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Captain Thomas Thurston (bp. 1632–1704), son of John Thurston and Margaret Unknown
Sarah Thaxter (c. 1632–1678), daughter Thomas Thaxter and Elizabeth Unknown
Sarah was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Thaxter. [3] She was born about 1632, based on the year of her marriage. Sarah, the wife of Thomas, died on 1 September 1678 in Medfield. [2]
Thomas came to New England as a child with his parents on the Mary Anne in 1637.
Thomas became a Medfield townsman on 3 January 1652/3 and was granted a house lot. He received his "house lott of medo" on 24 June 1654. [4]
John Frairy, Jr. of Medfield made him one of the executors of his will of 27 March 1670. [5]
On 21 February 1676—during King Philip's War—Native Americans burned 32 houses, two mills, several barns, and killed 14 inhabitants of the town of Medfield, including Thomas's children Margaret and Samuel. His daughter Mary was taken hostage and never returned.
Thomas is on a 15 April 1678 list of inhabitants of Medfield who subscribed to the building of a new college at Cambridge. The pastor and the selectman of Medfield asked that those who were "burned out by the Endians"—including Thomas—be excused. [6]
By a deed of 13 July 1685, Sachem Josias Wampatuck, in consideration of a considerable sum paid by Thomas Thurston and John Harding of Medford, on behalf of themselves and the town, confirmed the transfer of the land known as Medfield. [7]
Children of Thomas Thurston and Sarah Thaxter: Births recorded in Medfield as the children of Thomas and Sarah. [2]
i. John Thurston was born on 4 March 1655/6 in Medfield. He died on 24 November 1711 in Rehoboth. He married Hannah Cary.
ii. Thomas Thurston was born on 11 February 1657/8. Thomas, Jr. married Mehitable Mason on 23 July 1685 in Medfield. [2] She died on 11 August 1692 in Wrentham. [8]
iii. Nathaniel Thurston was born on 24 January 1660. He might be the Nathaniel who died on 2 June 1661 in Medfield. [2] However, he is not referred to in this death record as the son of Thomas and Sarah.
iv. Sarah Thurston was born on 16 September 1662. She married Samuel Morse on 29 April 1684 in Medfield. [2]
v. Mary Thurston (possibly) was born about 1665.
It is said that Thomas had a ten-year-old daughter Mary who was taken hostage by the Indians on 21 February 1675/6. Mary Rowlandson recalled meeting her while in captivity. Otherwise, she was never heard from again. [9]
vi. Margaret Thurston was born on 9 August 1668. Margaret was "mortally wounded" (recorded after 21 February 1675/6) in Medfield. [2] Presumably she was slain by the Indians on 25 [21?]February 1675/6 along with her brother Samuel.
vii. Elizabeth Thurston was born on 19 September 1671.
viii. Samuel Thurston was born on 4 August 1674. He was "mortally wounded by ye Indians" on 25 [21?] February 1675/6 in Medfield. [2]
ix. Margaret Thurston was born on 30 March 1667/8.
References:
1. Douglas Richardson, "English Origins of the Thurston Family of Dedham," The American Genealogist 54 (1978): 176–7.
2. Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England History Genealogical Society, 1903), 96–97 (births), 177 (marriages), 237 (deaths).
3. Henry M. Wheeler, Genealogy of Some of the Descendants of Obadiah Wheeler of Concord, and Thomas Thaxter of Hingham (Worcester, Mass.: Printed for private circulation, 1898), 42.
4. Eugene Cole Zabrinsky, "Deacon John Warfield of Medfield and Mendon, Massachusetts," The American Genealogist 73 (1998): 11–21.
5. Walter K. Watkins, "Abstracts of Early Wills on Record, or on File in the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 48 (1894): 459.
6. John Dean, "Medfield's Contribution to Harvard College, 1678," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 10 (1856): 44–50.
7. Abner Morse, "Indian Deed of Medfield, 1685," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7 (1853): 301–3.
8. G.W. Messinger, "Deaths in Wrentham, 1673–1704," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3 (1849): 32.
9. Andrea Cronin, "Mary Rowlandson's 'Doulfullest Day'," The Beehive, Massachusetts Historical Society, 20 February 2013.
04-Jun-2023