Some of the material presented here is based on "A History of the Thurbers," an unpublished, unverified work by Charles H. Thurber. Please note that directly quoted unedited passages from that work will be shown in green. This material is the work of an amateur genealogist and contains much inaccurate and conflicting information and should not be accepted as fact without independent verification. Comments in brackets are mine, and not part of the original work.

[The first contact my father had with Charles H. Thurber was this letter received in 1952.]

The Thurber Family in America

The Thurber Family Motto - - "Seule La Mort Peut Nous Vaincre."

The English Translation - - "Only death can conquer us."

The Thurber Family Tree started in 1671 - - We are the branches in 1952.

This sketch is to show the start of the Thurber families, and is written to help others who are genealogically of this family that settled in Rehoboth, Mass. in 1671. After a few years of research I find we are all from this family and connect back to it somewhere along the line. So if all Thurbers will get interested and send me their data of records, old and new ones of marriages, births, deaths, dates, etc. I will try to put them together and help them trace their line back to this family as I have helped others and am still doing.

After getting my line together I find I can help others and that is what I am trying to do. Of course I need more records to help others. This is a hobby with me and my help is free to all. Having a knowledge of our forefathers is a precious thing, a great heritage to hand down to our children and grandchildren.

First generation - - John Thurber born in England about 1625, died in Swansea Mass. In 1706 and his wife Priscilla_____born in 1627, died 1708. They left England in 1671 with six of their eight children, two came in 1672. They came from a small parish called Stanton, County of Lincolnshire, 129 miles from London, England, and settled in Rehoboth, Mass., in an area called New Meadow Neck (Part of Sowams, Indian name) part now is Barrington, Rhode Island and other towns. Their children:

1. Abigail Thurber, born about 1647, Eng.

2. Elizabeth Thurber, " " 1648 " md. John Wheaton

3. Captain John Thurber " 1650 " died 24 Nov. 1717, md. Mary about 1672-3

4. Charity Thurber " 1652 " " 27 Aug. 1741, md. Richard Millard, 12 Feb. 1689

5. Mary Thurber " 1656 " " 5 Oct. 1674, md. Samuel Bullock, 12 Nov. 1673

6. Thomas Thurber " 1657 " " 12 Apr. 1703, md Ruth Buziqut, 23 Feb. 1677

7. James Thurber, born 26 Aug 1660 " " 26 Mar. 1736, md. Elizabeth Bliss, 26 Jun. 1684

8. Edward Thurber, born about 1662 " " md. Margaret

James and Mary came to America in 1672. James is my line. I have eleven generations, or 281 years of Thurbers on my line. The above records are taken from those found in Rhode Island Historical Society, Rehoboth, Mass. Library, and Barrington, Rhode Island Library.

I hope you will send me the records of your branch of the family. May I hear from you soon? or addresses of others so I can get more interested.

Sincerely,
Charles H. Thurber, Sr.
Soldier's Home (Co. A)
Grand Rapids 5, Michigan

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