My Descent from Thomas Bird

Page down to read the history of the Bird line,
or select one of the following names to go directly to that person.

Thomas Bird-Ann -----
John Bird-Elizabeth Williams
Damaris Bird-James Hawes
Damaris Hawes-Shubael Wentworth
Sion Wentworth-Hannah Pettengill
Hannah Wentworth-Ephraim Payson (4)
Asa Payson-Hannah Hewett
Olive King Payson-Edward True, Jr.
Eugene Payson True-Annie Elizabeth Milnes
Edward Payson True-Laura Keene Darling
Edward Keene True-Mildred Louise Richenburg
James Duncan True
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Thomas and Ann Bird

Husband:
Thomas Bird		Baptized:in England, circa 1613.
Died:probably in Dorchester, MA, 8 June 1667.
Parents:Unknown.
Wife:
Ann -----		Born:Place and date unknown.
Died:in Dorchester, MA, 21 August 1673.
Parents:Unknown.
Married:probably in England, date unknown.

We do not know when Thomas came to America. He is recorded as joining the church in Dorchester, MA, in 1642. He was a tanner by trade and lived in Dorchester on what was, in 1871, called Humphrey St., so named because Jonas Humphrey had a tannery at the south end of that street. Thomas was made a "bailiff" in 1654. According to his will, proved 17 July 1667, he left a large estate, the inventory accounting to about 1,000 pounds.

Thomas and his wife Ann Bird had six children, all born in probably Dorchester, MA:

  • Thomas, b. 4 May 1640; m. Thankful Atherton.
  • John, b. 11 March 1641; m. Elizabeth Williams.
  • Samuel, bpt. April 1644.
  • James, b. ca. 1647; m. (1) Mary George; m. (2) Ann Withington.
  • Sarah, bpt. 12 Aug. 1649; d. 24 April 1669.
  • Joseph, b. date unknown; d. 26 Sept. 1665.
Next Page Line of Descent Pedigree Chart Index of surnames The Bird Bibliography Other sites of interest Home Page

John Bird

Husband:
John Bird		Born:in Dorchester, MA, 11 March 1641.
Died:probably in Dorchester, MA, 2 August 1732.
Parents:Thomas and Ann (-----) Bird.
Wife:
Elizabeth Williams		Born:in Taunton, MA, 1647.
Died:in Dorchesetr, MA, 20 October 1724.
Father:Richard Williams of Taunton, MA.
Mother:Frances Dighton.
Married:Place unknown, in 1668.

John was made "freeman" on 7 May 1673 and was one of the selectmen and one of the assessors in the town of Dorchester, MA, in 1694, 1695, and 1696.

Among the various bequests in John's will, made 11 November 1724 and proved 28 August 1732, there is a clause that reads, "I have done what I judge sufficient for my daughter, Damaris Hawes, deceased, and I give to each of her children 12 pence." Also, he bequeathed "to grandson, William Wright, lands from the right of my father-in-law, Richard Williams, if the said William arrive to the age of 21 years."

John and his wife Elizabeth (Williams) Bird had eleven children, all born probably in Dorchester, MA:

  • John, b. 26 Dec. 1670; m. Mary Royal.
  • Abiel, bpt. 27 April 1673.
  • Damaris, b. 18 Sept. 1675; m. James Hawes.
  • Mehitable, date of birth unknown; m. ----- Blake.
  • Hannah, b. 16 Dec. 1677; m. John Dean of Taunton, MA.
  • Samuel, b. 14 April 1680.
  • Elizabeth, b. 4 Jan. 1682; m. John Dighton.
  • Katherine, b. 14 March 1685; m. Israel Deane of Taunton, MA.
  • Ditton (a daughter, spelled Deighton in her father's will), b. 10 Nov. 1687; m. ----- Morneck alias Mirick.
  • Silence, b. 14 Feb. 1689/90; m. (1) William Wright "of Great Brittaine"; m. (2) Joshua Clap of Dedham, MA.
  • Jane, b. 25 June 1693; m. ----- Wilbore.
Next Page Prior Page Line of Descent Pedigree Chart Index of surnames The Bird Bibliography Other sites of interest Home Page

Damaris Bird

Wife:
Damaris Bird		Born:probably in Dorchester, MA, 18 September 1675.
Died:probably in Dorchester, MA, 7 November 1715.
Father:John Bird.
Mother:Elizabeth Williams.
Husband:
James Hawes		Born:in Dorchester, MA, 18 December 1664.
Died:in Dorchester, MA, 12 April 1718.
Father:Obadiah Hawes of Dorchester, MA.
Mother:Mary Humphrey.
Married:probably in Dorchester, MA, circa 1692.

See entry for James Hawes for details of this family.

James Hawes Prior Page Line of Descent Pedigree Chart Index of surnames The Bird Bibliography Other sites of interest Home Page

The Bird Family Bibliography

Hawes, Frank M., Richard Hawes of Dorchester and Some of His Descendants.

Matthew Bird and William Blake Trask, The Bird Family, A Genealogy of Thomas Bird of Dorchester, printed by David Clapp & Son, 1871), pp. 9-12.

Links to Sites of Interest

The New England Historic Genealogical Society
Home page for the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS).

This page is maintained by
James D. True
jimsancestry@hotmail.com
© Edward K. & Mildred True, and James D. True
Last update February 20, 2003.

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