Thomas I. Brigham 
M, #17468, b. circa 1603, d. Dec 8, 1653
Family | Mercy Hurd b. circa 1616, d. Dec 22, 1693 | |
| Children |
| |
Chronological Events | ||
| Birth* | circa 1603 | Thomas I. Brigham was born circa 1603 at Holme On Spalding Moor, Yorkshire East Riding, England .1 |
| Emigration* | Apr 18, 1635 | He emigrated on Apr 18, 1635 from Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, on the ship Suzan and Ellen. |
| Immigration* | May, 1635 | He immigrated in May, 1635 to Massachusetts, United States. |
| Marriage* | circa 1637 | He married Mercy Hurd circa 1637 at Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States.1 |
| Death* | Dec 8, 1653 | Thomas I. Brigham died on Dec 8, 1653 at Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States.1 |
| Burial* | Dec 9, 1653 | He was buried on Dec 9, 1653 at Old Burying Ground Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, Find A Grave Memorial# 38419321.2 |
| Researcher's Note* | Thomas Brigham, was 32 years of age when he embarked, (1635) at London for New England in the ship Susan and Ellyn, Edward Payne, master. Journeying to Watertown he became proprietor of a 14-acre lot on the strip which was taken from Watertown and in 1754 annexed to Cambridge. Thomas settled `hard by` and built his house in Cambridge on the lot of three and one-half acres which had been assigned to him. This was the very spot which Governor Winthrop and assistants agreed was a `fit place for a fortified town` and the capitol of the colony. Here a number of chief men built their houses and the General Court held their first sessions. And here Thomas Brigham resided until 1648. He filled standing and responsible positions, became proprietor of immense herds of cattle and swine, and when the land was divided to settlers according to their estates, he purchased a new site and built at once on the spot where now is Somerville, about one-third of a mile south of Tufts College and east of the Cambridge poor house. Thomas Brigham`s last place of worship must have been Medford, and in her ancient graveyard, according to Morse Genealogy, his ashes repose awaiting a monument. He left an estate of considerable value and for his time, a spacious house, which consisted of a hall, parlor, kitchen and two chambers all completely furnished and stored with necessary provisions. The inventory of his estate was peculiar. In the settlement of other estates prior to that time it would be difficult to find one of more personal property, including so many articles of luxery. Silver spoons and other utensils of silver, `join chairs` and `join stools,` cushion, pieces, damask cloth, livery, table, one flock and four feather beds are enumerated ; and his wardrobe, for the age was that of a New England gentleman. He had two bound servants, five horses, fourteen sheep and ten cattle. His inventory footed up £449. Thomas Brigham, as we have said in the Rice story married Mercy Hurd who bore him five children, and when he died he appointed her sole executrix of his last will and testament. | |
Citations
- [S802] Site - Ancestry.com, online at http://www.ancestry.com
- [S80] Gravestones - Death Cert Proof, Find-A-Grave, BillionGraves, #79.