Thomas Wickham, Sr. & Sarah Goodrich

Thomas was born in England in 1623. His town of birth is uncertain, but the most likely town is Sodbury, near Bristol. He may have come to America from Rowley, Yorkshire with Rev. Ezekiel Rogers in 1638 (at age 15?). He would have left their company in New Haven before they went on to Rowley, MA to settle. A brother, Richard, may have stayed with the company.

He married Sarah Goodrich but not known if in England or America.

They had seven children:

Thomas appears first in Wethersfield when the birth of his son, Thomas, who died in infancy, is recorded in 1648.

In 1651, he appears in New Haven where our Thomas, Jr. was born and in 1652, he states that he is a stranger there. On August 3, 1652, in New Haven, Thomas was complained of for not paying his rate and for not bringing the name and birth of his child to the Secretary in season. He stated that being a stranger, he knew not the order. He was not fined but he was to work for Goodyear until his taxes were paid.

Court records show that Mrs. Wickham kept a dame school in New Haven in 1651, and a little girl when complained of for using "prophane" language ("by my soul" and "as I am a Christian") testified that she learned such language at Mrs. Wickham's school.

On May 20, 1658 in Wethersfield, Thomas was made a "freeman" and on August 17, 1658, signed a petition. That same year he recorded the property he had bought of Matthias Sension by the High Street common. Four years later, in 1662, the town gave his additional land and he bought the Thomas Tracy property in two pieces. He also obtained the Thomas Cater lot of 135 acres on the east side of the river, which was then where the present cove is. In 1664, he bought 400 pounds of wool of various Boston parties. He may have been a tanner by trade.

In 1673, Thomas and Sarah gave the Matthias Sension property to their son, Thomas, Jr., who was about to marry. This property had a house, a warehouse, and a cellar.

Thomas died January 11, 1689 at age 66 in Wethersfield. He left no will and we don't know where he is buried. Sarah outlived Gideon by 11 years and died January 7, 1700 when she was probably in her late 70's.

Sarah left a will (inventory 21 pounds) stating that she was in a weak and helpless condition and at the great charge and care of her eldest son, Thomas, to whom she left her estate, except for some small legacies to her other children.

Bibliography

• Bib. 2, Ancient Wethersfield, Volume I, p. 313 & Volume II, p. 789.
• Bib. 15, Wickham, p. 1
• Bib. 23, Wickham-Ballard, p. 4