Thomas Cornell II1

M, b. before 21 October 1627, d. 23 May 1673
FatherThomas Cornell b. c 24 Mar 1594, d. 1656
MotherRebecca Briggs b. c 1600, d. 8 Feb 1673
     Thomas was born in Saffron Walden, County Essex, England. On 21 October 1627, he was christened in Saffron Walden, County Essex, England, at St. Mary the Virgin Church.2 Thomas married Elizabeth Fiscock, on 2 November 1642 in Rhode Island. Thomas married Sarah Earle in Rhode Island. Thomas was convicted of the murder of his mother & was hung all on the same day, Tuesday, 23 May 1673 at Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island. There was no evidence & he was unjustly accused. His uncle had seen a vision of his mother in a dream where she had told him she was burned. He was convicted on this.3

Family 2

Sarah Earle

Citations

  1. [S461] M.A. Rev. John Cornell, Genealogy of the Cornell Family: Being An Account of the Descendants of Thomas Cornell of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, page 24-27 - Thomas, of Thomas, d. May 23, 1673; M. (I)     ; (2) Sarah Earle; she m. David Lake. Children:*
    By first wife:
    II Thomas, b. 1667; d. about 1714; M. Susannah Lawton.
    12 Edward, d. 17o8; m. Mary ----, of Long Island.
    13 Stephen, b. 1656, Portsmouth ; admitted freeman,
    1688; d. 1673, witness at his fathers trial; m.
    Hannah Moshier.
    14 John, m. Hannah Smith(?), of Hempstead. By second wife:
    15 Daughter.
    z6 Daughter.
    17 Innocent, m. Richard Borden; he was b. Oct. 24,
    1671; d. July z z, 1732; son of John and Mary
    (Earle) Borden; perhaps named as a protest
    against father's unjust execution.
    1656, March, 17, Portsmouth; he is called Thomas Cornell, Jr., was chosen with three others to prize land and buildings of John Wood, deceased. 1657, Dec. to, had a grant of zo acres. 1663, Aug. 24, He, eldest son of Thomas Cornell, confirmed a deed his mother had made two years previously to Richard Hart. 1664-72, several times Deputy to the General Assembly of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. 1670, May 4, he and three others appointed to audit colonies' accounts. 1671, June 7, his bill to Assembly for further encouragement of a troop of horse was referred to next Assembly (and there is no further record of the bill); At the same meeting ordered that Thomas Cornell be desired to be a messenger from this court to carry a letter to the Governor of Plymouth, and that he be supplied with twenty shillings in silver by the treasurer, Mr. John Coggeshall, towards bearing his charge. 1672, April 2,
    * It appears from records that Thomas left four sons by 1st wife, and three children (daughters), by 2d wife. " Voted that some persons be employed by this Assembly to goe over to Narragansett and take a view of such places there or thereabouts that are fit for plantations and make inquirie of English and Indians who are the owners of, or who `laie claime' to such lands and signify unto them that the colony doeth intend such lands shall be improved by peoplinge the same, and that the personds doe make return of what they doe therein to the next General Assembly." On this committee Thomas Cornell was appointed for Portsmouth.* 1673, May 23, was executed for the murder of his mother, concerning the injustice of this, and the Iack of any proper evidence to convict him (see previous remarks concerning the death of Rebecca). 1674, March 7, " Ordered by the Assembly, whereas, Thomas Cornell of Ports-mouth, who was lately executed for murthering his mother, Mrs. Rebecca Cornell, whereupon according to law, this court of Tryalls have made seizure of his estate. This Assembly (in consideration of the matter, and for the supply of the wife and children of the said Thomas), doe see cause to release the said seizure and empowere the council of the towne of Ports-mouth to take care and order that the estate of the said Thomas be soe secured and improved that just debts and other charges be first paid and discharged, and that then his wife and children be supplyed and relieved and to that end to order and appoint an executor or executors for the true performance thereof, and that this said Towne Council doe make a will according to law, divide the estate to this wife and children of the said Thomas." July 4, a writing was presented to the court of Plymouth by William Earle, of Dartmouth, which was by some termed the will of Thomas Cornell of Rhode Island, late deceased, in which is mentioned the disposal of some estate in our colony. The court deferred accepting it for the present and appointed William Earle, and John Cornell, brother of the deceased, to take care of the estate that it be not squandered. Oct. 29, the court ordered that such part of estate as deceased left in Plymouth colony, should be divided as follows: to widow and three children he had by her, one-half; to four eldest children of said Cornell. the other half, which they were to have in land, being sons. The right of widow Sarah for life, in the lands, was to be paid her out of the personal, if she require it. Inventory, £77, I9s., 6d., of real and personal estate in Darthmouth, via.. 8 mares, 4 geldings, 2 two years, 3 colts, 4 heifers, 4 steers, 3 yearlings, house and land, £41, gun, pair of old wheels, scythe, pair of bandoleers, &c.* 1679, Jan. 4, differences having arisen between Thomas Cornell, eldest son of Thomas Cornell, deceased, and David Lake of Nunaquaquit (a neck in New Plymouth), now husband to Sarah, late widow to Thomas Cornell of Portsmouth, concerning right of dower belonging to said Sarah in estate of late husband, and more especially in farm said Thomas Cornell possesseth, the said differences being in a friendly manner compromised a full discharge is now given by said Lake except a bill of £20.
    * An inventory of his estate in Portsmouth was made by John Albro and John Sanford, amounting to £452.18.5. Inventory, 22 acres Iand, too sheep, cattle, horses. &c.
  2. [S1288] Jean E. Maack & C. Clair Cornell, Unraveling One Massachusetts-To-Iowa Cornell Line, page 78 - Thomas Cornell baptised 21 oct 1627 St. Mary the Virgin Church, Saffron Walden, county Essex, England.
  3. [S1288] Jean E. Maack & C. Clair Cornell, Unraveling One Massachusetts-To-Iowa Cornell Line, page 78 - Thomas Willett died: 23 May 1673.