Thomas Tolman, immigrant ancestor to America

Thomas Tolman, immigrant ancestor to America

Thomas Tolman, second son to Thomas Tolman the first, was born in England, undoubtedly in Salcombe Regis, Devonshire, two mile northeast of Sidmouth, in 1608, as the parish records of that place state that "Thomas Tolman (son of Thomas) was baptized, December 9, 1608." It is also recorded that a Thomas Tolman died there and was buried August 24, 1632; and he probably was the father of this Thomas Tolman.

This Thomas Tolman emigrated from Plymouth, England, on March 20, 1630, to America on the ship called "Mary and John" Capt. Squeb, arrived at Nantucket on May 30, 1630 and settled in Dorcester, Massachusetts, in 1630. His first wife's name was Sarah [ ] (we have been unable to find her surname). They were blessed with the following children:

1 (M) Thomas Tolman [the man we descend through]

2 (F) Sarah Tolman

3 (F) Hannah Tolman

4 (F) Rebecca Tolman

5 (F) Ruth Tolman

6 (M) John Tolman

7 (F) Mary Tolman

The second wife's name was Katharine [ ] (we have been unable to find her surname); however, we know she died on November 7, 1677. Some records show that this second wife's name was Catherine Collins. They were blessed with six children, two boys and four girls.

Thomas Tolman was one of the signers of the covenant of the First Church of Dorchester, made in 1636. He was made a "freeman" May 13, 1604; a Constable in 1661 and served for several years in that office. His name is frequently mentioned in the records of that town, not only on the church records, but on the earliest town records of that place. His house was appointed to receive "any goods that shall be brought in whereof the owner is not known." he owned extensive acres of land, one tract was westerly of Neponset Bridge. He had land not only in Dorchester, but also in what are not known as Canton, Stoughton, and Sharon, for the length of seven miles. His house stood, on the north side, within a hundred feet of "Pine Neck Creek" over which a turnpike road passes, about one-quarter mile from the bridge. Some of his properties were still occupied by his descendants as last as 1850. He died June 18, 1690, in his eighty-second year. Thomas was buried, probably, in the old cemetery at Upham's Corner, Dorchester, in the oldest part, where the graves were then covered with stones to prevent to ravages of the wolves. From him a numerous posterity sprang and today their are scattered all over the United States.

From: "My Father's House" a book written and published by Charles Rendell Mabey, through Beverly Craftsman, 1947. Found in "The Tolman Family Book of Remembrance and Genealogy with Allied Lines.