Descendants of Thomas Bourne

Thomas Bourne was of Biddenden,Kent. There is not specific proof that he was the father of the Thomas Bourne who was born in 1581. However, we see on page 153 of the NEHGR V114, a note relating to his will proved on 06 Jun 1608 which does give validity to this assumption. There was a fairly strong relationship between the Bourne family , the Tilden family, and the Bigge family. They were all from the Frittenden and Biddenden area of County Kent.

Thomas Bourne(2) son of the fore-mentioned Thomas Bourne was born in 1581+/-. We are now on much firmer ground. Thomas(2) with his family were in Plymouth, Ma in 1637. He was made a freeman of the county on 2 Jan 1638. Marshfield,Ma was incorporated in 1640, and Thomas Bourne settled in the new town, where he was a man of substance and repute, serving in various capacities. He was given a grant of 100 acres which was the second grant in Marshfield.. He was addressed as Mr. Which indicated a person of high social rank. One writer noted of our Thomas as “the eldest of the Marshfied settlers and a patriarch of its Eden”. William Launders of Marchfield was a servant to Mr. John Combs; on 5 Apr 1642 he was transferred to Mr. William Thomas and subsequently on 9 Nov 1643 he was transferred to Mr. Thomas Bourne. William Launders’s will dtd 19 Dec 1648 designated our Thomas Bourne as executor. At a Town Meeting held in Marshfield on 3 Nov 1656, Mr. Thomas Bourne and Joseph Beedell were to receive the L10 which Mr. Edward Winslow, in his will, gave to the poor and were to be “betrusted” with its expenditure.

Mr. Thomas Bourne was Deputy from Marshfield to the Plymouth General Court in 1641,1642, and in 1645. Mr. Thomas Bourne was a “draper”. Thomas Bourne’s will, prepared 2 May 1664, was presented to the General Court on 2 June 1664. He died 11 May 1664 at age 83. The bequests were noted in pounds and shillings but noted to be paid in “corne, cattle or goods”. Exception was “I doe heeby Declare my son John to be my heire and I doe give unto him all my land and housing that are on my lands that is neare hand or further remote layed out or to bee layed out to mee”. “My son John Bourne” was appointed executor. The real estate was “his house and land and orchyard and meddowes” and “a lott of land lying neare Taunton”. Debts were due from “serjeant Cotton”, John Branch, “mr Josias Winslow,senir”, Captain Thomas, John Thomas, and “Mr John Bardford”.

Mr. Thomas married Elizabeth Bassenden in 1614 at Biddenden,Kent. She predeceased her husband, dying 18 July 1660 at age 70. Both she and her husband, Thomas, greatly outlived their then applicable life expectancy.