Thomas Burgess b. Abt 1628 Of, Sandwich, Plymouth, Massachusetts d. Abt 1687 Of, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island: Lineagekeeper's Genealogy

*Thomas Burge, Junir, being bound ouer to the Court to answare for an act of vncleanes comitted by him with Lydia Gaunt, hee was sentance, accordingly to the law, to bee seuerly whipt, which accordingly was enflicted whiles this Court was in being, and a 2cond time to bee whipt att Sandwich, att the discrestion of Mr Hinckley, on the first Munday in July next after the date heerof; and as conserning the capitall letters to bee worne according to the law, it is for the psent respitied vntillthe Court shall descerne beter of his future walkeing.

And wheras Elizabeth, the late wife of the said Thomas Burge, did vrgently sollicite the Court for a diuorse, the said Thomas Burge manifesting little dislike therof, and some of theire relations concurring therin, the Court, considering the nature of the fact, together with the pticulars mencioned, did see cause to graunt the said Elizabeth herdesire, and therefore doe heerby declare, that henceforth they, the said Thomas and Elizabeth, are not to bee reputed husband and wife each to other, but are cleared of theire marriage bond, and are fully and clearly divorced; furthermore, the Court doth allow and determine, that the said Elizabeth, the late wife of the said Thomas Burge consenting ther vnto, att the sametime the Court did allow her an old cotten be and bolster, a pillow, asheet, and two blanketts, that were with the paire of sheets, with someother smale things that are in Willam Bassetts hands, to the vallue of forty shillings.

*The Court haue ordered and appointed Mr Thomas Hinckley to see the Courts order executed on Thomas Burge, Junir, of Sandwich, viz, to bee publickly whipt, att the discretion of the said Mr Hinckley, for the fact of vncleanes the said Burg comitted with Lydia Gaunt, of Sandwich aforsaid; this to bee executed att Sandwich with all convenient speed, according to the law in that case prouided.

THOMAS BURGESS was divorced by Elizabeth Bassett in 1661 after he was brought to court for an act of uncleanness with Lydia Gaunt(the first divorce in Plymouth Colony), and the Court allowed Elizabeth to keep small things "that are in William Basset's hands.

Source: Plymouth Colony Its History & People 1620-1691 by Eugene Aubrey Stratton

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/ cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=butchrose&id=I0025

Eldest son of Thomas the Pilgrim,enrolled to bear arms in 1643,probably 16 years old; served as town constable in 1643; subscribed to repair the meetinghouse & support the minister in 1657. In 1661 left the Plymouth Colony, moved to Newport, RI. Admitted a freeman in the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, served as a grand juror in 1667. Stratton, Eugene Aubrey; "Plymouth Colony Its History & People 1620-1691"

"The Records of the Colony of New England"=(PCR),pg 33. Stratton pg.243, "and a daughter Elizabeth,who married Thomas Burgess in 1648(PCR 8:6) and divorced him in in 1661 after he was brought to court for as act of uncleanness with Lydia Gaunt (the first divorce in Plymouth Colony)," details in the records of the General Court of the Plymouth Colony. That Thomas married first Elizabeth Bassett. They had no children and he "committed an unclean act" with Lydia Gaunt, resulting in the first divorce in the Plymouth Colony, and perhaps in the nation. The details of the trial and punishment are in the General Court proceedings(as are a lot of details about the life of the first Thomas, who sat on the General Court representing Sandwich off and on for 35 years). The younger Thomas was whipped at Plymouth, and again at Sandwich. Lydia may also have been whipped at Sandwich as well. He did not have to wear the scarlet letter, because he agreed to leave the Plymouth Colony and go to RI where Lydia's sister had already settled (the Gaunt family members were Anabaptists, and Mahitable (Lydia's sister) the wife of a Quaker governor of that colony). Lydia was 19 when they married in 1661 and he was 34.

NEHGR 9:313 Thomas Burgess is married to Elizabeth Bassett Nov 8, 1648.

Mary Burg the daftur of Thomas burdg & Sarah burdg his wife was born the 27 of november 1696 : Thomas Burdgs was born the 8 day of agust in the yeaar . 1698 :

Robert Bartlett, "cooper" of Plymouth, sold to Thomas Burge, Jr., of Newport, R. I., on 17/27 Febry 1670/1, for Ð50 current silver money,"one Moyety or halfe in Deale" of his share of land at Acushena in Dartmouth, also "one Moyety or halfe in Deale" of a share at Pascomansucke in Dartmouth, reserving to himself one third of the last named share,"whichsaid severall shares of land are a prte of the Purchasers land (Comonlysoe called) my selfe being one of the said Purchasers," [Col.Deeds,V:118]

Thomas Burgess[1, 2]

Thomas Burgess^{[1, 2]}