Thomas Greenslade b. Abt 1620 England d. Jul 1674 Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

Abt 1620 - 1674 (~ 54 years)

Name	Thomas Greenslade [1]
Born	Abt 1620	England
Gender	Male
Reference Number	2453
Died	Jul 1674	Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA [1]
Person ID	I2453	FelsingFam
Last Modified	16 Feb 2024

Family Ann Greenslade Pudeater Unknown, b. Between 1617 and 1622, d. 22 Sep 1692, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA (Age ~ 75 years)

Married 1651 New England, USA [1]

Children

	1. John Greenslade, b. 1649, d. 24 Oct 1693 (Age 44 years) [natural]
	2. Samuel Greenslade, b. 1651 [natural]
	3. Thomas Greenslade, b. 1652 [natural]
+	4. Ruth Greenslade, b. 1654, d. 16 Mar 1723/24, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts, USA (Age 70 years) [natural]
	5. James Greenslade, b. 1658, d. 1730 (Age 72 years) [natural]

Photos

U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700
Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700

Last Modified 16 Feb 2024

Family ID F598 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

Born - Abt 1620 - England

Died - Jul 1674 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

= Link to Google Earth
Photos
U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700
Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700

Notes

THOMAS GREENSLADE

A record of his birth has not been found. No record of his parents exists. There are parents listed in many on-line genealogies, but there is no evidence that any of these are correct. It would appear some genealogies were put together based upon the fact that two people had the same surname and therefore must be related. And then these genealogies were repeated and repeated on the internet. James Avery married Joanna Greenslade of Boston on 10 Nov 1643. This has caused many to assume that Thomas and Joanna were brother and sister. Perhaps, they are, but there is absolutely no evidence to connect the two.

There is no record of his marriage to Ann.

Thomas came over on the Margery in 1642 or 1643 (1). The Ilfracombe, Devon reference, as appears online, seems to be quite disputed. From what I gather, Greenslade was a common name in Devon and the name Thomas Greenslade does appear in records there, but there is no evidence that it is the same person. The year of birth is in dispute also, there is no authoritative reference to confirm it. Some of the dates given may relate to a Greenslade in Devon. I can't find any pertinent Devon records online. But I did find the name Greenslade in some neighboring Somerset records.

He is listed as a witness on deeds in Falmouth, Maine 1648, 1658 and 1651 (1). He had a foreclosure suit filed against him in Casco, Maine in 1667 (1).

Thomas Greenslad was a signer on a petition dated 4 July 1663 in the towns of Scarborough, Falmouth, Black Point and Casco, Maine (2).

The earliest records for Thomas in Salem, Massachusetts were in 1673, where there are mentions in court records:

1. Thomas Greenslade, for breach of the Sabbath was admonished (this may refer to his son, Thomas) (4)
2. Sara Greenslade, for suspicion of stealing and lying, was fined twice. (4)(Sara is possibly a previously unknown daughter of Thomas; there exists no other known record of her)
3. Goodman Grinslate received 5 quintals of fish from William Balkwell. (4)

There are no known records in Maine that reference Thomas's wife. It is assumed that the children were born in Maine, but no actual records are known to exist other than Noyes who lists the son Thomas as being born 1652 in Casco. (1)

References for Greenslade in the early years are Joanna Greenslade marrying Captain James Avery in 1644. The 1937 book "Twelve Generations in America" by Brookfield lists Joanna Greenslade as the daughter of Thomas Greenslade. Some sites I have looked at mention Joanna as a possible sister to Thomas. But two Avery books I looked at one 1893 and one 1926 only mention Thomas Greenslade as a possible relative, only because he has the same surname. "The Groton Avery Clan" by E, Avery 1912 mentions Thomas and also references Hotton's "List of Early Emigrants" who cites "Samuel Greenslide aged 27 and Barbary his wife aged 35, with 2 children, Mary and Barbara. Came over in 1637. A weaver from Norwich". The only reason for the mentions is again the same surname; there is no claim of relation, other than "possible relation". Another book "Some Colonial Families" by Roberts 1926 also mentions an Edward Greenslade of Boston. Therefore in addition to our Thomas, there were at least 3 other Greenslades/Greenslides in the colonies in those early years. It would not seem likely that they could all be of the same family.

Thomas died in July 1674 in Salem, Mass (3)without a will. He had more debts than assets therefore probate did not list any heirs.
Administration upon the estate of Thomas Greenslett, intestate, was
granted Mar. 27, 1677, to Ann Greenslett, who was to pay the debts as
far as the inventory, which was 3li, 16s. 2d. would allow.
Ipswich Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, page 287.

Inventory of the estate of Thomas Greenslet taken Mar. 21, 1676-7 by
Edmund Batter and John Massey: one flocke bed & apertances, 1li., 2 old
Chests with raggs, 6s.; a lampe, ticke & Hauke, 4s., table, 2 wheels &
Chairs, 10s. 6d.; one Irone pott, 6 s. 8 d.; wood & old bedsteed, 7s.;
potts, 2s.; 2 swine, 1li.; total 3li. 16s. 2d. The debts many & not
knowne.
Attested in Ipswich court Mar. 27, 1677 by An Greenslet administratix of
the estate of her late husband Thomas Greenslet.
Essex County Probate Files, Docket 11,851.

They only listing of his children is in the will of Jacob Pudeator who mentioned the 5 step-children to whom he left 5 pounds each:
to leave to "John Greenslit and to the other fore of my wife's children viz., Thomas, Ruth, Samuel, and James Greenslit 5 pounds each."

The court records do list that 5 pounds was paid to Ruth Bridges alias Greenslate, although the will lists her as Ruth Greenslit.
Widow Ann (Greensleet) Pudeator was executed for witch-
craft 1692 at Salem; and Dec. 10, 1694, an inventory of the est.
was presented and admn granted Mr Philip English, attorney
for Grace Pudeater, Legatee [Essex P. R., Vol. 303, p. 198;
Case 22909].

James Greensleet starts action against the estate but lets
it fall, and Ruth Greenslate alias Bridges receives her legacy
of £5 from the estate of her step-father, Jacob Pudeator.

From Torreys "New England Marriages":
Greenslad, Thomas (-1674) & Ann _____ (-1692), m/2 Jacob PUDEATOR/PUDEATER 1677+; by 1652; Falmouth, ME/Scarborough, ME {Salem 2:398, 3:64; Averill 1:112; Sv. 2:310; GDMNH 289; Porter 25; EIHC 3:228, 4:37}

Some entries from the book: "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire" Noyes, Sybil, Charles T. Libby, and Walter G. Davis. 1928-39, re1972.
1. Thomas, mariner, fisherman, with crew of -The Margery- arriving 1642-3
2. witn. Cleeve's deed in Falmouth 1 Sept. 1648; witn. again for Cleeve in May 1658 and for Elizabeth Mitton 7 Oct. 1661
3. John Bateman, brought foreclosure suit against Thos. Greenslade, Casco Ct., 1667

Bibliography
1. Noyes, Sybil, Charles T. Libby, and Walter G. Davis. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (1928-39, re1972). USA : Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002.
2. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 5 (1851). Page 264.
3. Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Salem Court Records, s.l. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vols. Salem-V5 page 300.
4. Salem Quarterly Court Records. http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/. [Online]

MISC NOTES

http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/ On-line references to the quarterly court of Salem.

From: Noyes, Sybil, Charles T. Libby, and Walter G. Davis. 1928-39, re1972. Genealogical dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire:

(GREENSLADE, Thomas p 289)
1. Thomas,mariner, fisherman, with crew of -The Margery- arriving 1642-3, perh. went and came again, as next found witn. Cleeve's deed in Falmouth 1 Sept. 1648; witn. again for Cleeve in May 1658 and for Elizabeth Mitton 7 Oct. 1661. Geo. Munjoy sued him for debt 1666; John Bateman for forf. of a mtg. 1667. Lists 21, 221**** Liv. Salem 1673, where either he or s. Thos. was admon. for breach of the Sabbath. D. July 1674; inv., incl. many and unkn. debts, sworn to 27 Mar. 1677 by wid. Ann, who m. 2d Jacob Pudeator of Salem and was hanged as a witch 22 Sept. 1692. Ch. named in step-fa.'s will: John, mariner, taxed Salem 23 Nov. 1683; in 1690 had been gone since Oct. 1689. Bef. this he was at the Scottow ho. in Searb. with br. Thos. Adm. to wid. Abigail (Curtice) of Salem 30 Oct. 1693, inv. 24 Oct.; she m. 2d 1 Nov. 1693 Thos. Mason. Abigail and James Greenslade m. in Salem 1709, 1711, poss. his ch. One Anne m. in Topsfield 1710, Ruth in Salem 1724, Sarah in Wenham 1724. Thomas, mariner, b. ab. 1652, Cleeve's serv. in 1666. In 1678 he was in Salem from the Barbadoes; named in Philip English's acct. 1685. Sept. 15, 1692, ±40, he test. ab. Rev. Geo. Burroughs at Scottow's ho. in Scarb. ab. the beginning of the last war, when John Greensleit was among others there; the next wk. he was with his mo. when she was hanged. Ruth, m. in Ipsw. 19 Sept. 1677 Josiah Bridges. Samuel, at Falm. 1675-6. List 223b. James, in 1690 had left Salem since Oct. 1689. In 1692 he sued for his stepfa.'s legacy. ?Sara, fined in Essex Ct. June 1673 on susp. of stealing and lying, not named in the Pudeator will.

(Another page same book)
2. John,brought foreclosure suit against Thos. Greenslade, Casco Ct., 1667. Likely of Boston and Hingham, 2 s. and 4 dau. named in will 1690. (This last sentence must refer to the John who is bringing foreclosure-but it places Thomas in the Casco, Maine area in 1667)

(Another page same book)
3. Thomas,fisherman from Salem, a Falm. grantee under Danforth. List 225a. See Y. D. 14: 8; Essex D. 13: 217; Greenslade. One Thomas, weaver, Wells 1716-7 (Y. D. 9: 35, 104) was poss. the Scarb. propr. 1720 (List 239b), who was of Dover, trader, 1733-40, with Salem connection.

From: Helen Graves < hgraves@psln.com>
Subject: Greensleet, John et al
Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 15:06:02 -0800

On Dec 6, Bill Semeyn asked some questions using the subject line: John
Greensleet et al ... and Vicki Greenslit Brooker responded with some
excellent answers for some of them.

Bill -- and other list members,
Here are some responses to your questions Vicki didn't answer.

Re: EDWARD GREENSLADE, JOANNA GREENSLADE STORY - IT'S SPECULATION
WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION. As far as I know, no one has found anything to
document who Thomas Greenslade's parents were.

Here are my feelings on the "father Edward, sister Joanna" story:
This has been passed around (without any documentation) for maybe 20
years. It's on a few old Temple Ordinance sheets and pops up on more
current group sheets using those oldies as sources. I am guessing that
it started with an assumption by researchers years ago that the Joanna
Greenslade who belonged to the Boston Church and who married John Avery
of Gloucester was Thomas Greenslade's sister. (Their assumption: same
last name, same time period, must be related.)

Absolutely no documentation has surfaced to my knowledge that there was
any relationship between Thomas Greenslade of Casco Bay, Maine, and
Joanna of Boston/Gloucester/and CT. While it is very possible that
Edward Greenslade was Joanna's father, long ago some researcher took a
big leap to assume Thomas and Joanna must be siblings, thus you'll see
an Edward Greenslade listed as being Joanna's father, and thus also
Thomas' father. So, please set this story aside as "speculation" until
some kind of documentation surfaces.

Sources

[S194] U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700.

U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700
Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700