Thomas Fish (bef. 1619 - 1687)

Born before 1 Jan 1619 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Ayers) Fish — married 1645 in Portsmouth, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Descendants

Died 1 Dec 1687 after age 68 in Portsmouth, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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Biography

Thomas Fish was born in England.

Thomas son of Robert "Ffish" was christened on 1 January 1, 1619 (actually 1 January 1618 on the obsolete Julian calendar then in use in England) at Great Bowden, two miles northeast of Market Harborough, on the southeast edge of Leicestershire. Accordingly, his date of birth would have almost certainly fallen at some point in late November or in December of 1618.

Later christenings in this family were recorded at Market Harborough (home of New England emigrant Edward Wood), but by 1639 the parents were back in Great Bowden.

Thomas left England, together with his brother John Fish, and landed at Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island (when it was called Aquidneck Island). They arrived about 1643.

Thomas Fish was in Portsmouth by 5 October 1643, when the Portsmouth town meeting record of "land was ordered laid out to Thomas Fish at the First Brook."

Marriage

He married Mary about 1645. Her maiden name is variously given as Sherman, Ayers, and Soule. It is possible this was her second marriage.

On 28 December 1648, a town meeting added four acres of his land added to the house and lot of James Babcock and he was given four acres out of the Common land in their stead.

He was named to a jury on 21 November 1649. On 5 June 1655 he was appointed to a one year term as Constable, and he served a second term from 6 June 1670. He served two years on the town council starting on 1 June 1674.

Thomas was admitted freeman to the Portsmouth, Newport, RI in 1655. He was also a member of the church. On 20 March 1660, Thomas Fish received a deed of house and land from Henry and Ann Ayres, in consideration of fencing two acres, Henry and Ann would live there throughout their lives without paying rent. [1]

On 20 February 1655, Thomas Fish of Portsmouth sold land in Portsmouth to Thomas Lawton of Portsmouth for a good consideration and due satisfaction. The land was 4 acres with all of the housing, fencing, wood, timber, and appurtenances, bounded on the north by the Common, on the East by land of Thomas Lawton butting on the highway and the swamp, on the south by land of John Albro. The deed was signed by Thomas Fish and was witnessed by George Parker and Francis Parker (from "The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth," Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence RI, 1901, page 341-342, on FHL Microfilm 0,945,382, Item 3, printed version):.

On 2 May 1684, Thomas Fish of Portsmouth gave land in Portsmouth to his grandson, Preserved Fish, the son and heir of his son Thomas Fish. The land was to be possessed when his grandson reaches age sixteen, in 1700. The land was 15 acres in Portsmouth, being the late dwelling house of his son Thomas Fish, deceased, with all lands, orchards, gardens and outhouses. It was bounded on the north by Stephen Cornell's land, on the east by land lately belonging to Thomas Cooke deceased, on the south and west by the highways or common of the town. The deed was signed by Thomas Fish and witnessed by Thomas Ward, Ammy Ward and Mary Billing ("Rhode Island Land Evidences, Volume I, 1648-1696, Abstracts," published by Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1970, page 211).

He was a member of the town council Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Death

Thomas Fish died on December 1, 1687 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island. He was buried in the Portsmouth Cemetery.^[1]

Thomas Fish of Portsmouth died testate, having written a will dated 9 February 1686/7, which was proved 13 December 1687. The will mentions wife Mary Fish; sons Daniel Fish eldest, John Fish, Robert Fish and Thomas Fish, deceased; 3 daughters Mehittabell, Mary and Alce, no surnames given; grandson Preserved Fish, son of Thomas Fish, deceased ("Portsmouth, Rhode Island Records, 1638-1700," pages 366-67, abstracted by Nellie M.C. Beaman, "Abstracts of Portsmouth, Rhode Island Wills," in Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Volume 3, Number 1, July 1980). It named his wife, Mary as executrix and mentions four sons, three daughters and seven grandchildren. It bequeathed "to son John land bought of James Babcock. To son Robert 20s, and like amount to daughters Mehitable, Mary and Alice. To grandson, Preserved, son of Thomas, Jr., 5s, to wife remainder of the estate. Inventory, 49 pounds, 10s." [2]

Thomas Fish is buried in the old Portsmouth cemetery.

Note: The English background and biography of Thomas Fish was summarized by Carl Boyer the 3rd in his book, Ancestral Lines, Third Edition, published by the author in Santa Clarita, California in 1998. Additional family information was obtained from the book The Fish Family in England and America, published by The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc., Rutland, Vermont, 1948.

A Chronology

From the book, "One Hundred and Sixty Allied Families", by John Osborne Austin:

1643.He had a grant of land.

1655.His name was in the roll of Freemen (71 in all).

March 20, 1660.He had a deed of house and land from Henry and Ann Ayers, in consideration of fencing two acres, but said Henry and Ann were to enjoy said land for their lives without paying rent.

February 20, 1665.Sold Thomas Lawton 4 acres bounding on John Albro's land, etc.

1674.Town Council.

May 2, 1684.He deeded grandson Preserved Fish, son of Thomas deceased, for love, etc., dwelling house and 15 acres where Thomas Fish, Jr., had lived, and said grandson Preserved to possess it in the year 1700.

February 9, 1687.Will, proved December 13, 1687. Executor, wife Mary. Witnesses, Caleb Arnold, Zuriel Hall.

To son John, land bought of James Babcock. To son Robert 20 shillings, and like amount to daughters Mehitable, Mary and Alice. To grandson Preserved, son of his Son Thomas, 5 shillings. Rest of property to wife.

September 9, 1697.Will, proved 1699. Mary Fish, widow. Executor, son Daniel. Witnesses, Zuriel Hall, Johanna Hall, John Anthony.

To son John. oe5. To son Robert, oe5, and 1 cow. To daughter Mehitable Tripp, oe5, and my brass chafin dish, 1 pewter platter, 3 porringers, 1 chest, and 1 pewter plate. To daughter Mary Brayton oe5, and a table, basin, pewter platter, long cup, and plate. To daughter Alice Knowles, oe5, and 2 feather pillows, a basin, pewter platter, pewter candlestick, and plate. To daughters Mehitable, Mary, and Alice, all the wearing apparel of their mother, both linen and woolen. She mentions grandchildren Preserved and Mehitable, children of son Thomas deceased, and Comfort, Ruth and Thomas, children of her son Daniel; also Mary daughter of son John, and Robert, son of her son Robert, giving each of them something. To daughter Mehitable Tripp, whatever is due from her, for wool. To son Daniel all the outdoor movables.

July 12, 1699.Codicil. Only a few slight changes in former bequests.

Inventory, oe130, 2s.

(--from profile on Geni.com curated by Angus Wood-Salomon, last added to by James W. Place, Jr. in 2007.)

Event

Event:

Type: Arrival

Date: 1643

Place: Rhode Island

Research Notes

FamilySearch.org

Information about Thomas' ancestors is in "The Fish Family of Great Bowden in Leicestershire, England" by John Dean Fish in the the "NYGBR," Vol 53 #1, pp 53 ff. It doesn't have real strong evidence tying Thomas to these Fishes in England. He mentions family legend of ties to other early Fishes in New England which also have roots in the same places in Leicestershire. He also mentioned that Thomas named two children Thomas and Alice, his supposed parents. He claims Alice was an unusual name in New England then.

The following information is from "The Genealogical Dictionary of RI" by John O. Austin. p. 78. Portsmouth RI: 1643 He had land granted him 1655 Freeman. 1660, Mar. 20. He had a deed of house and land from Henry and Ann Ayres, in consideration of fencing 2 acres, but said Henry and Ann were to enjoy said land for their lives without paying rent. 1665 He bought of James Babcock two parcels of land and dwelling house, barn, and orchard for £ 50. The same year he sold 4 acres to Thomas Lawton. 1674 [on] Town Council 1684, May 2. He deeded grandson, Preserved Fish, son of Thomas deceased, for love, &c. dwelling house and 13 acres where Thomas Fish, Jr. had lived, and said grandson Preserved, to possess it in the year 1700. Additional info from "The Fish Family in England and America" by Lester Fish (Rutland, VAT: Tuttle, 1948), pp. 33-4. Named Constable in in 1665 and 1670. Chosen deputy to the General Court of the Colony in 1667 and 1673. Chosen to be on the town council in 1674 and 1675. He sold land - From "The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth" by librarian of the RI Hist. Soc. (Providence: E. L. Freeman, 1901). [Allen co. Lib] p. 341-2 [p. 280] ... I Tho ffish of Portsmouth in Road Iland planter have ...sould unto Thomas Lawton ... a parcell of land of fower ackers ... with all the housing and fencing wood and timber and all other apertinances ... being bounded in this maner butting on the North end with the Comon bounded on the East side with the land of ... Thomas Lawton butting upon the high way and the swamp in the towne bounded on the south side with the land of John Albro, ... this 20th of ffebrewary (1655). "Thomas Fish" is on the 1655 List of "Freemen of ye Colonie of everie Towne" for Portsmouth. From "Records of the Colony of RI, Vol. 1," p. 300.

Thomas Fish's will ... Thomas ffish of Portsmouth ... . I ... bequeath unto my dear and beloved wife Mary ffish all and Every part of my Real Estate during her naturall life for her better support comfort and maintainance in her old age and also I give & bequeath to my said Wife a ????? every part of my personall ... estate for her proper use and to be at her own disping after my decease only excespting such legases as are hereafter given & bequeathed. I give ... unto my eldest and well beloved son Daniell ffish my now dwelling house with all the land hereunto belonging only excepting the land which I purchased of James Badcock. I ... bequeath unt my well beloved son John fish all that my Land above mentioned purches of said said Badcock ... I give ... my ... son Robert ffish 20 shillings... . I give unto my three beloved daughters, to wit Mehittabell, Mary & Ales to each ... 20 shillings .... . I give ... unto my grand son Presserved ffish son to Thomas ffish deceased 5 shillings. I .... appoint my ... wife Mary ffish to be ... sole executrix ... . 9th Feb 1686/7. Wit: Caleb Arnold, Zuriel (X) Hall Thomas ffish Proved 13 Dec 1687.

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #5640365

• Title: 'Ancestral Lines, Third Edition Author: Carl Boyer 3rd, (Santa Clarita, California, 1998)
• Carlsbad Georgina Cole Library (1250 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Portsmouth Early Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth (Providence, R.I.: E.L. Freeman, Providence RI, 1901), also on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,945,382, Item 3.
• Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
• Title: Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts Author: William Richard Cutter Publication: Name: Lewis Historical Publishing Company; Location: New York, New York; Date: 1908; Repository: Paranthetical: Y
• Name: Kim Myers - Digital Library
• Title: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Publication: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Location: 226 West 58th Street; Date: New York, New York
• Title: Ancestors of Hamilton Fish and Julia Ursin Niemcewicz Kean, His Wife Author: Stuyvesant Fish Publication: Name: The Evening Post Job Printing Office, Inc.; Date: 1929; Repository:
• RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project:They Came To Milton ID:I4161
• Title: Family Data Collection - Births Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.
• Title: Millennium File Author: Heritage Consulting Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.Original data - Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA
• Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases.
• Title: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Author: Gale Research Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009.
• Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Text: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/16746257/family
• Fish, Lester Warren. The Fish Family in England and America (Tuttle Publishing Co., Rutland, Vermont, 1948, 530 pages) - Person No. 72, p 31 - 35.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of greenwald-millerGEDCOM.ged on 27 September 2010.
• Updated July 24, 2014 by Bob Scrivens with some material not already recorded from Geni.com profile [3]. Thomas Fish is my 8th G. Grandfather.