Rev Thomas Crosby, 9th Great Grandfather

May 23, 2013 — ancestors, Boston, Rev Thomas Crosby

Crosby Coat of Arms

My 9th great-grandfather made it across the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in the new world at the age of 8 months, in 1635.  He was born in England and his grave can be found today, located in Boston.  He graduated from Harvard College and became a minister.  There are conflicting reports about his formal ordination, but no doubt that he was employed to teach religion.  He also got to trade ammo and alcohol. He made his money selling liquor, powder, and shot. This paints a funny picture if you ask me, but I am prejudiced against much of the founding fathers’ behavior.  Thomas was well respected in his time as a preaching ammo and alcohol dealer.  I appreciate that he survived so I can be here today. It would have been very easy to die on the voyage from England as an infant, but he had a different destiny.

Thomas Crosby (1635 – 1702)

He graduated from Harvard College in 1653. Although never ordained, he was hired in 1655 to preach in the church at Eastham, MA and continued as minister succeeding Reverend John Mayo there until 1670 at a salary of 50 pounds per annum. Reverend Crosby was also engaged in trade and in 1664 was among those who kept for sale “liquor, powder and shot”.

Later, he became a merchant at Harwich, Mass., and while on a business trip to Boston was found dead in bed there, 13 June 1702, aged sixty-seven years. His inventory totalled £1091-16-0 with debts of £717-16-0, leaving a net estate of £374-0-0. His heirs divided his property by agreement, 8 Aug. 1705.Marriage 2 Sarah FITCH b: in Mass.1662Children Thomas CROSBY, Jr. b: 7 APR 1663 Sarah CROSBY b: 24 MAR 1666/67 Joseph CROSBY b: 27 JAN 1668/69 John CROSBY b: 4 DEC 1670 in Eastham, Massachusetts William CROSBY b: 16 MAR 1672/73 Ebenezer CROSBY b: 28 MAR 1675 Anne CROSBY b: 14 APR 1678 Mercy CROSBY b: 14 APR 1678Increase CROSBY b: 14 APR 1678 Eleazer CROSBY b: 31 MAR 1680When Thomas was eleven years of age and his brother Joseph was seven, they removed with their Mother to Braintree, a Village on the south side of Boston, Mass. now Quincy, after her marriage to the Rev. William Tompson.After attending District School, with the assistance of Doctor Tompson, entered Harvard College, graduating in 1653, and was ordained a clergyman. He was minister at Eastham, Mass. from 1655 to 1670. He seems to have been engaged as a religious teacher to carry on the Sabbath Service at a salary of 50 pounds.While at Eastham, he was engaged in a trade. He resided near the burying ground, a place he bought of Jonathan Sparrow in 1665. He removed to Harwich, about 1670, here he was also engaged in a trade. His widow, Sarah, the mother of his 12 children, m. Apr. 28, 1703, John Miller, of Yarmouth. He died in 1702 and has many descendants living in the vicinity of Cape Cod, Mass. He had a half-sister Anna, born in 1648.

In about 1662 he married Sarah Fitch. Their children born in Eastham, MA were: 1. Thomas born April 7, 1663, died May 21, 1731. 2. Simon born July 5, 1665, died 1718 3. Sarah born March 24, 1666-7, married Silas Sears 4. Joseph born January 27,1668-9, died May 30, 1725. 5-6. JOHN (3) born December 4, 1670 and died May 25, 1717 and twin who died February 11, 1670/1 7. William born March 1672-3 8. Ebenezer born March 28, 1675 9-11. Anne, Mercy and Increase born April 14, 1678 (Anne married William (2) Luce, (Henry 1) on July 5,1704) 12. Eleazer born March 31, 1680Later he became a merchant at Harwich, MA and was one of the founders of the church in that town. On a business trip to Bostonhe was found dead in bed there on the 13th or 27th of June 1702, age 67 years. He is buried in the Old Granary Cemetery in Boston, MA. After his death, his widow Sarah married John (2) Miller of Yarmouth on April 8, 1703, son of Reverend John and Lydia Miller.