vital records sources
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The claim that Thomas came from Warwickshire, England, and was in Plymouth Colony in 1626 may have been first published in Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island.1 This work in general was used as a genealogical authority for many people through the later 19th and all of the 20th centuries publishing works not of scholarly quality, but compilations of previously published material. Austin included a lot of accurate information, but it's completely devoid of source citations. Nothing has come to light since then to support a theory of where he came from in England. As for Warwickshire, this may have been a confusion with Warwick, Rhode Island Colony, where Thomas eventually settled. It may also refer to the claim that an armorial seal was used by several of the New England Staffords several generations after Thomas, and it could be traced to Warwickshire. Also without any good evidence is the claim that he built the first grist mill in Plymouth or Providence or Warwick. All references to him before 1638 are hearsay, usually prefaced by "it has been said." This also includes the claim that he also used an armorial seal, but no source evidence has ever been presented to support it.
According to Austin, the town of Newport gave him seventeen acres and describes him as a servant of Nicholas Easton, says that this was soon after a list was made of men accepted as townsmen of Newport after 20 May 1638. The original reference to his servitude to Easton wasn't located for this biography to confirm its existence. It's been assumed since then that 1638 was the date of the grant and when he became a townsman. This can't be assumed without more evidence. His being a servant in 1638 or later is another strike against the completely unsupported claim that he was in Plymouth Colony building mills over a decade earlier, or even more absurd, the thought that he considered himself a son of Roger, Baron Stafford. No primary evidence was found of him building a mill anywhere. Nicholas Easton, some times President and Governor of the Rhode Island colony, is said to have had mills built and apparently owned the landmark round, stone building in Newport, which was possibly a windmill. He was, however, a tanner by trade. Thomas was a miller, so there may have been a connection to Easton in this way. Thomas being a servant could mean various things. Easton may have paid his passage to New England by way of an indenture. If so, he came with him on the ship Mary and John in 1634, for which there is no complete passenger list. It also means he was with Easton in various parts of Massachusetts Bay Colony before being banished to Rhode Island for his religious leanings. Thomas may simply have been employed by Easton. Considering all this, it's not likely Thomas married and started a family much before 1638.
The controversy over governance of the Rhode Island colony, which lasted for many years, led to Newport and Portsmouth to be separated from Providence and Warwick in 1651.
18 March 1647(/48?), witnessed the will of John Walker of Portsmouth. 422
21 November 1649, chosen a juryman for the town of Portsmouth. The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth (Providence:1910), 43. also 8 July 1648, 46. 27 January 1647/48 and 4 March 1650/51, licensed to sell bread and beer. 36 and 49.
An apprentice agreement involving his son Joseph calls Thomas a miller on 11 April 1665. 265 Thomas is on a list of male inhabitants of Newport since 20 May 1638 (20th of the 3rd month). RCRI 1:92 List of freemen in Warwick in 1655, RCRI, 1:302
He was charged with trespass by George Palmer of Warwick in April 1656. ERTW, 15 mentioned again with the date 18 April 1657.16 4 January 1657/58, Randall Holden charged him with trespass. 19 7 June 1652, "Ordred that Wheras Thomas Stafford hath bought a house of Christopher Unthanke which was formerlie given to Mr. Walter Todd by the Town and hath subscribed the Towne hath likewise receaved him into vote and so hee is become a Townsman." 67 also, "Ordred that Thomas Stafford shalbee licensed to keepe a victuallinge house." A meeting of men bearing arms was scheduled to be on the commons "agaynst Thomas Staffords." 76 19 September 1654, reconvening of town matters after govt. dispute, chosen a surveyor 86 juryman at the General Court at Portsmouth chosen 6 October 1656 97
also 24 June 1657 court of trials at Warwick 105 10 Oct 1657 "Town" court of trials in Nov 106
same, 1 May 1658 108 court of trials at Newport, chosen10 Mar 1659/60, for 13 Mar. 118-119
Written in shorthand is a Town account of liquor, likely provided for town labor, 1 Aug 1657, Thomas provided "one quarter caske of liquors." 189 James Sweet brought a case of debt against Thomas on 1 January 1658/59, recorded in the town record on 4 March.210 21 Jan 1655, John Townsend sold to Thomas his homestead and other land in Warwick. 225-6 21 Mar 1658/59, sold his share in "Pattaomet" meadowland, "being the twelfth share." 238-9 bought Christopher Unthanke's homestead 1 Mar 1653 (prob. 1652/3). 240-41
2 Mar 1658-/59, sold the Unthanke homestead to Henry Knowles. 241 a deed says John Cooke had a small piece of land to the west of Thomas' house lot, east by a small brook, north by John Sweet's and Thomas Staffords' lots. 10 Mar 1654. 242
The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth (Providence:1910),
deputy at the General Assembly, Newport, 29 Oct 1673, 2:509.
Children of Thomas Stafford and maybe Elizabeth (based on order in will and marriage dates):
Thomas, b. say 1635 (oldest son based on his father's will)
Samuel b. say 1637 m. Mercy Westcott. On 21 Apr 1659, coroner's inquest Warwick 210
Deborah, b. say 1639 (m. her widower brother-in-law in 1671/2)
Hannah, b. say 1643 (m. by 1665)
Sarah, b. say 1646 (m. 1667)
Joseph, b. say 1653 (supp. b. 21 Mar. 1647, but this is unlikely and not supported with credible documentation)
