| Notes |
- SOURCE: Thomas Sanford (1-1) first appeared in the Town Records of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Dorchester was settled in 1630, but no lands were allotted until 3 April 1633. It is now a part of Boston and called South Boston and Dorchester. The town records begin 16 Jan 1632. The first settlers were prior to 1636 were one hundred and thirty eight in number, and Thomas Sanford was one of them. He was made a Freeman on 9 March 1637. This right or title conferred upon the holder the right of suffrage and also an advantage in the division of lands. The principal qualification for this position was church membership in a Congregational church. Much reference is made in the notes as to the term "freeman". A freeman was required to be of godly walk and conversation, required to be at least twenty years of age, to take the Freeman's Oath of allegiance to the government of Massachusetts, to be worth £200, to hold office if elected or pay a fine of forty shillings, to vote at all elections or pay same fine.
He was allotted land in Dorchester in 1635. He entered into an agreement to look after the town cows for the season of 1635 and 1637. It is believed that he married in Dorchester and this his first two children were born there. It is also believed that he stayed there until after April, 1640, when the parcel of land was granted to him that had been previously only "booked" to him. He was surely in Milford in January, 1642, when he joined the church. His third child, Mary, is recorded in the records of the First Church of Milford as having been born in January 1641.
Milford land records indicate that he was allotted land there beginning in 1643. His name appears in other instances over the years as late as 1680. They indicate that he bore his part and was held in the good opinion of this neighbors, that he was a frugal and industrious citizen, which was shown by the amount of his estate, appraised 21 Oct 1681, soon after his death at over £450. Two of his sons, Ezekiel and Samuel became quite wealthy for those times. Records indicate that he could read, write, and "cast accompts (accounts)." His will shows him to have been a prosperous, successful man, of a kindly and generous nature and of exceptional character.
Thomas Sanford Genealogy c., 1911, pp. 60-82
Thomas Sanford arrived in the colonies with his younger brother Andrew and his uncle, Andrew Warner, in 1632 at Dorchester, Massachusetts. He sailed on the ship Arabella as part of the Winthrop Fleet. Many ships over many months came as a part of that activity. He, one brother and their uncle, traveled as single men. He married Dorothea Meadows in Dorchester and they had two children. She died shortly after. He married Sarah Meadows and they set out for Hartford, Connecticut, where some of his relatives had settled, then went on to Milford, Connecticut, where they made their home and had more children. They became an important part of that community by owning property and being very active in both church and civic affairs. They were considered among the founders of Milford, Connecticut. All but the first two children were born at Milford and the parents were buried there. He was married to Sarah Meadows in 1641 in Dorchester. There are no stones marking their graves. The oldest stone marker is 1726, Mrs. Samuel Sanford. Maid Sara Whitlock is mentioned in his will. (Source: Elizabeth Wallace)
John Sanford, San Jose, CA (June, 1996)
Additional information on the ancestors of Thomas Sanford is located on Brøderbund World Family Tree, Volume 8, Pedigree #3331. This provides a vital link to Nicholas deSandford and his spouse, Alice Botilier. Alice is a descendant of Henry II, King of England, and links the Sanford family with the royal families of the United Kingdom and other royal families on the continent.
Dennis BeMent (August, 1997)
An excellent published record of the Sanford Family in America is available in some libraries entitled: Thomas Sanford Genealogy - The Emigrant to New England, 1610-1910 by Carlton E. Sanford, Potsdam, New York; c., 1911, The Tuttle Company, Rutland, Vermont. This is a two volume set consisting of 1612 pages and over 18,000 Sanford descendants. One known set is located at the Orlando Public Library, Orlando, Florida. Reference numbers are included for many of the descendants as assigned from the original publication. In order to provide an efficient reference to that publication the following is an interpretation of that reference: 4-141/110 would indicate David Sanford, who was of the fourth generation, individual #141, with the first reference of him in the original publication located on page 110. A reprint of the above 1911 book is also available from the Higginson Book Company in Salem, Massachusetts.
There appears to be considerable confusion in ascertaining all of the pertinent information on Thomas as there were other Sanford's that emigrated to American and many others by the name Thomas. The author of the book, Carlton E. Sanford, indicates that Thomas' first two (of seven) children were born in Dorchester and the other five in Milford. He does not, however, acknowledge that the first two children were from a first wife as indicated in some later records. Carlton Sanford indicates that Thomas was not a part of the Winthrop Fleet. Later records indicate that he was in fact part of one of those crossings.
Dennis BeMent (November, 1997)
Thomas & Dorthea has 2 children before her death. Thomas & Sarah had 5 children
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1608 - 1681 (73 years)
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: Location
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