Second Generation

3. Doctor Thomas DURKEE (*) was born on 3 January 1666 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^1,2 "Thomas was nearly 34 years of age when he married Elizabeth Lord/Ford. The vital records of Ipswich, where the wedding occurred, give her name as Ford. However, Hammett, the well-known historian of Ipswich, records her name as Lord. In the script of the time, F and L are easily confused, thus adding to the problem.

When Elizabeth's youngest was only 18 months old, she died. He had to find another wife. He chose Rebecca Lamb. She was the widow of John Lamb. They had two daughters.

Then they moved to Pomfret, as usual being the first of the family to leave Windham. He owned land in Norwich and may have lived there for a time. In 1742 he moved to Woodbury where he lived until his death. He died at age 91. Rebecca was still living.

Their estate was not to be distributed until two years after both their deaths. James, his son, was appointed administrator of the estate. Thomas appears to have been the first of the family to investigate the new land opening up in Connecticut. In July of 1713 he purchased a parcel of land in Windham from Thomas Bingham. He was quite different from his brothers. In only one instance was he mentioned as associated with the church, where his brothers were active as leaders and Deacons in the various congregations to which they belonged. It may be that he was more like his carefree Irish father than his Puritan mother. Strangely however, it was in Thomas that Martha spent her declining years and there that she died.

Thomas could have been a doctor. A deed that was found said 'I, Rebecca Durkee, now wife of Doctor Thomas Durkee of Providence....' .Certainly this would refer to his being a medical doctor at this point in history. We do not know if he possessed medical instruments or not.

Little is known about Thomas' early life, but we do have one brief glimpse. On August 26, 1696, Bartholomew Gedney, Commander in Chief of the militia in Yorke, Maine, sent to a Captain Hill, 21 men to relieve some of his forces. Among these 21 men was listed Thomas Durgy. There had been sporadic warfare along the Maine coast during King Philip's uprising between 1675 and 12677 and in 1688 an attack on Penobscot precipitated the French and Indian conflict with the English of Maine and Massachusetts that is known as King William's War. Thomas must have been an active member of the local militia and thus been called upon to help defend the settlements in Maine.

Also said to have died Sept 11, 1739."
He died on 11 September 1757 at the age of 91 in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.^1,2

Doctor Thomas DURKEE (*) and Elizabeth FORD (*) were married on 5 March 1700 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.¹ Elizabeth FORD (*), daughter of Andrew FORD and Eleanor LOVELL, was born on 2 November 1667 in Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^1,3 Surname may have been Lord. Birth year listed as 1682; not possible, because son Nathaniel was born in 1686. She died on 28 July 1727 at the age of 59 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.¹

Doctor Thomas DURKEE (*) and Elizabeth FORD (*) had the following children:

Doctor Thomas DURKEE (*) and Rebecca LAMB were married in 1728 in Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.² Rebecca LAMB was born (date unknown).