WIGGIN, CAPT. THOMAS. Often known as Governor Thomas Wiggin, he was the first governor of the Upper Plantation of New Hampshire. He arrived at Salem on the James with a complement of 30 Puritans, including Rev. William Leveridge, and went directly to Piscataqua. While at Salem he was allied with John Winthrop. He became a strong supporter of Massachusetts' claims over the New Hampshire plantations and he helped in extending their power. He became the first governor of what is now know as New Hampshire. For a long time his lands in what became Stratham were outside the bounds of any settled town.

In March 1632-33 was called the chief agent (in England) of the honest men about to buy out the Bristol men's plantation at Piscataqua and plant 500 people before Michaelmas. Opposed to the attempts of the heirs of John Mason to reclaim territories and properties appropriated by colonists after Mason's death, he became a strong adherent of Massachusetts and helped in extending their power. For a long time his lands, in what became Stratham, were outside the bounds of any settled town. They were ordered taxed in Hampton 1657, and he was moderator there same year. Commissioner for Piscataqua court, assistant, j .p. His wife Katherine Whiting, sister of Mr. William Whiting of Hartford. Will, of Squamscott (Stratham) and aged, 16 June 1664 (proved 1666), wife Katherine survived.

Home site: Settled at Squamscott ( Stratham). Paid taxes to Hampton from 1656 to 1692 (DOW, p. 1042).

Reference list: NLD - Genealogical Dictionary of ME and NH, by Noyes, Libby, Davis; PR67 - Piscataqua Pioneers Register; DOW - History of the Town of Hampton, NH by J. DOW; EX - History of the Town of Exeter, NH; STRM - History of the Town of Stratham, 1631-1900. Wikipedia (2022): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wiggin.

Children:
1. Andrew, age c.65 in Aug 1700, d. 9 Jan 1708/09, m. at Andover June 1659
Hannah Bradstreet, dau. of Gov. Simon. 11 ch. in N LD, among whom was
Jonathan who m. Mary ( Emery) Wiggin, q.v.

2. Mary, m. 1st George Veasey, m. 2nd 7 Oct 1673 Capt. William Moore.

3. Thomas of Sandy Point, ae 26 in Mar 1666, c.42 Nov 1684, c.60 Aug 1700, m. by 1665 Sarah Barefoot, sis. of Capt. Walter Barefoot, 4 ch . NLD.

 

Above is the original location of Stratham Cemetery. Most of the old stones were removed by the church at the turn of the 20th century because they were broken or unreadable. The oldest readable stone of the remaining 12-14 is dated 1764. There is no stone for Thomas Wiggin. (Source: findagrave.com source of millions of cemetery records.)

In the Greenwood Cemetery in Stratham, NH, there is a prominent obelisk in the center of the lot, erected by Andrew Wiggin, 1826-1888, on one face of which is the following inscription: Hon. Andrew Wiggin, 1635-1710, Son of Gov. Thomas Wiggin and sole owner of all the land called Quamscutt; now comprising the town of Stratham. Erected by his descendant Andrew Wiggin, 1886.