NameThomas MUNSON
Christen13 Sep 1612, Rattlesden, Suffolk, England [370]
Move1636, Hartford, Hartford, CT [Original Settler]
Move1639, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT
Death17 Mar 1685, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [545]
FatherJohn Munson (ch. 1571-br. 1650)
MotherElizabeth (---?---) (~1575-br. 1635)
SpouseJoanna (Munson)
Birthabt 1610
Death13 Dec 1678, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [545]
Children
Christen6 Aug 1643, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [500]
Death1692, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [167]
Marriage26 Oct 1665, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [167]
Christen11 Jun 1648, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [545]
Death30 Nov 1695, Guilford, New Haven Co, CT [701]
Marriage2 May 1667, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT [701]
SpouseNathan Bradley
Marriage21 Aug 1694, Guilford, New Haven Co, CT [701]
3 FElizabeth Munson
Birthabt 1645
Death?
SpouseRichard Higginbotham
Notes for Thomas MUNSON
The first appearance of Thomas Munson (1612-1685) in America is recorded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1637 as a member of the militia unit engaged in the Pequot Indian War. (He also appears as an original settler on an obelisk in the Center Church Burial Ground, erected 1837.) In 1639, he signed the Fundamental Agreement at New Haven where he established his permanent home.  His life and actions are well documented in The Munson Record Volume I and the Connecticut Colony records.[ [1044]]

He is listed in the Catalogue of Members of the First Church of New Haven in 1640, his wife Joanna joining in 1646. (Dexter’s compilation, 1914). He was seated by the First Church of New Haven 10 Mar 1646. In 1669, he was appointed to a committee that was to establish the boundaries between New Haven and Branford. He led soldiers from New Haven in King Phillip’s War in 1675. He served as a representative in the general court from 1666 to 1675. (NEHGR 29:139)

His inventory was taken 25 Mar 1685 by Moses Mansfield and John Winston. Agreement was made 12 Jun 1685 between Mansfield, Richard Higgenbotham and Joseph Tuttle on the estate of “our father”. The estate was divided among the men, grandson Thomas Munson, Elizabeth Higgenbotham and Hannah Tuttle. (NEHGR 81:129)

The Thomas christened in Suffolk in 1612 is not positively tied to the one in New Haven but seems to be generally accepted for two reasons: his tombstone says he was 73 (making his birth in 1612) and Susan Munson, thought to be his wife or sister, who came in 1634, came over with Kimballs and Scotts from the Rattlesden area. First illustrated in TAG Jan 1941, p. 129-134.

Savage’s: THOMAS, Hartford, 1641, rem. next yr. to New Haven, had Samuel, bapt. 6 Aug. (but not 7, as print in Geneal. Reg. IX. 361), 1643; and Hannah, 11 June 16 was rep. 1666, 9, 70-5, and serv. in the Ind. war. He d. 1683, and in the div. of his est. we find ano. ch. Elizabeth w. of Richard Higginbotham. Hannah m. 2 Mar. 1667, Joseph Tuttle. Susan, who came in the Elizabeth to Boston, 1634, aged 25, was, perhaps, his w.
Notes for Joanna (Munson)
A Susan Munson came in the Elizabeth in 1634 to Boston. If this is Thomas’ wife, he probably came earlier and was in Boston at the time. (NEHGR 29:139 and Savage’s) It may also be his sister, as there was a Susan Munson baptized in 1603/4 in Rattlesden.
Last Modified 10 Nov 2004Created 1 Dec 2013 using Reunion for Macintosh