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| Notes for Capt. Paul THORNDIKE | ||||||||||||||
| 12baptized 18 April 1663 at Westminster Abbey, "a young man about 20 years of age"14; deposed aged forty-two years, 27 March 168415 Capt. Paul Thorndike, being an only son, shares with his father the distinction of being the progenitor of this branch of the Thorndike family. He went to England in 1663 and on 18 April of that year was baptized in Westminster Abbey, doubtless in compliance with the wishes of his uncle Herbert Thorndike, Prebendary of the Abbey at the time and an ardent Churchman who possessed a strong dislike for the Puritan religion. With him baptized one Duell Pead, " one of the King's scholars, about 16 years of age," the ceremony being performed by the Dean "publickly in the font then newly set up." The record states that Paul was then "a young man about 20 years of age" which places the year of his birth around 1643, a date which accords with the depositions made later at life at Salem, where in 1684 he stated he was then "aged about 42," and in 1690 "aged about 48." His sojourn in England was not of long duration, for his name appears soon after on the records of Beverly and he became one of the leading men of that town. He was chosen one of the five "townsmen" or selectmen at the first town meeting after Beverly was incorporated in 1668, and was re-elected in 1671, 1673 and 1675. He was surveyor of highways in 1674, and served on various committees for the distribution of land. In 1694 he was chairman of the committee appointed to settle the bounds between Beverly and Manchester, Mass. As his title indicates he was active in the military affairs of Beverly, and in October of 1677 he was commissioned Lieutanant of the Foot Company under Capt. William Dixey, succeeding to the captaincy in 1689. He took the Oath of Fidelity 3 Dec. 1677, the Freeman's Oath at the Court held at Salem 30 Dec. 1679, and was admitted a Freeman 19 May 1680. In spite of the strong churchmanship of his father and uncle, and his baptism in the Church of England, Paul Thorndike demonstrated a marked interest in the church at Beverly and contributed liberally to variout funds raised in its behalf. The records of the First Church of that place show that on 23 Jan 1687/8 his wife Mary made public profession of her faith and repentance and was baptized, "but not being clear in her own spirit did not present proceed to ye Lord's Supper." Capt. Thorndike inherited a large landed estate from his father which he increased substantially by subsequent purchases. Upon the distribution of his estate the homestead on the south side of the road to Manchester was set apart to the widow, while the land on the opposite side was given to his children. 7It is interesting to note that the promontory along the Beverly shore, long known as "Paul's Head," derived its name from Capt. Paul Thorndike. Paul Thorndike left an estate amounting to p 456:15:00, which for the time and place was a substantial one. It was administered by his widow Mary and his son Paul under an appointement bearing the date of 2 Jan 1698. His heirs signed articles of agreement 27 Mar 1699 as follows: John Thorndike, as eldest son of Capt. Thorndike,; Jonathan Biles as guardian to Herbert Thorndike, the youngest son of Capt. Thorndike; Mary Thorndike, daughter; Samuel Goold in right of Elizabeth his wife (daughter of Paul); William Pride in right of Hannah his wife (daughter of Paul); Martha Thorndike, daughter; and his widow Mary Thorndike and his son Paul Thorndike, administrators. | ||||||||||||||
| Last Modified 15 Mar 2003 | Created 6 Jan 2007 by EasyTree for Windows |