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 1610 - 1680
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| Born |
1610 |
Nottinghamshire, England  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
1680 |
Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island |
| Notes |
THOMAS HAZARD, of Nottinghamshire, England, the progenitor of the HAZARD family in America, was b. 1610; d. 1680. He was in Boston in 1635, and was admitted freeman 25th Mar. 1638. Freeman of Portsmouth, R. I., 1640. 28th Apr. 1639, with eight others, signed the contract for the settlement of Newport, R. I. 12th Mar. 1640, appointed member of the General Court of Elections. Member of the Governor's Council, 10th Dec. 1654. Member for Newton, L. L., of the Provincial Convention of November and December, 1653. m. (firstly) Martha (surname unknown), who d. 1669; m. (secondly) Martha SHERIFF, d. 1691, widow of Thomas SHERIFF.
1. Thomas-1 Hazard was born about 1610 and died in 1680. He married first Martha Potter (George-A). Martha died in 1669; she was probably the daughter of George-A and Martha (_____) Potter of London, England. Thomas married second Martha (_____) Sheriff; she died in 1691; she was the widow of Thomas Sheriff. Hazard. Thomas Hazard came to this country from Wales about 1639, bringing with him his son Robert at that time about four years old. He has been supposed to be Goffe, one of the King's Judges, but this is improbable as it is proved from deeds, &c. that he was here in 1640. (Source?)
It also seems improbable that Thomas Hazard was a native of Wales or departed from there. Despite the forgoing quotation, it seems most likely that Thomas Hazard was a native of England.
... His name is first found in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635. In 1638, March 25, he was admitted freeman of Boston. Two years later he was admitted freeman of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. In 1639, April 28, he and eight others signed the following contract, preparatory to the settlement of Newport, Rhode Island: "It is agreed by us whose hands are underwritten to propagate a plantation in the midst of the island or elsewhere, and to engage ourselves to bear equal charge, answerable to our strength and estates, in common, and that our determination shall be by major voice of judge and elders, the judge to have a double voice." The founders and first officers of the town of Newport were William Coddington, Judge; Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall, William Brenton, John Clarke, Jeremy Clarke, Thomas Hazard, and Henry Bull, Elders; William Dyre, Clerk. In 1639, June 5, he was named one of four proportioners of land in Newport, any three of whom might proportion it; "the company laying it forth to have 4d. an acre for every acre laid." September 2, 1639, he was admitted freeman of Newport, and in 1640, March 12, he was appointed a member of the General Court of Elections. In 1665 [sic, 1656], he was for a short time in Newtown, Long Island. (Robinson, 1-2)
At Portsmouth, on 30 January 1658, Thomas Hazard deeded as dower, with his daughter Hannah Hazard, to Stephen Wilcox of Portsmouth, 34 acres adjoining Thomas' farm. On 10 December, Thomas deeded to Thomas Sherriff, a house, 30 acres, orchard, etc in Portsmouth for ?20 and a quarter of a share in Misquamicut. The Sheriffs were not to take possession of the deeded property until Thomas Hazard died. Ironically, Thomas Sheriff died first and his widow, Martha, married Thomas Hazard. (Austin, 320) On 30 November 1669, in a will that was voided by subsequent ones, Thomas named wife Martha, daughters Elizabeth, wife of George Lawton, Hannah, wife of Stephen Wilcox of Misquamicut, and Martha, wife of Ichabod Potter, son Robert Hazard, and grandson Thomas Hazard (Austin, 320). On 16 October 1674, Thomas testified in a dispute regarding the corn mill at Pawtuxet between Stephen Arnold and Samuel Reape. Thomas stated that he was sixty-four years old (Austin, 320). On 29 May 1675, Thomas made a formal statement prior to declaring marriage intentions with Martha (_____) Sheriff:
This is to notify all men whom it may concern,
whereas there is a promise of matrimony betwixt Thomas
Hazard and Martha Sheriff, yet I, the aforesaid Thomas
Hazard, do take the same Martha Sheriff for her own
person, without having anything to do with her estate, or
anything that is hers for matter of goods, etc. (Austin,
320)
This prenuptial agreement of sorts was probably intended to reassure the heirs of Thomas and Martha (_____) Sheriff that Thomas Hazard would not interfere with the inheritance they had envisioned. Apparently, relations between Thomas and his only son, Robert, were strained at one point. Thomas made another formal declaration on 6 August 1677:
That whereas son Robert claims right to my lands by virtue of a writing as he saith by me formerly passed and given him, &c.þthis is denied. I, Thomas Hazard, do by these presents solemnly protest and affirm that I never made any writing, only in a will drawn by John Porter at John Lawton's house about thirty years past, wherein if I had then deceased, being sick and weak, my said son was to have had my lands and my other children my movables; nor made any writing to said son only in a will 1669, Nov. 30, in which I appointed him executor, since which time have seen cause to make null and void, and do absolutely abolish the two wills and have made another will dated 1676, Nov. 6. (Austin, 320) In his will, proved 1680, his wife Martha, whom he calls his "beloved yoke-fellow," is sole executrix, and he gives her "all movable and immovable estate, as housing, goods, cattle, and chattels, etc." To his son Robert he gives 1s. To his daughters, Hannah Wilcox and Martha Potter, wife of Ichabod Potter, 1s. (Source?)
Children, by Martha Potter:
2. i. Robert-2, b. 1635; m. Mary Brownell.
ii. Elizabeth, m. George Lawton.
iii. Hannah, m. Stephen Wilcox, son of Edward and _____ (_____) Wilcox.
iv. Martha, m. (1) her first cousin, Ichabod-2 Potter (Nathaniel-1, George-A), son of Nathaniel-1 and Dorothy (_____) Potter; m. (2) Benjamin Mowry, son of Roger and Mary (_____) Mowry.
I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the family documented above including their ancestors, children, and grandchildren and the spouses thereof, including the full names of those spouses' parents. All additions and corrections, however speculative, will be greatly appreciated. Please send a copy of any response directly to me. I subscribe to many lists and post to many websites; I would not want to miss your reply! Thank you!
Perry Streeter
Canandaigua, New York USA
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| Person ID |
I58 |
My Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
11 Jun 2012 |
| Family 1 |
Martha Potter, b. 18 Oct 1611, England , d. 1669, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island |
| Married |
1628 |
Rhode Island, USA |
| Children |
| | 1. Elizabeth Hazard, b. 1630, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island , d. 08 Nov 1711, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island |
| | 2. Robert Hazard, b. 1635, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island , d. 1710, Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island |
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| Family ID |
F43 |
Group Sheet |
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