Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy --- Go to Genealogy Page for Thomas Cornell --- Go to Genealogy Page for Rebecca

Notes for Thomas Cornell and Rebecca

1623 March 30th "Sara the daughter of Thomas Cornell and of Rebecca his wife" was baptized at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [1]

1624 Son Richard Cornell was born on July 8. [2]

1625 "William the soon of Thomas Cornell and of Rebecca his wife" was baptized on April 4 at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [3]

1627 "Thomas the sonn of Thomas Cornell and of Rebeca his wife ye 21" October was baptized at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [4]

1627/28 January "William the sonn of Thomas Cornell and of Rebecca his wife the 7" was buried at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [5]

1629/30 January "Rebecca the daughter of Thomas Cornell and of Rebecca his wife the 31" was baptized at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [6]

1631 "Elizabeth the daughter of Thomas Cornell and of Rebecca his wife" was baptized on May 1 at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [7]

1632 "Kelume the sonne of Mr Thomas Cornell & of Rebecca his wife" was buried on October 19 in Saffron Waldon, Essex, England. [8]

1632 "William the sonn of Thomas Cornell and of Rebecca his wife" was baptized on December 9 at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [9]

1634 "John the sonne of Thomas Cornell & of Rebecka his wife" was baptized on June 6 at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [10]

1635 August "Ann the daughter of Thomas Cornell & of Rebecka his wife baptised the 6th" at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [11]

1636/7 "Elizabeth the daughter of Mr Thomas Cornell & of Rebeck his wif" was baptized on January 15 at Saffron Walden, Essex, England. [12]

1638 August 20 "It was voted at town meeting in Boston that Thomas Cornell be permitted 'to buy William Baulstone's house, yard and garden, backside of Mr. Coddington, and to become an inhabitant.'" [13]

1638 September 6 "Thomas Cornell 'was licensed upon tryal to keepe an inn in the room of Will Baulston till the next general court.'" [14]

1639 June 4 Thomas "was fined £30 'for several offences, selling wine without license and beer at two pence a quart.' Thomas explained that 'in the winter time he had much loss by his small beer which he was at cost to preserve from frost by fire,' which was the reason presumably why he put more alcohol in it and sold it at double the lawful price. He also pleaded ignorance of the law, said he was sorry for his offences, and asked for a remission of the fine. He was, two days later, abated £10 of his fine and given a month to close up his business and 'cease from keeping entertainment.' [His house] was located on the east side of Washington Street, about half way between Summer Street and Milk Street. [His neighbor William] Coddington, who was a distinguished and highly respected leader in the earlier days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was one of the central figures of the dramatic history of the [Antinomianism] controversy. Baulstone, who was Thomas Cornell's predecessor as an innkeeper, was also an obnoxious person to the orthodox church. Cornell's brother in law, John Briggs ... was a somewhat prominent Hutchinsonite. Anne Hutchinson ... was indicted, solemnly tried, excommunicated and exiled... She and her followers applied to the Plymouth authorities for a place of refuge, but were refused. It was Roger Williams who suggested that they come to Rhode Island. Mr. Coddington and other prominent members of the Antinomians purchased in 1637 from Canonicus and Miantonomi, Indian chiefs, the island of Aquidneck. The consideration paid was forty fathoms of white peag (wampum) and ten coats and twenty hoes. On this island was started the settlement called Portsmouth ... The compact which served as a basis of their future government was signed March 7, 1638, probably in Boston." [15]

1640 "Whether Thomas Cornell went with the exiles from Massachusetts at their first removal is not clear. He was living in Portsmouth in 1640, and in that year admitted as a freeman. It was not until three years later that he sold his Boston house. It is probable that his experience in being practically driven from his home was similar to that of his friend William Coddington, who left his 'brick house,' the first brick house ever built in Boston, and went into the wilderness. Coddington wrote to John Winthrop 'what myself and wife and family did endure in that removal I wish neither you nor yours may ever be put unto.'" [16]

1640 "At a town meeting, the 26tli of Aprill, for ye town of Portsmouth, held at Mr. Marlbourn's." ... "Mr. Cornell, [will lend] one goat." [17]

1640 "At a meeting, the 4th of the 12th month, 1640." ... "It is ordered, that Mr. Balston, Mr. Cornell, and [have] a piece of meddow in the common fence on the south side of ... . they fence it in at their own cost." [18]

1641 "Thomas Cornell with his family probably lived for a year or two near the newly started settlement of Portsmouth, at the upper end of the island. In 1641, 'a piece of meadow' was granted him there. He acted as Constable during the same year, and also as 'Ensign.' He was doubtless one of those who were visited by a delegation of the Boston Church to require them to explain 'their unwarrantable practice in communicating with excommunicated persons,' meaning ... Anne Hutchinson." [19]

1641 "The Court Roll of Freemen, with the officers, as they were Elected on the 16th of March, 1641." ... [list] "Mr. Cornell, Cons' t," "Thomas Cornell are chosen constables of Portsmouth" [20] [21]

1642 "There can be no question that he was loyal to the distinguished exile, since after the death of her husband in 1642 he and his family went with her to Manhattan and there again attempted to start a settlement. It was in the autumn of 1642 that Anne Hutchinson, Thomas Cornell, John Throckmorton, and others with their families, removed to Manhattan 'neare a place called by seamen Hell Gate,' a designation which seemed most appropriate to the Boston divines. Governor Winthrop was evidently interested in following their fortunes since in 1642 he notes, 'Mr. Throckmorton and Mr. Cornell, established with buildings, etc., in neighboring plantations under the Dutch.' The Dutch government, in fact, granted Thomas Cornell and his associates some thirty-five families in all, permission to settle 'within the limits of the jurisdiction of their High Mightinesses to reside there in peace.' In 1643, Cornell and Throckmorton procured a survey and map of the country they had taken up which was about eleven miles from New Amsterdam. This new settlement was rudely shattered by the Indians during the same year. Governor Winthrop writes, June, 1643, 'The Indians set upon the English who dwelt under the Dutch. They came to Mrs. Hutchinson in a way of friendly neighborhood as they had been accustomed, and taking their opportunity, killed her and Mr. Collins, her son in law, and all of her family and such of Mr. Throckmorton's and Mr. Cornell's families as were at home, in all sixteen, and put their cattle into their barns and burned them." [22]

1644 "The terrible experience of this Indian massacre, and the death of Mrs. Hutchinson very naturally caused some of her co-settlers to return to Rhode Island. Thomas Cornell was one of these. He went back to Portsmouth. In 1644, he secured a grant of land from the town 'butting on Mr. Porter's round meadow.' In 1646 he received a grant of one hundred acres on the Narragansett Bay side of the island, near the farm occupied in later years by the illustrious Ward McAllister of the 'four hundred.' This tract has always been in the possession of the Cornell family and is now the property of the Rev. John Cornell, to whose admirably prepared genealogical notes on the Cornell family I am indebted for much of the information which I here set down." [23]

1644 "at a towne meeting this 29th of August, 1644." ... "It is further ordered, that Mr. Brenton, Mr. Baulston, Mr. Cornell, have [a certain] parsell of lande butting upon Mr. Porter's round meadow" [24]

1646 "At a meeting, February the 4th, 1646." ... "it is granted to Mr. Thomas Cornell a hundred acres of lande at the further syde of Wading river ; and so rune from the river towards that lande that was layed out to Edward Hutchinson." [25]

1646 "Notwithstanding this grant of a hundred acres in Portsmouth, in 1646 Thomas Cornell returned to New Amsterdam. He did not attempt to rebuild his property on Throgg's Neck, near Hell Gate, which the Indians had burned, but procured a grant near his friend Throckmorton, at a place which has since been called Cornell's Neck. Here he settled, and several of his descendants 'sat down' at Rockaway and other places in Long Island and in Westchester County, and were the ancestors of the many Cornells who have helped in the upbuilding of the state of New York, among whom is Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell University." [26]

1654 An agreement about government of Rhode Island was signed: "In confirmation hereof, we, ye commissioners above premised, have sett to our hands, namely :" [list] Portsmouth, Thomas Cornell. [27]

1654 "The Court of Commissioners and election held at Warwicke if 12th of September, 1654." [list] Portsmouth. Thomas Cornell. [28]

1656 "Thomas Cornell, when he came back to Portsmouth the second time, took up the life of a public spirited citizen, his name appearing upon the records of Portsmouth as serving in various capacities. He died, about the year 1656, at the age of sixty." [29]

1664 "Will of Rebecca Cornell, widow of Thomas, dated 2 September 1664, proved 1673. Gave her Portsmouth lands to son Thomas and his eldest son Thomas and his wife Elizabeth. To son Richard, land at Acushnet Accoxet in Dartmouth (now New Bedford and Westport, Mass.). Bequest to son William. To sons John, Samuel, and Joshua, lands at Accoxet. To daughter Sarah, lands in the Bronx (New York). To daughter Anne and her husband Thomas (i.e. Thomas Kent), ten acres in Portsmouth. To daughter Rebecca, land in the Bronx. Bequests to daughters Elizabeth and Mary. The will disposes of a considerable amount of plate. (Original will among the unrecorded papers at the Portsmouth Town House.)" [30]

1672/73 Rebecca Cornell died in a fire on Feb. 8. Henry Howland Crapo wrote of her death, [31]

Rebecca, lived eighteen years longer [than her husband Thomas], and the story of her death is one of the marvellous records of the credulity of her time. "Feb. 8, 1673. Rebecca Cornell, widow, was killed strangely at Portsmouth, in her own dwelling house; was twice viewed by the Coroner's inquest, digged up and buried again by her husband's grave in their own land" (Newport Friends Records). It seems that the old lady was sitting by the fire smoking a pipe, half asleep probably, and a coal fell from the fire and she was burned to death. After her death, her brother, John Briggs, ... had a vision in which his sister appeared at his bedside, "whereat he was much affrighted and cryed out, 'in the name of God, what art thou?' The apparition answered 'I am your sister Cornell' and twice said 'See how I was burnt with fire!'" It was inferred from this that she had been set fire to, and as her eldest son, Thomas Cornell, had unquestionably had the opportunity of setting her on fire he was arrested, tried on the charge of murder, condemned and executed. There was practically no evidence of his guilt except the vision.

Research Notes:

The testimony of John Briggs in the trial of Thomas and Rebecca's son Thomas suggests the possibility that Rebecca was a sister or sister-in-law of John Briggs. [32] A Henry Briggs of St James, Clerkenwell, in Middlesex had a daughter Rebecca and a man of the same name in the same parish later had a son John. [33]

The Cornell genealogy states, [34]

Thomas Cornell came to America about 1638 with his wife and most, if not all, of his children. Boston, 1638, bought property on Washington Street between Sumer and Milk Streets. Admitted freeman of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 6 Aug 1640. Constable, 1641. Went to New Amsterdam in autumn, 1642, likely with Roger Williams and John Throckmorton. Returned to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1644, received grant of land on the south side of the Wading River, running from the river towards the land that was laid out to Edward Hutchinson, son of the late Ann Hutchinson. Returned to New Netherland, granted estate "Cornell's Neck" by Gov. William Kieft, 25 Jul 1646, on Long Island Sound in Westchester Co, now New York. Returned to Portsmouth, Rhode Island by 1653. Thomas resided at Boston, Massachusetts, then in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, then in Cornell's Neck, New Amsterdam (now Westchester County, New York), then Portsmouth again.

For a possible father of Thomas, see the abstract of the will of Richard Cornell dated 22 June 1631, proved 5 Sept. 1631, discussed by Delafield. [35].

George Cornell married Susan Casse 23 April 1593. Thomas Cornell, son of George, baptized at Terling, Essex 24 March 1594 [36]

Thomas, son of William Cornell, was baptized at Saffron Walden, Essex, 11 March 1592/3. [37]


Footnotes:

[1] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1558-1630, D/P 192/1/1, Essex Record Office, image 61, [Essex Archives].

[2] Prentiss Glazier, "Cornwell-Cornell," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 98 (1967), 101-104 at 101, "d. Aug. 11, 1694, ae. 70 yrs,, 1 mo., 3 days".

[3] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1558-1630, D/P 192/1/1, Essex Record Office, image 64, [Essex Archives].

[4] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1558-1630, D/P 192/1/1, Essex Record Office, image 68, [Essex Archives].

[5] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1558-1630, D/P 192/1/1, Essex Record Office, image 135, [Essex Archives].

[6] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1558-1630, D/P 192/1/1, Essex Record Office, image 71, [Essex Archives].

[7] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1630-1653, D/P 192/1/2, Essex Record Office, image 5, [Essex Archives].

[8] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1630-1653, D/P 192/1/2, Essex Record Office, image 35, [Essex Archives].

[9] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1630-1653, D/P 192/1/2, Essex Record Office, image 8, [Essex Archives].

[10] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1630-1653, D/P 192/1/2, Essex Record Office, image 10, [Essex Archives].

[11] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1630-1653, D/P 192/1/2, Essex Record Office, image 12, [Essex Archives].

[12] St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1630-1653, D/P 192/1/2, Essex Record Office, image 14, [Essex Archives].

[13] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[14] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[15] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[16] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[17] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 75, [InternetArchive].

[18] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 76, [InternetArchive].

[19] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[20] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 111, [InternetArchive].

[21] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 112, [InternetArchive].

[22] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[23] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[24] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 82, [InternetArchive].

[25] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 84, [InternetArchive].

[26] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[27] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 277, [InternetArchive].

[28] John Russell Bartlett, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 (1856), 281, [InternetArchive].

[29] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[30] G. Andrews Moriarty, "Additions and Corrections to Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island," The American Genealogist 19 (1943), 129-135, at 132, [AmericanAncestors].

[31] Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:240, of 235-41, [InternetArchive].

[32] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for John Briggs, [JRWolfeGenealogy].

[33] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Henry Briggs, [JRWolfeGenealogy].

[34] John Cornell, Genealogy of the Cornell family: being an account of the descendants of Thomas Cornell of Portsmouth R.I. (1902), 17, of 17-24, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[35] John Ross Delafield, Delafield: the family history, Vol. 2 (1945), 647 (Appendix 45), [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[36] Prentiss Glazier, "The English Origins of the Cornwell/Cornell Family," The American Genealogist 51 (1975), 115-116, at 115, [AmericanAncestors].

[37] G. Andrews Moriarty, "Additions and Corrections to Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island," The American Genealogist 39 (1963), 1-2, at 2, [AmericanAncestors].