Thomas Paine

     Thomas was born on Thursday, 11 December 1586 in County Suffolk, England. Between 5:00 & 6:00 p.m. at either Cooklie or Wrentham.¹ Thomas married Elizabeth (?) on 22 November 1610 in England. Thomas had become associated with the "dissenting church", his children have no baptismal records because of this. Before leaving England he sold what he could of this personal and real property. The mill that he owned was turned over to H. Bloomfield to operate [probably a near kinsman]. Thomas purchased a ship and hired a captain. "His wife Elizabeth and his six children Thomas, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Dorthy & Sarah passed the examination to "goe for Saleme in New England to inhabit" 10 May 1637".² On 15 May 1637, Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, under the command of William Goose, bound for New England. Listed among the passengers were Thomas Payne of Wrentham aged 50 years, his wife: Elizabeth aged 53 years, their children: Thomas, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Dorthy & Sarah as well as others such as Phiemon Dickerson & Reverend John Youngs of St. Margaret's aged 35 years, his wife: Joan aged 34 years, John, Thomas, Anne, Rachell, Marey, Joseph.. . Arriving in Salem prior to the 21st of August. He brought with him a family bible which had passed to him from his parents, which contained his marriage record & that of his parents, along with birth records of himself, his siblings & those of his children. Also a few death records., immigrated aboard the ship "Mary Anne" left from Yarmouth, England.³ He made his will the 10th day of the 2nd month 1638.

Touching the outward estate and goods of this life god hath ben pleased to lend me, I Thomas Payne doe in this my last will and testament thus bequeath them as followeth: ffirst unto my wife, I give my house I now live in, gardens & houcefittings with my two acre lotte with the pfitts accrewing therefrom during her life; commending unto my Son Thomas the care of his mother, & the diligent improvem’ of the sayd ground, to his mothers use; during her life, in consideration whereof, he to have his dweiling with his mother, & the forth pte of the pfitts of the lott, & the third pte of the pfitts of the garden so improved by him during the sayd terme of time. It. I give unto my wife the bedstead Beding & there appurtenances as they now stand in the hall. Item I bequeath my pte of the Ship Mary-Anne of Salem, to be sold, & my debts to be payd, And the residue of the monies with the rest of my goods to be divided as followeth. Item I give unto Thomas my Son my Looms & Slaies with there appurtenances concerning his trade of a weaver. Item I give the said Thomas one Coffer which was his grandfathers. Item I give unto my three Sons my ten Acre lott & my one Acre of meddow to be equally shared amongst them. Item concerning the residue of the monies arising from my pte in the Shipp, & the rest of my goods I bequeath them to be valued reasonably, & equaley devided to my wife & my Children, my wife to have the choise of the first pte excepted: & my Children to share in the rest as their ptes fall, pvided always & reserved out of the sayd goods one featherbed lying on the trundle bed with coverlet & blanket, one bolster & pillow, which I give & bequeath unto mary my daughter Item I give my house wherein my wife should live, with the goods remaining of hers, to be sold after her decease, & the monies to be equally divided amongst my children. It. My mill left in the hands of Henery Blomfield my kinsman, I bequeath to be sold, & the monies thereof returned into my executor’s hand, & so to be equally divided to my wife & children. Item I Constitute & appoint Thomas my Son executor to this my will & mr. John fiske of Salem Suprevisor, in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale the 10^th of this present 2^nd month in the yeere 1638.
In the presence of
John ffiske Thomas Payne [seal]
John Thurston
The X mk of Mary Beechum

.⁴ Thomas departed this life before 21 January 1640 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. On 21 January 1640, his widow & three others were granted 20 acres a piece provided they continue on the plantation.¹ His will was probated in December 1642.