The following article about Genealogy was submitted by
the North America Branch. Sadly there was not space to include
it in the printed magazine. At the foot of the article our own
Sennachie comments on its contents.
How the first MacThomas Clansmen came
to America
*****
The history of Clan MacThomas in Scotland
has been well documented in association with the matriculation
of the MacThomas arms granted, by the Lord Lyon, to Captain
Patrick Watt MacThomas in A.D. 1967. However, a significant
number of MacThomas kinsmen now reside in North America.
Granted, some of our common MacThomas ancestors came to North
America by their own free will in search of fame, fortune, and
perhaps religious freedom. However, the first MacThomas
clansmen to arrive in the new world came as prisoners of war
and were sold into indentured servitude in A.D. 1652.
*****
Following the Battle of Worcester the
Commonwealth found itself with a large group of Scottish
prisoners of war. Accordingly, some 2,000 Scots were soon
transported to the Colonies in North America. Prior to their
transportation to North America the Worcester prisoners were
marched to London and held in the artillery grounds at Tuthill
Fields near Westminster Palace. Two hundred and seventy-two of
these prisoners were sent to Thomas Kemble of Charlestown,
Massachusetts aboard a ship called the “John and Sara.” Thomas
Kemble and his partner Valentine Hill owned mills at Durham
Falls and Lamprey River. Likewise, Kemble owned extensive
lands in Maine from which he conducted a successful lumber
business. Kemble utilized the strong young Scots in his mills
in Massachusetts and his sawmills in Maine.
*****
David MackHome, John MackHolme, Glester
MackTomas, and Alexander Tompson are listed among the 272
Scottish prisoners transported to Boston, Massachusetts aboard
the “John and Sara” following the Battle of Worcester. The
following are the Ships Orders for the “John and
Sara”:
Quote
*****
London This 11th of November, 1651;
Captain John Greene:
*****
Wee whose names are under written
freighters of your shipe the John & Sara doe order yow
forthwith as winde & weather shall permitt to sett sajle
for Boston in New England & there deliver our Orders and
Servants to Tho. Kemble of Charles Towne to be disposed of by
him according to orders wee have sent him in that behalfe
& wee desire yow to Advise with the said Kemble about all
that may concerne that whole Intended bojage using you
Jndeavo's with the said Kemble for the speediest lading your
shipp from New Eng; to the Barbados with provisions & such
other things as are in N.E. fit for the West Indies where yow
are to deliver them to Mr. Charles Rich to be disposed of by
him for the Joinet accont of the freighte's & so to be
Retou'ned home in a stocke vndevided thus desiring your Care
& industrje in Despatch and speed of the vojage wishing
you a happy & safe Retourne wee remajne your loving
friends.
*****
Signatum et Recognitum
John Beex
Rob't
Rich
Will Greene
in pneia Jo Nottock: notar Publ;
13
May 1652
Entred & Recorded Edward Rawson
Recorder.
*****
Unquote
*****
BY ROBERT E. THOMAS
(Excerpted from public domain publication).
*****
Interestingly North American Branch Member,
Carrie Trygstad, is a 12th generation descendant of David
MackHome!
Clan Sennachie, Grahame Thom, does have
reservations about some of the information in the above
article much of which was written more than twelve years
ago. Since that time the advent of electronic records has made
research much easier.
*****
His first concern is the inclusion of
Alexander Tompson in the list of possible Clan members
who arrived aboard the "John and Sara". It could be that the
name is mis-spelt but the inclusion of the "p" normally
indicates that a person comes from England.
*****
He is also uneasy about the statement
that the first MacThomas clansmen to arrive in the
new world came as prisoners of war in 1652. Using
the electronic records it has been established the people with
the surnames Thomson and Thomas arrived as early as 1635 and
some of those are likely to be MacThomas clansfolk. A
record has also been found for a Mr John Coombes
arriving in 1635 on the vessel Amity.
*****
To browse the arrivals records please
click here.
