USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 7
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descendant of Maurice Thompson, of Cheston, County Herts. This baronetcy became extinct in 1745. A Thompson was Lord Mayor of London in 1737, and another in 1828. Richard Thompson was treasurer of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dub- lin, in 1582. Baron Sydenham, Governor- General of Canada, was a descendant of the Thompsons of County Surrey.
(I) Anthony Thompson was born in England, and died in New Haven, Con- necticut, in September, 1648. Three brothers, Anthony, John, and William Thompson, left England with the party led by the Rev. John Davenport and The- ophilus Eaton in the "Hector" and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, June 26, 1637. In April, 1638, they settled in the vicinity of what is now New Haven, Connecticut, on September 1, 1640, when the settle- ment was called New Haven. Anthony Thompson, with a family of four persons, was one of the list of first settlers. He was a member of the band of soldiers organized to protect the settlers from the Indians. He mentions his family and brothers, John and William, in his will of 1647. He married (first) in England. He married (second) Catherine, who mar- ried (second) Nicholas Camp. Children of first marriage: I. John, of whom fur- ther. 2. Anthony, born December, 1634, died December 29, 1654. 3. Bridget, born in 1636, married the Rev. John Bowers. Children of second marriage : 4. Hannah, baptized June 8, 1654 ; married a Stanton. 5. Lydia, baptized July 24, 1647 ; married Isaac Crittenden. 6. Ebenezer, baptized October 15, 1648; married Deborah Dudley.
(II) John Thompson, son of Anthony Thompson, was born in England, in 1632, and died June 2, 1707. He was called "mariner" and is mentioned frequently in deeds, etc., owning land in New Haven.
44
X
-
Bishop
Tompkins
Wilmot
'S
Beerher
Pritchard
LX ALTAY
holt
LNO CLOVEDIA DF BIOGRAPHY
flair TEJ Anne Vitars Aus & fo -= " unmarried in 17.4 ( Vars. ) Children. October 5 1 -29: 1
, 12, 1957, married Des D :" ley 5. Amy, of wh mn
e, married, in 1688 eval herr about 173. , 16
yh, born April 4. 16 4 Judson. 7 kachel lip . 37 : probably did| in in September 1667. .. Sibel, of whom fort' my Theysno & T arr at WT Ta luary 16. 1672, natr 1 l liam, born January
born May 16, 1675 TOMZIA
Il Captain Samuel- Missed words alice besitos band c no ami-ami
bom in New Haven Cone Il
2. 100, and died March 29PV, WHIMOT
Wel in Westville, Connecticut, for a on ,
But He was made capital of a solltest to rylque s din bogog hansdoston
5. Rebecca Bishop, daughter of Liet-
The t-Governor James and Elizatemiz I Fr fori '
w Haven December 10, 1073, and died
OFre April 5 1734 Children . I. Samuel of. he vicar.
December 2, 160): married Escher off that of som t
Liimg 2. James, of whom further found very ea
F .. May 3, 1702; married Sarah Vicars 10 1379 miity 1 005
Hold on born "December 25, 15/4
17 : married Lydia Punderson 5. Ke-" ar
of C. n
be w. born February 23. 1708; married HAHOTAT tord Culles John Vicari.
Da io Austin 6. Judah, born June 10.
1- 1, did August, 1, 1712. 7. Judah, bosques Bed & soon as October 5, 1713. & enes, Born Augt
18 IFI -; married Sarah Hitchcock. Bref je
( V) James Thompson son of Captai
173 .. He lived in Westville, O
cut His will was provestand arts Do wie oft und ficolloyd-off
1,37. He married, Mas 30.
Wilmot, daughter ( Berl.
(Beecher) Willn. t. C.
horn February
Baldwin. 2. Jar
1725, Hied in 1818 L
05
BISHOP.
Arıns-Ermine, on a bend cotised sable, three bezants.
Crest-A griffin sejant argent, resting the dexter claw on an escutcheon of the first.
TOMPKINS.
Arms-Azure, on a chevron between three moorcocks or close, three crosses crosslet sable.
Crest-A unicorn's head erased per fesse argent and or, armed and maned counterchanged, gorged with a chaplet of laurel vert.
Motto-Ne magnum nisi bonum. ( Nothing is great unless it be good.)
WILMOT.
Arms-Argent, on a fesse gules between three eagles' heads erased sable, as many escallops of the field.
Crest-A portcullis azure, chained or.
BEECHER.
Arms-Vaire argent and gules, on a canton or a stag's head cabossed sable.
Crest-A demi-lion erased argent, girded round the waist with a ducal coronet or.
PRITCHARD.
Arms-Ermine, a lion rampant sable.
Crest-A dexter arm proper holding a battle axe, handle gules.
HOLT.
Arms-Azure, two bars or; in chief a cross formée fitchée of the last.
Crest-A squirrel sejant or, holding a hazel branch slipped and fructed. all proper.
Motto-E.raltavit humiles. (He exalted the humble. )
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
He married Anne Vicars, August 4, 1656. (See Vicars.) Children: 1. John, born May 12, 1657; married Rebecca Daniel. 2. Anne, married, in 1688, Caleb Chidsey. 3. Joseph, born April 4, 1664. 4. Child, born in September, 1667, died in infancy. 5. Samuel, of whom further. 6. Sarah, born January 16, 1672; married John Mix. 7. William, born January 17, 1674. 8. Mary, born May 16, 1675.
(III) Captain Samuel Thompson, son of John and Anne (Vicars) Thompson, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, May 12, 1669, and died March 26, 1749, being buried at Goshen, Connecticut. He lived in Westville, Connecticut, for a time, removing from there to Goshen, Connec- ticut. He was made captain of a company of soldiers. He married, November 14, 1695, Rebecca Bishop, daughter of Lieu- tenant-Governor James and Elizabeth (Tompkins) Bishop. She was born in New Haven, December 10, 1673, and died there April 5, 1734. Children : 1. Samuel, born December 2, 1696; married Esther Alling. 2. James, of whom further. 3. Amos, born May 3, 1702; married Sarah Alling. 4. Gideon, born December 25, 1704; married Lydia Punderson. 5. Re- becca, born February 23, 1708; married David Austin. 6. Judah, born June 10, 1711, died August 1, 1712. 7. Judah, born October 5, 1713. 8. Enos, born August 18, 1717; married Sarah Hitchcock.
(IV) James Thompson, son of Captain Samuel and Rebecca (Bishop) Thompson, was born January 5, 1699, and died in 1737. He lived in Westville, Connecti- cut. His will was proved December 5, 1737. He married, May 30, 1723, Harriet Wilmot, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Beecher) Wilmot. Children: 1. Mary, born February 16, 1724; married Jonah Baldwin. 2. James, born November 21, 1725, died in 1818. 3. Hannah, born about
1727; unmarried in 1754. 4. Mabel, bap- tized October 5, 1729; married Griffin Bradley. 5. Amy, of whom further. 6. Hezekiah, born about 1735; married Re- becca Judson. 7. Rachel, baptized Octo- ber 2, 1737; probably died young.
(V) Amy Thompson, daughter of James and Harriet (Wilmot) Thompson, was baptized April 2, 1732. She married (Woodbridge Church Record), November 7, 1751, Ariel Bradley (see Bradley V). In 1753 Ariel Bradley and his wife deeded land from the estate of "our father, James Thompson, deceased."
(The Vicars Line).
Arms-Sable, on a chief dancetté or, two cin- quefoils gules, a border engrailed ermine.
Vicary, Vicery, Vicarey, Vicars, Vicors, Vicaris, Vicaridge, Vickerage, Vickeridge are forms of one name and, with many others of the same origin but of various spellings, mean of the vicarage, or office of the vicar, or at the vicars. They are official or sometimes local names and are found very early in England. Peter atte Vicars in 1379 was of County York; in 1574 Stephen Vyccarye married Margaret Johnson in London ; in 1585 John Vicary, of County Devon, was registered at Ox- ford College; in 1574 John Vicarish mar- ried Margery Gerard ; in 1665 John Hal- ton married Alice Vicaridge at Canter- bury ; in 1614 Margaret Vicares married William Collins in London; Joan Vic- caries married John Wells at London in 1617.
In the "Visitation of Worcester" in 1634 were the families of Robert Vicaris, of Astley, and Robert Vickers, of Bewd- ley. Descendants of these families were found in Astley and Bewdley in 1682, when the second visitation of that county was made. John Vicaridge, of "Natton," married, in 1603, Mary Sheldon, daughter
45
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of William Sheldon. They had a son, John, who was baptized in 1607.
Richard Vicaredg, son of Francis Vicar- edg, was baptized in Over Ardey, County Worcester, July 30, 1653. Walter Vicaris, son of William Vicaris and Joyce, his wife, was baptized September 13, 1640, at Doddenham, County Worcester, England. Anne Vicaridge, daughter of Richard Vic- aridge and his wife, Anne, was baptized March 20, 1603, at Knightwick, County Worcester, England. Many others of the name are to be found in the parish regis- ters of County Worcester. There are also Hopkins and Wakeman families (the Vic- ars family intermarried with these fam- ilies) in County Worcester.
Robert Vicaris married Anne Sterry (they were both of Doddenham, County Worcester), June 29, 1678. In 1608 Rob- ert Vicaris was of Tibberton, County Worcester, and in 1613 Robert and Wil- liam Vicaris were taxed at Tibberton. On November 12, 1636, mention is found of Robert Vicaris, of Bewdley, Gentleman. (Bewdley was in the parish of Ribsford.) In 1607 Walter Vicaris was of Omberse- ley (near Bewdley) in County Worcester.
Collateral Vicars families include the following :
Edward Vickers, of Wakefield, York- shire, married Mary Rawson, daughter of Thomas Rawson, of Wardsend, near Shef- field, and had children: Thomas, John, William, and Anne. Thomas Vickers married Elizabeth Broadbent, daughter of Joseph Broadbent, of Aston, and had chil- dren: William, Sarah, Elizabeth, all liv- ing in the seventeenth century. Wil- liam Vickers, son of Edward Vickers, was of Southall Green, Ecclesfield, Yorkshire. He married Elizabeth Turbell, daughter of James Turbell, of Southall, and had children : John, Thomas, Edward, Eliza- beth and Mary. John Vickers, of Don-
caster, attorney, was buried April 21, 1668. He married Mary Rasine, daughter of George Rasine, and had children: John, George, and Catherine.
Thomas Vicars was of Scrawsby be- fore 1585. His daughter, Alice, married Thomas Bosville, of Warmsworth, Coun- ty York. Joane Vicars married George Metham, of Cadeby, County York, about 1550. Mary Vicars, of Brodsworth, mar- ried George Holgate, of Stapleton, about 1600.
At Exeter in the twelfth year of Henry I (1228) Walter de Wynemaneston and his wife, Alice, remitted and quit-claimed a tract of land in County Devon to Rob- ert le Vicare and his heirs. The will of John Vicary is recorded in County Devon in 1547; that of Robert Vicary in County Devon in 1592; of William in 1596; of Roger in 1603; of John in 1608; of Emott in 1619 and Benedict in 1624. The arms of this family were granted in 1558. The principal seat of the Devon Vicars or Vicareys was at Dunkeswell, County Devon. They are of the same parent fam- ily as are the Vicars of County Worces- ter.
William Vicaris (or Vicars), of Bewd- ley, England, is mentioned in the will of William Hopkins, in 1647. Walter Vicars is called "cousin" in his will. Walter Vic- ars may have come to America, but there is no record of him in the New Haven Colony. The son-in-law of William Hop- kins, John Wakeman, did come, however, and later on came "the cousin of his wife's," Anne Vicars.
Anne Vicars, daughter of Walter Vic- ars, of Bewdley, County Worcester, Eng- land, was born about 1634. She is also mentioned as a "daughter of Walter" in the will of William Hopkins. She came to America probably when between six- teen and eighteen years of age, and was
46
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
engaged to marry John Roberts. He went back to England from America and was not heard of again. Before leaving he gave his property in America to "his espoused wife Anne Vicars." He left the property in the hands of John Wakeman, to be given to her if he did not return. She married, August 4, 1656, John Thomp- son (see Thompson II).
(The Bird Line).
Arms-Argent, on a chevron engrailed gules between three lions rampant sable as many fleurs- de-lis or.
Names of animals have in all ages and among nearly all nations been applied as sobriquets to individuals and these, in modern times, have acquired the force of surnames and thus been handed down hereditarily. Bird, a nickname, is from the Middle English bird or brid, perhaps given to the original bearer because of his singing propensities.
The Bird family in England is very an- cient and widely distributed. They are or have been numerous in the counties of Chester, Cumberland, Derby, Essex, Hereford, Oxford, Shropshire, Warwick, Yorke. The ancestry of the Birds of Pen- rith, County Cumberland, is traced to the year 1295. Father William Bird, a Benedictine monk, was a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Divinity at Ox- ford in 1504. Wood thinks his church was at Bath, and that he died there May 22, 1525. His arms are curiously carved in stone in this old church. There have been many famous men of this surname in every generation of England since the earliest records. David le Brid was of County Oxford in 1273. John le Brid was of the same county in that year. Stefan Brid was of County Suffolk in 1273. Geof- frey Byrd was of County Salop in 1273. Henry le Brid was of County Somerset, I Edward III (1327).
The Bird pedigree is found in an old pedigree in vellum in the custody of Mr. James Bird, of Brogham. Henry Bird, of County Cumberland, England, married Joan Beauchamp, daughter of Thomas Beauchamp, of Little Croglin, County Cumberland. Their son, William Bird, of Little Croglin, County Cumberland, mar- ried Joan Tindall, daughter and co-heir of John Tindall, of Northumberland County. Their son, William Bird, of Pireth, County Cumberland, was living in 1295. He married Emma Gospatrick, daughter of Gospatrick, Knight of Cum- berland. Their son, Adam Bird, of Pireth, married Joane Threlkeld, daughter of William Threlkeld, of Yanworth, County Westmoreland. Their son, William Bird, of Pireth, married the daughter of Thomas Martindale, and had a son, Roger Bird, of Pireth. He married Jane Crakenthorpe, daughter of John Crakenthorpe, of New Bigging, County Westmoreland. They had three children, James, John and Hugh.
The Birds of Worcester derive from the old family of Cumberland. They bear arms similar to the arms of the Birds of County Cumberland. Henry Bird, of Bradforton, near Evesham, County Worcester, was originally of the Bird family of Lincoln- shire. He married and was the father of William Bird, born early in the sixteenth century, who married Mary Rutter. From him descend the Birds of Gloucester and the family that continued in Worcester.
Among the collateral branches of the Bird family are the Birds of Gloucester- shire, England, who descend from the Cumberland family. William Bird, of Bradford, County Worcester, married Mary Rutter, the daughter of Michael Rutter. Their son, William Bird, of Eve- sham, County Worcester, married Anne Cox, daughter of Robert Cox, of Castle- ton, County Worcester. Their son, Peter
47
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Bird, of Wootton-under-Edge, County Gloucester, was born about 1570. He married Mary Foster, daughter of Hum- phrey Foster, of County Gloucester. They were the parents of Mary, Anne, Susan, Anthony, Gyles, Richard, and William.
The Birds of Cheshire trace to Randoll Bird, of Yowley, Cheshire, who married Anne Merbury, daughter of Thomas Mer- bury, of Merbury. Their son, Richard Bird, of Yowley, married the daughter of a Davenport, and had a son, Richard Bird, of Yowley, who married the daughter of a Hocknell, of Duddon. Their son, John Bird, of Yowley, married Anne Delves, daughter of John Delves, of Delves Hall, and had John, Thomas, and Richard.
John Bird, son of John and Anne (Delves) Bird, lived at Yowley. His bro- ther, Thomas Bird, established a branch of the family at Crew, Cheshire, and his youngest brother, Richard Bird, was also of Cheshire. All of these sons of John and Anne (Delves) Bird were living about 1500.
Another family of Birds in Cheshire was represented in 1580 in the city of Chester by William Bird, alderman and justice of the peace. Of him it is recorded "In the which servyce (he) demeaned hym selfe in sutche wise that bothe of her Majesties Counscell in England and Ire- lande reported hym to bee a verey good subjecte, a wyse man and a readye fur- ther (er) of her Majesties services." He was the son of another William Bird, who was Mayor of Chester in 1557, whose wife was Jane Norley, daughter of Raffe Nor- ley, of Eccleston, Cheshire. William (2) Bird married three times and had children as follows: John, born about 1640; Rich- ard, Jane, Alice, Thomas, and Ellen.
The Birds of Yorkshire descend from George Burd (or Bird), of New Castle, merchant, and at one time Mayor of New
Castle. He married Ellinor Harbottle, daughter of Sir Ralph Harbottle, and had a son, Anthony. Anthony Bird married Elizabeth Hilton, daughter and co-heir of Hugh Hilton, of Slingsby. Their children were: George, Mark, Hugh, Henry, Isa- bel, Anne, Alice, Eleanor, Elizabeth, and were all born before 1600.
(The Family in America).
(I) Thomas Bird died about 1660. He was of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1644. He married and had children: 1. Joseph. 2. James, of whom further. 3. Hannah, mar- ried John North. 4. Hannah, married a Scott.
(II) James Bird, son of Thomas Bird, died in 1708. He married Lydia Steele. Children: I. Thomas, of whom further. 2. Hannah, married Nathaniel Morgan. 3. Rebecca, married Samuel Lamb. 4. Lydia, married Peletiah Morgan. 5. Mehitable, married Simon Newell. 6. Elizabeth, mar- ried Ebenezer Alvord. 7. Daughter.
(III) Thomas (2) Bird, son of James and Lydia (Steele) Bird, died in 1725. He lived in that part of Farmington, Con- necticut, afterwards called Northington, now Avon. He was a member of the church in 1691. He married, July 3, 1693, Mary Woodford. Children: I. Mary. 2. John, born in 1695. 3. Joseph, of whom further. 4. Jonathan, born December 28, 1699. 5. Jonathan. 6. Jonathan. 7. Jona- than. 8. Jonathan.
(IV) Joseph Bird, son of Thomas (2) and Mary (Woodford) Bird, was born December 27, 1696, died in 1754. He lived in Avon, removed to Litchfield, Con- necticut, in 1718-19, and to Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1748. He was chosen nine times to the General Court or State Legis- lature, and at his death he was Justice of the Quorum. He married (first), in 1721, Dorcas Norton, daughter of John
48
Scudamore
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and Ruth (Moore) Norton. She died in 1750-51. He married (second), in 1752, Mrs. Eldredge. Children: I. James. 2. Mary. 3. Thomas. 4. Moore, of whom further. 5. Isaac. 6. Ruth. 7. Joseph. 8. Nathaniel. 9. Amos.
(V) Moore Bird, son of Joseph and Dorcas (Norton) Bird, was born in 1729, and died in Salisbury, Connecticut, Sep- tember 3, 1756. He married, in Salisbury, Connecticut, November 9, 1751, Rebecca Skinner. Children: I. Asenath, of whom further. 2. Electa, born June 1, 1754. 3. Nathaniel, born March 25, 1756, died in infancy.
(VI) Asenathı Bird, daughter of Moore and Rebecca (Skinner) Bird, was born December 5, 1752. She married Captain James Bradley. (See Bradley VI).
(The Scudamore-Skidmore Line).
Scudamore Arms-Gules, three stirrups, leath- ered and buckled or.
Crest-Out of a ducal coronet or a lion's gamb sable, armed gules.
Skidmore Arms-Gules, three stirrups, leathers and buckles or.
Crest-A unicorn's head erased sable, platée.
Skidmore as a surname is derived from 'Norman-French "Escu d'amour," from which came the original family of Escuda- mour, or Scudamore. During the days of the early barons in England the family was noted for its excellent horsemanship and the superior breed of horses it pos- sessed. Thomas Skidmore, the American founder, descended from a Norman an- cestor, one of the captains who came to England with William the Conqueror. The home of the English family was mostly in Herefordshire.
(I) Thomas Skidmore, a descendant of Sir Thomas Scudamore, of Holme Lacy, Herefordshire, England, was born about 1600. About 1635 he was of Westerly, County Gloucester, England, and he sailed
to America in the latter part of 1635. In 1636 he was of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in 1640 he sent to England for his wife and family. In 1648 he owned a home lot in New London, Connecticut, in 1650 had land in Stratford, Connecticut, and from there he moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, and in 1672 to Huntington, Long Island. He became town clerk of Huntington, representative to the General Assembly in 1673, and served in King Philip's War in 1676. He married (first), in England, Ellen. He married (second) Mrs. Joanna Baldwin, widow of Daniel Baldwin. He married (third) Mrs. Sarah Treadwell, widow of Edward Treadwell. Children of first marriage: I. Thomas, of whom further. 2. Dorothy, married Hugh Griffin. 3. Jedidah, married Edward Hig- bee. 4. John. 5. Grace, married John Goulding. 6. Joseph.
(II) Thomas (2) Skidmore, son of Thomas and Ellen Skidmore, was born in England, about 1625, and died in Hunt- ington, Long Island, at an advanced age. He owned land in Huntington and in many of the adjoining settlements also in Connecticut. He married Ellen. Children : I. Thomas, of whom further. 2. Susanna. 3. Ellen.
(III) Thomas (3) Skidmore, son of Thomas (2) and Ellen Skidmore, removed to Connecticut, and lived on land owned by his father. He was, from all data available, father of Ellen Skidmore, born in 1701-04, who married Enos Bradley, of New Haven (see Bradley IV).
(The Sparrow Line).
Arms-Argent, three roses gules, a chief of the last.
Crest -- A yew tree proper.
Through the line of Sparrow as traced hereafter the families of this record have a connection with that courageous, God- fearing band of Pilgrims whose names
Conn. 11-4
49
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
surround the story of the passage and landing of the gallant little "Mayflower." A line of honor in its own right, the rela- tionship that thus follows is one lending additional distinction to a proud family history.
(I) Richard Sparrow died in Eastham, Massachusetts, January 8, 1660. He came to America in 1632, settling at Plymouth, and removed to Eastham in 1653. He married Pandora and among their chil- dren was Jonathan, of whom further.
(II) Captain Jonathan Sparrow, son of Richard and Pandora Sparrow, was of Eastham, Massachusetts. He was captain of a train band, served in early Indian wars, and was Representative to the Gen- eral Court in 1668 and for eighteen years following. He married (first), October 26, 1654, Rebecca Bangs, daughter of Ed- ward Bangs. He married (second) Han- nah (Prince) Mayo, daughter of Govern- or Thomas Prince, a leading figure in Plymouth, and granddaughter of William Brewster, mentioned below. He married (third), in 1698, Sarah (Lewis) Cobb. Children of first marriage: I. Rebecca, married Thomas Freeman. 2. John, of whom further. 3. Priscilla, married Ed- ward Gray. 4. Lydia, married (first) Wil- liam Freeman, and (second) Jonathan Higgins. 5. Elizabeth, married Captain Samuel Freeman. 6. Jonathan. Children of the second marriage: 7. Richard, mar- ried Mercy Cobb. 8. Patience, married Joseph Paine.
Of the children of Jonathan Sparrow of his first marriage were Priscilla, who mar- ried Edward Gray, who was a grandson of James Chilton, of the "Mayflower," whose death took place on board that ves- sel; and Lydia, who married Jonathan Higgins, the grandson of Thomas Rogers, of the "Mayflower." Thomas Rogers was a native of England, and a member of the Leyden congregation. He was accom-
panied on the "Mayflower's" voyage by his son, Joseph, who became a resident of Duxbury, and afterwards lived in East- ham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He was, in 1647, appointed lieutenant of the military company at Nawsett. The father, Thomas Rogers, died in the first sickness in 1621, and Joseph received his allotment of lands in the division at Plymouth in 1623. Thomas Rogers' other sons, John, William, and Noah, afterwards emigrated from England to the Plymouth Colony and settled at Duxbury, Massachusetts.
William Brewster, who was justly named the "Patriarch of the Plymouth Colony," was the moral, religious, and spiritual leader of the Colony, and until his death its trusted guide. His early en- vironments were of wealth and prosperity, therefore he was not brought up to ardu- ous labors. The surname is derived from Brewer, Brewster, Brewister, meaning a brewer of malt liquors, and appears among the old families in the reign of Edward III as ranking among "the English landed gentry." The Suffolk branch of the fam- ily, through Robert Brewster, of Mutford, became established in the fifteenth cen- tury at Castle Hedingham, located in Es- sex, and marriage relations were formed with several knighted families. It is from this branch that Elder Brewster was de- scended, his coat-of-arms being identical with the Suffolk family.
His father, William Brewster, was ap- pointed in 1575-76 receiver of Scrooby and bailiff of the Manor House there, belong- ing to the Archbishop Sandys, of the Dio- cese of York. He had a life tenure of both these offices. Between 1583 and 1588 he was made postmaster, and became known as the "Post of Scrooby"; he was master of the court mails, accessible only to those connected with the court. The office of postmaster in those days was filled by
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