I like collecting bits of information that made the history come to life. Like the Thaxter that was transported to Austrailia for stealing corn. Or the Thaxter accused of piracy. I wonder if the New Brunswick Thaxters were the ones who's patriarch was sent to Canada by the family to avoid a dutiful marriage to a girl who he had impregnated.
Many Thaxters are still considered so even though their surname is now different. Mrs Alice Fletcher tells me her cousin emigrated to Canada before the war who's surname was Chalklin. His mother was a Thaxter. So we have many more relatives than we may even be aware of here in North America.
"Norwich Mercury Saturday, December 30, 1820
Mr. James Norton of Stokesby having strong reasons to expect his barn would be visited by some nightly depredators from private informations he had received, stationed frosdike (a Filby constable) with three other persons in an outhouse, to guard his premises.
After waiting for several nights the long expected visitors made their appearance about 1 oclock on Friday morning last. They were provided with pick- lock keys with which they opened the barn doors and were theree in number. On entering they began to look about them being prepared with a dark lantern and they soon set themselves to work about filling sacks they had brought with them with corn. They were, however, much surprised by the sudden appearance ofthe four persons who had been stationed in the outhouse. They made desperate resistance before they were secured. One of them armed himself with a pitchfork with which he made a thrust at one of the party who instantly fired his pistol at him, when he surrendered to them being severly wounded in the event which (naturally ensured) one of the robbers made his escape, and two were secured. They proved to be Joseph Thaxter and Joseph George Warnes, both married men with familes residing at Burgh. T hey were taken to Rollesby the following day, when they underwent a strict examination by the Rev. T. Baker and by him (fully) committed to Norwich Castle to take their trials for the offence. We must not omit to state that considerable credit is justly due to Frosdike the active (constable) of Filby and his (party) for their intrepid conduct on this occasion, by which they have relieved the county of two desperate characters who have no doubt been committing deprediation upon the public for some time.
(words in brackets presumed to be so)
January 13, 1821 County Prisoners
Jos Thaxter and George Warnes convicted of stealing corn to be transported for seven years. February 10, 1821 Minutes
On Thursday were removed from the Castle the following convicts to be put aboard the bulks at Gosport..... Jos Thaxter......Page 251.....Both to be transported for seven years George Warnes and Joseph Thaxter 22nd of December - Larceny.....Page 269......Solomon Moll to prosecute and for Josh Thaxter to give evidence John Lake for larceny.....
Joseph reached Sydney to begin his sentence. After 6 years he was given ticket of leave, he got a job on a farm as a stockman and changed his name to Baxter."
Sidney Thaxter of Portland Maine gave me some rather interesting information... Thomas Thaxter was a linen weaver who came from Hingham England with his wife Elizabeth and their son John to Hingham Massichusetts on the ship Diligent. He purchased land there in 1638.
He died on February 4, 1653, after which his wife remarried twice after and she died in 1660. His Children were John (1626) Elizabeth (1629) Thomas (1632) Sarah (1635) Daniel (1638) and Samuel (1641) John (1626) was first a Lieutenant, and afterwards a Captain fighting against the Dutch. In 1630 he was in command of a troop of cavalry. He was a selectman then a representative to General court in 1666. He lived on North Street where St. Paul's catholic church now stands. He died March 14, 1686/7 (unclear) but had married Elizabeth Jacob (daughter of Nicholas and Mary). After his death, Elizabeth Married secondly and died in 1725. John and Elizabeth had 12 children. John Jr. - Thomas - Joseph - Samuel (who died young)- Elizabeth - Benjamin - Samuel (who was born in 1665) - Mary - Deborah - Sarah - Daniel - Jonathan.
Captain John's son, Samuel was born on August 6 1665
in Hingham. He became Colonel if a regiment and one
of those commission to settle the boundary between
Massechusetts and Rhode Island in 1719. He was a
magistrate and a delegate to General Court. He
commanded the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
He married Hannah Gridley and they had four children, Elizabeth (1692) John (1693) Samuel (1695) and Sarah. He lived in North Street House in Hingham and died in November 1740.
Samuel's daughter Elizabeth married M. Hon. Benjamin Lincoln. Major General Benjamin Lincoln, their son found fame in the Revolutionary War.
Samuel's son John was born January 1693/1694 and was a farmer in Hingham residing on South Street. He like most of the other Thaxter men, was a Tory and moved at the time of the Revolution. He married Grace Stockbridge of Prmbroke, daughter of Jospeh and Margatet. She married secondly as well. She and Samuel had 8 children. Hannah, John, Joseph (1723), Grace, Elizabeth and Benjamin (who died young), Benjamin and Elizabeth.
Deacon Joseph's First born Joseph (1744-1827) graduated from Harvard College, 1768 and was the First Chaplain of the American Reavolution. He was at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He died in Edgartown, Mass. after ministering there for many years.
Deacon Joseph's Son Joshua married Mary Hersey,
daughter of Joshua and Mary Hersey in 1769. They
had 12 children and after Mary died in Boston in
1803 he remarried to Ruth Brown who died in Portland
1833. Joshua was a baker and seems to have had his
residence in Hingham and his business in Boston.
All of their children were born in Hingham but when
they moved to Portland Maine he lived on Neal Street,
was well off and owned a good deal of land. He
died here in 1827. His children were Arethusa (1771)
- Joshua (1772) - Rachel (1773) - Joseph (1775) -
Martin (1778) - Martin (1778) - Charles (1780) -
Hannah (1782) - mary (1784) - Royal (1786) - Sidney
(1788) - Sally (1791) Joshua (who died young).
Baker Joshua's son Sidney lived in Portland where he had a bakery on Cross Street. He nearly lost his life in the wreck of the 'Charles' near the entrance to Portland harbor on July 12, 1807. The family had moved from Portalnd to Gray because of the War of 1812. He died in Portland June 7, 1823. Sidney met and married Mary Small, daughter of George and Sally June 12,1812. They had 6 children, Sally, (1813) - Sidney (1815) - Joshua (1816) - Mary (1818) - Henry Greenlief (1821) - Louisa (1823). When Sidney died of typhoid in 1823, the family was left without means. Young Sidney went to live with his Uncle Joseph on Cross Street, Portland. Mary and Joshua went to China, Me. Sally went to her Uncle Col. Henry Small at East Livington, Me. His mother Mary Small and Greenleaf (Henry Greenlief) went to Livington, Me. near her father George Small, where daughter Louisa was born.
Sidney's son Joshua (1816) married Joanna Hayes, and
their eldest son George Clinton (1842) went to
California. He lived in Long Beach, Redlands and
Los Angeles. His children were Homer Deane (1866),
Harry Clinton (1870) Alberta (1872) and Curits
Hersey (1877).
Sidney's son Sidney (1815) was born in Gray, Maine. After hardships as a boy living with his Uncle Joseph, Sidney left his uncle's home and apprenticed as a stone mason. He set himself up in Portland as a mason. After his marriage in 1836 to Sophronia Chase, daughter of Abner and Abigail. They moved to Bangor and went into the baking business and ultimately into flour and grain business in which he prospered. in 1873 he returned to live in Portland. He died there on November 14, 1898. Sophronia died April 16, 1887. They had 9 children. Mary Abby (1837) - Sidney Warren (1839) - Sarah Hamblin (1841) - Albert Henry (1843) - Frederick Webster (1845) - Alice Maude (1847) - Annie Bell (1851) - William Hooper (1854) - Louise Godfrey (1858)
Sidney's son Sidney Warren (1839) was born in Bangor, Me. He was a Major in the 1st Maine Cavalry and won the Medal of Honor for his work during the Civil War. He married Laura May Farnham in 1866. He remarried to Julia St. Felix Thom in 1882. Sidney Warren and Julia had 4 natural children Sidney St. Felix (1883), Langdon Thom (1889), Phillip Reynaud (1885), and 1 adopted son Allon.
Sidney's son Albert Henry (1843)(Sidney Warren's brother) - married Ella Wheelwright (1864) daughter of Joseph Storer and Susan Webb Wheelwright. Joseph Storer was the mayor of Bangor. They had 3 children, George Storer (who died young), Storer Wheelwright (1873)who married Nellie Stetson in 1896, Harold (who died young). Storer's wife Nellie was the granddaughter or Adaline Stetson, cousin of Hannibal Hamlin the 1st Vice President under Lincoln.
Sidney's daughter Alice Maude (1847) (Sidney Warren's sister) - married Edward Gustavus Wyman in 1870. They had 3 children Florence Comins (1872), Sidney Thaxter (1874) and Anne Louise (1875).
Sidney's son William Hooper (1854)(Sidney Warren's brother) - married Celia Agnes , daughter of Lewis and Susan Charles Smith in 1884. They had 4 children Roger Lewis (1886), Helen Gerrish (1887), Frederick Smith (died young), William Hooper Jr. (1896).
Sidney's daughter Louise Godfrey (1858) (Sidney Warren's sister) - married George Shipman Payson, son of Henry M and Emma Payson, grandson of Rev. Edward Payson, in 1882. They had 3 children Edith (who died young), Harold Conant (1886), and Edward (1891).
Sidney's daughter Mary Abby (1837) (Sidney Warren's sister) - was born in Livingstone, Main in the home of her maternal grandparents, the Smalls. As a child she lived in Bangor, graduated from High School, and was a pupil of Louis Agassiz iin Cambridge. She married Francis Nathan Peloubet, then in his first pastorate at Lanesville, Mass. She shared in all the church activities there and in his parrishes at Oakham, Attleboro and Matick. In 1883, Dr. Peloubet resigned his pastorate in Matick to devote all his time to writing and in 1889, the family moved to Auburndale, Mass. She died there in 1924.
Hope you find this interesting. These Thaxter stories originated from sources in North America and Britan. Feel free to contact us if you have information or stories about Thaxters in North America, Austrailia, England or elsewhere.
Return to Main Page
Other Thaxter Web Sites
Allison Thaxter's Home Page
Celia Thaxter's Island Garden
Curtis Thaxter's Business Page
Tony Hall's Home Page
Julia Thaxter's Home Page
