Individual Details

Anderson states that this is *not* the Thomas Hatch of Scituate and *is* the Thomas Hatch who arrived in Dorchester, then Yarmouth, and then Barnstable.

The following is uncited and unverified material copied from: http://homepages.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy2/ps12/ps12_176.htm

THOMAS HATCH is supposed to have been born about 1603. Of his life previous to his removal to New England, not much is known to us. He married a young woman by the name of GRACE, probably as a second wife. Her family name seems not now to be known but she is said to have been of Welsh extraction, and in this connection there is a pretty little romance which has been preserved among his descendants to this day. "Miss Grace, it seems, was a very winsome and popular young woman and Thomas had more than one rival for her heart, and hand. But the contest finally simmered down to Thomas and one other, and Miss Grace found it difficult to decide which she liked the better. Finally, as they were farmers, it was agreed by all concerned that fate should be determined by a reaping match, he who could reap a certain equal measured portion of a field of grain, to get the prize. And Miss Grace, being herself a farmer's daughter and a skillful reaper determined that she also would have a hand in the contest that was to decide her fate. Consequently she, with true feminine diplomacy, had her equal portion staked out between the other two and the contest began. Reaping grain at that time was done by the hand sickle. In the meantime as her fate was so near a determination, Miss Grace did some vigorous thinking as is apt to be the case when events of serious consequences are imminent and having concluded that, on the whole, she rather liked Thomas a little the better, she slyly cut over a little onto Thomas' portion, thus enabling him to finish slightly ahead."

It was probably early in the year of 1634 that Thomas Hatch removed with his family to the
wilderness of the New World, during the great Puritan emigration from England to the
Massachusetts Bay Colony. May 14, 1634 he was by vote of the court of General Assembly
made a freeman of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The court at that time was very strict as to
whom they admitted the right to vote and have a voice in the management of the public
affairs of the Colony. To become a freeman of the colony one must be 25 years of age,
a man having a family, a freeholder (or land owner) and be a member of the Puritan or
Congregational church. They admitted no vagabonds or irresponsible persons into public
affairs at that time.

Thomas Hatch was a public spirited citizen and a man of business ability and during his
residence in Massachusetts Bay Colony must have acquired some propertv and been a
man of influence in the locality where he lived. According to the town records of
Dorchester, Mass., under date of December 29, 1634,. "It is ordered that John Philips and
Thomas Hatch shall have, each of them, two acres of land that lies betwixt the ends of the
great lots and three acres that is granted to Alexander Miller, if so much there be, provided
they leave sufficient highway at their great lots." These two acres were apparently some
remnants of land that did not come within the bounds of "their great lots" as laid out.
January 7, 1639, Thomas Hatch and nine others whose names are given applied to
Plymouth Colony for grant of leave to purchase land and form a new township at a place
now known as Yarmouth on the Cape Cod peninsula. The leave was granted and Thomas
Hatch and the other grantees at once went there and built themselves log houses.

The town was incorporated January 17, 1639 and named Yarmouth. A committee was
soon appointed to have charge of the division or allotment of lands and the sale of
the same. These first settlers were people of strict moral and religious character,
they had no intention of admitting into their new settlement any persons who might
be a disturbing element in it. In March 1640 the committee for the sale of Iands
was instructed to have a strict care to admit no settlers into the town except such
as bring certificates from well known men as to their "religious and honest carriage"
in the places from whence they came. By the close of 1640 about 25 families had
settled the new town.


It would seem that some difficulty arose over the first grants or division of land
among the incorporators. The early records of the town were destroyed in a fire so that it
is difficult now to determine just the nature of the dispute. At the court held at Yarmouth,
June 17, 1642 by three of the Governor's Assistants an attempt was made to straighten
matters out but it appears was only partially successful. It was during and probably on
account of this dispute over these lands that Thomas Hatch moved to the town of Barnstable
June 1, 1641. Thomas Hatch was an upright man and he may have felt that he had not been
fairly dealt with or at any rate that he would prefer to reside where he could live amicably
with his neighbors and in undisputed possession of his property. That his lands were
included among others in the dispute is evident from the records of a hearing held before
Capt. Miles Standish in 1648 by order of the Court designed to clear up and put an end to
such differences as still remained, for among several other names that of "Thomas Hatch"
is mentioned. At this time, too "Anthony Thacher claimed 80 acres in the west field in
Yarmouth that had been bought of Thomas Hatch."

Thomas Hatch resided in the town of Barnstable for the balance of his life and was
probably a member of the church of the celebrated Rev. John Lathrop. In l643 his name
appears on the roll of those "able to bear arms in Barnstable." He was at this time about 40
years of age. In Jan. 1644 his name is on the list of approved inhabitants of Barnstable"
showing that he was a man of good character and influence and held in esteem by his fellow
townsmen. It seems evident that he must have acquired some landed estate in this town, for
we know he acquired land at other places where he resided in Massachusetts Bay and
Plymouth Colony. The records of deed and transfers of land in Barnstable previous to 1700
were destroyed by fire so there is now no official record of the lands owned by any of the
early settlers but everything points to the conclusion that he must have been a land holder
in the town.

He died in Barnstable in 1661 probably in April or May. May 27, 1661 an inventory of his
personal estate was taken by Isaac Robinson and Thomas Ewer and sworn to by his widow
Grace. It amounted 17 pounds 18 shillings. Authorities are agreed that he was of exemplary
character and a very pious man. What became of his widow, Grace, seems not be known."
(Furnished by Spencer E Smith, a descendant of Thomas Hatch.)

Inventory of the Goods of Thomas Hatch of Barnstrable, Lately Deceased. (Taken by
Isaac Robinson and Thomas Ewer, 27 May, 1661).

lb. s. d.
Imp.'s his working tools 02 14 00
It. for a cubbert not fully finished 01 10 00
It. for wearing cloyes 03 00 00
It. for bedding and bedstead 06 00 00
It. for potts, pewter and brasse 01 02 00
It. for books 00 06 00
It. for other lumber 01 12 00
It. for timber and glew 00 14 00
It. for an Instrument called a violen 01 00 00
15 58 00

Grace Hatch late wife of the above Thomas Hatch was deposed to the truth of the above
mentioned Inventory this 27 day of June, 1661, before me, Thomas Hinckley, assistant.

****
While some sources state that Thomas was son of Arthur HATCH & Margaret MAL(L)ET bp 14 OCT 1598 in Aller, Devon, ENG. NOT recognized by Faris Plantagenet Ancestry or G.B. Robert Royal Descents as of royal lineage. No proof that the Thomas bp 1598 was the emigrant later of Yarmouth & Barnstable.

He emigrated from pt of origin unknown freeman 14 MAY 1634. Thomas HATCH was made a freeman of resident unknown on 14 MAY 1634 at in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He resided in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony bef JUN 1638. "was of Yarmouth in 1638, one of the men who proposed, June, 1638, O.S., to "take up their freedom at Yarmouth." March 5, following, his name is
entered at next court but no mark is there against indicating that he then took the required oath. OWL DEC 1908 p. 752

Thomas HATCH was made a freeman of Yarmouth on proposed 5 MAR 1638/9 at in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony. He resided in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony before JUN 1641. In 1641 he had removed to Barnstable and at court there held June of that year he,
with others of that town, was again proposed to be admitted freeman. At next court his name does not appear in list of freeman of
Barnstable. He had taken the oath of fidelity and in some instances this seems to be the equivalent of the Freeman's oath. August,
1643, his name appears on the roll of those "able to bear arms" in Barnstable and the following January on the list of "approved
inhabitants" of Barnstable. OWL DEC 1908 p. 752

Thomas HATCH was made a freeman of Barnstable on proposed JUN 1641 at in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony. He resided in
Barnstable, Plymouth Colony 1641. He took an oath of allegiance about 1641 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony. He had taken the oath
of fidelity and in some instances this seems to be the equivalent of the freeman's oath.

The administration of the estate of Thomas HATCH in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony was on 3 MAR 1662/3 at Plymouth Col. Probate
Court. Very little is known respecting him. He does not appear to have been at any time in public life. He was not a man of wealth and
no record of land has been preserved. In 1648, Mr. Anthony Thatcher claimed eight acres of land, bought of Thomas Hatch. This was
the usual allotment, and probably he had the same assignment both at Yarmouth and Barnstable. His son Jonathan later owned land
near the Crocker farm, West Barnstable, which he sold to Thomas Dimmock.

A pretty story is related by a grandson of Thomas and preserved as a family tradition. He was the son of a farmer and served his father before learning the trade of a tailor. His wife was the daughter of a farmer, and in time of harvest assisted in the fields and was very
expert in the use of the sickle. Two young men asked her hand in marriage, and it was agreed that the one who should reap the largest
piece in a given time should win the prize. The land was marked off, and an equal proportion assigned to Miss Grace. She was the best
reaper, and having decided that she would marry Thomas Hatch, she slyly cut over on the part assigned to him, consequently he came
out ahead of the other young man; claimed, and received her hand in marriage. Thomas Hatch was a church member, a freeman, and a
man whose life was a living testimony of his fidelity to the principles which he professed. Not a man of note, yet honest, and a good
neighbor. Probably both of his children were born in England. There is no record of his wife's death.(216)

*******

The following was copied from "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," Vol. LXX, 1916, page 256:
"Much confusion has arisen and numerous errors have appeared in various printed works regarding two settlers in Plymouth Colony, named
Thomas Hatch. Besides Thomas Hatch of Scituate, there was a Thomas Hatch, an early proprietor of Dorchester, Massachusetts, who was
propounded as a freeman, May 14, 1634. (Massachusetts Bay Records Vol. 1, p. 369.) He moved to Yarmouth, where he was propounded as a
freeman Jan. 7, 1638 or 1639. Later he moved to Barnstable, where he was propounded as a freeman June 1, 1641. At Barnstable in Aug., 1643, he
was on the list of those able to bear rms,
that is he was between 16 and 60 years of age. He had land in both Yarmouth and Barnstable, and took the oath of fidelity in Yarmouth in 1657. He
died about 1660, and on May 7, 1661, his widow, Grace, presented his inventory. On March 3, 1662-3 administration on his estate was granted to
Jonathan Hatch and Lydia, wife of Henry Taylor, who were, without doubt, his children. (Plymouth Colony Records, Court Orders, Vol. 4, p. 31).
This Thomas Hatch of Dorchester, Yarmouth, and Barnstable did not belong to the Hatch family of Scituate which came from Kent County,
England."
-----------
It was probably early in the year of 1634 that Thomas Hatch removed with his family to the wilderness of the New World, during the great Puritan
emigration from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. May 14, 1634 he was by vote of the court of General Assembly made a freeman of
Massachusetts Bay Colony. The court at that time was very strict as to whom they admitted the right to vote and have a voice in the management of
the public affairs of the Colony. To become a freeman of the colony one must be 25 years of age, a man having a family, a freeholder (or land
owner) and be a member of the Puritan or Congregational church. They admitted no vagabonds or irresponsible persons into public affairs at that
time.
January 7, 1639, Thomas Hatch and nine others whose names are given applied to Plymouth Colony for grant of leave to purchase land and form a
new township at a place now known as Yarmouth on the Cape Cod peninsula. The leave was granted and Thomas Hatch and the other grantees at
once went there and built themselves log houses.
The town was incorporated January 17, 1639 and named Yarmouth. A committee was soon appointed to have charge of the division or allotment of
lands and the sale of the same. These first settlers were people of strict moral and religious character, they had no intention of admitting into their
new settlement any persons who might be a disturbing element in it. In March 1640 the committee for the sale of Iands was instructed to have a strict
care to admit no settlers into the town except such as bring certificates from well known men as to their "religious and honest carriage" in the places
from whence they came. By the close of 1640 about 25 families had settled the new town. Thomas Hatch resided in the town of Barnstable for the
balance of his life and was probably a member of the church of the celebrated Rev. John Lathrop. In l643 his name appears on the roll of those "able
to bear arms in Barnstable." He was at this time about 40
years of age. In Jan. 1644 his name is on the list of approved inhabitants of Barnstable" showing that he was a man of good character and influence
and held in esteem by his fellow townsmen. It seems evident that he must have acquired some landed estate in this town, for we know he acquired
land at other places where he resided in Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colony. The records of deed and transfers of land in Barnstable previous
to 1700 were destroyed by fire so there is now no official record of the lands owned by any of the early settlers but everything points to the
conclusion that he must have been a land holder in the town.
He died in Barnstable in 1661 probably in April or May. May 27, 1661 an inventory of his personal estate was taken by Isaac Robinson and
Thomas Ewer and sworn to by his widow Grace. It amounted 17 pounds 18 shillings. Authorities are agreed that he was of exemplary
character and a very pious man. What became of his widow, Grace, seems not be known."
Source: http://www.geocities.com/~weekseekers/hatch.html

Birth	Bef 1596
Marriage	Bef 1621	Grace [wife of Thomas Hatch] [UNKNOWN]
Arrival	24 Jul 1633	Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay, British America
Census	14 May 1634	listed as a "Freeman", Massachusetts Bay, British America
Property	17 Apr 1635	land granted - Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay, British America
Removed	1638	of which he was a founder - Yarmouth, Barnstable, Plymouth, British America
Property	Jan 1638/39	land acquired in Yarmouth - Yarmouth, Barnstable, Plymouth, British America
Removed	Bef 1 Jun 1641	probably to join the congregation of Rev. John Lothrop - Barnstable, Plymouth, British America
Residence	1643	Barnstable, Plymouth, British America
Death	Bef 27 May 1661	(this is the date of the inventory)
Occupation		carpenter or cabinet maker

Spouse	Grace [wife of Thomas Hatch] [UNKNOWN] (1605 - 1661)
Child	Jonathan HATCH (1621 - 1710)
Child	Lydia HATCH (1625 - )

Notes