Thomas Wetmore was born about 1615 in England. Once in Hartford, Connecticut he married Sarah Hall on December 11, 1645. Together they had the following children:
Sources for the information on this page include the following:
Thomas Wetmore was born about 1615 in England. He emigrated from a port in Bristol, England to Roxbury in the Colony of Massachusetts. He first shows up in Connecticut records in Watertown in 1635. In 1640 Wethersfield, Connecticut records bear his name regarding land he was granted there. Both towns have documents that list his name as Whitmore. Since the surname Wetmore does not exist in England, it has been assumed the surname of Thomas was actually Whitmore. Thomas was one of the early settlers granted land in Hartford, Connecticut. The Founders Monument honoring the original founders of Hartford does not bear Thomas Whitmore's name.
In March 1652 he arrived in Middletown, Connecticut where he was one of the original settlers and founders of that town. In Middletown, Thomas put down roots and remained there until his death.
While living in Hartford, Thomas Wetmore married Sarah Hall on December 11, 1645. It is interesting to note that he died on December 11, 1681. Sarah Hall was born on 9 August 1622 in Kent, England to John Hall and his wife Ann (Willocke) Hall. The father of Sarah was a ship builder. Her family lived on 5 acres of land that was adjacent to the property of Thomas Wetmore. She would bear Thomas 13 children until her death shortly after the birth of their last child on December 7, 1665. Thomas would have 2 more wives and 4 more children after the death of Sarah.
After the death of Thomas' first wife, Sarah, he married 2 more times.
Mary Platt Atkinson was the second wife of Thomas Whitmore. She was born in 1629, in Royden, Essex, England to Richard Platt and Mary (Wood) Platt. Thomas and Mary married in Middletown on February 3, 1666. The marriage was short lived. Mary died after giving birth to their first child, a daughter Mahitable, on 1 June 1669.
Catherine Leete Robards was the third wife of Thomas. Catherine was born about 1642. She was a widow with 3 children named William, Samuel and John Robards. Thomas married Catherine on October 8, 1673. They had 3 children together and named them Benjamin, Abigail and Hannah. Catherine died in Middletown on October 13, 1693.
Thomas moved to the new settlement called Mattabeseck (now called Middletown) where he was one of the first 25 settlers. He was very active in Middletown and held several posts there. He was a freeman, In 1652 and 1653 Thomas was sworn in as a Constable for the town and again in 1662. He represented the town in the general court in 1654 and 1655. He held the posts of townsman, pounder, rate maker and grand levy man.
Below is the will of Thomas Whitmore/Wetmore. The document is written here as quoted from the document and any spelling that may look incorrect is as it appeared on the original document.
From V. IV, 1677-1687, pp 89-90 Whitemore, Thomas sen. Invt. 468-02-03, taken 7 Jan 1681/2 by Nathaniel White, Robert Warner, John Savage Legatees: John, 36 years of age, Thomas 29, Samuel 26, Israhiah 25, Beriah 23, Nathaniel 20, Joseph 18, Josiah 13, Benjamin 7, Elizabeth 32, Mary 31, Hannah 28, Sarah 17, Mehetabell 13, Abigail 3, Hannah one year old. Will dated 20 July 1681. The last will of Thomas Whetmore, sen., aged 66 years, is as followeth: I give to my son John Whetmore part of my Lott in the Boggy Meadow Quarter, that is, 20 Rods wide lying on the south side of that lot, going as far East as my Land goeth; Moveover I give to m son John 3/4 of my Great Lott that lyeth West from the Town, to take the whole Bredth half the length, beginning at the farther end, and likewise half the Bredth of the other half next the Town and to take it on the North side. And my will is that my son Beriah shall have the other half of that half next to the Town. Moreover it is my will that my sd. son John shall have all my proportions or interest in the Three Mile Lott on the East side of the Great River, that is the farther Three Miles on that side Eastward. I give to my son Thomas Whetmore half my Long Meadow Lott , lying on the North side; moreover I give to my sd. son Thomas half my lott at Caugenchawke, and the other half I give to my daughter Hannah Stow. I give to my son Samuel Whetmore a parcel of Land on the North side of the Samll River which I bought of Goodman Savage, being about 10 acres lying on the West End of Goodman Savage's Lott, only reserving 4 acres of that Land for my daughter if she survive. I give to my sd. son my Round Meadow Lott, being near 6 acres, only reserving and willing 1-3 part of it for my daughter Abigail if she survive or else to remain to Samuel. I give to my son Israhiah Whetmore my Upland Lott on the East side of the Great River, being about 22 acres lying in the Half Mile Lott against the Town, as also a piece of Meadow at Wongunk joining to his brother John; also 4 acres in the Pond on the East side of the Great River between Ensign Cheeny & Mr. Nathaniel Collins; moreover I give my sd. son one parcell of land in the last Half Mile Division on the East side of the Great River. I give to my son Beriah Whetmore that piece of Meadow at Wongunk called the Platt Meadow; I give to my sd. son one acre of my Homelott next to the Great River, on condition that he come to settle upon it; if not he shall not have it. I give to my son Nathaniel Whetmore half my Land in the Boggy Meadow Quarter, and that which lyeth without the Fence as it now standeth, and the other half to my son Joseph Whetmore. I give to my daughter Sarah Whetmore and my son Josiah Whetmore & my daughter Mehetable my Great Lott at Streights Hill, to be divided equally among them. I give to Katherine, my loving wife, the rest of my Homelott, with all the Houseing theron, during her natural life; also the half of my Long Meadow on the South side, & a parcel of Land which I have at Passenchauge on the East side of the Great River. I give to my wife my Fields Lott during her natural life or until Benjamin fulfills the age of 21 years, then it shall be settled on him as his. Moreover, as I have received of my wife Katherine #20 of her Estate, #6 whereof I have already paid her, yet notwithstanding I appoint and my Will is that #20 be paid to her out of my Estate in Household Stuffe & Stock. I give to my daughters Sarah & Mehetabell & Abigail & Hannah Jr. # 6 apeice, and to this my youngest daughter Hannah one peice of Land of 20 acres lying near the Streights on the West side of the Great Rivr. I give to Thomas & Joseph all my Carpenter Tools. I appoint my wife and son John sole Executors.
Witness; Deacon Samuel Stocking, Thomas Whetmore Sen. Ls.
John Hall sen.
Court Record Page 50-- 2 March 1681-2: Will proven
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