Thomas Emerson

Of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, and Ipswich, where he came about 1638. Arrival on the Elizabeth and Ann in 1635 is family tradition. Historic Ipswich says that in 1638 Samuel Greenfield sold him "a farm of one hundred and twenty acres previously owned by Humphrey Wise" at Labor in Vain. He also had six acres at Turkey Shore from Henry Wilkinson, where he and Elizabeth "lived in the house he built there for ten years," selling it in 1648 to Daniel Ringe. Historic Ipswich calls him "a baker by trade"; The Ipswich Emersons (1900, p. 22) argues instead that the baker was his son Thomas Jr., who died in 1653 and whose death prompted the will.

His will of 31 May 1653 leaves his son James £40 "if he shall Come ouer into this Country (or send by a certayne surtifficate of his being liueing)." A later memorandum cuts this to £5 on the same condition, so James was apparently still in England (Probate Records of Essex County 2:34-37). He signed "Thomas Emerson [seal]"; the witnesses were Robert Lord and Daniel Hovey. The inventory of "Goodman Emesonne, Sr." (9 May 1666) totals £251 3s. It includes "books and bibels, 2li.," "the great carved chest with nine payer of sheets," "a steell mill," and "too perces and bandelears."

Ralph Waldo Emerson descends from him through Rev. Joseph Emerson of Mendon (Ipswich Emersons, entry 601); Harriet Low and the poet were about fifth cousins once removed, which Mollie (p. 109a) has right.

The 1900 book's descent from Ralf Emerson of Foxton is conjecture. Ralf was granted arms in 1535; he was not "knighted," as Mollie says.

Open questions

• When did he die? The Ipswich Emersons dates his inventory 3 May 1666; the printed probate abstract has "9: 3 m: 1666," 9 May, which the colonial tree follows. The page keeps "before 3 May 1666" until the original is checked.