The Marsh Family Thomas Marsh Family   By Darlene Athey Hill The immigrant Thomas Marsh appears first to have come to Virginia in 1636 (or earlier) – one of those brought in by Thomas Holt.  He returned to England for a brief visit and returned with a number of persons, among them Margaret Harford, whom he subsequently married.  No one as yet seems to have seriously studied his English origins. Thomas first settled in New Norfolk County, where there are numerous court references to him.  He is mentioned several times as “alias Thomas Rivers,” but the Virginia records yield no reason for this usage.  It seems that the English records would have to be perused in an attempt to discover the reason for this.  The Virginia court references are: · 22 May 1636 land grant – To Thomas Holt, 500 acres in the Upper County of New Norfolk, 50 acres for transporting himself, and 450 acres for nine persons, viz. Thomas Marsh, James Arundell, Yoeman Gibson, John Drabe, William Smith, Toby Smith, Samuel Taylor, George Taylor and Natl. Corder. · 7 Jul 1637 - Thomas Rivers, alias Marsh, deposition at Linhaven, Lower County of Norfolk, age 21. · 6 Jan 1638 land grant – Thomas Marsh, alias Rivers, 150 acres, Upper County of New Norfolk, northerly upon Elizabeth River.  Assigned by Peter Montague and payment to be made seven years after 22 Aug 1637 for transportation of William Jones, Thomas Redby and Margaret Harford. · 2 Apr 1638 Court – Thomas Marsh and George Lowe, as to the division of certain land. · 2 Apr 1638, Lower Norfolk County Court – “Whereas it doth appear that Richard Loe, planter, hath bought of Thomas Marsh, planter, all his estate whatsoever here resident in Virginia …but Richard Loe not giving security, it remains in Thomas Marsh.” · 21 Mar 1639 – Thomas Marsh alias Rivers was assigned a patent for 150 acres granted Peter Montague on 22 Aug 1637. · 8 Apr 1639 Court – Thomas Marsh, “being about to go for England.” · 6 Sep 1641 Court – Thomas Marsh, constable, applies for 150 acres for transportation of self and wife, and also William Smith whom he bought of Mr. Flood · 4 Oct 1641 Court – “Thomas Marsh hath made appear to this Court that he hath due him 150 acres of land for the transportation of himself and his wife unto this colony as also one William Smith.” · 16 Nov 1641 Court – Deposition of Thomas Marsh, aged 26 years. · 15 Dec 1642 Court – Thomas Marsh, juryman. · 16 Jun 1643 Court at Thomas Meares’ – Thomas Marsh to pay an old bill. · 15 Jun 1646 Court – Thomas Marsh, the settlement of a debt. · 1 Nov 1647 – Thomas Etheridge given patent to land adjoining Thomas Marsh. · 20 Oct 1648 – John Clarke obtained patent to 250 acres adjacent to Thomas Marsh. · 18 Jun 1650 – “Whereas Mr. Thos. Marsh hath transported divers persons out of this colony, Lower Norfolk Court ordered Mr. Marsh to pay their Debts.” · 30 Oct 1651 – “Whereas Thos. Marsh, Gent., both … deserted this colony” …attachment granted by Lower Norfolk Court against estate of Marsh. The foregoing records are taken from the unpublished manuscript copy of the Court Record, as well as additional court and land grant records, now in the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond. Thomas Marsh was a Puritan, and in Virginia he resided in the Puritan settlement.  Surrounded by Royalists who were vastly in the majority and totally in control of the affairs of the colony, the Virginia puritans were subjected to a persecution which was sufficiently stringent to result in their seeking new homes in Maryland, where there was no persecution on account of religion.  The 1649 Tolerance Act in Maryland and 1649 entry in the records of Lower Norfolk County help explain why he left Virginia and moved to Maryland: Several persons including Thomas Marsh were “presented to ye board by ye Sheriff for seditious sectuaries for not repairing to their Church, and for refusing to hear Common Prayer, liberty is granted till October next to informant their judgments and to conform themselves to the established law…” Before the expiration of the time allotted, Thomas Marsh and several of the others mentioned had moved to Maryland and established themselves in Calvert and Anne Arundel counties.  Thomas settled in Herring Creek Hundred and held more than 1,000 acres of land.  He is mentioned as both a planter and a merchant of Severn and was appointed Justice of the Peace for Anne Arundel County and later a Commissioner of the county.  His tact as a judicial officer is reflected in the report of one of the cases he tried.  After effecting an arbitration between the two parties, and giving his award, he added, as his own donation, “a hogshead of sack, to be drunk between the parties.”  (Davis, Daystar of American Freedom, p. 120)  Of sack, we remember what Falstaff said, “If I had a thousand sons, the first human principle I would teach them should be to forswear thin potations, and to addict themselves to sack.” · 30 Jul 1650 – Thomas Marsh appointed by Governor Stone and the Council as one of the commissioners of Anne Arundel Co. · 22 Jan 1651 – Thomas Marsh, Gent., of Kent, registers cattle mark. · 24 Oct 1651 – Survey of 150 acres called Marsh’s Seat in Anne Arundel Co. for Thomas Marsh. · 28 Jun 1652 – Petition that Thomas Marsh “or some other fitting and able person” be appointed to the office of Commander of the Isle of Kent. · 20 Aug 1652 – Survey of 300 acres called Poplar Neck in Kent Co. for Thomas Marsh. 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