So I've been working on this, um, sort of biography, of my 4th great grandfather the last week. His name was Thomas West. He was a junior, meaning his father was named Thomas as well. But the funny part is, so was his grandfather. And still later there are another two Thomas' after him. How does a family keep these names straight? A nickname? Is that where Tommy came from? I find that when I start talking to cousins about Thomas here, I have to give his date of birth or some other thing to remember him by. He seems to get called Capt. Thomas West in many written accounts, so I just go with that. But back to this Thomas West biography of sorts. It's hard. I get stuck at times, as I write, trying to add information that seems important, yet trying to balance it with what I think might be more interesting, er, more fun. But I don't wanna get bogged down right now, so I'm just throwing in the information, thinking that's what everyone wants to know. And then I'll edit, massage, and beautify it later. God willing. Anyway, this is my first post. Ever. In a blog. I'll post the story of Thomas when I'm done.
Francis West marries Margery Reeves in early 1639 in Duxbury. She is said to be from England, the Isle of Wright specifically. But there's no proof. Early writings about her say she may have come over as a servant of some family, as an unattached woman in the Colony would be unheard of. Additionally, in one writing, Carlton Prince West goes on to say, "no Reeves family, including the possible variants of Reaves and Rives, has been found in the area of southeastern Massachusetts." So she cannot be placed. But I'm confused. It's clear there is another Reaves family (different spelling) living very close by to our Francis and Margery. Not only that, but this other Reaves family has a daughter named Mary Margaret Reaves that marries James Skiffe in 1637 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony. Though I guess this is suspect too, as Sandwich doesn't appear to be settled until 1639. But what's a few years in early American history? So this James ...
Comments
Post a Comment