By Lester Warren Fish
32 THE FISH FAMILY
To leave the comforts and luxuries of the Old World and take
up abode in the New, under these circumstances, required a
degree of moral courage and self-denial which only a few possessed;
and had not the providence of God brought to bear the
sweets of social, civil and religious liberty, the now fertile and
smiling fields of our great free country might have remained the
hunting grounds of the Indians. But Liberty--"sound delightful
to every human ear"--rendered more dear and more desirable
by the iron heel of oppression, opened the gates of the great sea,
and forced a passage over the mountain wave. Hither then
came our Ancestor, and settled at Portsmouth on the Island
of Aquindneck, in Narragansett Bay, one of the towns included
in the "Providence Plantations" founded by Roger Williams
only a few years before. To trace the descendants of this pioneer
through the various branches down the stream of time is the
object of this work, a labor of 16 years.
It may be assumed that he arrived in Portsmouth, a lad in
his early twenties, during 1643 when, as found in the "Record
of Towne Meetings of Portsmouth" ("History of Portsmouth"),
on Oct. 5, "Land was ordered layd out to Thomas Fish at the
first Brooke." He was then twenty-four years of age. (It was in
1643 that Roger Williams received a Charter from Charles I granting
religious tolerance in the colony.) (Peter Stuyvesant was appointed
Governor of Manhattan in 1643.)
Little states that Thomas and John were in Portsmouth as
late as 1655.
Concerning his marriage to Mary ------- no record of date or
place is found, whether in England or America. Her name may
have been Mary Soule. Assuming that his first son, Thomas4,
was 19 when he married (Dec. 10, 1668 according to record),
and 21 when he was made a freeman Dec. 3, 1670, his birth may have
occurred in 1649. From this it would appear that Thomas3
was married about 1647, at Portsmouth. Much about his life
and activities in the Portsmouth Colony can be learned from the
records of the "Towne Meetinges," called several times during the
year, the proceedings of several of which are here given.
Some idea of what was required of one desiring to become an
inhabitant or freeman is indicated in the proceedings of one of
the earliest meetings, held on "13 March 1638":
Voted, It is ordered that none shall be received as inhabitants or freemen,
to build or plant upon the Island but such as be received in by the consent
of the Bodye and do submit to the Government that is or shall be established
according to the Word of God.
(It was also ordered that) every inhabitant of this Island shall be always
provided of one musket, one pound of powder, 20 bullets, and two fademe
of match with sword and rest and Bandeliers, all completely furnished.
EARLY FISH FAMILIES IN AMERICA 33
General Meetinge held 21st December 1638 ordered; that the swine that
are upon the Island shall be set away from the plantation six miles up the
Island or into some Islands adjacent, by the 10th of February, 1639, or else
be shutt up so that they may be inoffensive to the towne. (After that day
any one who wished to shutt up one must pay two pence for each hogg.)
Meetinge held Oct. 5, 1643, ordered: that land be layed out to Thomas
fish at the first Brooke.
Ordered that every man shall have foure pounds shott lying by him and 2
pounds powder--and that every man be in readiness by 24th March next.
Further ordered, that every man be n readiness at the beate of the drum.
Further ordered, that there shall be a towne watch kept every night-- and that
those that keep it shall be paid out of the Treasurie.
Meetinge held Nov. 28, 1643, it was voted: that Francis Brayton [whose
son later married a daughter of Thomas3 Fish] be received as an inhabitant
and was given engagement into the Government. It was also ordered that
the Wolfe catcher be payed out of the Treasurie. Also ordered that there shall
be noe shooting of deere from May 1st to 1st of Nov. Forfeit to be 5 pounds.
At a Towne meetinge held Dec. 28, 1648, it is granted to Jeames Babcock
to have 4 acres added to his house and lott out of the Thos. fish his lott and
it is granted to Thos. fish to have 4 acres out of the Common southward thereof
insteade.
Meetinge 21st Nov. 1649 (the year that England became a Republic under
Oliver Cromwell), Thomas fish was apoynted to Jury for the present Court.
Townes Meetinge March 4, 1650 ordered: that the Towne Clerke shall
rite the liscenses for selling beere, victuals and wine, and that William Balston
to the tenor of the law to be bounde in the sume of 10s a piece for [every
defect] that Thomas Stafford shall keepe goode order in his house."
Taken in Courte by me Phillip Shearman
Town Clerke
Meetinge Jan 19, 1651, 2 acres of lande adjoining to Thomas fish were
ordered layd out to Henry eves in lieu of land given to said Henry by the
Towne formerly.
In 1655 Thomas fish was made a freeman which also indicates
that he was a member of the church, probably the Quaker
Church, or possibly the new-formed Baptist Church of Providence,
or of Newport.
Meetinge March 20, 1660, Thomas fish received a deed of house and land
frm Henry and Ann ayres, in consideration of fencing two acres said Henry
and Ann to enjoy said land for their lives without paying rent.
Dec 3, 1662, Thos. fish and William Hall were appointed to lay out one
acre of Towne lande.
Towne Meetinge Feb. 17, 1663, Thomas fish chosen Petty Jury man to
meete in Newport. (This was one year before New York passed from Dutch to
English control.)
5 June 1665 Meetinge: Thomas fish chosen Constable for this yeare. (The
office of Constable was one of the most important positions in the town in
those days).
In this year (the year of the Great London Plague and one year
before the Great London fire, which lasted over a week and burned
34 THE FISH FAMILY
over 450 acres), he bought of James Babcock two parcels of land
and a dwelling house, barn and orchard for 50 pounds. He later sold
four acres to Thomas Lawton.
23 April 1667 Meetinge: Thomas fish chosen Petty Jury man...Thomas
fish elected delegate to General Assembly.
16 October Meeting: Thomas fish, Captain Thomas Cooke and Thomas
Lawton chosen Grand Jury Men....Francis Brayton chosen Petty Jury
Man. John Tripp was chosen Court Deputy.
6 June 1670 Meetinge: chosen Constable.
3 December 1670 Meetinge: Thomas fish, Jr. admitted as an inhabitant.
10 October 1673 Thomas fish chosen Grand Jury Man to sitt and act in
next General Assembly to be held at Newport.
1 June 1674 Meetinge: Thomas fish chosen to Towne Council.
10 October 1674 Meetinge: Thomas fish chosen Deputy for the next
General Assembly to be held at Newport, the last Wednesday this instant.
7 June 1675 Meetinge: Thomas fish chosen to be of the Towne Council and
engaged.
12 July Meetinge: A rate of 400 pounds was ordered levied in this towne and
Island. Thomas fish [with nine others] chosen to make the Said Rate and with
all convenient speed return it inder their hands into the Treasurie of the towne.
1 March 1679 Meetinge: chosen to be on the Grand Jury the next Court of
Trials.
12 September 1680 Meetinge: Voted: John Biggs is appointed to speke to
Thomas fish that he lay out that acre of land to this townes commons which
was lent to Henry eves.
18 September 1685 Meetinge: Thomas fish appointed to Coroners Jury for
an Inquest into the hanging of a Scotsman named John Crgae, by Coronoer,
Major John Albro.
On May 2, 1684 (three years after the founding of Pennsylvania
by William Penn), he deeded to grandson, Preserved5 Fish, son
of Thomas, Jr., deceased, for love, etc., dwelling house and 15
acres where Thomas Fish, Jr., had lived, said grandson Preserved
to possess it in the year 1700.
In examining these records it is to be noted that many of the
early land-owning colonists were unable to sign their own names,
and used only thier mark, while the name of "Thomas fish" appears
in bold, legible hand-writing. He held many town offices
and was prominent in the early affairs of the Portsmouth Colony,
a part of the "Incorporation of Providence Plantations on Narragansett
Bay in New England."
WILL OF THOMAS3 FISH
His will was recorded Feb. 9, 1687, and proved Dec. 13, 1687,
so his death no doubt occurred in December 1687. It named his
wife Mary as executrix and mentions four sons, three daughters
and seven grand children. It bequeathed to son John land
bought of James Babcock. To son Robert 20s, and like amount
EARLY FISH FAMILIES IN AMERICA 35
to daughters Mehitable, Mary and Alice. To grandson, Preserved,
son of Thomas, Jr., 5s, to wife remainder of the estate.
Inventory, 49 pounds, 10s.
On Sept. 9, 1697, a codicil to her will was recorded by the
widow Mary. It was proved on July 12, 1699. Son Daniel was
named Executor. To son John 5 pounds. To son Robert 5 pound and a cow.
To daughter Mehitable Tripp 5 pounds, brass chafing dish, pewter
platter, three Porringers, chest and pewter plate. To daughter
Mary Brayton 5 pounds, table, basin, pewter platter, long cups and
plates. To daughter Alice Knowles 5 pounds, two feather pillows,
basin, pewter platters, pewter candlestick and plate. To daughters
Mehitable, Mary and Alice, all wearing apparel both linen
and woolen. She mentions grandchildren Preserved and Mehitable,
children of son Thomas, deceased; Comfort, Ruth and
Thomas, children of son Daniel; Mary, daughte of son John; and
Robert, son of son Robert. To daughter Mehitable Tripp whatever
is due her for wool. To son Daniel, all the outward movables.
The codicil makes but slight changes. Inventory 130 pounds, 2s.
He lies buried in the old Portsmouth Cemetary. His wife Mary
d. in 1699 (six years after the founding of William and Mary
College at Williamsburg in 1693, second oldest college in America),
family were survivors of King Philip's War, which was fought
in 1676, one hundred years before the American Revolution.
Children (all both at Portsmouth):
+ 94 Thomas4, b. about 1649; d.1684; m. Grizzel Strange, Dec 10, 1668
+ 95 Mehitable, b. about 1650; m. Joseph Tripp, Aug 6, 1667. (See p.80)
+ 96 Mary, b. about 1652; d. Apr 4, 1747; m. Francis Brayton, Mar. 18, 1671
+ 97 Alice, b. about 1655; d. 1734; m. William Knowles.
+ 98 John, b. about 1657; d. 1742; m. Joanna ________.
+ 99 Daniel, b. about 1662; d. Sep 16, 1723; m. Abigail Mumford, May 1,1682
+ 100 Robert, b. about 1665; d.1730; m. Mary Hall, Sep 16, 1686
94 THOMAS4 FISH (Thomas3, Alice2, John1), colonist, eldest son
of (72) Thomas and Mary (Soule?) Fish, was b. at Portsmouth,
R.I., about 1649, or perhaps earlier. (The scourge, syphilis,
was not known in the new colonies until in 1646 the first case was
discovered in Boston.) On Dec. 10, 1668, he m. Grizzel Strange,
dau. of John and Alice Strange, at Portsmouth.
On Dec. 3, 1670, he was admitted as an inhabitant of Portsmouth.
Soon after he is mentioned as having served on a coroner's
jury, and on Sept. 12, 1680, an ear mark for cattle was
granted to Thomas Fish, junior.
36 THE FISH FAMILY
He d. at Portsmouth about 1684, as he is mentioned in his
father's will as deceased, and on May 2, 1684, his dwelling and
fifteen acres were deeded to his son Preserved by his father,
Thomas3, who survived him.
Children (all both at Portsmouth):
101 Alice5, b.Sep 15, 1671; m. Peleg Sherman, Mar 16, 1697
102 Grizzel, b.Apr 12, 1673; m. John Sherman (Samuel2,Philip1)
103 Hope, b. Mar 5, 1675/6
+ 104 Preserved, b. Aug 12, 1679; d. July 15, 1745; m. Ruth Cook, May 30, 1699
105 Mehitable, b. July 22, 1684