Biography
Thomas Dewey II was born circa 1603 in Sandwich, Kent, England to Thomas Dewey (1577-1636) and Mary Moore (1586-) and died 27 April 1648 Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut of unspecified causes. He married Frances Randall (1610-1690) 22 March 1638 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.
MARRIAGE: Windsor, 22 March 1639 Frances (___) Clark [Grant 30]. She was a widow, but the name of her first husband is unknown, and she had one daughter with him, the Mary Clark in Dewey’s estate distribution [NYGBR 59:214-15]. She married (3) Windsor [2] November 1648, GEORGE PHELPS [Grant 56], and had three children with him.
Many secondary sources identify Thomas Dewey’s wife as the widow of Joseph Clark of Windsor, but Clarence Almon Torrey demolished this claim in 1928, and demonstrated that the identity of the first husband of Frances (___) (Clark) (Dewey) Phelps remains unknown [NYGBR 59:214-15; TAG 35:151].
Thomas Dewey was first married about 1633/5 in Dorchester, according to U.S., New England Marriages--he was married before he married the widow, Frances Clark. Frances was his second marriage.
'Cornet' Thomas Dewey married second Frances Clark, widow, 22 Mar 1638 in Windsor; he died in 1648. (Frances married third George Phelps. It is important to note that U.S., New England Marriages does not name Mr. Clark as Joseph Clark as many histories claim. A study of all parties in "Great Migration" clears up this misinformation.)
He migrated in 1633, and removed to Windsor in 1635. He was given membership in the Dorchester church prior to 14 May 1634, implied by freeman status on that date. His occupation was likely subsistence farming indicated by the inventory performed at his death. Most sources say that Thomas Dewey was cornet of the troop, but the evidence for this has not been found. (see "Great Migration") He is referred to as Cornet Thomas Dewey in U.S., New England Marriages.
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. It was abolished along with the purchase of commissions in the Army Reform Act of 1871, except in the Blues and Royals and Queen's Royal Hussars, where it is still used; Winston Churchill served as a Cornet in 1895. It is equivalent to today's Second Lieutenant. The rank was in use by the time of the English Civil War. The ranks of Ensign and Cornet were abolished in the US Army in 1815. (Wikipedia)
"Great Migration" issues a comment regarding the statement that has been made "that Thomas Dewey was from Sandwich, Kent, but this has no documentary foundation. Dewey was more likely from the West Country, as were so many of the other early settlers of Dorchester. Since Thomas Dewey first appears in Dorchester in 1633, he may have arrived on the unnamed ship from Weymouth, Dorset, that landed in New England in July of 1633."
Jorge Guillermo Dewey--There is a lot of conflicting information regarding Thomas Dewey's roots in England such as on which ship he came to America, where and when he was born, and who his ancestors were. I have failed to find any reference to official records to corroborate this information. However, I have come across several items of hard evidence (mainly parish records) that has led me to conclude that Thomas Dewey, The Settler was born in 1606 at Hinton Martell in the county of Dorset, his father was Thomas (died 1636) and his mother was Mary Moore (died 1637). He may have sailed from Swanage (later renamed Sandwich) in Dorset some time prior to 1633. I have a section on a website containing the details behind my theory and the chain of evidence (with references) supporting it. The website is http://www.deweywiltshireroots.org.uk/ (still under development). (see source below for website)
PLEASE READ: THOMAS DEWEY'S WIFE FRANCES WAS NOT MARRIED TO JOSEPH CLARK AS SOME HISTORIES PROPOSE. In Great Migration under Thomas Dewey, under COMMENTS it specifically says: "Many secondary sources identify Thomas Dewey's wife as the widow of Joseph Clark of Windsor, but Clarence Almon Torrey demolished this claim in 1928, and demonstrated that the identity of the first husband of Frances (_____) (Clark) (Dewey) Phelps remains unknown [NYGBR 59:214-15; TAG 35:151]."
A study of Joseph Clark in the Great Migration also states that his wife was NOT Frances. She was simply the widow Frances Clark. Joseph Clark's wife was not named, and he left two orphaned children, Joseph and Mary--these are two distinct families. This Mary, whose brother was Joseph, married Joseph Bird--not John Strong.
Thomas Dewey married Frances Randall * 1610-1690 Birth: unknown, England Death: Apr. 27, 1648 Westfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Some plausibly interpret the Will of father Phillip Randall and his inclusion of Frances' children as meaning Frances was also his daughter, sister of Phillury, George Phelps' first wife.
Thomas may actually have died and been buried in Windsor, Hartford, Conn., but there is a stone for him in this cemetery, while I found no stone for him in Windsor. This stone was most likely placed by one of Jason Dewey's heirs. The style of this stone suggests it was placed in the 1860s or 1870s. Thomas' birth date remains unknown but it's supposed to be about 1603, possibly in Wales, though he emigrated from Sandwich, England, in 1633. His wife's maiden name also remains unknown but she was Frances the widow of a Mr. Clark and she later married George Phelps and most of the family moved with them to Westfield.
He became a freeman in 1634 at Dorchester, Mass. He moved to Windsor in 1635 where he married Frances on 22 Mar 1638. He was a juror in 1642 and 1644.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Thomas Dewey (1640-1690) | 16 February 1640 Windsor, Connecticut, United States | 27 April 1690 Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States | Constant Hawes (1642-1703) |
| Josiah Dewey (1641-1732) | |||
| Anna Dewey (1643-1707) | |||
| Israel Dewey (1645-1678) | |||
| Jedediah Dewey (1647-1718) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Abigail Dewey (1652-1711) | January 1652 Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts | 19 February 1711 Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts | Thomas Cutler (1648-1722) |
Siblings
Research Notes
- Abigail Dewey (1652-1711) - Born four years after the death of her father???
See Also
- Thomas Dewey
- Dewey Family
- Dewey in Kent
- Dewey in Hartford County, Connecticut