BackGround: London Temple, London, England.
Created 20 March 2010
Thomas was born about 1671 in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts and married about 1692 , , Massachusetts. Deborah GRENERY, the daaughter of Isaac GRENERY and Elizabeth GAMLYN. She was born 8 April 1667 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts and died 9 August 1747 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts. Thomas died 1755 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Thomas, the oldest son, married Deborah Genery of Dedham, we learn from a deed of a tract of land situated in Dedham, dated 1724, in which he describes it, as "a part of the estate that fell to my wife from our honored father Isaac Genery, lately deceased, of Dedham." Thomas was a farmer, with eleven children. Like his farther, he was elected to places of trust in the town affairs and shared the confidence of the local public.
These local honors, conferred among persons intimately acquainted with each other, as are the inhabitants of such a town, have not the charm of political honors gained from the State, or from larger divisions of the country but they are a better test, of the estimate in which a man is held by those who know him best. Thomas came forward so early, that many have supposed he was the father of his brothers, or at least that he was the brother of his father. But he was only his father's oldest son, perhaps two or three years older than his brother Robert, Jr. Thomas had that part of the original "house-lot" of his father, on which are still remaining the rocks, that, according to tradition, were once part of a defence, giving to the whole tract, the name of the "Fortfield". He died at about the age of eighty-five. Tradition says that he was remembered as a venerable old man, and hoary headed, with a face of benignant expression.
Thomas and Deborah followed the example of Robert and Sarah, in early settling lands upon their children. They gave their children better opportunities for education, than had been practicable, when they themselves were young. The result was developed in the next generation.
It is pleasant to find, among the descendants of Thomas Taft so good and valuable a an as the late Rev. George Taft D.D., of Pawtucket, whose ministry was honorable, long continued, and useful. He was a graduate of Brown University, in the class of 1815. His death occurred within the last four or five years. Doctor John G. Metcalf, of Mendon, who knew him well, says of him in a recent correspondence: "The Rev. Doctor George Taft was one of the best men I ever knew."
Like the Rev. Moses Taft, he spent his life, a long one, in one church. His parishioners sought no change. No higher commendation could be asked, or given of the talents, or character, of these men. In taking an account of our jewels, these cannot be omitted.
We learn from the interesting address of the Rev. Carlton A. Staples, "upon the history of the church of Mendon," that it is recorded in 1772, "Thomas Taft was suspended from communion in special ordinances, for repeatedly refusing to hear, and casting contempt upon the church, particularly upon the pastor of said church, till he should make manifest repentance and reformation." This was not the first Thomas; he was dead. It could have been none other than the fourth son of the first Thomas, who was born March 15, 1713, and was at that time, of the obstinate age of fifty-nine, when he refused to hear the Rev. Mr. Willard, and was suspended from "communion in special ordinances." The same pastor had trouble with other members, and was himself charged "with false recording and lying," on which he was tried, and finally acquitted, but soon after dismissed.
Who was right, and who wrong, is not now of the slightest importance, and was probably of no importance then. The minister had to be sustained. It brought out, however, the characteristic of the race, not to submit tamely to arbitrary rule, even in the church.
The Hon. Judge Chapin, whom we are proud to count among the Tafts, has the felicity of also being a Chapin, and has the honor of having been given an admirable address on the occasion of a grand gathering of that family, at Springfield. I observe that in treating the history of that family, he made a point of the great number deacons, that had sprung from Deacon Samuel Chapin, their first American progenitor.
CHILDREN of Thomas TAFT Sr. and Deborah GRENERY:
+ 1. JOSEPH Sr. b: 25 May 1693; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: 1721; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Hannah COOKE
d: 20 Oct 1761; Uxbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts.
2. SARAH b: 29 Mar 1695; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: ; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
Thomas TENNEY
d: 1746; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
3. ELEAZER b: 5 Apr 1697; Uxbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: 15 Dec 1720; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
Rachel THAYER
d: 29 Aug 1759; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
4. MOSES b: 17 Apr 1699; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
5. HANNAH b: 17 Apr 1699; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
6. REBECCA b: 15 Mar 1701; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
7. DEBORAH b: 14 Nov 1702; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: 24 Jun 1726; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
Benjamin WHEELOCK
d: Abt 1760; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
8. RACHEL b: 1 Oct 1704; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: ; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
Uriah THAYER
9. MARTHA b: 15 Jun 1708; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: ; , Worcester. Massachusetts.
Joseph BENSON
10. ISAAC b: 15 Jul 1710; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md ; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
Deborah WHITE
d: 1767; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
11. THOMAS b: 15 Mar 1713; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: 8 Mar 1732; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Lydia THOMPSON
d: 25 Jan 1793; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
12. SUSANNAH b: 15 Mar 1713; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
md: ; , Worcester, Massachusetts.
John FISH
d: 17 Nov 1751; Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts.
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