Thomas James Sr (abt. 1595 - bef. 1683)

Born about 5 Oct 1595 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Olive (Ingoldsby) James — married 20 Oct 1620 in Fishtoft, Lincolnshire, England

Descendants

Died before 13 Feb 1683 before about age 87 in Needham Market, Suffolk, England

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Thomas James Sr migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 2, p. 1072) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography^[1]

Thomas James Sr immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for Needham Market, Suffolk, England.

Origins

Thomas James was baptized in Boston, Lincolnshire, England 5 Oct 1595, son of Rev John and Alice (_____) James. [TAG 11:26-27, 99] ^[2] Thomas was the brother of Mary (James) Mellowes, wife of Oliver Mellowes who resided in Braintree.

Ordained 1617

Thomas James matriculated from the University of Cambridge (also his father Rev John James' alma mater) in 1618 with an M.A.^[3] He was ordained a priest at Peterborough 17 March 1616/17.^[3]

Married Olive Ingoldsby 1620

He m1 in Fishtoft, Lincolnshire 20 Apr 1620 Olive Ingoldsby, daughter of Anthony and Dorcas (Bulkeley) Ingoldsby [TAG 11:27, 145].^[2] It was thought that Olive died before her father signed his will of 22 April 1627, ^[2], the date of her father's will which names her children by Thomas James, but not her. [TAG 11:210-11], but there is a record for the burial at Moulton, Lincolnshire of "Oliva uxor [wife] Thos James on 7 October 1630, and this is likely to relate to her.^[4]

2nd Marriage - 1632

He m2 1632 Elizabeth ____, who evidently died before him, since she is not provided for in his will.

Emigrated 1632 - Boston, Lincolnshire - Charlestown, Massachusetts -

He emigrated in 1632 ^[2] with his wife Elizabeth, settling initially in Charlestown, Massachusetts.^[1] Thomas and Elizabeth James were admitted to Boston Church, and then on 14 Oct 1632 they were dismissed to participate in organizing the new church at Charlestown [BChR 16].^[1]

Freeman - 1632 in Massachusetts

Thomas James was made a Freeman of Massachusetts on 6 Nov 1632.^[1]

Church Controversies

Gov Winthrop describes a 1634 controversy in which James was involved with the Charlestown church, among those who began to question breaking off from the Boston church.^[1] The Charlestown teacher, Mr. Simmes, and other church members, were still struggling with James and vice versa on 11 March 1635/6 when Gov Winthrop again reported the controversy in his journal.^[1] The outcome is not known, but Thomas James soon left Charlestown for Providence Rhode Island, and then to New Haven Connecticut.^[1]

Providence Resident 1637

Thomas James is named receiving land in Providence 10 June 1637.^[1]

Original Proprietor in Pautuxet - 1638

"On 8 Oct 1638 Thomas James became on of the 13 Original Proprietors of Pawtuxet," Rhode Island.^[1]

New Haven - 1639

Thomas James, Sr., settled in New Haven, Connecticut by 3 Nov 1639.^[1][3]

Freeman - 1640 in New Haven

"He was made a Freeman of New Haven 11 June 1640."^[3]

Mission to Virginia - 1642

In October 1642, Thomas James was one of a three men sent south to Virginia to minister at their request. James came back the following year. [WJ 2:93-94, 115-16].

He may have also studied medicine as Bradford refers to him as Mr. James, a physician.[Bradford 300] Elsewhere he is described as a man of learning and wisdom and a scrivener.[Chapin 1:103]

Virginia 1642 (for a year), New Haven.

Return to England - 1649

He returned to England permanently in 1649. ^[2]

Rev. Thomas James became a minister at Needham Market, Suffolk, England, in 1650 - shortly after his return to England. ^[2] He was ejected in 1662 following the Restoration. ^[2]

Last Will & Testament

Dated 5 Feb 1682/3, proved 13 Feb 1683/4

• to my son Thomas James of Easthampton in Long Island "in case he be living at the time of my death, all my books and such of my household goods and clothes as can or may conveniently be sent over thither...
• my grandchildren and great grandchildren
• to Mr. John Fairfax
• to Mr. Paul Brooke Senor
• Elizabeth Frewer widow now with me.. she to occupy my house for one year after my decease
• to bind out of three poor widow's lads in the town of Needham (widow Frewer's lad to be one of them)
• out of the affection the inhabitants have born to my son in my affliction...

Death 1682/3

He died in Needham Market, Suffolk, England, between 5 Feb 1682/3 (date of will) and 13 Feb 1683/4 (when will probated). ^[2]

Children

by 1st wife

1. Thomas, b abt 1622; m1 by 1648 Ruth Jones, du of Rev. John Jones [TAG 11:29-30], [FOOF 1:344]; he m2 2 Sep 1669 Katharine Blux, widow [TAG 11:29; SoTR 2:53; FOOF 1:327-29]
2. John,^[2] baptised at Moulton, Lincolnshire on 7 February 1622/3^[5][6] and was buried there on 10 June 1630^[7] [TAG:11:210-11]
3. Peter, baptised at Moulton, Lincolnshire on 26 February 1625/6^[8][9] and buried there on 2 March 1625/6^[10]
4. Dorcas, baptised at Moulton, Lincolnshire on 18 December 1626^[11] and buried there on 7 October 1630^[7]

by 2nd wife

1. John, b Charlestown 18 jan 1632/3 [ChVR 1:4]; bp there 9 Jan 1632/3 [ChChR 45]; no further record
2. Nathaniel bp New haven 1 Aug 1651 [NHFam 941]; no further record

Sources

• ROYAL ANCESTRY by Douglas Richardson Vol. II page 9

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, Boston, MA: NEHGS 1995, pp 1072-1076; Anderson's references are in [brackets]; entered by Jillaine Smith
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} James, Mellowes and Ingoldsby Family Connections by Jacobus, TAG Vol 11, pages 27-28
4. ↑ Image of Moulton, Lincolnshire parish burial register, [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FLINCS%2FMOULTON_PAR_1_1%2F0872&parentid=GBPRS%2FLINCS%2FBUR%2F00980048 FindMyPast} - burial on 10 June 1630 on "Jones", son of Thos James and Olive Ingoldsby
5. ↑ Image of Moulton, Lincoonshire baptism register, FindMyPast
6. ↑ "England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPKL-6MHM : 4 August 2022), Oliva Ingolsbye in entry for Johes James, 7 Feb 1622; citing Baptism, 7 Feb 1622, Moulton, Lincolnshire, England, Lincolnshire Record Office, Lincoln; FHL microfilm: gives year as just 1622' it was 1622/3)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Image of Moulton, Lincolnshire parish burial register, [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FLINCS%2FMOULTON_PAR_1_1%2F0872&parentid=GBPRS%2FLINCS%2FBUR%2F00980048 FindMyPast} - burial on 10 June 1630 on "Johes", son of Thos James and Olive Ingoldsby
8. ↑ Image of Moulton, Lincolnshire parish register, FindMyPast
9. ↑ "England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPKL-6MFV : 4 August 2022), Oliva Ingolsbye in entry for Petrus James, 26 Feb 1625; citing Baptism, 26 Feb 1625, Moulton, Lincolnshire, England, Lincolnshire Record Office, Lincoln; FHL microfilm: transcript gives year as just 1625 - it was 1625/6
10. ↑ Image of Moulton, Lincolnshire parish burial register, FindMyPast
11. ↑ Image of Moulton, Lincolnshire parish baptism register, FindMyPast

See also:

• Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, (2011), Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 2nd edition, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011), volume I, page 347, entry for Olive Ingoldsby.

• The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) James, Mellowes and Ingoldsby Family Connections, Compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, in collaboration with Clarence Almon Torrey, TAG vol 11, page 26 - 28

• Sprague, William Buell. Annals of the American Pulpit (Robert Carter & Brothers, New York, 1857) Vol. 1, Page 47: See footnote.

See Also:

• Susan Hardman Moore. "Abandoning America, Life-Stories From Early New England" Boydell Press. (2013) p. 157
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120252156/thomas-james : accessed 27 August 2021), memorial page for Thomas James (1595–Feb 1683), Find A Grave: Memorial #120252156, citing St Mary Churchyard, Barking, Mid Suffolk District, Suffolk, England ; Maintained by Todd Whitesides (contributor 47553735) .