Thomas Philbrick

Biography

Thomas Philbrick came from Bures St. Mary in Suffolk, England, on the River Stour at the Essex county boundary, where his surname appeared in forms including Felbrigge and Fylbrigg. Baptized in 1584, he married Elizabeth Knopp there on June 4, 1615. Their children were born in England; Bures parish entries include the baptism of their son James in 1619. Thomas still appears in Bures records in 1631. The family later settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, before moving in stages to Hampton, on the coast of present-day New Hampshire.

At Watertown, Thomas received a specific public assignment in 1640: he was to provide a house beside the water for receiving stray goods. By 1651 he acquired the Hampton house lot that his son Thomas had bought from William Sanborn. It included buildings and became the elder Thomas's home for the rest of his life.

The family suffered a devastating loss in October 1657 when his son John, John's wife, and their daughter were lost at sea on a voyage from Hampton toward Boston. Elizabeth died in February 1664.

Thomas's will distributed a household and working property: a dwelling, orchard, meadow, marsh, livestock, bedding, and tools. Son James was to receive the house and serve as executor; the daughters were each assigned a cow and shares of household possessions. Thomas died by October 8, 1667, when his will was proved.