Family Tree of Tracie & Dean Webster, Jr.

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Mary TINKHAM⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born WFT Est. 1695-1729 in ?.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1751-1816 in ?.⁽³⁾ Parents: Helkiah TINKHAM and Elizabeth HEISTER.

She was married to Benjamin EATON on Oct 28 1746 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Mary TINKHAM⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Aug 5 1661 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died in 1731 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

She was married to John TOMSON about 1680 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Mercy TINKHAM⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Aug 13 1687 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on Apr 17 1723 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on Apr 17 1723 in Middleboro, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾ She was born WFT Est. 1685-1704 in ?.⁽³⁾

She was married to James RAYMOND on Aug 10 1716 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She was married to James RAYMOND WFT Est. 1706-1721 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

? TITHERTON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ died before 1662 in Stratford, Connecticut.⁽³⁾ She was born WFT Est. 1629-1648 in ?.⁽³⁾

She was married to John WILCOXSON WFT Est. 1649-1661 in Stratford, Connecticut, probably.⁽³⁾

Bennett Eaton TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Dec 14 1859 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ He died on Nov 29 1913 in Danvers, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

Bennett Eaton Titus, a bookkeeper, mar. June 30, 1881, Lucy E. Riford, of Warren, Vt. He was, '84, in employ of E. C. Farwell & Co. at Danvers, Mass. He became identified with the publishing interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was for more than twenty years the publisher, and in the latter part of that time, the owner and editor of the Northern Christian Advocate of Syracuse, N. Y. He died Nov. 29, 1913, at Danvers, Mass. Parents: Edwin Bristol TITUS and Lucy Maria EATON.

He was married to Lucy E. RIFORD on Jun 29 1881 in ?.⁽³⁾

Edwin Bristol TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Oct 21 1832 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ He died on Mar 11 1876 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

From his entries in his journal Edwin Titus reveals himself to be an honest, forthright, caring, patient, responsible man. He suffered from severe lameness of his knees noticeably in 1863 and increasingly thereafter. During the 1860's he was frequently worried about his business, finding it most difficult to collect debts owed to him in order to pay his own debts to companies that provided him merchandise for him to sell. His journals reveal that he transfered his business in 1863 from Moriah, New York, where he was raised and where his blind father continued to live, to Enosburgh, Vermont, the hometown of his wife, Lucy Maria Eaton. He returned to Moriah in 1864 to form a business in partnership with Lockwood L. Reed, his neighbor. He and L. Reed disagreed about how the business should be managed, and Edwin severed the partnership sometime before 1871.
In 1873 Edwin's health had deteriorated. In his diary of that year he complained about his heart. He feared that he would not live long enough to see his children grow to adulthood. His lameness, due to Sciatica, curtailed considerably his day-to-day operation of the business. Through most of the 1860's and into the 1870's he required the assistance of clerks, many of whom were relatives, who worked for him for varying periods of time. During one period of time he had to rely upon the help of his eldest son, Bennie, who, then in his early teens, missed a certain amount of schooling in order to do for his father what had to be accomplished.
Edwin had two previous wives, Louise and Eunice Barker, sisters. -- Harold Wesley Titus

1850 Census, Moriah, New York

Titus, John 87,M Mass.
Mehitabel 84,F
R. L. 50,M Merchant New York
Mary 49,F
Edwin 17,M Clerk
Oliver 15,M
Alman 13,M
Roland 7,M

John is Edwin's grandfather. Mehitabel (Fuller) is Edwin's grandmother, whose death Edwin records in his journal as November 21, 1863. R. L. is Edwin's father, Russell, and Mary (Parmenter) is Edwin's mother. Edwin's listed age is correct. His birthdate was October 21, 1832.

1860 Census, Moriah, New York

Titus, Russell L. 60,M Merchant Vermont l,000 200
Lucy 56,F Vermont
Almon 22,M New York
Giddings, Elmira N. 16,F New York

Titus, Edwin B. 26,M Merchant New York 1,500 4,000
Lucy M.E. 23,F Vermont
Bennett E. 6/12,M New York
Eaton, Elizabeth 16,F Vermont
Orville M. 15,M Vermont

Woodruff, George A. 51,M Farmer Vermont 500
Samantha 50,F Vermont
Charles R. 23,M New York
Alvin 20,M New York
Harriett M. 16,F New York
Celia 10,F New York
Elizabeth E. 8,F New York
Titus, Mahitable 96,F Vermont

Almon Titus was Edwin's brother, living with the father, Russell Titus. Elizabeth Eaton, referred to as Eliza in both Edwin's and Lucy Maria Eaton Titus's journals, was Lucy's "sister," adopted by Lucy's father, Bennett Eaton. Orville Eaton was the son of Bennett Eaton's brother, Jairus Eaton. Samantha Woodruff was Edwin's aunt and Russell's sister. She and her husband, George Woodruff, were caring for Mehitable (Fuller) Titus, Edwin's grandmother, in 1860. In 1861, Edwin and Lucy became responsible for her care. By 1860 Russell Titus had remarried.

1870 Census

Titus, R. L. 70,M 1,000 100
Lucy 66,F Keeping house
O. P. 34,M Farming

Titus, Edwin 37,M Merchant 4,500 2,500
Lucy 33,F Miliner
Bennett 10,M Attend. school
Edwin 4,M
Joel 1,M
Beach, Charles 25,M Clerk in store
Jehlieth 25,F Boarding
Edmond 8/12,M

Barker, Levi 48,M Farming
Helen 43,F House
Ellen 17,F At home Ellen
Effie 13,F Attend school
Willie 4,M
Titus, Russel 26,M Farming
Sarah 23,F Keeps school
Barker, Huldsih 62,F

Titus, Collins 42,M Farming New York 2,000 1,400
Marie 42,F House New York
Mary 18,F At home New York
Joseph 16,M New York
Luthera 14,F School Iowa
Charles 12,M School Michigan
Edgar 2,M New York

O. P. Titus was Edwin's brother Oliver, whom Edwin and Lucy frequently mention in their journals. The twenty-six year old Russel Titus was Edwin's cousin, the son of Philander Titus, apparently working on a farm belonging to Levi Barker. Collins Titus was Edwin's cousin, the son of William Titus. Collins was also mentioned occasionally in the journals. Collins and family lived in the Midwest into the 1860's.

1880 Census, Moriah, New York

Titus, Mrs. Lucy M. 43,F Widow Milliner Vermont
Bennett 20,M Son Clerk in dry goods store New York
Edwin R. 14,M Son Laborer New York
Joel C. 11,M Son At school New York
Homer F. 8,M Son At school New York
Mary W. 5,F Daughter New York

Titus, Russel 81,M Repairs clocks (blind) New York
Lucy 76,F Wife House Vermont

Titus, Russel 35,M Farming New York
Sarrah 33,F Wife House New York

Titus, Collins 52,M Farmer New York
Maria L. 52,F Wife House New York
Edgar 12,M Son At School New York

Joel C. Titus, Edwin's son, was my grandfather, Joel Columbus Titus.

He was married to Lucy Maria EATON on Apr 21 1858 in Elizabethtown, New York.⁽³⁾ Children were: Bennett Eaton TITUS, Edwin Russell TITUS, Joel Columbus TITUS, Homer Fuller TITUS, Mary Webster TITUS.

Edwin Russell TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jun 22 1866 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ He died in 1946 in ?.⁽³⁾ Parents: Edwin Bristol TITUS and Lucy Maria EATON.

He was married to Nellie Maria LITTLEFIELD on Jun 14 1888 in Danvers, Massachusetts, possibly.⁽³⁾

Hannah Moss TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born in 1835 in New York.⁽³⁾ She died on May 9 1863 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ Parents: William TITUS.

She was married to Lockwood L. REED WFT Est. 1848-1861 in ?.⁽³⁾

Homer Fuller TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Aug 6 1871 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ He died in 1958 in ?.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

Information from Lucy Houghton

H. F. Titus always used the F initial. It stands for Fuller. He trained at Troy Conference Academy in Poultney, now Green Mt. Junior College and was a trustee of GMJC 40 years! Parents: Edwin Bristol TITUS and Lucy Maria EATON.

He was married to Cora Elma POWLESLAND on Jan 15 1898 in Syracuse, New York.⁽³⁾

He was married to Belva BARROWS WFT Est. 1898-1929 in ?.⁽³⁾

Joel Columbus TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jan 31 1869 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ He died on Apr 29 1943 in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

Joel Columbus Titus was born in Moriah, New York, January 31, 1869. He married Nellie Louisa Watson in Moriah in 1890. Their first child, Edwin, was born August 5, 1891. He lived only four years, until July 26, 1895. His brother, Harold Watson Titus, was born only four months before Edwin died. What Joel did in those early years is not known; but his third son, Homer Eaton Titus, was born in Mt. Vernon, New York, three years later. Some time between 1898 and 1905 Nellie contracted tuberculosis. An attempt was made to improve her health by having her move into a tent on Titus Hill in Moriah, but her health steadily declined and she died in 1905.
Joel sent Homer and probably Harold also to live with his sister Mary Greene, who kept the boys until Joel married a year later. Irene King also worked for the Methodist Book Concern. They bought a house in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, and brought the boys there to live. Irene was a kindly person and was a good stepmother to the boys. In the meantime Joel became superintendent of the Methodist Book Concern in Dobbs Ferry, New York. He was also active in the Methodist Church in Ridgefield Park. He was on the official board of the church. His brother Homer F. and his family lived nearby. Undoubtedly Joel named his third son after his brother and his first son after his father, Edwin Bristol Titus.
Joel lived long enough to see both his remaining sons married and grandchildren born to his youngest son, Homer. He and Irene purchased a cottage in the Catskills where they would go in the summer and entertain people from the Book Concern as well as family relatives. Joel retired from the Book Concern and both he and Irene died while Homer Eaton Titus and his family were living in Tennessee.

-- Helen Garrison Titus Parents: Edwin Bristol TITUS and Lucy Maria EATON.

He was married to Nellie Louisa WATSON on Oct 2 1890 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾

He was married to Irene KING in 1906 in ?.⁽³⁾

Mary Webster TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jan 31 1875 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ She died in 1957 in Woodstock, Vermont.⁽³⁾ Parents: Edwin Bristol TITUS and Lucy Maria EATON.

She was married to Hugh Glyndon GREENE on Jul 1 1896 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾

Oliver Parmenter TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Sep 6 1835 in Moriah, New York.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1879-1927 in Randolph, Iowa, probably.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

Oliver Parmenter Titus was the last surviving son of Russell Titus. According to the diaries of his brother, Edwin B. Titus, Oliver's life was accentuated by ill health and economic misfortune.
On March 2, 1862, he returned with his first wife and two sons from the West to Moriah, New York. He was twenty-six years old. He and his entire family overcame immediate, severe illness. On September 12, 1865, he and his family left Moriah and settled in Iowa. The year following he wrote Edwin that his crops had failed.
According to the 1870 Census, Oliver was living with his father, Russell Titus, in Moriah, New York. Neither his wife Alzoa nor his two sons, Frank and Charles, are listed. Presumably, the three had died. Later that year Oliver married Cynthia Pease Houghton, daughter of Charles and Reliance Houghton of Enosburgh, Vermont. The Houghtons were close friends of Edwin and Lucy Titus, Reliance being a sister of Lucy's mother. Oliver and his second wife returned to Iowa and later settled in Nebraska, and their only child, Vesta Arvilla, was born in 1877.
Cynthia Titus wrote Lucy Titus in 1884 that Oliver was in poor health.

He was married to Cynthia Pease HOUGHTON on Jul 7 1870 in Shelburne, Vermont.⁽³⁾ Children were: Vesta Arvilla TITUS.

Vesta Arvilla TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Feb 20 1877 in Nebraska, probably.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1891-1971 in ?.⁽³⁾ Parents: Oliver Parmenter TITUS and Cynthia Pease HOUGHTON.

She was married to ? NIDAY WFT Est. 1891-1924 in ?.⁽³⁾

William TITUS⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born WFT Est. 1784-1813 in ?.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1838-1898 in New York.⁽³⁾

He was married WFT Est. 1808-1855.⁽³⁾ Children were: Hannah Moss TITUS.

Abigail TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Feb 14 1695/96 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1728-1790 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

She was married to Jonathan PACKARD on Nov 27 1723 in Middleboro, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾

Adam TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born before Sep 1646 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾ He died about 1648 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

Barnabas TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jan 28 1704/5 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1722-1795 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

He was married to Hannah PORTER WFT Est. 1722-1755 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Caleb TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Nov 4 1712 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1729-1802 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

He was married to Mary (Abigail) CROSSMAN WFT Est. 1729-1762 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Elizabeth TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jan 28 1653/54 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1670-1748 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

She was married to William SWIFT WFT Est. 1670-1693 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Esther TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Feb 18 1706/7 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1721-1801 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

She was married to Ebenezer BENNETT WFT Est. 1721-1754 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Esther TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jul 28 1652 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died about 1706 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

She was married to William READ about 1675 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Hannah TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Mar 9 1708/9 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1723-1803 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

She was married to Ebenezer REED WFT Est. 1723-1756 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Jacob TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Apr 24 1662 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died on Sep 1 1726 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

Jacob Tomson was the son of John Tomson, and lived near his father. He was born April 24, 1662, and died September 1, 1726, aged sixty-four. He was one of the original members of the First Church, and selectman from 1697 to 1701 and again from 1706 to 1726, except in 1710, and representative to the General Court, 1716 and 1719.
In the local militia he was ensign in 1700, and in 1708 became captain. From 1720 he held a commission as justice of the peace, and was town clerk from 1706 for several years. His son Jacob, born in 1695, was town treasurer for several years and held various offices in town, His name is sometimes confused with that of his father in the early records.
In 1703, at the time of the dissension on account of Rev. Mr. Palmer, Jacob Tomson, Sr., became dissatisfied and left the church for some time, desiring a recommendation to join the church in Plymouth. It occasioned much sorrow and hard feeling, and, as a result of a council, he and his family asked the forgiveness of the church and were dismissed with great regret. He seems to have taken the lead in the deposition of Mr. Palmer and the conduct of the church in relation thereto.
He was distinguished throughout the old colony as a surveyor, and as a most excellent and upright magistrate. He bought into the Twenty-six Men's Purchase before the war [King Philip's War], and surveyed and divided it among the proprietors in lots; he also surveyed many of the other purchases from the Indians and settled many estates in this and adjoining towns. He was a man who had the respect, not only of the town but of the colony.

April 11, 1698 . . . . "At the same meeting Lieutenant Jacob Thompson and Joseph Vaughan are chosen and empowered to buy plank in redyness for the building of the meeting house and to pay for sd plank of that money which they take for the land which is assigned towards the building of said meeting house."

Upon Bartless Brook, which flows a little to the east of Thompson Street along its entire length, was in 1715 erected the first sawmill of which we have any record in the town of Middleboro. It was built by Edward Thomas, Jacob Thomson, Henry Wood, and John Tinkham. They were owners in equal shares of the mill and the meadows lying near it.
September 10, 1725, Jacob Thomson, John Tinkham, and Isaac Tinkham, the owners, agreed that "the price for sawing boards should be twenty-five shillings a thousand, of two inch oak plank and oak slit work forty-five; of two inch spruce plank thirty-five; spruce and pitch pine slit work to be measured by board measure twenty-two shillings and six pence, and to have half the slabs, the owners of said mill to saw by turn."

Jacob Tomson died September 1, 1726. The Parish Burial Ground at the Green, containing about two acres of land, was conveyed to about fifty persons as proprietors by James Soule in a deed dated March 30, 1717. Many prominent in the history of the town are here buried; among them Peter Thacher, Jacob Tomson, and Isaac Howland. It is probably the largest burial ground, there being ten hundred and seventy-four memorial stones now standing.

History of the Town of Middleboro Massachusetts, Thomas Weston, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Boston and New York, 1906.

Jacob's daughter, Abigail, had an illegitimate son, called Moses Inglee, about 1721. On November 27, 1723, she married Jonathan Packard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and raised several children.

The Mayflower Descendant, 1620-2020, a Quarterly Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History, Vol. 23, Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1923. Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

He was married to Abigail WADSWORTH on Dec 28 1693 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Children were: Jacob TOMSON, Abigail TOMSON, Mercy TOMSON, John TOMSON, Lydia TOMSON, Barnabas TOMSON, Esther TOMSON, Hannah TOMSON, Mary TOMSON, Caleb TOMSON.

Jacob TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Apr 17 1695 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1712-1785 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

He was married to Elizabeth HOLMES WFT Est. 1712-1745 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

John TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Mar 9 1700/1 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1718-1791 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

He was married to Joanna ADAMS WFT Est. 1718-1751 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

John TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born about 1617 in Northern Wales.⁽³⁾ He died on Jun 12 1696 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6325, Date of Import: Dec 3, 1998]

John Tomson, the most prominent of the first settlers [of Middleboro, Massachusetts], was a carpenter, and lived on land which was afterwards set off to form a part of Halifax. He was of Dutch origin, and came to Plymouth, a lad of six years, in the month of May, 1622. He, with Richard Church, built the first meeting-house in Plymouth in 1637. Before settling in Middleboro he had purchased land in Sandwich, where he lived for a few years. In common with many early settlers of the country, he soon desired a larger area of land, and preferred to live in what, at that time, was considered a remote region; he came to occupy a portion of the Twenty-six Men's Purchase, which was assigned to him, and was one of the purchasers of several tracts of land from the Indians, by order of the court at Plymouth. In the expedition against the Narragansetts, August 15, 1645, he was one of the first company, and was away sixteen days. He was a man of great physical strength and unusual stature, being six feet, three inches in height. He married Mary, daughter of Francis Cook.
The log house which he built was situated about twenty rods west of what was then the Plymouth line. There he and his family resided until the house was burned by the Indians, at the breaking out of King Philip's War. This was probably the first house burned in the town. At the time of his settlement he was surrounded by the Indians, and suffered much from their stealing his cattle and the products of his farm. It is related that at one time his wife was cooking fish, when Indians came in and, brandishing a knife over her, attempted to take some of the fish out of the kettle. She repelled them by a vigorous attack with a splinter broom, and such were her courage and bravery that she drove them from the house and they disappeared. When her husband returned, she told him of her adventure, and suspecting treachery among the surrounding Indians, they immediately left the house and retired to the garrison, eight miles distant. At another time a large number of Indian squaws came to the house and manifested unusual interest in her affairs, offering to assist her in gathering vegetables for the next day, and volunteering their services generally about the house. She kindly refused their offers of assistance, and on the return of her husband he remarked: "We must again pack up and go to the garrison," which they did.
Mr. Tomson was in constant peril for his life and property from the savages during these years. It is related that as a matter of protection he, with his nearest neighbor, Jabez Soule, who had settled in that part now included in the town of Plympton, induced an Indian to come to learn English ways of living and cultivating the soil. He lived and worked with Mr. Tomson and Mr. Soule alternately. They did everything they could to win the confidence and affection of this Indian, who was industrious, and apparently quick to learn the new ways of the settlers. After a little time, although he showed great fondness for them, they noticed that he would absent himself for several days. This looked suspicious, as frequent visits were made by chiefs and others from a distant part of the country, so it seemed more prudent to go to the garrison for the night, the men returning to cultivate the fields in the daytime. Soon after this the war broke out, and they saw but little of their Indian servant. After the close of the war, when asked by one of the neighbors why he never showed any hostility to his employers, Mr. Tomson and Mr. Soule, he replied that many times he had loaded his gun and raised it to fire upon them, but that he loved them so dearly, and they had done so much for him, that he never could make up his mind to shoot.
There is a tradition that one Sunday morning, as the family were about to start to Plymouth to attend church, they noticed a large number of Indians in the vicinity, who seemed to be in an angry mood, and whose bearing was quite different from usual. They continued, however, on their way, but on their return concluded it would be better to go to the garrison house, and after hastily burying their valuables in a secluded place, they left their home. It was none too soon, for they had not gone more than two miles when, looking back, they saw a bright blaze, and realized that their log house was in flames. As they were on their journey, they passed the house of George Danson and urged him to join them and seek shelter, but he refused, thinking there was no danger. The next morning, as they returned to their farm, they found everything destroyed and Mr. Danson killed. He was the first killed during King Philip's War. Mr. Tomson received a commission of lieutenant, and commanded a company of sixteen men, who were in the habit of marching in four columns of four men each, and he was the commandant of the fort and of military operations until the garrison retired to Plymouth and the house was burned by the Indians.
In 1677, after the General Court had granted permission to the colonists to resettle Middleboro, he rebuilt, on the old site, a garrison house, filled in between the posts and beams with brick and mortar; it had several small windows like portholes in the walls for defence from any attack, but as a metter of fact, after the close of the war there was no hostility. This house stood until the year 1838, when it was taken down. It had been occupied by five generations of the descendants of its illustrious builder. Before the Indian War, and until religious services were held in Middleboro, Mr. Tomson's family attended church at Plymouth, a distance of more than twelve miles, starting very early every Sabbath morning and returning late at night. At one time in the winter the family were obliged to start before sunrise. As they were proceeding on their journey, near the swamp not far from the house of the late Isaac Sturtevant, they heard the barking of a pack of wolves, and sought refuge upon a high rock on the side of the road. There they remained until after sunrise, when the wolves retired and they proceeded on their Sabbath day's journey in safety. Mr. Tomson held many important offices in the town and colony during his lifetime. The following epitaph is on his tombstone:--
IN MEMORY OF
LIEUT. JOHN THOMSON, WHO DIED JUNE 16th, Ye 1696,
This is a debt to nature due;
Which I have paid and so must you.

Mary, his wife, died March 21, 1714, in the eighty-eighth year of her age, and was buried with her husband.
He left numerous descendants, who have lived at Middleboro, Halifax, and adjoining towns. The first two generations and sometimes the third spelled the name Tomson or Tompson; the fourth and fifth spelled it Thompson.

In August, 1689, the court at Plymouth appointed commisioners to confer with the other colonies as to the course of conduct that they should take in repelling these assaults [by French soldiers and Indian allies], and, as a result, there was a general Indian war, in which all of the New England colonies engaged, known as King William's War (1689-97). The troops from Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies were placed under the command of the celebrated Captain Benjamin Church, who had achieved such renown in King Philip's War. Middleboro was required to furnish one soldier and one musket, and to raise the sum of fourteen pounds by taxation towards meeting the expense of this threatened war. The tax was to be paid on or before the 26th of November, 1689, one third in money, one third in grain, and one third in beef and pork.
Early in May, 1690, a congress of delegates met in New York to consider means of defence. Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, with Connecticut, were to furnish three hundred and fifty-five men. The militia were to meet at Albany and then proceed to Montreal. Middleboro's quota was one soldier. An expedition had been planned to sail to Quebec, and extensive preparations were made for combined attack on that stronghold of the French. On June 5, 1690, Middleboro was ordered to send three soldiers, and to raise twenty-one pounds, sixteen shillings, and sixpence as her proportionate part of the expenses. Of the three soldiers drafted, Thomas Tomson and James Soule, for reasons which do not appear on record, declined to go, and were sentenced to pay a fine of four pounds each, or be imprisoned until the fines were paid. Benjamin Wood, John Tomson [likely the son], and John Allen took part in this expedition. Port Royal and Acadia were conquered, but the combined attack on Quebec was a failure, owning to the jealousy and disagreement of the officers in charge of the campaign.

In the earliest times it was the custom to make the coffin from the trunk of a tree. This was hollowed out, and the body placed inside, then pieces of plank were nailed on the ends. John Tomson was buried in the Nemasket cemetery in this manner. Gravestones with inscriptions cut upon them were imported from London until about 1700. Before that, the simple stones without inscriptions were used if the families were unable to meet the expense of imported ones.

The Nemasket Hill Cemetery, beautifully situated on a high bank on the Nemasket River, is the oldest in town, It was set apart by the proprietors of the Twenty-six Men's Purchase in 1662, and was used by the early settlers as their only burial-place for more than two generations. It was formerly known as the Old Burial Hill, or simply The Hill. The oldest stone is that of Elizabeth Vaughan, who died June 24, 1693, aged sixty-two years. It was not until the latter part of the seventeenth century that inscribed stones giving the name, birth, and death of the deceased were used to any great extent in any of the burial grounds of the Old Colony. The graves were usually marked, if marked at all, by ordinary stones set at the head and foot of the grave. Here most of the early settlers were buried, although the graves of John Tomson and Samuel Fuller are the only ones now known.

History of the Town of Middleboro Massachusetts, Thomas Weston, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Boston and New York, 1906.

He was married to Mary COOKE on Dec 26 1645 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Children were: Adam TOMSON, John TOMSON, John TOMSON, Mary TOMSON, Esther TOMSON, Elizabeth TOMSON, Sarah TOMSON, Lydia TOMSON, Jacob TOMSON, Thomas TOMSON, Mercy TOMSON, Peter TOMSON.

John TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born in 1648 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾ He died on Feb 11 1648/49 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

John TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Nov 24 1649 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died on Nov 25 1725 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

He was married to Mary TINKHAM about 1680 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Lydia TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Apr 22 1703 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1716-1797 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

She was married to John PACKARD WFT Est. 1716-1746 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Lydia TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Oct 5 1659 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on Mar 14 1740/41 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

She was married to James SOULE about 1694 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Mary TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on May 19 1711 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1725-1805 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

She was married to Reuben TOMSON WFT Est. 1725-1758 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Mary TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born about 1651 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on May 3 1734 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

She was married to Thomas TABER about 1672 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Mercy TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Oct 13 1699 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on Sep 4 1799 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: Jacob TOMSON and Abigail WADSWORTH.

She was married on May 4 1721 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Children were: Abigail BENNETT, Jacob BENNETT, William BENNETT, Patience BENNETT, Martha BENNETT, Hannah BENNETT.

Mercy TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born about 1671 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on Apr 19 1756 in Halifax, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

Peter TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born before 1679 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died before Apr 1731 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

He was married to Sarah ? about 1699 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Reuben TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born WFT Est. 1694-1714 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1728-1800 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

He was married to Mary TOMSON WFT Est. 1725-1758 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Sarah TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Apr 4 1657 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died on Dec 2 1730 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

Thomas TOMSON⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Oct 19 1664 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ He died on Oct 26 1742 in Halifax, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TOMSON and Mary COOKE.

He was married to Mary MORTON on Dec 13 1715 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Tryphosa TRACY⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born in 1699 in Duxbury, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1715-1793 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

She was married to Odadiah FORD WFT Est. 1715-1748 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Rev. Samuel TREAT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Sep 3 1648 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1680-1739 in ?.⁽³⁾

He was married to Elizabeth MAYO in 1674 in Eastham, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾

Richard TREAT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Aug 28 1584 in Pitminster, S., England.⁽⁶⁾ He died on Apr 27 1615 in Wethersfield, Conn..⁽⁶⁾ Parents: Robert , Or Trott TREAT and Honora Or HONOUR.

He was married to Alice GAYLORD on Apr 27 1615 in Pitminster, S., England.⁽⁶⁾ Children were: Susanna TREAT.

Robert , Or Trott TREAT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born in 1538 in Trendle, P., England.⁽⁶⁾ He died on Feb 16 1598/99 in Taunton Manor, P., England.⁽⁶⁾ Parents: Richard , Or Treat TROTT and JOANNA.

He was married to Honora Or HONOUR WFT Est. 1572-1594.⁽⁶⁾ Children were: Richard TREAT.

Susanna TREAT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Oct 8 1629 in Pitminster, Somerset. England.⁽⁶⁾ She died in 1705 in /1709 Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.⁽⁶⁾ Parents: Richard TREAT and Alice GAYLORD.

She was married to Robert WEBSTER in 1652 in Conn.⁽⁶⁾ Children were: John WEBSTER.

Susanna TREAT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born WFT Est. 1612-1635 in ?.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1657-1723 in ?.⁽³⁾

She was married to Lieutenant Robert WEBSTER in 1652 in ?.⁽³⁾

Richard , Or Treat TROTT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born in 1508 in date?.⁽⁶⁾ He died WFT Est. 1541-1599.⁽⁶⁾

He was married to JOANNA WFT Est. 1527-1557.⁽⁶⁾ Children were: Robert , Or Trott TREAT .

Thankful TROTT⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Jul 10 1667 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1696-1761 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

She was married to John HINCKLEY on May 1 1691 in Dorchester, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Margaret TROWBRIDGE⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born on Apr 30 1666 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1682-1760 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

She was married to Ebenezer STONE WFT Est. 1682-1712 in Massachusetts.⁽³⁾

Honor TUCKER⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born in 1612 in Plymouth, Devon, England.⁽³⁾ She died WFT Est. 1659-1707 in Scituate, Massachusetts, probably.⁽³⁾ Parents: John TUCKER and URITH.

She was married to Robert Stetson CORNET WFT Est. 1629-1662 in England, probably.⁽³⁾ Children were: Urith STETSON, Joseph STETSON, Benjamin STETSON, Thomas STETSON, Samuel STETSON, John STETSON, Eunice STETSON, Lois STETSON, Robert STETSON, Timothy STETSON.

John TUCKER⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born WFT Est. 1561-1590 in England.⁽³⁾ He died WFT Est. 1615-1675 in ?.⁽³⁾

He was married to URITH WFT Est. 1587-1630 in England.⁽³⁾ Children were: Honor TUCKER.

Owen TUDOR⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ died on Oct 30 1690 in Windsor, Connecticut.⁽³⁾ He was born WFT Est. 1602-1631 in England.⁽³⁾

He was married to Mary LOOMIS on Nov 13 1651 in Windsor, Connecticut, probably.⁽³⁾

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