It has been said that he was a son of John Sawyer of Lincolnshire, England and the brother of Edward Sawyer of Rowleey Mass. and William Sawyer of Newbury, Mass ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Sawyer was a blacksmith and came from England to Rowley, Mass, about 1643 and in 1647 He settled in Lancaster where he was the third subsciber to the town and church covenant and was admitted freeman in 1654. He proved to be one of the most valuable and useful of pioneers. he was one of the signers of the petition after the Indian massacre on Feb. 10, 1675/76 when the family went to Charlestown for safety until the resettlement of Lancaster.
---------------------------------------------------------------- they had 13 children - in Archive Record Birth Marriage and Deaths.
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From HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LANCASTER by Rev.Abijah P Marvin
On the 26 of Oct 1708 Mr Thomas Sayer, his son Elias Sawyer and John Biglow were captured and taken to Canada. It appears that Sawyer was a very brave man as well as a good mechanic.When the party reached Montreal, Sawyer offered to put up a mill on the river on condition that the French Government would obtain a releae of all the captives. There was no problem with the release of Elias and Biglow but the Indians demanded the death of Thomas Sawyer.The Indians released Sawyer as he was already tied to a stake for lingering torture. A Frier appeaared and said that he held the keys to purgatory and if Sawyer was not released he would open the gate and thrust the Indians through. The Indians released him and Bigalow. Elias stayed and finished the mill before going home.
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From B M DR CR E. of Lancaster by Henry S. Nurse Thomas Sawyer “ He is buried in the Old Buring Field of Lancaster grave # 179”
died September 12 1706 about 90 years of age
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Thomas Sawyer was a blacksmith and settled in Lancaster in 1647, admitted freeman in 1654He went to Charlestown for sefety during the King Philip War.