Lots of Thomas Bonney questions, mostly about whether a son Thomas (by Terry) or he married Dorcas Sampson of Mayflower lineage. from Sandwich Eng. on "Hercules" listed as shoemaker. became proprietor in Bridgewater, lived in Duxbury.
Thomas Bonney, a shoemaker, came to New, England on the ship "Hercules" from Sandwich, England in March 1634. He settled first at Charlestown, Suffolk Co. Massachusetts where he was a proprietor in 1635. He sold his house and land there in 1637 to Robert Cutler and moved to Duxbury, Plymouth Co. Massachusetts where he became a freeman on March 5, 1638/9 and a proprietor on August 31, 1640. In 1640 he owned land northwest of North Hill and thirty acres at Namasakeeset. The name was later changed to Pembroke and subsequently changed to Hanson.
Thomas's first wife was Mary Terry. Following her death, Thomas married Mary Hunt, the daughter of Edmund Hunt. In 1643, Thomas was listed as able to bear arms (16-60 years old) in Duxbury along with his future father-in-law, Edmund Hunt and his son's future father-in-law, Henry Sampson. He was also listed as a constable at Duxbury between 1643 and 1644, a town officer in Court in 1645, and as a surveyor of highways in 1652. He was a shoemaker by trade. His will was dated January 2, 1688/9 and was probated on May 1, 1693. He bequeath to his wife, Mary, and son, Thomas, his estate to be divided between the children after the death of their mother.
While there has been some question as to which Thomas Bonney married Dorcus Sampson, daughter of Henry Sampson, Perez Bonney's chronicle of his predecessors and his own posterity -- from his grandfather down to his own grandchildren is generally accepted as being correct. In it he states:
"I, the subscriber, Perez Bonney, the son of John Bonney, of Pembrook, having a mind to write an account of my predecessor, according to the best information that ever I had, I shall begin with my grandfather, Thomas Bonney, who came from Dover, in, England, and was born about the year 1604, and married Mary Terry, but she died, and then he married Mary Hunt, being as I have been told about 50 years old by whom he had: Thomas 2nd, who married Dorcas Sampson; Mary, who married John Mitchell; Sarah, who married Nathaniel Cole; Hannah, unknown; John who married Elizabeth Bishop; William, who married Ann May; Joseph, who married Margaret Phillips; and James, who married Abigail Bishop. My grandfather was by trade or occupation a cordwainer and settled in Duxborough. ... And so I have gone through with my design at present.
Pembrook, Jan. 23d, 1758. Perez Bonney."
Because there is no record of any Terry family in the Plymouth Colony at the time, it is possible that Thomas Bonney's marriage to Mary Terry may have occurred at Charlestown, prior to the time he moved to Duxbury.
March 3, 1645/6 - Court of Assistants meeting held at Plymouth Colony: 1. Wee do psent Thomas Bonney, of the towne of Duxborrow, for uncivill carriages and lacivious actions toward weomen and maydes. Released.
Whereas an action of slaunder and defamacon was this Court comenced by Mr John Farnyseede, and Elizabeth, his wyfe, against Thomas Bonney, by the arbitration and mediation of frends, it was upon the said Bonneys acknowledgement withdrawne, weh was shewed in Court, and ordered to be recorded as followth viz:
Know all men by these pnts, that whereas Thomas Bonney hath said that Mris Farniseede did justle him in her house, and that hee tooke it as a temptation of him unto lust, the said Thomas Bonney doth freely and humbly acknowledg, unto the glory of God and unto his own shame, that it was his owne base heart that caused him to make that construction thereof, hee acknowledging that he had no sufficient reason so to conceive, but that evell suspition arose from the corruption of his own heart; and although the said Thomas Bonney did further accuse her in comeing bare legged unto him, speaking unto him, Thomas Bonney, will you mend my shooes? shee utterly denyeth that ever shee came to him in any such manner, the said Thomas Bonney dareing not say but that hee might be mistaken therein; and whatever interpretation Thomas Bonney did make thereof, the said Thomas Bonney acknowledgeth it to arise from his owne base, lustfull heart, and doth wholly condemme himself fro speakeing or thinking any evell of her, the said Thomas Bonney not dareing to say or think any of her but that shee is very honest, modest, and chaste weoman, both in heart, worde, and deede, and doth therefore earnestly beseech the Lord to for give him his many and great sinns therein, & doth humbly entreate Mris Farnyseede, her husband, pents, and frends to forgive him these so greate wrongs & injuries done by him herein, promiseing to acknowledg these his wronges (donn unto her) in or before the congregacon whenever it shalbe required of the said Mrs Farnyseede, her husband, or friends; and also the said Thomas Bonney doth hereby testifye, that if ever hereafter hee shall in any measure speake any thing to any pson or psons tending to her disgrace oe defamacon, that then it shalbe lawfull for the husband of the said Mris Fernyseede to psecute his action of slaunder and defamacon, notwthstanding this his acknowledgment; the said Thomas Bonney also pmiseing to put into the hand of the deacon of the church of Duxborrow five shillings, for to be by the said deacon distributed unto the poore. In witnesse whereof the said Thomas Bonney hath suscribed his hand this second day of March, 1645.
Thomas Boni Witnes, John Willis. [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New, England - Edited by Nathaniel Shurtleff and David Pulsifer - Vol. 2, pages 96 & 97]
