Thomas Mayhew

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Thomas Mayhew (bp. 1593–1682)

Jane Gallion (bp. 1602–1666/82)

Thomas Mayhew's English Ancestry

Matthew Mayhew died between 31 August 1612 and 27 June 1614. He married Alice Barter on 2 October 1587 in Tisbury, Wiltshire. [1] Alice died before 31 August 1612.

Matthew Mayhew, yeoman of Tisbury, made his will on 31 August 1612; it was proved on 27 June 1614. He left his son Thomas Mayhew 40 pounds and 46 pounds each to his son Edward Mayhew and his daughters Joan, Alice, and Katherine Mayhew. He left the remainder of his estate to his son John, whom he named his executor. [1]

Agnes Mayhew of Tisbury made her will on 12 January 1606; it was proved on 24 January 1612. She left five pounds to Thomas Mayhew, the son of her brother Matthew. [1]

Children of Matthew Mayhew and Alice Barter: Baptisms recorded in Tisbury. [1]

i. Elizabeth Mayhew was baptized on 1 May 1589. She probably died before 21 August 1612.

ii. John Mayhew was baptized on 17 January 1591.

iii. Thomas Mayhew was baptized on 1 April 1593.

iv. Joan Mayhew was baptized on 8 February 1595/6.

v. Alice Mayhew was baptized on 12 December 1598.

vi. Katherine Mayhew was baptized on 15 March 1599/1600.

vii. Edward Mayhew was baptized on 14 April 1602.

Thomas, the son of Matthew and Alice (Barter) Mayhew, was baptized on 1 April 1593 in Tisbury, Wiltshire. [1][2] He died on 25 March 1682 on Martha's Vineyard. [1][2][3, p. 172] He had an unknown first wife. [2] He married second Jane (Gallion) Paine. [2]

Jane Gallion was baptized on 2 November 1602 in Wantage, Berkshire. [4] She died after 1666, but before her husband. [2] She married first Thomas Paine, merchant of London. [2][4]

Thomas Paine owned property worth 140 pounds per annum. [3, p. 90–91]

An entry from Lochford's notebook, dated between 1638 and 1641, says Thomas Mayhew of Watertown in New England and Jane, his wife, widow of Thomas Payne of London, as guardian of Thomas Payne, aged seven, appoint Richard Payne of Abingdon, Berkshire and others, attorneys, to lease lands in Whittlebury, Northamptonshire, descending to the child. [5] A 23 October 1646 entry from Aspinwall's records has Thomas Mayhew and Jane, his wife (the former wife of Thomas Paine, merchant of London), giving power of attorney to Captain Robert Harding of Boston to lease lands and tenements in Whittlebury and to receive all rents due Thomas Paine the younger, or them—his guardians. [6, p. 35]

Anderson says Thomas is first documented in New England on 7 November 1632 when Mr. Maverick, Jr., Mr. Alcock, Mr. Turner, and John Johnson were appointed to a committee to set the boundary between Newton and Charlestown. Thomas Mayhew, Nathaniel Turner, and George Alcock's report is in the records of the 6 March 1632/3 court and also—in slightly different form and out of place—in the 6 March 1631/2 court records. Anderson asserts that Mr. Maverick, Jr. was Thomas in disguise. [2][7, 1: 94–95, 101–2]

Joan Gallion's English Ancestry [4]

John Gallant/Galland was born say 1550. He lived in Reading, Berkshire.

Children of John Gallant/Galland (among others):

Edward Gallant/Galland was baptized on 28 December 1578 in St. Giles, Reading, Berkshire. He was buried on 26 July 1639 in Wantage, Berkshire. He married Agnes Willmot on 25 June 1601 in Wantage. She was buried there on 9 July 1638.

Children of Edward Gallant/Galland and Agnes Willmot (among others):

Jane Gallion was baptized on 2 November 1602.

Thomas was a freeman on 14 May 1634. [7, 1: 369] The same day, he and Mr. Pynchon were fined for employing Indians to "shoot with peeces." The Assistants were fined for permitting this. The fines were remitted. [7, vol. 1: 118]

Matthew Cradock was a London merchant, politician, and the first Governor the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628 and 1629. He never came to New England and hired Matthew Mayhew as his agent there. Thomas wrote to Governor John Winthrop from Medford on 22 June 1634 requesting his help for Cradock in building a mill at Watertown. [8, vol. 3: 169].

Thomas quickly became active in the affairs of the colony. On 4 March 1634/5, Mr. Nowell and Mr. Mayhew were ordered to set boundaries between Saugus, Salem, and Marble Head. [7, vol. 1: 114] On the same date, Thomas was one of those authorized to board arriving ships for the purpose of trade. [7, vol. 1: 114] On 25 May 1636 and 8 September 1636, Mr. Mayhew was appointed to committees for the purpose of collected taxes for the colony. [7, vol. 1: 175, 180]

Thomas initially lived in Medford. He hired a farm there in 1636. [9]

At first Cradock was pleased with Thomas. He wrote to Winthrop on 13 September 1636 and mailed the letter on 21 February 1636/7. He said: [8, vol. 3: 309]

For yf Mr. Mayhewe doe realley approoue his Integrity I shall desyre to Contyneue him in my Imployment according to his owne offer by his Letters Receiued by this shippe, and as I knowe him abell for my buiseynes so I ame perswaded when euer wee parte he will not eseley fynd one so willing to doe him good ... .

Cradock was less than pleased with Thomas's business judgment when he wrote to Winthrop [no date, but apparently not long after]: [8, vol. 3: 344]

Worthei Sir, the greyffe I haue beene putt to by the most vyle bad dealings of Thomas Mayhewe hath and doeth so much disquiet my mynd as I thanke God Neuer aney thing ded in the lyke manner. The Lord in mercy Freey me from this.

Roger Williams wrote to Winthrop from Providence about June 1638: [8, vol. 4: 38]

I owe betweene 50 and 60li to Mr. Cradock for Commodities receaved from Mr. Mayhew: Mr. Mayhew will testifie that (being Mr. Cradocks agent) ... .

Thomas's employment with Cradock ended about 1637 when Cradock hired a new agent, John Joliffe. About then, Thomas moved to Watertown. [3, p. 121] He was appointed to the committee to order the town's civil affairs for the following year on 30 December 1637, 10 December 1638, and 6 December 1639. [10] In 1638, he sold his "beautif. farm of 500 acres" to Governor Bradstreet for six cows. [11]

On 17 June 1639, Thomas was one of three who reported to the General Court in Boston that they had set out marshland for Dorchester. [7, vol. 1: 278] On 4 September 1639, Thomas was chosen to lay out land for the inhabitants of Sudbury. [7, vol. 1: 271] On 7 October 1640, the Court appointed him the person in Watertown to take acknowledgment of deeds. [7, vol. 1: 307]

Thomas was a deputy to the General Court on 8 September 1636, 12 March 1637/8, 2 May 1638, 15 March 1638/9, 2 June 1641, 10 May 1643, 7 March 1643/4, 29 May 1644, and 29 May 1644. [7, vol. 1: 178, 220, 227, 250, 318; vol. 2: 33, 55, 66; vol. 3: 1] He was appointed a commissioner to end small causes in Watertown on 6 September 1638, 6 June 1639, and 2 June 1641. [7, vol. 1: 239, 263, 328]

Thomas ran into into financial woes. An investment in the Watertown mill was not a success. He built the first bridge over the Charlestown River in 1641 but suffered losses. [3, pp. 122–4] On 2 June 1641, the Court referred the settlement of the toll for Mr. Mayhew's bridge for the next seven years to the Governor and magistrates. [7, vol. 1: 333] On 17 October 1643, Thomas was granted 300 acres, and the colony was to have the bridge. [7, vol. 2: 51] On 10 March 1649, Thomas was indebted to M: Bruen for 20,000 pipe staves. [6, pp. 244–5]

In 1640, the Earl of Stirling hired Mr. James Forrett as his New England agent. Forrett met Thomas in Boston and convinced him of the desirability of settling Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. By a deed of 13 October 1641, Thomas Mayhew, merchant of Watertown, and his son Thomas Mayhew were granted the right to plant and inhabit Nantucket, Muskeget, and Tuckernuck. An instrument of 23 October 1641 extended this right to Martin's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. Richard Vines, as agent to Sir Fernando Gorges—who may have had a competing right—also granted Thomas Mayhew, gentleman, and his heirs the right to inhabit and plant on Martha's Vineyard. [3, pp. 80–83]

Thomas, Jr. probably moved to the Vineyard in 1642; Thomas, Sr. probably did not arrive until four years after his purchase as he continued to participate in the affairs of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. [3, p. 87] On 29 May 1644, he was appointed to a committee to take the Treasurer's accounts. [7, vol. 2: 73] On 30 May 1644, he was on a committee to consider the threat posed by two Narragansett sachems. [7, vol. 3: 3] On 4 June 1644, he was on a committee to consider a judicial bill. [7, vol. 3: 4] On 10 June 1644, he was on a committee to consider drawing up an order regarding ship's carpenters. [7, vol. 3: 7]

On Martha's Vineyard, Thomas and his son Thomas organized a mission to convert the Indians and persuade them to submit to the crown. [12] After his son's death in November 1657, Thomas began preaching to the Indians and organized an Indian church. [12]

On 2 July 1659, Thomas Mayhew of Martha's Vineyard sold his rights to Nantucket, retaining a one-twentieth share. [13]

On 7 July 1671, the elderly Thomas was appointed Governor of Massachusetts for life. [3, p. 148]

Thomas wrote a letter to Governor Andros on 12 April 1675 from Martha's Vineyard explaining the validity of his claim to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands. [14]

Thomas Mayhew of Edgartown, aged 89, made his will on 16 June 1681; it was proved on 28 March 1682. He divided his large landholdings among his grandson Matthew Mayhew, his daughter Hannah and her sons Samuel, John, and Joshua Daggett, his daughter Martha, Thomas and John Harlock, and their sister at Boston. He mentioned his son Daggett and his son Tupper. [2]

Children of Thomas Paine and Jane Gallion:

i. Mary Paine was baptized on 20 September 1621 in Wantage, Berkshire.

iii. Thomas Paine was born on 8 February 1632. [3, p. 90–91] He died on November 1657, when he left for England with his half brother and their ship was lost at sea. [3, p. 90–91][15]

Thomas chose Thomas Mayhew, merchant of Martin's Vineyard (Martha's Vineyard) to be his guardian on 14 October 1647. [6, p. 111]

Children of Thomas Mayhew and his first wife:

i. Thomas Mayhew was born say 1620. [2] He died at sea in November 1657. [12][15] He married Jane ___ by about 1648. [2] She was not his stepsister, as has often been suggested. [2]

Thomas was a famous Indian missionary on Martha's Vineyard. [12] He departed England in 1657 to obtain aid for his missionary work and his ship was lost at sea. [12][15]

Children of Thomas Mayhew and Jane Gallion:

ii. Hannah Mayhew was born on 15 June 1635 in Watertown. [2][16] She married Thomas, the son of John Daggett, by about 1652. [2][17]

John's father, Thomas, came to New England with the Winthrop fleet in 1630 and went to Martha's Vineyard with Thomas Mayhew. [JHD]

iii. Bethiah Mayhew was born on 6 December 1636 in Watertown. [2][16] She died by 1678. She married first Thomas Harlock by about 1658. [2][18] She married second as his second wife Richard Way by 1677. [2] Richard, the son of Elizabeth and Henry Way, was baptized on 2 May 1624 in Bridport, county Dorset, England. [18] He died on 23 June 1697 in Boston. [18] He married first Hester Jones. [18] Hester was the daughter of Thomas and Ellen Jones. [18] He married third Katherine ___. [18] Katherine died on 28 April 1689, age 55, according to her gravestone at Copp's Hill, Boston. [18]

iv. Mary Mayhew was born on 14 January 1639/40 in Watertown. [2][16] There is no further record of Mary and it is possible she is the same person as her sister Martha.

v. Martha Mayhew was born about 1641. She died on 15 November 1717 in Sandwich. She married Thomas Tupper.

Endnotes:

1. Charles Edward Banks, "The English Ancestry of Governor Thomas Mayhew," Genealogical Advertiser 4 (1901): 1–8.

2. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1243–6.

3. Charles Edward Banks, The History of Martha's Vineyard (Boston: G.H. Dean, 1911).

4. Leslie Mahler, "The English Origin of Jane (Galland) Paine, the Wife of Thomas Mayhew of Martha's Vineyard," The American Genealogist 76 (2001): 94–98.

5. "New England Gleanings," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 40 (1886): 271.

6. William Aspinwall, A Volume Relating to the Early History of Boston (Boston: Municipal Printing Office, 1903).

7. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay, vol. 1, 1628–1641, vol. 2, 1642–1649, vol. 3, 1644–1657, vol. 4 , 1650–1660, vol. 5, 1661–1674, vol. 6, 1674–1686 (Boston: William White, 1853, 1854).

8. "Gov. John Winthrop Papers, Vol. 1-5, 1557-1649, database with images, AmericanAncestors.org. Originally published as: Winthrop Papers (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1929 –).

9. "First Settlers of New England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1 (1847): 138.

10. Watertown Historical Society, Watertown Records (Watertown: Fred G. Barker, 1894, 1900): vol. 1: 3, 5.

11. James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, 4 vols., (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1860–1862), vol. 2: 528.

12. James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, eds., Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, vol. 4 (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1888), 275–6.

13. Clifford L. Stott, "The English Origin of Richard Swaine of Hampton, New Hampshire, and Nantucket," The American Genealogist 74 (1999): 247.

14. C.M. Foster, "Letter of Thomas Mayhew to Gov. Edmund Andros, 1675," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 52 (1898): 203–6.

15. Arthur R. Railtin, "The Indians and the English on Martha's Vineyard," The Dukes County Intelligencer 32 (November 1990): 43–67, specifically 70–72.

16. David Pulsifer, "Early Records of Boston," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7 (1853): 159.

17. "Hon. John Daggett," Necrology of Historic Genealogical Society section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 40 (1886): 222–3.

18. David L. Greene, "A Search for the English Origins of Henry Way of Dorchester, Massachusetts," The American Genealogist 61 (1985): 256.

Revised January 24, 2024