Thomas DURFEE

                   Historical information included in notes.





Descendants of Thomas Durfee by Charles L. Durfee - charlesldurfee.GED]Peter Tallman and Ann Hill were married in Christ Church Parish in Barbados according to a deposition made by Peter Tallman, at his home in Portsmouth, Newport County, RI, March 13, 1702/03.Ann and Peter were divorced in Portsmouth, in May, 1665. Tallman Ancestry.From the ancestral file, "The Descendants of Thomas Durfee", by Charles I. Durfee:------ The first record of Thomas Durfee in America was as a witness, on a deed dated January 20, 1661(or June 28, 1661), whereby King Alexander (Wamsetta), elder brother of King Philip, and chief of the Wampanog Tribe, sold land to Peter Tallman, of Portsmouth, Newport County, RI. Those who signed as witnesses were Richard Bulgar (alias Archer), Edward Lay, John Sasoman the Interpreter Indian, Thomas Durfi, and Alexander. Lay and Alexander signed with a mark, the others were able to write their names. From Rhode Island Land Evidence Volume 1, page 189, and Plymouth (MA) Court Records Volume 4 or 5.It is likely that he arrived in 1660, or shortly before. It is unlikely that, at about seventeen years of age, he could pay for passage to America and it is possible that he came as an indentured servant, and that he worked for an unknown number of years for whoever paid for his passage. It is my belief that he was bound to Peter Tallman because of his early and long association with Peter and his family. As early as January of 1661, he must have still been working off his debt and he was with Peter Tallman at the time the previously mentioned deed was written.There is no direct or positive evidence that Ann (Hill) Tallman was Thomas' first wife, but there is a substantial amount of circumstantial evidence. A careful study and evaluation of the records of the Rhode Island Court of Trials as published in the Colonial Records of Rhode Island 1664-1677, Volume 2, pages 120-130, and Rhode Island Evidence, Volume 1, pages 188-190 indicates that as early as June 1664, Peter Tallman complained to the court about a relationship between Ann and Thomas and Thomas was ordered to post a good behavior bond of 20 pounds. At the October session of the court, at the insistence of Peter Tallman, Thomas was tried for breach of bond and fined.At the December 1664, session of the Newport County Court of Trials Peter Tallman complained " ... that by reason of the insolent carriadge of Thomas Durfee with sayd Tallman's wife, and the danger therein etc. ... ". Rhode Island Court Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, 1920, Volume 2, pages 57-59. It would appear that Ann and Peter were separated during this entire period beginning before June 1664, until their divorce in May 1665.Thomas' son Robert was born in 1665. Reed stated that he visited Robert's grave and that the headstone was inscribed Lieut. Robert Durfee. Died May 10, 1718. Aged 53 years. It is not known where Reed found the date March 10.On May 15, 1665, Peter Tallman petitioned the court for a divorce from Ann. The court asked her if she would return to her husband and Ann replied " ... that she would rather cast herself on the mercy of God if He take away her life, than returne ... ". Peter was granted a bill of divorcement on the grounds of adultery. At that same court session Thomas was charged with fornication. The evidence of the charge against Ann was a child not fathered by Peter Tallman.