Thomas Miner
Encyclopedia
Thomas Miner or Minor was a founder of New London
and Stonington, Connecticut
, USA, and an early New England diarist.
, on April 23, 1608. In 1629, he emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts
, aboard the Lyon's Whelp
. He quickly moved to Watertown
, and then on to Charlestown
, after Typhus Fever broke out in Salem.
In Charlestown, Miner met Grace Palmer, whom he married in 1634. She was the daughter of Walter Palmer
. The couple eventually had seven sons and three daughters. In 1636, the Miners moved to Hingham
.
, where Miner and his son Ephraim helped found the Road Church.
In about 1653, Miner bought land west of Stonington, across Quiambaug Cove near present-day Mystic
, and built a house for his family. Around this time he began one of the few diaries to survive 17th Century New England
. It covers the years 1653 to 1684 and was published in book form in 1899.
Miner was active in public affairs in both New London and Stonington. His sons, and possibly Miner himself, fought in King Philip's War
.
and determine how his surname
was historically spelled (Miner versus Minor). The response he received is a classic example of fraudulent genealogy. The pedigree and family coat of arms sent back to Miner were proven to be mostly falsified in a 1984 study published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Fylde-Hambleton Crown Difinitive Edition by Lady Westwinton
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
and Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
, USA, and an early New England diarist.
Early life and marriage
Miner was born in Chew Magna, EnglandChew Magna
Chew Magna is a village and civil parish within the Chew Valley in the Unitary Authority of Bath and North East Somerset, in the Ceremonial county of Somerset, England. The parish has a population of 1,161.To the south of the village is Chew Valley Lake...
, on April 23, 1608. In 1629, he emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, aboard the Lyon's Whelp
Lyon's Whelp
In 1628, the very wealthy Duke of Buckingham built a private fleet of 10 three masted, armed pinnaces each of which carried the name Lion's Whelp. At least one Lion's Whelp participated in the English attempt to relieve the Huguenot citadel of La Rochelle during the Anglo-French War...
. He quickly moved to Watertown
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, and then on to Charlestown
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
, after Typhus Fever broke out in Salem.
In Charlestown, Miner met Grace Palmer, whom he married in 1634. She was the daughter of Walter Palmer
Walter Palmer (Puritan)
Walter Palmer was an early Separatist Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who helped found Charlestown and Rehoboth, Massachusetts and New London, Connecticut.-Early life:...
. The couple eventually had seven sons and three daughters. In 1636, the Miners moved to Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
.
Settling Stonington
After several years in Hingham, the family moved south to the Wequetequock area of present-day Stonington, ConnecticutStonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
, where Miner and his son Ephraim helped found the Road Church.
In about 1653, Miner bought land west of Stonington, across Quiambaug Cove near present-day Mystic
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
, and built a house for his family. Around this time he began one of the few diaries to survive 17th Century New England
History of New England
This article presents the History of New England, the oldest clearly defined region of the United States, unique among U.S. geographic regions in that it is also a former political entity. While New England was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, English Pilgrims and especially Puritans,...
. It covers the years 1653 to 1684 and was published in book form in 1899.
Miner was active in public affairs in both New London and Stonington. His sons, and possibly Miner himself, fought in King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
.
Genealogy
Between 1683 and 1684, Miner contracted with an individual in England to investigate his genealogical lineGenealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and determine how his surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
was historically spelled (Miner versus Minor). The response he received is a classic example of fraudulent genealogy. The pedigree and family coat of arms sent back to Miner were proven to be mostly falsified in a 1984 study published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Death
Miner and his wife died three months apart in 1690 and are buried together in Stonington's Wequetequock Cemetery. The founders monument in Stonington has one side dedicated to him.Notable descendants
Notable descendants include:- Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
- William T. MinorWilliam T. MinorWilliam Thomas Minor was an American politician and the 39th Governor of Connecticut.- Early life :Minor was born in Stamford, Connecticut on October 3, 1815. He studied at Yale University and graduated in 1834. He then studied law...
- Thomas T. MinorThomas T. MinorThomas T. Minor, was a physician, businessman, civic and political leader and the only person to have been elected as mayor of Seattle, Washington and Port Townsend, Washington and founder of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway....
- Charles Francis Manley Lord Westwinton of Poulton Grange-Le-
Fylde-Hambleton Crown Difinitive Edition by Lady Westwinton
- William Chester MinorWilliam Chester MinorWilliam Chester Minor, also known as W. C. Minor was an American army surgeon who, later, was one of the largest contributors of quotations to the Oxford English Dictionary...
- John D. RockefellerJohn D. RockefellerJohn Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
External links
- Stonington Historical Society - In Search of the First Settlers
- Original Stonington settlements c. 1651 - map