Salem is in Essex County, Massachusetts and was a significant seaport in early America. John Endicott obtained a patent from England and arrived there in 1628. Salem originally included much of the North Shore, including Marblehead. Salem Village also included Peabody and parts of Beverly, Middleton, Topsfield, Wenham and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
A constable was an elected official who was responsible for keeping the peace. His duties were more limited than the sheriff's. He apprehended and punished offenders, helped settle estates, and collected taxes.
Thomas Moore, Jr. was probably born in Southwold, Suffolk, England in the first decade of the 17th century. His parents were Thomas and Anne Moore. He was a shipwright and carpenter.
He came to Salem with his parents in 1630 or 1631.
He married Martha Youngs about 1635. She was the daughter of Reverend Christopher Youngs from Southwold, England.
Thomas and Martha's children probably included:
Thomas Moore (1639),
Martha Moore Symonds (c. 1638-1639, married second Captain John Symons),
Benjamin Moore (1640),
Nathaniel Moore (1642, married Sarah Vail),
Hannah Moore Symonds (1644 in Salem, married Richard Symons),
Elizabeth Moore Clarke (1646, married Richard Clarke),
Jonathan Moore (1649),
Mary Moore (1650), and
Sarah Moore Glover (married Samuel Glover).
Martha and Thomas were accepted as inhabitants of Salem in 1636 and were granted a fishing lot.
11th 5th mo. 1636 Thomas Moore soone to widow Moore & his wife are received for Inhabitants and may have one fishing lot on the neck. (Salem Town Records.)
Thomas was made a freeman on December 27, 1642 in Salem. During the time they lived in Salem he helped his mother build her house.
By 1644 they received dismissal papers from the Salem Church and some time after that, they moved to Southold, Long Island with a group led by Martha's brother, Reverend John Youngs.
In 1658, he was appointed as a deputy to the General Court and was chosen constable the same year.
Sometime during the 1670s, Martha died.
Thomas was a magistrate in 1673.
About 1680, Thomas married Katherine Wescott who was the widow of Thomas Doxy and of Daniel Lane.
Thomas died on June 27, 1691. His will was written on June 23 of that year.
Junior (Jr.) and Senior (Sr.) were used to distinguish family members with the same name and were not limited to fathers and sons. On this website, I have added the suffixes for clarity in some cases where they were not used originally.
Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.
