Note |
- It is doubtful that Thomas ever married. Savage (2:81) under Dunham states that Thomas of Plymouth, perhaps son of John, married Martha Knott, daughter of George, and everyone seems to have copied this. It is repeated in the Dunham Genealogy (I. W. Dunham, 1907). We learn from the nuncupative will, 1 May 1648, of George Knott of Sandwich (Plymouth Col. Wills 1:82) that he bequeathed his leather suit to Thomas Dunham "in case of his marrying my daughter." Hence they were not married in May 1648. Next we learn from Plymouth Colony Records (2:136) that 4 Oct. 1648, "The court have ordered, concerning Thomas Dunham that he abstaine from coming atte or sending unto Martha Knote of Sandwidge from this present day until the first Tuesday of Desember next, untell the court can better deserne the treuth of his pretended contracte with the said Martha Knot, unless the Governer, uppon clearing of thinges, shall give him leave." Thomas never married Martha Knott. Two years later the following was recorded, "1650 Sandwige Regester of Marriages: Thomas Tobye and Martha Knott were maried the 18th of November." She became the mother of seven sons who lived to maturity. Her mother died in 1673/4 and her will, exhibited to the Court at Plymouth 5 Mar 1673/4, names her daughter Martha Tobey, wife of Thomas. Probably they were Quakers and that may have been why Thomas Dunham did not marry her.
|