| Notes |
- On July 1, 1639 Thomas was granted land at Portsmouth. On March16, 1641 he was admitted freeman of that town, and received further grants of land in 1644 and 1646. On July 8, 1650 he was a juryman. On June 7, 1658 and again in 1663, he was chosen constable. On April 30, 1661 he purchased one fourth share of the Acushnet and Coxet lands, in what is now Dartmouth MA. He was one of the purchasers of Conanicut and Dutch Islands in 1656, and was also a large owner of lands at narragansett and Misquamicut (Westerly). On Dec. 4, 1669 his estate was divided by th Portsmouth Town Council among his wife and children. The document dividing the estate was long lost, but was found in the winter of 1913 in the cellar of the Portsmouth Town House. (Moriarty Colonial Rhode Island)
Thomas Waite of Portsmouth, Rhode Island
GENERATION NO. 1
1. Thomas Waite 1. Thomas Waite was born 1601 at Alford Lines, England (IEL) and was christened 13 Jun 1612 at Alford, Lincolnshire, England. Thomas died 13 Sep 1665 at Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island (ER) at the age of 64. "Thomas Waite was granted land in Portsmouth on 1 Jul 1639... Some rather significant inferences can be made regarding the religious orientation of the Waits by the fact that Thomas at least, became a part of Roger Williams' settlement on Delaware Bay which was organized in 1637 only two years previous to Thomas Waite's arrival. Roger Williams was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 for his belief in freedom of conscience in religion. He was warmly received by two Indian chiefs, Massosoit and Canonicus, who gave him tracts of land on the Seekonk river. Williams reserved no political power to himself, but seemed to be actuated solely by the desire to make happy all those around him. He was strenuous in asserting his own views, but he and his associates resolutely refrained from interfering with the rights of others. Thomas Waite was made a Freeman 16 Mar 1641 and given further grants in 1644 and 1646. Chosen Constable 7 Jun 1658 and in 1663 all in Portsmouth RI. 8 Jul 1650 he was a Juryman. In Apr 1661 he purchased of William Earle 1/2 share of the Acushnet and Coxet lands in what is now Dartmouth MA. He was one of the purchasers of Conanicut and Dutch Islands in 1636. He was also a large owner of lands at Narragansett and Misquamicut (Westerley RI). Aquidneck, now Rhode Island had been settled in 1637 by Ann Hutchison and her followers. In May 1638 another Boston group joined them and it is thought that Thomas Waite was of this group. On 4 Dec 1669 the estate of Thomas Waite was divided by the Portsmouth Town Council among his wife Eleanor and children; Samuel, Thomas, Benjamin, Reuben and Jeremiah and Mary. Joseph had died previously and so was not named. Thomas and Jeremiah were under 21 years of age. For years Historians had disagreed as to whether or not Benjamin was a son of Thomas. In the winter of 1913/4 the document was found in the basement of the Town House. This gave a division of the estate. See article by Moriarty on this family in the Vol. 73 page 291-304 NEHGS and also The Genealogist for April 1944 and Rhode Island Historical Collections Vol. 21 page 131." (EWT) "Eleanor Waite was made administrix of her husband's estate, as 'Elen' Waite. She married Ralph COWLAND shortly after this date. On 13 Jun 1671 'Elen COWLAND' and Thomas Waite Jr. were taxed on the estate (Portsmouth Tax List). She d. before 21 Jun 1676,when Samuel Waite was made Administrator in her place. (Portsmouth Scrapbook)" (NEHGR) He married Eleanor ___________ 1640 at Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. (BAB) She was born 1605 at Alford Lines, England. (IEL) Eleanor died 21 Jan 1675 (IEL) at the age of 70.
Known children of Thomas Waite and Eleanor ___________:
+ 2. i. Samuel Waite, born 1640, died 2 Feb 1676/1677.
3. ii. Joseph Waite, born 1643 . (EWT) He married Sarah ___________ . (EWT) Joseph died 25 Aug 1665 at drowned, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, at the age of 22. Joseph's wife Sarah was pregnant at the time of his death. The child however must have been stillborn or died young since there was no provision made for him in the division of his grandfather's estate. (EWT).
+ 4. iii. Benjamin Waite, Sgt., born 1644, died 29 Feb 1704.
5. iv. Jeremiah Waite, born 1653 at Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. (EWT) He married Martha BROWNELL at after 16 Sep 1665, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. (EWT) She was born 1 May 1643 at Little Compton, RI. (EWT) Martha also married (2) Charles DYER 8 Mar 1690/1691. (EWT) He was born 1650 at Newport, RI. (EWT) Martha died 15 Feb 1744 at Portsmouth, Rhode Island (EWT) at the age of 100. Jeremiah died 26 Dec 1675 s.p., Portsmouth, Rhode Island (EWT) at the age of 23. Jeremiah was admitted a Freeman 6 May 1673 Portsmouth RI. (EWT).
+ 6. v. Reuben Waite, born 1647, died 7 Oct 1707.
+ 7. vi. Thomas Waite, Jr., born 1648, died Jun 1733.
+ 8. vii. Mary Waite, born 1649.
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Bef 1612 - Bef 1669 (~ 57 years)
