Kilbourn, Thomas
Thomas KILBOURN (1578 - 1637) and Frances MOODY (1584 - 1650)
My 10-g grandparents
Thomas KILBOURN, the son of John and Anne KILBOURN, was baptized on 8 May 1578, in Wood Ditton, New Market District, Cambridge Shire, England. He was an early settler in Wethersfield, CT, where he died before 1639.
His age was recorded as 55 when he embarked on the journey to America, on 15 Apr 1635, which would put his birth between 15 Apr 1579 and 14 Apr 1580. The baptism record is probably more reliable, so I believe he was born in early 1578.
John KILBOURN/KILBORNE, the father of Thomas, died in 1591, and was buried on 30 Oct 1591, in Wood Ditton, when Thomas was 13 or older. Much more is known about the KILBOURNs in England, but exactly how John is connected does not seem to be known. [PKK2, p. 49]
Thomas was born in the Elizabethan era of English history, as Queen Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 to 1603. He was about 25 years of age on 24 Mar 1603, when Elizabeth's successor, King James I, ascended to the throne.
On 5 Sep 1604, Thomas KILBOURN married Frances MOODY, at Moulton, Suffolk, England.
Frances MOODY was baptized on 11 Oct 1584 in Moulton, the daughter of George MOODY and Margaret NEWCE. So Frances was about 20 on her wedding day, and Thomas was about 26. They lived in Wood Ditton, and had 9 children, from 1605 to 1623. Frances died in Nov 1650, probably in Wethersfield, CT.
Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire, England
East Central England, 1603-1688. [Cropped from this map of the British Isles.] Wood Ditton, home of Thomas KILBOURN, is 4 miles southeast of Newmarket. Moulton, home of Frances MOODY, was 3 miles east of Newmarket. Badby, the home of John ROOTE, is 2 miles southwest of Daventry.
This 1903 map shows the vicinity of Wood Ditton, now known as Woodditton. The red line indicated the boundary between Cambridge Shire and Suffolk. (The words were often run together: Woodditton, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire.)
An interesting local feature is Devil's Ditch, or Devil's Dyke, a defensive fortification made by the Romans, perhaps in the 6th Century.
Ancient DNA
The Ancient DNA matching tool on GEDmatch shows that I am a close match with kit # F999867 04, an early Anglo-Saxon who lived in Oaklington, Cambridgeshire, England, about 400 to 545 AD, Oaklington is about 15 miles from Wood Ditton, on the NW side of Cambridge. Perhaps an ancestor of Thomas and/or Frances.
Immigration
Immigration of the KILBOURN family
“15th Apr. 1635. Theis parties hereafter expressed are to be transported to New England, embarqued in the Increase, Robert Lea, master, having taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy, as also being conformable to the orders and discipline of the church, whereof they brought testimony per certificates from the Justices and Ministers where their abodes have lately been.
“Husbandman, Tho. Kilborne, aged 55.
His wife, Frances Kilborne, " 50.
Children, Margaret Kilborne, " 23.
Lyddia Kilborne, " 22.
Marie Kilborne, " 16.
Frances Kilborne, " 12.
Jo. Kilborne, " 10.”
[PKK2, p. 34]
The approximate birth dates derived from this ship's manifest are: Robert (1579-80), Frances (1584-5), Margaret (1611-2), Lydia (1612-13), Marie (1618-9), Frances (1622-3), John (1624-5).
KILBOURNs in Connecticut
Thomas KILBOURN was "the first white man to build and dwell in the town" of Wethersfield, according to [MWF, Vol. 2, p. 509]. However, he is not listed among the early settlers of Wethersfield, who settled in 1635-6, but in the list of later settlers, 1636-46. [HRS, Vol. I, pp. 29-30] Also, Wethersfield has been claimed as the first town in Connecticut, being first settled in 1634. [HRS] also has short paragraphs on several members of the KILBOURN family including this:
KILBOURN, Thomas, the Settler, b. at Wood-Ditton, Eng., 1578; came to New Eng. in the ship Increase in Apl., 1635, and sett, at once at Weth., where he had a ho. and 3 acs. ld. on S. W. side of Broad St., John Fletcher's ho'd adj. him on N. and Sam. Smith's on S.. being ld. later of Col. Chester's, and now of Comstock, Ferre & Co., seedsmen. [HRS, Vol. I, p. 282]
Thomas died before 1639, when his wife was called "Frances KILBORNE, widow" in a record of the distribution of land. He was probably killed in the Indian massacre of 23 Apr 1637. He owned a 3-acre home lot, on the west side of broad street, as well as a 5-acre meadow near the river, where the massacre took place. It is supposed that he went to work his land in the morning, as did his neighbor Abraham FINCH, Jr, and they suffered the same fate. [MWF, Vol. 2, p. 509]
[MWF, Vol. 2, p. 511]
Frances (MOODY) KILBOURN proved to be capable in business matters, after her husband's death. She was issued a cattle ear mark in her own name, and in 1640, she "had an account owing from Abraham Finch, Sr., at his death." She filed a lawsuit against Peter BLANCHFIELD, and on 2 Sep 1647 she was awarded 40 shillings, plus court costs. Her will was dated 13 Nov 1650, and her estate was inventoried on 3 Dec 1650, so she died between those dates. The estate was valued at £350, a substantial sum. The holdings included land, livestock and farm goods. [MWF, Vol. 2, p. 513]
Descendants
Thomas KILBOURN b: 08 May 1578 in Wood Ditton, d: Bef. 1639 in Wethersfield, CT
+ Frances MOODY b: 11 Oct 1584 in Moulton, Suffolk, England, m: 5 Sep 1604 in Moulton, Suffolk, England, d: Nov 1650
......1. Anne KILBOURN b: Abt. 1605, d: probably died young
......2. Margaret KILBOURN bapt: 23 Sep 1607 in Wood Ditton
...... + Richard LAW m: 1636
......3. Thomas KILBOURN b: 30 Nov 1609 in Wood Ditton
......4. George KILBOURN bapt: 12 Feb 1611/12 in Wood Ditton
......5. Elizabeth KILBOURN bapt: 12 May 1614 in Wood Ditton
...... + Robert JENNISON m: Bef. 1637
......6. Lydia KILBOURN bapt: 14 Jul 1616 in Wood Ditton, d: Aft. 1684
...... + Robert HAYWARD b: Abt. 1613, d: 23 Aug 1684 in Windsor, CT
......7. Mary KILBOURN b: 1619 in Wood Ditton, d: 1697 in Farmington, CT
...... + John 2800 ROOTE bapt: 26 Feb 1608 in Badby, Northamptonshire, England, m: Abt. 1640 in Farmington, CT, d: Aug 1684
......8. Frances KILBOURN bapt: 04 Sep 1621 in Wood Ditton, d: 1683 in Stratford, CT
...... + Thomas UFFORD d: 1683 in Stratford, CT
...... + Thomas A. FOOTE
......9. Sgt John KILBOURN bapt: 29 Sep 1624 in Wood Ditton, d: 09 Apr 1703 in Wethersfield, CT
...... + Naomi m: 1650, d: 01 Oct 1659
...... + Sarah BRONSON b: 1641, m: 1662, d: 04 Dec 1711 in Wethersfield, CT
1. Anne KILBOURN was born about 1605. Her birthplace is uncertain, since no baptism record has been found. The only evidence of her existence is that she is mentioned in her grandfather George MOODY's will, dated 5 Aug 1607. She probably died young, as there is no other record of her.
2. Margaret KILBOURN was baptized 23 Sep 1607 in Wood Ditton. She came to America with her parents in 1635, when she would have been at least 27, although the ship's manifest (above) has her age as 23. She very soon married Richard LAW, in Wethersfield, CT. They were married in 1635 or 6, and removed to Stamford, CT at some point, definitely before 1653. Their 3 children may have been born in Wethersfield or Stamford.
Richard LAW was a member of the legal profession, and served as a Magistrate in Stamford, as well as Deputy for Stamford in the New Haven General Court, from 1653 to 1664. He continued to hold various positions of importance in Stamford until 1687.
2. Margaret KILBOURN bapt: 23 Sep 1607 in Wood Ditton
... + Richard LAW m: 1636
......a. Jonathan LAW b: Abt. 1636, d: 09 Jan 1711/12 in Milford, CT
...... + Sarah CLARK bapt: 07 Apr 1644 in Milford, CT, m: 01 Jun 1664 in Milford, CT, d: 15 Feb 1705/06 in Milford, CT
.........i. Governor Jonathan LAW b: 06 Aug 1674 in Milford, CT, d: 06 Nov 1750 in Milford, CT
......b. Abigail LAW d: Bef. 1712
...... + Major Jonathan SELLECK b: 20 May 1641 in Boston, MA, m: 11 May 1663 in Stamford, CT, d: 1712/13
......c. Sarah LAW d: Aft. 1700
...... + John SELLECK b: 21 Apr 1643 in Boston, MA, m: 28 Oct 1669 in Stamford, CT
Sisters Abigail and Sarah LAW married brothers, Jonathan and John SELLECK, sons of David SELLECK.
Governor Jonathan LAW
Jonathan LAW, grandson of Richard LAW and Margaret KILBOURN, was Governor of Connecticut, from 1741 until his death in 1750.
3. Thomas KILBOURN was baptized 30 Nov 1609 in Wood Ditton. There is some question as to whether he was the Thomas KILBORNE who was enrolled 30 Apr 1634 on the ship Elizabeth, leaving Ipswich for New England. The ship's manifest has Thomas, age 24, and his wife Elizabeth, age 20. Whether he stayed in England or went to New England, no further record seems to be known.
4. George KILBOURN was baptized 12 Feb 1611/12 in Wood Ditton. There may have been some speculation that he was the George KILBOURN who settled in Roxbury and Rowley, MA, but this has been discredited. [GM, p. 150]
5. Elizabeth KILBOURN was baptized 12 May 1614 in Wood Ditton. She may have traveled to America separately from her parents and siblings, as she does not appear in the ship's manifest (above). In [MWF] an interesting theory is presented in a footnote:
Elizabeth, wife of Robert JENNISON
If one may be excused for ignoring the recorded age at death of Elizabeth – first wife of ROBERT JENNISON (as one frequently has to do because of proved facts) the identity of that wife seems evident. The will of FRANCES (MOODY) KILBOURN, wife and widow of THOMAS KILBOURN, made in 1650 is erroneously quoted as making a bequest to her granddaughter Elizabeth Spencer when it should read Elizabeth “Generson” or Geneson meaning Jennison. Elizabeth Kilbourn daughter of that testator was baptized in England on May 12, 1614, but has not been further recorded though her parents and some of their children emigrated in 1635. ROBERT JENNISON of Watertown married by July, 1636, an Elizabeth (----) who bore him a daughter Elizabeth Jennison on April 12, 1637, and then died at Watertown on October 10, 1638, said to have been aged thirty. If Elizabeth Kilbourn is proved to have been that first wife, there is therefore this discrepancy of recorded baptism in 1614 and reputed birth about 1608. On the other hand, if JENNISON’s first wife Elizabeth is proved to have been born Kilbourn, her motherless daughter Elizabeth born in 1637 and not married until October, 1652, is a perfect pattern for the granddaughter named in the above will of 1650 and no other person of similar name is found at that period. [MWF, Vol. 1, p. 369] (Many citations omitted. See the original.)
There are some problems with this theory, besides the one mentioned. How did Elizabeth come to America? Did Robert JENNISON, or his wife Elizabeth, have a connection to Wethersfield, CT? (He lived in Watertown, MA, not Watertown, CT.)
So I tentatively suppose that Elizabeth KILBOURN married Robert JENNISON, by 1637, when their only child was born. They lived in Watertown, near Boston, MA. Elizabeth died on 6 Oct 1638 in Watertown, at age 24. The next year, Robert remarried, and had 2 more children.
Robert JENNISON d: 04 Jul 1690 in Watertown, MA
+ 5. Elizabeth KILBOURN bapt: 12 May 1614 in Wood Ditton, m: Bef. 1637, d: 10 Oct 1638 in Watertown, MA
......a. Elizabeth JENNISON b: 12 Apr 1637 in Watertown, MA, d: 26 Feb 1664/65
...... + George READ m: 02 Oct 1652 in Woburn, MA
+ Grace m: Abt. 1639 in Watertown, MA, d: 26 Nov 1686 in Watertown, MA
......b. Michell JENNISON b: 17 Dec 1640 in Watertown, MA, d: 04 Jul 1713 in Watertown, MA
...... + Richard BLOISE m: 10 Feb 1657/58 in Watertown, MA
...... + Capt. John WARREN m: 11 Jul 1667
......c. Samuel JENNISON d: 15 Oct 1701 in Watertown, MA
...... + Judith NEWCOMB m: 30 Oct 1666 in Watertown, MA, d: 01 Mar 1722/23 in Watertown, MA
6. Lydia KILBOURN was baptized 14 Jul 1616 in Wood Ditton, and was still living on 4 Sep 1684. She married Robert HAYWARD, born about 1613 in England, died 23 Aug 1684 in Windsor, CT.
Robert HAYWARD, a miller and millwright, immigrated to New England on the ship Assurance, in Jul 1635. After a brief stay in Dorchester, MA, he settled in Windsor, CT, just north of Hartford, on the west bank of the Connecticut River. He was was admitted to the church in Windsor, on 10 July 1642, and had a grant of land there by 1643. He sold his land to Peter BROWN in 1658, and removed to Northampton, MA, some 30 miles north, still on the west side of the Connecticut River. Court records show that he was in Hartford around 1665-7, and then went back to Windsor, where he died in 1684. See [DLJ1, pp. 14-5].
Lydia and Robert had 8 children, probably all born in Windsor, and 4 or 5 of the children died in childhood.
6. Lydia KILBOURN b: Bef. 14 Jul 1616 in Wood Ditton, Cambridge, England, d: Aft. 04 Sep 1684
+ Robert HAYWARD b: Abt. 1613 in England, d: 23 Aug 1684 in Windsor, CT
......a. Mary HAYWARD d: 1650
......b. Mercy HAYWARD d: 1647
......c. Sarah HAYWARD b: 01 Jan 1644/45, d: 1647
......d. Taphath HAYWARD b: 01 Jan 1646/47
......e. Rebecca HAYWARD b: 17 Aug 1648, d: Bet. Sep 1676–1682
...... + John SPENCER m: 1665
......f. Esther HAYWARD b: 08 Jun 1651, d: 05 Dec 1657
......g. Lydia HAYWARD b: 13 Jun 1655, d: 04 May 1676
......h. Ephraim HAYWARD b: 11 Jan 1656/57, d: Nov 1690
...... + Abigail NEWBERRY m: 08 Jan 1684
7. Mary KILBOURN was born about 1619 in Wood Ditton, and died about 1697 in Farmington, CT. About 1640 in Farmington, she married John ROOTE, who was baptized on 26 Feb 1608 in Badby, Northamptonshire, England, about 75 miles west of Wood Ditton, and died Aug 1684. Mary and John were my 9g-grandparents.
See the John 2800 ROOTE page.
8. Frances KILBOURN was baptized 04 Sep 1621 in Wood Ditton, and died about 1683 in Stratford, CT. She was married by 1650, to Thomas UFFORD, who died about 1683 in Stratford, CT. Frances and John died at about the same time, and had no children.
9. Sgt John KILBOURN was baptized 29 Sep 1624 in Wood Ditton, and died 09 Apr 1703 in Wethersfield, CT. He married (1) in 1650 to Naomi, who died on 1 Oct 1659. Next, he married (2) in 1662 to Sarah BRONSON born 1641, and died 4 Dec 1711 in Wethersfield, CT. John had 3 children by his first wife, and 6 more children by his second wife, all in Wethersfield.
John came to America at the age of 10, with his parents and siblings, as described above. They settled in Wethersfield, CT, about 6 miles south of Hartford, on the Connecticut River. John was the only one of his siblings to remain in Wethersfield for the rest of his life.
9. Sgt John KILBOURN bapt: 29 Sep 1624 in Wood Ditton, d: 09 Apr 1703 in Wethersfield, CT
+ Naomi m: 1650, d: 01 Oct 1659
......a. John KILBOURN b: 15 Feb 1651 in Wethersfield, CT
...... + Susannah m: 04 Mar 1673
......b. Thomas KILBOURN b: 1653 in Wethersfield, CT, d: 1712
...... + HILLS
......c. Naomi KILBOURN
...... + Thomas HALE m: 30 Oct 1679 in Wethersfield, CT
.........I. Naomi HALE
.........II. Mary HALE
.........III. Thomas HALE b: 17 Sep 1684
.........IV. Timothy HALE
+ Sarah BRONSON b: 1641, m: 1662, d: 04 Dec 1711 in Wethersfield, CT
......d. Ebenezer KILBOURN b: 1665 in Wethersfield, CT, d: 16 Dec 1711
...... + Grace BULKLEY m: 20 Sep 1692
......e. Sarah KILBOURN
...... + Joseph CRANE m: 16 Dec 1684
.........I. Sarah CRANE
.........II. Hannah CRANE
.........III. Benjamin CRANE
.........IV. Joseph CRANE
.........V. Hester CRANE
.........VI. David CRANE
......f. George KILBOURN b: 1668 in Wethersfield, CT, d: 08 Feb 1741
...... + Abigail ATWOOD b: 1669, m: 16 May 1689, d: 08 Feb 1739/40
......g. Mary KILBOURNE
......h. Joseph KILBOURN b: 1672 in Wethersfield, CT, d: 1744 in Wethersfield, CT
...... + Dorathy BUTLER m: 04 Jun 1696, d: 19 Aug 1709
.........I. Dorathy KILBOURN
.........II. Joseph KILBOURN
.........III. Jonathan KILBOURN
.........IV. James KILBOURN
...... + Hester GIBBS m: 29 Jun 1710
.........I. Benjamin KILBOURN
.........II. Hester KILBOURN
.........III. Elizabeth KILBOURN
.........IV. Mary KILBOURN
......i. Abraham KILBOURN b: 1675 in Wethersfield, CT, d: 09 Mar 1712/13
...... + Sarah GOODRICH m: 26 Oct 1699
.........I. Samuel KILBOURN
.........II. Sarah KILBOURN
.........III. Abraham KILBOURN
More than 80% of [PKK2] is devoted to Sgt John KILBOURN and his descendants, as are all but 3 pages of [DLJ2, pp. 652-668].
Sources
[C1783] Cambridgeshire Map, 1783
[C1786] Cambridgeshire Map, 1786
[DLJ2] Hale, House and Related Families, Mainly of the Connecticut River Valley (1952) by Donald Lines Jacobus
[GMB] The Great Migration Begins/Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 by Robert Charles Anderson (1995) (requires Ancestry.com license)
[GM] The Great Migration/Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 by Robert Charles Anderson et al (1999) (requires Ancestry.com license)
[The bibliography appears under the name "Key to Titles" on page liii (images 53 to 98).]
[HRS] The History of Ancient Wethersfield Connecticut, by Henry R. Stiles (1904) Vol I part 1 Vol I part 2 Vol II
[LC] A biographical history of the county of Litchfield, Connecticut (1851) by Payne Kenyon Kilbourne
[MWF] Dawes-Gates ancestral lines : a memorial volume containing the American ancestry of Rufus R. Dawes (1943) by Mary Walton Ferris [This book has two large volumes, with separate pagination.]
[PKK2] The history and antiquities of the name and family of Kilbourn (in its varied orthography) (1856) by Payne Kenyon Kilbourne [This is an update of the same author's book of 1845.]
Updated 2 Nov 2023 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.