Thomas Manchester

Thomas was born in 1620 in Yorkshire, England. He died at the age of 71 in 1691 in Portsmouth, Newport, RI.

General Notes
- Thomas Manchester came to North America as the first Manchester here as an indentured servant in 1638-39 in the founding of New Haven CT.
  
  Thomas Manchester, was born in England, where he spent the earlier years of his life. He took passage for this country late in 1638, and became a resident of New Haven, Conn., in 1639, one year after the planting of that colony. Shortly afterward, however, he removed to Portsmouth, R. I., and there spent the remainder of his life. He is mentioned in the land records of that town, January 25, 1655, when he and his wife sold to one Thomas Wood twelve acres of land, but there is evidence that he had lived in Portsmouth or the vicinity for some years previous to the latter date. A grant of eight acres of land was made to Thomas Manchester at Portsmouth, December 10, 1657, and during the same year he sold to Richard Sisson one three-hundredth rights in Canonicut and Dutch Islands. On July 9, 1691, a short time before his death, he granted to his son John his mansion house and lands at Portsmouth, except the place at the lower end of the grounds then in possession of his son Thomas, all of his personal effects including cattle, tools, etc., one-half to be his at the death of the grantor and the other half at the death of grantor's wife, mother of grantee, providing he pay to the sons Thomas, William and Stephen, ten shillings each; to Job twenty shillings; and to the daughters Mary and Elizabeth, ten shillings each. Thomas Manchester died in 1691, and his wife followed him two years later in 1693. Children: Thomas, born about 1650; William, mentioned below; John, George, Stephen, Job, Mary, Elizabeth.

Click here for details of Thomas' family with Margaret Wood