Thomas Holcombe Oath of a Freeman ... 1634

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See Thomas Holcombe (1609-1657). In 2023, the text below was moved here from his profile.

Oath of a Freeman of Massachusetts Bay - 1634

On whatever ship he crossed, Thomas Holcombe was in Massachusetts Bay by 14 May 1634 on which day he became a freeman, and he is recorded as a resident of Dorchester.

The freeman's oath he took that day was:^[1]

I, Thomas Holcombe, being by God's providence an inhabitant and freeman within the jurisdiction of this common weale, do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the government thereof, and therefore do hereby swear by the great and dreadful name of the ever-living God that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound, and will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the privileges and liberties thereunto, submitting myself to the wholesome laws made and established by the same. And further, that I will not plot nor practise any evil against it, nor consent to any that shall be so done, but will timely discover and reveal the same to lawful authority now here established for the speedy preventing thereof. Moreover, I do solemnly bind myself in the sight of God that when I shall be called to give my voice touching any such matter of this State, wherein Freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage as I shall in my own conscience judge best to produce and tend to the public weale of the body, without respect of persons or respect of any man.

Research on the Oath

Oath of a Freeman. This Oath of a Freeman, passed by the general court at Dorchester on the same day it was first administered - 14 May 1634, was sworn by Thomas Holcombe and others, both those who were new to Dorchester and those who had refused to take the earlier version of the oath. See The Freemen of Massachusetts Bay 1630 - 1636, The Winthrop Society</ref> For complete lists of those who took the Freeman's Oath 14 May 1634 and on the other dates, with copies of the pertinent forms of the oaths and their history, see Oaths of allegiance in colonial New England^[2][3]

See The Freemen of Massachusetts Bay 1630 - 1636^[4]