General Notes

The name Thomas Minor appears on a manifest of the Lyon's Whelp.  He migrated to the newly founded English Colonies in America and settled first in Charlestown, MA, in 1629.  He moved to Hingham in 1636.  In 1645, he joined the second Governor John Winthrop's colony of Massachusetts Puritans in the settlement of New London, Conneticut.  In 1652, he moved to Tawcatuck, now Stonington, Conneticut.  He represented New London as Deputy in the Conn. General Court at several sessions.  Thomas also represented Stonington in the General Court and served as Lieutenant during King Philip's War in 1676.  Thomas is recognized as a co-founder of Stonington along with Walter Palmer, William Chesebrough and Thomas Stanton.

He was a Commissioner (a title which was changed to Justice a few years later) for Stonington from 1669 to 1682 inclusive.  On several occasions he was employed by the General Court to serve on committees to survey land grants, and in Oct. 1676, served on a committee which was appointed by the Colony to deal with the Indians.  In May 1666 he received a colonial grant of 100 acres, and 1667, of 50 acres more, such grants at that period being made to those who had performed distinguished public service.

An entry in his diary under date of 24 April 1669, illustrates the miscellaneous character of his usefulness:  "I was by the Towne & this yeare chosen to be select man the Townes Treasurer the Townes Recorder the Brander of horses by the Generale Courte Recorded the head officer of the Traine band by the same Court one of the ffouer that have Charge of the milishcia of the whole Countie and Chosen and Sworne Comminnioner and one to assis in keeping the Countie Courte."

Thomas Minor was buried in the graveyeard near his home in Stonington, and the horizontal boulder, a granite stone which he is said to have selected from his own fields for that purpose, informs the visitor: "Here lyeth the body of Lieutenant Thomas Minor, aged 83 years.  Departed 1690."  Nearby, a monument commemorates, at greater length, the services of Thomas Minor and three of associates in the first days of the town.  The town records of Stonington contain entries of the death of Lieut. Thomas on 23 Oct. 1690, and of Mrs. Grace on 31 Dec. 1690.