Captaine Thomas Breedon

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Captaine Thomas Breedon
Person Captaine Thomas Breedon
Title Captaine
First name Thomas
Middle name(s)
Last name Breedon
Suffix
Spouse of
Widow of
Occupation Brewer
Secondary shorebased occupation
Mariner occupation
Associated with ship(s)
Training Not apprentice
Is apprentice of
Was apprentice of
Had apprentice(s)
Citizen Unknown
Literacy Signature
Has opening text Captaine Thomas Breedon
Has signoff text Tho: Breedon
Signoff image (Invalid transcription image)
Language skills English language
Has interpreter
Birth street
Birth parish
Birth town
Birth county
Birth province
Birth country
Res street
Res parish Saint Peter Pauls Wharf
Res town London
Res county
Res province
Res country England
Birth year 1620
Marriage year
Death year 1689
Probate date April 1, 1689
First deposition age 36
Primary sources
Act book start page(s)
Personal answer start page(s)
Allegation start page(s)
Interrogatories page(s)
Deposition start page(s) HCA 13/71 f.40r Annotate
Chancery start page(s)
Letter start page(s)
Miscellaneous start page(s)
Act book date(s)
Personal answer date(s)
Allegation date(s)
Interrogatories date(s)
Deposition date(s) Mar 10 1656
How complete is this biography?
Has infobox completed Yes
Has synthesis completed No
Has HCA evidence completed No
Has source comment completed No
Ship classification
Type of ship N/A
Silver Ship litigation in 1650s
Role in Silver Ship litigation None


Biographical synthesis

Captaine Thomas Breedon (b. ca. 1620; m. (1) Abigall Gladman, poss. 1649, and bef. 1654, m. (2) Mary (maiden name unknown), by 1660; d. ca.1689). Brewer.

Active as a merchant trading with New England.

Resident in 1656 in the parish of Saint Peter Pauls Wharf in London.

Married to Abigall (alt. Abigail) Gladman, who was buried in the parish of Saint Peters Pauls Wharf on August 23rd 1654.[1] An online genealogical source has identified the marriage of a Thomas Breedon to Abigail Gladman in the parish register of St. Augustine, Watling Street, London, dated June 6th 1649.[2]

Captaine Thomas Breedon remarried, with two children recorded to Captaine Thomas Breden (sic) and "Mary his wife" in 1660 and 1661.[3] Breedon's wife Mary is listed as sole executrix in Captaine Thomas Breedon's will, written in 1682 and proved in 1689.[4]

Captain Thomas Breedon appears to be the same man referred to as "one of the chief of the New England merchants" in a letter from Col. Thos. Temple to Lord Fienes and Company dated December 27th 1658.[5]

Bernard Bailyn (1955) provides a detailed portrait of Thomas Breedon. Bailyn states that Breedon enters the records of New England in 1648 as a supercargo on the Thomas Bonadventure of London, bound from Malaga to Boston. By 1652, according to Bailyn, he had settled in Boston, had bought property, and "had started his tempestuous career as a New England merchant". Bailyn contrasts Breedon's interests with those of existing New England merchants. Breedon's interests were entirely commercial, with little sympathy for Puritanism. Bailyn states that in 1658 Breedon became the Boston agent, supplier and banker for Colonel Thomas Temple, who dominated trade with Nova Scotia.[6]

Evidence from High Court of Admiralty

Thirty-six year old Captaine Thomas Breedon deposed on March 10th 1656 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on behalf of the State.[7]

In a short deposition Captaine Thomas Breedon makes reference to having been at Salem in New England in August 1653, when a ship taken by Robert Harding at Barbadoes was brought into Salem..[8]

William Brunning, a twenty-three year old Wapping mariner, deposed in the High Court of Admiralty on April 23rd 1656. He stated that "Captaine Thomas Breedon there (at Salem) bought the same and called her the Happie Entrance and put this deponent Master of her who brought her to London, and this deponent was told by the said Captaine Breedon that hee paid thirtie pounds to the said Governour for the tenths of the same."[9]

Comment on sources

1654

"BURIALS. 1654. Aug. 23. Abigall w. of Thomas Breedon..."[10]

"1658. Dec. 27. Boston. [New England.] 58. Col. Thos. Temple to [Lord Fienes and Company]. Has received their letter and cargo by Capt. Middleton. Acknowledges their goodness in taking him and his affairs into their protection. The produce of the cargo, with a suitable profit, shall be sent to London as soon as trade will permit. Capt. Middleton has explored the country in a barque belonging to Col. Temple, with good pilots, but is now dangerously sick. Is emboldened to express his thoughts and knowledge of "this business." Nova Scotia very considerable to England, from the staple commodities it may produce; the chief, fishing. Furs, all sorts of mines, timber, excellent coals, and oil fishing in great abundance. Refers them to the instructions he has given Capt. Breedon, one of the chief of the New England merchants; has empowered him to contract with the Company on his part. Has concluded with Col. Crowne for a portion of land that formerly belonged to Plymouth patent; paid the New England merchants 5,000l.; also Capt. Leverett and the State, as bound by articles to the Lord Protector, 2,300l.; and Mons. Delatour, the twentieth skin, as by agreement. Concerning Capt. Rea's 200l. per annum, Capt. Breedon has orders to treat with him about it. Conceives three things necessary to a future settlement: If the fishing trade were wisely managed, thinks the Company would soon be master of much of the King of Spain's revenues. Hopes his modest propositions will give satisfaction. Begs the [Sparrow] Pink may be speedily made ready.

1658. Dec. 27. 59. Col. Temple to [Thos. Povey?] Necessity of obtaining a commission for preservation of trade in Nova Scotia, if again reinstated in his right and title to the country. Fears the merchants of New England will underhand bid money to Mr. Elliott, particularly one Mr. Horwood, "one of our Company." Is sure they have been great gainers by him; came before knowing how to manage trade, which first cast him into debt. Explains the circumstances. Was at great expense in keeping 150 men the first and second years. Capt. Breedon has promised, if necessary, to lay down 1,000l. for him. [Copy, by Capt. Breedon.]

1658. Dec. 27. 60. Instructions of Col. Temple, Lieut. to the Lord Protector "in Acadia or Nova Scotia," to Capt. Thomas Breedon. To deliver Temple's letters to Lord Fienes and Company, and inform them fully of the state of affairs in Nova Scotia. To give an account of his debts, amounting to 4,660l. 8s. 11d, and of his stock at St. John's Fort, Port Royal, and Boston, worth 2,724l. 3s.; of the charges necessary to carry on the trade, and the produce that may be made of a good stock prudently managed; of his willingness to be incorporated with them in a Company, upon certain propositions, either of which he will agree to. To fit out the Sparrow pink, given to him by Cromwell, with all expedition, with goods suitable for his affairs in Nova Scotia. Powers to conclude with the Company on his behalf.[11]

1689

PROB 11/395/1 Will of Thomas Breedon 01 April 1689

"NEHGR 48:127: Will of Thomas Breedon, 22 Oct. 1682, proved 1 April

1689 (PCC Ent, 48).
--wife Mary sole executrix.
--son John, 200 pounds at age 24.
--same to sons Zacheus and Robert, at 24.
--daughter Mary Aylemer and her three children.
--grandson John Breedon, 20 shillings.
--witnesses Z. Sedgwick, T . Jennings
--"[The Probate Act Book shows that the testator was of Crowton
in Northampton.]"[12]


Undated

MARRIAGES: The Registers of St. Benet and St. Peter, Pauls Wharf, London, Vol. 39, 1910

BURIALS: The registers of St. Benet and St. Peter, Pauls Wharf, London, vol. 41, 1909
  1. The registers of St Benet and Saint Peter, Pauls Wharf, London, vol. 41 (London, 1909), p.227
  2. GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives, 'On the marriage in England of two persons with New England ties ', dated: March 22nd 2004, starbuck95@hotmail.com (John Brandon)
  3. GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives, 'On the marriage in England of two persons with New England ties ', dated: March 22nd 2004, starbuck95@hotmail.com (John Brandon), citing NEHGR, 15:137 (Boston, Mass., records and NEHGR, 15:351 (Boston, Mass., records)
  4. PROB 11/395/1 Will of Thomas Breedon 01 April 1689
  5. 'America and West Indies: December 1658', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, ed. W Noel Sainsbury (London, 1860), pp. 470-472. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp470-472; accessed 4 October 2016
  6. Bernard Bailyn, The New England Merchants In The Seventeenth Century (Cambridge, MA, 1955), pp.93-94
  7. HCA 13/71 f.40r
  8. HCA 13/71 f.40r
  9. HCA 13/71 f.157v
  10. The registers of St Benet and Saint Peter, Pauls Wharf, London, vol. 41 (London, 1909), p.227
  11. 'America and West Indies: December 1658', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, ed. W Noel Sainsbury (London, 1860), pp. 470-472. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp470-472; accessed 4 October 2016
  12. GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives, 'On the marriage in England of two persons with New England ties ', dated: March 22nd 2004, starbuck95@hotmail.com (John Brandon)