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Thomas Holbrook (Holbrooke) was born in Glastonbury, Somerset County, England, in about 1589. The estimate of his birth year is derived largely, but not exclusively, from a deposition he gave 2 Nov 1666, when he said he was 77. [1] Plugging that deposition date into an online calculator yields a range of possible birth dates of 03 Nov 1588 to 02 Nov 1589. Against that assumed birth year, however, is his reported age (34) when he embarked for the New World, 20 Mar 1635. [2] which yields a birth range of 1600-04-20 to 1601-03-20. That latter account of his age...
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Thomas Holbrook (Holbrooke) was born in Glastonbury, Somerset County, England, in about 1589. The estimate of his birth year is derived largely, but not exclusively, from a deposition he gave 2 Nov 1666, when he said he was 77. [1] Plugging that deposition date into an online calculator yields a range of possible birth dates of 03 Nov 1588 to 02 Nov 1589. Against that assumed birth year, however, is his reported age (34) when he embarked for the New World, 20 Mar 1635. [2] which yields a birth range of 1600-04-20 to 1601-03-20. That latter account of his age appears flawed, however, and not just because the standard for a ships log is typically less reliable than a sworn deposition. The ship log also makes less sense. For instance, if the ship's log were correct, it would mean that, at his marriage, 12 Sep 1616[1], he would have been about 15-16, whereas the average age for a groom at the time was about 28. See Wikipedia contributors, "Western European marriage pattern," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed June 27, 2021).
(Some say he was born within Glastonbury, in a place called "Eversley.[1]) He was, it seems, the son of William Holbrook.[1] As for his mother, some suggest she may be a woman named, Edith, but evidence for that is thus far unknown.
Marriage in England
Thomas married, at St. John's Church, Glastonbury, 12 Sep 1616, Jane Powyes.[3] "They lived in Glastonbury until some time after February, 1630/1, when they moved to Broadway," also in Somerset County,[1] about 15 miles or so southwest of Glastonbury. Their known children were (first five born at Glastonbury):[1][4]
John Holbrook, baptized at Glastonbury, April 6, 1618; married (1) Sarah _____ by 1643, (2) Elizabeth Stream by 1645, (3) Mary (Jacob) Otis (date unknown)
William Holbrook, baptized at Glastonbury, June 12, 1620; married (1) Elizabeth Pitts by 1655, married (2) Abigail (Wright) (Sharp) Clapp about 1696
Thomas Holbrook Jr., born about 1624; married by about 1651, Joan Kingman
Anne (Holbrook) Reynolds, born, about 1630; married by an unknown date, John Reynolds
Elizabeth (Holbrook) Hatch, born about 1634; married May 6, 1650 at Scituate, Walter Hatch
Jane (Holbrook) Drake, born about 1637; married Thomas Drake about 1657
Capt John is the son of Thomas Holbrook and Jane Powyes. John was a Lieut. in King Philip's War.
John married three times:
1.Sarah Heardman-1618-m Abt 1638-14 Jan 1644/1645
2. Elizabeth Streame-1624-m.1645/1646-25 Jun 1688
3. Mary (Jacob) Otis-widow of John Otis
Capt John is the father of ten children,but the mothers are questionable. I have them listed as best as can be according to wives.
Sarah's children:
Grace "Elizabeth" Holbrook-Abt 1640-Bef 1699/Joseph Nash
Sarah Holbrook-2 Feb 1644-Bef 5 Jul 1699/Simon Whitmarsh
Elizabeth's children:
John Holbrook-1645/1646-3 May 1731 /Abigail Pierce
Hannah Holbrook-1648-Aft 18 Jul 1718/Ephraim Pierce
Abiezer Holbrook-1650-Jan 1672/ Ruth Vinson
Samuel Holbrook-1656-Bef 3 Oct 1695/Mary/Lydia
Eunice Holbrook-12 May 1658-Bef 12 Jul 1699/Benjamin Ludden
Lois Holbrook-12 May 1658-Bef 12 Jul 1699/Joseph Nash-2nd wife
Experience Holbrook-23 May 1661-2 Nov 1685/Joseph Edson
Ichabod Holbrook-20 My 1662-14 Dec 1718/Sarah Turner
WILL OF JOHN HOLBROOKE—dated 12 Jul 1699; probate 14 Dec 1699.
I John Holbrooke of the Towne of Weymouth in New England, being weak of body, but of a competent understanding and memory Do make this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking and annulling all former Wills by me made.
Firstly committing my Soul to God, in hope of eternal Salvation through the merits of Christ my Saviour, and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors. Ano for my worldly Estate I do will and dispose of as followeth. My just Debts & Funeral Charges being paid.
Imprimis I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Mary Holbrooke Fifty pounds in money, to be at her disposing provided she accept of it in full of all demands from my Estate. Otherwise my Contract with her before Marriage to be made good to her in every respect. And also I give her Ten pounds in money provided she give Five pounds thereof to her Daughter Loring {Mrs. Elizabeth Loring, daughter of Mary and her first husband John Otis}.
I give and bequeath unto my Son John Holbrooke all my housing and Lands in the Township of Situate which I purchased of Mr. John Saffin, to be to the use and improvement of him the said John Holbrooke for and during his natural life, and after his decease the moiety or one halfe of the said Houses and Lands to be to the only proper use and improvement of his now wife Abigail during the time she shall remain his widow and no longer. The other halfe of the said housing and Lands I give and bequeath the use and improvement to my Grandson John Holbrooke, the son of my said Son John Holbrooke. And after the decease of my said Son and the widowhood of his wife Abigail I do give and bequeath all the aforesaid housing and Lands to my aforesaid Grandson John Holbrooke to and to hold to him and his heires forever. Always provided that when my said Grandson shall come to possess and enjoy the whole of the said Farms that he shall well and truely pay Forty pounds Sterling in equal proportions to the six Daughters of my said Son John Holbrooke. And if any of them shall decease before they receive their part, then the said Forty pounds to be paid equally to such as shall survive and if any of them decease before marriage. Also I give and beqeath unto my Son John Holbrooke all my wearing apparel and my best Featherbed, my best rugg of furniture belonging to the said bed, and my Silvor Tankard. Also I give unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of James Smith Five pounds Sterling. Also I give unto my Grand Daughter Abigail Porter Ten pounds Sterling to be paid by my Executors within one yeare after my decease. {This paragraph covers his son John Holbrooke's family.}
I give & bequeath unto my Daughter in Law Lydia Holbrooke Widow of my Son Samuel Holbrooke deceased for the bringing up of the Children of my Son Samuel Holbrooke the use and improvement of the uplands adjoyning to her Dwelling house in the neck called Kingmans neck, and two acres of salt meadow that I purchased of John Kingman, and also my three acres of salt marsh near Burying Island, and also one halfe of three acres of salt marsh in Brantrey lying on the East side of the Creek going to Spheers Farm, also Forty acres of Land on the Westerly side of my Land near the Phisical Spring in Weymouth. Also the one half of my Lands in Brantrey adjoyning to Weymouth Line, called by the name of Execution Land. Also the one halfe of my Dwelling house in Boston. All which housing & Lands as is before exprest, I give the use and improvement thereof unto the said Lydia Holbrooke for her maintainance and the bringing up of the Children of my said Son Samuel Holbrooke until my Grandson Joseph Holbrooke son of my Son Samuel Holbrooke do or might attain to the age of one and twenty yeares and no longer. Also I give unto my said Daughter Lydia Holbrooke one hundred and twenty pounds to be paid by my Executors in one fourth part of my household stuffe and Cattle, and the remainder in money, to make up the said one hundred and twenty pounds. Always Provided That the said Lydia Holbrooke do pay to her three Daughters Elisabeth, Mary and Sarah Holbrooke, Daughters of my said Son Samuel Holbrooke each of them forty pounds, when they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years, or Marriage, which shall first happen. I give and bequeath unto my Grandsons Samuel Holbrooke, John Holbrooke & Joseph Holbrooke Sons of my said Son Samuel Holbrooke all the aforesaid Lands and meadows in Weymouth and Brantrey (left for the use and improvement of the said Lydia Holbrooke as aforesaid) to be divided into equal parts or shares to my said three Grandsons, when my said Grandson Joseph Holbrooke shall or might attain to the age of one and twenty years. The said Samuel, John & Joseph Holbrooke paying to their mother Lydia Holbrooke, each of them Thirty Shillings per anno during her natural life. I give and bequeath to my Grandson Abia Holbrooke son of my Son Samuel Holbrooke the one halfe or moiety of my house and Land in Boston when he shall attain to the age of one and twenty years, he paying to his mother Lydia Holbrooke Thirty shillings per anno during her natural life. I also give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Lydia Holbrooke halfe an acre of salt meadow lying in a neck called Kingmans neck, that was formerly my Father Thomas Holbrookes to her and her heires forever. And furthermore it is my Will that if my said Daughter Lydia shall dispose of herselfe in marriage, that there shall be no strip nor waste made upon any of the aforesaid Lands, any more than what may be needful for her own fireing or reparation of her own housing or fenceing of the said Lands. {This paragraph covers his son Samuel Holbrooke's family.}
I give unto my Son in Law Simon Whitmarsh Twenty pounds in money. I give unto my Grandson Simon Whitmarsh Twenty pounds in money. I give unto my Grand Daughter Ruth Darby Fifteen pounds in money. I give unto my Grand Daughter Mary Jackson Fifteen pounds in money. All the aforesaid sums to be paid by my Executors within one yeare after my decease. {This paragraph covers his daughter Sarah Holbrooke's family.}
I give to my Daughter Hannah Peirce Fifty pounds in money to be at her disposal as she shall see cause. Also I give unto my Grandson Azarikum Peirce Fifteen pounds in money. Also I give to Ephraim Peirce Junior Fifteen pounds in money. I give to my Grand Daughter Rachel Peck Five pounds in money. All which Legacys are to be paid by my Executors within one yeare after my decease which shall be in part of payment of a Bond under the hands and Seals of Ephraim Peirce and Azarikum Peirce bearing date the fourteenth day of Jun 1697. {This paragraph covers his daughter Hannah Holbrooke's family.}
I give unto my Grandson Joseph Nash Fifty pounds in money. Also I give unto my Grand daughter Elisabeth Nash Five and twenty pounds in money to be paid in one yeare after my decease. {This paragraph covers his daughter Elizabeth Holbrooke's family.}
I give unto my Grandson Benjamin Ludden Ten pounds in money. I give to my Grandson John Ludden Ten pounds in money. I give to my Grandson Joseph Ludden Ten pounds in money. All the aforesaid Legacies given to the said Luddens to be paid by my Executors as they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years. I give unto my Grandson James Ludden one acre of salt meadow lying on the Eastern neck, which was formerly his Grandfathers James Luddens. I give unto my Granddaughter Eunice Ludden fifteen pounds in money at her day of marriage, or when she shall attain to the age of Eighteen years, wich shall first happen. {This paragraph covers his daughter Eunice Holbrooke's family.}
I give unto my Grandson Joseph Edson Fifteen pounds in money. To my Grandson Josiah Edson Fifteen pounds in money. To my Granddaughter Experience Edson Forty pounds in money. All which Legacies given to the Edsons to be paid by my Executors as they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years the Sons, and the Daughter, eighteen years. {This paragraph covers his daughter Experience Holbrooke's family.}
I give and bequeath unto my Son Ichabod Holbrooke my Dwelling house in Weymouth that I now live in with all the outhousing, orchard and Lands adjoining, by estimation between forty and fifty acres. And also all my saltmarsh lying in the neck called Kingmans neck, not before given. Also all the remainder of my Lands near the Phisical Spring, not before given. Also all the four acres of Saltmarsh lying on the East side of the back river in Weymouth. All which houses and Lands I give unto my Son Ichabod during his natural life, and to his wife Sarah as long as she remain his widow, and after his decease and his wifes widows Estate, I give and bequeath the said housing, orchard and Lands adjoyning with ye saltmarsh in the neck called Kingmans neck unto my Grandson Abiezer Holbrooke son of my Son Ichabod Holbrooke to him and his heires forever. I give unto my Grandson David Holbrooke son of my Son Ichabod Holbrooke the aforesaid salt meadow lying Easterly of the back river, and the aforesaid Land near the Phisical Spring, after the decease of my Son Ichabod Holbrooke & his wifes widows Estate, to be to him and his heires forever. I give to my Son Ichabod the one halfe of my house & Land in Boston during his natural life and to his Wife as long as she shall remain his widow and after his decease and his Wife Sarahs widows Estate I give the said halfe of this house and Land at Boston unto his Son Elisha Holbrooke & his heirs forever. {This paragraph covers his son Ichabod Holbrooke's family.}
I give unto the reverend Mr. Samuel Torrey Pastor of the Church of Weymouth Five pounds in money. I give unto the Foot Company in Weymouth, three pounds in money. And farther it is my will that if any of the Grandchildren shall decease before they receive their portions that then the portion of the deceased shall be equally divided amongst the surviving Brother and Sisters of the Same Parents. And it is my Will that if my Indian Servant Anthony doth behave himself well that he have his Freedom in twelve yeares after my decease. And further it is my will, that if my Wife see cause not to live in my house she shall have what provisions she shall have occasion for her own use for three months after my decease. All the remainder of my Estate whether real or personal wheresoever it may be found that is not before given by this my last Will, I give and bequeath unto my Son Ichabod Holbrooke and his heirs forever.
And do hereby ordain and constitute my Son John Holbrooke and my Son Ichabod Holbrooke with Ephraim Hunt Esq. to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby give unto the said Ephraim Hunt five pounds. And I do desire my loving friends John Rogers and Joseph Dyer and my brother Stephen French to be Overseers to see to the performance of this my last Will and Testament, and do give to each of them Twenty shillings in remembrance of my love. In Witness that this is my last Will and Testament I do hereby make void and null all former wills by me made whatsoever, and do signe Seale, declaire and publish this to be my last Will and Testament the twelfth day of July one thousand Six hundred Ninety nine. 1699. John Holbrooke made his mark, Seal, Signed & published in presence of John Pratt, Ephraim Burell, Joseph Drake
Contributor: Deb Kunkle |
