Individual Details

Thomas Atkins

(1619 - 2 Apr 1716)

Thomas was a farmer and a fisherman and the first European settler (permanent) of Phippsburg in what is now Maine. He bought this area from sachem Mowhotiwormet, commonly known as Chief Robinhood. He bought the land for one beaver skin, a quarter rent of a bushel of corn, and a quart of liquor. The area of this settlement was attacked by Indians in 1676 during King Phillip's War, many colonists were killed, and the area was abandoned.

Thomas is one of our icky ancestors.

7 Aug 1660 (CA, PCR 3:197-98):
Att this Court, Thomas Attkins, an inhabitant att the River of Kennebecke, appeered before the Court, haveing bine apprehended and committed to jayle for committing insest with his owne daughter, named Mary, whoe accused him that hee had committed the said acte sundry times with her; and being strictly examined hee deneyed that hee ever hee had to doe with her in that kind, and was returned to the jayle againe, and there to remaine untill the next Court for further tryall. The summe of the examination is elsewhere extant in the Court.
2 Oct 1660 (GC, PCR 3:199-200):
Att this Court, Thomas Attkins, inhabitant att the River of Kennebecke, and late prisoner att Plymouth, for committing insist with Mary Atkins, his owne daughter, came to his tryall according to law, which accordingly was prosecuted against him, by a bill of inditement prefered, and a jury of twelve men were impanneled for the tryall of the case, the prisoner examined, and all the evidence that could bee produced was presented.
The said Thomas Atkins put himselfe vpon tryall of God and the countrey. The grand jury found the bill of inditement a true bill, and indorsed on it bella vera. These brought in a verdict, wherin they expressed that they found the said Thomas Atkins not guilty of the said fact, and soe according to the law hee was cleared.
And wheras, in the examination of the said Thomas Atkins, it appeered that on a time hee being in drinke in the night season in his owne house, hee offered some vnclean, insestious attempts to his daughter, Mary Attkins, aboue said, in his chimney corner, as hee himselfe, in parte, confessed. Hee was sentanced to suffer corporall punishment by whiping, which accordingly was executed, and soe the said Atkins cleared and sett libertie to returne to his owne home.

Events

Birth1619Sandwich, Kent, England
ImmigrationBef 1640Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay
MarriageBy 1645Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay - Elizabeth Scammon
Death2 Apr 1716Portland, Province of Massachusetts (present day Maine)

Families

SpouseElizabeth Scammon (1625 - 1687)
ChildMary Atkins (1642 - )
ChildElizabeth Atkins (1645 - )
ChildSusannah Atkins (1647 - )
ChildRebecca Atkins (1649 - )
ChildSarah Atkins (1651 - 1723)
ChildHester Atkins (1653 - )
ChildAbigail Atkins (1655 - )
ChildRachel Atkins (1658 - )
ChildAnne Atkins (1659 - )
ChildRuth Atkins (1663 - )

Notes

Endnotes