Holbrook line: Thomas Silver, Immigrant

Pulling these immigrant stories together is never easy.  Either there is too much information, or not enough information, or both.  This is a case of too much information (Thomas cannot have two sets of parents, and he can't have been born in two separate locations), but then there is too little information about his life in America. I hope he will be researched further and some of the mysteries of his life answered.

So, Thomas Silver was born about 1622 in Ropley, Hampshire England, possibly the son of Thomas Silver, or he was born in 1622 at Newbury, Berkshire, England, the son of Thomas Silver and Elinor Backster.  (This second record is from www.genealogieonline.netherlands, which is generally an accurate source).  Newbury at the time of Thomas's birth was a cloth town, meaning that wool was produced here, including what was possibly the first factory in England, and so it is likely that there were sheep farmers here, too.  I don't know which, if either, would be a more likely occupation for Thomas's father, but most likely the family was not well to do.

Thomas came to Massachusetts Bay Colony as a young man.  He would have been about 15 when he arrived at Ipswich in 1637, so he likely came over as an indentured servant and may have had to serve his master for several years.  I've not located records to support this, and it's possible he went to a relative's home but I've not found that, either.  We do know that he stayed in Ipswich just a few years. 

By 1641 he was in Newbury, in what became Essex County, and there he stayed for the rest of his life.  He had rights in the commons to one cattle, in 1641, and he was on a list of freeholders in 1642.  Had had a house lot by 1645 and apparently shared in other land divisions, also, although the "History of Newbury, Massachusetts 1635-1902" was not clear on that.  He is on a list of persons who took an oath of allegiance in 1678, which was tied up in politics as well as a simple statement of loyalty to King Charles II. 

Thomas, according to the genealogieonline website mentioned above, married Mary Thomas, probably before 1645, in Newbury.  Mary must have died soon, perhaps in childbirth, and he married Katherine Coker on August 16, 1649.  Our line of descent is through Mary, so it would be nice to learn more about her.  Thomas and Mary's daughter, Mary, would have several half brothers and sisters, as Thomas and Katherine's family grew. 

Until Thomas's death, this is all I have been able to learn.  I don't know his occupation, or his religion, or any civil offices he might have held.  I don't know how he might have been affected by King Philip's War.  Katherine died in July 23, 1665, and we have no record of a third marriage.  I wonder how Thomas cared for his children?  Did Mary, as the oldest daughter (20, at the time) take over this responsibility?  She had married in 1664, so she had responsibilities of her own. Thomas died September 6, 1682.  I have a copy of his inventory but it's not very readable.  All that I can make out is that apparently his estate was valued at 104 pounds, which was modest for the time. 

This is what we know of Thomas.  He was courageous, to come to America when such a young man.  He worked to support his family.  He suffered the loss of two wives.  He lived in some sort of relationship with his neighbors, as he signed petitions with them.  He was a freeholder, (landowner) and therefore likely paid taxes of some sort.  "And further, I say not".

The line of descent is"

Thomas Silver-Mary Thomas
Mary Silver-Robert Robinson
Mary Robinson-Abraham Foster
Nathan Foster-Hannah Standish
Nathan Foster-Elizabeth Lansford
Jude Foster-Lydia M
Betsy Foster-Josiah Whittemore
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph R Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants