after that date.^[6] The couple lived in Taunton for the rest of their lives and had at least 7 children, including:

• John, New England immigrant, born in Taunton, Somerset by 1598,^[7] listed in his uncle John's 1598 will^[2] and his mother's 1629 will^[8]
• Robert, named in his mother's 1629 will^[8]
• Thomas, listed in his uncle's 1598 will^[2] and his mother's 1629 will^[8]
• Edmond, listed in his uncle's 1598 will^[2] and his mother's 1629 will^[8]
• Christian, listed in her uncle's 1598 will,^[2] died 1620
• Dorothy, named executrix in her mother's 1629 will^[8]
• James, baptised at Taunton in January 1588/89, died before 1628/29^[6]

Thomas was buried 30 August 1618 in Taunton, Somerset.^[9]

His widow, Johanna, left a will dated at Taunton St. James, 3 January 1628/9, and proved 29 July 1629. In it, she named: sons John, Robert, Thomas, and Edmund; the eldest sons of Thomas and Edmund (unnamed); an unnamed brother; goddaughter Johane Holcombe, daughter of Robert Hocombe; daughter Dorothy Whecombe, executrix; cousins Samuel Whecombe and Robert Holcombe, overseers.^[6][8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Colyton parish register". Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3483A/PR/1/1. FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 22 September 2023): "1543. Thoms Whetcome the Sonne of Robt. Whetcome of Mowshole was Christned the vth daye of Januarie."
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858". The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 92. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #940184 (accessed 30 September 2023): Will of John Whetcombe of Shirborne, dated 2 May 1598 and granted probate on 22 Sep 1598. "My brother Thomas Whetcombe's children ... Thomas, Edmond, Christian and John. " Overseers include "my brother Hugh Whetcombe, my brother Edmund Lane". Summary of Will: "Genealogical Gleanings in England, Vol. II" Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 48512 #374561 (accessed 30 September 2023)
3. ↑ "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858". The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 67. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #941023 (accessed 30 September 2023): Will of John Hooke of Branscombe, dated 29 Jan 1582/83, granted probate on 21 May 1584. Overseers include "My twoe brothers in law Hughe Whetcombe and John Whetcombe of Sherborne". Witnesses include Hughe Whetcombe, John Whetcombe, Edmund Lane, Thomas Whetcombe
4. ↑ "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858". The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 104. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #915133 (accessed 30 September 2023): Will of Edmund Lane of Lyllington, dated 8 Aug 1604 and granted probate on 26 Nov 1604. "...Thomas the son of my brother in law Thomas Whetcomb ... Edmond another son of the said Thomas Whetcomb...". Overseers include Hugh Whetcomb. Summary of Will: "Genealogical Gleanings in England, Vol. II". Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 48512 #374562 (accessed 30 September 2023)
5. ↑ "Colyton parish register". Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3483A/PR/1/1. FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 22 September 2023): "1559. John Hooke was wedid Unto Elyzabeth Whetcome daughter of Robt Whetcome of Moushole the viiith of Auguste"
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Spear, Burton W. Search for the Passengers of the "Mary & John", 1630. 27 vols. Toledo, OH: the author, 1985–1992, vol. 26, pp. 61–73. Not available online. Cited by Anderson as the source for John's parents. Thomas Whetcombe married Joanna Pope; March 1584/5, lists children, and his burial 30 August 1619
7. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. VII: T-Y. Boston: NEHGS, 2011, pp. 326-331. AmericanAncestors.org($).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5} Will of Johanna Whetcombe: Summary by Gregory Cooke GDCooke.org accessed 11 Oct 2023. Cites Spear's work.
9. ↑ "St James, Taunton Parish Register". Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914; Reference Number: D\p\tau.ja/2/1/1. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60856 #865735 (accessed 11 October 2023): "The xxxth of August was buryed Thomas Wheatcom"