Thomas Thackara (1649 - bef. 1702)

Born 25 Dec 1649 in Morley, Yorkshire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Esther (Lund) Thackray — married 9 Apr 1674 in Dublin, Ireland

Husband of Hepsibah (Eastlack) Thackera — married 21 Jul 1689 in Gloucester, New Jersey

Descendants

Died before 5 Oct 1702 before age 52 in Newton Township, Gloucester County, Province of West Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile managers: H Husted [send private message] and United States Project WikiTree [send private message]

Thomas Thackara is a part of New Jersey history. Join: New Jersey Project Discuss: New Jersey

Biography

Thomas was a Friend (Quaker)

Origins

Thomas Thackray was born in Workly (Wortley?), Yorkshire, on 25 December 1649, a son of Richard and Margaret.^[1] He arrived in Ireland around 1666.^[2]

Parents given on Ancestry (no sources): Richard Thackrey (1605-) and Margaret Whates (1620-1673).

Richard Thackrey and Margaret Whates of Mortley were married in Leeds 6 May 1640.^[3]

Given this marriage record and the known first names of Thomas' parents, it seems probable that Mortley is the Wortley in the Quaker record of Thomas' birth in Yorkshire.

Yet despite it appearing twice, in the marriage of his parents and in his birth record, the Gazeteer of British Place Names has no Wortley or Mortley, only Morley, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire. Assigned this as POB, uncertain.

Thackreys in Besse's Sufferings

1656... John Hall, Henry Ubank, Thomas Thackery, Christopher Thackery, and Thomas Docker were taken out of a meeting at Leeds and committed to York goal [sic], where they were committed as prisoners for several weeks."^[4]

In the second edition of the Sufferings, Thomas' 1656 arrest appears in volume 2, page 96, along with an additional arrest in 1660.

"In the West-riding of this County, the numbers committed to Prison in the Eleventh and Twelfth Months, for refusing to take the Oath, was also very great, being taken, many from their peaceable Meetings, some on the Highway, others from their own Houses and lawful Employments, and some out of their beds... being in all two hundred and twenty nine persons".^[5]

This last list also includes Daniel Thackrey, who in 1657 was "sent to the House of Correction at Wakefield for testifying that the Kingdom of Heaven was within," then fined 10 shillings and sent to York Goal for non-payment.^[6]

Though Thomas was long gone by this point, Thackerys in Leeds continued to face persecution. A Hannah Thackrey was arrested after a 18 Nov 1683 raid on a Meeting at Leeds by the mayor of Leeds, two alderman, and the town clerk. Hannah was among about 50 people including Henry Ubank (the same man or a relative arrested with Thomas back in 1660?) "who were all kept prisoners above nine weeks, and then conveyed to the Quarter sessions at Leeds, where they were fined, and warrants were granted for distress."^[7]

Morgan had wrote that Thomas' wife "Hannah was confined in Leeds Castle"^[8] but only this later Hannah seems to be in the Sufferings (a second look needed).

Immigration

Having fled England and settled in Ireland, which was a source of shelter for early Quakers suffering persecution at home, Thackera and others received a patent in the West Jersey Colony.

"1677 April 12, Indenture of Lease. William Penn, Gawen Lawrie, Nicholas Lucas and Edward Byllinge to Robert Turner, linen draper, Joseph Sleigh, tanner, Robert Zanes, sergemaker, Thomas Thackerey, stuffe weaver, all of Dublin, and William Bate of County Wickloe, Ireland, carpenter, for one undivided ninetieth share of the ninety equall hundreds of the Province."^[9]

Thomas Thackra requested a certificate of removal from the Dublin Men's Meeting "the 2d day of this instant 6 month" 1681; the certificate for Thomas "and his wife Esther and his family" was dated 16d 6m 1681.^[10]

"Let it be remembered yt upon ye nineteenth day of September, in ye year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-one, Mark Newby, William Bates, Thomas Thackara, George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp, set saile from ye Harbor belonging to ye city of Dublin, in ye Kingdom of Ireland, in a pink called "Ye owners adventure." ^[11]

"In September, 1681, a small, narrow stemmed vessel or “pink” called Ye Owner’s Adventure set sail from Dublin carrying several Quaker families. Most of these were probably English-born Quakers who had spent time in Ireland seeking refuge from religious persecution at home. Some of the names from this group that have come down to us are Mark Newbie, tallow chandler; William Bates, carpenter; Thomas Thackera, weaver; George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp. Ye Owner’s Adventure dropped anchor in the Delaware Bay at Salem on November 18, 1681. The passengers stayed with Quakers at Salem over the winter, and in early 1682 they purchased a boat and began searching the eastern shore of the Delaware River for a permanent settlement site."^[12]

Family

He married Esther Lund in Dublin on 9 April 1674.^[13] They had the following children:

1. Hannah Thackara
2. Sarah Thackara
3. Thomas Thackara
4. Esther Thackara
5. Sarah Thackara
6. Benjamin Thackara (tentative)

Thomas A. Thackera then married Hepzibah Estlack and they had the following children, named in Haddonfield MM and transcribed by Hinshaw.^[14]

1. Thomas b. 8-2-1690
2. Richard 11-13-1691
3. Francis 7-5-1693
4. Hepzabah 11-23-1695

Public Life

Court Records

• Justice with Francis Collins and John Wood at first Gloucester County court, 1d 9m 1686^[15] Jurors included William Bate, Henry Wood, Jonathan Wood, William Cooper, John Matson, Will Dalboe.
• Justice with Francis Collins and John Wood at Gloucester County court held at Red Bank, 10d 10m 1686^[16] Jurors included William Bate, Hance Hopman, Fred Hopman, Mons Janson, Justo Justoson, Peter Matson. The following jurors didn't show up and were fined 5 shillings: Hance Peterson, Will Cobb, John Browne
• Justice with Andrew Robeson, Francis Collins, and John Wood, 1d 2m 1687. Jur included Casper Fish, Henry Wood, Woolly Dalboe, Marcus Laurence, Woolly Derickson. Thomas Sharpe didn't show up.

Land records

Thomas Thackara appears many times in colonial deeds as a neighbor, seller, or witness to land transactions, including the following:

• 12 Apr 1677: William Bate; Joseph Sleigh; Thomas Thackerey; Robert Turner; Robert Zane received a conveyance (probably West Jersey Society) from William Penn.^[17]
• 9 Mar 1681/2: William Bate; George Goldsmith; Mark Newbie; Thomas Sharp; Thomas Thackery; Robert Zane were listed in a survey of 100 acres including meadow by the Delaware River. [Burlington County]. John Ashton is listed as owner of adjoining land.^[18]
• 10 Mar 1681/2: William Bate; George Goldsmith; Mark Newbie; Thomas Sharp; Thomas Thackery; Robert Zane were listed in a survey of 1600 acres "Between the branches of a creek; at a place called Arwawmosse. [Burlington County]." The land was "adjoining William Cooper's Creek."^[19]
• Mar 1683/1684. SURVEY. 250 acres. Abutting Newton Creek; near the head of the Forked Creek; in the Towne Meadow. [Gloucester County]. Notation at margin: Allowance being made therin for a road to the Towne Meadow. Mark Newbie and Robert Zane owned adjoining land.^[20]
• 8 Jan 1686/1687. With Henry Wood, Thomas signed a warrant to the surveyor general Andrew Robeson to survey 1500 acres, "any place within the county of Gloucester not before taken up and surveyed" for John Willis.^[21]
• 13 Feb 1687/1688 Thomas Thackara signed the "agreement to assign one half of the land between Cohansey and Bernagate [in ?] two places or tracts; and the other half to be taken up Above the Falls [of Delaware] on any lands not before taken up; and to sign a warrant to the General Surveyor to survey and lay out the land [… part missing] abovesaid for the use of the Governor, when the same shall be purchased of the Indians. For the first dividend on 12 proprieties."^[22]
• 1 Mar 1696: granted land to son-in-law John Whiteall^[23]
• 1699: granted land to John Wetherinton^[24]
• 1689/90: served as attorney for John Dennis in several land transactions
• 14 Dec 1700: granted land to Daniel England^[25]
• 26 Mar 1701: granted land to Robert Lord^[26]

Death and Legacy

It seems he died unexpectedly and no will was recorded. The inventory of Thomas Thackera of Newton, Gloucester County is dated 5 October 1702, indicating he died before this date. On 1 December 1702, Thomas Sharp was named administrator, as Benjamin Thackera was underage.^[27]

"Between Mark Newbie’s house and what is now the White Horse Pike, Thomas Thackara built his home facing the creek. There is a Thackara house there now, numbered 912 Eldredge Avenue. It faces the creek and carries the letters I T M and the date 1714. It probably is on the site of the original Thomas Thackara house."^[28] The location of his house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for Camden County, New Jersey.^[29]

Notes

Thomas Thakara was a stuff weaver (flax) from Dublin and had a deed from William Penn dated 4/12/1677. He was a member of the first Legislature of Burlington. His first wife Hannah died in 1689 and he married 2nd Hepzibah Eastlack daughter of Francis. Thomas Thackara was a native of Yorkshire, England and was imprisoned In York Castle, Yorkshire for his religious beliefs and his wife Hannah was confined in Leeds Castle for the same reason.

Thomas had been imprisoned for preaching his Quaker beliefs so he and his family fled to Dublin Ireland. From there they set sail September 19, 1681 on the ship Ye Owners Adventure owned by Thomas Lurtin, but in charge of John Dagger. They arrived 2 months later in Elsinburg, New Jersey on November 19, 1681.

In September 1681 “Ye Owners Adventure”, a narrow sterned vessel known as a pink, set sail from Dublin with a number of colonists who would establish the town of Newton. Outstanding among them were Mark Newbie, Thomas Sharp and Thomas Thackara. In November they joined Robert Zane at Salem where their families lived during the winter. The weather being favorable, they purchased a boat and searched up and down the Third Tenth, selecting a spot on Newton Creek for their settlement, after which they arranged at Burlington to have the proper title papers issued. Being somewhat fearful of the Indians, they at first had a communal settlement around what is now the West Collingswood Railroad Station. Finding, however, that the Indians were friendly, they divided their land and lived separately. Mark Newbie continued to live near where the railroad station is located and his home became the first meeting house for the Newton Monthly Meeting. Newbie is known as the first banker in the province. Foreseeing the need for fractional currency he brought with him from Ireland a great number of Patrick’s half pence which the legislature here made legal tender up to five shillings, provided Mark gave sufficient security therefore. He gave satisfactory security and his bank functioned properly. Thomas Sharp built his home a little farther to the South, in or what we know as Fairview. He was our first county clerk and the first land surveyor in these parts. It is to him that we are indebted for a large part of our information about the settlement of Newton.^[30]

Research Notes

• There is an entire chapter of a book on Thomas Thackara, one of the early settlers of Newton Township. ^[31]

Sources

1. ↑ Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Family Lists, image, FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.ie/record?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMM11M-11%2F0030&parentid=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FBIRTH%2F2182 : accessed 02 September 2019), birth of Thomas Thackray in Workly Yorkshire on 25d 10mo (Dec) 1649, father: Richard, mother: Margaret; citing Dublin MM Family lists 1655-1699, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
2. ↑ Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Family Lists, image, FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.ie/record?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMM11M-11%2F0030&parentid=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FBIRTH%2F2182 : accessed 02 September 2019), arrival of Thomas Thackray in Ireland around 1666; citing Dublin MM Family lists 1655-1699, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
3. ↑ "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZC-YKJ4 : 16 August 2021), Richard Thackrey in entry for Margret Whates, 1640.
4. ↑ Besse, Joseph. A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers (Luke Hinde, London, 1733), volume 1, page 336
5. ↑ page 102
6. ↑ volume 2, page 96
7. ↑ page 154
8. ↑ Morgan, John D. F. Early Activities in the Upper Four Tenths. Camden, N.J., 1948. Print.
9. ↑ Nelson, William. Patents and Deeds and Other Early Records of New Jersey, 1664-1703. (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 1982), p. 405
10. ↑ Haddonfield Monthly Meeting Marriage Certificates 1681-1741 Together with a Few Certificates and Some Birth and Death Records, page 3. In Ancestry.com database U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935: Haddonfield Monthly Meeting Marriage Certificates, 1681-1741. Image 8/137.
11. ↑ Clement Page 24, citing Gloucester County Deeds, Liber A
12. ↑ Haddonfield Monthly Meeting – A Brief History
13. ↑ Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Family Lists, image, FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.ie/record?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMM11M-11%2F0030&parentid=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FBIRTH%2F2182 : accessed 02 September 2019), marriage of Thomas Thackray and Esther, daughter of Edward Lund and Elizabeth Lund of York on 9d 2mo (Apr) 1674 in Dublin; citing Dublin MM Family lists 1655-1699, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
14. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/13408757?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a22754f5a3074304a61317668686a2b34743575687746412f336d747a41306f41417439647963634859396f593d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d
15. ↑ image 4, Gloucester County Court records
16. ↑ image 6, Gloucester County Court records
17. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing B (WJ) : Folio 50 (SSTSE023)
18. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Revels Surveys/Book A : Folio 25 (SSTSE023)
19. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Revels Surveys/Book A : Folio 25 (SSTSE023)
20. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Revels Surveys/Book A : Folio 59 (SSTSE023)
21. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing WJ Loose Records : 1687 - Willis, John (25350) (PWESJ004)
22. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Basse A (Surveys, 1-206) : Folio 1-2 (SSTSE023)
23. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Basse A (Surveys, 1-206) : Folio 1-2 (SSTSE023)
24. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Book A (WJ Surveys) : Folio 110 (PWESJ004)
25. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Glo Deeds, Book 3 : Folio 336 (SSTSE023)
26. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records Database. Citing Glo Deeds, Book 3 : Folio 393 (SSTSE023)
27. ↑ Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. (Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey), volume 23, page 457
28. ↑ John D. F. Morgan and Samuel Richards. Early Activities in the Upper Four Tenths. (Camden, N.J., Camden County Historical Society, 1948)
29. ↑ Wikipedia:National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Camden_County,_New_Jersey
30. ↑ Morgan, John D. F. Early Activities in the Upper Four Tenths. Camden, N.J., 1948. Print.
31. ↑ John Clement. Sketches of the first emigrant settlers in Newton Township, old Gloucester County, West New Jersey. 1877, p. 57. Camden, NJ: Sinnickson Chew, 1877.Thomas Thackara, pages 57-66 Accessed 9/3/2019 jhd

Clement, John. Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West New Jersey. (Camden, N.J, Sinnickson Chew, 1877)

See also

• Adamson, T. L. (2011). Pioneering Spirit: Tracing the Footsteps of Colonist, John Adamson.

• Patmore, Charles. "A MISSING CHAPTER FROM THE HISTORY OF YORK CASTLE:

THE IMPRISONMENT OF QUAKERS." Accessed 5 Oct 2021 from https://web.archive.org/web/20211005161334/https://ffhyork.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/0/5/8205739/quakers_in_york_castle_-_charles_patmore_-_2.pdf

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Bob Worcester.