Thomas Minor (23 April 1608 – 23 October 1690) was a founder of New London[1] and Stonington, Connecticut, United States, and an early colonial New England diarist.
Minor was born in Chew Magna, in Somerset, England, on April 23, 1608, to Clement Miner (born Feb 23, 1585; died Mar 31, 1640). In 1629, he emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts, aboard the Lyon's Whelp.[2] In the introduction of The Diary of Thomas Minor, Stonington, Connecticut 1653-1684, it states the name of the ship was the Arabella. It landed in Salem, Massachusetts on June 14, 1630. He quickly moved to Watertown,[3] and then on to Charlestown, after typhus fever broke out in Salem.
In Charlestown, Minor met Grace Palmer, whom he married in 1634. She was the daughter of Walter Palmer.[4] The couple eventually had seven sons and three daughters:
After several years in Hingham, the family moved south to the Wequetequock area of present-day Stonington, Connecticut, where Minor and his son Ephraim helped found the Road Church.[6]
In about 1653, Minor bought land west of Stonington, across Quiambaug Cove near present-day Mystic,[7] and built a house for his family. Around this time he began one of the few diaries to survive 17th-century New England. It covers the years 1653 to 1684 and was published in book form in 1899.
Minor was active in public affairs in both New London and Stonington. He was commissioned as the captain of the Stonington militia company in 1665.[8] Both he and his sons served during King Philip's War.[3] His son, Lieutenant Thomas Minor, appears on the list of Connecticut men who volunteered for service in King Philip's War who were the original proprietors of Voluntown, Connecticut.[9]
Genealogyedit
Between 1683 and 1684, Minor contracted with an individual in England to investigate his genealogical line and determine how his surname was historically spelled (Minor versus Miner). The response he received is a classic example of fraudulent genealogy.[10] The pedigree and family coat of arms sent back to Minor were proven to be mostly falsified in a 1984 study published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.[5]
Deathedit
Minor and his wife died three months apart in 1690 and are buried together in Stonington's Wequetequock Cemetery.[2] The founders monument in Stonington has one side dedicated to him.
^Wheeler, Richard A. "The First Organized Church in New London: An Historical Study". New London County Historical Society. Read before the New London County Historical Society, at its Annual Meeting, November 26, 1877. [1]. Accessed 14 July 2007.
^ ab"Thomas Miner and his Descendants". [2]. Accessed 31 July 2007. Note that some accounts have him arriving on the ship Arabella during the Great Migration, arriving in Salem Harbor on June 14, 1630.
^ ab"The Miner Branch of the Hubbards". [3]. Accessed 14 July 2007.
^ abMiner, John A. and Miner, Robert F. "The Curious Pedigree of Lt. Thomas Minor". New England Historical and Genealogical Register. New England Historic Genealogical Society. July 1984, pg 182-185. See online version at [4]. Accessed 14 July 2007.
^"The History Of Road Church". www.roadchurch.org. [5]. Accessed 14 July 2007.
^Soldiers in King Philips War. George Madison Bodge. 1896. pg. 468.
^Soldiers in King Philips War. George Madison Bodge. 1896. pg. 443.
^"An Herauldical Essay Upon the Surname of Miner". In possession of the Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, Connecticut.
^ abcAncestors of American Presidents: First Definitive Edition by Gary Boyd Roberts and Julie Helen Otto. 1995. ISBN978-0-936124-19-3
^Sleeper, Jim (October 15, 2006). "The American Lamonts". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
^ abMack, W. R. (1930). Ter-centenary anniversary of the Minor-Miner family in America, 1630-1930. Chicago, Illinois. p. 18. Dr. Roy Waldo Miner-Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Stonington Historical Society – In Search of the First Settlers
Original Stonington settlements c. 1651 – map
January 01, 1970
thomas, minor, mayor, seattle, thomas, minor, april, 1608, october, 1690, founder, london, stonington, connecticut, united, states, early, colonial, england, diarist, born, 1608, april, 1608chew, magna, somerset, englanddiedoctober, 1690, 1690, aged, stoningto. For the mayor of Seattle see Thomas T Minor Thomas Minor 23 April 1608 23 October 1690 was a founder of New London 1 and Stonington Connecticut United States and an early colonial New England diarist Thomas MinorBorn 1608 04 23 April 23 1608Chew Magna Somerset EnglandDiedOctober 23 1690 1690 10 23 aged 82 Stonington ConnecticutResting placeWequetequock Cemetery41 21 36 N 71 52 36 W 41 35993 N 71 87673 W 41 35993 71 87673Known forFounder of New London and Stonington ConnecticutSpouseGrace Palmer Contents 1 Early life and marriage 2 Settling Stonington 3 Genealogy 4 Death 5 Notable descendants 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and marriage editMinor was born in Chew Magna in Somerset England on April 23 1608 to Clement Miner born Feb 23 1585 died Mar 31 1640 In 1629 he emigrated to Salem Massachusetts aboard the Lyon s Whelp 2 In the introduction of The Diary of Thomas Minor Stonington Connecticut 1653 1684 it states the name of the ship was the Arabella It landed in Salem Massachusetts on June 14 1630 He quickly moved to Watertown 3 and then on to Charlestown after typhus fever broke out in Salem In Charlestown Minor met Grace Palmer whom he married in 1634 She was the daughter of Walter Palmer 4 The couple eventually had seven sons and three daughters John Minor 1635 1719 Clement Minor 1639 1700 Thomas Miner 1640 1662 Ephraim Miner 1642 1724 Joseph Miner 1644 1712 Manassah Minor 1647 1728 Ann Minor 1648 Marie Minor 1651 1660 Samuel Minor 1652 1682 Hannah Minor 1655 1721 In 1636 the Minors moved to Hingham nbsp This Minor coat of arms was discredited in 1984 5 Settling Stonington editAfter several years in Hingham the family moved south to the Wequetequock area of present day Stonington Connecticut where Minor and his son Ephraim helped found the Road Church 6 In about 1653 Minor bought land west of Stonington across Quiambaug Cove near present day Mystic 7 and built a house for his family Around this time he began one of the few diaries to survive 17th century New England It covers the years 1653 to 1684 and was published in book form in 1899 Minor was active in public affairs in both New London and Stonington He was commissioned as the captain of the Stonington militia company in 1665 8 Both he and his sons served during King Philip s War 3 His son Lieutenant Thomas Minor appears on the list of Connecticut men who volunteered for service in King Philip s War who were the original proprietors of Voluntown Connecticut 9 Genealogy editBetween 1683 and 1684 Minor contracted with an individual in England to investigate his genealogical line and determine how his surname was historically spelled Minor versus Miner The response he received is a classic example of fraudulent genealogy 10 The pedigree and family coat of arms sent back to Minor were proven to be mostly falsified in a 1984 study published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society 5 Death editMinor and his wife died three months apart in 1690 and are buried together in Stonington s Wequetequock Cemetery 2 The founders monument in Stonington has one side dedicated to him Notable descendants editNotable descendants include Ulysses S Grant 11 Ned Lamont 12 Alonzo Ames Miner Dorothy Miner attorney Dorothy Miner historian 13 Dwight C Miner 13 Thomas T Minor William Chester Minor 14 William T Minor 11 John D Rockefeller 11 References edit Wheeler Richard A The First Organized Church in New London An Historical Study New London County Historical Society Read before the New London County Historical Society at its Annual Meeting November 26 1877 1 Accessed 14 July 2007 a b Thomas Miner and his Descendants 2 Accessed 31 July 2007 Note that some accounts have him arriving on the ship Arabella during the Great Migration arriving in Salem Harbor on June 14 1630 a b The Miner Branch of the Hubbards 3 Accessed 14 July 2007 Biography of Walter Palmer Walter Palmer Society http www walterpalmer com Walter Palmer Bio htm Accessed 31 July 2007 a b Miner John A and Miner Robert F The Curious Pedigree of Lt Thomas Minor New England Historical and Genealogical Register New England Historic Genealogical Society July 1984 pg 182 185 See online version at 4 Accessed 14 July 2007 The History Of Road Church www roadchurch org 5 Accessed 14 July 2007 From Cary Latham Soldiers in King Philips War George Madison Bodge 1896 pg 468 Soldiers in King Philips War George Madison Bodge 1896 pg 443 An Herauldical Essay Upon the Surname of Miner In possession of the Connecticut Historical Society Hartford Connecticut a b c Ancestors of American Presidents First Definitive Edition by Gary Boyd Roberts and Julie Helen Otto 1995 ISBN 978 0 936124 19 3 Sleeper Jim October 15 2006 The American Lamonts The New York Times Retrieved February 27 2019 a b Mack W R 1930 Ter centenary anniversary of the Minor Miner family in America 1630 1930 Chicago Illinois p 18 Dr Roy Waldo Miner Zoology American Museum of Natural History New York City a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Winchester Simon 1998 The Surgeon of Crowthorne A Tale of Murder Madness and the Love of Words Harmondsworth Penguin Group p 41 ISBN 978 0 670 87862 8 the Minors were first line American aristocracy The original settler in the New World was Thomas Minor External links editStonington Historical Society In Search of the First Settlers Original Stonington settlements c 1651 map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Minor amp oldid 1220433064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
