John TISDALE

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Name:
Tradition has brought the first settler of the name in America from the town of Wales, in England, but no authentic record of the fact is know to exist. In 1854 an effort was made to ascertain the origin of the Tisdales in England, and for this purpose the aid of H.A. Somerby, an American gentleman long resident in Great Britain and a through-going antiquarian, was invoked. He found in Ripon, Yorkshire, a record of the baptism of John, son of Thomas and ruth Tisdale, November 7, 1614, and this John is thought to be progenitor of the American name.

The precise date of John Tisdale's immigration to the Old Colony is not known, nor in what ship he arrived; but it is supposed to have been in 1636 or 1637. he first settled in Duxbury, or Marshfield, where he had a grant of ten acres at Green harbor path; he also owned land at Hound's ditch and Namasakeeset, the sale of which to William Brett, in 1657, is duly noted in the colonial records. He was one of the twenty-six original purchasers of Freetown, and received the twenty-third lot, upon which a part of Assonet Village is located, and also possessed considerable land in Taunton.

In 1643 Plymouth, Duxbury and Marshfield combined in the organization of a military company, and John Tisdale's name appears in a "list of those able to beer arms in New Plymouth," under "Duxborrow, 1643."

In 1645 he was elected constable of Duxbury and held the office for several years. In Emery's "History of Taunton" we read that "the office of constable was one of great responsibility and honor in colonial times as representing the civil government and being the chief exponent of law. the most respectable and trustworthy persons were chosen to fill this office."

About 1650 John Tisdale removed to Taunton. Here he held some public office: May 11, 156, he was one of a coroner's jury of twelve men on a case reported in the old colonial records; a selectman in 1650(?) and 1658; constable in 1655-1659; Representative to Plymouth General Court in 1674-1675; and seems to have been a person of no little importance in the community.

His home in Taunton was on the east side of Great River, some three and a half miles from "the Green," bordering upon what is now the northern boundary of the town of Berkeley, and overlooked Mount Hope, the home of King Philip. He incurred the the displeasure of the Indians by his hearty espousal of every course of the English to keep them in subjection. As early as 1671, four years before the "Great War," his house was a rendezvous for the English troops and was thus in constant peril, and when the war came, in 1675, his property was destroyed and himself murdered. This is substantiated by the old colonial records: "John Tisdale was killed by Indians June 27, 167."

John Tisdale married Sarah Walker, who came from London in the barque 'Elizabeth'. She was the daughter of "Widow Walker," of Rehoboth. She was seventeen years of age when she reached American in 1635, and died in 1676.

Family/Spouse: Sarah WALKER. Sarah was born about 1618 in England; died in 1676. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of John Tisdale and Sarah Walker

John married Anna ROGERS on 23 Nov 1664 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA. Anna (daughter of John ROGERS and Anna CHURCHMAN) was born between 1643-1646; died between 24 Jul 1710 and 29 Jun 1737. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joshua married Abigail ANDREWS on 5 Jul 1688. Abigail (daughter of Henry ANDREWS and Mary WADSWORTH) died in 1741. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He was apparently a favorite with his father, who bequeathed to him the homestead. He is said to have been a man of large possessions, and in 1705, was Representative to the General Court in Boston. August 16, 1681, he married Mary daughter of Major Thomas Leonard of Taunton. Major Leonard was a distinguished man of his day, and in civil and religious matters exercised commanding influence in Taunton.

After Joseph Tisdale's death his widow removed to Bridgewater, residing with her daughter Abigail until her death, in 1726.

Joseph married Mary LEONARD in Aug 1681. Mary (daughter of Thomas LEONARD and Mary WATSON) was born on 02 Aug 1663 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA; died on 01 Nov 1727. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]