Thomas Rogers Biography

Thomas1 Rogers, the Mayflower Passenger, who died in the first sickness, made his journey to the new world with his son Joseph, who survived. His wife did not come to America. Gov. Bradford says “The rest of Thomas Rogers came over, & are married, & have many children.” According to Bowman, and substantiated by later research, only one of the children who came later has been identified, viz.: John2 Rogers, who married Ann Churchman.

Of Thomas little is known. Born by about 1572, son of William and Eleanor (____) Rogers, Watford, Northamptonshire [TGM 3: 1598 citing The Genealogist] In 1619 he sued a baker and a miller of Leiden to free a lien on his house, and perhaps in preparation for his journey, won the suit and was awarded court costs. (NEHGR 143:207). He had bought this house in 1616/7 and sold it April, 1620 (Ibid.)

Thomas Rogers (William)was born in Watford, Northamptonshire CA 1572.Thomas died 1621 in Plymouth, Barnstable, at 49 years of age.

He married Alice Cosford before 24 October 1597 in Watford, Northamptonshire. Alice, as Joseph Rogers’s mother, presented him at his baptism. Alice became the mother of Joseph Rogers before 1602 in England or Holland. Alice became the mother of John Rogers before 1606 in England or Holland. Alice, as John Rogers’s mother, presented him at his baptism 06 April 1606. Alice became the mother of Elizabeth or (Lysbeth) Rogers before 1609. Alice, as Elizabeth or (Lysbeth) Rogers’s mother, presented her at her baptism 26 December 1609. Alice became the mother of Margaret (Grietgen) Rogers before 1613. Alice, as Margaret (Grietgen) Rogers’s mother, presented her at her baptism 30 May 1613.

As Joseph Rogers’s father, Thomas, presented him at his baptism. Thomas became the father of Joseph Rogers before 1602 in England or Holland. Thomas became the father of John Rogers before 1606 in England or Holland. As John Rogers’s father, Thomas, presented him at his baptism 06 April 1606. Thomas became the father of Elizabeth or (Lysbeth) Rogers before 1609. As Elizabeth or (Lysbeth) Rogers’s father, Thomas, presented her at her baptism 26 December 1609. Thomas was employed at as a Merchant in Leyden, Holland after 1610. Thomas became the father of Margaret (Grietgen) Rogers before 1613. He was listed on a passenger list 5 August 1620 sailing on the “Mayflower”.

Thomas Rogers Mayflower Familes through Five Generations Vol 2, pg 153

Thomas Rogers alleged descent from John Rogers the Martyr was disproved in the 19th century by Joseph Chester and Henry F. Walters. Banks notes that taxpayers named Thomas Rogers, Christopher Martin and John Hooke appear in the London parish of St. Bartholomew the Great early in 1620, but there is no proof that these were the Mayflower passengers.

Our earliest known encounter with Pilgrim Thomas Rogers was on 25 June 1618 when he became a citizen of Leiden, Holland, vouched for by William Jepson, formerly of Worksop, Notts., and by Roger Wilson, formerly of Sandwich, Kent Co. Engalnd. Banks therefore speculates that Rogers might have been from one of those towns. On 1 April 1620 Thomas sold his Leiden house on the Barbarasteeg for 300 guilders, in preparation for the journey to New England.

Governor Bradford says in his history of the Plymouth settlement that on board the Mayflower were “Thomas Rogers and Joseph his son; his other children came afterwards……Thomas Rogers died in the first sickness but his son Joseph is still living (1650) and is married and hath six children. The rest of Thomas Rogers’ [children] came over and are married and have many children.” Therefore we know that Thomas and his son Joseph arrived at Cape Cod aboard the ship Mayflower and on 11 November 1620 according to their calendar, or 21 November on ours, Thomas was one of forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. Thomas did not live through the rigorous winter which carried off half the group but young Joseph, like so many of the children, did survive.

Recent discoveries show that Thomas had a family living in Leiden, Holland, when the 1622 Poll Tax was taken. In the Over “t Hoff Quarter, in a house with other Pilgrim families in St. Peter’s Churchyard west-side, were Jan Thomas, orphan from England without means; Elsgen Rogiers, widow of Thonis Rogiers, an Englishwoman; and Lysbeth and Grietgen her children, poor people. Translated this could read John, son of Thomas; Elizabeth Rogers, widow of Thomas; and Elizabeth and Margaret, her children. At that period the word orphan meant that either or both parents were dead.

In the 1623 Plymouth Colony land division, Joseph Rogers was allotted two acres-one for himself and one on behalf of his late father. He may have been living in the household of Governor Bradford with who he was grouped on 22 May 1627, in the division of cattle. Joseph and twelve other inhabitants of Plymouth received “an heyfer of the last year which was of the Great white-back cow that was brought over in the Ann and two shee goats.”

Governor Bradford’s statement that the rest of Thomas Rogers’ children came over and married and had children, seems clearly to indicate that more than one of his children came to New England after 1620. We know that his son John came to Plymouth about 1630. Although many other male Rogers immigrants have been claimed as sons of Thomas the Pilgrim, none of the claims has been proved and some have been disproved. Therefore it seems likely that at least one of the Rogers daughters who were living in Holland in 1622 came over. John and Joseph Rogers each named a daughter Elizabeth, perhaps thereby indicating that their sister Elizabeth lived in New England. Unfortunately extensive research has failed to uncover any further evidence.

John Rogers came to Plymouth about 1630, when the last of the Leiden contingent arrived and was in Plymouth Colony on 25 March 1633 when he was taxed 9 shillings. The proof of his identity lies in a grant made 6 April 1640 to “Joseph Rogers and John Rogers his brother…fifty acres apeece of upland….at the North River.” Both then had growing families to carry forward the Rogers heritage, although only Joseph’s descendants would carry forward the Rogers name beyond the fourth generation.”

Records in Leiden of the 1622 poll tax show his family living there in the back part of a house owned by separatist Anthony Clements, and including John, son of Thomas; Elizabeth Rogers, widow of Thomas; and Elizabeth and Margaret, her children.

Upon Thomas’ death, Joseph may have lived with Governor Bradford. Joseph came in 1530. Many have claimed for Thomas other male descendants, none of which had been proved by the publication date of Mayflower Family Volume Two, Thomas Rogers, and it is there noted one has been disproved, i.e., William Rogers of Connecticut and Long Island.

Children of Thomas1 Rogers

John2 Rogers (Thomas1), married Ann(a) Churchman.

Joseph2 Rogers married Hannah _____

Lysbeth, living 1622, and may have come over, but no further record

Grietgen (or Margaret) living 1622, may have come over, but no further record.

Children of John2 and Ann(a) Churchman Rogers

John3 Rogers, married, 1st, Elizabeth Pabodie3 (Elizabeth2 Alden, John1); married, 2d, Hannah (Hobart) Brown; married, 3d, Marah (—) Browning, a widow.

(H)Anna3 Rogers, married, 1st, John Tisdale; married, 2d, Thomas Terry; married 3d, Samuel Williams (Taunton Family)

Abigail3 Rogers, married John Richmond as his second wife.

Elizabeth3 Rogers, married Nathaniel Williams.(Taunton Family)

Joseph2 Rogers (Thomas1), and Hannah _______. (She may not have been his only wife, nor the mother of his children MF5G V2:157) A copy of his will is written in the Plymouth Colony Record Book.

Children of Joseph2 and Hannah Rogers
Sarah3 Rogers, died in infancy.
Joseph3 Rogers, married Susanne Deane. No known issue. In a court record of 1660, a John Hawes of Yarmouth was found not guilty of “takeing away the life of Josephth Rogers of Eastham by giveing him a most deadly fall . . .(MF5G V:158)”

Thomas3 Rogers, married Elizabeth Snow3 (Constance2 Hopkins, Stephen1).
Elizabeth3 Rogers, married Jonathan Higgins. His first wife. (See Hannah)
John3 Rogers, married Elizabeth Twining.
Mary3 Rogers, married John Phinney.
James3 Rogers, married Mary Paine4 (Mary Snow3, Constance2 Hopkins, Stephen1).
Hannah3 Rogers, the second wife of Jonathan Higgins, who married her sister Elizabeth for his first wife; (Bowman was uncertain, but MF5G V2:163 accepts it)