| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | First Generation1. THOMAS Tenny (Immigrant) was born in 1614 in England. He died on 20 February 1699/1700 in Bradford, Massachusetts. Thomas Tenney, a member of the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers' company from Yorkshire, England, arrived at Salem, Mass., in December, 1638, and settled at Rowley, Mass., in April, 1639. (Gage's Hist, Rowley.) In a deposition taken at Ipswich, Mass., 4 May, 1680, Mr. Tenney testifies in relation to an ox pasture in Rowley, and at that date he gave his age as about sixty-six years. (Ipswich Deeds, 4:329.) This would have made him twenty-four years old when he emigrated to America with his wife, Ann, who was mentioned in the will of Deacon Thomas Mighill, as sister " Ann Tenney " and Faith Parrat, Sen., said will dated 11 June, 1654. Deacon Mighill of Rowley, Mass., brought with him, wife Ellen, who was buried 12 July, 1640, and the first person buried there. He married (2) Ann Parrat, sister to Francis Parrat, who brought with him, besides hia wife, Elizabeth, his sisters, Ann, who married Dea. Thomas Mighill, and Faith, who married John Smith, and (2) William Law (Early Settlers of Rowley). Mrs. Tenney was buried 26 Sept., 1657. He married 24 Feb., 1658, his second wife, Elizabeth, widow of Francis Parrat of Rowley. It does not appear that they had children. Mrs. Elizabeth Tenney received by bequest of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers £10 in 1660-1 (Essex Deeds, Ipswich, 168). In the will of Robert Hunter, viz., "to Thomas Tenney I give 10 s, dated 5, 6 mo., 1647: proved 28, 7, 1647 (Ipswich Record, Vol. 1, leaf 25), Thomas Tenney, a witness to the will of John Smith of Rowley, 13 July, 1661: on file No. 22590, used only one e in Tenny." A survey of the town of Rowley was ordered the 10 of the llth month, A. D., 1643; a committee of four freemen were appointed. Freemen were members of the church, taxpayers, voters, could hold oftice, and they only until 1664, when the law was abolished by the General Court. In this survey of 1643 an acre-and-a-half house-lot on Holmes street was registered to Thomas Tenney, " bounded on the south side by John Haseltine's house-lot, and the east end by the streete." (Gage, 123.) It was bounded on the north side by the two-acre house-lot of Robert Haseltine. This lot is now owned and occupied by the Primes, having been purchased of Daniel Tenney by Mark Prime in 1701, and has had a store thereon ever since. It is now bounded on the south by the homestead of George B. Blodgette, Esq. The house erected by Thomas Tenney, Senior, was torn down by Captain Daniel N. Prime in 1838. "In a Survey of the Several Gates or Commonages belonging vnto The Severall Inhabitants of the Town of Rowley as They are now in possession," taken 4 February, 1661, are the following entries to Thomas Tenney and his wife, Elizabeth:— " To Thomas Tenney as to an acre and halfe lot and one gate given by the towne, two and halfe . . . 2-halfe. purchased of francis, parrat, one gate .... 1-gate. purchased of the town, one halfe gate .... halfe gate. To Elizabeth Tenney allias parrat, as belonging to francis parrat's two two Acre lot, seaven gates vnsold 7 Gates, purchased of William hobson Sixe gates ... 6 gates." In 1667, by division of the Island marshes, he received land. (Gage, 150-1.) In 1670, by division of Merrimack land, he received land. (Gage, 347-8.) In a division of 1673-4 he received land. (Gage, 138.) There was no settlement on the lot northwest of Simon's Brook until after the day of Thomas Tenney, Mentor. (Blodgette.) This lot is one half mile east of Long Hill. The town in Oct. 22, 1677, records style him ensign, marshal in 1653-66; warner of town meetings, 1650-53-60-61-66; overseer of plains, 1656-64-71; selectman, 1660-61-70; viewer of fences, highways, and chimneys, 1669; constable, 1665-66; tithingman, 1680. In 1660, on committee to see about the preservation of fire wood. (Gage, p. 144.) 1674-77, concerned in the affairs of Rev. Mr. Shepard. (Gage, p. 76.) In 1667, appointed to see that the Sabbath be duly observed. (Gage, p. 151.) In 1680 appointed inspector of ten families. (Gage, p. 152.) Several records of intervening years are lost, and there are no records of admission to the church for a period of twenty-six years. The church record may have been lost in the conflagration of Rev. Mr. Rogers' house. Thomas Tenney is in the list of church members under date of 1669, and may have been long a member. The last years of his life were passed in Bradford, Mass., as seen by deed, viz. : " Thomas Tenney of Bradford (a gift) to Eldest son John Tenney of Bradford, sixty acres of land in Bradford, now in possession of John Wood, also three acres of meadow at Crane Pond in Rowley, also six acres . . . also one and one fourth acre . . . also six acres and 2 cow-gates." Dated 15 June, 1694. (Essex Deeds, 13:119.) He died in Bradford 20 February, 1699-1700, and is buried in the Old Cemetery. This old burying ground was used in the first settlement of the town, and remained the only cemetery until 1723, when the East parish (now the town of Groveland) burial-ground was opened. The oldest stone now standing and decipherable bears the date of 1681. (L. A. Woodbury, Essex Antiquarian, Feb., 1901.) THOMAS Tenny (Immigrant) and Ann Mighill (Immigrant) were married in 1638. Ann Mighill (Immigrant) was born in 1618 in England. She died on 26 September 1657 in Rowley, Essex Co, Massachusetts. THOMAS Tenny (Immigrant) and Ann Mighill (Immigrant) had the following children:
THOMAS Tenny (Immigrant) and ELIZABETH Northend (Immigrant) were married on 24 February 1657/8. ELIZABETH Northend (Immigrant) was born circa 1612 in England. |