Thomas Knowlton (abt. 1686 - 1755)

Born about 1686 in Manchester, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Conant) Knowlton — married 11 May 1711 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1755 at about age 69 in Middleborough, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1686 in Manchester, Massachusetts Bay, the son of John Knowlton and Bethia Edwards. He was baptized between 1685 and 1687 in the Wenham Congregational Church. (1) (2) (3)

He married Martha Conant on May 11, 1711 in Beverly, Massachusetts Bay. (4)

Thomas and Martha lived in The Hamlet of Ipswich where on May 1, 1712 Thomas was one of the signers of a petition to establish The Hamlet as a separate parish from Ipswich. (5)

On April 1, 1714 Thomas sold his house and 40 acre farm, along with other Ipswich property, to his brother "Capt. John". Thomas, Martha and son Elijah then moved to Middleborough, Massachusetts Bay where the rest of their children were born (6)

The Stocking History of the Knowltons states that Thomas joined the Middleborough church on July 19, 1730 with Martha joining a short time later. This date may not be correct, however, since they had moved to Middleborough 15 years before. (2)

On September 8, 1732 Thomas and his son Elijah were witnesses to the will of widow Hannah Alden. (7)

On April 11, 1737 Thomas was on "a list of such persons as are qualified to serve on the Jury of Tryalls". On this record he is called "Lt. Thomas Knowlton". (4)

Thomas passed away July 22, 1755 in Middleborough, Massachusetts Bay.

Sources

• "Find A Grave Index" ID 142750669 database, FamilySearch: 15 December 2015, Thomas Knowlton, 1755; Burial, Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America, Purchade Cemetery; citing record ID 142750669, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com

Other Sources

(1) Stocking, Rev. Charles Henry Wright. D.D. The History and Genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America. Vols.1, & 2 pg 28. New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1897. (Stocking ID 72). Note that Thomas is shown on page 28 with the wrong parents. That was corrected in the Errata page 8.

(2) Knowlton, George Henry. Errata and Addenda to Dr. Stocking's History and Genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America New York (1903) pg. 8. (Stocking ID 41F)

(3) Wenham Congregational Church Baptismal Records; https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhisto19unkngoog#page/n46/mode/2up

(4) Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988

(5) History of Essex County by D. Hamilton Hurd; https://archive.org/stream/historyessexcou00unkngoog#page/n318/mode/2up

(6) Essex County, Massachusetts, Deed Records, Book 28, Page 196

(7) Mayflower Descendants, Book 23, Page 116