Individual Details

Married Rev. Thomas Carter (L5FP-HJ1) of Woburn. He was the first minister in Woburn.

"Early genealogists not unnaturally assumed that the Rev. Thomas Carter was identical with the Thomas Carter who embarked at London April 2, 1635, on board the Planter, Nicholas Trerice, master, with a number of others from St. Albans, Hertfordshire, bound for New England. Later investigations, however, show quite conclusively that the Thomas Carter who came over on the Planter settled in Salisbury, Mass., although his age as given in the record of the Planter, twenty-five, corresponds exactly with that of the Rev. Thomas Carter as calculated from the record of his death, Sept. 5, 1874, "in the 74th year of his life.

This statement, however, like many early records of age at time of death, is very likely incorrect, but it is an unfortunate fact for the investigator that there were among the early settlers no fewer than four Thomas Carters,-- three of them in New England , --all arriving about the same time and all of about the same age. These are: (1) Rev. Thomas Carter, first minister of Woburn, Mass.; (2) Thomas Carter of the Planter who settled in Salisbury, Mass., (3) Thomas Carter, eldest son of Thomas Carter, blacksmith, of Charlestown, who deposed, 1662, that he was about fifty-two years old, and hence born about 1610; and (4) Thomas Carter, aged twenty-five who enbarked from London on the SAFETY, Aug 10 1635, for Virginia, etc."

According to Banks' "Planters of the Commonwealth" the Thomas Carter who came on the Planter (arr. Boston June 7, 1635) was age 25 and a servant. In as much as there was a paucity of institutions of higher learning in NE in 1635, I would doubt that this was the Rev.

The above Thomas seems to have been a servant of George Giddings, destined for Ipswich.

THE REV. THOMAS CARTER OF WOBURN, MA.

Probably, the Rev. Thomas Carter was a son of John Carter, a yeoman in the village of Hinderclay, Suffolk County, England. He is said to have been baptized there on 3 July 1608. He was educated at St. John's College, at the University of Cambridge, where he received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1629 and the Master of Arts in 1633. Some authorities believe him to be the Thomas Carter, age 25, who embarked at London aboard the Planter on 2 April 1635, bound for Boston, disguised as a servant of George Giddings. At that time in England it was difficult for educated persons to be permitted to emigrate. However, others believe this was the Thomas of Salisbury, partly because George Giddings sealed in Ipswich, MA, and the Thomas Carter, later at Salisbury, was an inhabitant of Ipswich in 1639. Apparently, there is no record showing the Reverend Carter ever having been in Ipswich.

The Rev. Carter was first recorded at Dedham, MA in 1636. Shortly afterward he was at Watertown, where he joined the church and was engaged in the religious services there. He was invited to Woburn, preached there for the first time on 6 December 1641, and was ordained 22 November 1642. He remained as minister at that place until his death on 5 September 1684.

While at Watertown he married Mary Parkhurst, daughter of George Parkhurst (others believe his wife was Mary Dalton), and they had eight children:

1. Samuel, born 8 Aug 1640, graduated from Harvard, married Eunice Brooks,
had eight children. He died in 1693. LZVZ-3HT
2. Judith. Marr. (1) Samuel Convors 1662; m. (2) Giles Fifield 1672. Died 1676. LRN5-YMR
3. Theophilus. Died young. LH62-B5D
4. Mary, born 24 July 1648, m. (1) John Wyman (killed by Indians), m.
(2) Nathaniel Bachiler. She had 8 children, and died 1688. LHF6-397
5. Abigail, born 10 Jan 1649-50. Married John Smith, and died before 1684. L2T9-QRX
6. Deborah, died young. LH62-BR3
7. Timothy, born 12 June 1653. Married Anna Fisk 1680, and died 1727. LCF3-221
8. Thomas, born 8 June 1655. Married Margery Whitmore, had 13 children. 9H18-F1J


Notes:
The Thomas in Amesbury/Salisbury KFD3-33T, married Mary about 1641: M19D-Y81
Ten Children born in Salibury
Mary, 6 Oct 1641 G316-RQ8
Thomas, 1643 MVFJ-CSY
Martha, Feb 1645 LTYT-HXW
Martha, Mar 1647 L8HV-YQF
Abigail, 10 Jan 1648, died young G7TM-XX6
Elizabeth, Apr 1649 LZ99-V38
John, 18 May 1650 LTYT-4ZY
Abigail, Jan 1652 L5FR-4RL
Samuel, 25 Oct 1656 G316-Y5H
Sarah, 6 Mar 1658 LTYT-QGV

Christen

23 Aug 1613

Saint Mary at the Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk, England

Spouse	Rev Thomas Carter (1610 - 1684)
Child	Samuel Carter (1640 - 1693)
Child	Judith Carter (1642 - 1678)
Child	Theophilus Carter (1645 - 1650)
Child	Mary Carter (1648 - 1688)
Child	Abigail Carter (1649 - 1676)
Child	Deborah Carter (1651 - 1667)
Child	Timothy Carter (1653 - 1727)
Child	Thomas Carter (1655 - 1734)

Father	GEORGE PARKHURST (1589 - 1675)
Mother	PHEBE LEETE ( - 1642)
Sibling	PHEBE PARKHURST ( - 1688)
Sibling	Samuel Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Deborah Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	George Parkhurst ( - 1699)
Sibling	John Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Abigail Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Parkhurst ( - 1727)
Sibling	Joseph Parkhurst ( - )