Tradition has it that the immigrant Thomas Tolman came to America in the ship Mary and John in 1630, but so far we have not found his name on the passenger list.

Thomas settled in Dorchester, MA, where he signed the church covenant in 1636 and was admitted a freeman 13 May 1640. By occupation, he was a wheelwright and owned land in Dorchester extending from the sea to the Dedham line. His house was within a hundred feet of Pine Neck Creek. He is first mentioned in the Dorchester records where, "It is ordered that Goodman Tolman's house be appointed for the receiving of any goods that shall be bought in whereof the owner is not known." Town records in 1654 show that "Goodman Tolman was paid one shilling for the killing of a wolf."

In 1652, at the direction of the selectmen of Dorchester, Thomas Tolman was given charge of a child belonging to Henry Lake, whose wife, Alice, had died. Thomas was to be paid a sum of money each year by the town for raising the child, and to teach him his trade.

Thomas and his first wife Sarah Tolman had seven children, all born probably in Dorchester, MA. We have placed Sarah as the mother of Thomas' children because the Dorchester records list their sixth child, Hannah, as the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Tolman:

• Thomas, b. in 1633; m. Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Richard Johnson of Lynn, MA.
• John, bpt. 31 (5) 1642 (according to the calendar in use at the time, that was likely 31 July 1642); m. (1) Elizabeth Collins, daughter of John Collins; m. (2) Mary Paul, a widow.
• Sarah, m. Henry Leadbetter.
• Rebecca, m. James Tucker.
• Ruth, bpt. 7 (10) 1644 (likely 7 December 1644); m. Isaac Royal.
• Hannah, b. 27 July 1642; m. (1) George Lyon; m. (2) William Blake.
• Mary, m. ------ Collins of Lynn, MA.