[Tommies] ATTN: University Librarian: Helen Durndell re: David Thomson and the Americana Exhibit

[Betty Lou Morris]

Dear Gen,

  Thank you for sending the Tommies a copy of your letter to Helen Durndell
about David Thomson.  I especially like the reference that connects his son
John with the Gorges family and thus by inference to the John Thompson of
Weymouth and Mendon.

  Betty Lou

 

  _____  

From: tommies-bounces at wellswooster.com
[mailto:tommies-bounces at wellswooster.com] On Behalf Of gcfraser at peoplepc.com
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 3:17 AM
To: special at lib.gla.ac.uk
Subject: [Tommies] ATTN: University Librarian: Helen Durndell re:
DavidThomson and the Americana Exhibit

 

 
211 Dana Road, 

 
Orange, Massachusetts 

 
01364  USA

 


 

 

Helen Durndell, University Librarian

Special Collections Department, 

Library, University of Glasgow, 

Hillhead Street, G12 8QE, 

Scotland, United Kingdom

 

Dear Ms Durndell,

I have enjoyed reviewing the Library's online exhibit, "Americana." (
http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/Americana/IndexAmericana.html )

Along with published books and manuscripts, you also include an autograph
letter written by Robert Trumbell as a member of the original Scottish
expedition to Darien.  Would you consider including a letter written by the
Scotsman, David Thomson to Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, dated "the first
of Julie 1625  Plymesland in New England."  It is a fascinating historical
document.  The letter is Number 275 of Arundel's Autograph Letters.   A copy
of the original, which is housed in the Duke of Norfolk's Library, Arundel
Castle in Sussex, can be found at the web address:

 

http://www.wellswooster.com/tommies/arundel_letter.html

 

 

Thomson is considered to be the founder of New Hampshire (per a 1622 grant)
and was appointed acting governor of Massachusetts under the 1624
Massachusetts grant to Robert Gorges (son of Ferdinando) by the Council for
New England.   (As you will note, the signature at the bottom of the letter
addressed to Arundel is "David Thomson."  It is not the Anglicized,
Thompson.) 

At the close of the Gorges patent is the following, "And lastly know ye,
that we the said Council have deputized, authorized and appointed, and in
our place and stead have put David Thomson, Gent., or in his absence any
other person that shall be their Governor, or other officer unto the said
Council, to be our true and lawful attorney and attorneys, and in our name
and stead to enter the said lands...and take possession and seisen
thereof...for us and in our name to deliver the same unto the said Robert
Gorges or his heirs..." 

The document is signed by King James's beloved cousin, the Duke of Lenox,
the Marquis of Hamilton, the Earl of Arundell and Surrey as well as by Sir
Robert Mansell, Doctor Barnaby Goach, treasurer, and William Boles, clerk of
the Council. 

 

Thomas Morton, in his New English Canaan, makes reference to Thomson's
Scottish origins.  "...Therefore since I have had the approbation of Sir
Christophe gardiner Knight an able gentl. that lived amongsts them & of
David Thompson a Scottish gentl. that likewise was conversant with those
people both Scollers and Travellers that were diligent of taking notice of
these things as men of good judgement. And that have bin in those parts any
time; besides others of lesse, now I am bold to conclude that the originall
of the Natives of New England may be well conjectured to be from the
scattered Trojans, after such time as Brutus departed from Latium." (Chapter
II)

 

Evidence of Thomson's Scottish origin is also found in Chapter 6 of Edward
Winslow's "Good Newes from New England," which was published in London in
1624. "...At the same time Captain Standish being formerly employed by the
Governor to buy provisions for the refreshing of the Colony, returned with
the same, accompanied with one Mr. David Tomson, a Scotchman, who also that
Spring began a Plantation twenty-five leagues northeast from us, near Smiths
Isles, at a place called Pascatoquack, where he liketh well..." 

 

Sir Ferdinando Gorges was joined in his efforts to colonize the northern
portion of the eastern seaboard by the Scottish Knight, Sir William
Alexander, aka the Earl of Stirling. Sir William Alexander had been tutor to
King James' son Henry, and later served as Secretary of State of Scotland
under King Charles I.  David Thomson's past appears to be linked to this
Scottish Lord as evidenced by a letter which is preserved by the
Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston.  The Earl of Stirling's
interests were north of New England in Nova Scotia, yet he is clearly
concerned about Thomson's son.  

On July 4, 1637, Sir William Alexander, writing as the Earl of Stirling,
composed a joint letter to the Authorities of the Massachusetts Bay Company,
in regard to the rights of John Thomson, heir of David Thomson, and his
claim to the ownership of Thomson's Island. Alexander is joined in the
letter by Lord Edward Gorges and Sir Ferdinando Gorges. In the original
document, the uppermost signature is "ESterling," beneath it is "EdGorges."
The bottom of the document bears the scrawled signature of Sir Ferdinando
Gorges. (The Massachusetts Historical Society has indexed the document as a
letter by Sir William Alexander.)

The letter begins "on behalf of the heir John Thompson the sonne of David
Thompson sometyme sirvant to the Councille for those affaires." The concern
expressed was that John's mother, Amias, had since her marriage to another
man (Samuel Maverick) allowed for the disposing of her son's rightful
property (Thomson's Island) which "his Father had so hardly obtayned." 

Extracts from the Council for New England records reveal that one of
Thomson's roles was to inform the Lords, and thereby His Majesty, of the
concerns and activities of the Council. He also acted as an agent on behalf
of the Council in a variety of other matters. Thomson's grant was for 6,000
acres and an island.  He also held a grant for Thom(p)son's Island in Boston
Harbor, Massachusetts.

5th of July 1622: "It is ordered that David Thomson do attend the Lords,
with a petition to his majesty for forfeits committed by Thomas Weston, also
to solicit the Lords for procuring from his Majesty a proclamation
concerning the fishermen of the western parts. Likewise to procure some
course for punishing their contempt of authority." (6)

The petition was acknowledged by the King on the 6 November 1622 with a
"Proclamation Prohibiting Interloping and Disorderly Trading to New England
in America."

"Whereby, having received certain information of many and intolerable abuses
offered by sundry interlopers, irregular and disobedient persons....We for
reformation and prevention of these or the like evils hereafter, and for the
more clear declaration of our kingly resolution and just intents, both to
maintain our royal grant already made, and to uphold and encourage ...the
undertakers of those designs...do hereby straightly charge and command that
none of our subjects whatsoever...in New England, presume from henceforth to
frquent those coasts...otherwise by the license of the said counsel or
according to the orders established by our privy council..." (7)

July 24, 1622 was the date of the first division of the Patent for New
England by the Council for New England. As the record reveals, David Thomson
was to meet with the Council Lords, as agent for the Council for New
England. The "bounds for the dividends" of the patents for the Lord Duke of
Lennox and the Earl of Arundel were also determined at this meeting. (8)

24th of July 1622: "...Mr. Thomson is appointed to attend the Lords, for a
warrant to Mr. Attorney-General for drawing the new patent, Sir Henry
Spilman to attend on the same subject." (9)

This was also the date that the "Tenure for Private Planters" was drawn up.
The Tenure stated that "private planters shall hold of the Chamber of State
to be established there, and shall have power to create their own tenures to
such as shall hold under them." Through this, Thomson's Indenture may have
been legally established. In addition, the following entry determined that
the feudal system of Old England be continued in New England. "The country
is to be called Nova Albion. That there may be power given in to grant
patent to create titles of honor and precedency so as they differ in
nomination from the titles used here in England." (10)

Who exactly was David Thomson?  Based on years of research, published by the
Scottish Genealogical Society under the heading,  "David Thomson, the
Scottish Founder of New Hampshire... a Gentleman, and a Scholar," I have
come to believe that David Thomson is of Corstorphine, son of Rev. Richard
Thomson.  David's stepmother was Agnes Foulis whose niece was married to
Thomas Hamilton, the Earl of Haddington who served as Secretary of State to
King James I at the time of Thomson's grant.  David's step-brother, Adam
Hepburn (later a Senator) served as the legal clerk to Haddington.  One of
Agnes Foulis' nephews was Sir David Foulis who accompanied King James IV of
Scotland to England in 1603 when he was crowned James I of England.  David
Foulis was the Scottish Ambassador to England during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth.  He later served as cofferer to Prince Henry at the time when Sir
William Alexander served as tutor to the Prince. 

According to Theodore Radford Thomson, the Thomsons of Corstorphine were
direct descendants of Alexander, the Earl of Mar through his illegitimate
son, Sir Thomas Stewart.  Alexander Thomson (1460 - 1513) married Margaret
Forrester, great-grandchild of Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, Lord High
Chamberlain. Rev. Richard Thomson's Kirk teinds and appointments were from
King James.  There is also a letter from Mary Queen of Scots, shortly before
her death, which suggests a possible involvement with the appointment:  I
have granted to one of Thomson's sons a prebend, not being able at present
to do more for him."  (William K. Boyd, editor, State Papers, Relating to
Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots 1547-1603, Vol VII. A.D. 1584-1585,
Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1913, 341-342.)

I appreciate your taking the time to read this rather lengthy "petition."
I hope you will consider adding Thomson's letter to your exhibit of
"Americana."

 

Sincerely,

Genevieve Cora Fraser

 

 <mailto:gcfraser at peoplepc.com> gcfraser at peoplepc.com
(978) 544-1872
 

 

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