Thomas Way was born about 1666, based on a first child born in 1688. Thomas was born in Providence, Rhode Island, based on where his parents, George and Elizabeth (Unknown) Way, were living at the time.
Providence was burned to the ground by a coalition of Native Americans on 29 March 1676, during King Philip's War. The attack was anticipated and most people abandoned the town prior to the attack. George Way was not listed as one of the 30 men who remained in the town, so he must have taken his family to safety, probably to New London, New London, Connecticut Colony, where Elizabeth's stepfather John Smith and her mother Joanna were living. George soon returned to Providence, where he was the town sergeant in 1676, but Elizabeth remained in New London with her children. In 1682 she was presented in court on a complaint of not living with her husband and she was ordered to return to Providence or be imprisoned. Whether she obeyed or ignored the court order is uncertain. George Way died in Providence about 1684. Elizabeth was in New London in 1685, appearing in court on 2 June 1685 for drunkenness[1]
John Smith, stepfather of Thomas' mother Elizabeth, died in New London in 1680, leaving his estate to his wife Joanna. When Joanna died in 1687 her daughter Elizabeth Way, of Lyme, and Elizabeth's sons George and Thomas, inherited Joanna's estate[2].
Thomas Way was listed as an inhabitant of New London in about 1687[2] (p. 266), which is consistent with his being at least 21 years old in that year.
Thomas married Ann Lester, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Fox) Lester, in New London about 1687, based on the birth year of their first known child[3].
Thomas and Ann had children, all born in New London[4][5]:
Thomas is on the list of New London inhabitants given land in 1704 that had been claimed by the town in 1703[2] (p. 259).
Thomas' siblings also appear in New London records. His sister Alice married George Chappelle there[2] (p. 353), and his brother George married, first, Susannah Nest[2] (p. 356). Thomas' sister Joanna was an associate of John Rogers of New London, a religious rabble-rouser, and she appeared in court in 1685 on charges of creating disturbances[2] (p. 211).
Thomas moved to New Haven about 1720[2] (p. 362), and died there about 1726. The Administration Bond on his estate was dated ? May 1726.[6][7][8]. He is on Find A Grave: Memorial #39717490.
Thomas probably lived in the part of New Haven that formally became East Haven in 1785.
FindAGrave has Thomas moving first to Branford, then to East Haven. No source found for this.
Deposition of Thomas Way, Boston mariner, in re Capt. Kidd Sept 20, 1699 Thomas Way mariner of Boston about some goods put on board his sloop by Capt Kidd and delivered to him in Boston Signed Thomas Way Endorsed Reed Sep 20 Read Oct 8 1699 Copy 1 p. [1] (probably not this Thomas way)
Thomas Way, Grandson of the Now wife of John Smith to inherit Sept 1679 • New London, New London Co., CT After her death, Thomas Way, her grandson, was to have several lots of land, including the Lester lot and the old House upon it.
"A genealogical history of the descendants of the Rev. Nehemiah Smith of New London County, Conn. : with mention of his brother John and nephew Edward. 1638-1888". Author H. ALLEN SMITH, BROOKLYN, N. Y.Pub. by Munsell's in 1889
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Thomas is 22 degrees from Herbert Adair, 16 degrees from Richard Adams, 14 degrees from Mel Blanc, 22 degrees from Dick Bruna, 18 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 30 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 18 degrees from Sam Edwards, 15 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 19 degrees from Marty Krofft, 13 degrees from Junius Matthews, 14 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 19 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
edited by Gregg Purinton
Detail p. 362 Web address http://books.google.com/books?id=7N0TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA362&dq=%22Daniel+Way%22++%22new+London%22&hl=en&ei=lNiMTcP8J4umsQOTwpiYCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Daniel%20Way%22%20%20%22new%20London%22&f=false Edit source Source information Title History of New London, Connecticut: From the first survey of the coast in ... Author Frances Manwaring Caulkins Publisher Frances Manwaring Caulkins in 1852
Granted land in Saggobannago July 1653 York County, Maine Captaine Sommarset of M Hiscongus have sold unto Thomas Way William Parnell and William England one thousand hakkers of land in Saggobannago being quiet Possed by William Parnell and Thomas Way and William England. See [[1]]
both are Thomas Way b. 1656 in Lyme, New London, Conn. d. 30 Oct 1726 in East Haven, New Haven Conn. m. Ann Lester
both are Thomas Way b. 1656 in Lyme, New London, Conn. d. 30 Oct 1726 in East Haven, New Haven Conn. m. Ann Lester