Thomas Yale was the son of David Yale (1535 - 1626). He was born about 1580 in Wrexham, Dnbg, Wales, and died in Chester, England in August 26, 1619. He married Anne Lloyd about 1612. Anne was born in England about 1590, and died most likely in London, England, about 1660, after returning from New Haven. Thomas is the son of David, (Dr.) and Frances (Lloyd) Yale. Anne is the daughter of George and Anne (Wilkinson) Lloyd. Thomas lived at Chester, England, and at Plas Grono, the family estate near Wrexham, Wales. His will, to be found in the Chester Probate Registry, was dated August 27, 1619. His personal estate was valued at £36–10s–8d. They had four children:
1. David was born in Chester, England, or Plas Grono, Wales, in 1613, and died in Plas Grono, Wales, on June 14, 1690. He was part of the original New Haven settlement, having land next to Gov. Eaton, his step father. The Early List of Estates published by the New Haven Church in 1640 lists David Yale with one person in his household with an estate valued at 300 pds. But by 1644 he was a resident of Boston, MA, until 1659, purchasing a house there in 1645. In Mar/Apr 1640 he is listed as a shipper of goods on the Gilliflower, carrying planters and passengers from London (Coldham, p. 212). It is unclear if he was on the trip. He and his wife, Ursula, had six children, the first four born in Boston, the next three in St. Olavez, London, and the last two probably in London: Elizabeth (1644), David 1645-1690), Elihu (1648-1721), Theophilus (1651/2-), Elizabeth (1655-), twin sons (1656-), Thomas (1660-1697), Valentine (1666-1698). The third, Elihu Yale, was the major benefactor of Yale University and the source of its name. On March 2, 1647, Thomas Yale sold most of the land first held by his brother, David, to Robert Johnson.
2. Ann was born in Chester in 1615, came to Boston, married Governor Edward Hopkins, returned to England and died in Plas Grono on Dec. 14, 1698.
3. Thomas, Capt. was born in Plas Grono or Chester, England, in 1616, and died in New Haven on March 27, 1683. He married Mary Turner (-1704) and they had eight children: John (1646-1711), Thomas (1648-1735), Mary (1650-1710), Nathaniel (1651-1730), Martha (1655-1669), Abigail (1660-1708), Hannah (1662-1743), Elizabeth (1666-1702). All were born in New Haven.
4. Elizabeth (Mary) was born in Chester in 1618. Since she was not mentioned in her father's will dated August 15, 1625, it is assumed that she had died before that time. She was also called Mary Wright.
After Thomas died in 1619, Anne married Theophilus Eaton and their life will be covered in the next post.
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