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THOMAS TUPPER (d. 1676)

ANNE UNKNOWN (d. 1676)

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Thomas Tupper reportedly died on 28 March 1676, age 98, in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. [1] He married Anne Unknown. 

Thomas's reported age at death is not consistent with his possible baptism in 1590. However, it was not uncommon to exaggerate someone's age at death. Thomas was chosen as a selectman in 1668; it seems unlikely he was over 90 then.

Anne Unknown reportedly died in Sandwich on 4 June 1676, age 90. [1] If Anne is Anne/Agnes Wedson, her reported age at death is an exaggeration. A more plausible story is that she was born in 1596, married at about 18, and had her two known children at age 24 and 42. 

The Abigail arrived in Boston in October 1635, carrying Edmund Freeman and his family, the William Almy family, Benjamin Nye, Thomas Tupper, Thomas Landers, and Thomas Greenfield. [1]

On 3 April 1637, the Court of Assistants agreed that ten Saugus [Lynn] men, including Thomas Tupper, had the liberty to view a place and have enough land for 60 families. [2]

On 4 September 1638, the court ordered fines charged for unringed swine in Sandwich, and Thomas was assessed for five pigs. [2] He received six and a half acres of meadowland in Sandwich on 16 April 1640. [2][3] He was admitted a freeman on 2 June 1640. [2] He was on a grand jury on 2 June 1640, 4 June 1645, and 1 June 1647. [2][4] 

On 17 March 1641/2, Thomas Tupper of Sandwich was presented for a misdemeanor: lascivious and unclean carriages toward Linceford's wife, late of Yarmouth. Linceford's wife was also presented for the same miscarriages. [4]

Thomas was on the committee for the town of Sandwich on 5 June 1644, 1 June 1647, 7 June 1648, and 4 June 1650. [4] 

At a Sandwich town meeting on 6 September 1644, townsmen volunteered to pay (in corn) for repairing the church meetinghouse. Thomas collected ten shillings (worth) from Edmund Freeman and Thomas Dexter, nine shillings from Thomas Gibbs, Sr., Ezra Perry and Jacob Burge, seven shillings from Thomas Tobey, Sr. and six from William Bassett. [5]

Thomas was appointed to a committee to consider how to raise tax revenue on 2 June 1645. [4]

On 22 May 1651, the town of Sandwich ordered that four men, Goodman Tupper, Goodman Burge, Sr., Nathaniel Willis, and William Gifford, had the power to call a town meeting. On 13 May 1654, Thomas Tupper was one of five men engaged to frame a petition to the Plymouth Court asking it to grant and help purchase Mannamet. On 23 November 1654, Thomas was one of five men called upon to make a rate of 18 pounds. On 18 May 1658, Thomas and James Skiff were chosen as the committee for the town. On 28 October 1658, Thomas was selected as one of five men to make a rate of 28 pounds and 13 shillings. On 29 November 1659, he was one of five men chosen to make a rate of 13 pounds. On 14 January 1659/60, three men were chosen to end differences between Sandwich and Barnstable; Thomas was added on 21 February 1659/60. On 18 May 1660, he was chosen constable and deputy. He was also selected as one of three men to buy land from the Indians. On 13 November 1660, it was agreed that Richard Bourne and Thomas Tupper, Sr. would keep the town's powder, and they were both two of the four raters chosen for the following year. On 16 May 1662, Thomas was selected as a grand juryman. On 16 July 1662, Thomas was chosen as one of four men to agree with Lieutenant John Ellis about finishing the dock. That day, the town also agreed with Thomas Tupper and Joseph Burge about repairing the pound. On 15 May 1663, Goodman Bourne and Goodman Tupper were two of four men appointed to lay out four acres for Richard Smith. On 28 January 1664[/5?], Goodman Tupper was one of five men chosen to be a rater. On 24 May 1665, he was chosen as surveyor of highways. On 20 February 1667, he was one of six men appointed raters for the year. On 15 May 1668, Thomas was chosen selectman. [3]

Thomas was one of those who signed a 1655 letter to Mr. Leveridge, asking him to be the minister in Sandwich. [3] Thomas Tupper and Richard Bourne conducted religious exercises in Sandwich for many years. [6}

Children of Thomas Tupper and Anne Unknown:

i. Katherine Tupper died after 9 June 1704, when she was mentioned in a deed. She married Benjamin Nye on 19 October 1640 in Sandwich. [3][2][7] George died between 9 June 1704 and 17 May 1707, probably in Sandwich. [7]

A grant was made to Edmund Freeman and nine associates who had been Saugus (Lynn) residents to have land for a settlement at what is now called Sandwich on 3 April 1637. Benjamin was one of about 50 men who came with them as settlers. [5]

On 18 May 1658, Benjamin Nye was chosen as a grand juryman. On 13 9 1660, the town granted him eight acres adjoining his six acres adjoining his meadow by the little river. On 15 May 1668, he was chosen as grand juryman. On 3 May 1670, Benjamin was one of two men selected to lay out land for James Skiffe. On 13 (5) 1671, he was chosen as one of five men to exchange town land with James Skeffe. On 29 April 1673, he was chosen constable. On 18 March 1669, the town asked for 12 acres to be laid out for Benjamin Nye because he built the mill at the little pond. On 12 May 1679, he was appointed a grand juryman. On 14 August 1679, he was appointed a rater. [SBRC] 

ii. Thomas Tupper was born on 16 January 1638 in Sandwich. He died there on 26 April 1706, age 68. He married Martha Mayhew.

References:

1. Caroline Lewis Cardell and Russell A. Lovell, Vital Records of Sandwich, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996), vol. 1: xvi, 6 (Thomas's and Anne's death).

2. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, vol. 1, Court Orders, 1633–1640 (Boston: William White, 1855).

3. Sandwich and Bourne Colony and Town Records, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy (Yarmouthport: C.W. Swift, 1912), no page numbers, book in bad shape.

4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, vol. 2, Court Orders, 1641–1651 (Boston: William White, 1855).

5. Frederick Freeman, The History of Cape Cod: The Annals of 13 Towns of Barnstable County, vol. 2 (Boston: George C. Rand & Avery, 1862), 15–16.

6. Mary Farwell Ayer, "Richard Bourne, Missionary to the Mashpee Indians," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 62 (1908): 139.

7. Ian Hilder, George R. Nye, and Jonathan Shaw, "Origins of George Nye," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 159 (2005): 69–80.

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Last revised: 24-Jan-2024