Thomas Josselyn

• AKA Jostlin, Joslin, Jocelyn
• Birth: 1592 - Roxwell, Essex, England
• Origin: Barham, Suffolk, England
• Migration: 1635 on the Increase from London, arriving at Boston, Massachusetts
• First residence: Hingham, Plymouth Colony
• Removes: Lancaster, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1654
• Death: January 3, 1660/01 (69) - Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• Son of Ralph Josselyn and Mary Bright
• Husband of Rebecca Jude (1592-bef 1669) - married about 1615. She married Thomas Kerley 2nd.

Thomas Josselyn migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 117)

Biography

Thomas was the fifth child of Ralph and Mary (Bright) Jocelyne. He m. Rebecca Jude in 1615 in London. They embarked for New England in the ship "Increase" in 1635 with a maid and 5 of their 7 children. The oldest boy (Abraham) joined them in 1637 and 1645.

Children:

1. Abraham Joslin, b. say 1615; m. London 19 November 1642 (lic.) Beatrice Hampton [TAG 53:100]. She m. (2) Lancaster 16 November 1671 Benjamin Boswoth [LanVR14], son of Edward Bosworth {1634, Boston}[GM 2:1:356].
2. Rebecca Joslin, bp. Ardleigh, Essex, 27 March 1617 (aged 18 on 17 April 1635[2]); m. by about 1639 Thomas Nicholas (three eldest children bp. together at Hingham in January 1643/4 [NEHGR 121:16])
3. Mary Joslin, bp. Ardleigh, Essex, 25 August 1619; d. soon.
4. Dorothy Joslin, b. about 1624 (aged 11 on 17 April 1635 [2]); d. Roxbury 2 December 1645 (“Dorothy Jocelyn, a maidservant of Mr. Dudly, she was exceeding lively spirited in bitter pains & left a good savor thereby, she was first taken with an apoplectically sleeping & at the resolution of it it fell upon her lungs which were weak afore, with a pain like a pleurisy” [RChR 172]).
5. Nathaniel Josselyn, b. about 1627 (aged 8 on 17 April 1635 [2]); m. by 1657 Sarah King (eldest known child b. Lancaster 15 July 1657 [LanVR 12]; in his will of 12 March 1675/6, Thomas King of Marlborough included a bequest to “Anna Carly, Mary Rice & Sarah Joselin, my 3 daughters” [Stevens-Miller And 82-85, citing MPR 5:23]).
6. Elizabeth Joslin, b. about 1629 (aged 6 on 17 April 1635 [2]); m. (!) Boston 21 June 1652 Edward Yeomans [BVR 38]; m. (2) Boston 9 May 1662 Edward Kilby [BVR 86].
7. Mary Joslin, bp. Barham, Suffolk, 16 March 1633/4 (aged 1 on 17 Apri 1635[2]); m. by 1657 Roger Sumner (eldest known child b. Dorchester 16 November 1657 [DVR 5]).[4]

His will was recorded at Cambridge, and at a county court held thereon April 2, 1661, his will and an inventory were exhibited and proved.

Research note - Wife

Thomas Josselyn m. about 1615 Rebecca Jude who d. between 1664 and 1669. She married secondly in Lancaster 16 May 1664 William Kerley who died 1669/1670. He was never married to Rebecca Marlowe.

Bibliographic notes

From The Great Migration Begins:

Roger D. Joslyn has published three articles clarifying important points in the immigrant generations. In 1977 he presented the marriage license of Abraham Joslin and Beatrice Hampson [TAG 53-100]. In 1980 he demonstrated that there was no Joseph Joslin in the second generation [TAG 56:153-54]. In 2004 he identified the family of the wife of the immigrant [NEHGR 158:330-40].

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He removed to Lancaster where he signed the civil compact in 1654 ["New York Settlers From New England," NEHGR, 7/1901, pp. 302-303].

"His arms were the same as those of Sir Thomas of Torrell's Hall, Essex."

• "Arms: asure a josslyn silver and sable belled gold.
• Crest: A falcon's leg erased at the thigh."

From "A Second Roll of Arms,"NEGHR, July, 1932, "Sir Thomas Josselyn, Scarborough, Maine and Thomas Josselyn of Hingham and Lancaster, Massachusetts, Arms : Silver a bend engrailed gules. Crest - A falcon's leg erased at the thigh.

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I have seen several spellings of this last name.

"...Thomas Joselyn, of Lancaster, Mass. (formerly Hingham) who with his wife and four children were among the passengers in the ship "Increase" that embarked from London for New England, April 17, 1625."

EXCERPTS FROM "THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF JIREH TUCKER OF ROYALTON, VERMONT 1815-1868" by Eliza A. (Tucker) Bliefling of Watertown Massachusetts

The Increase left London, England April 1635 with her master, Robert Lea, arriving in Massachusetts Bay. The following alphabetical roll is from her departure point Jostlin Thomas 43, husbandman #5 (Josselyn, from Roxwell, Essex, bound for Hingham. Ref: NEGR. 36 pg 51) Jostlin Rebecca 43, wife #6 Jostlin Rebecca 18, child of Thomas #8 Jostlin Dorothy 11, child of Thomas #9 Jostlin Nathaniel 8, child of Thomas #10 Jostlin Eliza 6, child of Thomas #11 Jostlin Mary 1, child of Thomas #12 From another list, including no. 7: 5 Jostlin Thomas 43, husbandman 6 Jostlin Rebecca 43, wife 7 Ward Eliza 38, Jostlin maid servant 8 Jostlin Rebecca 18, child of Thomas 9 Jostlin Dorothy 11, child of Thomas 10 Jostlin Nathaniel 8, child of Thomas 11 Jostlin Eliza 6, child of Thomas 12 Jostlin Mary 1, child of Thomas ~ From Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's Nov 2007: Over 7100 families and 250 ships

Source: http://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36926498/thomas-josselyn

From Find a Grave contributor:

Born about 1592 (aged 43 on 17 April 1635), son of Ralph Josselyn of Roxwell, Essex. Came from Barham, Suffolk to Plymouth Colony in 1635 on the "Increase." (On 17 April 1635, "Tho[mas] Jostlin," husbandman, aged 43, "Rebecca his wife," aged 43, "Eliza[beth] Ward, a maidservant," aged 38, and "Rebecca," aged 18, "Dorothy," aged 11, "Nathaniel," aged 8, "Eliza[beth]," aged 6 amd "Mary," aged 1, "children of the said Tho[mas] Jostlin," were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the Increase). First settled at Hingham; moved to Lancaster MA in 1654. Died in Lancaster 3 January 1660/1.

Married by about 1615 Rebecca Jude, born about 1592 (aged 43 on 17 April 1635).

According to the research of Elizabeth French, Thomas Josselyn was fifth-cousin once-removed of THOMAS JOSSELYN {1638, York} (briefly governor of Maine}, and therefore sixth-cousin of the two sons of the latter, HENRY JOSSELYN {1630, Piscataqua} and JOHN JOSSELYN {1638, Black Point}.

Thomas Josselyn was uncle of Rev. Ralph Josselyn of Earl's Colne, Essex.

Savage claimed that Thomas Josselyn was "among grantees of Sudbury 1640." The Sudbury grantee was Thomas Islin, a distinct man altogether.

Savage also claimed that Thomas Josselyn "perhaps for short time lived at Boston." There is no evidence supporting thois claim, which may be based on the residence there of two of the children of Thomas, son Abraham and daughter Elizabeth.

Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project.

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Source: In memoriam; C. L. Joslin. A sermon preached in the Unitarian church in Leominster, Jan. 8th, 1893 (1893), pp. 5-6:

Thomas Joslin, aged 43, the emigrant ancestor, came from London, in the ship “ Increase,” Robert Lea, Master, embarking April 17, 1635. He was accompanied by his wife Rebecca, aged 43, Children: Rebecca, 18, Dorothy II, Nathaniel 8, Elizabeth 6, Mary 1. The eldest son ABRAHAM, was not a passenger on the Increase, but joined the family soon after their arrival in this country.

Thomas was among the proprietors of the town of Hingham in the year 1637 and was settled there. [He was among the grantees of Sudbury in 1640.] [sic: disputed.] In 1654 he, and his son Nathaniel, signed the Town Covenant in Lancaster; and he died in that town, January 3d, 1660. His will made his wiſe Rebecca executrix and mentions sons ABRAHAM, Nathaniel, grandson Nathaniel, and daughters Rebecca, wife of Thomas Nichols, Elizabeth, wife of Edward Yeomans, and Mary, wife of Roger Sumner.

ABRAHAM Joslin remained at Hingham, where by his wife Beatrice he had several children, but he removed to Lancaster before 1663 and had born there Joseph 1663 and Mary 1666. ABRAHAM died in 1670. His son Abraham with his family, February 10th, 1676, in the Indian attack upon Lancaster, took refuge in the Rowlandson house, which was set on fire by the Indians; when the wretched inmates were driven out by the flames the Indians killed the men, except one, and took the women and children captive. His wife Ann and daughter Beatrice were killed in captivity, being unable to keep up with the retreat.

References

1. Hotten, John Camden, 1832-1873. The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; ... ... Page 55. < Archive.Org > "a husbandman THO: JOSTILIN, age 43, REBECCA his wife age 43, ELIZA. Ward, a maid servant, age 38. Children: Rebecca age 18, Dorothy age 11, Nathaniel age 8, Eliza. age 6, Mary age 1."
2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36926498/thomas-josselyn
3. Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via daughter Mary Sumner (born Josselyne) by SmartCopy: Mar 30 2015, 3:56:35 UTC
4. NEHGR, July, 1848, "Notes on the Josselyn Family of Massachusets by F.W. Harris, MD]. The Honorable James Savage, in his "Gelanings," (Mass. Hist. Coll., 3d Series, VIII, 256, brought over Thomas Josselyn, a husbandman, aged 43, Rebecca, his wife also 43, their children, Rebecca, aged 18, Dorothy, 11, Nathaniel, 8, Eliza, 6
5. WikiTree contributors, "Thomas Josselyn (abt.1592-1661)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Josselyn-3 : accessed 09 April 2025). cites
   1. The Winthrop Society (publisher), "Passengers of the Increase, reMaster Robert Lea, Voyage of 1635" (Link via Wayback Machine, capture date 03 Jun 2017.)
   2. Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. (London: John Camden Hotten, 1874.) p. 55
   3. Anderson: citing NEHGR 71:250. Genealogical Research in England. $
   4. Anderson, Robert Charles. New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635, Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, pgs 117-121. $ < Ancestry.com >
   5. Anderson citing, NEHGR 158:330-340. Joslyn, Roger D. Rebecca, wife of Thomas Josselyn of Hingham and Lancaster, Massachusetts. $
   6. Holman, Mary Lovering, Pillsbury, Helen Pendleton Winston, Holman, Winifred Lovering, Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and his wife Frances Helen Miller Concord, N.H. : Privately printed at the Rumford Press 1948 p. 74 (borrow)
   7. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.)
   8. Anderson: cites Lancaster Vital Records p. 14
6. Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995), 1634-1635, Vol. IV, Pages 117-121.
7. The Planters of the Commonwealth in Massachusetts, 1620-1640 48127::211884 $
8. Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650. 48159::265731 $ and 48159::265633 $.
9. Torrey, Clarence A., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004; Baltimore, MD, USA). Ancestry Online publication, 2006; 49055::76306 $.
10. Cutter, William R. Genealogical and Family History of Western New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co, 1912, Volume 3, page 1369 Retrieved from [1]
11. NATHANIEL JOSLIN [#152, b. London, Eng. 12 Jun 1627]
12. Skeels, Laura Elmendorf. "The Joscelyn-Joslin Family." Journal of American history 6 (1912): 517-537. link. This article describes a lineage back to Charlemagne via "Gilbertus or Aegedius Joscelinus, born in the Chateau de Jocelin about 1005" who "married a Saxon lady". It's not completely speculative in that it does refer in passing (without footnotes) to some potential sources for his descendants.
13. French, Miss Elizabeth. Genealogical Research in England, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1917) Vol. 71, Page 253
14. Nourse, Henry S,: "Annals of Lancaster"; page 268 (arrival of family) and 322 (death of Thomas)
15. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36926498/thomas-josselyn: accessed April 9, 2025), memorial page for Thomas Josselyn I (1592–3 Jan 1660), Find a Grave Memorial ID 36926498, citing Old Settlers Burial Yard, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Linda Mac (contributor 47062703).
16. Rebecca, wife of Thomas Josselyn of Hingham and Lancaster, Massachusetts by Roger D. Joslyn, NEHGR Vol 158, Pgs 330-340 (pub 2004)