Thomas Jewell

  General Notes:

Hoyt: he was of Braintree as early as 1639.

Research of J. Sergent on www.rootsweb.com

John Joyell Bachelor of Deyynetie of the vnyversitie of Oxforde and at this p'sent by the grace" of god byssboppe of Sarom unto whome by Declara'ion of ancient letters patentes the Chauncellorshippe of the most noble order of the garter is incident as more playnlie appeareth by the saide letters patent now in my registers recorded in this p'sent visitation made by me "William Hervye al's Clarencieul's king of arms."
Extracted from the Visitation Book of the County of Wilts, made in the year 1565, now remaining in the College of arms, London, this 2d day of
March, 1859.
Tho. Wm. York Herald.
I THOMAS JEWEbL was probably born in England, not far from the year 1600. We have been unable positively to connect him with any European family ; but various circumstances coincide to render it most likely that he was from the same original stock as Bishop John Jewell, who was born in the north of Devonshire in 1522, and died in 1571.
The name has been written Jule, Joyell, Jewel, then Jewell.
The first authentic account of Thomas is in the early part of 1639, but little more than 18 years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth ; and shows that he had then a wife and one child, probably a daughter. The Boston record is as follows :
" The 24th day, 2d mo., 1639. Also there is granted to Thomas Jewell, of the Mount, Miller, for three heads, 12 acres, upon the covenant of three shillings per acre."
This "Mount," was Mt. Wollaston; first settled in 1625, and named from Capt. Wollaston; incorporated as Braintree in 1640; Quincy was set off in 1792, and Kandolph in 1793. The tract was laid to Boston by the General Court or Legislature, in 1634 ; and Dec. llth of that year the inhabitants after a lecture chose seven men who should divide these lands to those that might improve them, at the rate of 4 acres to each person in the family ; gratuitously to citizens of Boston, and for three shillings per acre to others. Thus we find, " 24th day, 12th mo., 1640. Granted to Henry Adams (a progenitor of the President,) for 10 heads, 40 acres, upon the same covenant of three shillings per acre."
following is a copy of his will, as witnessed by Wm. Scant and Hannah H. Harbor. " The will of Thomas Jewell of Brantray, while he Is yet in perfect memory. My Soule I commit into the hands of Almighty God in ye mediation of Jesus Christ, and my body to the dust. All ye Estate whch God hath given me I doe give to my wife for to be hers as long as she is a widow, and so remainds ; but if she shall marry, then to divide it into thiee parts ; and two parts to be divided among my children, and the third to be hers. I doe by this will give power to these two my friends herein mentioned, namely William Neadam and Tho. fibster, to take the care and oversight of all this my estate for my wife and children good, according to your best wisdom to be ordered.
dated the 10th, 2d month, 1654."
The Probate records show that administration was granted to Grisell, the widow of Thomas Jewell, July 21, 1654 ; but on the 5th Oct. 1655, she being about to marry Humphrey Griggs, William Needham and Thomas Foster above named, were appointed executors (probably de bonis non.) Griggs agreed to bring up Jewell's children, of which there were several, both sons and daughters, and all under age. She was soon left again a widow ; as administration was granted to Grisell Griggs, on the estate of her late husband Humphrey Griggs, Aug. 18, 1657."

Thomas married Grizel Carey Fletcher. (Grizel Carey Fletcher was born in 1618 in Chelmsford, England and died on 9 Jul 1669 in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.)