14. Thomas HOSKINSON Sr. [scrapbook] (John , John ) was born on 1 Feb 1679 in Preston, Lancashire County, England. He died 1 about 1743/1744 in Rock Creek Parish, Prince Georges County, Maryland.
THOMAS HOSKINSON (Hodgkinson) SR.
Prince Georges County, Maryland
1 Feb 1679 Ca 1743/44Our Hoskins family history in America begins with Thomas, the son of John and Mary Birchall Hodgkinson of Preston in Lancashire County, England. Thomas was the first of our family to arrive here, stating in a 1730 court petition that "I came into his Lordships Country, Maryland in 1700 and worked four years for a gentleman at the head of Biords (Birds) Creek in St. Marys County". This was no doubt on a tobacco plantation of the times.
Thomas left Liverpool, England as an indentured servant some time in 1699 aboard the ship Eleanor mastered by Mr. Nicholas Reynolds. Thomas was bound to Mr. William Porter a Merchant of that city and had signed aboard ship on January 20, 1699 at the age of 19, just 11 days before his 20th birthday. There were two groups of passengers on this voyage, the first group of 30 signed on to go to Virginia, their signing began in early September of 1698 and ended in mid ('December of that year. The second group of 20, which included Thomas and all others apprenticed to William Porter signed on in January and February of 1699 to make the voyage to Virginia or Maryland. It is not known when the ship sailed but the passenger lists were started in September and ended in February, but it may have been days, weeks or even months before the ship actually left port. It would have then taken 3 or 4 months or more for them to have made the voyage depending on which route they sailed and if there were any other port calls long the way. The Eleanor made several voyages to Virginia or Maryland between the years of 1698 and 1708, some under Reynolds and some under other ships masters.
As was the custom in those days, passengers or immigrants to the new world who could not afford the cost of passage often sold their services to someone else under an indentured servant contract. This was usually for four years, but many were for longer periods of time. In Thomas' case Mr. William Porter no doubt resold his services to the Gentleman on Birds Creek, who in turn paid his passage to Maryland. After arriving there Thomas was then obligated to work out a four year indenture to pay for his voyage, which he did. Also, in many cases, the sponsors of the people who were transported, received fifty acres of land to bring new people to the Colonies. These immigrants, by today's standards were virtual slaves who worked for food and shelter and at the end of their contract period may or may not have been given a few dollars in today's terms and let go on their way. After serving their indenture, they too were entitled to 50 acres of land. If they elected to take the land, they were first required to settle and live on it, pay the surveyors and clerks fees and any other costs connected to it before taking title. Many, due to poor circumstances could not do this, but some did and this gave them their start here. People from England did not have to meet immigration standards. if there were any at the time, as they were already British subjects in a British colony. It goes without saying that countless of us present day Americans owe our heritage of being here to those of our ancestors who toiled in this way to get to the new world.
Thomas came over under the name of Hodgkinson as it was a common precursor of the name of Hoskinson in England at the time. There were many Hodgkinsons in the town of Preston in Lancashire County, England but only a scattered few in Maryland at the time Thomas arrived there. There was a Charles Hodgkinson who came later and had land tracts "Draton" and "Middleground" on Trent Creek in St. Marys County. This was in 1713 and 1723 and was not far from where Thomas had lived in his early days there, but it is not known if Thomas knew this Charles. Charles retained his old world name, but research shows that Court Clerks and others spelled his name in different ways just as they did in Thomas' case. [An Outline of the Azariah Hoskins/Hoskinson Family History; Robert J. Hoskins; Raleigh, North Carolina]
Evidence seems to indicate Thomas married Jane Moore, daughter of James Moore, Sr. and Mary Moore in 1708/9.
On May 9, 1720 Thomas Hoskinson Senior, received a Warrant for 100 acres of land called "Hoskinsons Folly", from James Beale, near Bladensburg in Prince George County. The boundaries of this land began at a Bounded White Oak standing on the East Side of the North Branch of the Eastern Branch of the Potomack River and near the beginning tree of "Addition to Jacksons Necessity". Liber I.L. #A Page 162 Survey Folio #1110.
On 14 September 1722 Thomas Hoskinson received a land deed for "Hoskinsons Folly" from Charles the 2nd absolute Lord proprietary of the Province of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Barron of Baltimore and James Beale. LIBR PL #3 Pages 141-143 Prince George County, Maryland. Also Land Office Patent P.L. #5 Pages 141-143
In the April 1742 Court, George Atwood sued Thomas Hoskinson, a planter, for debt. This was an extensive case that dated back to 1736 and 1738. At that time Thomas had been dealing with John Hoopes a Merchant in Lurgen, Ireland to whom he had given bills of exchange, as Merchants did in those days, this was for the benefit of George Atwood. These bills were refused and were not accepted, something on the order of todays bad checks. Thomas promised to make them good but refused to do so and was brought into Court by Atwood. Thomas was ordered to pay to Atwood thirty pounds sterling and three hundred sixty eight pounds of tobacco in costs and damages.
Liber "Z" Folio 576,577,578.
DEATH: The last mention of Thomas Hoskinson Senior. was on a June 1743 Court Petition for permission to apply to the next General Assembly for relief from his miserable prison confinement. It is not clear as to when Thomas was again put in Prison, but probably resulted from one or more of the several bad business dealings that he had had with his creditors. A verbatim copy of this petition is as follows:
THOMAS HOSKINSON JUNE 1743 COURT Liber AA #14, Page 671: Thomas Hoskinson proffers to the Court here the following petition Viz: To the Worshipful Justices of Prince George County Court now in counsel sitting the humble petition of Thomas Hoskinson Senior and humbly sheweth that whereas your petitioner at this time a languishing prisoner in this County Goal in the custody of John Hepburn Esq. for debts which your poor petitioner is in no capacity by any ways to pay and your poor petitioner having a wife and family who must enevitably be obliged to be troublesome to your Worships for a maintenance. Except your poor petitioner were at liberty to gain support for them and upon whom they absolutely depend for maintenance. And your petitioner having been an inhabitant of this County upwards of forty years and behaving himself with probity and honesty to all men, being now misfortune and weekness of old age brought to this calamity, most humbly beseecheth your Worships of your great goodness and lenicy to such unfortunate persons to take his case into your consideration and grant him your certificate of permission to apply to the next General Assembly for relief from this miserable confinemant and your Petitioner as is duty bound shall ever pray. Upon reading which petition and consideration thereof had, it is ordered by the Court here that the Clerk of said Court make certificate of the Petitioners notice. Film CR34.714XP Pr.Geo.Co.,Md. [Research by Robert J. Hoskins of North Carolina]
Thomas married Jane MOORE daughter of James MOORE Sr. and Mary (MOORE) about 1708 in Rock Creek Parish, Prince Georges County, Maryland. Jane was born about 1686 in , Prince Georges County, Maryland.
They had the following children:
+ 17 M i James HOSKINSON + 18 M ii Thomas HOSKINSON Jr. + 19 M iii Charles HOSKINSON 20 M iv Elisha HOSKINSON was born about 1720 in Rock Creek Hundred, Prince Georges County, Maryland. + 21 M v John HOSKINSON + 22 M vi George HOSKINSON 23 F vii Mary HOSKINSON. 24 F viii Eleanor HOSKINSON.