Thomas Marshfield

Notes:

Thomas Marshfield has been the subject of many books and articles largely due to his being a disreputable merchant who caused an uproar in the Towne of Windsor for the entire decade of the 1640s. To top it all off, he disappeared leaving his family destitute and his wife the subject of witchcraft rumors that eventually drove her out of town. He emigrated from Exeter, Devonshire, England to Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 on the Regard of Barnstaple. He was accompanied by his unnamed wife, daughters Sara and Mercy, and son Samuel.
He became a freeman 6 May 1635. He was a co-founder of Windsor Connecticut Colony, probably settling in that area of the Connecticut River Valley by 1636, about a year after, the Valley's first settlement, Wethersfield, was founded in 1635. At some point Marshfield, then of Windsor, became a partner with Henry Wolcott and Samuel Wakeman when they chartered two vessels, the Charles of Bristol and the Hopewell of London to be bound for New England. Marshfield borrowed

Thomas married Mercy (Wife of Thomas Marshfield) [?] about 1632 in England. Mercy was born about 1605 in Exeter, Devonshire, England; was buried on 30 Sep 1654 in Springfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Samuel Marshfield was born about 1626 in Exeter, Devonshire, England; died on 8 May 1692 in Springfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts.
2. Mercy Marshfield was born about 1627 in Exeter, Devonshire, England; died on 4 Jul 1704 in Springfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts.
3. Sarah Marshfield was christened on 25 Aug 1633 in St Mary Arches, Exeter, Devonshire, England; died on 9 Mar 1708/09 in Springfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts.
4. Priscilla Marshfield died on 20 Oct 1639 in Windsor, Connecticut Colony.