| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Many databases have Alice Bacon and Elizabeth Metcalf improperly married to the wrong Thomas Bancroft (the one who is the son of John Bancroft and who settled in Connecticut).
2. Ancestry.com's "Data concerning the family of Bancroft, Bradstreet, Browne, Dudley...," by George Gamble, 1906, pp. 156b, 156:
"Bancroft Family. Corrections and Additional Data. From data furnished by Mr. John M. Bancroft, of Bloomfield, N.J., and obtained from other sources, the following additional information has been prepared:
Thomas Bancroft was born in England, probably in Derbyshire in 1622. He married, 1st, at Dedham, Mass., 31 Jan 1647, Alice, dau. of Michael Bacon, who died 29 Jan 1648, without living issue; married 2d at Dedham 15 (13) Sep 1648, Elizabeth, dau. of Michael and Sarah (Ellwyn) Metcalf, who was born in England 4 Oct 1626, and died at Lynnfield, Mass, 1 May 1711. She was dismissed from the church at Dedham to that at Reading 25 Oct 1662. Their daughter Elizabeth married Joseph Browne and was the ancestress of Gen. Joseph Browne, of the Revolutionary army.
Thomas Bancroft was the owner of real estate at Dedham until 28 Oct 1652 when he disposed of his holdings there and moved to the vicinity of Reading. In 1670 he located at what is now Lynnfield. In a survey made by Thomas Gardner in 1660, the old Bancroft place, in the township of Lynn, is referred to as 'the place they call Ensign Bancroft's', showing his early connection with the military of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was relieved from this office of Ensign (p. 156) 15 Oct 1679, on the grounds of long service and poor health. He had probably served as Ensign for a quarter of a century. He died 19 Aug 1691, and was buried at Reading, (now Wakefield), Mass. He gravestone bears this inscription: 'Memento Mori, Fugit Hora. Here Lieth the Body of Lt. Thomas Bancroft, Aged 69 Years, Deceased Ye 19th Day of August 1691.'
The confirmation of Lieut. Bancroft, as an officer of the Foot Company of Lynn, on 12 Jul 1689, in all probably referred not to Ensign Thomas Bancroft, but to his son Ebenezer, afterwards Captain. The old Ensign was then 67 years of age, and in bad health, as seen from his petition to the General Court, and it was hardly probable that with warfare on with the French and Indians he would again have undertaken active military service. He son Ebenezer was then 22 years old. Ebenezer Bancroft continued in the military service of the colony for many years. In an item of Lynn military affairs, of 1706-07, in the regiment under Col. Theophilus Burrell, Capt. Ebenezer Bancroft appears in the list of officers. He served in the King Williams' war as Lieutenant...
Captain Ebenezer Bancroft's brother Thomas, born at Dedham, 14 Jul 1649 was a prominent member of the church and active in the affairs of the community. His gravestone epitaph refers to him as 'Deacon.' From him is descended the historian, George Bancroft, and a number of others prominent in American Affairs.
Mr. John M. Bancroft, who has gone exhaustively into the subject, points out that Lieut. Thomas Bancroft was not the son of John and Jane Bancroft, of Lynn, as claimed by some Lynn publications, but was probably their nephew and the son of Ralph, brother of John.
In one of the volumes of the Essex Institute Collections, containing sketches of the pedigrees of early members of the Lynnfield church, in that of the Bancrofts no reference is made to John and Jane as in any wise connected with Thomas. As these sketches were prepared at an early date it would have been known to their compiler had Thomas been a son of John. Hon. George Bancroft, the historian, was also probably convinced of this. In the 'Ancestry of John Davis and Eliza Bancroft,' the latter the sister of the historian, which was prepared and published by Hon. Horace Davis, of San Francisco, when a member of Congress, and during the life time of George Bancroft, John and Jane are not considered as the parents of Thomas.
[This author then quotes the work of J. Henry Lea, Esq., who I quote elsewhere in this database, as to the surmising that the pedigree of this Thomas is most likely through Ralph Bancroft of England.]
3. Ancestry.com's "Some Ancestors of Moses Bancroft," Frank S. Parks, 1934, p. 4:
"Thomas Bancroft (1622-1691). Born in England, it is supposed, 1622. We find him first at Dedham, Mass., in 1647, on the occasion of his 1st marriage. He sold his property there in 1652, and the name disappears form Dedham records. We definitely locate him in 1655 by an affidavit at Salem, which records that he had at that time, 1655, hired a farm of Samuel Bennett Sr., who owned some 500 acres in what is the northwesterly part of Saugus, some three miles or so south of the Reading church and settlement, on whose records they appear; though he did not have 'common lands,' or participate in the Reading town business. There are some accounts of the survey of the line, now the westerly boundary of Saugus that mentions the 'house of Ensign Bancroft.' In 1670, he purchased 60 acres at Beaver Dam, Lynnfield, deeded 'by power of attorney' by John Symonds and Elizabeth his wife, of Harold, in the county of Bedford in England, husbandman, it having been the land of Wm. Blote, formerly the husband of the said Elziabeth'; and was bounded N.W. on My. Holyoke; N.E. on Isaac Hart; S.E. on Goodman Collins and S.W. by Redding meadow.' In 1678 Elizer Holyoke (3), of Springfield, sold the 550 acre plot N.W., (except 1-2 acres with a building on that he sold to Thomas Bancroft,) and mentioned that 'it had been some years in use and improvement of thomas Bancroft.' Here he continued until death; 1691. He was buried at Reading, now Wakefield... He died intestate, but the estate was mutually settled and all details are on Salem, Mass., records; naming the several children, the widow, etc.; signed by name of mark as the person was qualified. After he came to Lynnfield he was appraiser of several estates. In 1688 he subscribed ₤5 to build a new church at Reading. About this time he petitioned for relief from military duty, which was granted.
He married first, Alice, daughter of Miguel Bacon, of Ireland, 31 Jan 1647, who died 29 Jan 1648. He married 2nd, Elizabeth, dau. of Michael and Sarah (Ellwyn) Metcalf, 15 Sep 1648. She was b. 4 Oct 1626, d. at Lynnfield 1 May 1711.
Child by 1st wife:
A. Thomas, b. at Dedham, 11 Jan 1648; d. 24 Jan 1648.
Children by 2nd wife:
B. Thomas, b. at Dedham, 14 Jul 1649.
C. Elizabeth, b. at Dedham; d. 21 Nov 1650.
D. John, b. at Dedham 1651; died ___.
E. Elizabeth, b. 7 Oct 1653. (RCR = Reading Church Records).
F. John, b. 3 Mar 1656 (RCR).
G. Sarah, b. 14 Jan 1657/8; d. 19 Jul 1661 (RCR).
H. Ralph, b. 20 Aug 1660; d. 13 Jul 1661 (RCR).
I. Raham, b. 27 Jun 1662; d. 19 May 1688 (RCR).
J. Sarah, b. 1 Apr 1665 (RCR).
K. Ebenezer, b. 26 Apr 1667 (Lynn Records).
L. Mary, b. 16 May 1670 (Lynn Records)."
3. The periodical "The Essex Genealogist," vol. 19, "THOMAS BANCROFT and his descendants of Lynnfield," by Marcia Wiswall Lindberg, pp. 211-17:
"The ancestry of Thomas Bancroft of Lynn[fleld] is uncertain. An article published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, hereafter NEHG Register, [January 1902], 84-87; [April 1902], 196-197) titled "Genealogical Gleanings Among the English Archives," by J. Henry Lea, gives information that may pertain to Thomas Bancroft of Dedham and Lynn. Mr Lea concluded:
"John Bancroft who, with wife Jane, came to New England on the James in 1632 [Hotten's Lists, 150, etc.], settled at Lynn and died in 1637, leaving children: Anne, John and Thomas (and possibly Samuel and William), probably all born in England, although they are not mentioned in the passenger list with their parents (there called "BARCROFT"). The widow had a grant of land in Lynn in 1638 and afterwards removed to Southampton, L.I., and then to Connecticut."
Robert Charles Anderson, in his "Great Migration Begins" (vol. 1, page 92) states that "McCracken and Jacobus argue that the name Barcroft had no connection with the Bancrofts ["The Essex Genealogist," 37:154-60). The origins of Thomas Bancroft of Lynn[field] must remain "unknown."
This account of Thomas Bancroft is derived partly from the study by John Kermett Allen (NEHG Register, 94: Oct (1940), 214-224, 311-321; Jan (1941), 56-59, 109-118. Mr. Allen presented all the descendants of Thomas1 Bancroft for 6 generations. Only Thomas's Lynnfield descendants will be given here. Deeds, wills, court records and town records have been added.
The present town of Wakefield was known as Reading in the 17th century, then became South Reading in 1812. The name was changed to Wakefield 25 February 1868. Lake Quannapowitt today, was then called "The Great Pond." Lynnfield was established as a district from part of Lynn on 3 July 1782, and was incorporated as a town, 28 February 1814. Genealogists who rely on the Massachusetts published Vital Records need to be careful. Births, marriages and deaths (of families who lived in what is today Wakefield), were published in "Vital Records of Reading to 1850." Likewise, the vital records of early Lynnfield will be found in the published "Vital Records of Lynn to 1850."
Lieut. THOMAS1 BANCROFT was born in England in 1625 (according to his age given in a court testimony -- see below), and died at Lynnfield, 19 August 1691 (Lynn Vital Records). He was interred in the old burying ground at 'Reading (now Wakefield), as there was no cemetery in Lynnfield at that time. His tombstone is inscribed: "Memmento Mort, Fugit Hora. Here lies the body of Lieutenant Thomas Bancroft, aged 69 years. The Memory of the Just is Blessed. Deceased ye 19th of August 1691." Lieut. Thomas married, first, at Dedham, 3/31/1647, ALICE BACON (Dedham VR), who died at Dedham 3/29/1648 (ibid.). She was the daughter of Michael Bacon, whose will, dated 14: 2 mo. 1648 named his son-In-law, Thomas Bancroft. Thomas Bancroft married, secondly, at Dedham, 9/15/1648, ELIZABETH METCALF (Dedham VR), who was baptized at St. Benedict (Norwich County), England, 20 September 1626 and died at Lynnfield, 11 May 1711, age 85 (Lynn VR). She was the daughter of Michael and Sarah (Ellington or Eliwyn) Metcalf (NEHG Register, 6 [1852]:171-173; 78:64).
Thomas Bancroft was residing In Dedham before 3/31/1647, when his marriage was recorded there. On 12: 10th month 1650, he was granted three acres of land there. He was taxed at Dedham from 1648 to 1653, when his name disappears from the records. By 29 September 1648, Thomas had become a member of the First Parish Church there. His wife Elizabeth (Metcalf) Bancroft, joined the Dedham Church 14: 10th month: 1651 and retained her membership there until 16: 4th month: 1662, when she Joined the Reading church.
On 29: 4: 1664, Thomas Bancroft and Robert Gowing took the inventory of William Stuart's estate ("Probate Records of Essex County," 1:449). On the 14th of May 1679, the inventory of John Pearson was taken by William Cowdry, Thomas Bancroft and Hannaniah Parker (ibid., 3:323). On 14 May 1679, Thomas Bancroft, William Cowdry and Hannaniah Parker took inventory of John Pearson's estate (ibid., 7:230). In 1678/9, Thomas Bancroft was administrator of the estate of his nephew, Benjamin Bicknal, son of William and Martha (Metcalf) Bicknal of Charlestown (Middlesex Probate). In July of 1675, Thomas Bancroft, age 50, and John Pearson, age 60, appraised the land of the late Capt. Richard Walker. Thomas was called "Ensign Bancroft" when he served on a Grand Jury on 27: 9: 1677. He served on Juries of Trials in 1666, 1669, 1672 and 1677, and on Grand Juries in 1674, 1675, 1679 and 1680 ("Records & Flies of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County," hereafter EQCR, 3:321; 4:143; 5: 106, 417, 6:31, 345; 7:290, 384).
In January of 1678, Thomas Bancroft took the "Oath of Allegiance" before Capt. Thomas Marshall of Lynn, and was appointed a Squadron Leader. He would have been 53 years of age. Serving under him were his neighbors, Edward Marshall, John Pearson, Jr., Francis Hutchinson, John Hawks, Moses Hawkes, Daniel Gowing, Nathaniel Gowing, Daniel Eaton, John Coles, Thomas Hutchinson, Samuel Stocker, William Clemons, Samuel Penfield, Nathaniel Lewis and John Dean -- all from Lynn[field] and what is now north Saugus. In the Massachusetts Military Archives (Vol. 69; p. 245) appears the following petition:
"To the Honorable General Court now sitting In Boston, Oct 15th 1679: The Request of Thomas Bancroft Showeth that he hath served the country as an Ensign for the town of Redding for many years; and his habitation going remote from his said town, and himself under some indisposition of body, cannot [be] so serviceable to the Military Company the way formerly. Therefore humbly entreats that he may be discharged from his ... company; this is his own prayer. Thomas Bancroft"
Deeds on file at the Essex County Registry of Deeds
On 8 November 1670, Ensign Thomas Bancroft of Lynn[field] bought for 17 pounds from John Robinson of Exeter (attourney for John and Elizabeth Simonds of Carroll, co. Bedford, England), 60 acres of upland and meadow in Lynn[field] near Beaver Dam, bounded NW by land of Mr. Holyoke and NE by land of Isaac Hart and SE by land of Goodman Collins and SW on Reading meadow, once land of William Blotts, formerly husband of said Elizabeth Simonds (Essex Deeds, 3:99).
On 20 August 1678, Thomas Bancroft of Lynn, bought from Eliezur Holyoke, "now resident in Boston (Suffolk County), Mass. Bay Colony," for a valuable sum, 1 1/2 acres of land in Lynn[field], with fences, near Beaver Dam at the east corner of his farm that Eliezur had recently sold to James Russell of Charlestown; witnesses: Jacob and Mary Eliot; recorded 7 June 1679 (ibid., 5:37) (see what appears to be a duplicate deed below). On 21 June 1681, Thomas Bancroft, Sr., "age about 58," deposed that "about 1655, he hired the farm where Daniel Hitchens dwells, from Samuel Bennett, Sr. and the land In controversy lay common for the free feed of cattle. Lately he heard that Thomas Browne had fenced in some of that land" (ibid., 8:121). On 13 December 1687, Thomas Bancroft, Sr. of Lynn[field] bought for 6 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence from Ann Collins of Lynn, Executor of the estate of Henry Collins, Sr., deceased, 20 acres of land in Lynn(field) bounded E by land of. Robert Gowing, N by Robert Gowing and Ensign Thomas Bancroft, W on Reedy Meadow, and S by lands of John Bancroft. Witnesses were Henry and Nathaniel Ingalls and Thomas Putnam; recorded 15 February 1688 (ibid., 9:171).
On 3 April 1690, an indenture was made between John Simond of Carroll (Bedfordshire) England and Jane Simonds of the same (spinster), son and daughter of Elizabeth Simons late of Carroll, widow, deceased, and Thomas Bancroft Sr. of Lynn[field], gentleman, for 26 pounds paid by said Thomas Bancroft and John Bancroft his son unto Thomas Fairweather, Attourney for John and Jane Simons, for 60 acres of land in Lynn[field], formerly William Biott's, bounded NW on lands formerly in possession of Mr. Holyoke, and NE by land of Robert Gowing, SE by land of said Thomas Bancroft and S with Reedy Meadow. Witnesses: Thomas Hall, Thomas Fairweather and Adam Goodaker. Signed John Simons and Jane Simons; recorded 3 April 1690 (ibid., 4:173).
On 10 July 1690, Thomas Qancroft of Lynn(field) was granted by William and Sarah Bassett of Lynn, 3 acres of meadow in Reedy Meadow, bounded south by Daniel Eaton, east by the great brook and John Bancroft, north with upland of Robert Bates. Witnesses were John Lewis, Edward Baker and Samuel Johnson; recorded 4 December 1693 (ibid., 9:172).
Deed of Thomas Bancroft to son John Bancroft
On 28 April 1691, Thomas Bancroft of Lynn[fieid], "for diverse good causes ... and especially for 15 pounds to me in hand paid," sold to his son John Bancroft of said town, a parcel of land out of my homestead ... about 25 acres, butted E by land of Robert Gowing on the highway as runs by Gowing's land & S by a pine tree marked TB, & a white oak marked TB, upwards from said pines to Gowing's land and downward & W along by Reedy Meadow .... also a parcel of meadow In Reedy Meadow, for 6 pounds in money ... which meadow was half of the parcel of meadow he had bought from Jonathan Pickering of Salem, i.e., the W side, bounded by meadow of Henry Collins (now Andrew Mansfield's), S with the swamp called, Dark Swamp, E with the other half part, N with his own upland, all within the township of Lynn[field]." Acknowledged by Thomas Bancroft, 13 May 1691; witnesses: John Browne, Jeremiah Swayne & Joshua Eaton; recorded, 24 January 1692/3 (ibid., 9:58-9).
Settlement of Thomas Bancroft's Estate, 23 November 1691
Lieut Thomas1 Bancroft died 19 August 1691, 4 months after the above deed was written. The Essex County Deeds contains the following account of his estate: "Whereas It has pleased the Almighty God to take from the land of the living Lieut Thomas Bancroft of Lynn, who deceased on the 9th (sic) of August last past and he died intestate, the widow of said Thomas Bancroft with sons John Bancroft and. Ebenezer Bancroft and Joseph Brown, who married with Elizabeth Bancroft, and also John Woodward who married with Sarah Bancroft, as also the youngest daughter that is yet unmarried, namely Mary Bancroft, met all together and conferred about a way of division upon the estate that the deceased died possessed of, and taking account of what most of us have already had in our father's lifetime and taking an inventory of the said estate, now have agreed upon the following division: First: that Ebenezer Bancroft shall present the honored court with an Inventory of the estate, and also take administration upon it, and also that Ebenezer shalt enjoy all the housing and lands that said deceased died siezed of, excepting 1/2 the lot which was by the said deceased purchased of Henry Skerry in Lynn[field], which contains 20 acres & also 1/2 of the Ashen swamp and 1/2 the Cedar swamp (which was laid out to the deceased), in Reading in Middlesex County, according to his deed recorded in Reading -- those 3 half-lots last mentioned are to be left out by the said Ebenezer Bancroft to his brother John Bancroft, who, with what John has received already, is to be in full satisfaction to him for his part of Thomas Bancroft's estate. Furthermore, the above-named Ebenezer is to have and enjoy all the cattle and utensils of husbandry and all other moveables that belong to said estate, excepting the household goods that the widow is to enjoy. He, the said Ebenezer, paying what is hereafter mentioned." The abovesaid widow, Elizabeth Bancroft, shall have and enjoy the household goods that belong to Thomas Bancroft's estate to herself for her own purpose and use forever and dispose of it if she shaii see fit in her lifetime, and if she stand in need thereof, she may sell the same and what may be left at her death she shall have leave to dispose of. Also she shall have liberty to live in the said house, with meat and drink, lodging and washing and all things necessary in sickness and in health during her natural life. Also the said Ebenezer shall pay unto his said mother yearly every year during the time she shall live with him, the sum of 20 shillings In money current sliver of New England, if his said mother demand the same every year. And if Thomas's said widow do desire to remove to any of those of her other children and to live with them or any other places, she has her liberty so to do. And her son Ebenezer Bancroft shall then pay her annually, 5 pounds in corn, pork and beef, proportionally at the common country prices but not at money prices; also 45 shillings a year yearly in money current silver of New England for as long as she shall live from him. Also the said Ebenezer Bancroft shall, within 2 or 3 years after his mother's decease, pay or cause to be paid to his 3 sisters, these following legacies, viz. to Elizabeth Brown, 10 pounds, and to Sarah Woodward 10 pounds, and to Mary Bancroft 5 pounds, all In current country pay at the common price but not at money price. Only in case that Mary Bancroft shall marry before the time above mentioned, then said Ebenezer shall pay her 1/2 of her said portion upon marriage. And in case said Ebenezer shall perform and pay every particular as is abovesaid, then he is to have, hold and enjoy the above mentioned housing and lands and moveables forever." Lastly, as to Thomas Bancroft, the deceased's house he possesses already. together with a bill of his brother Ebenezer, for payment of same, the matter [is] solved and Thomas Bancroft expressed his full satisfaction for his part; viz. a double portion. This is our mutual agreement and we have set our hands and seals, and humbly pray that this is to satisfy and confirm the same and cause it to be recorded as a full and final settlement of said estate. Dated November 23, 1691. Witnesses: John Pearson & John Poole. Signed: Elizabeth Bancroft & a seal, Thomas Bancroft & a seal, John Bancroft & a seal, Ebenezer Bancroft & a seal, Joseph Brown & a seal, John Woodward & a seal and the mark of Mary Bancroft & a seal.
"Inventory of the estate of Thomas Bancroft, who died 19 August 1691: Taken by John Bachelder, Nathaniel Goodwin & John Pearson
The homestead, housing and 35 acres of land adjoining 200.00.00
42 acres of land bought from Francis Skerry of Salem 30.00.00
20 acres bought of Goodman Collins of Lynn 10.00.00
1 1/2 acres of meadow bought of Goodman Jackson of Salem 5.00.00
3 acres of meadow bought of Goodman Bassett of Lynn 9.00.00
8 acres of swamp in Reading also called cedar lot 12.00.00
2 cows, 4 heifers, 2 yearlings & 2 cows; husbandry tools, etc. 16.00.00
Household furnishings, books, etc. 107.00.00
Total Estate 384.00.00
Child by 1st wife, Alice (Bacon), b. at Dedham (Dedham VR)
i. "THOMAS,2 s. of Thomas & Alice, b. 3/11/1648," d. at Dedham, 24 Jan 1648.
Children by 2nd wife, Elizabeth (Metcalf), first 3 b. at Dedham, the rest at Reading (Vital Records): .
ii. "THOMAS, s. of Thomas & Elizabeth, b. 9/14/1649" (Dedham VR); d. at Reading (the part now Wakefield), 12 June 1718, age 69. He married 10 April 1673, SARAH POOLE, who was born 11 July 1656 and died 20 May 1723, daughter of Capt. Jonathan and Judith (Jacobs) Poole. Thomas was a soldier in King Phillip's War (George Madison Bodge, "Soldiers in King Phillip's War," 424). He was a leader in the community and made many purchases of land in Reading [Wakefield], recorded at the Registry of Deeds In Middlesex County, at Cambridge: His will, dated 15 Jan 1713; proved 8 July 1718 (Middlesex Probate, 15:206-210) bequeathed to wife Sarah, to three daughters, Sarah Briant, Judith Parker, and Elizabeth Lamson, to his son Thomas, to daughter Judith Parker, to son-in-law Jonathan Parker, to son Raham (he to pay his sister Sarah Briant), to Mehitable Briant, to son Samuel, Elizabeth Lamson to his grandson Jonathan Bancroft. Children b. at Reading (now Wakefield); recorded in Reading VR: 1. Thomas, b. 8 Sept 1673; m. Mary Webster (5 children). 2. Jonathan, b. 28 Oct 1675; died young. 3. Sarah b. 28 Dec 1676; m. Lieut. Abraham Bryant (7 children surname Bryant). 4. Mehitable, b. 1 Feb 1678; m. 2 Jan 1699, Jonathan3 Parker (1 child d.y.). 5. Jonathan b. 4 Oct 1681; d. 28 Jan 1703. 6. Raham b. 14 Feb 1684; m. (1) Abigail Eaton; m. (2) Ruth Kendall (8 children, 4 by each wife). 7. Judith, b. 7 Mar 1687/8; m. (1) 22 Nov 1709, David (or Daniel) Parker; m. (2) Ebenezer Flint (4 children all by 1st husband, surname Parker). 8. Samuel, b. 13 Dec 1691; d. 27 Jan 1691/2. 9. Samuel, b. 26 Dec 1693; m. (1) Sarah Lampson; m. (2) Sarah Leathe; m. (3) Mehitable Fitch (8 children all by 1st wife). 10. Elizabeth, b. 22 June 1696; m. at Reading, 26 Nov 1713, John Lampson (no children).
iii. "ELIZABETH, b. 1/4/1651," (Dedham VR); d. at Dedham, 1/25/1651 (ibid.).
iv. "JOHN, s. of Thomas & Elizabeth, b. 2/3/1652" (Dedham VR); died young.
v. ELIZABETH, b. 7 Dec 1653; m. 26 May 1674, prob. as 2nd wife, JOSEPH BROWNE, b. 10 Dec 1647; d. 16 Oct 1723, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Browne of Reading. Child by 1st wife, b. at Reading (surname Browne): 1. Elizabeth b. 17 Jan 1671, dau. of Joseph; d. at Reading, 1 Nov 1674. Children by Elizabeth Bancroft, b. at Reading: 2. Elizabeth,3 b. 18 Jan 1675. 3. Nicholas b. 22 Sept 1677; d. at Reading, 2 Sept 1713; m. 22 May 1700, Rebecca Nichols (5 children, surname Browne). 4. Joseph, b. 16 Nov 1679; m. Dorcas Gould of Stoneham (5 children). 5. Thomas, b. 14 Apr 1682. 6. Ebenezer b. 12 Jan 1684; died young. 7. Ebenezer, b. 16 Jan 1688; d. 4 July 1688. 8. Hephsabeth, b. 23 Feb 1692/3. 9. A son b. & d. 20 Feb 1694/5. 10. Tabitha, b. 13 Sept 1696. (see "Nicholas Browne of Lynn & Reading" TEG, 8 [1988], 188).
vi. JOHN, b. 3 Mar 1656; m. (1) ELIZABETH EATON; m. (2) HANNAH (WAYTE) (BUCKMAN) HASEY.
vii. SARAH, b. 14 Mar 1657/8; d. 19 July 1661.
viii. RALPH, b. 20 Aug 1660; d. 13 July 1661.
ix. RAHAM, b. 14: 6: 1662; d. 19 May 1663.
x. SARAH, b. 1 Apr 1665; d. 23 Feb 1697; m. 7 July 1686, as his 2nd wife, JOHN WOODWARD, b. 1649, son of George & Mary Woodward. Children (surname Woodward): 1 James,3 b. 27 July 1687; d. 1 Mar 1687/8. 2. Sarah, b. 23 June 1689; d. 30 May 1706. 3. Mary, b. 30 Jan 1693/4; m. 1717, John Teal of Charlestown. 4. John, b. 16 Sept. 1696.
xi. EBENEZER, b. 26 Apr 1667; m. ABIGAIL EATON.
xii. MARY, b. 1670; unmarried In 1691 (settlement of father's estate).
(Note: J. K. Allen adds twins Thomas & Elizabeth, b. 3 Nov 1650 at Dedham & died young, but no record is found in Dedham VR.)"
RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Many databases have Alice Bacon and Elizabeth Metcalf improperly married to the wrong Thomas Bancroft (the one who is the son of John Bancroft and who settled in Connecticut).
2. Ancestry.com's "Data concerning the family of Bancroft, Bradstreet, Browne, Dudley...," by George Gamble, 1906, pp. 156b, 156:
"Bancroft Family. Corrections and Additional Data. From data furnished by Mr. John M. Bancroft, of Bloomfield, N.J., and obtained from other sources, the following additional information has been prepared:
Thomas Bancroft was born in England, probably in Derbyshire in 1622. He married, 1st, at Dedham, Mass., 31 Jan 1647, Alice, dau. of Michael Bacon, who died 29 Jan 1648, without living issue; married 2d at Dedham 15 (13) Sep 1648, Elizabeth, dau. of Michael and Sarah (Ellwyn) Metcalf, who was born in England 4 Oct 1626, and died at Lynnfield, Mass, 1 May 1711. She was dismissed from the church at Dedham to that at Reading 25 Oct 1662. Their daughter Elizabeth married Joseph Browne and was the ancestress of Gen. Joseph Browne, of the Revolutionary army.
Thomas Bancroft was the owner of real estate at Dedham until 28 Oct 1652 when he disposed of his holdings there and moved to the vicinity of Reading. In 1670 he located at what is now Lynnfield. In a survey made by Thomas Gardner in 1660, the old Bancroft place, in the township of Lynn, is referred to as 'the place they call Ensign Bancroft's', showing his early connection with the military of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was relieved from this office of Ensign (p. 156) 15 Oct 1679, on the grounds of long service and poor health. He had probably served as Ensign for a quarter of a century. He died 19 Aug 1691, and was buried at Reading, (now Wakefield), Mass. He gravestone bears this inscription: 'Memento Mori, Fugit Hora. Here Lieth the Body of Lt. Thomas Bancroft, Aged 69 Years, Deceased Ye 19th Day of August 1691.'
The confirmation of Lieut. Bancroft, as an officer of the Foot Company of Lynn, on 12 Jul 1689, in all probably referred not to Ensign Thomas Bancroft, but to his son Ebenezer, afterwards Captain. The old Ensign was then 67 years of age, and in bad health, as seen from his petition to the General Court, and it was hardly probable that with warfare on with the French and Indians he would again have undertaken active military service. He son Ebenezer was then 22 years old. Ebenezer Bancroft continued in the military service of the colony for many years. In an item of Lynn military affairs, of 1706-07, in the regiment under Col. Theophilus Burrell, Capt. Ebenezer Bancroft appears in the list of officers. He served in the King Williams' war as Lieutenant...
Captain Ebenezer Bancroft's brother Thomas, born at Dedham, 14 Jul 1649 was a prominent member of the church and active in the affairs of the community. His gravestone epitaph refers to him as 'Deacon.' From him is descended the historian, George Bancroft, and a number of others prominent in American Affairs.
Mr. John M. Bancroft, who has gone exhaustively into the subject, points out that Lieut. Thomas Bancroft was not the son of John and Jane Bancroft, of Lynn, as claimed by some Lynn publications, but was probably their nephew and the son of Ralph, brother of John.
In one of the volumes of the Essex Institute Collections, containing sketches of the pedigrees of early members of the Lynnfield church, in that of the Bancrofts no reference is made to John and Jane as in any wise connected with Thomas. As these sketches were prepared at an early date it would have been known to their compiler had Thomas been a son of John. Hon. George Bancroft, the historian, was also probably convinced of this. In the 'Ancestry of John Davis and Eliza Bancroft,' the latter the sister of the historian, which was prepared and published by Hon. Horace Davis, of San Francisco, when a member of Congress, and during the life time of George Bancroft, John and Jane are not considered as the parents of Thomas.
[This author then quotes the work of J. Henry Lea, Esq., who I quote elsewhere in this database, as to the surmising that the pedigree of this Thomas is most likely through Ralph Bancroft of England.]
3. Ancestry.com's "Some Ancestors of Moses Bancroft," Frank S. Parks, 1934, p. 4:
"Thomas Bancroft (1622-1691). Born in England, it is supposed, 1622. We find him first at Dedham, Mass., in 1647, on the occasion of his 1st marriage. He sold his property there in 1652, and the name disappears form Dedham records. We definitely locate him in 1655 by an affidavit at Salem, which records that he had at that time, 1655, hired a farm of Samuel Bennett Sr., who owned some 500 acres in what is the northwesterly part of Saugus, some three miles or so south of the Reading church and settlement, on whose records they appear; though he did not have 'common lands,' or participate in the Reading town business. There are some accounts of the survey of the line, now the westerly boundary of Saugus that mentions the 'house of Ensign Bancroft.' In 1670, he purchased 60 acres at Beaver Dam, Lynnfield, deeded 'by power of attorney' by John Symonds and Elizabeth his wife, of Harold, in the county of Bedford in England, husbandman, it having been the land of Wm. Blote, formerly the husband of the said Elziabeth'; and was bounded N.W. on My. Holyoke; N.E. on Isaac Hart; S.E. on Goodman Collins and S.W. by Redding meadow.' In 1678 Elizer Holyoke (3), of Springfield, sold the 550 acre plot N.W., (except 1-2 acres with a building on that he sold to Thomas Bancroft,) and mentioned that 'it had been some years in use and improvement of thomas Bancroft.' Here he continued until death; 1691. He was buried at Reading, now Wakefield... He died intestate, but the estate was mutually settled and all details are on Salem, Mass., records; naming the several children, the widow, etc.; signed by name of mark as the person was qualified. After he came to Lynnfield he was appraiser of several estates. In 1688 he subscribed ₤5 to build a new church at Reading. About this time he petitioned for relief from military duty, which was granted.
He married first, Alice, daughter of Miguel Bacon, of Ireland, 31 Jan 1647, who died 29 Jan 1648. He married 2nd, Elizabeth, dau. of Michael and Sarah (Ellwyn) Metcalf, 15 Sep 1648. She was b. 4 Oct 1626, d. at Lynnfield 1 May 1711.
Child by 1st wife:
A. Thomas, b. at Dedham, 11 Jan 1648; d. 24 Jan 1648.
Children by 2nd wife:
B. Thomas, b. at Dedham, 14 Jul 1649.
C. Elizabeth, b. at Dedham; d. 21 Nov 1650.
D. John, b. at Dedham 1651; died ___.
E. Elizabeth, b. 7 Oct 1653. (RCR = Reading Church Records).
F. John, b. 3 Mar 1656 (RCR).
G. Sarah, b. 14 Jan 1657/8; d. 19 Jul 1661 (RCR).
H. Ralph, b. 20 Aug 1660; d. 13 Jul 1661 (RCR).
I. Raham, b. 27 Jun 1662; d. 19 May 1688 (RCR).
J. Sarah, b. 1 Apr 1665 (RCR).
K. Ebenezer, b. 26 Apr 1667 (Lynn Records).
L. Mary, b. 16 May 1670 (Lynn Records)."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
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