Simon Thompson (1619 - 1658)

Born 3 Jul 1619 in Freiston, Lincolnshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died May 1658 at age 38 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Biography

Simon Thompson immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

Simon Thompson, the eldest son of James and his 1st wife Anne Unknown, was baptized on 3 July 1619 at Frieston, Lincolnshire, England.^[1] He migrated to New England in 1633 with his parents. They settled initially in Charlestown, Massachusetts before removing to Woburn in 1640.^[2]

He married December 19, 1643, Mary Converse,^[3] daughter of Edward Converse.^[2] After Simons death, Mary married 1 Feb 1659 John Sheldon in Billerica.^[3]

• Simon Thompson became a freeman of Woburn in 1648.
• He was a founder of the town that became Chelmsford and was chosen as one of the seven men to arrange a government for the town. Tradition is that he became the first town clerk.

Simon died in May 1658. His will, dated 15 May 1658, gave one third of his property to his wife Mary; a double portion to his son James, the only son then living, and of the remainder of his estate equal portions to his four daughters. His children were all minors, and he requested that his father and the father-in-law should act as trust executors, and his wife to be the settling executrix. He also mentioned her brothers Josiah and James.^[2][4][5]

Children of Simon and Mary (Converse) Thompson:^[2]

1. John, b. April 4, 1645; d. April 12, 1645.
2. Sarah, b. Feb. 20, 1646-47; m. Benjamin Redknapp March 19, 1674.
3. James, b. March 20, 1649; m. Hannah Walker, June 27, 1675.
4. Mary, b. Jan. 25, 1651-52; d. Feb. 2, 1651-52.
5. Ann, b. July 30, 1655.
6. Rebecca, b. May 1658. (p. 19)

Research Notes

His will is not at Ancestry or American Ancestors.

Sources

1. ↑ The American Genealogist, vol. 74. (1999): pages 101-104. "English Origin of James Thomson," by Leslie Mahler.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Memorial of James Thompson, of Charlestown, Mass., 1630-1642, and Woburn, Mass., 1642-1682: And of Eight Generations of His Descendants Leander Thompson Press of L. Barta & Company, 1887. On archive.org
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Johnson, Edward FrancisWoburn records of births, deaths, and marriages. Woburn, Mass. : Andrews Cutler & Co. 1890 Vol 3. p. 275 Also marriage of Mary and John Sheldon.
4. ↑ 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. (Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862)"SIMON, Woburn, eldest s. of James the first, m. 19 Dec. 1643, Mary, d. of Edward Converse, had John, b. 4 Apr. 1645, d. week foll.; Sarah, 20 Feb. 1647; James, 29 Mar. 1649; a d. 25 Jan. 1652, whose name, not then giv. we find to be Mary, when she d. 2 Feb. 1662; Ann, 30 July 1655; Rebecca, May 1658; was freem. 1648, and bec. a purch. of Chelmsford, but d. in early manhood, making his will 15 May 1658, in wh. he provides for the s. and three ds. names his f. and w. and her f. and her two brs. Josiah and James."
5. ↑ “Probate records v. 1-3 1654-1673”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89D5-B353 : 5 May 2023) or (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9D5-B5N2 : Transcription), FHL microfilm 007554513, image 87-88, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Vol 1, 1654-1661, Page 158-160.

• The American Genealogist, volume 74. (April 1999): pages 101-104. "The English Origin of James Thomson of Charlestown and Woburn, Massachusetts," by Leslie Mahler. AmericanAncestors.org $ link.

• Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior 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.): "THOMPSON, Simon (-1658) & Mary CONVERSE, m/2 John SHELDON 1659; 19 Dec 1643; Woburn {Converse (1887) 116; Sv. 1:444; Thompson (,8) 16; Dixon Anc. 42; Converse (1905) 9; NYGBR 26:25; Brown-Parker 114}"

• Converse, Charles Allen Some of the Ancestors and Descendants of Samuel Converse, Jr: Of ..., Volume 1 p. 9

• Cutter. "New England Families, genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation." Publisher: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. New York. 1915. Series 3, Volume 1, Page 187.see at archive.org

• Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995). Page 1811. NEHGS Member link

• Sewall, Samuel. The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. (Wiggin & Lunt, Boston, 1868) Page 73