Re: Confirmation sought re:Thomas Carrier
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In reply to:
Confirmation sought re:Thomas Carrier
11/26/00
I would also like to hear of any real proof of this tradition. This has been stated in a number of histories but I have never seen any proof. Recently (1992) a book about the Salem witch trials, Salem Witchcraft and Hawthorne's Houe of the Seven Gables, by Enders A. Robinson, Heritage Books, discusses the trials from a genealogical standpoint. He makes the observation that the accused were mostly from the same families and that the trials were, in fact a land grab. On page 102 he states that Thomas Carrier was the executioner of Charles. However, there is no footnote as to the source for this statement. I think I wrote to him but can't find the letter and am not sure he wrote back.
There is some material at the CT State Library in Hartford. A typed manuscript by Celeste Pember Hazen dated 1949-50 makes several interesting observations. First that this tradition is unproven. "It is possible that the first generation refers to both (a) father and son with Thomas Sr. being the executioner and Thomas Jr. the man who came to America".
"...His old age we spent in Colchester CT with is sons and his strength was still his pride at 100 yrs."......"it could be that our Thomas Carrier was a member of the Royal Guard when he was 18 or so (Roundhead of Calalier?) as they would have been selected for size..."However, other versions given in histories and genealogies, that he was one of the executioners of Charles I, or that he was a member of the Rump Parliament which condemmend him, or even one of the judges which condemmend King Charles (he was not),- these statements call for an older man at that time, 1648. In that case he would have been fifty years old at the time of his marriage in America, if it were until 1674, and his age hardly credible at death. We should conclude that he had a father Thomas who "killed the king" and the lad Thomas Jr. came to America."
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Re: Confirmation sought re:Thomas Carrier
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Re: Confirmation sought re:Thomas Carrier
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Re: Confirmation sought re:Thomas Carrier