Thomas Brigham The Puritan was born 1603 in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom to John Brigham (c1574-1621) and Constance Watson (1578-1615) and died 8 December 1653 Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Mercy Hurd (1616-1693) 1625 in England, United Kingdom.
Biography
Thomas Brigham fathered the first Brigham generation in America. History books have called him "The Emigrant" or "The Puritan".
1635 Migration to America
In the spring of 1635 a group of adherents of Rev. Thomas Shepherd, who had been preaching in Buttercombe, England, a few miles north of Home-on-Spalding-Moor, decided to migrate with him to the new world in order to escape religious persecution. On April 18 1635, they embarked on the ship "Suzan and Ellen" on a voyage from Bristol to Boston, that would last sixty-four days. Appearing in the passenger list: (Ann was Thomas's first cousin. )
- Thos. Brigham, aged 32
- Symon Crosby, husbandman, aged 26
- Ann Crosby, Uxer, aged 25
- Tho. Crosby, child aged 8 weeks.
Windmill Operator
Soon after reaching New England, Thomas Brigham settled Cambridge, MA. His 14 acre homestead adjoining that of Simon Crosby. He owned a windmill and records show he owned a third of all the swine in town. Thomas Brigham was made by the general court a Freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Company, 18 Apr 1637 and thus became a member of the body politic and acquired the right to vote. He was selectman 1640, 1642, 1647. A constable from 1639 to 1642.
Marriage & Family
In 1637 when Thomas was about 34, he married Mercy Hurd, aged about 21. (The name Hurd is only traditional, and the Rice Genealogy by Ward is responsible for the tradition.)
- Mary Brigham (1638-1676)
- Thomas Brigham (1641-1717)
- John Brigham (1645-1728)
- Hannah Brigham (1650-1719)
- Samuel Brigham (1652-1713)
Children
Siblings
References
- Thomas Brigham 1603 List of Famous Descendants - Marlboro Settler - 1635 Puritan Immigrant from Yorkshire England.