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

Thomas married MEDOWS, Sarah in 1636 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States. Sarah was born in 1615 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died on 14 May 1681 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married MEADOWS, Dorothy in Sep 1629 in Herts, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SOURCE: (Thomas Sanford Genealogy, c., 1911, pp. 94-96)

Ephraim Sanford (2-6) was a planter in New Haven, Connecticut. Carlton E. Sanford of Potsdam, New York was a descendant of Ephraim Sanford and compiled the Thomas Sanford Genealogy which was printed in 1911. He was in the possession of a small oak box containing numerous papers on the Sanford family which were to be donated to the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford. He also had the original inventory of Ephraim's estate made on 12 Jun 1687.

Ephraim & Mary had 7 children

Ephraim married POWELL, Mary on 16 Nov 1669. Mary (daughter of POWELL, Thomas) was born on 20 Jul 1645 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died after 1700 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Samuel Sanford (3-35) was admitted to the Milford Church on May 15, 1698, and his wife, Hannah, on May 9, 1697. Her tombstone was still standing in 1909 and in very good condition. Close by her grave is that of Mrs. Thomas Baldwin. Mrs. Esther Sanford was a sister of Stephen Parmelee who married Elizabeth, sister of Hannah Baldwin. Hanna Baldwin and her sister Esther, who married Samuel Sanford, Jr. (b., abt. 1680) and Elizabeth, who married Parmelee, were daughters of Nathaniel and Hannah (Botchford) Baldwin. (Source: Thomas Sanford Genealogy, c., 1911, pp. 98, 106-108)

Samual & Hannah had 11 children - Samual & Ester had none.

Samuel married BALDWIN, Hannah in Nov 1695 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Hannah was born on 11 Jul 1674 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died on 14 Jan 1727 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married BALDWIN, Ester "Parmalee" after 1728. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

David Sanford (4-141) is referred to as David Sanford (#141) on page 110 in the Thomas Sanford Genealogy book, 1911; and referred to as Cornet David Sanford on page 136 of that same book. It is explained in the book that in May, 1749 he was Quartermaster of the Troop of Horse in the 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, and in May 1750 he was commissioned "Cornet" in that regiment. (Note: Cornet was the lowest of commissioned officers in the cavalry who carried the colors or guidon of a troop of cavalry, an honored position no longer in existence).
The name on his tombstone, which was still standing in 1911, was Cornet David Sanford. (New Haven Colony Historical Society, Vol. 5, p. 54 and Connecticut Colony Records, p. 426, 517, 518).

He must have been a man of great business capacity having accumulated an estate of $26,660 by the age of 41 at the time of his death in 1751.

On 8 Feb 1751, administration of his estate was granted his widow, Rachael, and she was appointed guardian of their minor children. (Probate Book 7, p. 131).

Thomas Sanford Genealogy c., 1911, pp. 136-137

David & Rachel had nine children

David married STRONG, Rachel on 30 Mar 1730. Rachel was born on 20 Jun 1713 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 12 Sep 1777 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]