Thomas Flagg (abt. 1620 - 1698)

Born about 1620 in Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Marable (Unknown) Flagg — married about 1640 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 6 Feb 1698 at about age 78 in Watertown, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Thomas Flagg migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 117) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Origins

The origins of Thomas Flagg may not presently be definitively proven. Charles Flagg posited in 1903 that he was the Thomas Flegg baptized 6 May 1621 at Norfolk, England.^[1] The evidence used to establish a connection between the Thomas Flegg baptized in Norfolk and the 1637 emigrant Thomas Flagg of New England is the names given to children of Thomas of New England. See further discussion in Research Notes but this "extraordinary combination of names" is the sole connection between the Flegg of Norfolk and the Flagg of Watertown.

Thomas Flagg is the fifth great grandfather of US President James A. Garfield.

Immigration

Thomas Flagg sailed for America in 1637^[2][3] aboard the John and Dorothy . Of his departure, from "A Register of persons about to pass into foraigne parts. 1637,"^[4]

These people went to New England with William Andrewes of Ipswich, M^r of the John and Dorothy of Ipswich, and with William Andrewes, his Sone, M^r of the Rose, of Yarmouth ... [including] ... Aprill. the 11^th 1637 The examinacion of Richard Caruear, of Strathby, in the County of No^rff. husbandman ageed 60, yeares, and Grace, his wife, ageed 40 yeares, with 2 Children. Elizabeth ageed 18 yeares, and Susanna aged 18 yeares, being twynnes, mo^r 3 Saruants Isaacke Hartt ageed 22 yeares and Thomas Flege aged 21 yeares and one Marable Vnderwood: a mayd Saruant ageed 20 yeares; goes all for New England, to inhabitt and Remaine.

Thomas' reason for leaving England is entirely speculative. As he did not become a church member until 1690^[5] it would appear his departure was unlikely to have been motivated by religious persecution. Often repeated family lore would have us believe he left for love. This period in England was one of economic depression and great numbers of young men left seeking better fortune. Absent documentation or indications of religious or romantic reasons, it would appear seeking better economic furtune was the most probable reason for leaving England.

In 1920, Joseph Walker Flagg wrote,^[6]

"A tradition unearthed by Dr. John S. Flagg... Thomas is said to have been in love with a girl of station below his own, and to get around that opposition of his parents, as a young man of 21 he decided to emigrate to the Massachusetts Bay Colony..."

We have found no documentation or evidence to support this family tradition. The maiden name of his wife Mary and the date of their marriage is not known.

Life in Watertown

Thomas settled in Watertown. It is believed Thomas' position as a servant was not the usual but rather only for the duration of the voyage to America for he is a land owner by 1639 and then held many public offices. It has been speculated but not proven that he traveled as a servant for being too young to travel on his own.

Thomas Flagg was heavily involved in civic life. He was chosen in 1651 to view fences and to prosecute the order about swine;^[7] 1661 chosen surveyor;^[8] constable in 1663^[9] and 1686; selectman in 1671, 1675,^[10] 1676, 1677,^[11] 1678, 1679, 1682, 1686, 1687,^[12] 1688; town appraiser in 1674;^[13] and commissioner in 1669 and 1688. He lost his eye by a gunshot accident previous to 1659.

In the first inventory of grants and possessions in Watertown, taken in 1639, Thomas Flagg is shown as having a homestall of six acres bounded south with the highway, north by Joseph Bemis, east by Robert Harrington, and west by Edward How. He also had twenty acres of upland being a great Divident in the first division, lot 16.^[14] He held the same lands in the third inventory, taken about 1646.^[15]

Thomas Flagg ("Thomas flege an old man") died 6 Feb 1697/98 at Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay.^[16][17]

His wife, Mary was born 1619 and her Will dated 30 Dec 1702 was proved April 21, 1703.^[18]

Maiden Name of Wife Mary

It is open to speculation whether Marable Underwood was the Mary whom Thomas married shortly after his arrival in New England. Mary may not have been in the company of Carver's family. She may not have even come on one of these two vessels. All of this speculation rests on the assumption that the tradition of the family's disapproval of the marriage is, in fact, truth. In Bond's History of Watertown it is stated that Mary Flagg was born in 1619, which would make her two years younger than Marable Underwood.^[18] Torrey provides multiple citations for wife Mary, none of which give a maiden name.^[19] It is noted that Thomas' will was witnessed by Thomas Underwood, who may have been a relation.

Will

Thomas Flagg's will was dated 5 Mar 1696, proved Feb. 16, 1697-8, and was witnessed by John Mixer, Thomas Underwood, and Shuball Child. In it are mentioned his wife Mary, sons Thomas, Michael, Allen, Benjamin, and Eleazer, deceased son Gershom, daughters Mary Bigelow, Rebecca Cook, and Elizabeth Bigelow, and grandson John Flagg. The inventory of the estate was taken by Abraham Browne, Zacheriah Cutter, and Edward Harrington and recorded Feb. 16, 1697-8. It amounted to 75.10.0. Stated in this document was Thomas' death date of 6 Feb 1697/98.^[20]

Children

Children of Thomas and Mary (maiden name unknown) Flagg, all born in Watertown.

• Gershom Flagg, born 16 April 1641;^[21] died Watertown 6 July 1690; married 1668 Hannah Leppingwell.
• John Flagg, born 14 June 1643;^[22] died Watertown 6 February 1696/7; married 1670 Mary Gale. 3 children.
• Bartholomew Flagg, born 23 February 1644/5;^[23] died before 1697, as not named in his father's will; an article states he was killed by Indians in 1675.
• Thomas Flagg, born 28 April 1646;^[24] died in Watertown 1719, married 18 February 1667/8 Rebecca Dix. 5 children.
• Michael Flagg, born 23 March 1650/1;^[25] died Watertown, 16 October 1711; married (1) 3 June 1674 Mary Bigelow, who died 3 September 1704; and (2) 27 December 1704 Mary (Lawrence) Earle. 3 children by first marriage.
• Elieazer [Eleazer] Flagg, born 14 May 1653;^[26] died Concord, Massachusetts, May 1722; married 10 October 1676 Deborah (Wright) Barnes. 3 children.
• Elizabeth Flagg, born 20 March 1657;^[27] died Watertown 9 August 1729; married 20 October 1676 Joshua 2 Bigelow. 12 children
• Mary Flagg, born 14 January 1657/8;^[28] died 7 September 1720, the death recorded in both Watertown and Waltham; married 3 June 1674 Samuel 2 Bigelow. 10 children.
• Rebecca Flagg, born 5 September 1660^[29]; died Cambridge Mass. 20 June 1721; married 19 Nov 1679 Stephen Cook.
• Benjamin Flagg, born 25 June 1662^[30], died Worcester, Mass. 3 May 1741; married about 1689 Experience Child. 9 children.
• Allin [Allen] Flagg, born 16 May 1665^[31]; died Watertown Oct 1711; married 12 Mar 1684/5 Sarah Ball. 9 children.

Research Notes

Speculation on English Origins [unproven]: It is stated that Thomas Flagg of Watertown was the Thomas Flagg baptised in Hardingham, Norfolk on May 6, 1621. This would make the age in the emigration record incorrect, but, in the work, that is explained away by the strict laws of the time protecting masters from the absconding of indentured servants. The emigration inspectors might be suspicious about minors trying to leave the country unaccompanied by relatives or not in the custody of masters who could show their legal articles of apprenticeship. Thus Thomas may have been able to avoid possible detention if he was a large or mature looking sixteen year old bluffing his way past the inspectors. Thomas does not appear to have been from the area that Richard Carver lived in as there were no Flagg marriages in the Ormesby and Yarmouth area from 1590 to 1650. The main evidence for connecting Thomas Flagg of Hardingham with Thomas of Watertown is the similarity of names in the two families, which evidence does sound overwhelming. A few examples of Thomas of Watertown's children are Bartholomew, possibly named for Thomas' brother; Michael, a not very common name at the time, maybe named for another of Thomas' brothers; and Allen, the name of Thomas' father.[6/4389] Note that the only other Bartholomew Flagg in Norfolk county is another possibility for Thomas' father. The trouble with connecting with Thomas of Hardingham is that Thomas of Watertown was a land owner by 1639, and it seems unlikely he could have held property under the age of 21. On the other hand Massachusetts men were required to participate in military training between the ages of 16 and 60. On April 5, 1681 Thomas Flagg petitioned to be relieved from training, which fits in well with a baptism on May 6, 1621.^[32]

Ernest Flagg, Genealogical Notes on the Founding of New England: My Ancestors ... (1926), pages 437-440, is available at Family Search suggests various theories regarding Thomas Flagg and his origins. it should be read together with additional notes found on the Thomas Flagg Additional Materials Free Space Page.

Sources

1. ↑ Charles Allcott Flagg, The Descendants of Eleazer Flagg and His Wife Huldah Chandler of Grafton, Mass. including Genealogies of the Flagg, Waters, Goddard .... (Boston: Press of David Clapp & Son. 1903.) p. 175; digital images, InternetArchive.
2. ↑ Exchequer, Kings Rembrancer, Licenses to Pass beyond the Seas, No. 21, Public Record Office, London
3. ↑ Benjamin A. G. Fuller, "Letters of Dr. Franklin, Mrs. Jane Mecom, Josiah Flagg, Richard Bache, &c.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 27 (1873):246-254, in particular, 246; digital images, Hathi Trust; "Thomas Flegg having left Scratby, hundred east of East Flegg, co. Norfolk, in 1637, and embarked in company with Sir Richard Carver, from Yarmouth for this country."
4. ↑ John Camden Hotten, The original lists of persons of quality ... (London, Empire State Book Co. 1874), 289-295, especially 291; digital images, Hathi Trust.
5. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 4:122; digital images, hathi Trust.
6. ↑ Joseph Walker Flagg, Descendants of Josiah Flagg of Berkeley County, W. Va..., (Press of TR Marvin, 1920), 60; digital images, GoogleBooks.
7. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:28; digital images, Hathi Trust.
8. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:74; digital images, Hathi Trust.
9. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:76; digital images, Hathi Trust.
10. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:125; digital images, Hathi Trust.
11. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:132; digital images, Hathi Trust.
12. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 2:34; digital images, Hathi Trust.
13. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:118; digital images, Hathi Trust.
14. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:38 (Lands, Grants and Possessions); digital images, Hathi Trust; "First Inventory of Grants and Poffeffions."
15. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 1:124 (Lands, Grants and Possessions); digital images, Hathi Trust; "Third Inventory: Grants and Poffeffions of the Lands."
16. ↑ Watertown Records ... (Watertown, Mass. : [s.n.], 1894-1939), 8 vols. in 7, 2:10 (Births, Marriages and Deaths); digital images, Hathi Trust; "Births, Marriages and Deaths: Second Book."
17. ↑ Historical Society, Watertown Mass., Watertown records ( Watertown, Mass., 1894) Vol. II, p. 10
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Bond, Henry, MD, Genealogies of the families and descendants of the early settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, NEHGS, Boston, 1860, pp 291-220
19. ↑ Flagg-_____ 1641 marriage, New England Marriages prior to 1700 ( 2015), multiple vols., 1:552; database and digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors; works consulted as "Ackley-Bosworth 263, 269; Mendell 79; Bullard Anc. 187; Gregory Cooke gen. 8; Snow-Estes 2:230; Watertown 219; Bigelow 20; Bigelow-Howe 57; Munsey-Hopkins 97; Flagg Anc. 195; Harris."
20. ↑ Thomas Flag 1698 probate, case 7789 (3 pp.), Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871; database and digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
21. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 8; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
22. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 10; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
23. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 11; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
24. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 12; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
25. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 16; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
26. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 17; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
27. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 19; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
28. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 20; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
29. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 22; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
30. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 24; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
31. ↑ Watertown Vital Records, page 26; Massachusetts Vital Records Project
32. ↑ Norfolk : Hardingham : St George : Register of unspecified type : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818fbece93790ec8b8a30ce : viewed 12 Dec 2022) baptism Thomas Flegge 6 May 1621

• Jon Wardlow,. ""Revisiting the Family of Gershom Flagg of Woburn, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 163 (2009):19-26; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
• Carl Boyer and Gary Boyd Roberts, Ancestors of American Presidents (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995)
• James W. North, The History of Augusta from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... (Augusta, Maine: Clapp and North, 1870), 854-869 (Flagg); digital image, InternetArchive.
• Bigelow Society : Flagg Family: http://bigelowsociety.com/rod/flagg1.htm NOTE: this site has no documentation of any kind and so must be disregarded.

Acknowledgments

• Profile re-sourced and rewritten January 2020 T Stanton.
• This person was created through the import of Ancestors of Lois Greene.ged on 19 October 2010; WikiTree profile Flagg-213 created through the import of my family 10.ged on Aug 1, 2012 by Lydia Vierson; profile Flagg-162 created through the import of Ellen Kropp_s Family Tree.ged on Sep 7, 2011 by Ellen Kropp; profile Flegg-47 created through the import of wikitree1.ged on Oct 17, 2012 by Kimball G. Everingham; profile Flegg-44 created through the import of Rockwell Family Tree.ged on Oct 9, 2012 by Toby Rockwell; profile Flagg-130 created through the import of Hummel Bigelow Roots.ged on Jul 8, 2011 by Gail Hummel; profile Flagg-122 created through the import of Shurtliff Family.ged on Jun 20, 2011 by Mark Shurtliff.