Thomas Kimball

1633 - 1676  (43 years)

• Name	Thomas Kimball
  Born	1633	Rattlesden, Suffolk, England
  Gender	Male
  Immigration	1634	Ship Elizabeth
  Residence	20 Oct 1653	Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire
  	Owner of mill property on Oyster river
  Died	3 May 1676	Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts   [1]
  	Killed at home by Indians
  Probate	18 May 1676	Essex Co., Massachusetts   [2]
  	Estate inventory
  Probate	27 Jun 1676	Essex Co., Massachusetts   [2]
  	Estate administration granted to "Mary, the relict"
  Probate	26 Sep 1676	Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts   [2]
  	Estate settled
  Notes	Thomas was born in Rattlesden, Suffolk county, England, in 1633, and was one year old when he came to New England with his parents. He later went to Ipswich, and was living in Hampton, New Hampshire, 20 Oct 1653, and was the owner of mill property there on Oyster river. He made his home at that place as late as 1660. He afterwards removed to that portion of Rowley which is included in the present town of Bradford, Massachusetts. Previous to 1675 the section where Thomas and his brother Benjamin lived was within the limits of Rowley, but the locality was called Merrimac when Thomas was elected constable on 20 Feb 1668-9. His house was one of legal places for posting and "publishing any orders or other business of public concernment to the whole town." His house was situated on the Boxford road, and its situation can still be located. At that place he lived and prospered for about ten years. He was a mechanic and a thrifty farmer, owning over four hundred acres of land and a large amount of personal property, as is shown by the inventory of his estate. At that time skulking Indians continually annoyed the white inhabitants. The Merrimack river was a pathway; the Indians could make rapid sallies upon the settlements and make their escape without penetrating the forests. Haverhill had been attacked with all the cruelty of the savages. On the night of 2 May 1676, three well known "converted" (half civilized) Indians, Peter, Andrew and Symon, were intending to kill some parties in Rowley, but the night being far advanced, they wreaked their vengeance on the Kimballs. Thomas Kimball was killed by Symon, and his wife and five children, namely, Joanna, Thomas, Joseph, Priscilla, and John were taken captive and carried forty miles into the wilderness, where they remained forty-one days, and were freed without ransom by the friendly offices of the chief Wanalancet, of the Penacook Indians. Her own life and that of her infant were threatened, and twice the fires lighted to burn them. They reached their home 13 June 1676. Great was the anguish of their friends during their captivity, and on 3 May 1676, her pious parents in Ipswich asked prayers on the Sabbath that they might be delivered. Subsequently she addressed a petition to the Governor and Council that she might be protected from Symon, the Indian, who had threatened to kill her and her children if she returned to her own house. The three Indians were seized and confined in jail, but escaped and pursued their course of blood most mercilessly thereafter, and their subsequent fate is unknown. They were semi-civilized and had worked for and lived a great deal with the white people. Thomas Kimball married Mary Smith, daughter of Thomas and Joanna Smith of Ipswich, about 1655, as is shown by the following note from the records of Salem: "Nov. 18, 1686 Richard and Benjamin Kimball of Bradford did covenant to and with the Selectmen of Ipswich that they would take Thomas Smith and his wife to Bradford to the house of Mary Kimball, widow of Thomas Kimball and provide their Meate, drink, washing, lodgeing, clothes and attendance with all things necessary for persons in such condition for the space of one year beginning at the date hereof, the price for a year to be £25. Dec. 8, 1687 Agreed with Richard Kimball of Bradfordd to allow unto him further keeping and providing for his grandfather Thomas Smith for the year ensuing £13." According to this Joanna Smith had probably died during the year. The name of Thomas occurs very frequently on the early records of the town of Merrimac. Until the time of his death he always held some town office, being frequently selectman.
  Person ID	I2193	Wm L Gann Ancestors
  Last Modified	12 May 2014

  
  

  Father	Richard Kimball,   b. Bef 1595, England ,   d. 22 Jun 1675, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 80 years)
  Mother	Ursula Scott,   d. 1 Mar 1660, Ipswich, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  Married	1613	Suffolk Co., England
  Family ID	F961	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Mary Smith,   d. Aft 26 Sep 1676
  Married	Abt 1655
  Family ID	F974	Group Sheet

  
  

• Sources

  [S18] Vital Records of Bradford, MA - Deaths, The Massachusetts Vital Records Project, (The Massachusetts Vital Records Project (http://ma-vitalrecords.org)), 338 (Reliability: 2), 24 Apr 2014. [S30] Probate Records of Essex Co., Massachusetts, (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1916), v. 3, pp. 65-6 (Reliability: 3), 12 May 2014.