Thomas Nash

  General Notes:

7th ggf of Gordon Fisher "Mr Lamberton [of the "phantom ship", see under his name] and Thomas Nash was admitted members of the court and received the freeman’s charge."--- *Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649*,transcribed and edited by Charles Hoadly, Hartford CT (Case, Tiffany and Co) 1857, p 40, under "ATT A GENRLL COURT HELD THE 1T OFTHE 7TH MONETH 1640", p 40-41."

"THOMAS NASH OF NEW HAVEN, CONN. 1640.
On the 26 July, 1637, from the Ship Hector and another not named, a company landed at Boston, Mass. Formed principally by Merchants of London, whose wealth and standing at home enabled them to come out under more favorable auspices than any company that had hitherto sought these shores.

They were accompanied by the Rev. John Davenport as their Pastor, and are supposed to have been mostly members of his Church and Congregation in Coleman St. London.

The Leaders were men of good practical understanding, and had probably provided for the anticipated wants of an infant Colony, by bringing with them men skilled in sucharts as were likely to be most needed.

In that company, as is supposed, came Thomas Nash, with a wife and five children. He was by occupation *gunsmith*, a trade which admitted of an easy transition to that of *blacksmith*, thus rendering him doubly useful to a people whose situation required that both arms and instruments of husbandry should be kept in repair.

[Footnote after the name "Thomas Nash": "Mr. Judd writes, that in the "Massachusetts Historical Collections, Vol. 1, 4th Series, 1852, there are papers relating to Rev. John Robinson at Leyden, Holland, and his congregation, part of whom were the first settlers at Plymouth, 1620. Of those who remained behind, some came to New England afterwards, and some probably did not. Nov. 30, 1625, five of those at Leyden addressed a letter to their brethren at Plymouth, and signed it as *brethren in the Lord*. The names of the five were Francis Jessop, THOMAS NASH, Thomas Blossom, Roger White, Richard Maisterton. Blossom after this came to Plymouth. I know not what became of the others. It is possible that Thomas Nash found his way back to England, and came over with the New Haven settlers some years after."

It seems not only *possible*, but not *improbable* that he either did so, or that he might have come to Plymouth previously and joined the *Quinnipiac* company while they sojourned in Mass. as we know they did several months.

If this was the same Thomas Nash, then there is a probability that his youngest son Timothy may have been born in Holland in 1626."]

The people of Massachusetts Bay were solicitous that this company should choose allocation within their limits, and made very advantageous offers to induce them to do so. But, being resolved to plant a new colony, they, in the fall of that year, sent out Mr. Eaton and others of their company to explore. This Committee selected a place called Quinnipiac, (now New Haven,) then owned by a small tribe of Indians, whose principal chief was Momauguin.

In March, 1638, the whole company sailed from Boston, and, in about a fortnight, landed at Quinnipiac. In November following they entered into an agreement with Momauguin and his counselors, for the purchase of the lands.

They appear not to have been in haste to settle the form of government, but spent the first summer and winter, in erecting the necessary buildings, laying out their lands, and in other respects, preparing for a permanent residence.

In the summer following, on the 4 June,1639, they met together in Mr. Newman's barn, (that probably having the largest area of any building yet erected,) and, after solemn religious exercises, drew up what they termed a "Fundamental agreement," for the regulation of the civil and religious affairs of the Colony. This instrument was signed on the spot by *sixty-three*individuals. It appears then to have been copied, names and all, into the Book of Records, and afterwards to have been signed by *forty-eight* others in the Book. These are called *after subscribers*, and were probably added within the year, perhaps within a few weeks.

Thomas Nash's name is the third of these*after-subscribers*, whence some have supposed that he was not an original member of the company. But this circumstance admits of another solution.

It is known, that subsequently to the arrival of the original company, another company joined them, made up of emigrants from Kent and Surry [sic], in the vicinity of London, who, like Mr. Davenport's people, came with their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Whitfield, to take up their abode in the new world. These, with, perhaps, some of the original settlers, made up a company to form a new settlement at Guilford. Their "Compact" was drawn up and signed in New Haven, on the 1st of June, four days before the meeting at Mr. Newman's barn. On this document, it is said, the name of Thomas Nash appears. Now considering his vocation as a *Smith*, and the universal necessity for the services of such a one in a new settlement, it admits, at least, of a plausible conjecture, that he had been induced to join the new company. And this conjecture is strengthened by the fact mentioned by Barber, that the Planters of Guilford had "not one Blacksmith among them," and that, "it was with great cost the Town obtained one to live among them. “From this it will not appear strange, that the planters going to Guilford, should have endeavored to induce him to go with them, or that the parent Colony, being the largest, and having the prior claim, should have interfered and prevented his going. If he had signed the Guilford compact, it accounts for his not being among the first to sign the other, only four days afterwards. .....

It is said also, that the name on the Guilford compact is spelled with an *i*, *Naish*. But it is not so spelled on the "Fundamental agreement," nor have any of his posterity so written it.

Whence he came is not positively ascertained. One of the fourth generation, is reported to have said he had always understood that his Ancestor came from Ireland. The prevailing tradition, however, is that he was from Lancaster or Lancashire in England. This is the tradition among the descendants of Thomas Nash of Hatfield, Mass. grandson of the original emigrant. Also among the descendants of John Nash of Hadley, another grandson. And it is so stated in the Mss. of the Rev. Daniel Nash of Otsego Co. N.Y. of the 5th generation. And it is worthy of notice that there has been little or no communication between this and the other two branches for more than 100 years. This tradition is sustained by the note from the genealogy of the "Baker Family,"(to which reference will hereafter be made,) concerning his marriage, and is probably correct.

There is reason to believe that he was considerably advanced in years when he came to this country, as his children were all born in England, (or at least before he emigrated,) and his eldest son, John, was of sufficient age to receive the charge (*oath*) of a freeman in April,1642. In his will, made in 1657, he expressly mentions his *old age*.

He is generally mentioned, in the Records, in an affectionate way, as Brother Nash, and was occasionally appointed to those public duties which were congenial with declining years. The following extract from the Record of a General Court held the 25 May, 1646, seems to imply age or infirmity. "In regard of several occasions and works to be done against traying day, Brother Nash is spared."

The first positive date attached to his name is "1st of 7th month (Sept.) 1640. Mr. Lamberton and Thomas Nash were admitted members of the General Court and received the freemen’s charge," (*oath*.)

There is no mention of his wife except in the seating of *the Meeting-House*, and then her Christian name is not given. But from a Record of the Baker Family, found in the British Museum, it is highly probable that her name was *Margery* and that she was the daughter of Nicholas Baker of Hertfordshire, England.

The last time she is mentioned is in the seating of 11 Feb. 1655. "In ye short seat Good: Nash ye Elder and Roger Allen’s wife." (*Mrs. Allen was Thomas Nash's daughter.*) What is peculiar in this *seating*, is, that Thomas Nash himself is not mentioned in it as in previous *seatings*, which renders it probable that by reason of some infirmity, he was no longer able to attend Church. And yet he must have out lived his wife, for he does not mention her in his will made in 1657. .....

According to Berry, he came from Bewdleyin Worcestershire. (Gen. and Ped. of Hertfordshire Families, pp. 83-85.) He sailed with the Whitefield party arriving at Quinnipiac or NewHaven, in July, 1639, and was one of the signers of the agreement to remain together made on shipboard. Savage says he was of Guilford in1639, but this is probably a mistake. (Steiner's History of Guilford, 1897, pp. 23, 29, 48.) New Haven, Col. Rec., (I, p. 82), says: "brother Nash his shoppe did stand by the creeks." He was a gunsmith, and probably well advanced in life at the time of the emigration, for his eldest son *John* was old enough to be made a Freeman, April, 1642, and in his will of August 1st, 1657, he mentions his old age.

The first date attached to his name at New Haven, i "1t of the 7th Month 1640:, when he was admitted member of the General Court, and received the charge of Freeman. ..... Before emigration, he was a member of the church in Leyden, Holland, and was one of five who wrote an interesting letter (given in full on pages 155, 156 & 157 of vol. 1 of the 4th Series of the Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1852.) from there, Nov.30, 1625, to their brethren in Plymouth, informing them of the death of John Robinson, Pastor of the church, which included in its membership the planters in Plymouth as well as those left in Leyden.

Atwater's New Haven, p. 125; Savage, 3, p. 262; The Nash Family, by the Rev. Sylvester Nash; Schenck;s Fairfield, I, p. 396."--- Ernest Flagg, *Genealogical Notes on the Founding of NewEngland*, Hartford CT, 1926, p 245 "Clock-making at New Haven is said to date back to the pioneering efforts of one Thomas Nash, maker of an all-wood mechanism in 1638."--- Rollin G Osterweis, *Three Centuries of New Haven, 1638-1938*,New HavenCT (Yale Univ Press) 1953, p 252. He cites Charles MAndrews, *The Colonial Period of American History*, vol 2, some in p144-194.

"Thomas Nash was one of the members of the Rev. John Robinson's Congregation, at Leyden, Holland, part of whom were the first settlers at Plymouth, 1620, others came to New England soon afterward. On Nov.30, 1625, five of those at Leyden addressed a letter to their brethren at Plymouth and signed it as brethren in the Lord. The names of the five were Francis Jessop, Thomas Nash, Thomas Blossom, Roger White, Richard Maisterton. Blossom came to Plymouth afterward. This Nash returned to England and came over with the Davenport Colony.

March, 1638, the whole company sailed from Boston and in about a fortnight landed at Quinnipiac. In November, they purchased the land from Monauguin and his counselors.

June 4, 1639, they met in Mr. Newman's barn and after solemn religious exercises drew up the fundamental agreement. Thomas Nash was the sixty-sixth signer.

Thomas Nash signed the Guilford compact, but did not go to Guilford finally, although great inducements were offered him, as they needed a gunsmith, the vocation he had chosen.

Thomas Nash was considerably advanced in years for an emigrant, as his son John was old enough to received the charge of freeman in April, 1642, and Thomas Nash, in his will made in 1657, expressly mentioned his old age. The following extract from the Record of a General Court held the 25May, 1646, seems to imply age [sic: evidently something missing': "In regard of several occasions and works to be done against trayning day, Brother Nash is spared.:

"On 1st of 7thmoneth (Sept. [sic]) 1640, Mr. Lamberton and Thomas Nash were admitted members of the Gen. Court and received the freeman’s charge." The following extract from the Records of a General Court held May 19,1651, indicates his vocation: "It is ordered that Thomas Nash shall keepe the Towne Muskitts in his hands, and look to them well, that they be always in good order, fit for service and that the Towne allow him what is just for his care and pains."

Thomas Nash's home-lot was on the west side of State Street, about a third of the distance fromChapel to Elm Street, as shown on an old map of NewHaven settlers.

Mr. Thomas Nash died May 12, 1658. Mrs. Margery Nash's death is not recorded, but must have been between Feb. 11,1655, and Aug. 1, 1657.

Children of Thomas and Margery(Baker) Nash:
1. MARY, m. Roger Allen or Alling.
2. JOHN, called Captain and Major Nash.
3. SARAH, m. Robert Talmage.
4. JOSEPH, called SergeantJoseph Nash of Hartford.
5. TIMOTHY, b. in Leyden, Holland, 1626,called Lieut. Timothy Nash of Hadley, Mass."---

Mrs. (Oscar Herbert) Elizabeth M. Leach Rixford, *Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service*, Rutland VT (Tuttle) 1934, p221-222" "AT A COURT HELD AT NEW-HAVEN YE 7TH OF DECEMBR. 1658... The last will & testament of Tho. Nash, made the first of August, 1657, was by Timothy Nash, his son, presented to the Court being attested upon oath by Mr. Mathew Gilbert and Mr. Jo.Wakeman, to be his last will to the best of their knowledge, which done, it was judged legal; also, an inventory of his estate, taken July the first, 1658, amounting to 110 L, 16 x, 6 d; that it was a true inventory in respect to ye parcels, Timothy testified upon oath to the best of his knowledge Mr. Wakeman & James Bishopp, the appraisers, testified upon oath yt it was a true appraisement, according to their best light." Submitter for fisher3: Gordon M. Fisher , 334 Franklin Street , Harrisonberg, Virginia 22801 , Phone 540-433-0531 , Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, Locator: CompuServe ID# 75204,3411

Thomas Nash was the first clock maker in America
July 26, 1637 arrived in America on the ship Hector
May have built the first clock in America
A member of Rev. John Davenport's Puritan flock

Previous to his migration, he fled with his family and other English Protestants to Holland. He was married to Marjery Baker of Hartfordshire England. They afterward moved back home and later migrated to America landing at Boston, Massachuetts, July 20, 1637. The Nash family received a sizable concession to induce them to settle in New Haven Connecticut, for he was a gun smith, a much needed tradesman in those times. Marjery Nash died in 1657 and Thomas in 1658. Their children were Mary, John, Sarah, Joseph and Timothy. was copied as it was written by Orson Nash and Mary Nash.

Thomas married Margery Baker, daughter of Nicholas Baker and Mary Hodgette, in 1639 in New Haven, Connecticutt. (Margery Baker was born about 1590 in Hertfordshire, England and died on 11 Nov 1655 in New Haven, Connecticutt.)