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<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> 211
Dana Road, </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> Orange, M</FONT></FONT><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">assachusetts </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> 01364
USA</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Helen Durndell, University
Librarian<BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Special Collections Department,
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Library, University of Glasgow,
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Hillhead Street, G12 8QE,
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Scotland, United
Kingdom</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Dear Ms Durndell,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">I have enjoyed reviewing the Library's
online exhibit, "Americana." ( <A
href="http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/Americana/IndexAmericana.html">http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/Americana/IndexAmericana.html</A> )</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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 It is a fascinating historical document.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:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><A
href="http://www.wellswooster.com/tommies/arundel_letter.html">http://www.wellswooster.com/tommies/arundel_letter.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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.)</FONT>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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 <B><I>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,</I></B> 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..." </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The document is signed by King James's
beloved cousin, the <STRONG><EM>Duke of Lenox, the Marquis of Hamilton, the Earl
of Arundell and Surrey</EM></STRONG> as well as by Sir Robert Mansell, Doctor
Barnaby Goach, treasurer, and William Boles, clerk of the Council.
</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Thomas Morton, in his New English
Canaan, makes reference to Thomson's Scottish origins. </FONT><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">"...Therefore since I have had the approbation of Sir
Christophe gardiner Knight an able gentl. that lived amongsts <B><I>them &
of David Thompson a Scottish gentl. that likewise was conversant with those
people both Scollers and Travellers</I></B> 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)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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. </FONT><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">"...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 <B><I>Mr. David Tomson, a
Scotchman</I></B>, 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..." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Sir Ferdinando Gorges was joined in his
efforts to colonize the northern portion of the eastern seaboard by the Scottish
Knight, <STRONG><EM>Sir William Alexander, aka the Earl of
Stirling</EM></STRONG>. 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. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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.)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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 <STRONG><EM>"his Father had so
hardly obtayned."</EM></STRONG> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B>5th of July 1622</B>: "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)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">"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)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B>24th of July 1622</B>: "...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)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">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. </FONT></FONT><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">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: <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><EM><STRONG>I
have granted to one of Thomson’s sons a prebend, not being able at present to do
more for him.” (</STRONG></EM><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN">William
K. Boyd, editor,<EM> State Papers, Relating to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region></st1:place> and Mary, Queen of Scots
1547-1603</EM>,<EM> Vol VII. A.D. 1584-1585</EM>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:City></st1:place>: H.M. General Register House, 1913,
341-342.)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">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."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Genevieve Cora Fraser</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </DIV>
<P></FONT><A href="mailto:gcfraser@peoplepc.com"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">gcfraser@peoplepc.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">(978) 544-1872<BR> </FONT></P>
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