Thomas Carter (1610-1675) England to Salisbury, Massachsuetts

Cathedral of St. Albans

English Origins 
Thomas Carter of Salisbury, Massachusetts was born in England around 1610, his origins and parents are unknown.  In 1635 he was listed on the manifest for the ship "The Planter" bound for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  He was 25 years old and a servant to man named George Giddings. 

George was a yeoman originally from Clapham in Bedfordshire. In 1634/5 he married a young lady from a prosperous family  from St. Albans, Hertfordshire. The wife's name was Jane Lawrence and her family seem to have been the impetus to leave for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her mother, step father and sibling also sailed on the Planter.  It seems likely that  Thomas Carter and the other "servants" were also  from. St. Albans. George probably paid Thomas' passage in return of a set amount of years labor.  The ship manifest reads:

2 April 1635

 theis underwritten are to be transported to New England, imbarqued in The Planter, Nicolas Frarice, Mr. bound thither, the parties have brought certificates from the Minister of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, and attestecon from the justices of peace according to the Lords order. 

Those underwritten were George Giddings age 25, his wife Jane age 20, their servants Thomas Carter age 25, Michael Willinson age 30 and Elizabeth Morrison age 12.

George, Jane and Thomas settled first in Ipswich.  In 1638 Thomas was made a Freeman, which implied church membership, and a release from his indenture. He was granted land in Ipswich that year, but did not stay long. The Giddings family  remained in Ipswich and apparently did quite well for themselves. 

Three Thomas Carters There were three contemporary Thomas Carters, each with a wife named Mary, in Massachusetts and their histories are all mixed up on Ancestry.com, so proceed with caution if you are looking for background on Thomas. This Thomas was not married to either Mary Dalton or Mary Parkhurst, his wife's maiden name remains unknown. For a bio of Thomas Carter of Woburn see The blog of Heather Wilkinson, Nutfield Genealogy.

Salisbury Thomas was married by the 1641 birth of his and his wife's first child.  They had nine children all told, all who lived to adulthood save one.  By 1641, Thomas was living in Salisbury, Massachusetts.  He was one of the first proprietors of that town. Thomas, unlike some of his neighbors, kept his name out of the courts, so little is known about him. In 1664 he made his mark on the agreement to create the new settlement of Amesbury.  He served on the Essex Grand Jury in 1666. 

RIP His will was written on 30 Oct 1676 and it was proved by 14 November of that same year. He named his wife Mary in his will, so she outlived him. He gave each of his five living daughters 5 pounds and split the rest of his estate between his two living sons, John and Samuel, and his wife Mary. 

Children of Thomas and Mary Carter
1.  Mary b. Oct 6, 1641 m. Joseph Lancaster named in her father's 1676 will
2.  Thomas b. 1643 d. Aug. 14, 1669
3.  Martha b. Feb 1645 died young
4.  Martha b. March 1647 named in father's will 
5.  Elizabeth b. April 1649, named in father's will

6. John Carter was born in Salisbury, Massachusetts 18 May 1650. He took the oath of fidelity in 1677. He married by 1681 to Martha Brown of Salisbury, daughter of William Brown. William Brown is most known for his outrageous accusations and testimony against Susanna North Martin who lost her life as a result of his and others testimony during the Salem witch trials. 
7. Abigail b. Feb 1652/3 m. Stephen Flanders, Jr. 
8. Samuel b. Oct. 25, 1656 
9. Sarah b. ? m. April 1681 John Davis


Sources:
Hoyt, Old Familes of Salisbury and Amesbury
Henry Sweetser Burbage, Genealogy and Family History of the State of Maine