homas2 Landers (Thomas1),
born about 1658, died in Rochester shortly after 16 Feb. 1730/1.homas2 Landers (Thomas1),
born about 1658, died in Rochester shortly after 16 Feb. 1730/1.
He married, about 1688, Deborah Freeman, daughter of Edmund2 and Margaret (Perry) Freeman of Sandwich, born in Sandwich 9 Aug. 1665 (May. Des., 14:110). She survived her husband and was living 12 May 1732.
He probably received land from his father at his marriage, and doubtless lived on this Sandwich property until after the birth of his sixth child in 1699. The birth of the next child was recorded in Rochester in 1702, which indicates that he settled there about the turn of the century. The Rochester proprietors’ records show that he owned land there by 12 Feb. 1704/5. A deed dated 22 Jan. 1705/6 shows that Thomas Landers of Rochester in the county of Barnstable bought for £4 from Joseph Benson Jr., a 20-acre lot described as recorded in the Plymouth proprietors’ records. This instrument was acknowledged 14 Jan. 1716/7 but not recorded until 20 May 1724 (Plymouth County Deeds, 18:11). It is genealogically fortunate that this deed was not promptly recorded, because, until 1707 Rochester was in Barnstable County, and that county’s land records were destroyed in the 1827 fire. By a deed of 8 May 1716 he sold for £25 a 40-acre tract in Rochester to Benjamin Landers, his son, also of Rochester (ibid., 12:98).
A deed, dated 30 Oct. 1723, acknowledged same day and recorded 13 Dec. 1723, of Thomas Landers of Rochester, yeoman, conveys1
"for diverse good causes... twenty pounds and for... love and affection... to my son Benjamin Landers of sd Rochester, husbandman... all my Real Estate, consisting of Housing and lands with the rights and appurtenances thereof, whatsoever and wheresoever it may be found, all my stock and creatures and all my moveable estate without doors and within... provided always upon condition, nevertheless, that I the sd Thomas Landers and Deborah my now present wife, shall have and receive the profits and income of the sd Estate during our and each of our natural lives and the sd Benjamin Landers shall defray the charge of a decent funeral both for me and my sd wife Deborah and allow and pay ye sum of £15, either he or his executors, administrators or heirs, unto my three daughters or the heirs of such, in money as shall pass from man to man at the time of payment. That is to say, £5 to my daughter Anna and £5 to my daughter Deborah and £5 to my daughter Jane. All within one year after mine or my wife’s decease and also pay all just debts that I shall owe at my decease." Witnessed by William Raymond and Timothy Ruggles. Acknowledged same day and recorded 13 Dec. 1723 (ibid., 17:68).
From this deed it is clear that it was Benjamin Landers with whom the parents and three unmarried daughters lived. However, seven years later, in February 1730/1, the eldest brother, Nathan3 Landers, bought the property from Benjamin and, assuming the responsibility for the care of the parents, agreed to pay the promised sums to his three spinster sisters (ibid., 26:123).
Neither the dates of death nor the places of burial for Thomas2 and Deborah (Freeman) Landers have come to light. But that she survived him and was still living in 1732 is proved by a deed dated 12 May 1732, when her eldest son Nathan Landers of Rochester disposed of a tract of land to David Besse. This instrument relates that the property was the same which Benjamin Landers had received from his father and the conveyance was made "always upon condition, nevertheless, that my Honoured Mother, Deborah Landers, shall receive the profits and income from ye sd estate during her natural life and that sd David Besse, his heire... shall defray the charge of a decent funeral for my sd Mother and allow and pay the sum of £10 unto my two sisters, or their heirs, that is to say £5 to my sister Deborah and £5 to my sister Jane, within one year after my mother’s decease." Witnessed (at Barnstable) same day, by Silas and Mary Bourne (ibid., 27:107). This deed makes clear that Anna had received her share, no doubt at her marriage in 1724, and that the other two girls were still single.
Children, first five recorded in Sandwich, the last two in Rochester (May. Des., 29:73; Vital Records of Rochester, vol. 1, p. 198).
[Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, "Thomas1 Landers of Sandwich, Mass.," NEHGR 124:46-48]
Born in Sandwich; married Deborah Freeman, dau. of Edmund Freeman, Jr. and g.dau. of Edmund Freeman, Sr. who was a passenger in the "Abigail" with Thomas Landers (1).
He buys land in Rochester, Mass. Jan. 22, 1705-6.
He was a tithing man Mar. 25, 1707.
His wife Deborah was an Original Member of Wareham Church. She died 27 Oct., 1744. [Landers Lineage: Landers Blue Print 1613-1912; Iowa State Historical Society]
