Thomas Morehouse

   Another name for Thomas was Thomas Morehous.

  Birth Notes:

Speculation based on churchbook records at Stepney, St. Dunstan's Church, London.

  Burial Notes:

Probably buried in southeastern part of the old cemetary in Fairfield.

  Noted events in his life were:

• History: It is generally assumed that the Morehouse line originated in the moors of Yorkshire: England.

• Immigration: from England, 1620's, America. Thomas is considered to be the original ancestor of all the early "Morehouses" of America. At least one branch of his descendents spell their name "Morehous".

• Property: Holdings adjoining those of Thomas Sherwood, 1630's, Wethersfield. CT.

• Property: One of original 29 white settlers, 1640, Stamford, CT. About 1640 he sold his Wethersfield property and with others removed to a purchase which had been made from the Indians, which was called Toquama, and later Rippowana and afterwards Stamford.

• Residence, May 3, 1649, Stamford, CT. Listed as "two dwelling houses, two barns and outhouses belonging hereunto with two house lots containing six acres, more or less; bounded by John Chapman on ye north and Every Sharon on ye south butting ye highways on the west to widow estate. Eight other pieces are described."

• Residence, Aug 6, 1653, Fairfield, Fairfield, CT. In 1653 he removed to Fairfield and on August 6 purchased twenty-four acres of land on Sasco Hill, a beautiful location near the Sound. At the same time he purchased from Henry Jackson the only grist mill at that time in the town.

• Honors, Sep 1653, Fairfield, Fairfield, CT.

• Will Filed, Aug 1658. 1/3 of estate left to wife Isabel ("if wife is with child"); a double portion to his eldest son Samuel, homestead, mill and mill lot, which he was not to sell without the consent of the town; and further distributes his estate among his sons Thomas, John, Jonathan, and daughters Mary and Ann. He mentions daughter Hannah, to whom he had already given a full portion.

Thomas married Elizabeth Pindar, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, in Aug 1624 in London, Middlesex, England. (Elizabeth Pindar was born in England.)

  Marriage Notes:

A marriage between one Thomas Morehouse and Elizabeth Pindar is recorded in England as noted. Whether this marriage pertains to Thomas the immigrant is speculative. There is a cloud of uncertainty about whether Thomas was married before or after he emigrated from England and whether his children are from his first or possibly subsequent wife or wives. One story has him marrying in England with his first wife dying on the voyage over or shortly thereafter, and his children being the issue of a second marriage. There is also confusion about whether he or his son Thomas was married to Isabel Keeler, daughter of Ralph Keeler. However, her age and other records seem to indicate rather clearly that Isabel Keeler must have been his son's wife, not his. The name Isabel is considered by some to be a plausable contraction of Elizabeth, and this notion supposedly explains some of the confusion that surrounds these matters.