Notes:

Thomas emigrated to New England in 1638, where he settled in Rowley,Massachusetts.
He came from Yorkshire, England, was one of founders of Rowley,Massachusetts.

Thomas was made Freeman in May 1639. In 1640 he erected a saw mill atRowley and was appointed in 1640 by the Court along with Edward Woodmanand William Paine to view and settle the bounds between Hampton andColchester (Salisbury). He was representative to the General Court 1641.

Thomas was the wealthiest of the Rogers company. In 1643 (says Winthrop)our supplies from England failing much, men began to look about them andfell to manufacture of cotton wherof we had store from Barbadoes and ofhemp and flax wherein Rowley to their great commendation exceeded allother towns. The mills built by Thomas Nelson were the first in Rowleyand among the first grists mills built in America and were never idle(although enlarged and modified) until the fire of Oct 1916.

He made a will as he planned a trip to England which he signed in 24 Dec1645 and it was desposed before the court by Jeremy Houchen 21 Oct 1649.He returned to England, where and died in 1643.

Thomas married Dorothy STAPLETON on 27 Jan 1627 in All Saints, Yorkshire, England. Dorothy (daughter of Philip STAPLETON and Dorothy HILL) was born on 11 Aug 1608 in Pannall, Yorkshire, England; died before 27 Sep 1637 in Rowley, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Philip Nelson, the eldest son of Thomas, came to America with his fatherin 1638. He graduated from Harvard in 1654, and was admitted freeman in1667. He caused some trouble in the church at Rowley by pretending tocure a deaf and dumb boy in imitation of our Saviour, by sayingEphphatha. The ministers of the neighbouring churches were calledtogether, and the boy was brought before them to see whether he couldspeak or not. He was interrogated, but "there he stood," say the records,"like a deaf and dumb boy as he was." They could not make him hear, norcould he speak. Coffin, MS Letter. Philip died 20 Aug. 1691.

Philip married Elizabeth LOWELL on 1 Dec 1666 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of John LOWELL and Elizabeth GOODALE) was born on 16 Feb 1646 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts; died on 14 Dec 1731 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Martha married George DICKINSON on 2 May 1705 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts. George (son of James DICKINSON and Rebecca STEVENSEN) was born on 6 Mar 1683 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts; died on 18 Jun 1732. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rebecca married Jeremiah FOSTER on 21 Jun 1735 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts. Jeremiah (son of Abraham FOSTER and Abigail PARSONS) was born about 1700 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts; died on 12 Dec 1788 in Ashburnham, Worcester, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]