Generation 1

THOMAS THAXTER (d. 1654) of Hingham

Parents: Unknown

Thomas Thaxter of Hingham died on 4 Feb 1653/4 in Hingham. [Ref][Ref] He married Elizabeth Unknown. Elizabeth drowned on 17 Jul 1660 in Dedham. [Ref] Elizabeth married second William Ripley on 29 Sep 1654 in Hingham. [Ref][Ref][Ref] She married third, as his second wife, John Dwight on 20 Jan 1657/[?8] in Dedham. [Ref]

"Elizebeth sometimes wife to Tho Thaxter & to william Ripley then to Mr Dwight at Dedham was drowned in a well." [Ref, entry of 18 Jul 1660]

"About the 6th month last, there was likewise another woman, well reputed of, drowned herself at Dedham, - one Goody Dwite. Two aweful strokes unto all that knew them; and no little sacandal, by accident, to religion; and a great brand of infamy upon themselves. This is not the death of the righteous." [Ref, citing the 24 Oct 1660 entry in Hull's diary.]

Thomas Thaxter was an early settler of Hingham, receiving land there in 1638. [Ref] He is on a 18 May 1642 list of freemen. [Ref]

Thomas died intestate. His widow Elizabeth deposed on 9 Mar 1653/4. [Ref] Inventory was taken on 20 Feb 1653 and amounted to £213.18.04. [Ref] A petititon was made to the court on 20 Apr 1654 to divide the estate with Elizabeth receiving one third, John receiving a double portion and Elizabeth, Sarah and Samuel each receiving a portion. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Thaxter and Elizabeth Unknown:

1. Capt. John Thaxter died in Mar 1686/7. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Jacobs in Dec 1648 in Hingham. [Ref] Elizabeth was the daughter of Nicholas Jacobs of Hingham. [Ref] She married second Daniel Cushing. [Ref] John Thaxter was an early settler of Hingham, receiving land there in 1638. [Ref]
2. Elizabeth Thaxter died after 20 Apr 1654.
3. Sarah Thaxter married Lieut. Thomas Thurston.
4. Thomas Thaxter may be the Thomas Thaxter who died on 6 Jan 1646/7. [Ref]
5. Daniel Thaxter probably died before 20 Apr 1654.
6. Samuel Thaxter probably died in infancy.
7. Samuel Thaxter married first Abigail Church in Dec 1666 in Hingham. [Ref] He married second Deborah Lincoln in Jun 1678 in Hingham. [Ref] After his father's death, his brother John and Abraham Harden were appointed his guardians. [Ref] Samuel is in the Hingham section of the 8 May 1678 list of freemen. [Ref]

Generation 2

SARAH THAXTER (d. 1655)

Parents: Thomas Thaxter and Elizabeth Unknown

Sarah Thaxter died on 1 Sep 1678 in Medfield. [Ref] She married Capt. Thomas Thurston on 13 Dec 1655 in Medfield. [Ref][Ref].

After her fathers death, her brother John and Abraham Harden were appointed her guardians. [Ref]

References

Diaries

Egan, C. Edward, "The Hobart Journal," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 121, 1967, 3-25, 102-127.

Ward, Andrew N., "First Settlers of Hingham," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 2, 1848, 250.

Encyclopedias

Anderson, Robert Charles, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. 3, Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001.

Local Histories

Lincoln, Solomon, History of the Town of Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Hingham, C. Gill, Jr. and Farmer and Brown, 1990.

Memorials

Editors, "Sketches of Alumni at the Different Colleges in New England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1, 1847, 282.

Public Records

Paige, Lucius, R., "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 3, 1849, 89-96, 187-194, 239-246, 345-352.

Vital Records

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.

Pulsifer, David, trans., "Records of Boston," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, various issues.

Wills

Trask, William, "Abstracts from the Earliest Wills on Record in the County of Suffolk, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register