Thomas Lettice (1604 - aft. 1681)

Born 1604 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 25 Oct 1681 after age 77 in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony, New England

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Anne B [send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Katherine Sullivan [send private message], John Putnam [send private message], and Casey Clark [send private message]

Thomas Lettice migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 207) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Thomas Lettice, Immigrant to Plymouth, Massachusetts

Birth: It has been suggested and many times repeated that Thomas was born about 1604 or 1612 in West Riding or Ecclesford, England. These are at the moment only unproven suggestions, as is the suggested pedigree that is attached to him. Is there a source for this information? B-404 09:27, 14 May 2014 (EDT)

Marriage: His wife's name was Anne. We know this from his will.

Death: Thomas died between Oct 25th 1681 (date of his will) and Oct 1682 (will presented at the court.)

Last Will & Testament
"I Thomas Lettice of Plymouth... bequeath unto my three Daughters viz Anne the wife of Samuell Jenney[,] Elizabeth Cooke widdow; and Dorethy the wife of Edward Gray five shillings apeece"

The remainder of the real and personal estate, after the payment of debts and legacies, was bequeathed to wife Anne, who was made executrix. The will was dated 1678 but the month and day were omitted. It was signed by a mark, and witnessed by Jonathan Barnes and Joseph Howland.

"October the 25th 1681 Thomas Lettice above Named Did Declare this abovewritten Instrument To be his Last Will and Testament in prsence of Nathaniel Thomas;"

"Capt. Thomas made oath to this abovewritten Will att the Court held att Plymouth in October 1682." and "Leift: Joseph howland made oath to this Will Att the said Court;"

The will was recorded in Plymouth Colony Wills, Volume IV, Part II, page 11.^[1][2]

Arrival: Thomas was in Plymouth in 1636. In March 1636 Frauncis Cooke complained against Thomas Lettice and three others, that they abused his cow so she lost her calf, subsequently her milk, and was in danger of being lost herself. The jury found for the plaintiff, Cooke, against John Browne the elder, the employer of Thomas and the others [v12:p5]^[3].

Life in Plymouth

Thomas owned land by 2 Dec 1639 when he was assigned a garden place [v1:p136]. He was granted 6 acres of upland 5 May 1640 [V1:p152] and purchased a house, garden and seven acres from Thomas Cushman in March 1641 [v12:p77]^[3].

Thomas Lettis, was on a list of those able to bear armes, men age 21 to 60, in 1643.^[4]

Thomas was admitted and sworn a freeman 6 June 1654 [V3:p48]^[3].

He performed other civic duties: Served on juries in 1654 [v7:p72] and 1660 [v3:p196]; was surveyor of highways in 1662 [v4:p15] and 1666 [v4:p123]; witnessed inventories and served on committees.^[3].

He was a carpenter in 1666 when he signed (x'd) a bond with his daughter Elizabeth^[5].

In 1669 the court record indicates he kept an ordinary. "July 6th 1669 ...none shall sell wine liquors Cyder or beer by retaile in the Collonie except they have a Lycence: and to pay for theire lycence according to the Capasitie of the place where they live;"

The list following includes Thomas Lettice at £02.00.00

"Moreover it is enacted by the Court that all such Lycenced ordinaries shall not suffer prophane singing daunceing or revelling in theire houses on the penaltie of ten shillings for every default and that all ordinary keepers be ordeded to keep good beer in theire houses to sell by retaile and that some one in every towne be appointed to see that the beer they sell be suitable to the prise they sell it for."[v11:p222]^[3].

CHILDREN [v8:p239]^[3].

• Elizabeth Lettice married William Shirtley; Plymouth, 18 October 1655.
• Dorothy Lettice married Edward Gray, Plymouth, 12 December 1665.
• Thomas Lettice, son of Thomas, Plymouth died 3 November 1650.
• Anne Lettice married Samuel Jenney. She is not in the town record but is named in Thomas' will.

Research Notes

Disputed Parents: Thomas Lettice alleged parent of this Thomas is unproven and has been disconnected until proof can be found.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-V3C7?cc=2018320&wc=M6BX-F29%3A338083801 : 20 May 2014), Wills 1633-1686 vol 1-4 > image 543 of 616; State Archives, Boston.
2. ↑ “Notes By the Editor.” The Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Vol. 14 p. 64. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants,, 1912
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England Vols. 1-8, edited by N.B. Shurtleff; v. 9-12, by David Pulsifer. Various dates of publication. [information in [ ] is volume and page #] Available online at Archive.org
4. ↑ "List of those Able to Bear Arms in the Colony of New Plymouth in 1643" NEHGR 4:255.
5. ↑ “Notes by the Editor.” The Mayflower Descendant. vol 15 p 63

Marriage Record:

• New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

[1]

See Also:

• Stratton, Eugene Aubrey. Plymouth Colony, It's History and People, 1620-1691