GENERATION 10

GENERATION 9

Biography

THOMAS NOBLE was the emigrant ancestor of the largest family in the United States bearing the name of Noble. He was born as early as 1632, probably in some part of England, and died in Westfield, Hampden, MA, Jan. 20, 1704 at the age of 72. His exact origin and early history are obscure, the place of his birth, the names of his parents, and the year in which he came to this country likewise unknown. He was, without doubt here in 1653, and was the man mentioned by Drake (History of Boston, p. 331) as "admitted on the 5th day of January of that year, an inhabitant of Boston." The same year he removed to Springfield, Hampden, MA, and opened an account at the store of John Pynchon. Though not one of the founders, he may be considered as one of the early settlers of that ancient town, the first settlement having been made in 1636, only seventeen years before.

A few years after removing to Springfield, he visited England, as appears from an account book of Mr. Pynchon. On the 1st of September, 1657, he was indebted to Pynchon for the amount of £32 3s. 6d., on which account is this item:

"To what I pd. for yor passage to and fro. Engld., and for yor charges (beside what I give you) as in my pocket booke, £16 00. 00."

On Dec. 8, 1664, in connection with several of his townsmen, Samuel Marshfield, THOMAS MILLER and Elizur Holyoke, he had liberty granted him to erect a saw-mill, on the west side of the Connecticut. They were also granted 30 acres of meadow land, which would be theirs after three years of operating the mill.

It is said that THOMAS "lived beyond his means", and as a result found himself in debt to Henry Smith and John Pynchon. To resolve the debt he was forced, in 1667, to turn over his house and lands. In the hope of improving his situation, and to provide for his growing family, he joined with those who were beginning a new settlement in Westfield, Hampden, MA. Lands were granted to him there on the condition he settle upon them before the last of May, 1667. Upon failing to meet the settlement date, he forfeited the grant, but it was renewed with a new date and then extended to another date. He eventually settled there in January 1668/69.

THOMAS was voted to be one of four citizens of Westfield, to go to Springfield and determine where the boundary line would be between Springfield and Westfield. His residence in Westfield was about two and a half miles from the present center of town, on the farm where his son THOMAS afterwards resided and which remained in the family until the death in 1791 of his great-grandson, Lt. Stephen Noble.

He was chosen Constable of Westfield on Apr. 7, 1674; took the oath of allegiance to his Majesty on Jan. 23, 1678; joined Westfield church on Feb. 20, 1681; and was made a freeman on Sep. 26, 1682. The Hampshire County records show that about this time he was found guilt and fined for "travelling on the Fast day."

The town of Westfield, on Sep. 6, 1685, granted to THOMAS NOBLE, in connection with Isaac Phelps, Nataniel Weller and DAVID ASHLEY, liberty to erect a saw-mill "on the brook on the northeast side of the river." At a town meeting on Sep. 22, 1691, he was chosen to represent Westfield in the settling of the boundary between Westfield and Suffield.

THOMAS married HANNAH WARRINER on Nov. 1, 1660. She joined the Westfield church on Nov. 11, 1680, a few months prior to THOMAS. She married second, Deacon Medad Pomeroy of Northampton, Hampshire, MA, on Jan. 24, 1705. He was born Aug. 19, 1638, the son of Eltweed Pomeroy. She then removed to Northampton. Medad was a blacksmith and town clerk for many years. His first wife was Experience Woodward, younger sister of FREEDOM WOODWARD. His second wife was Abigail Strong, sister of JEDEDIAH STRONG.