Thomas Cornell – A Pioneer in Boston, Rhode Island and New York

Thomas Cornell was one of the earliest settlers in Boston, Rhode Island and New York. He’s also one of my ancestors on my mother’s side. She descends from numerous Puritans, but Cornell is easily among the most interesting. Explore the fascinating life of Thomas Cornell, his notable connections and his many famous descendants:

Thomas Cornell and His Family

Thomas Cornell was born around 1595 in Saffron Walden, Essex, England, while his wife Rebecca Briggs was born around 1600 in England. They were married on 9 June 1620 at St Mary the Virgin in Saffron Walden, Essex.

According to WikiTree, they had 13 children together: Sarah Cornell, Richard Cornell, William Cornell, Thomas Cornell II, Rebecca Cornell, Kelame Cornell, William Cornell, John Cornell, Ann Cornell, Elizabeth Cornell, Samuel Cornell, Joshua Cornell and Kent Cornell. Two of the children died in childhood hence why there are two children named William Cornell.

Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Thomas Cornell and his family moved to Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. He became an innkeeper, but he quickly ran into trouble for selling wine without a license and selling beer at a higher price than allowed by law. Despite claiming ignorance and apologizing, Cornell was given a month to close his business. 

William Coddington, a well-regarded leader in the colony who was involved in the Antinomian Controversy, was Cornell’s neighbour in Boston. The controversy centred on a theological debate concerning interpretations of religious doctrines. In this case, it was concerning the nature of the convent and whether it was a Covenant of Grace with God rather than a Covenant of Work. The latter belief was embraced by Anne Hutchinson, William Baulstone and John Briggs, Cornell’s brother-in-law, resulting in the expulsion of Anne Hutchinson and her followers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

Cornell was a peripheral member of this group and, following the closure of his inn, he and his family followed Anne Hutchinson and the other religious exiles out of Boston. 

Move to Rhode Island

After leaving the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Thomas Cornell moved to the Rhode Island Colony. Some of the other religious exiles had purchased land on the island of Aquidneck from Canonicus and Miantonomoh from the Narragansett nation. This land eventually became Portsmouth. Before they departed from Boston, the religious exiles signed a compact on March 7, 1638. This document outlined the principles and rules that would govern their new community.

It was Roger Williams who reportedly suggested to the exiles that they settle in Rhode Island. Having dissenting religious views from Puritan leaders led to his banishment from Salem and Plymouth, and he established himself there in 1636.

Cornell became a freeman on August 6, 1640. The following year, he received a grant of land. In 1642, authorities appointed him constable, and during the same year, he assumed the role of Ensign. While residing in Portsmouth, he was neighbours with Edward Hutchinson, the son of Anne Hutchinson.

During Thomas Cornell’s time in Rhode Island, there was anxiety about what the settlers back in Massachusetts might do. This concern led Roger Williams to petition the British crown, seeking permission for Rhode Island to become a separate colony.

Settling in New Amsterdam

Frightened settlers in Rhode Island, including Cornell, sought refuge in New Amsterdam with the Dutch. Cornell, reportedly loyal to Anne Hutchinson following her husband William Hutchinson’s death in 1642, moved to Manhattan that same year. In the fall of 1642, Anne Hutchinson, Cornell, John Throckmorton, and others, along with their families, relocated to a place known as Hell Gate.

Governor Kieft of the Dutch colony gave John Throckmorton and about 35 English families permission to establish a settlement around 11 miles from New Amsterdam. Known as Throgg’s Neck, this settlement is now Westchester, New York. 

In 1643, there was a war with the Lenape where the British killed more than a hundred Indigenous people, including men, women and children. In retaliation, the Mohegan tribe targeted white settlers outside New Amsterdam. Anne Hutchinson and her entire family, including her son-in-law, were killed. Subsequently, some settlers chose to return to Rhode Island.

Return to Rhode Island 

When Thomas Cornell moved back to Rhode Island, he purchased land near Mr. Porter’s round meadow. In 1646, he bought one hundred acres on the Narragansett Bay side of the island and established Cornell Homestead.

Back to New Amsterdam 

In 1646, Cornell returned to New Amsterdam. He procured a land grant from John Throckmorton, which became known as Cornell’s Neck. Several of his descendants established themselves in Rockaway and other areas in Long Island and Westchester County. The forebears of many Cornells contributed to the shaping of the state of New York, becoming ancestors to a multitude of individuals with the Cornell name

The Murder of Rebecca Cornell

On February 8, 1673, Thomas Cornell Jr. discovered his mother, Rebecca Briggs, burned to death in their home. The initial assumption was that she had accidentally fallen asleep with a pipe, resulting in a fire caused by ashes, which ultimately led to her death. However, four days later, Rebecca’s brother, John Briggs, made a startling claim. He claimed that Rebecca’s ghost had visited him during the night, revealing she had been murdered.

John took his account to the court, which reignited the investigation. In the 17th century, Protestants held a belief that if wrongdoing had occurred, the ghost of the person involved would appear. Combined with accounts that Rebecca had a strained relationship with Thomas Cornell Jr., he was charged, convicted and hanged for killing his mother.

Thomas Cornell Jr. was innocent of the crime and his mother’s death was probably accidental. His conviction prompted Rhode Island settlers to question whether they should use spectral evidence in criminal cases.

Famous Descendants

Thomas Cornell has many notable descendants. They include Ezra Cornell, who was the founder of Cornell University; William Ellery, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; and Ezekiel Cornell, a Revolutionary War general.

Other famous descendants include Bill Gates; Jimmy Carter; Richard Nixon; Elizabeth Monroe; Frances Folsom Cleveland; Senator Bob Graham; John Kerry; Amelia Earhart; Stockton Rush; Josh Rosen; James H. Fallon; and Lizzie Borden.

Canadians can also draw their lines back to Thomas Cornell as many of his descendants settled in Upper Canada through William Cornell (1766-1860). William Cornell is also related to Sir Robert Laird Borden, Prime Minister of Canada through Richard Borden‘s marriage to Innocent Cornell.

My Relation to Thomas Cornell

I have two connections to Thomas Cornell through my mother and they are both through his son, John Cornell. My family is Canadian, so it looks like John Cornwall, who was born in 1749 in Connecticut, was a loyalist in the American Revolution. It does not say when he moved to Canada, but it does say that he died in 1814 in Essex County.

Connection One

1. Thomas Cornell (1595 – 1655) and Rebecca Briggs (1600 – 1673)
2. John Cornwall (1634 – 1704) and Mary Russell (1645 – 1710)
3. John Cornwall (1663 – 1753) and Mary Starr (1663 – 1747)
4. John Cornwall (1695 – 1782) and Abiah Wheeler (1696 – 1743)
5. John Cornwall (1727 – 1792) and Hannah Knapp (1730 – 1810)
6. Abiah Cornwall (1748 – 1810) and Stephen Rood Brush (1730 – 1801) 
7. Stephen Brush (1765 – 1808) and Jemima Squire (1766 – 1854)
8. Mary Cornwall (1799 – 1877) and Jarius Rood Jarvis Brush (1795 – 1870) 
9. Nathan Brush (1836 – 1903) and Elizabeth Jones (1839 – 1931)
10. Amelia Isabella Brush (1864 – 1935) and Joseph Eli Bondy (1858 – 1944) 
11. Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966) and Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973) 
12. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
13. Martha Grondin (born 1950) and Gary Willis (born 1946) – my parents

Connection Two

1. Thomas Cornell (1595 – 1655) and Rebecca Briggs (1600 – 1673)
2. John Cornwall (1634 – 1704) and Mary Russell (1645 – 1710)
3. John Cornwall (1663 – 1753) and Mary Starr (1663 – 1747)
4. John Cornwall (1695 – 1782) and Abiah Wheeler (1696 – 1743)
5. John Cornwall (1727 – 1792) and Hannah Knapp (1730 – 1810)
6. John Cornwall (1749 – 1814) and Mary Benedict (1752 – 1836) 
7. John Cornwall (1775 – 1822) and Lucinda Hubbell (1780 – 1871)
8. Mary Cornwall (1799 – 1877) and Jarius Rood Jarvis Brush (1795 – 1870) 
9. Nathan Brush (1836 – 1903) and Elizabeth Jones (1839 – 1931)
10. Amelia Isabella Brush (1864 – 1935) and Joseph Eli Bondy (1858 – 1944) 
11. Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966) and Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973) 
12. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
13. Martha Grondin (born 1950) and Gary Willis (born 1946) – my parents 

Are you one of Thomas Cornell’s descendants? Let me know!