Thomas Lynde (ca 1597-1671) of Dunstable, England and Charlestown, Mass. and His Three Wives

Thomas Lynde was born about 1597, based on estimated age at marriage, possibly at Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. Thomas was a wealthy man—he was an innkeeper, a maltster, large land owner, and a church deacon. His last name is spelled in a variety of ways including Line, Lynd, Lines. He was often called Goodman in records, but by the time of his death was referred to with the honorific of Mr. (pronounced Master). He married three times and, maddeningly, none of his wives maiden names are recorded. 

Thomas married, first, about 1622 Hannah (—?—). 

Hannah and Thomas lived in Dunstable, a market town about 30 miles north of London. They had five children:

1. Thomas born say 1622; m by 1647 Elizabeth ____

2. Richard bp Dunstable [30?] Nov 1625; NFR

3. Rebecca bp Dunstable 21 February 1626/7; NFR 

4. Mary bp Dunstable 24 February 1629/30; m. 1st by about 1649 John Butler [Martha’s Vineyard History 3:48]; m. 2nd after 1658 William Weeks [Martha’s Vineyard History 3:495-6]

5. Zachariah bp Dunstable 9 October 1631; buried there in 1631/2.

I descend from Mary. I wrote about Mary and John Butler here.

Priory Church, Dunstable

Of the three Anglican churches in Dunstable, only the Priory Church of St. Peter's is old enough to be the site of the Lynde children's baptisms. The surviving building is the nave of what was once the much larger Augustinian Monastery founded in the 12th century. 

I believe Hannah is the “Hannah Line” buried Dunstable on 11 December 1631. She died just two months after her last child was baptized.

Thomas married, second, Margaret (—?—) on 27 November 1632 at All Hallow’s Church on Bread Street in London. [Church Registers transcribed by W. Bruce Bannerman, 1913] She married, first, Henry Jordan. This church was destroyed by the Great London Fire of 1666.

All Hallow's Church, London

Margaret and Thomas had six children:

6. John bp Dunstable 29 March 1634, NFR

7. Joseph born Charlestown 3 June 1636 [Charlestown VR 1:5], bp there 5 June 1636 [ChCR 46]; m 1) Charlestown 29 March 1665 Sarah Davison [Charlestown VR 1:51]; m. 2nd Charlestown 24 Dec 1679 Emma (Anderson) Brackenbury [Charlestown VR 1:107-8]; m. 3rd Boston 13 March 1705 Mary (Luttrell) Winthrop [Boston VR 2:12]

8. Sarah born Charlestown 16 [sic] April 1639 [Charlestown VR 1:5], bp there 14 April 1639 [Charlestown Church Records 48]; m. Charlestown 18 Feb 1656[/7] Robert Pierpoint [Charlestown VR 1:20]

9. Hannah born Charlestown 2 May 1642 [Charlestown VR 1:44], m. 1st Charlestown 3 Sept 1663 John Trerice [ChVR 1:44], m. 2nd Charlestown 12 Dec 1679 James Kelling [Charlestown VR 1:107]

10. Samuel born Charlestown 14 October 1644 [Charlestown VR 1:9]; m. Charlestown 3 June 1673 Rebecca Jenner [Charlestown VR 1:86-87]

11. Henry who died Charlestown 9 April 1646 [Charlestown VR 1:10]

Of these 11 children, only Thomas, Joseph, Samuel, Hannah, Mary, and possibly Sarah were alive to be named in their father’s 21 Dec 1671 will. 

There have been additional children assigned to Thomas by other researchers—William and Elizabeth—but without proof.

Thomas migrated to New England in 1634, settling at Charlestown, a Boston neighborhood. It was then in Middlesex County but in the 19th century switched to Suffolk County. He was admitted a Freeman there on 4 March 1634/5. [Records of the Governor & Company of Massachusetts Bay 1:370] In 1634 the records show Charlestown had “fifty-eight inhabitants, most of whom had wives and children.” [Frothingham] 

On 12 March 1637/8 “Tho[mas] Line” was “allowed to sell wine & strong water” at Charlestown. [Records of the Governor & Company of Massachusetts Bay 1:221] He is called a maltster, which is used in making beer. [Charlestown Land Records p. 142] 

In 1638 Robert Long of Charlestown, who is also my ancestor and was from Dunstable, was allowed to draw wine, on condition “that he take what wines or waters are in the hands of Thomas Lynde, who formerly sold the wines, so that he be not damnified.” [Frothingham]

On 4 February 1634/5 “Thomas Lynde, and Margerite his wife, were admitted” to Charlestown Church. [Charlestown Church Records p. 8] He was a Deacon of the Charlestown Church as early as 30 Sept 1652. [Charlestown Land Records p. 136] He mentions the Church of Christ in Charlestown in his will which was later was named the First Church and was destroyed during the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Thomas was literate as his inventory included books valued at £2 15s 6d and “a box with writings” valued at 5s. [Middlesex Co Probate Case 14433]

Thomas was very involved in serving the Colony. [Anderson, Frothingham] He was:

• Deputy for Charlestown to Mass Bay General Court
• Charlestown Representative for eight years
• Selectman for 14 years
• Various committees: to lay out a highway, to end small causes, to levy taxes for the colony, to determine bounds between Charlestown and Winthrop’s Farm, to set wages

Thomas was a considerable landowner [Anderson]:

• Granted 3 1/2 acres of planting ground in Charlestown 10 Jan 1634/5. [Charlestown Town Records p. 12] 
• Granted five acres on Mystic Side 6 March 1636/7. [Charlestown Town Records p. 27] 
• On 11 Sept 1637 “Goodman Tho Line had yielded him the houseplot before Goodman Nashe’s in case Elias Maverick do refuse it or leave it.” [Charlestown Town Records p. 31]
• On 23 April 1638 “Tho Lynde” held parcels of thirty-five, eighty and five acres on Mystic Side [Charlestown Town Records p. 36]; this area was later Malden
• In the 1635 allotment of hay ground, “Tho Line” received six shares, which was then increased to seven. [Charlestown Town Records p. 32]
• On 30 Dec 1638, “Tho Line Senior” held eight cow commons. [Charlestown Town Records p. 42]
• In the 1638 Charlestown Book of Possessions, “Thomas Lynde” held 14 parcels: “in the South Field, one homestead…containing half an acre…with one dwelling house, malthouse and other outhouses upon it;” “three acres of arable land lying in the South Field”; “four acres of arable land lying in the East Field”; “two acres of arable land…lying in the East Field”; “three acres and half of arable land lying in the Line Field”; “two acres of meadow ground and pasture;” “ten acres of woodland lying in Mystic Field, No. 35”; “three acres of meadow…lying on the north side of Mount Prospect”; “eight milch cow commons, 7 whereof fell to him in the dividend, and one he bought of James Mathewes”; “two acres of meadow…bought by him of James Mathews, lying in Mystic Field…No. 8”; “thirty and five acres of woodland, lying in Mystic Field, No. 26”; “eight acres of land lying in Rock Field”; and “two acres of arable land, lying in the Line Field, by Mystic weir.” [Charlestown Land Records p. 8-9]
• On 10 Dec 1650 “Major Robert Sedgwick” sold to Thomas Lynde [Sr.] of Charlestown all that five acres of land…in the South Field…,and also seven cow commons, lying on the stinted common in Charltowne.” [Middlesex Co. Deeds 2:66-67; Charlestown Land Records p. 120]
• On 13 February 1650[/?51] “Lawrence Dous, of Charletowne” sold to “Thomas Lynde [Sr.” of the same town, one little close…[of about] half an acre of ground.” [Charlestown Land Records p. 119-20]
• On 17 Feb 1650[/51?] John Baker sold to “Thomas Lynde, Senior,” of Charlestown all that parcel of ground…between the ground of Gwalter Allen on the southeast side and the ground of me, the aforesaid John Baker, on the northwest.” [Charlestown Land Records p. 119] 
• On the same day as above “Thomas Lynde, of Charltowne, Senior” sold to John March two acres of land lying in the Great Field. [Charlestown Land Records p. 121]
• On 15 March 1656[/7?] “the selectmen of Charletowne” sold to “Thomas Line Sr…all the common ground from Thomas Rand & Robert Chalkeley’s both on the northwest down to low water mark, against the burying hill on the northwest, and so round to the clam bank at the point commonly called Cole Harbor.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 2:66]
• On 18 June 1657, “Thomas Lynde, maltster, inhabitant in Charletowne…an acre of arable land…in the East Field, which is within Charltowne Neck”; consented to by “my wife Margerite.” [Charlestown Land Records p. 142-430] 
• On same day as above John March and Thomas Lynde, both inhabitants in “Charletowne,” exchanged land, Lynde received “a house, a garden and a piece of meadow,” totaling about an acre…”between Charletowne Neck, and the town in the middle of the highway from the town,” and March receiving “a piece or parcel of land of his, being two acres of planting land by estimation…in the East Field…which formerly was William Bachelor’s land, and which two acres of land we, William and Rachell Bachelor, my wife, do fully and freely resign up unto Thomas Lynde.” [Charlestown Land Records p. 143-44]
• On 26 March 1661, John Mirricke of Charlestown sold to “Thomas Linde…one woodlot in two divisions, lying & being in Mystic Side.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 3:30-23]
• On 24 July 1662 “Mary Nash, the relict of Wm Nash, and Peter Nash their son & Thomas Hale & Mary his wife, all of Charlstowne,” sold to “Thomas Lind…one acre of land…in Charlstowne.” [Middlesex Co Deeds  3:27-29]
• On 26 March 1663, John and Mary Wayte of Mauldon…sold to “Thomas Lindes, yeoman, a certain parcel of meadowland, containing by estimation one acre.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 4:341]
• On 15 October 1664 “Thomas Linde of Charlestowne…yeoman,” sold to Nathaniel Hutcheson “one piece of land containing five acres…being a part of the East Field within the neck of land.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 3:288]
• On 20 March 166[?7/]8, “Joseph Stowers of Salisbury” sold to “Thomas Linde of Charlestowne…, yeoman,…one dwelling house with a barn. & outhousing together with two acres…in a certain lane or street there called Malt Lane or near thereunto, on the southwest side of the townhouse hill.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 3:370]
• On 7 April 1670 “Thomas Linde of Charlestowne…, yeoman, together with my now wife Rebeccah Linde,” sold to Henry Blacome…blacksmith…one small piece…of meadow ground, containing half an acre…in Charlestowne,…it being a part of the field commonly called Deacon Linde’s field.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 5:347]
• On 11 June 1670, “Thomas Lines of Charlestowne…yeoman, and Rebeccah his wife” deeded to “Rebeccah Jenner, the wife of Thomas Jenner of the abovenamed place, mariner, and daughter of the said Rebeccah Lines…all our right, title & interest in one piece or parcel of land…in Charlestowne abovenamed, containing by estimation eight pole.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 4:26] 
• On 14 June 1675 Richard and Elizabeth Addams of Maulden sold to “Thomas Linde…a certain parcel of marsh meadow…in Malden…containing four acres.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 6:27].

It’s incredible how much information is provided by these deeds: there was a place called Deacon Linde’s Field, Thomas owned property on Malt Lane and on Boston Harbor, his wife Rebecca had a daughter Rebecca from her first marriage. Frothingham wrote that Thomas owned the land where the state prison was built which until after the Revolution was called Lynde’s Point. 

Charlestown was then much more expansive than today—it included present day Malden (then called Mystic Side), Melrose, Woburn, Stoneham, Burlington, Somerville, a large part of Medford, small parts of Cambridge, Arlington, Everett, and Reading. [Frothingham]

“Margrett Lines, wife of Thomas Lines, Deacon,” died 23 August 1662 at Charlestown. [Charlestown VR 1:41]

Thomas married, third, Rebecca (—?—) on 6 December 1665 at Charlestown. [Charlestown VR 1:140] She married, first, Nicholas Trerice, a master mariner who apparently died at sea, with whom she had six children, two dying young. [Winsser] Thomas and Rebecca were well-known to each other as they had been neighbors for years and were in-law’s as their children John Trerice and Hannah Lynde were married. Rebecca’s first husband had left her to settle his many debts. As a widow she received land grants, sold land, and worked as a merchant, obtaining permission from the town to build a small shop. [Winsser]

On 12 March 1637/8 “Tho[mas] Line” was “allowed to sell wine & strong water” at Charlestown. [Records of the Governor & Company of Massachusetts Bay 1:221]

“Deacon Thomas Linde” died at Charlestown 30 Dec 1671 and was buried there 3 January 1671/2. [Charlestown VR 1:82] He was about 74 years old. It seems likely he was buried at Phipps Street Burying Ground, Charlestown’s first cemetery established in 1630. 

In his will dated 21 Dec 1671 and proved 7 Feb 1671/2, “Thomas Lynde of Charlstowne” left bequests to:

• Dearly beloved wife Rebeckah Lynde land he bought of Goodman Stowers in Charlestown, a house that Morgan now dwells in and all land belonging to it; his negro Peter and negro girl Nan, two cows commons, a haylot, new frame where the cellar is dug near Morgan’s house, use of the malthouse for the year; half of all his household goods.
• Son Joseph Lynde his now dwelling house, barns, orchard, cellars (allowing third part of the orchard to be used by wife during her life), land adjoining which he bought of widow Nash; all his land equalling six acres, two cows commons; first woodlot and the woodlot he bought of John Mirack.
• Son Samuel Lynde my house & land where son Joseph now lives with a barn that stands on Goodman Stower’s ground, four cows commons in the stinted common, a woodlot with 41 acres; a haylot in Dirty Marsh; his fourth part of the ketch now at sea.
• Son Thomas Lynde half an acre adjoining son Samuel’s land.
• To present preaching elder and elders of the Church of Christ Charlestown two cows commons in stinted common.
• Son-in-law Robert Pierpoint in right of his wife 20 pounds; this daughter [Sarah] to divide half of household goods with her sisters.
• Daughter Hannah Trerise five pounds a year for four years; to divide half of household goods with her sisters. 
• Daughter Mary Wicks of Succenesset five pounds a year for four years; to divide half of household goods with her sisters. 

Residue of estate to sons Thomas and Joseph who were named executors. [Massachusetts Probate Records 4:79-83, Case #14433] He wrote an undated codicil leaving “my dearly beloved friend and teacher Mr Shepherd five pounds,” to “widow Mrs. Syms forty shillings;” and made further provisions for his wife.

The inventory of the estate of “Mr. Thomas Line, late of Charlstowne Church in New England, Deacon,” presented at court 2 April 1672, totaled the considerable sum of £1929 9s 9d (against which were £219 13s in debts)  £1218 of this amount was in real estate: “his dwelling house, malthouse, barn, stable, wharf, garden, orchard & yards about the said housing with six acres of land more or less that is willed to the said housing,” £450; “a dwelling house now in the tenure of Richard Rose Morgan,” £120; “three acres of land lying in Cold Harbor formerly Mr. Prat’s with half the house Jno. Treri[c]e lives in, warehouse & wharf,” £150; “a dwelling house willed to Samuel Line, with the barn & lands now belonging to the said housing,” £320; “half an acre joining to Samuel Line his garden,” £15; “a tract of land at Cold Harbor Point, £40; “thirteen cow commons in the stinted common,” £65; “a haylot near Goodman Pierce 3 acres more of less, £13; “five haylots in Dirty Marsh, £21; “forty acres of woodland with the commons of the first division,” £`12; and “forty acres of wood & land on the common in the 2d division,” £12. [Massachusetts Probate Records Case #14433]

Clearly Thomas was a successful businessman, owning a rental property, a malthouse, a wharf, farmland, and a warehouse. 

After Thomas’ death, Rebecca sold land, mostly to her step-son Joseph Lynde: 

• On 1 March 1671/2 “Rebecah Linde of Charlstowne…widow, by virtue of power & right from Mr. Abra[ha]m Pratt formerly of Charlstowne aforesaid, chirurgeon, by way of deed of gift or legacy to me derived, & with the free & full consent of all my children that I had by my first husband Nicholas Trerise, mariner,” sold to “William Johnson Sr and Zachariah Johnson, his son, both of Charlestowne aforesaid, brickmakers,… a piece of parcel of land…in the East Field of Charlstowne aforesaid containing three acres.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 6:401] 
• On 29 April 1676 “Rebeccah Linde of Charlestowne…,widow, by virtue of a power & right from Mr. Abram Pratt formerly of Charlestown aforesaid, chirurgeon, by way of deed of gift or legacy to me derived, and with the free & full consent of all my children that I had by my first husband Nicholas Trerise, mariner,” sold to “my loving son-in-law Joseph Line of Charlstowne aforesaid…a piece or parcel of land…near the place commonly called Cold Harbor in Charlstowne aforesaid, containing two acres of thereabouts” [Middlesex Co Deeds 6:457b].
• On 5 Jan 1681/2 “Rebecca Lynde of Charlstowne, the relict of Deacon Thomas Lynde, deceased ,“ sold to “Solomon Phips of the same town…three acres of land…in Charlstowne…, it is the ninth lot now to be laid out upon the commons of the said town.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 9:31]
• On 25 March 1685, “Rebecca Lynds, widow & relict of Mr. Thomas Lynds, deceased, of Charlstowne,” sold to “William Dickson of Cambridge…, yeoman, … two cow commons…in Charlstowne stinted commons.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 10:612-13]
• On 24 Dec 1686, “Rebekah Lynde of Charlestowne…, widow,” sold to “my son-in-law Mr. Joseph Lynde of Charlestown…, merchant, a certain piece or parcel of land containing one acre & three-quarters of an acre & twenty poles…and one haylot…in the West Field.” [Middlesex Co Deeds 10:30]

Rebecca Lynde died 8 Dec 1688 at Charlestown. [Charlestown VR 1:140]

In her will, dated 6 April 1688 and proved 17 December 1689, “Rebecca Lynde of Charls-Towne…, widow,” made many bequests to her Trerice children and grandchildren, and bequeathed to “my [step] son Mr. Joseph Lynd all my land in and near the township of Redding.” [Middlesex Co Probate Case #14430]

Sources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, vol IV, page 369-378, 1995

Richard Frothingham, History of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1845

Johan Winsser, NEHGS Register,  “Nicholas Trerise, Mariner of Wapping and Charlestown,”143:36

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700