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Note: Special note on Source Citations: Several data sources are cited for Thomas Arnold and his family. The James Newell Arnold Papers which were found in the "Arnold Room" of the McKnight Memorial Library in Providence, Rhode Island, will be cited only in this Note on Thomas Arnold. Family data for other members of his family through Edward Arnold "the Drummer" of Generation 6 were gathered from pages 1 through 25 of this data source also but, to limit the number of citations listed in the end notes, the James Newell Arnold Papers source is is not separately cited for each succeeding person. The Arnold Memorial by Elisha Arnold indicates that the father of William Arnold of Providence and Pawtucket, and a friend of Roger Williams, was a Nicholas Arnold born in Northover, England. Nicholas later moved to Ilchester, Somersetshire, married Alice Gulley, who died fairly early, and then Grace. He had seven children by Alice Gulley and at least three by Grace, the names of two known. William of Providence was a son of Alice Gulley and Thomas of Watertown (presumably our Thomas) was the son of Grace. The work of James Newell Arnold, the Rhode Island genealogist and historian agrees with the Arnold Memorial except that Alice Gulley's and Grace's husband's name was Thomas also. Holman's genealogical research for Mrs. J. M. Morrison agrees with the Arnold Memorial but it takes issue with the presumption that Thomas of Watertown and William of Providence were half brothers. Holman states strongly that there was no relationship whatsoever between the two. Holman references an article in the Register compiled by Horatio Somersby and reported by Henry T. Browne. Holman believes that Somersby's account was completely discredited by George Andrews Moriarty and Edson Salisbury Jones, Esq., in January 1915 in Jones' article "The Parentage of William Arnold and Thomas Arnold of Providence Rhode Island." These documents purportedly clearly show William and Thomas as being sons of Nicholas Arnold and Alice Gulley and Grace (unknown), respectively. According to Holman, there is no evidence that William's brother, Thomas, ever emigrated to America. He also states that Thomas of Watertown came from Hollesley, in Suffolk County, England. It is possible that James Newell Arnold based his genealogy upon the work done by Somersby in the 1870s and never saw the later information of Holman, (1950), or Jones whose work work was cited by Holman, or Mr. Moriarty. We will continue to show, in our family history, both families, fathers Thomas and Nicholas, as if Thomas of Watertown and William of Providence were half brothers, recognizing that Thomas may have come from a completely different family in Hollesley, Suffolk, England. Since we are sure of the lineage from Thomas forward, the only loss is not knowing exactly where our Thomas came from in England. The Welsh heritage is not terribly important to us now and is probably reasonably accurate for either Arnold family. Thomas Arnold of Watertown sailed from England on the "Plain Joan", a ship bound first for Virginia, and arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts, in May, 1635. According to Benedict Arnold's memorandum below, William arrived in New England in June, 1635. James Holman cites an article published in the October, 1879 issue of the New England historical and Genealogical Register where a copy of an old Arnold record is referenced and copied. This record was written by several persons, the first of which was William Arnold of Providence; the second, his son Governor Benedict Arnold of Rhode Island. the text of this article is as follows and is included here on the chance that William and Thomas were indeed from the same family. If they truly were not, then it is superfluous to this history. " A register, or true account of my own age, with my Mother, my Wife, my Brothers and Sisters, and Others of my friends and acquaintance. 1. Imprimis Alice Gully the daughter of John Gully of Northover. Who was my Mother was baptized ye: 29; Septem 1553. 2. Tamzen, my Sister was baptized the 4 of Jany, 1571. 3. Joane Arnold, my Sister was baptized the 30 of November in the yeare 1577. 4. I, William Arnold, their Brother was borne the 24 of June, 1587. 5. Robert Arnold, my Brother was baptized the 18th of October, 1593. 6. Elizabeth Arnold, my Sister was borne 9 of April 1596. 7. Thomas, my Brother, my Mother-in-lawes Sonne, was Baptized the 18 of April, 1599. (Note: A Step-mother as we refer to one today was often called "mother-in-law" in the old terminology.) 8. Eleanor Arnold, my Sister was Baptized the 31 of July, 1603. The age of my sister Tamzens children 1. Robert Hacker was Baptized the 22 of Jany, 1597. 2. Francis Hacker was Baptized the 24 of Jany, 1599. 3. John Hacker their brother was Baptized the 25 of October, 1601. 4. William Hacker was Baptized the 31 of October, 1604. 5. Alice Hacker was Baptized the 25 of August, 1607. 6. Mary Hacker was Baptized the 7 of April, 1609. 7. Thomas Hacker was Baptized the 7 of April, 1616. 1. Christian, the Daughter of Thomas Peack Mucheny my wife was Baptized the 15 of February, 1583. 2. Elizabeht Arnold our Daughter was borne the 23 of November, 1611. 3. Benedict Arnold, her Brother, was borne the 21 of December, 1615. 4. Joane Arnold their Sister was borne the 27 of Febry, 1617. 5. Steven Arnold their Brother was borne the 22 of December, 1622. The age of my Sister Joane's children 1. Francis Hopkins was Baptized the 28 of May, 1614. 2. Thomas Hopkins her Brother was Baptized the 7 of April, 1616. 3. Elizabeth Hopkins was Baptized the 30 of July, 1619. The age of my Brother Thomas Children 1. Thomas his Sonne was borne the 3 of May, 1635. 2. Nicholas Arnold was Baptized the 15 of January, 1627. 3. Tamzen Holman was Baptized the 16 of Dec, 1619. 4. Mary the Daughter of Julian Kidgell was Baptized 24 of July, 1627. Jeremiah Rhodes the Sonne of Zachary Rhodes was borne at Pawtucket the 29 of ye 4 month commonly called June in Anno Dom. 1647. Memorandum. My father and his family Sett Sayle from Dartmouth in Old England, the first day of May Friday and arrived In New England June 24, Ano 1635. Memorandum. We came to Providence to Dwell the 20th of April, 1636. per me Benedict Arnold. We will assume in this document that Thomas Arnold was the son of Nicholas of Ilchester, or Thomas Arnold of Cheselbourne, England. He was born in England in 1599. His mother was a woman named Grace, the second wife of Nicholas or Thomas. He came to America aboard the "Plain Joan" in May, 1635, landing in Hingham, Massachusetts. He lived in initially in Watertown, Massachusetts, and in 1640 was admitted as a Freeman on May 13, 1640. He married Phoebe, daughter of George and Susanna Parkhurst, in 1640, and had the children listed below. It appears that he later married, Susanna, the widow of a minister named Simmons. Being declared a "freeman" occured when a person swore allegiance to the Crown after having arrived in one of the colonies and establishing himself as a productive member of the community. In "The History of Wethersfield", Connecticut, the terms inhabitant, householder, proprietor, and freeman are defined as follows as they were used in those days. Inhabitant - One who, by virtue of his acknowledged reputable life and conversation, had been admitted as such by the majority of the voters of the town to which had sought admission. They were required to take an "Oath of Fidelity", presumably to the Crown. They were required to be at least 21 years of age, or have bore office, or have a 20 Pound estate. Householder - One acknowledged as the head of a household or who owned a sufficient amount of real estate. Proprietor - A proprietor was not, of necessity, a resident; though in the majority of cases he was so. In origin, they were a body of men who collectively purchased lands from the Indians through a grant of the General Court, or otherwise. The right of each could be exchanged or left by will. Proprietors as such had no political rights. It was only as "admitted inhabitants" that they had a right to vote in town meetings. Freeman - A Freeman was one, generally a previously accepted inhabitant who was at least 16 years of age who had taken the Oath of Fidelity. On October1, 1651, Thomas was fined 20 shillings for offense against the law concerning baptism. He evidently neglected to have his son (not Eleazer) baptised within the three day time limit required by the church. On April 2, 1654, he was fined 5 pounds for neglecting public worship for 20 days. A year later on April 2, 1655, he was again fined, this time 10 pounds, for neglecting public worship. A daughter then married a Baptist and shortly thereafter Thomas sold out in Watertown and moved to Rhode Island. Thomas moved to Rhode Island in 1658 or 166. Roger Williams moved from Massachusetts and with others, including William Arnold, formed the Colony of Rhode Island. Thomas moved to Smithfield in Providence Colony. In 1665, he had Lot 83 granted to him in the division of lands. In 1666-67-70-71-72 he was Deputy. The approximate equivalent to Deputy in today's government would be a State Legislator. He was a member of the Town Council of Providence in 1674. He died in 1674 leaving no will, having a large estate of lands (said to have been 20,000acres), goods, and cattle disposed only by "his word of mouth". On June 29, 1683, it was agreed by his widow, Phoebe, and Richard (their eldest son), Thomas, John, Eleazer, also sons of the deceased and Elizabeth, that "whereas the said deceased Thomas Arnold did by word of mouth leave his mind with his wife and children how they should divide his estate of lands, goods and cattle among them after his decease, the aforementioned, all and every one of them do hereby endeavor to propagate and perform to the best of their abilities, &c. To Phoebe, the widow, the lot bought of William Fenner with orchard, and at her decease the same to revert to Thomas; to Phoebe also the land east of the Moschussuck River; said home lot at her decease to go to son John; to Phoebe also all household goods, two cows and nine swine at her disposal. To Elizabeth Comstock 30 pounds; to Thomas Arnold a house lot in town, two other lots, a meadow, a tract of 50 acres, and rights of common. To John Arnold 3 lots, an orchard, a piece of land of 17 1/2 acres, share in meadow, etc., to Eleazer Arnold 50 acres near place called "World's End", a 15 acre lot, 3 shares of meadow, etc.; To John and Eleazer an equal share in certain lands. To Thomas and John equally the tackling and tools of the deceased. To Richard, the eldest son, all the rest of the lands.
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