Third Generation

5. Thomas ROOTE Sr. (=) (/)^6,8 was born on 16 January 1604/5 in Badby, Northamptonshire, England.^1,8,10,11

He was baptized on 16 January 1604/5 in Badby, Northamptonshire, England.⁸ He emigrated about 1637 from Badby, Northamptonshire, England.^8,12,13,14 He originally came to Salem, Mass., in 1637 on the Hercules. About 1639, he moved to Hartford, Conn., and, in 1654, to Northampton, Mass.

Quote from "Root Genealogical Records" written by James Pierce Root, 1870: "He was among the first settlers of Hartford, CT, where he lived for many years, and where his children were born. His name is mentioned in the list of proprietors of undivided lands in 1639, and can be found in the old graveyard in Hartford, in the rear of the Center Church, erected by the Ancient Burial Ground Association in memory of the first settlers of the city. He was a considerable landholder there, and one parcel of the land assigned to him was located on what is now (1870) North Main Street, about a mile west of the State House.

After a residence of about fifteen years in Hartford, he removed with his six sons and one daughter and settled in Northampton, Mass., on the 9th day of May, 1654, as one of the planters of what was then called Nonotuck. In the Massachusetts Colonial Documents we find that in 1659, on petition, he was appointed one of the selectmen. He was both farmer and weaver of cloth. His record of lands assigned him by the town is dated 7th Dec., 1659.
On the 18th of June, 1661, the parish church was gathered, and the Rev. Eleazar Mather was ordained as pastor and teacher of the flock. Among the eight pillars of the church thus organized was Thomas Roote. It is believed by some that he was a deacon of the church. The old Roote homestead in Northampton was on King street, opposite where the Roman Catholic church now stands, and it has only within a few years been torn down.

Thomas Roote died at a very advanced age, on the 17th of July, 1694, age 89, naming his children in his will, and mentioning that he lived with his son Jonathan at the old homestead. The name of Thomas Roote's wife is not known."

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Thomas lived at his home in Westfield, Hampden County, MA about 1668.¹⁵ From the Chronology of Westfield: "Grants were confirmed, January 9th, (1668) to George Phelps, Isaac Phelps, Thomas Noble, David Ashley, Rev. John Holyoke, the minister, John Ponder, and Hugh Dudley on Fort side (Main street); Capt. Aaron Cook, Mr. James Cornish, Thomas Dewey, John Osborn, and John Ingersoll on South side (Little River street), to be settled with families by November 10, 1668.

Thomas Gun, John Williams, Ambrose Fowler, Jonathan Alford, bought in the Cooper tract.

John Ponder, Thomas Gun, John Root, Thomas Root, George Typer, Joseph Whiting, had homelots on south side of Main street, west of Dudley's lot.

In March Union street was laid out, also Capt. Aaron Cook opened the first tavern on Little River street."
He died on 17 July 1694 at the age of 89 in Northampton, Hampshire County, MA.^1,9,10,16
Thomas Root was an original proprietor of Hartford, CT,1636, and should not be confused with a man of the same name who lived in Salem, MA. He was a soldier in the Pequot War, 1637, and received a lot in Soldiers' Field, Hartford. He was a farmer and a weaver, and owned considerable land in Hartford; one parcel was located on what is now North Main Street about a mile west of the State House. He removed with his family to Northampton, MA, in May 1654, being one of the founders of that plantation, which was then called Nonotuck. He was appointed one of the Selectmen in 1659, and was one of the eight "pillars" of the church which was organized 18 June 1661.

Thomas ROOTE Sr. (=) (/) and Sarah "Elizabeth" GALE (=) (/) were married on 23 December 1638 in Farmington Township, Hartford County, CT.^9,10,16 (According to the Richard Ripley Research, his wife's name was Elizabeth, and they married 23 Dec 1638 in Hartford, CT.) Sarah "Elizabeth" GALE (=) (/)⁶ was born about 1618 in England, United Kingdom.^10,16 (The Richard Ripley research lists her given name as Elizabeth; other sources list it as Sarah.)

Thomas ROOTE Sr. (=) (/) and Sarah "Elizabeth" GALE (=) (/) had the following children: