Honorable Thomas Willett1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

M, b. circa 1608, d. 4 August 1674
FatherThomas Willett I b. c 1570
MotherAlice (?) b. c 1572
     Thomas was born circa 1608 in Norwich, County Norfolk, England.9,10,11 He spent his early years in Leyden, Holland, living with the band of separatist, who became known as the Pilgrims. While in Holland he learned much of the ways of the Dutch and of course their language, which would become valuable to him in later life. He also learned the mercantile business while living there.12 In March 1629, Thomas from his home in England aboard another ship named the "Mayflower", bound for New England..13,14 When he arrived in New England, it is apparent that the elders of the colony were familiar with him and his skills as a merchant and as a trader. Almost immediately after his arrival, he was sent to a trading post in Penobscot, Maine with the assignment of watching over the man in charge of the settlement. Very soon after arriving there, the gentleman in charge was arrested for illegal trading with the Indians, thus leaving Thomas in charge of all business there in Penobscot. He remained in that position until the French forced the English out the settlement in 1635. Thomas then returned to Plymouth. Thomas married Mary Browne, daughter of John Browne and Dorothy (?), on 6 July 1636 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.15 After his marriage and after the colony again decided to set up trading with the Indians, Thomas was again assigned for a short period of time to be in charge of the new endeavor at Kennebeck, Maine. By 1640, however, Thomas was back in Plymouth and assisted in the building of a craft which he was to use in establishing a mercantile business that would eventually extend from New England to New Amsterdam, to Virginia and to Holland.
His abilities to communicate and transact business with the Dutch as well as with the Indians of the area, along with his reputation as a decent and honest person, led to the high esteem the colony had for him. This level of trust was indicated in assigning him as the Captain of the military of Plymouth in March of 1648 upon the retirement of Myles Standish. Two years later, the trust shown him by Peter Stuyvesant was made clear as he asked Thomas to represent him and the Dutch in a council to determine the boundaries between New Amsterdam and the English Colonies. A short time later, in 1651, he was elected as an Assistant to the Governor, a position he was to hold until 1665, when he removed to Rehoboth with his father-in-law. In June of 1665, after New Amsterdam had been turned over to the English, again because of his knowledge of the language and of the customs of the Dutch, Thomas was appointed the first Mayor of New York, a position he was to hold for the next two years.
It was soon after this that he was involved with the establishment of a new settlement to be known as Swansey, where he was to spend the rest of his life. Throughout his life, he remained active as a merchant and continued to have the respect of all that knew of him.16,17,18,12 Thomas's wife, Mary, died on 8 January 1669 in Swansea Township, Bristol County, Massachusetts, leaving him a widower. Thomas made his will on 26 April 1671 at Swansea Township, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

The will of “Thomas Willett of Swansey in the Government of New Plymouth”, was dated “twenty sixt Day of Aprill … 1671. I being in Good health and … being Goeing on in the sixty fourth yeare of my age”.
“my loveing sonnes James Hezekiah Andrew and Samuell Willett, To be my Joynt executors … And Forasmuch as God … hath Given mee severall Children both sonnes and Daughters, and hath Given mee with a liberall estate Consisting in Goods Cattle lands houses household stuffe Negroes and partes of vessels for the sea with Divers Debts Due both from English and Dutch, and for the better management of all affaires relateing to the full performance of this my last will … I … appoint my welbeloved son in law mr. John Saffin; and my loveing frend mr Robert Holmes; and my deare brother in law mr James Browne and my deare son in law mr Samuell Hooker, and the Reverend mr John Myles to be Overseers of this my last will”
“it is my Posetive order … that … all my Debts and Just Ingagements … shalbe Duely payed, and fully satisfied out of my estate before any Devision portion of substraction out of the same be made”
To “my foure sonnes my said Executors, Namely James Willett Hezekiah Willett Andrew Willett and Samuell Willett; all my Now Dwelling house ware house out houses Barnes and all other Edifices Gardens orchyards and Pasture fields whatsoever, thereunto belonging … Together with all other adjoyning; and elsewhere lying and being; as in particulare shalbe hereafter expressed; That is to say all my two Great lotts Containeing eighty acres apiece … that fell to mee by lott as my lott of parte with the then purchasers of New Plymouth; as alsoe eighty acres of land bought of Perrigrine White, and thirty acres of land exchanged with John Allin senior being parte of the lott which hee bought of one John Adames; alsoe eighty acres of Land … on the North side of my brother James Brownes land; and ninty fives acres of land lying on the south side of my said brothers land; and eighty acres of upland which I exchanged, with my fatherinlaw mr John Brown and is Commonly called … Mr Prences his lott; and forty acres of land, which I bought of Captaine Standish; likewise four hundred acres of upland and fourty acres of Meddow (be it more or lesse) with all my Right in and to the late purchase made by the Inhabitants of Rehoboth and Swansey, on the Northsyde of the said Towne of Rehoboth” also “ all my other meddow Grounds to the said land belonging : viz: twenty acres of Meddow … Comonly Called … Coopers Meddow; and ten acres of meddow lying at a place Called Papasquash adjoining to a Certaine pond there; and alsoe ten acres of meddow neare a place ; called Quichawamacott Comonly Called … the Comon meddow; and twenty acres more of meddow … att a place Called broad Cove in the Towne of Rehoboth; with all my parte and proportion of meddow lying att Moasquachoke adjoining to the upland I bought of Captaine Standish; all which Dwelling house warehouse outhouse barne” etc. “ I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid four sonnes, my said executors, and to everyone of them; an equal portion … To be equally Devided amongst them; in time convenient; by the advice and Assistance of all or the Major parte of the said Overseers; and I Doe … Charge my said sonnes … not to sell or allianate any of their Respective partes of propositions of the aforesaid houses lands or premises until hee or they shall have tendered the sale therof to one or all of theirs bretheren my said sonnes, that shall then survive, and that the sale of any parte or parsell therof; being soe tendered … That then it is my will and Charge That he or they to whom it is soe proffered; if they be able, shall buy and purchase the same on such tearmes, as by the Advice of all or the Major parte; of the said overseers (then surviveing) may be thought reasonable; To the Intent that the said houses lands and premises may be Inherited by those of my Children and Posteritie that beare the name of Willett, and further I Doe heerby wil and order; that att what time all or any of my said sonnes; are or shalbe Disposed to marry; they each one for him selfe, shall advise therin with, and have the Consent of all or the Major parte of the said overseers then surviveing; upon penalty of being by them Disinherited; and each person herein fayling shall loose his said Patrimony; which by the overseers then living; shalbe Confered upon him or them (of my sonnes) that are or shall herein be obeiient to this my will; Then surviveing or to their heirs for ever”
To “my said four sonnes or to them that sall survive; all my study or liberary of bookes, to be equally Devided amongst them”
To “my said four sonnes … all my estate of Comonage, either in the Township of Rehoboth or Swansey except what I shall Give unto my Grandson Samuell Hooker”
To “my Grandson Samuell Hooker … eighty acres of upland adjoining to that eighty acres of land by mee lately sold to mr Anthonie Loe, Together with fifty pounds estate of Comonage in the Towne of Rehobothe aforesaid and ten acres of meddow lying on the Easterly side of Papasquash”
To “my Grandchildren hereafter mensioned all my lands … in Narragansett Cuntrey, or thereabouts, to be Devided amongst them; in manor and forme following:”
To my Grandson Thomas Saffin a Double Portion of all my said lands in the Narragansett Countrey or thereabouts, to be layed out for him as soone as there Can Conveniently be a Devision made of the said lands; between him and the Rest of my Grandchildren that shall then Survive … meantime; each person shall Injoy the Benefit of this … Gift in Comon with the Rest of my Grandsonnes”
“To my son Hookers six sonnes alreddy borne and to all and every such son, as shalbe borne by his wife my Daughter Mary, before Devision of the premises; and to my son Saffins four sonnes not alreddy mensioned; to all and evey such sonne as shalbe borne to hime by his wife my Daughter Martha; before Devision of the premises; and to all such sonnes as shalbe borne by my Daughter Ester before Devision of the premises, all which lands, att Narragansett as aforesaid to be equally Devided amongst my Grandchildren aforesaid, excepting as before is excepted”
To “ my eldest son James Willett fifty pounds sterling or the value therof in land remote from my dwelling house to be payed by my three sonnes Hezekah Andrew and Samuell out of their proper estate each of them a like proportion”
To “my Deare Daughter Ester Willett fifty pounds sterling or the value therof in land remote from my said Dwelling house to be payed by my three sonnes above named as aforesaid.”
To “my said Daughter Ester one hundred pound sterling; alreddy by mee promised to her Marriage portion”
To “my said four sonnes James Hezekah Andrew and Samuell all my Right and title to all or any other of my lands and meddows; not in this … Testament; mensioned or Disposed of … in any place or parte of the Country whatsoever; equally to be Devided between them”
To “my three sonnes Hezekaih Andrew and Samuell fifty pounds apiece in mony, towards theire Maintainance in Scooles and other wayes and means for attainment of Learning”
To “my Grandson Samuell Hooker twenty five pounds sterling”
To “my Grand Daughter Sarah Elliott fifty pounds”
To “my old servant John Padducke 10 pound”
To “my overseers of this my last Will and Testament fory Shillings, apiece”
To “the Church of Plymouth ten pounds and to the Church att Swansey ten pounds and unto the Church att Rehoboth five pounds”
To “the Reverend Mr John Myles ten pounds”
“I Give and Bequeath all the Remainder of my personall Estate not heerby before Disposed of or bequeath … Imediately after the payment of all my said Debts and legacyes aforesaid, unto all my sonnes and Daughters To be equally Devided into seaven equall parts or shares; and Desposed of … unto my said four sonnes …,James Willett Hezekiah Willett Andrew Willett and Samuell Willett; each of them one seaventh parte … and alsoe to my three beloved Daughters Namly Mary Hooker Martha Saffin, and Ester Willett the other three seaventh partes”

The witnesses were William East and Joseph Hurd. “Joseph Hurd, one of the witnesses…appeared the 12th of August 1674 before mee in Boston; and made oath …that hee heard Captaine Thomas Willett to Declare it to be his will…before mee John Leverett Govr.”
“November the 25 1674 Att a Court… att Marshfeild…the before written will of Capt: Willett should heer recorded although there is but one witness the executors engageing to procure the oath of the other witness… and mr. John Saffin of Boston Marchant, whoe wrote the said will from the said Testators mouth, likewise Concurred with the said Hurd the witness above named … and was reddy … to have made oath thereunto”

“William East appeared in Court May 10th 1675 & made oath” to the will “ As attests Isack Adington Clark”.19,20


Thomas married 2nd Joanna Boyse on 19 September 1671. Thomas departed this life on Saturday, 4 August 1674 in Swansea Township, Bristol County, Massachusetts. This location is now in East Providence, Rhode Island.21,22,23 He was buried at Bullock's Cove, Swansea Township, Bristol County, Massachusetts. A rough stone marks his grave bearing a rude inscription: "M. D. C. L. XXIV. Here lyeth the body of the worthy Thomas Willett Esq. who died August ye IVth in the LXIVth year of his age Anni. Who was the first Mayor of New York and twice did sustain the place." His wife, Mary, lies beside him. Due to boundry changes. The cementery is now located in what is now East Providence, Rhode Island.24,25,26 His estate was valued at £2,798, 14 shillings & 7 pence. Individuals and merchants listed as owing money to the estate: Richard Valentine, Adam Mott, James Pinn [Pine] all of Hempstead, as well as numerous others.27,28 His will was probated on 25 November 1674.

Family 1

Mary Browne b. c 1614, d. 8 Jan 1669
Children

Family 2

Joanna Boyse d. a 8 Nov 1681

Citations

  1. [S27] Robert Bolton, A History of the County of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present., pages 274-275.
  2. [S38] Daniel Hoogland Carpenter, History & Genealogy of the Carpenter Family In America From the Settlement at Providence, R. I. 1637 - 1901
    , page 63 - Colonel Thomas Willett, the father of Andrew, was born in England in 1610. He came to Plymouth, Mass., 1629. In 1636 he married Mary, daughter of John Brown of Plymouth. In 1665 he became the first English mayor of New York city. On the reoccupation of the city by the Dutch he retired to Swanzey, Mass., where he died August 4, 1674. A plain monument marks his grave in the family burial-place at Swanzey. He had twelve children. Of these Martha, born 1639, married Judge John Saffin; Mary, born 1637, married Rev. Samuel Hooker; Esther, born 1648, married Rev. Josiah Flint of Dorchester, the progenitor of Oliver Wendell Holmes; Samuel, born 1658, was sheriff of Queens County, L. I. He had thirteen children (a grandson, Marinus, born 1740, was also mayor of New York city, and died 1830); Sarah, born 1643, married Rev. John Elliott, the apostle to the Indians ; James, born 1649, married Eliza Hunt of Rehoboth; Hezekiah, born 1651, married Anna Brown and was killed by the Indians in King Philip's war, January 26, 1676; Andrew, born 1655.
  3. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume IV: pages 555-557.
  4. [S169] Jr. Albert James Willett, The Willett Families of North America, Volume I: pages 1-23 - Willett Families of North America
    Page 1
    Thomas Willett was born about 1570, probably in county Norfolk, England. He married about 1590, Alice, again, probably in county Norfolk. They resided in Norwich until they removed to Holland.
    He was a dissenter from the Anglican Church, and most likely because of his religion, left England about 1615 and settled at Leyden, Holland. His children grew up here. It is unknown when or where he died.
    Sarah: born about 1592 in England; married before 1613 William Minter of Norwich, (William Minter died before 1618).
    Rebecca: born about 1595 in England; married in Holland on August 4 1622, Daniel Fairfield of Leyden, Holland.
    Hester: born about 1598 in England; married in Holland November 4, 1623 Peter Wood of Leyden, Holland.
    Thoma: born 1611 in Norwich, England; married July 6, 1636, at Plymouth Colony, Mary Brown; d August 4, 1674 at Barrington, Rhode Island.

    Captain Thomas Willett was born in 1611, in Nrwich, county Norfolk, England. He was the son of Thomas Willett and his wife alice. J. E. Bookstover in his Willett Genealogy, 1906, makes the statement that Captain Thomas Willett was the son of Andrew Willett (b. 1562; d. 1621) the celebrated English divine of Barley, county Hertford, England. This Andrew was the writer of forty-two books on religion, and a devout Anglican. Bookstover errors by attempting to construct a “plausible” ancestry and probably got his misinformation from the E. Haviland Hillman who was paid for research in England in 1896. Several others have written since 1906 to correct this error, notably Banks in 1929 and Smith in 1949.
         The Elder Thomas Willett was definitely not of the Anglican religion, but, instead a dissenter from it. The elder Thomas Willett followed the second Puritan exodus and left England for Holland where the religous climate was more tolerable of dissenters. He settled at Leyden, Holland, and lived there from 1615 until at least 1622, and possibly longer. His young son Thomas was raised in the Puritan atmosphere of the Green Gate congregation under the tutleage of Pastor John Robinson.
    “As a boy in Holland, Thomas learned both the Dutch and the English language and although there seems to be no record of his having attended the university, his later life shows he received more than the ordinary education” (Smith, page 43).
    Page 2
    The Brown family of Swansea, England and Leyden, Holland played a large part in the life of Thomas Willett It is unlikely that he knew the Brown family when they lived in Swansea, England or in Cambridge. He most likely met them for the first time in Leyden. Thomas Willett had three sisters, Sarah, Rebecca, and Hester (Banks, pages 7-8).
    “In Leyden young Willett was reared in the congregation of Reverend John Robinson, the beloved pastor of the Pilgrims in Holland. Mr. Robinson had been graduated from Cambridge University in 1599 where he received his Master's Degree, and removed to Holland in 1608. His son Isaac Robinson, who was born the following year, became one of Willett's fast friends and both boys sailed to New England on the same ship” (Smith, page 42).
    The return trip referred to above was the 1632 trip in the “Lion” that Thomas Willett made after testifying at the trial of Isaac Allerton in London. [Note - it was the trial of Edward Ashley; Thomas made the trip back to England with Isaac Allerton - KLM] Reverend Robinson died March 1, 1625 and “was buried with a simple ceremony under the pavement in the main aisle of the Pieterskirk, the immense stone cathedral that loomed high above the Green Gate” (Wilson, page 259). The land that Thomas Willett decided to move to was not a land overflowing with “milk and honey.”

    “Unlike the Cheaspeake Bay settlers, the first colonizers of New England found a harsh and forbidding terrain. In 1604, the French planted a short-lived colony near the mouth of the St Croix River, now the Maine-Canadian boundry. Three years later, Englishmen led by George Popham planted a fishing settlement on the Maine coast at the mouth of the Kennebec River, but Indian attacks, a bitter winter, and the malice of the devil forced them to leave. Forced by circumstances, separatist Pilgrims tackled the wooded coast of New England in 1620. They had withdrawn from what they regarded as a pudle of corruption in the English church, and after 12 years of self-imposed exile in Holland, embarked for a more isolated place where they could worship according to their beliefs” (Cooke, page 25). . . .


    page 3
    . . . The story of the Pilgrims, is a separate story from that of our Thomas Willett, The Pilgrim era was closing in March, 1629, when Thomas Willett, sailed from Gravesend, England, on the Mayflower with Captain Willaim Pierce in command. This was not, however the Mayflower of 1620 which took the original Pilgrims to Plymouth. In 1620, ther were approximately 120 ships of English registry, and 20 od these were named Mayflower.
    On board this second Mayflower were 35 passengers from Leyden, Holland, a portion of the Green Gate Congregation that included Isaac, Mercy, and Fear Robisnon (Planters of the Commmonwealth, page 35). What reason prompted young Thomas Willett to leave his family, parents and sisters, to settle in a “new world” in unknown. He most likely was encouraged by his father to start a new life away from the life of the exile in Holland. It was not that life was difficult here, or that persecution abounded. It was the exact opposite. The second generation English family was losing its English identity . Dutch attitudes, life style, and language was replacing their English heritage. The elder dissenters were dying off, the congregation was growing smaller and was in danger of being assimilated by the Dutch. This was what motivated the Green Gate Congrgation from Leyden to embark to a “new world” in search of a new life. Since Thomas was one of that congregation his reason must have been the same.
    Passage had been arranged for Reverend Robinson's widow, Bridget, and three of her children: Isaac, Mercy amd Fear. “But ofr some reason the widow drew back at th last and did not embark” (Wilson. Page 268). The congregation had to have special assurances that tey would not be persecuted when they came to England to sail to the new world. But, at last everything was worked out through intermediators and in March 1629, they sailed. They arrived at the Plymouth Colony on 15 March 1620 [Note - Date is wrong - KLM] The passage was quick for that day, with only six weeks on board the Mayflower. In the narrative that Governor Bradford wrote, Thomas Willett was 19 at this time. . . .

    Page 4
    . . . Shortly after Thomas Willett's arrival, the Colony's government sent him north to take charge of their trading post near the mouth of the Kennebec River in what is now Maine. A little later, a new trading post was established on the Peno[b]scot River, about 50 miles up the Maine coast from the Pigrim trading post at Kennebec. There was a royal proclamation against trading weapons to the Indians. However, another agent, Edward Ashley, was illegally furnishing the Indians with weapons in defiance of King Charles I proclamation of November 24, 1630. Ashley was arrested and sent to England for trial before the Privy Council. Young Thomas Willett had actually seen Ashley sell contraband and was a star witness. However, this required that Willett return to England. He and Isaac Allerton returned to England on Allerton's ship White Angel. On September 6, 1631 Willett gave his testimony. Ashley was found guilty. . . .
    . . . The return trip to New England was arranged. Thomas had the company of another old family friend from Leyden on the outgoing trip. This was his father's friend, John Browne, along with his daughter, Mary Browne, and other members of that family who were immigrating to the new world. They left England on June 22, 1632, on board the Lion which was a fairly large ship for the day. The return trip took twelve weeks; they arrived at Boston on September 16. Thomas Willett and Mary Brown must have see a lot of each other during the voyage. An enduring romance must have had its inception on board the Lion.
    After returning to the Plmouth Colony, Thomas was sent once again to Kennebec. Under the guise of needing repairs, the French captured the post from the “servants left in charge as the resident agent Thomas Willett, who happened to be in Plymouth getting supplies” (Wilson, page 295), Willett remained with the trading venture until 1634, and earned the praise of William Bradford of Plymouth as an “honest young man whom, being discreet any could trust.”
    In 1634, Willett was moved form the Kennebec post to hteone at Penobscot. Again the French came, this time in 1635, and led by one d'Aulay captured the post while Willett was in charge. . . .

    Page 5
    Thomas Willett's experiences were more pleasant in that year. On July 6, 1636, he married Mary, the daughter of Worshipful John Brown (b 1584 in England; d. April 10, 1662, at Swansea, Massachusetts), the son of Thomas Browne, Peter Brown, the uncle of John Browne had come over on the original Mayflower, and he and the elder Thomas Browne were sons of Thomas Browne, Senior. The Browns were form Swansea, England, and his wife Dorothy (nee Beauchamp) had immigrated from Cambridge, England, to Holland, and then followed the Puritans to Massachusetts. Governor Winthrop performed the ceremony. The Browns had been of the last of the Green Gate Pilgrims to leave Holland for the new world. They were old friends of the Willett family.


         
  5. [S1274] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, [Note: Excellent Article on Thomas. klm].
  6. [S1282] Ira M. Barton, Sampson Mason, the Baptist and Dragoon in Oliver Cromwell's Army, page 246 - The following extract from the Records of Rehoboth, fixes the period of his removal to that place.
    " December 9th, 1657. It was voted that. Sampson Mason should have free liberty to sojourn with us, and to buy house, lands or meadow, if he see cause for his settlement, provided that he lives peaceably and quietly."---History of Rehoboth by Leonard Bliss, Jr.
    Anabaptist as he certainly was, this permission to sojourn was all that Sampson Mason could expect from his puritanical friends at Rehoboth. Their records show that Samuel Luther and other Baptists, who afterwards became prominent men In the Old Colony, instead of being admitted as freemen, had accorded to them only the privileges of sojourners. At an early period, however, grants of lands south of Rehoboth were obtained from the Indians, and in 1661, Capt. Thomas Willett., Rev. John Myles, "and others, their neighbors at Waunamoiset and parts adjacent," were confirmed in their title to those lands, and erected into the township of Swansey, by the General Court at Plymouth. In that town the religious profession of a Baptist never worked any forfeiture of civil rights. The name of Sampson Mason appears as one of the original associates, and Baylies says that he became one of the founders of that town. Those associates were many of them distinguished men. Capt. Thos. Willett was the first English Mayor of the city of New York; the Rev. John Myles was a Baptist clergyman from Swansea, Wales, There were also amongst the associates, James Brown, Nathaniel Paine, Hugh Cole, Samuel Luther, and others, names well known and most respected in that part of the country. James Brown was a magistrate and one of the original members of the first Baptist Church in Swansey. His father, John Brown, was long one of the Assistants at Plymouth; a Commissioner of the United Colonies; and a large proprietor of Wannamoiset, an Indian Country bordering on the southwesterly part of ancient Rehoboth, and now constituting the Northwesterly part of Barrington and Swansey. Before the incorporation of Swansey, Wannamoiset, was regarded as a part of Rehoboth, and John Brown, with his son-in- law, Thomas Willett, resided there. April 7, 1662, Mr. Brown made his will, and died the same year. Sampson Mason was one of the witnesses to the will, a circumstance that renders it probable that he was a neighbor, and resided in the same part of Rehoboth.
  7. [S1286] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, page 162 - March 4, 1647/8 - Thomas was the successor of Myles Standish as Captain of the military company of Plymouth.
    September 1650 - Thomas represented Stuyvestant and the Dutch at a council for determining boundries between the English and the Dutch.
    1651 - He was elected as a Governor's assistant,an office he held until 1665.
    This same year, Thomas moved to Rehoboth, with his father-in-law.
  8. [S1291] D.C. John Insley Coddington of Washington, Sybil [Tincknell] [Bibble] [Nutt] Doolittle & her Family, page 100 - When Robert Paddock was on his death bed in July 1650, he gave his 7-yeaar-son, John, to Thommas Willett . . in Willett's will, dated 26 Apr. 1671, he bequeathed 10 pounds to his "old servant John Paddock".
  9. [S1304] Charles Edward Banks, The Ancestry of Thomas Willett, First Mayor of New York City, page 8 - In the Summer of 1925, while in Leyden, working in the Gemeente Archief, I asked to be shown certain letters said to be there, written by prominent Pilgrims, 1636-1660, mostly to Rev. Hugh Goodyear, the successor of Robinson as Pastor of the English congregation. Among them I found two from Thomas Willett to Goodyear, dated New Amsterdam, Sept. 15th, 1659, and Sept. 16th, 1660. The subject matter of the letters referred to was certain property in Leyden owed by Richard Masterson who emigrated to Plymouth in 1629 (perhaps with Willett), which property had become, by death of Masterson, the inheritance of his children Nathaniel and Sarah (the wife of John Wood), both of Plymouth. In the first named letter Willett stated that he "had a sister by name Hester married to one Petter Wood of Leyden." This casual statement in that letter definitely fixes the relationship of Thomas Willett of New Amsterdam to the Willett family of Norwich and Leyden, and as definitely eliminates the Rev. Andrew Willett of Barley as the putative parent. The latter had no daughters of the names of Sarah or Hester, and his daughter Rebecca, born 1612, could not be the one married in Leyden, 1623, at the age of eleven years. Other corroborative facts, not necessary to recite here, confirm this conclusion and it remains for some descendant of "New York's First Mayor" to look for his ancestry in the parish records of Norwich, England, where doubtless will be found his baptismal record and the marriage of his parents.
  10. [S506] Note: Calculated from age given in his will - the date on his tombston differs.
  11. [S1286] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, pages 158-159.
  12. [S1286] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York.
  13. [S1286] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, page 159.
  14. [S169] Jr. Albert James Willett, The Willett Families of North America, Volume I: page 3 - The story of the Pilgrims, is a separate story from that of our Thomas Willett, The Pilgrim era was closing in March, 1629, when Thomas Willett, sailed from Gravesend, England, on the Mayflower with Captain Willaim Pierce in command. This was not, however the Mayflower of 1620 which took the original Pilgrims to Plymouth. In 1620, there were approximately 120 ships of English registry, and 20 od these were named Mayflower.
    On board this second Mayflower were 35 passengers from Leyden, Holland, a portion of the Green Gate Congregation that included Isaac, Mercy, and Fear Robinsnon (Planters of the Commmonwealth, page 35). What reason prompted young Thomas Willett to leave his family, parents and sisters, to settle in a “new world” in unknown. He most likely was encouraged by his father to start a new life away from the life of the exile in Holland. It was not that life was difficult here, or that persecution abounded. It was the exact opposite. The second generation English family was losing its English identity . Dutch attitudes, life style, and language was replacing their English heritage. The elder dissenters were dying off, the congregation was growing smaller and was in danger of being assimilated by the Dutch. This was what motivated the Green Gate Congrgation from Leyden to embark to a “new world” in search of a new life. Since Thomas was one of that congregation his reason must have been the same.
    Passage had been arranged for Reverend Robinson’s widow, Bridget, and three of her children: Isaac, Mercy amd Fear. “But ofr some reason the widow drew back at th last and did not embark” (Wilson. Page 268). The congregation had to have special assurances that tey would not be persecuted when they came to England to sail to the new world. But, at last everything was worked out through intermediators and in March 1629, they sailed. They arrived at the Plymouth Colony on 15 March 1620 [Note – Date is wrong – KLM] The passage was quick for that day, with only six weeks on board the Mayflower. In the narrative that Governor Bradford wrote, Thomas Willett was 19 at this time. . . .
  15. [S1299] George Ernest Bowman, Plymouth Colony Vital Records, page 84 - Marriage Record: 6 July 1636 Thomas Willett & Mary Brown.
  16. [S46] William Richard Cutter, New England Families, genealogical memorial; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of commonwealths & the founding of a nation, Volume III: page 1427 - Captain Thomas Willet (1605-74), who came from England in 1629, and was for fourteen years (1651-65) annually elected one of the assistant governors of Plymouth Colony, commander of the military forces, and magistrate in Plymouth Colony, and founder of the town of Swansea. Immediately after the English conquest converted New Amsterdam into New York, Thomas Willet, who on account of his high character "was more acceptable to both Dutch and English than any other person," was appointed in 1665 first head of the government of New York as its first mayor. When his term expired he was reelected. Later, he was a member of the council of Lovelace, governor of the Province which included New York.
  17. [S1273] Jay Henry Lea, Certificates of Head Rights in the County Court of Lower Norfolk, Virginia, page 353 - 16 Apr. 1654. Bill of Sale of Thomas Willett merchant of Newe Plimmouth in New England to Mr. Matthew ffossett for Barque Hopewell of 26 Tunnes burthen etc., dated 25 Oct 1652 at Newe Amsterdam in Newe Netherlands.
  18. [S1280] W. H. Whitmore, Rev. Robert Jordan, Page 221 - ...The Rev. Richard Mather, on his voyage to from England in 1635 touched at Richmond's Island and noted the fact in his journal. Mr. Thomas Willett of New Plimouth and afterwards mayor of New York, had, just before the time of Mather's visit, escaped to Richmond's Island, having been driven by the French from Penobscott, and took passage in the ship with Mather to Massachusetts....
  19. [S1295] Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, pages 80-84 - Will of Thomas Willett dated: 26 April 1671.
  20. [S1274] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, page 160 - Abstract of the Will of Thomas Willett dated: 26 April 1671.
  21. [S27] Robert Bolton, A History of the County of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present., Thomas died 4 August 1674 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
  22. [S1278] Honorable Elijah Hayward, Plymouth Colony Records, page 318 - Captain Thomas Willet died August 3, 1674 Seazey.
  23. [S1298] George Bowman, Plymouth Colony Vital Records, page 69 - Burials of Swansea - Captain Thomas Willett 3 August 1674 [Note: This varies slightly from his tombstone. klm].
  24. [S1274] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, page 164.
  25. [S1275] Find a grave: Informat:.
  26. [S1279] J. A. Howland, Seekonk Inscriptions, page 181 -
    Mr. S. G. Drake:
         Dear Sir, - Ten years aog I copied the grave stones in an old burying ground situated at the head of Bulluck's Cove, in the town of Seekonk - originally a part of Rehoboth - several inscriptions, some of which you may deem of interest enough to occupy a page of the Register.
    The first that I give will be those of Thomas Willett and his wife. The head stones of the Willetts are about six inches thick by fifteen inches wide, and are above the ground about 20 inches; they are rough, without attempt at ornament except the top being curved, the lettering being legible and tolerably well executed. I copied precisely as the lines, figures, and capital letters are on the stones. J. A. Howland.

              [Head Stone] [Head Stone]
    1674 1699
    Here lyeth ye body Here lyeth ye body of
    of ye Wor. Thomas the virtuous Mrs. Mary Willet esq. who died Willett wife to thomas
    August ye 4th in ye 64th Willett esq. who died
    Year of his age anno. January ye 8th about ye 65th
    Year of her age anno.

    [Foot Stone] [Foot Stone]
    Who was the Daughter to
    first Mayor the Wor. John
    of New York Brown Esq.
    & twice did Deceased.
    sustain ye place.
  27. [S1274] George Cannino Burgess, Thomas Willett of Leyden & Plymouth, First Mayor of New York, page 60.
  28. [S1296] Plymouth Colony Wills & Inventories, pages 35-39 - List of Thomas Willett's Inventory taken by his sons: James & Hezekiah.