Clan Forbes
Index to Forbush Pages
Deacon Thomas Forbush
Deacon Thomas Forbush
by Michael Forbush dr_forbush@mad.scientist.com
From: "Forbes and Forbush Genealogy The Descendants of Daniel Forbush" by Frederick Clifton Pierce
Deacon Thomas Forbush (Daniel)
Born in Cambridge, March 6, 1667; Married Dorcas Rice. Dorcas was the daughter of Edward and Anna Rice, who first resided in Sudbury, and then moved to Marlboro. He was deacon of the church and a prominent citizen, and lived to be 93 years of age. Edward was the son of Edmund, born 1594 in Barkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England and was settled in Sudbury in 1639. He was one of the most prominent men in that town. Dorcas was one of the original members of the Westboro church. She was born January 28, 1664; died March 24, 1753. Thomas was born in Cambridge but moved to Marlboro, and thence to Westboro at which latter place he was one of the first settlers and founders of the church, of which he was a deacon, in October 28, 1724. From the best information obtainable, it would seem as if Thomas resided in that part of Marlboro which was subsequently set off as Westboro. He signed the covenant of the church next after Mr. Ebenezer Parkman, pastor elect. His wife was dismissed from the Marlboro church to Westboro, July 25, 1725. This is the latest record of them that has been found. The births of five of their children are on the Marlboro records; there is no record of them having any at Westboro. He made his will July 17, 1733 and it was allowed May 11, 1738; it mentions his wife Dorcas, and son Thomas, and is on file in the probate office in Worcester, Mass.
Among the petitioners to the General Court in 1702 for a new house to be called Chauncy, are found the names of Thomas Forbush and Samuel Ffarbush of Marlboro.
Thomas Forbush was a member of the church in Marlboro. In 1701, the pastor, Rev. Mr. Brimsmead, had a misunderstanding with his parish which greatly disturbed the quiet of the town. In 1702, a call was extended to Rev. John Emerson, a native of Ipswich, and a graduate of Harvard in 1689. The church was divided, and he declined the call. In the list of those who proved his settlement was that of Thomas Forbush.
The first town meeting was held in Westboro, January 15, 1718. On the 3rd of March following the citizens held the first regular March election, and Thomas Forbush was elected one of the five selectmen.
In 1718, Thomas Forbush was moderator at the town meeting. In 1721 he was elected town treasurer. In 1720, the meeting house at Westboro was finished. It was not of elaborate architecture. A plain rectangle, 40X30, guiltless of chimney or porch, with door at the east end, and another at the west, unpainted, and devoid of all ornament; it was typical of New England life in its outward aspect at that period. The seats were assigned to members of the congregation, with careful regard to dignity, the oldest and most wealthy of those who did not have pews having the front seats. In the seating of the edifice, Thomas Forbush's name is the second on the list, and he was given second space next to the pulpit on the east.
In 1729 Thomas Forbush was appointed one of three trustees to receive paper money for the Colony and loan it out to the citizens of Westboro in sums of 5 to 10 pounds each. In 1730, the town voted to call all the trustees to account for all interest money of both banks, and to look over Captain Fay's account.
In 1730, a meeting was held in relation to church singing, "to see if the town will sing in the usual way." An opportunity was given for complaint, where upon Thomas Forbush intimated, with an outspoken boldness that shows how heated the public mind had become, that the trouble was occasioned by the pastor's not falling in with the vote of the town. This was speaking out in meeting, and brought the minister to his feet without more ado.
Resident of Marlboro and Westboro, Mass. He died May, 1738.
i. Aaron, born April 3, 1693; married Susanna Morse.
ii. Thomas, born October 14, 1693; married Hannah Bellows
iii. Tabitha, born April 6, 1699; married February 2, 1727, Samuel Hardy. She died before 1760.
iv. Rebecca, born February 23, 1701; married January 29, 1720. Simeon Howard He was the father of Cornet Simeon Horward, of Northboro, born January 17, 1736. Another son was Jonathan, whose son Gideon, removed to Worthington in Mass., where his descendants still live. A daughter Mary, married Lt. William Holloway and had two son and four daughters. The sons died young, Mary married Jonathan Bartlett; Hannah married Capt. Jas. Stone of Weston; Betty married Daniel Wheeler of Hardwick; Jemima married John Taylor and died in St. Albans, Vt.
v. Eunice, born February 13, 1705; married August 22, 1727, Cornelius Cook of Westboro.
(The footnote notes: That Forbes and Forbush were originally the same name appears from a record in Rev. Parkham's Diary August 22, 1727 "Born to Mr. Forbes and married Corn Cook and Eunice Forbush; so they will spell their name.")
