Thomas Hartshorne

     Thomas Hartshorne was born circa 1614 at England. He married Susannah Buck circa 1640 at probable Reading, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; A tailor, Thomas was living in Reading in 1639, five years before its incorporation in 1644. "About 1640 settled on Elm Street. The old Thomas Hartshorn place remained two hundred years in the family." [Lily Eaton: History of Reading, 1874]. Arnold's history [James N. Arnold: The Arnold Genealogy] also states that a house on a hill was occupied by two Hartshornes who kept tavern, that Reading had 59 houses in 1667, including those of Daniel Hartshorn and Thomas Hartshorn. Probably the name Daniel is a misreading, and Thomas and one of his sons is meant. No other suggestion has been found that any other Hartshorn besides Thomas and Susanna were among the first settlers of Reading. Thomas was recorded as freeman 10 May 1648. A member in full of First Church 29 Sep 1648, his Church rate was £1-9s-7d. Susanna was also a member, and Rev. Samuel Haugh was the pastor.² Thomas Hartshorne married Sarah Ayers on 10 April 1661 at Reading, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; In addition to opposition to the marriage intentions of Sarah to Thomas by her brother William Fellows and John Ayres, Sarah's brothers complained that the William Lamson property had not been valued high enough and his children's rights not properly secured. [Vol. 4:81 & 4:334]² Thomas Hartshorne died circa 1683 at Middlesex Co, Massachusetts. His estate was probated on 16 June 1683; The estate was inventoried 18 May 1683.²
     He left a will on 26 October 1681 at Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; The will is very brief. The son Thomas is mentioned, perhaps because he is eldest; Benjamin was named executor and had the home place, evidently by previous agreement; daughter Susanna received valuable keepsakes. The others are not mentioned at all, and we have no record of what had been previously given them; some had been put to a trade or profession, and we know that Timothy had enough Reading land to hand down to his children, some of it Hartshorn land. The inventory included "...32 Ackers Land £74" "... tables, chears, books, and other ware £1-7s-0d." Total £122-7s-0d. Sarah's living was carefully provided and laid out, unless she remarry or remove, in which case she was to have only a small yearly sum.²