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Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] Thomas Purchase - Maine & Lynn,Mass. - Great Migration Begins. Part 1.
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 20:07:57 EDT
Subject: Thomas Purchase - Maine & Lynn, Mass.
Source: The Great Migration Begins. Immigrants to New England 1620-1633.
Volume III
p.1529
Origin: Dorchester, Dorsetshire, England.
Migration: 1630.
First Residence: Pejepscot.
Removes: Lynn, Mass. 1675.
Freemanship: Plymouth oath of fidelity (at the head of those in the Kennebec
region) June 23, 1654. [PCR 2:58]
Education: He signed his Will. His Inventory included "one great Bible &
three other books, 16s."
Offices: Commissioner at Saco, March 25, 1636 [MPCR 1:1] Grand Jury,
September 8, 1640 [MPCR 1:73] Plymouth Colony Assistant for Kennebec region, June
23, 1654 [PCR 3:58].
Estate: On June 16, 1632 with his brother-in-law, George Way, Thomas
Purchase received a grant from the Council for New England for two miles of land
adjoining the River "Bishopscotte [Pejepscot]." They signed articles of
agreement over two moieties in the property - April 22, 1633 [NEHGR 43:149]. On July
22, 1639 "Thomas Purchase, of Pagiscott, gentleman," deeded to John Winthrop
(as agent for the Massachusetts Bay
Company) "all that tract of land at Pagiscott aforesaid, upon both sides of
the river of Androscoggin, being four miles square towards the sea - so as
they may plant the same with an English colony when they see fit" [MBCR 1:272].
(Judging by later events this transfer of title must not have remained in
effect.)
On February 4, 1687/8, John Archdale recited the sequence of steps by which
this grant had come about, and that he "hath been credibly informed and doth
verily believe it to be true that the tenement of the said Thomas Purchase was
unfortunately burnt down and destroyed by fire, and that he heard the said
Thomas Purchase say that his patent was at that time burnt and destroyed
therein"; Archdale believed that despite these events Ferdinando Gorges would
have confirmed Purchase's title. [NEHGR 13:303-04].
George Way in his Will of October 1, 1641 stated that the "money and
provenue of the benefit of my plantation at Beshipscot in New England, which is due
to me from my brother-in-law, Thomas Purchase" was to go to the rearing of
his two daughters and later to be inherited by his son [Waters 310-12, citing
PCC 155 Evelyn]. Eleazer Way, heir and only son of George Way, sued Thomas
Purchase on October 10, 1657 and on June
1, 1669 agreed to the sale of the plantation in order to receive his share,
calling Purchase "my dear and honored uncle Mr. Thomas Purchase of
Pudgipscott." [NEHGR 43:149; MBCR 4:1:334]. On October 25, 1683 "John Blany of Lynn - &
Elizabeth his wife, the late relict & administratrix of Thomas Purchase of
Pejepscot," after reciting
p.1530
the history of the grant of Pejepscot to George Way and Thomas Purchase and
noting that "Eliazer Way, the son of the said George Way, hath granted & sold
unto Richard Wharton of Boston, merchant, all his moiety, part or share in
the said patent," sell to Richard Wharton of Boston "with the free and full
consent of all the children of the said Thomas Purchase - all that moiety, half
deal & remaining share, whatsoever the same is or may be of the said lands
late belonging to the said Thomas Purchase" [YLR 4:16-17]. On January 10,
1683/4 "Elizabeth Purchase the relict of Thomas Purchase Junior deceased, &
Oliver Ellkine & Jane his wife, the daughter of Thomas Purchase Senior deceased,
& Elizabeth Blany daughter of the said Thomas Purchase Senior" consented to
this deed [YLR 4:17]. On July 7, 1684, several sagamores of central coastal
Maine confirmed to Richard Wharton large parcels of land, including the land
that had been occupied "near three score years since (by) Mr. Thomas Purchase
deceased" [YLR 4:14-16].
Aspinwall copied a bill from Thomas Purchase to Valentine Hill for
three-eighths of the Blessing dated October 29, 1644. [Aspinwall 1].
To be continued - Part 2 - p.1530.
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
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