Holbrook line: Thomas Thayer, Immigrant 1596-1665

Thomas Thayer has much available information, so that this will be more a summary of what others have found rather than my own research.  One interesting item I found refers to him as part of the "Boston Brahmin community".  This set me back on my heels a bit.  I've always thought that these people were maybe a little bit snobbish and clannish (my prejudices showing, but let's not pussy foot around this), and now I've learned that we might be part of this group, many generations removed, of course.  There is an article on Wikipedia called "Boston Brahmin", if you're not familiar with the term.

Thomas himself may not be considered to be a Brahmin, since he was a shoemaker.  But let's start at the beginning.  He was born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England, probably shortly before his christening date of August 16, 1596.  (Point of reference here:  Queen Elizabeth I was the ruler of the land,)  His parents were Richard and Ursula Alice Dimery Thayer, and he was one of at least five children.  Interestingly, a godfather was William Dimery, probably the same man who later became his father in law.  Of the five Thayer siblings, three stayed in England but Thomas and his brother Richard came to America.

Thomas married Margery Wheeler, daughter of Abel or Abiel and Jane Shepherd Wheeler on April 13, 1618, in Thornbury.  There were nine children born to them in Thornbury and at least one born after the family came to New England.  It musts have been a sad life in those early years as most of the children died in England, some shortly after their birth.  However, Thomas, his wife and their three surviving children sailed on the ship "Blessing" and arrived on the "Blessing" at Boston Harbor on April 8, 1637.  His goods and supplies followed shortly after on the "Speedwell".  It's possible that his oldest son, or perhaps his wife, came on this ship with the goods but there is no record of the passengers on that ship.  It certainly would be interesting to know what "goods" he bought with him and whether they were sufficient to get the family started in the New World.

I haven't been able to locate much more than that about Thomas's life in America.  We know he received 76 acres of land in Mt. Wollaston (later Braintree) and that is supposed to be for nine members of his family.  This is hard to reconcile with the belief that most of his children died in England.  (More research, when I get a chance!)  Because he states it in his will, we know that he was a shoemaker and that he settled in Braintree, Suffolk County.  We know his wife was still alive, for the lands he bequeathed to his three sons were not to be divided until after Margery's death.  He had a dwelling house, orchard, barn, and enough land to give about 20 acres to Thomas, about the same to Ferdinando, and also to Sydrach.  His personal goods he gave to his grandchildren, again apparently after the death of his wife.  His three sons got together and rewrote part of the will, after his death, because they didn't think Sydrach had been given an amount equal to Thomas Jr and Ferdinando.  Margery died February 11, 1673, so the boys waited a few years until the land was legally theirs.

An inventory was taken but sadly seems not to be available, or at least it is not on line.  As you know by now, I dearly love inventories so its disappearance is a sad thing.  And of course there are other mysteries.  Was he a part of the church?  Did he hold any town office?  (I've looked at a History of Braintree and didn't find his name there at all).  Could he read and write?  Thomas and Margery are the progenitors of tens of thousands, if not more, descendants and we'd sure like to know more about them!

One line of descent is:

Thomas Thayer-Margery Wheeler
Ferdinando Thayer-Huldah Hayward
Ebenezer Thayer-Martha Thompson
Deborah Thayer-John Rockwood
Joseph Rockwood-Alice Thompson
Levi Rockwood-Deborah Lazell
Susannah Rockwood-Nahum Holbrook
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants