Thomas Stokes of Stepney Middlesex, England

The following from My Lines. For more and sources see: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cousin/html/p5.htm#i342

Thomas Stokes of Lower Shadwell was a Quaker.
He was born in 1643 in Lower Shadwel, Stepney Parish, London, Middlesex, England.
He was the son of Henry Stokes of Stepney and Elizabeth.

He was seized because of his adherence to Quaker doctrines and cast into Newgate Prison in 1665 in London, England.

He was placed on a barge once more, he and his fellow-prisoners sailed down the Thames with an escort of troops from the Tower of London to exile in Holland on 4 August 1665.

He was transferred from the barge to the Black Spread-Eagle which sailed from Plymouth on 23 February 1665/66. He was captured by a Dutch man-of-war, then at war with England, and taken to Hoorn in North Holland, where the convicts of England were held by their national foes to be exchanged as prisoners of war.

He was provided with a passport by the Dutch and returned home to England.He was admitted a member "upon sight of his father's copy" of the Bakers Company on 3 July 1667.

He and Mary Barnard of Stepney were Quaker.

He married Mary Barnard of Stepney, daughter of John Barnard and Frances Munt , on 30 December 1668 in Devonshire House, Westbury Street Friends' Meeting, Bishops Gate street, Stepney Parish, London, Middlesex, England.

He immigrated to New Castle, Delaware, arriving August 1677;
Thomas and his family sailed for America in the ship "Kent" in order to avoid persecution, and also with the object of seeking new fields of labor, and arrived at New Castle, 6th month, 1677, and proceeded to Burlington, West New Jersey.

He settled on a tract of land containing one hundred and sixty-two and a half acres.
The deed for the same was from his brother, John Stokes, of Wentworth street, London, England

He was party to the making of "the concessions and agreements of the proprietors, freeholders and inhabitants of the Province of West New Jersey, in America," in September 1677.

He lived between September 1677 and June 1678 in Burlington, New Jersey;

He perhaps remained here until the next year (upon arriving), with the others, for mutual defence, and to view the country before he made selection of a place for settlement. This was, however, done in due time, and was chosen from among many on Northampton river, or, as it is now generally known, Rancocas creek.

He relocated to Rancocas Creek, New Jersey, circa 1678.
He was located three hundred acres of land fronting on the northerly side of the Northampton river, and a portion of the tract remains in the family, having passed down from father to son by will. Thomas named the location Stockingham.

"He was a man of influence, and took a very active part in the affairs of the colony. He served on the first grand jury held in Burlington county, and was one of the signers of the laws and concessions of West New Jersey.".

He relocated to live with his son following the death of his wife after 1699 in Waterford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.12

In 1709, Thomas Stokes of Lower Shadwell appeared on the census in Northampton, Burlington County, New Jersey, Details provided: Age 66. He died in 1718 at age 75 years. Aged 78 years.
He conveyed the tract of land he purchased of his brother John to Abraham Hewlings Jr. On 21 January 1719.12

He left a will on 13 October 1719;
"I, Thomas Stokes, of Waterford, in ye county of Gloster and Province of New Jersey, being weak of body but of sound mind, Praised be God, and being willing to settle in order all my concerns in this world, Do make and constitute this my Last Will and Testament ... I give and bequeath unto Lydia Stokes, the eldest daughter of my son, Thomas Stokes, my bed and beding and Furniture thereunto belonging, and if she happens to die before she be married, then this said legacie to go to Deliverance Stokes, daughter of my said son, Thomas Stokes.1 "

He died on 11 September 1720 in 7th mo., Waterford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, at age 77 years.

Children of Thomas Stokes of Lower Shadwell and Mary Barnard of Stepney:
Sarah Stokes b. 1670, d. b 1737
Mary Stokes+ b. 1672, d. 1749
John Stokes b. 1675
Joseph Stokes+ b. bt 1676 - 1681, d. bt 1759 - 1760
Thomas L. Stokes of Burlington County+ b. 1682, d. 6 Nov 1736

[S128] Francis Bazley Lee, Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey (New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907), Under "EDWARD A. STOKES" and the history of the Stokes Family in the U.S... Hereinafter cited as Genealogical Memorial of Mercer County.

[S107] John Clement, First Settlers in Newton Township, New Jersey (Camden, New Jersey: Sinnickson Chew, N.E. Corner Front and Market Streets, 1877), Under "Thomas Stokes.". Hereinafter cited as Clement.

[S1285] Milton Rubincam, "A Little-Known Adventure Of Thomas Stokes-1665", The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct., 1937). Hereinafter cited as "Adventure Of Thomas Stokes-1665".

[S758] Richard Haines, compiler, Genealogy of the Stokes Family, Descended From Thomas and Mary Stokes who Settled in Burlington County, N. J. (Camden, New Jersey: Sinnickson Chew & Sons Company, Printers., 1903), pg. 8. Hereinafter cited as Stokes Genealogy.

[S1290] Register of Burials, Marriages,and Births of the Quarterly Meeting of London & Middlesex, online <http://home.supernet.com/~jlstokes/london.htm>. Hereinafter cited as Register of the Quarterly Meeting of London.

[S128] Francis Bazley Lee, Genealogical Memorial of Mercer County, pg. 49, under HON. EDWARD CASPER STOKES entry.

[S1484] Genealogy of the Stokes Family, online home.supernet.com/~jlstokes/, CENSUS OF NORTHAMPTON, BURLINGTON COUNTY, 1709, based on his saying he was 66. Hereinafter cited as Genealogy of the Stokes Family.

[S1484] Genealogy of the Stokes Family, online home.supernet.com/~jlstokes/, Parents and Grandparents of Thomas Stokes, "A Critical Analysis of the Stokes Pedigree" (Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, Vol. 59, 1941, pp. 96-115.).

[S1285] Milton Rubincam, "Adventure Of Thomas Stokes-1665", "4th of the 6th month, 1665".

[S1285] Milton Rubincam, "Adventure Of Thomas Stokes-1665", "23rd day of the 12th month (February, 1666)".

[S1484] Genealogy of the Stokes Family, online home.supernet.com/~jlstokes/, Parents and Grandparents of Thomas Stokes.

[S128] Francis Bazley Lee, Genealogical Memorial of Mercer County, pg. 206, under Edward A. Stokes entry.

[S107] John Clement, Clement, pg. 302.

[S758] Richard Haines, Stokes Genealogy, pg. 5.

[S1285] Milton Rubincam, "Adventure Of Thomas Stokes-1665", "30th day of the 10th month, 1668".

[S1290] Register of the Quarterly Meeting of London, online <http://home.supernet.com/~jlstokes/london.htm>, 1668,10/30.

[S1484] Genealogy of the Stokes Family, online home.supernet.com/~jlstokes/, CENSUS OF NORTHAMPTON, BURLINGTON COUNTY, 1709.

[S107] John Clement, Clement, pg. 303 [Lib. No. 2, 138.].

[S758] Richard Haines, Stokes Genealogy, pg. 10.