Maj. Thomas Bourne

  General Notes:

Maj. Thomas4 Bourne (Nathan,3 Elisha,2 Richard1), born 16 May 1716, died 3 Feb. 1804, "aet. 87" (Sandwich Church Rec­ords).

He married in Scituate, 26 Nov. 1748, Mary Randall (Scituate Vital Records), born about 1727, died in May 1814, "aet. 87" (Sandwich Church Records), probably a daughter of John Randall of Rochester.

Thomas Bourne "of Sandwich, shipwright," purchased 18 Dec. 1746 a tract of land in Hanover from Nathaniel Silvester (Plymouth County Deeds, vol. 38, p. 142). He may have lived there for a time (although the births and baptisms of most of his children are recorded in Sandwich) because we find that he was admitted to the Sandwich Church 25 June 1758 "by dis­mission from Hanover," although his wife did not transfer her membership until 30 Aug. 1761. He was a man of some promi­nence in both civic and military affairs, and was a co-executor under his father's will through which he inherited considerable property. "Thomas Bourne, Esqr. and Jabez Handy, Taylor both of Sandwich in the State of Massachusetts" sold, by deed, dated 3 Jan. 1777, to Theophilus Pease of Rochester a parcel of land there, including a homestead, "dwelling house of John Randall, deceased, of sd Rochester" (ibid., vol. 59, p. 78).

The will, dated 2 June 1799 and proved in 1804, of "Thomas Bourne of Sandwich, Esquire" [gives] "to my beloved wife Mary Bourne [a variety of bequest, including] the use of the pew in the Meeting House at Sandwich Town ... to my three daughters Lucy Fearing, $30. Elizabeth Curless $100. Mary Crocket $50 ... to my said three daughters and to my grand daughter Lucy Pope, wife of Thomas Pope to be equally divided between them the remaining half of my household furniture and indoor moveables [clock, boots, wearing apparell exceptcd] ... to my sd grand daughter Lucy Pope $50 with what I have already given her … to my son Samuel Bourne the land on which his house and barn now stands & the garden spot he now improves, to the amount of three acres and also one third of all my real estate lying on the South East Side of Monument River [on condition that he pay certain charges on the estate] ... to my son Anselm Bourne the one third part of my Real Estate lying on the South East side of the Monument River [with a similar condition to that for Samuel] … to the heirs of my son Lemuel Bourne, deceased, the remaining one third [as above, with similar condition] … to my son William Bourne … one half my dwelling house and buildings [provided he keeps all in repair], not disposed of to my wife Mary … etc. … to my son Asa Bourne the land where his dwelling house stands [and other land, north of Monument River] ... to my son Bethuel Bourne three acres of land where his dwelling house and other buildings and works stand, and one third of all my real estate lying on the northwesterly side of Monument River, except what I have given to William and Asa, and the widow's dower reserved ... to the widow of my son Thomas Bourne, deceased $1. ... to my three sons, William, Samuel and Bethuel the residue of live stock and tools of all sorts … to my four sons, William, Samuel, Asa & Bethuel, my clock, books, wearing apparel & debts due and one half the cash, they to pay all debts due from the estate and legacies." Asa, William and Bethuel to keep the widow's chaise in order [and provide firewood, etc.] Asa Bourne, the executor, presented his accounting 14 Feb. 1804 which shows legacies paid to Lucy Fearing, Elizabeth Corless, Mary Crocker and Lucy Pope and to Thomas Bourne's widow. Also debts paid Gideon Ellis, Elisha Ellis, John Perry and John Blackwell. Total expenditure $1,513.98 (Barnstable County Probate, vol. 31, p. 124-5; vol. 35, p. 265-6). [The Rev. Richard1 Bourne of Sandwich, Mass. (c. 1610-1682) by Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, NEHGR 118-9, 1964-5]

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, 2 Jun 1799, Sandwich, Barnstable, MA. ¹⁹⁶

Thomas married Mary Randall on 26 Nov 1748 in Scituate, Plymouth, MA ¹⁵.^,196 (Mary Randall was born about 1727 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^15,196 and died on 14 May 1814 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^15,196.)