Notes for JOHN THURBER:
John Thurber's year of death is based on a list of inventory signed by wife Priscilla and dated 3 July, 1706. A memo on the back of John's will says Priscilla was married to John for 57 years. His will was made out 21 March 1703/4. This would mean they were probably married 1646/7. Both John and his wife Priscilla are reported to have been born in or near a small parish called Market Stainton in Lincolnshire, England. This has not been confirmed, and cannot be considered factual. John Thurber and John Thurber (assumed to be John and son Capt. John) are listed as signers to be inhabitants of the Town of Swanzey. According to History of Swansea pages taken from UMASS interactive course [www.gargaro.com/thurber/swansea.html], New Swansea's grant for township - was petitioned at the court of New Plymouth in 1667. The agreement was made between the Church of Christ, meeting at Swanzey, and Capt. Thomas WIllet and associates. It was dated 22 Feb. 1668/9 [source: Early Rehoboth, Vol. I, by Richard L Bowen, p. 36]
Since the dates of birth for most of the children of John and Priscilla Thurber are approximate dates, there is not universal agreement on the birth order. Several compilers of Thurber genealogical information have included an Abigail as the first born. There is no relaible source to confirm this. There have been reports also of a child named David. This report was in all probability based on a Rehoboth vital record for the death of Mercy, wife of David. I have recently confirmed that the original record at Rehoboth was not for the surname THURBER, but was for THURSTAN/THURSTON. Since there are other records for David and Mercy Thurston, this should end speculation concerning a David Thurber born to John and Priscilla.
The order of birth I am using for John's children is based upon a close examination of various records of John Thurber's children and grandchildren by Joanne E. Martin, author of Thurber Family Genealogical Index: A Work in Progress.
Source of note - http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/g/a/r/Florence-T-Gargaro/GENE44-0001.html