Thomas Makepeace

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁶²²
The earliest record of the Makepeace name in this country is:
"The 25th of the 7 month, Sept. 1637.
"At a meeting, this day, of Thomas Olyvar, Thomas Leveritt, William Hutchinson, William Coulborne, John Coggeshall, John Sanford, William Balstone, and James Penne;--It is agreed that Mr. Thomas Makepeace shall have a house plot and garden place." [City Clerk Office. (Boston) Vol. i. p.45, 1637, Sept. 25]

In 1638, Thomas Makepeace was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, being one of the original members of this company, which formed in 1638. Mr. Makepeace appears to have been a person of some consequence and of considerable wealth. Further transcripts of the Boston Records have the following record, "The 25th day of the 1st month, called March, 1639. Further, at this meeting it appeared by a writing, dated the first day of August, 1638, that Mr. John Underhill hath surrendered unto Mr. Thomas Makepeace, of Dorchester, his house in Boston, with an hundred acres of upland ground at Muddy River, and ten acres of mea don, or marsh ground, there; and his share of woodlands in the Islands, with a garden at the house, and another behind Mr. Parker's house, to the quantity of half an acre, and somewhat more; and, also near half an acre upon the Fort Hill, for the sum of an hundred pound." [City Clerk Office. (Boston) Vol. i. p. 93]

By 2 Jun 1641, Thomas Makepeace lived at Dorchester, where he owned land. About this time, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Mellowes of Boston as his second wife. The record of their marriage is found in the First Church, Boston, and reads, "The 25th day of ye 5th Mon : 1641. Mrs. Elizabeth Makepeace, lately called Mrs. Elizabeth Mellowes, but now ye wife of Mr. Makepeace, of Dorchester was granted Ire of Recommendation thether."

Mr. Thomas Makepeace was an early friend of free schools. In 1641, he and other owners, conveyed the whole of rents and profits of Thompson's Island to the town of Dorchester, for the support of a free school. [1641, NEHGR, vol. 5, pg. 391]

The Suffolk Registry of deeds has many entries for Thomas Makepeace. In the Records of Massachusetts the following is found dated 2 Jun 1653, "In answer to the petition of Mr. Thomas Makepeace, and William, his sonne, the Court, on p'vsall of indenture, attachment, and the lawe, title Masters and Servants, do declare, that the proceedings of Mr. Hutchinson in reference to William Makepeace, the apprentice, to bee without and against lawe," &c. City Clerk Office. (Boston) Vol. iv. p. 150]

In 1654, Thomas Makepeace was in the "Narragansett Expedition" against the Native Americans, for which he received pay from the treasury of Massachusetts Bay.

Thomas Makepeace, died Feb/Jan 1622 at the age of "nere 70 years." His will is dated 30 Jun 1666, Boston. The inventory is dated 2 Mar 1666/67, and was proved 8 Mar 1666/67. "Whole amount of Inventory, £291 07s. 01d. One dwelling house and ground, £180 00s. 00d. included in the £291 07s. 01d."

From Thomas Makepeace's will it is obvious that he came from England becuase he had given his "eldest sonn," "his portion formerly, the house and land in England, he being the heir to it," &c.
His children were:


• Thomas, very little is known about the eldest son, except that it appears from Thomas, Sr.'s will that Thomas, Jr. moved to England.
• William, b. abt. 1633, England, m. 23 May 1661, Ann Johnson
• Hannah, m. Stephen Hoppin
• Mary, m. Lawrence Willis
• Hester, or Ester, m. 24 Feb 1655, John Browne; m. 2nd, 5 Jun 1656, Lawrence Willis of Bridgewater
• Waitawhile, m. 13 Sep 1661, Josiah Cooper, of Boston
• Joseph, bap. 20 Sept. 1646

~The Makepeace Family, pp. 1-24