Weymouth New England Genealogy

The Descendants of John Thorndike by Morgan Hewitt Stafford,1960ForewordThe material here presented is almost entirely the work of Mr.Stanley Stafford (1873-1940). We have tried to present it in theform approximating Mr. Stafford's monumental "Genealogy of theKidder Family," though in a more economical medium. Thegenealogy terminates with the tenth generation in 1940 and blankpages have been interleaved so that the members of the familymay carry on their branches individually.Mr. Stafford found Thorndikes who came from England to Canada inthe nineteenth century and others who had legally adopted thename Thorndike (such as a Tarbox family of Lynn and Swampscott,Mass.); but it appears that at least ninety per cent of theliving Thorndikes in America are descendants of John Thorndikeand his son Paul.Specific references, in addition to numerous published andunpublished sources, include six Bible records, one hundred andforty family records and one hundred and sixty-threequestionnaires. The material collected by Mr. Stafford isdeposited with the New England Historic and Genealogical Societyin Boston, Mass., and includes some - though not many -Thorndikes whom Mr. Stafford had been unable to identify.The children of Dr. Augustus Thorndike have underwritten thispublication in order to complete the project which he started.They take this opportunity to thank all those who assisted inthe work, particularly the Thorndikes who have made availablefamily records and answered questionnaires.Bar Harbor, Maine R. Amory ThorndikeSeptember, 1959John Thorndike the ImmigrantJohn THORNDIKE, born probably in Lincolnshire, England andburied at London, England, 3 Nov 1668, was the second son ofFrancis and Alice (COLEMAN) THORNDIKE of Great Carlton andScamblesby, county Lincoln.*He married, probably at Salem,Mass., Elizabeth STRATTON, born in England about1614 andpresumably deceased by 27 Jul 1668, daughter of John and Anne(Dearhaugh) STRATTON of Shotley, county Suffolk of Shotley,county Suffolk, England.* - In B.W. Davis' "Warren, Jackson, and Allied Families,"Phila, 1903, page 58, it is stated that John Thorndike, "secondson of Francis and Alice (Coleman) Thorndike, was born at GreatCarlton, Lincolnshire, England, and was baptised, 23 July1603....He held the office of Deputy-Sheriff for Essex County,and in 1633, was delegate to the Court of Boston;..." Nooriginal source reference is cited for either statement. Mr.Horatio G. Somerby's "Somerby Papers",a manuscript collection at the N.E.H.G. Society, Boston, MA,include abstracts of Thorndike entries found in the ParishRegisters of Great Carlton, Little Carlton, and Castle Carlton,Lincolnshire. These abstracts do not appear to list the baptismin 1603 of John, son of Francis Thorndike, but the baptism atCastle Carlton, 23 July 1603, of John, son of George Thorndike,is given on page 119 of Volume 3 of the "Somerby Papers".John THORNDIKE's parentage and his English ancestry, for severalgenerations, are conclusively established by the will of hisbrother Herbert Thorndike, Prebendary of Westminster Abbey,London. In this instrument Herbert directs that he be buried"between Doctor Nurse and my brother John Horndike in the wayfrom my lodging to the church," and he leaves substantiallegacies to "my two nieces Alice and Martha Thorndike,"daughters of John and Elizabeth (Stratton) Thorndike.Of John's life prior to his emigration to New England we have noknowledge, nor do we know by what vessel he came. It has beenstated that he came from Ipswich, county Suffolk, England in1629, but this has not been verified. Savage, in his"Genealogical Dictionary of New England," conjectures that hecame with Winthrop's Fleet in 1630, which seems quite reasonablein view of the fact that he was in Salem in 1632 when he hadevidently attained a considerable degree of prominence, for in1633 he was named by Governor Winthrop as one of a group oftwelve representative men, headed by John Winthrop, Jr., toplant a colony at nearby Agawam, as Ipswich was then known.While one of the original settlers of that place he appears onthe early records as grantee and grantor of land in Salem, thetransfers involving tracts in sections which subsequently becameSouth Danvers and Beverly. Beverly is described in the deed as"a certain breadth of the Sea at Patche's Beach and a good wayback as far as Beaver Pond." Here, in that part of town ofBeverly known as "The Cove," he built his house in which helived until his departure for England in 1668.His name appears with more or less frequency in the records ofthe Quarterly Court held at Salem. One of the earlier referencesto him is in a case involving one "Jno. Adams, whipped forrunning away from his m{aste}r Thorndik," 27 Sep 1636. JohnStone brought suit against him for "defamation," 29 Sep 1640;neither the outcome nor the details of this action are stated.Salem recordsshow that "at a towne meeting of the 7 men the 5th 12th moneth43," it was ordered that "Joseph Harris the son of George Harrsdeceased shall dwell wth Mr Thorndeck, both of Salem, fron thefirst day of the sixt moneth last 43 for seuen yeares findinghim meate drink & Aparell: & alowing to him fiue pounds, twopounds being already payd, and the said John Thorndeck to alowto the sd. Joseph three pounds at the end of his tearme." On 25June 1650 "Mr. William Browne appeared before the Court at Salemin an action against "Mr. John Thorndicke" relating to a voyageto the Barbados, but details of the case do not appear.He served as a Grand Juror in November 1653, and again in Juneof the following year, and his name isfrequently found as awitness to wills and an appraiser of estates. On 27 Dec 1642"Jno.Thorndike" deposed that as a witness to the will of SamuelSmith, deceased, he beleived the latter "has a fitt of feaver yeday before and the vapors in his stomake caused paine in hishead, and did cause sleep troubld sleep & ye Last day tilltoward 2 of the Clock (he) was nery sensible."At an adjournd sitting of the Quarterly Court held at Salem 9Sept. 1645 appeared "Mr John Thorndik" who pleaded "in regard ofhis weaknes of body and adg," but it was ordered that he "mustTrayne." This is the only reference to his performing militaryduty, from which record it would appeareither that he was, in fact, physically unfit or that he had noliking for it.His high standing in the community is attested by his service incivic activities, and further still by the terms of respect"Mr." and "Gent." which were frequently applied to him as theold records show. They were terms which in his day andgeneration were not used indiscriminately, but only withreference to men of distinction or position.While John Thorndike remained a loyal adherent to theEstablished Church of England throughout his residence in NewEngland, he was nevertheless deeply interested in the religiouslife of the community. In 1665 and 1667 he wasone of the assessors appointed to make rates for the support ofthe pastor at Beverly, the Reverend John Hale, and he served ona committee to draft a plan for "a more comfortable sitting" inthe meeeting house. On 9 May 1659 John Thorndike signed the petition addressed tothe General Court for setting aside as Beverly that part ofSalemknown as "Cape Ann Side," where he had established hishome. This project was not accomplished until 1668, the year hereturned to England.In contemplation of that journey (whether intended as a visit tohis brother Herbert in London or as a permanent change is notknown), he made his will which bears the date 29 July 1668 and,because of its peculiar interest, it is given in its entirety inthis account. Not long after the execution of this instrument heset sail for the lans of his birth and soon after his arrival inLondon with his daughters Martha and Alice he died. He wasburied 3 Nov 1668 in the East Cloister of Westminster Abbey,near the steps leading to the South Aisle. The place ofinterment is now marked by a pavement slab, bearing thefollowing inscription: HERBERT THORNDICKCanon of this Church1672JOHN THORNDICK1668The carving appears quite fresh and was done since 1902, for aphotograph taken in that year shows only the wording whichrelates to Herbert Thorndike, that relating to his brother beingquite illegible.In his will John Thorndike makes provision for his eldestdaughter Anne, his son Paul, his two youngest daughters Aliceand Martha, and mention is made of his two sons-in-law, JohnProcter and John Low. The will was proved at Salem, 29 Nov 1670,more than two years after his decease, and his son Paul wasnamed as executor. The will of John Thorndike, made 29 July1668, is here given in full:"John Thorndike being by Gods mercy purposed to goe this yeareto England doe by these presents Constitute and ordein this tobe my last will & testament.""Imprimis in regard my eldest daughter Anne Thorndike hath benefor these many years soe much ouercome with melancholy and isgrowen soe deepelyDistemperd thereby that hir vnderstanding is soe much besottedand stupifyed that without Gods great mercy & extraordin[ary]meanes vsed hopeles euer to act in the world to Gods honor andhir owne Comfort and liuelyhood asallso entending my estate vpon which I now liue vnto my sonnePaule Thorndike after my death doe giue & bequeath vnto him myhouse & land meadowes, barne orchyard and all the appertenansesbelonging vnto the same as allso the meadow I bought of JohnLeach lying by wenham pond in Consideracion that he take vponhim the Charge maintenans and tuition of this my aforesaidDaughterAnne Thorndike as allso to [faded] for her recouery but afterhir death to become his owne To his heires foreuer.""21y if I the said John Thorndike the Lord shold be pleased toContinue my life and shol think fit to Continue returne intothis Country agein I doe giue vnto my sonne Paule Thorndike 30akers of land comonly called Sawyersplain & the meadow adioyning to the land Called the flaggymeadow as allso my meadow at Topsfeild likewise thirty pounds tobe taken out of household stuffe stocke of Cattle besides allthe encrease of the Cattle improuement of the land that he shallraise in my absens to him & to his heires for euer.""31y I doe giue & bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Thorndike to bepayd hir before my departure fifety poundes in manner & formefollowing vizt 3 Cowes & one heifer goeing 3 yeares old one payroxen one horse & one mayre one featherbed & bolster one IrishRugge & payr of blankettes & what shall remane wanting of theaforesaid some of 50 li. to be made vp in household stuff orotherwise according to further Consideracion & order takentherein.""41y whereas I Doe entende my two youngest Daughters Alice &Martha Thorndike shall accompany me into England and if thatGods prouidens shol soe order that they doe not enioy theyrhealthe there or by other Casualtyesor distress or doe thinke fit to returne into this Country agenI doe giue & bequeath vnto my said two daughters all my landlaying & adjioyning [vnto] beuer pond as allso the meadowadioyning nere 100 akers as allso if my selfe Dye & Depart thislife then I Doe engage theyr brother Paule Thorndike topay vnto his said two sisters twenty pounds besides the saidLand Corne or Cattle according to the value of the Corne prizedhere within one yeare after theyr arriuall here but & if one myDaughters shold returne hither then my sonne paying vnto thatsister that shall retourne 50 li. within a yeare after hirarriuall & the said land & meadow to remain vnto my sonne to him& to his heires for euer.""lastly to the better ouerseeing & accomplishment of this mywill & Testament I Doe entreat my worthy frend Capt ThomasLowthorp as allso my two sonnes in law John Procter & John Low &first if in Case my sonne PaulThorndike shold dye before my daughter Anne Thorndike then I Doegiue vnto them full power & authority to make prouision out ofthis my estate for the maintenans & tender Care of this myDaughter according to theyr wisedomes & the Lord shall pleasevouchsafe meanes 21y if after my Departure my said Daughtershold grow into a greater distemper either of settichnes orprensie, to vse means [faded] maintenans or furthere Discord mayarise concerning any Caluse in this my said will betwene personsincluded in it I doe entreat them to determine namely my worthyfreind Capt Thomas Lowthorp my sonnes in law John Procter & JohnLow in witnes hereof I haue set to my hand & Seale the 29th Dayof July 1668."John Thorndike (SEAL)Witnesses: John Hill, John Black.Capt. Thomas Lothrop attested in Salem court 2: 10m: 1670 thatthis was the last will of John Thorndike.Mr. Paul Thorndike was appointed on 2: 10: 1670 as administratorof the estate of his father and was ordered to bring in aninventory.Capt. Lothrop made oath in court on 29: 4: 71 that the followingwas written by Jno. Thorndike on 27 July 1668, and left in hishands, as an explanation of the will:"first Concerning my Daughter Marye I haue giuen vnto hir 50 li.I doe assigne vnto hir the Cow Called Browne & Cherry & blackeor Smugg & the heifer goeing 3 yeares old in all 3 Cowes & aheifer wch I value 14 li. 10s.; the young oxen I bought ofThomas Pache, 10li.; one horse & one mare,10 li.; the feather bed & bolster in the parlour and money, 11li.""I doe apoint vnto hir one Roume in the house the parlour or theChamber & desire she may noe Remoue elcewhere & would haue hirbrother ___ hir 2 Cowes but if she shold remoue I doe giue vntohir the second best hog fatted as allso 10 bu: of Corn & 2 bu:of malt to furnish hir with hir prouision for I Desire not sheshold not be Constreined to goe to seruis.""allso I Doe giue vnto hir halfe of the flax Dressed out, thelast yeare & some part of that growing this yeare allso 30 li.of Cotten wool & a large peuter Dishe giuen vnto hir by hirmother _____""if I retourne not hither agein I Doe giue vnto my son Procterthe Copper & triuet he hath of mine wth a little Iron pot & aspring Locke to set vpon a dore.""I Doe giue vnto my sonn Low a heefer of a year old 30 li. ofCotten wool & a small chest standing in the parlour allso 3 ydsof ks if I can.""whereas I haue made prouision in my will concerning my daughterAnne that is if she shold grow into a worse Condicion after myDeparture then I Doe agein comend hir Condicion vnto the Care &Charity of the ouerseers of my said will to entreat them toplace hir wth some frend & Discreete pson & that she bemaintained out of my estate & that my sonne furnish hir wthbedding where she may be placed.""A true Inuentory of the Estate of Mr John Thorndike deceasedwhich hee left in new England," appraised 29 June 1671, by Tho.Lowthropp and Richard (his Y marke) Brackenbury:Imprimis one dwelling hous barn and orchard and 60 acres ofland..p 250-00-00++four scoare acres of land at beauer pond and 10 acres ofmeadow. 080-00-00++thirty acres of land Called Sawyersplaine...................... 060-00-00++seauen acres three quarters of meadow lying by wenhampond...... 035-00-00++three acres of meadow at a place Called the oldhouses.......... 012-00-00++two acres of salt marsh athome................................. 015-00-00++one hors two mares and two youngColts.......................... 020-00-00++four oxen six Cowes one heifer and six youngCattell............ 058-00-00++two feather beds and one flock bed with theirappurtenances..... 022-00-00++in brass Iron and pewter tables chairs stooles and otherlumber. 010-00-00++Cart plows and plowtackling axes and othertooles............... 005-00-00++Three acres of meadow atTopsfeild.............................. 010-00-00_________p 577-00-00Allowed in court 29: 4: 1671, upon oath of Paule Thorndike, sonof John Thorndike, deceased. (Essex County Quarterly Court Files, volume17, leaves102-104.)The above is a copy of the original will with its "explanation."The ancient document is in a fair state of preservation, but inplaces, especially where the creases are worn, it is somewhatdifficult to read.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Anne, called "my eldest daughter" in her father's will. Shebecame insane as the result of "cruel and lascivious beating" atthe hands of one Job Swinnerton, Sr., for which offense he wasfined at Salem, 9 Nov 1655.Sarah's husband John LOW, d. Ipswich 29 Nov 1695 son of Thomasand Susannah LOW of Ipswich. John m2. Dorcas ?, by whom he hadissue; and m3. Anna ?.Children: John LOW b. 24 Apr 1665 Ipswich Elizabeth LOW b. 18 Oct 1667 Ipswich Margaret LOW b. 26 Jan 1669 Ipswichr217 Elizabeth, aged "twenty & upward" 26 Nov 1661, when shetestified in Court at Salem; d. at Salem 30 Aug 1672; m. atIpswich, in Dec 1662 to John PROCTOR, b. in England in 1632;executed for witchcraft at Salem, 19 Aug 1692, son of John andMartha PROCTOR. He m2. 1 Apr 1674 Elizabeth BASSETT, who was oneof the first to be tried at Salem for witchcraft and who wouldprobably have met the fate of her husband had it not been forthe delicate state she was in at the time.Children: Elizabeth PROCTOR b. ~1663Martha PROCTOR b. 1 Apr 1665 Ipswich d. 10 May 1665Martha PROCTOR b. 4 Jun 1666 Salem Mary PROCTOR b. 20 Oct 1667 Salem d. 15 Feb 1667/8John PROCTOR b. 28 Oct 1668 SalemMary PROCTOR b. 30 Jan 1669/70 SalemThorndike PROCTOR b. 30 Jul 1672 SalemPaul, b. about 1643, baptized in Westminster Abbey, London, 18Apr 1663, aged then about 20 years.Mary, named in her father's will.Alice, named with her sister Martha in her father's will as oneof my "two youngest daughters," and referred to elsewhere as theelder of the two. It was probably she who as "Mrs. AliceThorndick, spr." [spinster], ages "about 22," m. in St. Mary'sChurch, Savoy, London, 17 Nov 1675, Francis HALE of Cranford,co. Middlesex, bachelor. Alice Hale, whose burial at age 17 isrecorded in St. Botolph's Church, Bishopsgate, London, 2 Oct1698 may have been their daughter. Alice Thorndike accompaniedher father to England in 1668 and was baptized in WestminsterAbbey, 10 Apr 1669, being then "of ripe years" as the recordstates. She was left a substantial legacy by her uncle HerbertThorndike, a portion of which was upon the condition that shenever return to New England and that she marry a person who"should sincerely cleave to the Church of England."Martha, named in her father's will as one of his two youngestdaughters. She accompanied her father to England in 1668 andwith her sister Alice was baptized in Westminster Abbey, 10 Apr1669. Like her sister Alice she was left a substantial legacy byher uncle Herbert thorndike and upon the same conditions. Sinceno further record og her has come to light, it is probable thatshe complied with the requirements of his will and remained inEngland.THORNDIKE; according to a family tradition, the founder of thisfamily in England, was from Germany or the Low Countries, a ditcher,who introduced there the system of dikes and thorn hedges, andthus obtained the name. It was first brought to this country by John, the sonof Francis, and brother of Herbert, prebendary of Westminster,being 5th in descent from William of Great or Little Carlton,Lincolnshire, Eng. He, John, born in Great Carlton, c. fromIpswich, England, about 1629, was one of the first settlers ofIpswich, Mass., 1633, where he r., a leading man, 35 yrs., but,displeased with the marriage of his only son, returned with hisdaughters to England.THORNDIKE, John, Beverly, perhaps s. of Rev. Goere, rector ofLittle Carleton, near Lowth, Co. Lincoln, bapt. 23 July 1603,came to Boston as early as 1632, if not in the fleet with Winth.for he was one of the twelve allow. by the governm. 1 Apr. 1633to go to plant Ipswich, with the eldest s. of the Gov. We areign. who was his w. but think her name was Eliz. and kn. that hehad six ds. Sarah, Eliz. Ann, Mary, Alice, and Martha, only s.Paul. In 1668, he went to Eng. and made his will there, 29 Julyof that yr. in contemplat. of his ret. and by that instr. it isfound, that d. Ann was insane, Alice and Martha in Eng. withhim. Yet he d. bef. come back, a 1670. Sarah m. 10 Dec. 1661,John Low of Ipswich; and Eliz. m. Dec. 1662, that John Proctorof Salem, wh. was hanged 19 Aug. 1692 for witchcr. but happi.she d. bef. the fanaticism began. * PAUL, Beverly, only s. ofthe preced. m. 28 Apr. 1668, Mary or Margaret, d. of JamesPatch, had Mary, b. 8 Jan. 1669; Eliz. 14 Oct. 1670; Hannah, 14 May 1673; John, 22 Jan. 1675;Paul, 17 Apr. 1677; Herbert; and Martha; was lieut. 1677, freem.1680, and rep. 1681. Prob. all the eleven gr. at H. C. are hisdescend.

THORNDIKEHe was there-- Swathed in that linen vesture for the grave-- The same loved one in all his comeliness-- And with him to the grave her heart must go. What though he talk'd of her to angels? nay-- Hover'd in spirit near her?--'twas that arm, Palsied in death, whose fond caress she knew! It was that lip of marble with whose kiss, Morning and eve, love hemm'd the sweet day in.--WILLIS. JOHN THORNDIKE settled in Ipswich in 1633, returned to Englandin 1668, and there died in 1670, leaving six daughters and oneson, Lieut. Paul Thorndike, a representative of Beverly in 1680,where he resided. He married Mary Patch, in April, 1668, and had sons, John, bornJan. 22, 1674, Paul, and Herbert. John married Joanna Dodge,1696, and had six sons. Paul married, and had ten sons, of whomAndrew, born Nov. 12, 1719, was father of Hon. Israel Thorndike,a wealthy merchant, of Boston, who was born in Beverly, Mass. Inthe Revolutionary war he was in part the owner, and commander ofan armed ship. His cruises were successful. For many years hewas a partner with his brother-in-law, Moses Brown, andafterwards engaged in commerce to the East Indies and China,which he continued till his death. He was a large owner inmanufacturing establishments. After a long residence in Beverly,he passed his last years in Boston, where he died, May 11, 1832,aged about 75 years. He purchased in 1818, the library ofProfessor Ebeling, of Hamburgh, of more than three thousand