The following exerpts are being reprinted with the express permission of the author, George R. Griffiths. I wish to dedicate the following pages to George R. Griffiths for his tremendous efforts in genealogical research which has allowed me to produce these pages. NO PARTS OF THESE PAGES MAY BE REPRINTED OR REPRODUCED OR POSTED IN BOOKS, OR ELECTRONIC DATABASES WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.
Lord, Bird, Ingersoll Relationships compiled by George R. Griffiths, June 1992: p. 4-5
"1.2 Thomas Lord was born in Towcester, England, about 1585. He was married 23 Feb 1610/11 to Dorothy Bird, daughter of Robert and Amy Bird of Towcester, Northampton Co., England (COLGEN) (see #2.2 above). The license was issued at Peterboro diocese on the same day. Dorothy was bapt. 25 May 1588. (FRAME)
Thomas Lord and his family embarked at London on 29 April 1635 on the 'Elizabeth and Ann' for New England (HOTTEN, LORD, COLDHAM, DRAKE, BANKS). His occupation was given as "smith". Savage (vol. 3, p. 116) described that as a "godly deception" to facilitate his leaving the country. The English government had barred anyone from leaving the country without royal permission and had opposed giving such permission to families of quality and good estate (MC CORMICK). Many sailed for Barbadoes and then proceeded as soon as convenient to New England. It is thought that Thomas Lord may have been connected with the Guild of Goldsmiths of London, which was a powerful association including men of fortune and family. It seems certain that he was not looked on as a blacksmith in America (MC CORMICK) [but perhaps "smith" meant goldsmith]. An unidentified source states that Thomas was a physician and practiced in Hartford. In 1639 Thomas Stanton was called son-in-law of "Dr. Thomas Lord".
The ship list for the emigration stated:
"29 Aprilis 1635. These vnder written names are to be transported to New England imbarqued in ye Elizabeth & Ann. Roger Coopr. Mr. The P'ties have brought Certificated from the Minister of the P'ish and Justice of Peace of their conformitie to the orders and discipline of ye Church of England and yt they are no Subsedy men."
The listing for the Lord family was this: "Thomas Lord, smith, age 50, and Dorothy Lord, uxor, age 46; children, Thomas, 16, Ann, 14; William, 12; John, 10; Robert, 9; Aymie, 6; and Dorothy, 4." Unexplained is the fact that the ages of the children from other records ranged from two to six years older. Here is a comparison:
NAME SHIP LIST OTHER RECORDS
Thomas 16 18
Ann 14 20
William 12 16
John 10 12
Robert 9 14
Aymie 6 8
Dorothy 4 6
It seems that his son Richard had come to New England as early as 1632 (age ca. 20/21) and established himself at Cambridge, Mass. (MC CORMICK, SAVAGE). Savage suggested that "perhaps his father had sent him to look out for the most desirable place for his friends, Gov. Haynes and Rev. Thomas Hooker," who came in 1633 with two hundred others of importance to the colony. However, another conjecture is that Richard was caught with the fever of adventure. In any case Thomas Lord located in Cambridge for about a year, then in the company of Rev. Hooker made the "memorable pilgrimage" to Hartford, CT. (McCormick). The family was wealthy and prominent. Some of the children were sent to England to be educated.
Thomas Lord was one of the original proprietors and settlers of Hartford, CT. A memorial to the founders, situated behind the First Congregational Church, Hartford, in the old burial ground, is a granite shaft, including the name of Thomas Lord and his son, Richard. His home lot in 1639 was on the highway on the bank of Little River, now Wells St. Sons Richard and Thomas had adjacent lots and that area of Hartford is still (1957) called "Lord's Hill" (McCormick).
Thomas Lord was a merchant and engaged in trading. He also owned a half-interest in a mill near his home. The description of the Burnham estate mentions that Mr. Burnham had a half-interest in a mill with Thomas Lord. His residence near the falls is shown by an order of the town council in 1637 forbidding the taking of stones “at the falls near the house of Thomas Lord” (Love’s History of Hartford, p.55) (McCORMICK).
In 1639 Thomas had right to 28 acres of undivided land. His date of death is not certain; he left no will and may have died suddenly. He is probably buried in the old burial ground, but no stone marker exists. An entry in the Hartford Town Votes, 29 Jan. 1643/44, stated that Thomas Lord, Sr., his son Thomas and others were freed from “Common work in the hyway” for three years. That is the last reference to Thomas Lord in the records. Once source says Thomas Lord died about 1667 in Hartford, CT. However, the records show that his wife Dorothy owned lands as early as 29 May 1651 and on 7 March 1652 sold land to Richard Goodman. Then current laws precluded a wife from making contracts while her husband lived (McCORMICK).
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