| Notes |
- Thomas Manchester was an early pioneer of Quinnipiac, called
New Haven after 1640, in the Plantation of Connecticut: since he is
found there in 1639, it would seem probable that he was of the company
of Yorkshire settlers who in 1638 came to America with Ezekiel Rogers,
the famous non-conformist minister, with the view of joining the
Quinnipiac Plantation, although many of them eventually settled
elsewhere. The New Haven colony differed very much from other colonies.
Many of the colonists put up large houses. As an explanation why this
style of building was so general, it may be said that the founders of
New Haven were mainly gentlemen and merchants, used to living in
superior houses in London and other parts of England. For a period,
Thomas continued at Quinnipiac, but removed to Portsmouth, R.I, before
1642. On February 25/1642 he was appointed to serve on the next jury.
From 1674 till his death, he was Town Sergeant. He became a
considerable landed proprietor. Prior to 1655 he acquired land on the
island of Aquidneck, and on January 25/1655, he made a deed of a tract
of 12 acres there to Thomas Wood. On December 10/1657, he shared in the
land division and received eight acres at Portsmouth. He also had share
in Dutch Island and Quononoquet Island, and conveyed his interest in
1/300th right therein to Richard Sisson on July 6/1658. His mansion and
homestead was built on his Portsmouth land. On July 9/1691, Thomas
deeded to his son John, his mansion house and all lands at Portsmouth,
except the piece at the lower end, which had been theretofore deeded to
his son Thomas. According to the deed, half was to be John's on his
brother Thomas' death, and the remaining half upon the death of his
Mother, conditioned always that pay to his brothers Thomas, William and
Stephen, 10 shillings each, to Job 20/-, and to his sisters Mary and
Elizabeth, ten shillings each. John also received from his father his
personal property, cattle, chattels, implements, bonds, sums of money,
and whatever belonged to him at the time of his death.
Thomas Manchester married, prior to 1650, Margaret Wood, who
died about 1693, daughter of John Wood of Portsmouth, R.I., who
bequeathed to his daughter Margaret the sum of ?8.
Source:
"The Manchester Family of Rhode Island",
by Alden and Rita C. Manchester, Takoma Park, Md., in the New England
Historic Genealogical Society of Boston Register, October 1947.
Thomas Manchester, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England, and was a resident of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1639, the year following the planting of the colony. Afterward, however, he settled at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he is first mentioned in the land records, January 25, 1655, when he and his wife sold to Thomas Wood twelve acres of land. He married Margaret, daughter of John Wood. In the settlement of her father's estate, it was ordered, March 17, 1655, that the son John pay his sister, Margaret Manchester, eight pounds. Eight acres of land were granted at Portsmouth to Thomas Manchester, December 10, 1657, and he sold to Richard Sisson one three-hundredth right in Canonicut and Dutch Islands. In 1680 he was taxed four shillings. He deeded to his son John, July 9, 1691, his mansion house and lands at Portsmouth, except the place at the lower end of the ground, in possession of his son Thomas, one-half to be his at the death of grantor and the other half after the death of grantor's wife, mother of grantee, provided he pay to the sons, Thomas, William and Stephen, ten shillings each, to Job twenty shillings, and daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, ten shillings each. He also gave to John his personal property, including cattle, tools, etc. Thomas Manchester died in 1691; his wife in 1693. Children: Thomas, born about 1650; William, mentioned below; John, George, Stephen, Job, Mary, Elizabeth.
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New Brunswick Families
Abt 1620 - 1691 (71 years)