SOME DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS TARBELL
SOME DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS TARBELL
This is the line from Thomas Tarbell that I descend from. (The name has also been found as "Tarble" and "Tarbol")I have some information on the other families in this file and will be glad to share anything I have with others who are interested in this family. Feel free to let me know of any corrections or additions to this family. I have placed some of my sources at the end of this page. E-mail to Ginny Deagan (NEW E-MAIL:[email protected])
1.Thomas Tarbell, Sr. was born in England about 1618. It is not known when he came to New England. He was living in Watertown, MA as early as 1647 and owned land there. His wife was named Mary and her surname is unknown. On 30 March 1663, Thomas and his family moved to Groton, MA. Mary died there on 29 April 1674, aged 54 years. Groton was destroyed during King Philip�s War and the family left there and went to Charlestown, MA. Thomas was remarried in Charlestown on 15 August 1676 to Mrs. Susanna Lawrence, widow of John Lawrence. Thomas contacted small pox and died in Charlestown on 11 June 1678. Children of Thomas Sr. and Mary Tarbell:
2. Thomas Tarbell, Jr. was born about 1641 probably in Watertown, MA. He was the son of Thomas Sr. and Mary Tarbell. He was one of the proprietors of Groton, MA along with his father. He was married there on 30 June 1666 to Hannah Longley. She was the daughter of William and Hannah (Goffe) Longley, born in Groton, MA abt. 1645. She died 29 Dec 1680.
Groton was nearly destroyed during King Philip's War and the residents were forced to flee. Thomas and Hannah moved to Charlestown where they stayed with Hannah's sister and her husband. Thomas died there of smallpox on 27 April 1678 a few months before his father died of the same disease.. Hannah died 29 Dec 1680 at Groton.
Children of Thomas Jr. and Hannah (Longley) Tarbell:
3. Thomas (3) Tarbell was born 6 July 1667 at Charlestown, Suffolk Co. MA. He was the son of Thomas Jr. and Hannah (Longley) Tarbell. He was married at Groton, MA 1 December 1686 to Elizabeth Woods. She was born 17 Sep 1665 at Groton and was the daughter of Samuel and Alice (Rushton) Woods. Elizabeth died 24 Jan 1716/17.
Thomas and Elizabeth lived at Groton, MA where he was the town clerk in 1704 and 1705. Between 1704 and 1708, Groton was attacked by Indians many times. During one raid on 20 June 1707, three of the Tarbell children, Zachariah, John and Sarah were captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. The boys had climbed a cherry tree and could not get down in time to reach the safety of the garrison house when the raid began. John was ten years old and Zachariah was seven years old. Many years later, the boys returned to Groton, but had become so used to Indian ways that they would not stay. They married Indian women and many of their descendants were prominent among the Mohawk Indian.
Sarah Tarbell was fourteen years old when she was captured and was ransomed by the French. She was baptized as a Catholic on 23 July 1708. Her baptismal record reads "Sarah Tarbel, born in Groton in New England, the 3rd of October, 1693 from the marriage of Thomas Tarbel and Elisabeth Woods, protestants, and was baptized by the minister a little after her birth. Having been taken by Indians (Abenaquis) on Monday, June 10, 1707 and taken to Canada has since been ransomed and lives with the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame established at Lachine where she made her denouncement the first of May 1708. . Her name was changed to that of Marguerite".
Thomas Tarbell was a Sergeant from Groton during the Indian Wars of 1706-1707. He was tried at a Court Martial along with his Lieutenant for a false report of a large number of Indians that resulted in the disorderly return home of the troops. Tarbell had heard several men talking and another scout had heard dogs barking and they took this as the presence of a large number of French and Indians. When the men heard the report, three-quarters of them ran home. The officers would not let the small number that remained continue. Sgt. Tarbell then threw down his cap and offered to go himself against the enemy if four men would go with him, but the Officers decided to withdraw and go home.
In a letter written to an official reporting the Court Martial, Ephraim Hunt wrote, "Tarbal who was the person who pretended the discovery altho impudent and so blamable, yet would begg your Excellency's favour for him as a very honest man willing to do service and infinitely concerned for this ill accident".
Apparently, Thomas was not punished for his act and he was chosen Deacon of the church in Groton in 1715 and died that same year on 8 October 1715, age 48, at Lexington, Middlesex County, MA where his sister, Anna, was living at that time. His will was dated 26 September 1715. He named his widow, Elizabeth and all of his children and made provision for his three children, John, Zachary and Sarah in the event that they should ever return from captivity.
Children of Thomas (3( and Elizabeth (Woods) Tarbell: All born in Groton, MA
4. Thomas (4) Tarbell was born 15 September 1687 at Groton, Middlesex, MA. He was the son of Thomas (3) and Elizabeth (Woods) Tarbell. He was married 1 January 1716 to Abigail Parker at Groton, MA. She was the daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Lakin) Parker and was born 22 August 1696 at Groton. She died after 1757. Thomas and Abigail lived in Groton, where Thomas was the Town Clerk 1731 - 1733 and 1745 - 1756. He was also a Captain in the Militia.
The History of Groton MA says he had a wife, Hannah and three children born between 1702 and 1707. If these children belong to Thomas, he would have been under 15 years old at the time of the first child's birth. At the time, there were only two Thomas Tarbells living in Groton and these children are not mentioned in the will of either. Thomas (4) Tarbell died at Groton 30 May 1757 at age 69 on 30 May 1757, leaving a will dated 4 May 1757. Children of Thomas (4) and Abigail (Parker) Tarbell: All born in Groton, MA
5. Thomas (5) Tarbell was born 2 February 1719 in Groton, Middlesex, MA. He was the son of Thomas (4) and Abigail (Parker) Tarbell and was the fifth generation of Thomas Tarbells in his line. He was married 19 January 1741/42 at Groton, MA to Esther Smith. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Esther Smith of Groton and was born 20 May 1719. She died 26 January 1796 at Mason, New Hampshire.
Thomas and Esther moved from Groton MA to Mason, NH about 1754. In 1768, he was the sealer of weights and measures in Mason. He served in Col. James Reed's New Hampshire Regiment during the Revolutionary War, enlisting on 23 April 1775. [ He would have been 55 years old]. He was a Corporal in Capt. John Gross's Co. and marched to reinforce the Northern Army 20 July 1777. He was discharged 27 September 1777. Thomas Tarbell (5) died 9 February 1796 at Mason, New Hampshire. His will, dated 9 February 1796 mentions a Negro girl, Sukey, whom he brought up. Children of Thomas (5) and Esther (Smith) Tarbell: (1st 6 listed in Groton, MA records)
6, Edmund Tarbell was born 4 April 1747 at Groton, Middlesex County, MA. He was the son of Thomas and Esther (Smith) Tarbell. He was married 30 May 1771 at Townsend, MA to Mary "Molly" Hildreth. Edmund lived in Mason, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Molly was the daughter of Oliver and Anna (Blaisdell) Hildreth and was born 3 Mar 1726/27 at Chelmsford, MA. She died in 1800.
Edmund served during the Revolutionary War as a Private in Capt. Benjamin Mann's Company, Col. James Reed's New Hampshire Regiment from 20 April 1775 to 12 October 1775 and from 8 August 1778 to 28 August 1776. After the death of his first wife, Molly, who died at age 37, he was married again to Mary Elliot. Edmund died 3 April 1800, age 53 at Cavendish, Windsor County, VT and is buried in Morgan Bridge Cemetery at Cavendish. Children of Edmund and Molly (Hildreth) Tarbell: All born in Mason, Hillsborough Co. NH
7. Dorothy "Dolly" Tarbell was born on 29 December 1773 in Mason, Hillsborough Co., NH. She died on 19 May 1856 in Cotton Twp., Switzerland, Indiana at age 82. She was buried in Lee Methodist, Cemetery, Switzerland Co., Indiana. She married James Kendall in 1793.. A nephew said that "Aunt Dolly" used to wear a scarlet cloak when she lived in Vermont. She was a strict mother and was said to burn sulphur on coals to impress her children with a fear of hell.
For children of Dorothy Tarbell and James Kendall, see Some Descendants of Francis "Miles" Kendall