The Skaggs-Files

The following notes respecting the ancestry of the first Protestant Governor of Maryland, the forefather of Thomas Stone, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and many other distinguished men, may perhaps be of interest.

The "Archives of Maryland" shoe that in 1647, a power of attorney was given by Thomas Stone or Stones of London, haberdasher, to his "cousin" (i.e. nephew), Capt. William Stone of Accomac, Virginia, to collect a debt from one Thomas Weston, and a letter from Weston to William Stone refers to the latter's "uncle." Governor Stone had resided in Accomac before he went to Maryland at the instance of Lord Baltimore, and Thomas Stone of London lived in "Cateaton Street," Aug. 10, 1647, at which time he was about 68 years of age.

The visitation of London, 1633-5, gives this pedigree:-- William Stone of Twiste, and wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Bradley of Bradley in County Lancashire, [England]; their son: Richard Stone of Carhouse and wife, Isabel daughter of John Girdler of Carhouse. Children of Richard and Isabel: 1. John, 2. Robert, 3. Henry, 4. Thomas of London, merchant 4 sonne 1634 and wife, Elizabeth, daughter of William Lufkyn, 5. Matthew, 6. Andrew, Children of Thomas and Elizabeth Lufkyn Stone: 1. Elizabeth, daughter and coheir & wife to William Wheat of London; 2. Martha, wife to Richard Porter of Lambhurst, in County Kent;

ARMS, quarterly 1st & 4th (Stone) per pale or and sable a lion rampant counter changed; 2d (Brickleton) argent, on a chevron between three leopards' faces sable, as many mullets or; 3d (Girdler) azure, on a chevron between three fleurs-de-lys argent, as many hurts; and aescutcheon of pretence (for Lufkyn), argent, on a chevron between three eagles displayed sable, as many mullets or, Crest: a unicorn's head sable issuing from rays or, maned and armed of the last, between two wings displayed of the first. Burke states that these arms were granted by Segar, and Berry says "granted to Thomas Stone," and no doubt the creat was then granted, but that the arms are more ancient is evidenced by the fact that the Visitation of London also contains the pedigree of Andrew, younger brother of Thomas, showing the same arms (without, of cource, the escutcheon of pretence for Lufkyn) and the note "respited for proof." Now, there is in Maryland, in the possession of a descendant of Gov.William Stone, a very old ring which displays the arms of the pedigree,viz.: Stone quartering Brickleton and Girdler, but without any crest, as was not uncommonly the custom with ancient arms. The air od authority imparted by the absence of the crest increased by the fact that, while the exact charges of the three coats are engraved upon the ring, no tinctures are delincated; for as the system of indicating colors and metals by lines and dots is said to have been introduced in England about 1640, it was probably not in general use for some years, and earlier rings would not show it. This ring would seem to indicate that Thomas Stone of the pedigree was the "haberdasher" of Cateaton Street, who was uncle of Gov. Stone of Maryland, and proof of this is afforded by "Marriage Licenses granted by Bishop of London, which include a license on April 9, 1632, for Richard Porter, Esq., and Martha, dau. of Thomas Stone, haberdasher, of St. Lawrence Old Jury. Cateaton Street was in theparish of St. Lawrence Old Jury, and it seems a fair inference that Gov.William Stone was son of one of the brothers of Thomas the haberdasher,and therefore a grandson of Richard of Carhouse.

Baine's History ofLancaster, v. 3, p. 412, mentions John Stone, Esq. of Carr House, in MuchHoole parish, as a benefactor of the church at Hoole in 1633, who was no doubt the eldest son of Richard. "Twiste" mentioned in the pedigree maybe a corruption of Twiston also in Lancashire. Governor Stone had a sister, called Brid get by some, who married Rev. Francis Doughty, and his will mentions brother Richard, "natural brother" Matthew, brother Sprigg, and sons THomas, Richard, John, Matthew, as well as dughters Elizabeth, Catharine, Mary. Weston's letter above noted, which is dated in 1644, mentions a parcel of Tobacco which "your brother Mr. John Stone had of me many years past," and it would be interesting to know if Captain John Stone "of violent temper," who with Captain Norton was killed by the Pequots on the Connecticut River, was of the same stock. It is certain that he had been of Accomac, for William Cotton, the minister there and brother of Governor Stone's wife, complained to the Court Oct. 25, 1634, that the administrator of Captain John Stone, deceased, had not paid tithes. Thomas Stone, haberdasher, of St. Lawrence Old Jury, was evidently in sympathy with the Puritians, for the "Calendar of State Papers" shows he was called before the Court of High Commission, and in 1640, his son-in-law, William Wheat, wrote to the Dean of Salisbury that certain foolish actions in Chester were without "privity of my father Stone." On March 2, 1634-5, Henry Whitfield wrote to Dr. Stoughton of Aldermanbury in regard to a curate whom he wished to employ, and told Dr.Stoughton to send, if he could help him, to "Mr. Stone of Cateaton Street." There can be doubt that this Henry Whitfield was afterward the revered minister of Guilford, Connecticut, and it is for future investigation to show whether the presence in Guilford of two settlers named Stone had any bearing upon the acquaintance of their leader with Mr. Stone of Cateaton Street, the uncle of Gov. Stone of Maryland. In a later generation a curious coincidence is afforded by the fact thatthe names of all the sons of Elias Stone of Charlestown, Massachusetts (except Elias,) John, William, Thomas, Robert, and Richard, are found in the pedigree above mentioned, but Mr. Henry F. Waters is a descendant of this family, and may some time elucidate this and other problems of the Stonws of New England.