Thomas Dutton

(circa 1619 - 22 January 1686/87)
Thomas Dutton|b. ca 1619\nd. 22 Jan 1686/87|p828.htm|John Dutton the legendary progenitor of the family in New England|b. ca 1591|p827.htm||||||||||||||||

8-greats-grandfather of Darrell Allen Martin.
The relationships among John Dutton and his supposed sons Thomas, Samuel, Josiah, and Robert, are according to traditions commonly held among descendants of early New England Duttons and Duntons. It seems prudent to take this approach, if only because the traditions in question are so often repeated (although with many variations) as accepted fact. The situation is most unfortunate. It requires only a little serious research to discover that family histories which have been confidently passed from generation to generation, are based on no more than some scraps of 19th Century speculation. The few grains of truth we do have, preserved through the passage of more than a third of a millenium, seem destined to spring up like tender young shoots of grass only to be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of falsehoods about the Massachusetts Duttons which swarm about the Internet like locusts, devouring all in their path and blotting out the light.

I would have preferred to ignore all which I could not prove, and concentrate on what I actually know. My painful experience shows that to omit the "Traditions of our Elders" does not bring clarity, but perversely raises the suspicion of ignorance, suggests to the unwary the notion that "something has been missed", and calls all the rest of my work into question. Goodness knows my work deserves questions enough without that! You will, therefore, see the old family relationships recounted in all their fictional glory. My purpose, however, is not approval -- it is to provide a context for critical comment.

Thomas was born probably in England circa 1619.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 He was the son of John Dutton the legendary progenitor of the family in New England. He married Susannah (--?--) possibly in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, say 1647.3,9,8 Thomas Dutton resided in Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, circa 1650-1658.2,3,11,10 He resided in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, circa 1658-1669.2,7,3 He resided in Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the range 1669 to 1687. He apparently lived in Billerica until he died. Cutter, quoting Hazen or a mutual source, says his home was "on the south side of Fox Brook, by the old and abandoned road of the 'Great Plain,' northwest of the Davis place."2,3,12,13,7 He married Ruth (--?--) in Billerica, Mass., on 10 November 1684.2,3,14,15,16,17,8 Thomas died on 22 January 1686/87 in Billerica, Mass..2

"Most of the Dutton families of New England of colonial stock are traced to him as their ancestor."2 It is not certain where he first settled, but it was possibly in Lynn (until 1637 called Saugus--there is a later offshoot town from Lynn with that name). Two of his supposed siblings, Robert and Samuel, were among the settlers of Reading who (probably) came from Lynn before the town was incorporated 29 May 1644.18 Thomas first appears in Reading records in a division of land in 1655. He had lived in Reading for seven years, where three of his children were born (but not, as is often said, Thomas Jr.), when he moved to Woburn about 1658. Statements of four children born in Reading are contradicted by the residence chronology in testimony in the suit vs. Bacon. 3,19

He was charged with wife-beating in 1661 and fined, over both his and his wife's denials.20,2

"In 1668, Thomas Dutton brought an action of slander against Michael Bacon, Jr., who had charged him with being a thief. Capt. Edward Johnson, aged 69, and his wife Susan, aged 71, testified in this case 'that Michell Baken, Junior, cam to our Hous & shewed us a Napkin & spoone which he said they found in Godman Dutton's' and when the witnesses said that 'Dutton was not mistrusted for any such thing as theft the said Michell Baken Junior said he had word from one of Reading that the said Dutton was known to bee soe there: & therefore wisht him [i.e. Johnson] to search for his goods att his house.' ... citizens of Reading [said that Thomas] 'Lived Amongste us ... did carry himself well & honestly Towards his Neighbors, etc.' ... [citizens of Woburn said Thomas] 'having lived amongst us in the Towne of woburne ... has bine very Industrus in his calling and has not to our knowledg bine any way given to steall or to take any thing that is not his owne.' "21 "Bacon was found guilty and fined fifteen pounds, showing that the court regarded the unfounded story as a malicious lie. At that time fifteen pounds was an enormous penalty in a case of this kind. The best men of Reading and Woburn testified to the excellent character of Dutton, and effectually disposed of any suspicion aroused by the charge of wife beating."2

He moved from Woburn to Billerica in 1669. His sons Thomas and John were there with him in 1675.2,3
Appears on these charts
Pedigree of Darrell Allen Martin

Children of Thomas Dutton and Susannah (--?--)

Cited documentation

  1. [S167] There is no evidence yet discovered concerning Thomas' parentage.
  2. [S76] A.M., ed. William Richard Cutter, "Dutton," Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1908).
  3. [S80] James Savage, "Dutton," A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1965 Vol. II).
  4. [S56] A.M. Rev. Henry A. Hazen, History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register (Boston: A. Williams and Co., 1883), pg. 45, "Dutton. 1. Thomas ... He was prob. son of John, and b. about 1621."
  5. [S86] Compiler Edward F. Johnson, Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages 1640-1873, (Woburn: Andrews, Cutler, & Co., 1890), Part III Marriages, pg. 284 in a footnote under surname Tottingham, "In the suit of Capt. Johnson vs. Ensign John Carter, Dec. 1658 ... witnesses were ... Thomas Dutton [aged] about 39 ..." citing "County Court Records, Vol. I., page 161. Dec. 1658."
  6. [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass. (Boston: Alfred Mudge & Sons, 1874), pg. 63, "Dutton, Thomas, b. about 1626."
  7. [S89] John Farmer, "Dunton and Dutton," A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New-England, additions and corrections by Samuel G. Drake. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1976 reprint of an 1829 original).
  8. [S90] Archibald F. Bennett, "The Ancestry of Joseph Smith the Prophet," The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine (April, 1929).
  9. [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., pg. 63, "Dutton, Thomas ... 1st wife's name was Susan."
  10. It is difficult to determine when he arrived in Reading, as some of the earliest records of that town and its parent, Lynn, are missing. The published Reading vital records do not include the birth of his eldest child, Thomas Jr. He does not appear in the land division list of 1652, does in 1655, and does not in 1666. The Dutton vs. Bacon suit says seven years in Reading, and ten in Woburn as of 1668. Based on those statements, and given a year's leeway at each removal, he may have settled in Reading as early as 1649, but 1650 is more likely. His second child, Mary, was recorded as born there in September, 1651.
  11. [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., pg. 14, "1655.-- This year 'the meddow from Jeremiah Swayne's meddow, downe below the falls, was divided by lott among the settlers,' and the following changes from the list of drawers as given under the year 1652, appear, viz.: ... Added: ... Tho. Dutton."
  12. [S56] A.M. Rev. Henry A. Hazen, History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register, pg. 45, "He was accepted as an inhabitant of Billerica, 1669, Nov. 22."
  13. [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., pg. 63, "Billerica, where he was in 1675."
  14. [S56] A.M. Rev. Henry A. Hazen, History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register, pg. 45 Dutton, "1. Thomas ... m. 1684, Nov. 10, Mrs. Ruth Hooper, prob. widow of William, of Reading, whose will bears date, 1678. Aug. 5. and names 6 children, one a dau. Ruth."
  15. [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., pg. 63, "Dutton, Thomas ... m., 2nd, 1684, Ruth, dau. of Wm. Hooper."
  16. [S79] Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital Records of Reading, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850, (Boston: 1912), pg. 323 Dutton marriages, "Thomas, Sr., and wid. Ruth Hooper, Nov. 10, 1684. At Billerica" intention not recorded.
  17. [S81] Vital Records of Billerica to 1850, (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1908), pg. 249 Dutton marriages, "Thomas Sr. and Ruth Hooper, wid., of Reding (dup. Redding), Nov. 10, 1684" intention not recorded.
  18. [S62] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Historical Data relating to Counties, Cities and Towns in Massachusetts (Prepared by Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1948), pg. 55, "Reading, Middlesex County. 1644 May 29. Established from part of Lynn--'It is ordered, that Linn village, ... shalbe called Redding'."
  19. [S56] A.M. Rev. Henry A. Hazen, History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register, pg. 45, "came from Woburn, but had previously lived in Reading, where four children were born."
  20. [S86] Compiler Edward F. Johnson, Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages 1640-1873, Part III Marriages, pg. 83, "In 1651, Thomas Dutton was convicted of beating his wife, although both he and his wife denied the fact. The Court sentenced him to be admonished and to pay a fine of five pounds and costs."
  21. [S86] Compiler Edward F. Johnson, Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages 1640-1873, Part III Marriages, pg. 83, citing "Middlesex County Court Records, Vol. I., page 239."
 
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