Thomas Fisher ( -1638) and Elizabetha Allen ( -1652)

{Hills Ancestors}

(The information in the following history comes largely from the article on Thomas Fisher in Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. II C-F, Vol. II, C-F by Charles Anderson)

There has been great confusion as to the relationship of the various Fishers of Dedham. While no relationship has been proved between the family of Joshua and Anthony Fisher and that of Thomas Fisher, it is now a pretty clear that Thomas was married to Elizabeth Allen, the sister of John Allen [or Allin], the first minister of Dedham; and that Thomas and Elizabeth were the parents of Deacon Samuel Fisher (1634-1704) and Thomas Fisher (1636-1706) of Dedham.

The Great Migration article about Thomas Fisher says, "Thomas Fisher married Elizabeth Allen, Saxlingham-juxta-Mare, Norfolk, England on 21 September 1629." On 10 June 1632, John Fisher, the son of Thomas, was baptized in Saxlingham-juxta-Mare. We have no further record of their son, John. John Allen was the minister of Saxlingham-juxta-Mare.5 John and Elizabeth have long been assumed to be the children of those names born to Reginald and Margoria Allen, substantial landowners in Colby, Norfolk, England. However, that assumption has been contested and cannot presently be confirmed.

The Great Migration article says that "on an unknown date, in a list of 'Gifts bestowed upon the colony since 1634,' John Winthrop noted that 'John Allen of Surslingham, minister, in Norfolk, gave £25 to the treasury, sent by Thomas Fisher of Winton'." 'Surslingham' may be a corruption of Saxlingham-juxta-Mare. (where Thomas married). 'Winton' may represent an earlier residence for Thomas Fisher; no parish of this name exists in Norfolk, but there is a Winston in Suffolk."1

In his 6 September 1643 petition to the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Allin, then the first minister of Dedham, Massachusetts, made it clear that "he hath diverse years since given & paid into the common treasury of this colony the sum of £25 by the hands of one Thomas Fisher, then of Cambridge, as is well known to the Worshipful Mr. Dudley: in consideration whereof a promise was made in name of this said colony of the grant of certain lands upon demand thereof."1

Thomas and Elizabeth Fisher had arrived in New England by 1634. It is probable that Elizabeth was pregnant during the voyage to New England, and that their son Samuel was born in 1634 after their arrival in Cambridge. Son Thomas, would also have been born in Cambridge, circa 1636. 1

Thomas was made a freeman in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 4 March 1634. He received or purchased land there between 1634 and 1636. His land was six lots west of the lot of William Mann, another of our Cambridge ancestors, probably lying north of the present Huron Ave.

C:\Users\carol\Pictures\BFJ\William Mann Property Map .jpg

In 1635, the Massachusetts General Court approved the establishment of the settlement which became Dedham. Thomas Fisher was the 42nd person to sign the Dedham Covenant. On 28 July 1638, Thomas was granted eight acres one rood of meadow in the new town. His property adjoined that of John Allin. 1 (You can find the location of his lot on the map in the Dedham section.)

Thomas Fisher was a carpenter. He had accepted the contract to build the church in Dedham but died 10 Aug 1638 before it was finished. On 23 Nov 1638, the Dedham Town Records say “whereas Tho[mas] Fisher who undertook the meetinghouse before it was finished, it is agreed by general consent that John Roper, Tho[mas] Bayes, & Jos[eph] Kingsbery, shall estimate what was left undone of the agreement made with him, as also other works done by others ‘interniciously’ with the finishing thereof within the said house to be so distinguished that the town may bear the one & the widow bear the other accordingly.” On 25 March 1639, the Dedham Council "agreed that forty shillings shall be allowed unto the widow of Tho[mas] Fisher toward that bargain that he took in building the meetinghouse, which our town is to make good unto her" [DeTR 1:51].

On 18 May 1640, the Rev. John Allin wrote to Edward Alleyn, the Dedham representative to the General Court, asking him to help his sister with her petition to administer her husband's goods, since he died intestate, and to have permission to sell half of his property for the support and education of her small children.1 The court had already granted the permission on 13 May 1640. “Widow Fisher, of Dedham, hath liberty to take administration of the goods of her husband, & hath liberty to sell half her lot, for the bringing up of her children” [MBCR 1:292}.

The Dedham Church Records p 42 show "Elizabeth Fisher Widdow was received into ye church wth generall satisfaction 21d of ye 6m 1640."2 Eleven years later, the Dedham Vital Records show “1651 Elizabeth Fisher, deceased the 31 of ye 11 mo [31 February 1651]. 3 The Pioneers of Massachusetts: by Pope assigns those records to a supposed Elizabeth Fisher, the wife of John Fisher, who was the 41st signer of the Dedham Covenant (just before Thomas Fisher), 4 and who died in Dedham on 15 August 1637.3 Some sources have suggested that John may have been the brother of Thomas, others, that he was the oldest son of Anthony and Alice Fisher. Since we know that Thomas Fisher’s widow, Elizabeth Fisher, was living in Dedham, it makes more sense to assume that these records pertain to her.

Samuel Fisher was the 122nd signer of the Dedham Covenant, and Thomas Fisher, Jr. was the 125th and last signer. The Rev. John Allin made bequests to both of them in his will, calling them his near kinsmen.1

Sources:

  1. Charles Anderson, Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. II C-F, Vol. II, C-F.

  2. Dedham Town Records 1:49-50, 1:51,

  3. Dedham Vitsl Records p 128

  4. http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/fisher/9907/Fishers of Dedham, MA 1630s: Rethinking It, By Duane Boggs March 06, 2011

  5. https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-John-Allin-M-A/6000000001937768373