Thomas Varney

In Nov 1659 he and John Knowlton were “chosen to measure a parcel of fence which Rogger Presson set up for Will. Cogswell” (Essex Quarterly Courts 2:187). About 1662 “Thomas Varnye, upon his presentment for misdemeanors, was fined” (2:383). In 1662-63 he was in a marsh quarrel: he and William Warriner testified “that as they were mowing in this marsh, John Marshall forwarned them” (2:435), and Robert Crosse then sued “Thomas Varney, Jo. Marshall, Edmond Marshall and William Warrener. Trespass. For mowing grass on his marsh, after being forewarned. Verdict for defendants” (3:86, Sept 1663). He signed his own name on a Chebacco petition of about 1668 (4:76). His mother’s will of 1671 left him “Seaven Sheepe” (5:119).

In 1676 he testified in the Cogswell estate suit that after John Cogswell Jr. died, “his son John lived with his uncle William and was very sickly a greater part of the time” (6:154). That William Cogswell was the grandfather of his future daughter-in-law, Abigail Cogswell.

In 1679 “Thomas Varny, aged about forty years, testified that he was at the house which was formerly his father Procter’s, and heard Joseph say to John that he might as well stay and take his share of the fifty pounds. He was then going away and seemed to be angry” (Essex Quarterly Courts 7:218). On 25 June 1679 he answered in court “for his wife,” one of the Chebacco people who acknowledged “that ‘we are conuinced that wee haue offended in being actiue to erect a meting hous contrary to the aduis and prohobession of the Counsell’” (7:245). He signed the Ipswich petition of 1692 for his brother-in-law John Proctor and Proctor’s wife Elizabeth (Salem Witchcraft Papers no. 107).

Children: Abigail (m. 1687 Josiah Burnham), Mary (b. 1669, m. 1690 Thomas Choate), Rachel (m. 1692 John Fellows), Thomas (b. 1682) and others. Rufus Choate descends from the marriage of Mary Varney and Thomas Choate.