b.c.1600 Lechlade, Gloucestershire
m.1. 5 Aug. 1624 Plymouth, PATIENCE BREWSTER (b.c.1600 Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, d. before 12 Dec. 1634 Plymouth "the pestilent fever hath taken away some at Plimouth, among others Mr. Prence the governor his wife")
    2. 1 Apr. 1635 Plymouth, Mary Collier (bpt. 1612 St. Olave's Church, Southwark, London)
    3. before Dec. 1662 Apphia Quicke (m.1. Samuel Freeman)
    4. c.1667 Mary ______ (m.1. Thomas Howes, d. 9 Dec. 1695 Yarmouth)
d. 29 Mar. 1673 Plymouth

Thomas arrived in Plymouth on the "Fortune" 9 Nov. 1621, only a few days after the first Thanksgiving. He received a one acre lot beyond the fort in the woods to the west in the 1623 land division.(9) He and Patience and his daughter Rebecca were living on lot five at the time of the Plymouth cattle division 22 May 1627, his son Thomas had lot ten.(1) In the Plymouth tax list 25 Mar. 1633 Thomas was assessed �1.7s.(10) He is not on the list for 1634, however, his cattle mark was three marks on the outer side of the ear.(11)

Thomas joined Bradford, Allerton, Brewster, Winslow, Howland, Alden and Standish in their trade monopoly in July 1627 becoming one of the eight partners or undertakers who guaranteed the purchase of the Plymouth Colony from the merchant adventurers in exchange for having certain monopolies granted to them. He signed the "Articles of Agreement" to have the "whole trade consigned to us for some years to pay the debts [of the colony] and set them free.. and to transport as many of our brethern of Leyden over".(2) Thomas was elected Governor of the Plymouth Colony for the first time in 1634. On 2 Jan. 1633/4 the General Court appoint him to a committee to assess taxes on the colonists, payable in grain or its equivalent. He was again a member of this committee the following year.(3) Thomas volunteered to serve in the Pequot War under Lt. William Holmes in 1637.(4) He was in the Plymouth list of men able to bear arms in 1643 and was one of only four men referred to as "Mr."(6) He was elected Governor again in 1638. During his second term he presided over the trial of four men who had robbed and murdered an Indian near Providence. Having been found guilty they were hung, however, one escaped. On 3 Oct. 1639 Capt. Standish and Thomas were sent by the Court to determine the "differences and controversies" in Sandwich. On 16 Apr. 1640 Thomas and the townsmen of Sandwich agreed on a committee for allocating meadowland.(5) He was governor from 1657 until 1673. He also served as treasurer and as President of the Council of War as well as Commissioner of the United Colonies. After Bradford died in 1653 Thomas was the leader of the Plymouth Colony until his death. The law required that the governor reside at the seat of government, however a dispensation was obtained and he was allowed to live in Eastham and Mrs. Bradford was hired to provide for him and his assistants when they were at court. An attendant was also appointed to attend to him on his journey to and from Plymouth and Mr. Allyn of Barnstable was hired to accommodate him and his attendant at his house with private rooms when passing "to and from". In 1665 Thomas moved to Plymouth and lived at a place provided by the government of the colony called "Plain Dealing" which was about two miles from the center of town on the road to Boston.(8) In compensation for having required the Governor to live in Plymouth the Court ordered that he be paid �50 per year as long as he was governor. In 1668, at Thomas' request, the Court sold him "Plain Dealing" for �150.

Plans of the Thomas Prence House- Eastham

In 1644 Thomas and several other families founded the town of Eastham. His house was on the east side of the county road, his farm made up of the richest land in the place. The famous pear tree planted by him stood near his home and blew down in 1849. In his book Cape Cod, Thoreau states: There was recently standing, on what was once his [Prence's] farm, in this town, a pear tree which is said to have been brought from England, and planted there by him, about two hundred years ago. It was blown down a few months before we were there. A late account says that it was recently in a vigorous state; the fruit small, but excellent; and it yielded on an average fifteen bushels. Legend has it that a shoot was taken from this tree and it was planted next to the ruined tree and flourished." The doorstep from Thomas' home was used at the base of the Pilgrim Memorial in Provincetown.

Thomas owned land in Harwich, Truro, Tonset and other locations in the colony.(7) His tracts in Sauquatucket, now Brewster, which he had obtained by grant due to his being a "Purchaser or Old-Comer", he sold to his son-in-law John Freeman in 1672. His half share at Paumet both "purchased and unpurchased" between Bound Brook in Wellfleet and Eastern Harbor or Lovell's Creek he sold to Thomas Paine in 1670. On 12 Jan. 1671 he sold to his "beloverd son-in-law, Mr. Samuel Freeman... for thirty pounds his hose lot situated and being in the town of Eastham containing eighteen acres of upland be it more or less", together with other upland and meadows in other parts of town. Thomas had provided a home for Samuel and Mercy soon after their marriage and on 8 Dec. 1662 it was sold to them. It was the property which Thomas had purchased from Josiah Cook.(21) All together Thomas had some eleven tracts of land, two of which being over 100 acres in size including: land grants on 1 July 1633 and 14 Mar. 1635/6; a grant of meadow at Jones River on 20 Mar. 1636/7; land between two cedar swamps at Island Creeke Pond on 6 Mar. 1636/7; all the land between Greenes Harbor and South River on 5 Feb. 1637/8; a garden place on 2 Apr. 1638; ten acres "in some covenient place about the town" on 5 Nov. 1638; one and one-half acres at Smilt River on 3 Dec. 1638; a parcel betwen John Barne's garden and George Watson's field on 2 Dec. 1639; additional land at the head of his Jones River lot on 16 Sept. 1641; another six acres at Jones River on 17 Oct. 1642; and on 2 Oct. 1650 he was granted rights to bass fish on Cape Cod.(12) In addition he exchanged land with John Combe, Phinehas Pratt and John Barnes.(13) Thomas purchased two acres on the south side of the second brook from Ellinor and Francis Billington on 14 Sept. 1638.(14) About 1645 Thomas acknowledged that he had sold his house and garden place and barn in Plymouth, ten acres of upland in the woods, five acres in the second brook, eleven acres by John Barne's land and one farm at Jones River to Edmond Freeman.(15) On 11 July 1649 Thomas Prence of Nawset, gentleman, sold to Jacob Cooke of Plymouth, planter, 40 acres of upland in Rocky Noocke and three acres of marsh.(16) On the 13th of July Thomas sold to Richard Church of Nawset, carpenter, and Anthony Snow of Marshfield, feltmaker, upland and marsh at Marshfield and 40 acres of upland received by a grant dated 5 Feb. 1647.(17) On 13 June 1655 Thomas sold to Edward Buckley of Marshfield, five acres of marsh in Marshfield.(18) On 12 July of that year Thomas sold to John Browne of Rehoboth "my half share with other purchasers situate and being near Rehoboth and Sowamsett".(19) On 31 Aug. 1658 Thomas sold to John Cooke of Plymouth two acres of marsh meadow at Jones River.(20)

"I Sachimas Indian Sachem of Satuckett... Doe freely and absolutely and for ever give unto Mr William Bradford Governor and unto Mr Thomas Prence; both of Plymouth all my meddowes lying upon the easterly side of Satuckett or any pte of it it both Fresh marsh and salt... And know yea alsoe... That I... Doe freely and absolutely give unto the abovesaid Thomas Prence thirty acrees of upland buting upon pte of the meddow abovementioned; which upland is to bee layed out on the Northerly side of a little brooke called mosquaquot; and runeth through prte of the abovesaid meddow; which Thirty acrees of upland... with free libertie for Fenceing stuffe from of the Comons from time to time and att all times I have given... unto the said Thomas Prence". Dated 3 Dec. 1663, witnessed by Josias Wampatucke, Indian Daniell and Indian Sam. (31)

"I Sachimas Indian Sachem of Satuckett" for �8 sold to "Mr. Thomas Prence of Plymouth, a pcell of upland bee it fifty acrees more or lesse lying upon the easterly side of stoney brooke adjoyning to the mill bridge; upon the west; with the mill brooke on the south; with the great pond; on the Easterly side; with an Indian fence runing from the said great pond to a little pond called Poquaquo; and from the said little pond throw a smale valley and swamp to stoney brooke River... with free egresse and regresse att all times into the Comons; for fuell and fodder." Dated 3 Dec. 1663, witnessed by Josias Wampatucke, Indian Daniell and Indian Sam. (32)

"I Josias Chickatabut Sachem... Doe bargaine and sell unto my loveing frinds Mr Thomas Prence Josias Winslow Junir Mr Constant Southworth and William Bassett Junir; a Certaine Tract of land... on the westward side of a brooke that is the westerly bounds of Puchake necke and is to run upon the south side of Tetacutt River untill the said river Doth wind about to the north; and alsoe from that place of the said river a Tractd of land on the north side of the said river runing Downe from the bite of the river up the said river untill it comes to the mouth of Winnatuxett River goeing all along halfe a mile into the land from the said river with all the Timer and whatsoever is thereunto appeartaining... for and in consideration of eighteen pounds by them or any of them to be payed to mee or my assignes". Dated 18 Nov. 1663, witnessed by William Brett, John Haward and Teachneake.(33)

"Att the General Court held att Plymouth the 9th of June 1664 the said Court have allowed those that have Interest in Pachague necke to have these lands next above mencioned added unto them; Kanelme and Josias Winslow haveing out of it; each of them one hundred acrees in the right of their broth Gilbert Winslow, whoe was one of the first comers over into these ptes."

On 20 Sept. 1664 Thomas sold to John Freeman of Eastham "all that his upland and meadow lying on the southeast side of great Namskekett viz: a parcel of upland containing eight acres... with five acres of meadow", two acres of meadow and ten acres of upland.(22) On 14 Nov. 1669 Thomas exchanged 100 acres "of upland lying upon Pachague Neck on the southerly side of Teticutt River" with "Mrs. Alice Bradford the executrix of Mr. William Bradford" for "a half share of Purchase Land at Satuckett be it forty-five acres more or less, and also the one-half of twenty-fiver acres of meadow".(23) On 2 May 1670 Thomas sold to Thomas Paine of Eastham, cooper "all my one-half share of Purchase Land Paomett" with the consent of "Mrs. Prence".(24)On 25 July 1672 Thomas Prence, Esquire, Governor of New Plymouth, sold to John Freeman Sr. of Eastham "one parcel of land containing thirty acres and another parcel of land containing eight acres... of swamp and upland... one other parcel of marshland, containing twenty-four acres... also forty acres of upland... also forty acres of upland... also fifteen acres of uplant... also fiver acres of upland".(25)

Thomas was opposed to anyone who he considered to be a heretic, particularly the Quakers. He was infamous for banishing those who would not conform to the Pilgrims' strict church law. He also encouraged the persecution of people for various offenses such as smiling in church (Heaven forbid!), harboring non-church members (the dreaded Quakers for example), or for tending the garden on the Sabbath. The good governor's religious policies met opposition in Duxbury from the Quakers Henry and Arthur Howland. Henry was charged with "improperlie entertaining" a neighbor's wife and his son Zoeth, was put in the stocks for saying that he "would not goe to meeting to hear lyes, and that the Divill could preach as good a sermon as the ministers". Others agreed with him and chose to pay the fine rather than go to church there. Now Arthur was secretly courting Thomas' daughter Elizabeth. However, the law prohibited "making motion of marriage" without the father's consent. Thomas took the boy to court and fined him five pounds for the "inveigeling of Mistris Elizabeth Prence and making motion of marriage to her, and prosecuting the same contrary to her parents likeing, and without theire mind and will... in speciall that hee desist from the use of any meanes to obtaine or retaine her affections as aforesaid". Arthur and Elizabeth stuck with each other for on 2 July 1667 Arthur was back in court, fined and placed under a �50 bond stating he "did sollemly and seriously engage before the Court, that he will wholly desist and never apply himself for the future as formerly he hath done, to Mistris Elizabeth Prence in reference unto marriage". They continued to behave "disorderlie and unrighteously", but finally wore down the old man and they were married 9 Dec. 1667 and "in good time the names of their children, Thomas Howland and Prence Howland, were inscribed on the baptismal roll of the church". So, Thomas ended up having a Quaker son-in-law, Quaker grandchildren and Quaker in-laws!

He was involved in several law suits which were decided in his favor. In 1650 Strong Fumell of Boston wrote an apology to the court for having evily slandered Mr. Prence after Thomas had sued him for �200 damages. Thomas presided over the court that dealt with Plymouth's first witchcraft trial in 1661 and handled this in a very reasonable way. He was also instrumental in securing funding for the colony's grammar schools so future generations would be educated. He was good to the Indians with the missionary Thomas Mayhew speaking of his "gentle and kind dealing" with them. He showed great wisdom in 1637 during the negociations with the men from Massachusetts who demanded much of the land in the Connecticut Valley the Plymouth had purchased from the Indians. So, Thomas seems to have had his good points as well. Thomas gave Massasoit's sons, Wamsutta and Pometacom, their English names of Alexander and Philip as a compliment to their warlike character. He died in 1673 just prior to the onset of King Philip's War. The war was due in large part to the lack of raport and understanding with the Native Peoples on the part of his successor which was in stark contrast to Thomas' ability to deal with them.

Thomas died at his home in Plymouth in 1673: "THOMAS PRENCE Esquire Govr. of the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth died the 29th of March 1673 and was interred the 8th of April following. After he had served God in the office of Governor sixteen years or near thereunto he finished his course in the 73 years of his life. He was a worthy gentleman very pious and very able for his office and faithful in the discharge thereof, studious of peace, a wellwiller to all that feared God, and a terror to the wicked. His death was much lamented and his body honorably buried at Plymouth the day and year above mentioned."(28)

In his will, 13 March 1672/3 and proved 5 June 1673, "Thomas Prence being at present weak in body" bequeathed to "Mary my beloved wife ... such household goods of any kind as were hers before we married, returned to her again, after my decease, and if any of them be much impaired or be wanting, that she shall make it good out of my estate in such goods as she desireth". To "my said loving wife my best bed and the furniture thereunto appertaining, and the court cupboard that now stands in the new parlor with the cloth and cushion that is on it, and an horse and three cows such as she shall make choice of, and four of my best silver spoons, and also during her natural life, I give her the rents and profits of my part of the mill at Satuckett, and of the lands adjoining, and my debts and legacies being first paid, I do further give unto my said wife a full third part of my personal estate that remains".

To "my grandchild Theophilus Mayo and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, the one half of my lands and meadows at or near Namassakett in the township of Middleberry".

"I give unto my grandchild Sussanna Prence the daughter of my deceased son Thomas Prence, the other half of my above mentioned lands and meadows at Middleberry aforesaid". In the absence of an heir of these grandchildren, the abovesaid lands to revert to "my daughters, or such of them as shall be then surviving, or their heirs if all my daughters should be dead".

"To my said grandchild Theophilus, and to his heirs forever, my part of the mill and lands adjacent at Satuckett after the decease of my wife, and this I give for his encouragement to proceed in learning".

The residue to be divided between "my seven daughters, Hannah, Marcye, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah and Judith, and my above mentioned grandchild Susanna Prence".

A codicil to the will bequeathed "to Mr. John Freeman Speed's Cronicle and Wilson's Dictionary and the abridgement, and Simpson's History of the Church and Newman's Concordance".

To "my daughter Elizabeth Howland a black heifer". A little yellow heifer to Lydia Sturtivant. To "my daughter Jane a bed, and another bed to my daughter Elizabeth Howland".

To "my grandson Theophilus Mayo all my books fit for him in learning, and if he carry it well to his grandmother I then give him a bed". Theophilus was the youngest son of Nathaniel and Hannah and probably was taken in by the good governor after the death of Nathaniel. One also has to wonder how dutiful Theophylus was to his aged grandmother and if he received the bed.

"Item I give unto my said loveing wife... the court cubberd that now stands in the new parlor with the cloth and cushion that is on it". The inventory shows that it was only worth �1.5s., but the green cloth and cushion was worth �2 (in contrast to his "broad clothe cloake" which was worth �3). The cupboard was purchased by Wallace Nutting and is now owned by the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. Check out the article by Wallace Nutting The Prince-Howes Court Cupboard in "Antiques" magazine, Vol. II, Oct. 1922, p. 168ff.

"The inventory of the governor's estate shows he owned on the Cape, 'one fourth of the mill and land adjoining to it at Satuckett,' now West Brewster; twenty acres of land and three acres of meadow at Tonsett in Eastham, and eighteen acres on Porchy Island. Before his death Thomas disposed of most of his estate by deeds. Thomas Prence's descendants are numerous upon the Cape. Thomas Prence, the only son of the governor, died in England, leaving no sons, consequently he has no descendants of the patronymic living."(35)

Thomas Prence's Chair- Pilgrim Hall- Plymouth

An Inventory of the Goods and Chattles of Thomas Prence Esqr Lately deceased taken and apprised by Thomas Cushman Ephraim Tinkham senir and William Crow the 23 day of Aprill 1673

Impr: 1 Table and forme and Carpett att.............................01 02 00
Item 1 Court Cubbert........................................................01 05 00
Item 1 Green wrought Cubbert Cloth and Cushen................02 00 00
Item 1 green old Cushen....................................................00 00 06
Item 1 wrought stoole and yellow Couer to it.......................00 03 00
Item 1 old great Cloth Chaire..............................................00 04 00
Item 1 great winscoot Chest................................................00 12 0
Item 1 portmantle, and a locke to it......................................00 04 0
Item 1 yard and three quarters of homade Cloth....................00 07 0
Item 1 parsell of powder......................................................01 10 00
___________
07 07 06

In the New Parlour

Item 1 great draw Table and forme.......................................02 00 0
Item 1 great old striped Carpet..............................................00 07 0
Item 1 window Curtaine.......................................................00 03 0
Item 1 Great wooden Chaire.................................................00 08 0
Item half dozen of high Lether Chaires...................................02 00 0
Item 1 Cushen stoole............................................................00 01 6
Item 1 paire of brasse Andjrons 1 fier shouell & tonges............01 18 00
Item 6 smale brasse peeces for Andjrons................................02 00 0
Item 1 Iron for the fier..........................................................00 01 8
Item 1 Tenant thward saw.....................................................00 03 0
Item 1 old Runled 1 old Cloth 2 old Cases...............................00 01 00
Item 1 brush.........................................................................00 01 00
___________
07 06 2

In the Clossett

Item 4 longe necked bottles and 1 Rundlett..............................00 03 0
Item 1 Nest of drawers ..........................................................00 06 6
Item 10 pound of Ledd in waights...........................................00 03 4
Item 3 Case bottles................................................................00 00 9
Item 1 knife 1 pen knife 1 old aule..........................................00 01 00
Item 1 stone Iugg 1 old feirkin 1 old Case 1 old pott..................00 02 0
Item 3 Cheesfatts...................................................................00 01 6
Item 13 smale Galley potts; 4 vyalls.........................................00 03 6
Item 1 baskett 1 peece of whalebone and a parsell of bees wax..00 02 9
___________
01 04 4

In the old Parlour

Item 1:12 square Table...........................................................00 10 00
Item 1 great Chaire with a backe.............................................00 03 0
Item 1 smale Chaire...............................................................00 01 6
Item 4 Cushens.....................................................................00 04 0
Item 1 winscott Chest............................................................00 08 0
Item 1 Chest.........................................................................00 05 0
Item 2 Ioyn stools..................................................................00 02 00
Item 1 Trundle bed stead........................................................00 06 0
Item 1 paire of old sheets........................................................00 08 0
Item 1 Couerledd...................................................................00 15 0
Item 1 Couerledd wrought.......................................................01 04 0
Item 1 apple Roster and bread Roster.......................................00 03 00
Item 2 fierlocke Musketts........................................................02 00 00
Item 1 hundred and quarter of Nailes.......................................00 01 6
Item 1 old hand baskett and a parsell of Flints...........................00 01 6
[61]Mr thomas Prence his Inventory

Item 4 pound of bulletts or therabouts......................................00 01 00
Item 1 pair of Andirons...........................................................00 12 00
Item 1 paire of Tongs..............................................................00 02 00
Item 2 siluer spoones eighteen shilings......................................00 18 00
Item 4 siluer spoones..............................................................01 10 00
Item 1 siluer Tobacco box.......................................................00 15 00
Item 1 looking glasse...............................................................00 12 00
Item 1 window Curtaine..........................................................00 03 00
Item 2 powder hornes and a brush...........................................00 02 00
Item 1 paire of stillyards..........................................................00 10 00
___________
11 17 06

Apparrell

Item 1 blacke broadcloth Cloake..............................................02 00 00
Item 1 black stuffe suite..........................................................02 10 00
Item 1 blacke turkey tamy Cloak.............................................02 00 00
Item1 broad cloth Cloake........................................................03 00 00
Item 1 Cullered stuffe suite and Coate......................................02 10 00
Item 1 broadcloth longe Coate.................................................03 00 00
Item 1 paire of broadcloth briches............................................01 00 00
Item 1 blacke Coate and a smale Coate....................................00 16 00
Item 1 smale Coate.................................................................00 18 00
Item 1 stuffe Coate.................................................................00 12 00
Item 1 Ryding paire of briches.................................................00 08 00
1 old Cloth Coate...................................................................00 08 00

19 02 00

More Aparrell

Item 1 Cloth hood..................................................................00 04 00
Item 1 paire of Fringed Gloues with Gould and siluer................01 00 00
Item 1 paire of Good Buck skin Gloues...................................00 06 00
Item 1 hatt and Case..............................................................00 16 00
Item 1 paire of silke stockens..................................................00 14 00
Item 1 paire of woolen stockens [...]
Item 2 paire of wosted stockens..............................................00 08 00
Item 2 paire of yarne Gloues..................................................00 03 00
Item 2 paire of shoos.............................................................00 11 00
Item 1 paire of old boots and boothose topps...........................00 07 00
Item 1 dowlis shirt.................................................................00 12 00
Item 1 dowlis shirt.................................................................00 10 00
Item 1 holland shirt................................................................00 08 00
Item 1 paire of demety drawers...............................................00 08 00
Item 6 bands..........................................................................00 12 00
Item 5 bands..........................................................................00 07 06
Item 4 paire of Cuffes.............................................................00 02 00
Item 1 lased Capp...................................................................00 02 00
Item 3 Capps..........................................................................00 03 00
Item 2 handkerchiffes..............................................................00 02 00
___________
The sume of the Apparell is 21 11 06

Item 1 peece of Cloth wrought and fringed................................00 04 00
Item halfe a yard of Red Cotton...............................................00 01 6
Item a Remnant of Cloth.........................................................00 02 00
Item 1 paire of spectacles and a Case.......................................00 03 00
___________
10 6

[62] Mr Thomas Prenc his Inventory

Books

Item a Great bible 10s 1 Psalm book 6d...................................00 10 06
Item Mr Ainsworths Anotations of the 5 bookes of Moses.........01 10 00
Item Byfeild vpon the Collosians.............................................00 05 00
Item Iohn Woames Exposition on the law of Moses..................00 12 00
Item Weames off the Lathocker in Scotland.............................00 15 00
Item 1 exposition on the Reuelation.........................................00 06 00
Item 1 booke of docter prestons unbound................................00 02 00
Item mr hookers Survey of Church Dissipline..........................00 02 06
Item Nortons Orthydox evangelsit...........................................00 02 00
Item Burrows Gospell Converstion..........................................00 01 06
Item another of Gospell Worship.............................................00 01 00
Item Mr Tillinghast Generation worke......................................00 03 00
Item New Englands Memoriall.................................................00 02 00
Item a little Index and an answare to a questian.........................00 02 00
Item Culpeppers London dispensatory......................................00 02 00
Item 7 paper Sermon bookes...................................................00 01 00
Item 1 great bible....................................................................00 08 00
Item a dispute betwixt the Lord Bishop and the Iesuite ...............00 04 00
Item the Key of the hebrew tongue...........................................00 01 00
Item 1 Great old Psalme booke.................................................00 00 06
1 great Psalme booke...............................................................00 02 06
Item 2 law bookes...................................................................00 02 00
Item 100 of Psalme bookes......................................................07 10 00
Item William Cornwallis Essaies...............................................00 01 06
Item 1 Psalme booke 1 booke of private Comunion...................00 02 03
Item Prins workes on Canterberrys tryall..................................00 01 06
Item the voulcanus.................................................................00 10 06
Item 50 smale paper bookes to be distributed bound vp
___________
13 03 08

Item 2 Inkhorns.....................................................................00 01 00
Item 4 hundred of Nailes or therabouts....................................00 04 06
Item a broken bo in it powder and bullet..................................00 00 06
Item Blunts Law dictionary.....................................................00 15 00
___________
01 01 00

In the Kitchen

Item 1 Iron hanger att............................................................00 04 00
Item 2 old Iron hangers att.....................................................00 02 06
Item a vise 3s 1 Ioyners saw 2s 1 hamer & [sickle] 6d .............00 06 00
Item spoon and old Iron.........................................................00 00 06
1 shoe Iron and hamer 6d.......................................................00 01 06
Item 1 old Chest....................................................................00 02 00
Item 1 Great seiueting trough or Chest.....................................00 05 00
Item 1 Cubberd.....................................................................00 08 00
Item 1 warming pan 5s 1 great brasse kettle 1li 10s...................01 15 00
Item 1 smaller Great kettle.................................................[0... 0...] 05
Item 1 great brasse skillett......................................................00 06 00
Item 1 old brasse kettle..........................................................00 05 00
Item 1 old Copper kettle........................................................00 12 00
Item 1 frying pan..................................................................00 01 06
___________
05 04 00

[63] Mr Thomas Prence his Inventory

more in the Kitchen

from the other syde................................................................05 04 00
Item 1 old brasse pott.............................................................00 05 00
Item 1 Iron pott 10s 1 broken Iron pott 6s................................00 16 00
Item 2 paire of pothookes 2s 6d 1 brasse skillet and fram 2s 6d..00 05 00
Item 2 brasse skimers.............................................................00 01 06
Item 1 smale Iron skillett........................................................00 02 06
Item 1 old Iron pott................................................................00 03 00
Item 1 belmettle pudeing pan and brasse Couers.......................00 05 00
Item 1 Iron kettle...................................................................00 08 00
Item 1 smoothing box and 2 heaters........................................00 02 00
Item 1 old brasse morter and pestell........................................00 02 06
Item 1 great Flagon................................................................00 16 00
Item 1 lesser Flaggon 10s 1 lesser Flaggon without a lidd 5s......00 15 00
Item 1 salt seller 1s 1 old pewter tankard 1s
one brasse Candlesticke 2s.....................................................00 04 00
Item 4 Candlestickes 1 at 4s 2 att 6s and the least 2s................00 12 00
Item 3 pewter platters Deep 18s 1 smaller New Platter 5s
1 pewter bason 5s 1 of the same 4s........................................00 09 00
Item 1 pewter bason & yure..................................................00 12 00
Item 1 great pewter platter.....................................................00 12 00
Item 1 Cracked platter 7s and 2 platters 16s............................01 03 00
Item 3 platters att 15s 2 smaller 6s one att 4s..........................01 05 00
Item 3 smale platters att 5s 4 plates 9s halfe a dozen of braod sawcers 5s
1 butter dish and three plates.................................................00 07 06
Item 3 pye plates att 9s 1 plate 2s..........................................00 11 00
Item 3 smale basons 5s 2 oldporringers 1 old plate..................00 06 06
Item 1 bed pan 5s 2 latten driping pans 8d.............................00 05 08
Item 1 latten Tunell and one sticke stone...............................00 01 06
Item 2 old Chamberpotts 3s.................................................00 03 00
Item 1 Chamberpott............................................................00 03 00
Item 1 stone platter.............................................................00 01 00
Item 1 Dozen of trenchers...................................................00 00 06
Item 2 kemnells..................................................................00 03 00
Item 1 Indian tray 1s 6d 2 longe trayes 1s 6d........................00 03 00
Item 2 longe trays and 1 Cracked one..................................00 01 00
Item 4 smale trays and a strainer.........................................00 01 04
Item 1 spitt 4s 1 little tray 4d; 3 pailes 4s.............................00 03 04
Item 1 paile 6d 1 Cheese presse 3s......................................00 03 06
Item 1 Tubb 2s 1 Tubb 4s 6d one sturgion kegg 6d..............00 04 00
Item 1 brewing tubb 4s 2 barrell 3s 2 milk panes 1s..............00 08 00
Item 4 butter potts 1 earthen pan........................................00 01 08
Item 1 Chern 8s 1 Chaire 16d............................................00 09 04
___________
sume 020 02 04

[64] Mr Prence his Inventory

In the Chamber

It 1 Deske.........................................................................00 01 06
Item I sampler...................................................................00 01 06
Item 1 Close bedsteed & settle and Cord.............................01 10 00
Item 1 open bedsteed and Cord..........................................01 00 00
Item 1 great old trunke 8s 1 smale trunke 6s........................00 14 00
Item 1 great Flate Box 6s 1 striped Curtaine and
a peece of green Fringed vallence........................................00 10 00
Item 1 old striped suite of Curtaines and vallence..................00 12 00
Item 1 paire of old holland sheets 10s 1 paire of Dowlis sheets 10s
1 paire of Dowlis sheets 15s................................................01 15 00
Item 1 paire of homspon sheets...........................................01 00 00
Item 1 paire of hom spon sheets..........................................01 00 00
Item 1 paire of Cotten and linnine sheets..............................00 15 00
Item 1 paire of the same sheets...........................................01 00 00
Item 1 paire of homade sheets............................................00 15 00
Item 1 paire of fine pillow bears..........................................00 12 00
Item 1 paire of smaller pillow beares...................................00 06 00
Item 1 paire of pillow beares..............................................00 05 00
Item 1 longe plaine Table Cloth..........................................00 16 00
1 longe Diaper Table Cloth................................................01 00 00
Item 1 short Table Cloth...................................................00 05 00
Item 3 little Table Clothes.................................................00 06 00
ltem 3 large towel]s..........................................................00 12 00
1 Dozen of Napkins.........................................................00 18 00
Item 2 towells 4s I Towell 6d............................................00 04 06
Item 9 holland ledworke Napkins 18s and 4 old Napkins 6s..01 04 00
Item 1 fine holland Lased Cubbord Cloth............................01 00 00
Item 1 lased damaske Cubberd Cloth..................................01 00 00
Item 1 peece of an old sheet..............................................00 01 06
Item 1 blankett.................................................................00 10 00
Item 1 green Rugg............................................................01 00 00
Item 2 pillowes.................................................................00 06 00
Item 1 yellow Rugg...........................................................01 00 00
Item 1 blankett.................................................................00 10 00
Item 1 paire of woolen Cards and some old ones.................00 03 00
__________
24 14 00

In the Chamber over the Kitchen

Item 1 bridle and saddle....................................................01 05 00
Item 1 pillion; Cloth and bridle..........................................00 12 00
Item 1 old Coverlidd 5s 1 blankett l5s.................................1
peece of bankeett 1s........................................................01 16 00
Item 1 feather bolster 12s 1 smale bolster 4s shilling...........00 16 00
Item 1 old bedd and bedsteed and Courd...........................01 05 00
Item 3 Iron hoopes; 1 Coller and tracyes one Cart Rope
2 Corn seives..................................................................00 16 00
Item 1 old Chest 3s 1 pecke measure 1s
1 spining wheel 4s 1 new Canvase bagg 6s; six bagges 8s....01 02 00
Item 13 old Cask.............................................................00 13 00
In the old Celler 2 beer barrells & 4 Rundeletts.......................8s
__________
sume 07 18 00

In the Celler

2 beer barrells & 4 Rundleletts..............................................8s
[65] Mr Prences Inventory

Without Dores

Item 2 axes 1 spade..........................................................00 06 00
Item 1 paire of fetters.......................................................00 03 00
Item 3 wedges 2s 3 hoes 4s 1 frow 2s................................00 09 00
ltem 1 mattocke 1s [6s] hatchett 1s....................................00 02 06
Item 2 old shovell 1 betle ringe 1 ladle................................00 01 6
Item 1 Grindstone and winch.............................................00 08 00
Item 1 Cart and wheeles boxes 4 pins 1 shakle and bolt........01 10 00
Item 1 plow and plowjrons 10s
1 Chaine 2 peece of a Chaine.............................................01 00 00
Item 1 dungforke 2 forkes 1 rake.......................................00 03 00
Item 2 yoakes with hookes ringes and staples......................00 04 00
Item 1 halfe Dozen of piggs...............................................00 18 00
Item 4 hogges...................................................................02 00 00
Item 1 Cowhyde...............................................................00 10 00
Item 8 sheep with theire woole and 2 lambes.......................03 03 00
Item 10 17 00
_________

Item 4 yards and an halfe of Galloom.................................00 01 06
Item 1 fann of feathers......................................................00 01 00
Item 1 paire of linnine Cuffes............................................00 00 06
Item 2 graters...................................................................00 00 02
Item 2 meale seives...........................................................00 01 09
Item 1 still........................................................................01 00 00
Item halfe of a longe spindle for a mill................................00 05 00
Item 1 old bedstead in peeces
Item 3 Dozen of hookes and eyes......................................00 00 09
Item a little blacke silke and silver fringe.............................00 02 00
Item 1 smale Rundlett.......................................................00 01 06
Item 1 old brush...............................................................00 00 06
Item 1 midwifes booke......................................................00 01 06
__________
01 16 02

Cattle

Item 4 oxen......................................................................16 00 00
Item 1 young bull..............................................................01 15 00
Item 1 yearling..................................................................01 00 00
Item 1 horse.....................................................................02 00 00
Item 2 Mares 1 Colt 1 2 yeare old horse in Plymouth...........05 10 00
Item 8 horses and Mares Runing att or neare Eastham..........08 00 00
__________
34 05 00

Goods

Item 1 blacke wrought wastcoate........................................00 12 00
Item 1 lased neckcloth.......................................................00 10 00
Item 2 plaine neckelothes...................................................00 05 00
Item 1 holland Apron with a seaming..................................00 10 00
Item 1 apron with 2 seamings............................................00 05 00
Item 2 lased Dressings......................................................00 05 00
Item 2 lased [Quoives]......................................................00 02 00
Item 1 lased Neccloth.......................................................00 01 00
Item 2 bibbs....................................................................00 01 00
Item 1 paire of Gloves......................................................00 02 00
Item one Neckcloth..........................................................00 01 00
__________
02 14 00

[66] Mr Thomas prence his Inventory

Item 1 bed and 2 bolsters bedsted and Cord a suite of Curtaines
and vallence 2 pillowes 2 paire of pillowbeers 1 Coverlid
2 blanketts 2 paire of sheets...............................................16 15 00
Item 1 Court Cubbert 1 green wrought Cloth
1 wrought Cushen.............................................................05 05 00
Item 4 silver spoones.........................................................01 16 00
Item 1 Gray horse and three Cowes 1 Calfe.........................12 00 00
Item 44 smale bookes........................................................02 00 00
Item 1 bed and bolster.......................................................02 10 00
Item 1 silver wine Cupp and 1 silver Dram Cupp.................01 07 06
Item 1 silver Tankard att...................................................05 00 0
Item 1 silver beerbowle.....................................................02 18 0
Item 1 siler salt seller........................................................04 00 00
Item 1 silver beere bowle..................................................03 11 06
Item 1 bed and bolster att..................................................04 01 0
Item 1 bed and bolster att..................................................05 00 00
Item 2 heiffers and one Calfe..............................................5 00 00
__________
72 13 00

Item 1 paire of sheets
Item 9 napkins
Item 1 smale peece of linnine
Item 1 Damaske Table Cloth
Item 1 Cubbert Cloth
Item 1 Napkin 1 blankett
Item 1 smale Iron kettle
Item 1 Towell 3 Napkins
Item 1 pewter tankard.......................................................04 04 00
Item 3 paire of smale siluer buttons
Item 1 paire of siluer shooe buckles
Item 1 little siluer Insument................................................00 16 0

Goods mistris Mary Prence had before Marriage

Item 1 Trunke with seuerall sorts of lineen..........................06 00 01
Item 5 Cushens 1 pillian Cloth............................................00 15 0
Item 1 Troopers saddle......................................................01 10 0
Item 1 bed two bolsters 1 rugg...........................................04 00 00
Item 1 bedsted 2 featherbeds and bolsters 1 paire of blanketts 2 suites
of Curtaines and vallence and Curtaine rodds and Coards.....15 00 00
Item 4 Chaires......................................................................15s
Item 1 Chest 1 Case 1 box.................................................00 17 00
Item 2 spitts 1 Iron peale 2 fier shovells 1 paire of Tonggs 1 Iron driping pan
1 paire of Rackes 1 paire of pothangers 2 paire of pothookes..02 07 0
Item 1 brasse Chaffing Dish morter and 2 Candlestickes........00 15 00
Item 1 bason & yore...........................................................00 12 00
Item 7 pewter platters..........................................................01 10 0

[67] Mr Prences his Inventory

Item 1 bason 2 porrengers 1 Candlesticke 1 salt Celler
1 Caudle Cupp 2 smale dishes 1 sawcer................................00 12 06
Item 1 beer bowle and 2 potts..............................................00 07 00
Item 1 stone platter and 2 silver spoones
1 silver Cupp 1 silver Dram Cupp.........................................01 07 06
Item 2 brasse kettles 1 brasse pott.........................................03 10 00
Item 1 warming pan 2 brasse skilletts and frames...................00 15 00
Item 1 smoothing Iron.........................................................00 01 00
Item 1 stone Iugg and six galley potts 1 pewter bottle.............00 06 06
Item 1 Case and some Glasse bottles 1 earthen Cupp.............00 03 06
Item 3 wine Glasses............................................................00 01 00
Item 1 pewter funell............................................................00 01 00
Item 1 Dozen of trenchers 1 Iacke........................................01 01 00
Item 1 pewter Chamber pott................................................00 04 00
Item 1 paire of wooden scales & 2 ledden waightes...............00 02 00
Item 2 ruggs 3li 1 Gridjron 5s 1 paire of sissers 6d................03 05 06
__________
46 16 06

Item in mony.....................................................................15 08 02
Debts Due to the estate

Item from Samuell Freeman by two bills.............................020 00 00
Item from Iohn Bryant 1 hundred of b[e]lts..........................02 00 00
Item from Leiftenant Iohn Freeman
for the 1/8 parte of Ketch...................................................06 16 03
Item for a sayne in Leift. Freemans hand.............................01 17 06
Item from Willam Griffeth as by bill....................................10 10 00
Item from hugh Steuerd of Eastham....................................01 00 00
Item payed to the Treasurer of the Collonie in prte of
a house and land bought of the Country.............................050 00 00
Item payed for the building one parte of a barne
that is on the said land........................................................08 10 00
Item payed for the building of one stacke of brick Chemnies..10 01 00
__________
116 04 09

The whole sume of the severall prticulares of the Estate errours excepted;
Amounts to 422 10 07

Debts owing from the estate 54 09 06
__________

Debts owing to be payed out of the estate

Item To mr Thomas Clarke.................................................02 13 11
Item To John Clarke...........................................................01 05 00
Item to Left Freeman..........................................................17 00 00
Item To mr John Cotten......................................................00 13 00
Item To Ioseph howland......................................................01 10 00
Item To Willam Crow.........................................................02 01 00
Item To Iabeze howland......................................................00 14 08
Item To Thomas Lucas.......................................................00 06 08
Item To Gorge Bonum .......................................................00 06 06
Item To the widdow Sturtivant ............................................00 10 03

[70] [sic - 68] Mr Prence his Inventory

Item To Iohn Wood the weavor...........................................00 10 00
Item To Gyles Rickard senir................................................00 01 6
Item To serjeant Willam harlow...........................................00 04 00
Item To Benjamine Church.................................................01 11 00
Item To Isacke Barker........................................................00 07 00
ltem To Ionathan Shaw.......................................................00 05 00
Item To Willam Clark.........................................................01 00 00
Item To his promise or Ingagement To the Scoole.................03 00 00
Item To the widdow dunham...............................................00 02 06
Item To ffrancis douce of Boston.........................................01 00 00
Item To mr John Winslow of Boston about...........................02 10 00
Item To mr Nathaniel Bacon................................................01 00 00
Item To the Deacons of Plymouth........................................00 15 00
Item To Mr Thomas hinckley..............................................00 02 06
Item To Captaine Thomas Clarke.........................................01 04 07
Item To mr Dauis the Apothycary........................................00 19 05
Item To Capt. Fuller...........................................................01 00 00
To mr Iohn hull..................................................................01 18 06
Item To Jonathan Sparrow..................................................01 00 06
To Docter Cooke.................................................................1 00 00
Item To Samuell Fuller .......................................................00 10 00
Item To John dunham........................................................00 03 00
Item To serjeant Tinkham..................................................01 00 00
Item To Nathaniel Thomas.................................................00 12 00
Item To Edward Gray........................................................00 05 00
Item To Clothing of the Govrnors servant............................02 04 08
Item payed forth on some funerall expences.........................03 05 00
Item To Thomas Clarke which was payed
To Benjamine Nye for halfe a Mill stone.............................01 06 00
__________
54 09 06

Wee are Informed of these severall prsells and Tracts of lands belonging to the Testator;

Item one hundred acrees of land lying in the Towne of Middleberry att or neare Winnapaukett pond and the brooke Goeing from it
Item one share of Meddow lying in a Certaine tract of Meddow Called the Majors meddow that lyeth upon Namassakett River, betwixt the pond and the waire
Item one hundred acrees of land lying on the Northerly syde of Teticutt River
Item a Considerable Tract of land that lyeth on the easterlysyde of Namassakett Riuer between Winnapauckett pond and a Tract of Land Called the Majors purchase,
Item eight acrees of land on the westerly syde of Namassakett River
Item a graunt of ten or twelue acrees of Land and a smale parsell of Meddow att Ioness Riuer meddow in the Townshipp of Plymouth
Item about ten acrees of Land lying on the southsyde of a Cart way that Goeth to Lakenham; Called Prence Bottome, in Plymouth
Item the one halfe of fifty or sixty acrees of Land and three acrees of Meddow between him and Major Winslow in Middleberry
Item 20 acres of land and three acres of Meddow att Tonsett in the Township of Eastham;
Item 8 acrees of land lying on Pochey Iland in the aforsaid Eastham
Item one fourth parte of w Mill at Satuckett and lands ajoyning to it

Finishd and signed the fift day of May 1673 Thomas Cushman
Ephriam X Tinkham
William Crow

mistris Mary Prence made oath to this Inventory Iune the fift 1673 before Iosias Winslow Gour:

April 23, 1673(36)

On 10 June 1673 John Freeman, Jonathan Sparrow, John Tracy, Mark Snow, Jeremiah Howes, Arthur Howland and Isaac Barker "received of our mother-in-law Mrs. Mary Prence late wife and executrix to our father Thomas Prence Esquire deceased each of us The full [ ] Some of twenty one Pounds sixtene shillings wch amounts to the Some of one Hundred Sixty two pounds and twelve shillings in full Sattisfaction off whiche [ ] Estate or Legatie [ ] to us or either of us by our aforesaid father in his last will and testament whether it be movable goods Debts, Chattell or Lands Sold.... we... doe... Discharge... our... Mother mrs Mary Prence... of all Legacies Debts Dues and Demands wtsoever... tenth Day off June one thousand Six hundred Seventy and three... Wee whose names are under Written Doe here by Engage unto our Mother mrs Mary Prence Late wife & Executrix of our father Thomas Prence Eqr Deceased that In case ther doth Appeare any More Debts to be Justly due from the estate of our Abovesaid father that we will each of us beare our Equall proportions thereof..."(26)

On 10 June 1676 Josiah Winslow, Esquire, "attorney for ... Susanna Prence at Catheren Gate near the Tower in London ..., singlewoman"; and John Freeman in the right of Mary his wife and as attorney for "Mary Prence, relict and executrix of the last will and testament of the honored Thomas Prence, late Governor ... deceased," and of Jonathan Sparrow and Hannah his wife, Marke Snow and Jane his wife, and Jeremiah Howes and Sarah his wife, daughters of the said Thomas Prence; and John Tracye and Mary his wife, Arthur Howland and Elizabeth his wife, and Isacke Barker and Judith his wife, daughters also of the said Thomas Prence, sold to Constant Southworth, treasurer and agent of Plymouth Colony, "all that our dwelling house, messuage or tenement" in Plymouth "at a place commonly called Plain Dealing"; signed by Josiah Winslow, John Freeman, John Trasye, Arthur Howland and Isack Barker.(27)

An interesting document is found in the Surrey History Centre: "The humble Petition [to Parliament] of divers wel-affected Women Inhabiting the Cities of London, Westminster, the Borough of Southwark, and Places adjacent (Affecters and Approvers of the late large Petition) of the Eleventh of September, 1648. In behalf of Lieutenant Col. John Lilburn, Mr William Walwyn, Mr Thomas Prince, and Mr Richard Overton, (Now Prisoners in the Tower of London) And Captain William Bray, Close prisoner in Windsor-Castle; And Mr. William Sawyer, Prisoner at White-Hall. Printed in London, 1649. 8pp. Bound with The Representation [to Parliament] of divers Young-men, Apprentices of the Cities of London, Westminster, the Burrough of Southwark, and places adjacent, on behalf Mr Lilburn, now Prisoner in Newgate; and in behalf of the Young-men and Apprentices, committed by You the second day of August last, 1653."(30) One has to wonder if this was Thomas Jr. Richard Overton was a pamphleteer and of the Leveller persuasion. He was a believer in the equality of all men and promoted the abolition of the monarchy. He fled to Flanders in 1655 after being put in the Tower twice for his opinions.

Of interest is the list of some of the notable people who are descended from Thomas including Bing Crosby, Commodore Perry, the Wright brothers and Sarah Palin.

Issue- First five children by Patience, last five probably by Mary Collier, however, the last two children may be by Apphia. Apphia was referred to as "Mrs. Freeman" on 15 Oct. 1646 and in a letter dated 8 June 1647 Thomas wrote to John Winthrop stating that: "since my parting company I have almost met with Jacob's trial in his travel between Bethel and Ephrath: God's having been heavy upon my wife and that for diverse months and is not yet removed." Thomas is referring to the Book of Genesis when Jacob's wife Rachel died between Bethel and Ephrath after giving birth to Benjamin. So, perhaps Mary died after the birth of Elizabeth and Apphia then married Thomas making Apphia the likely mother of the last two children?

Ref:

Early Settlers of Eastham- Josiah Paine in the "Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy"- 1916, 33 & 34
"The Lamson Family of Jonesport, Maine"- pp.405-6
"Brewster Genealogy 1566-1907"- Emma C. Brewster
"Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families"- William F. Davis