Maurice Thomson
of Watton, Hertfordshire.

Maurice Thomson was a wealthy Puritan merchant of good family and a supporter of Cromwell's Government. He was the eldest of the five sons of Robert Thomson & Elizabeth Harsnett of Watton, Hertfordshire.

In 1632 the Governor of the Virginia colony recommended him, with two others, for a three year monopoly of all the tobacco grown in Virginia. He got into trouble in Canada and was fined 400 pounds which he would not pay and also was accused of poaching on Guinea Company preserves and he and his colleagues were arrested.

He shipped goods to the Company of Providence Island for a few years and in 1648 was appointed a commissioner from Parliament to the States of the United Provinces to obtain contributions for the Protestants of Ireland.

Upon the Restoration his connection with Cromwell was looked upon with suspicion and in 1660 he was pardoned by the king.

In 1661 he and Robert, his brother were charged with giving information to the Dutch of the English Fleet. 'Maurice Thompson was always violent against kingly government, he was intimate with the Protector, sat at the High Court of Justice, and sentenced some of the beheaded lords ... he was once a poor fellow in Virginia, but got a great estate in the wars, mostly rent out of the bowels of the King's party.' Nothing came of the charge.

One of his sisters Denise, married Elias Roberts, Jr. Another sister Mary/Maria Frances Thomson married Capt. William Tucker. It was Tucker who paid transport to America for Maurice's brothers, (Col.) George, Paul, (Maj.) Robert <Robert was born 1622 & didn't go to America in 1623> and (Sir)William in 1623.

Maurice Thomson was one of the founders of the Old Poplar Chapel in 1654. In 1655 he purchased the manor and entire parish of Elsham in Lincolnshire. He married Dorothy Vaux who died about 1678.

He had one son, John, later Lord Haversham, and three or four daughters.

His son:
A. Sir John Thompson, served in the House of Commons and, in 1696,became a Baron.
------Sir John's children:
------1-Arthur
------2-Elizabeth m. ?? Annesley
------3-Helena m. Thomas Gregory
------4-George Thompson (named by his Uncle George).
------5-Maurice, who became 2nd Baron Haversham; died 1745, ------leaving only daughters, so the baronage became extinct (Burke,
------1884).
------The children of Maurice's (2nd Baron Haversham):
------a-Hon. Elizabeth Thompson married 1724 John Carter
------b-Hon. Anne Thompson married Richard Reynolds, Esq.

B. Katherine Thomson married Sir John Wittewrong at her father's house at Stepney on 4 July 1650. They had three daughters: Katherine, Anne and Helena.

C. Elizabeth Thomson married Sir Joseph Alston of Chelsea and had three sons, Joseph, Edward and Maurice..

D. Mary Thomson, a member of the Dissenting congregation of Stepney, who married William Oldfield of Gatton, Surrey on 13 November 1655 and had two childen William.

E. Martha Thomson married Nicholas Corsellis and had one son Nicholas.

In 1650 Maurice lived at a mansion called Worcester House on Mile End Green which he sold in 1675 to the 'Church'. In 1652 he was living in Bishopsgate St. In 1672 he bought property known as the 'Vinegar Yard, Grand Alley' in Stepney. He died four years later.

The will of Maurice Thomson, Haversham, Buckinghamshire, Esq., proved 9 May 1676, contained the follows (sic) (Waters): To be buried in Haversham chancel by my dear wife. To 100 poor silenced ministers. To Helena, Elizabeth and Arthur Thomson, children of my dear son Sir John Thomson, Baronet; to Katheline, Anne and Helena Wittewrong, children of my eldest daughter, Lady Katherine Wittewrong, late wife of Sir John Wittewrong, Knight and Baronet.
My grandchildren William and Samuel Oldfield at 21; my brothers George, Sir William and Robert Thomson to be trustees for daughter Martha Corsellis. Her son Nicholas Corsellis at 26. Daughter Elizabeth and her husband Joseph Alston, Esq., and their three sons, Joseph, Edward and Maurice Alston. To Lady Frances, wife of Sir John Thomson. Property in England, Ireland, Barbadoes,Antego, St. Christophers, Virginia, the Carobee Islands, England and elsewhere.

(My thanks to Virginia Thomson, who is researching the Thomson family, for additional material. She is working on the line of Sir William Thomson. He married in 1637, Elizabeth Warner, dau. of Samuel & Julyan/Julian (Croace)Warner and they were the parents of Sir Samuel, who fathered William, Samuel, Robert, George & Thomas. Please contact her if you think you have a connection.