Thomas was a Tailor. He might be a grandson of John Winslow (1597-1694) who came from England on the ship "Fortune" to Plymouth Colony 1621. Settled in Boston 1637, granted 2000 acres in New Kent Co., VA, 1667, married MARY CHILTON, dau of Julius Chilton who came on the Mayflower.
FIRST FAMILIES OF AMERICA, THE COMPENDIUM OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY: "Thomas Winslow (d. bet. 1725-6), lived in Sittenbourne Parish, Essex Co., VA 1698, this being the earliest record found of him in this country, lived in St. Ann's Parish: married Ann Parker (Thomas), son Benjamin. (Ed. note: my research shows that Ann Parker was the daughter of THOMAS PARKER. Thomas' will was proved August 16, 1726, showing that he died sometime between January, 1725, and August 16, 1726. Apparently, he was a man of considerable wealth for his day, this being shown by the bequests made in his will and the large tracts of land he sold in Virginia."
"In 1704, Thomas Winslow owned 150 acres is Essex and Henry Winslow 100 acres. Thomas Winslow, Tailor, made a deed in Essex in 1703. His will was dated 25 Jan, 1725, and proved in Essex, August 1726, Legatees: sons Thomas (eldest), Benjamin, Richard and Joseph, wife Ann, and daughters Mary, Ann and Elizabeth." (VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY" Vol. 35, 1927, P33)
Thomas Winslow of Essex County had antecessors in Virginia, but who his parents were is not shown. Hotten's list of the "The Dead in Virginia up to February 16,1623" gives the following names: "Thomas Winslow, Ux Winslow, and Infans Winslow." And the New Kent land grants show that "John Winsloe" in 1667 received a patent of 600 acres of land in New Kent County. (New Kent County at that time bordered on Rappahannock, or what later became Essex County). Knowing that the Christian name THOMAS was a common one among the Winslows of Worcestershire, England, there is reason to believe the Thomas Winslow, deceased in 1623, were of the same original stock, and came to America about the same time as did Edward of the "Mayflower". Thomas having chosen Virginia instead of Massachusetts as his objective. As there is no John Winslow listed as an immigrant in Virginia, the John receiving the land grant may have been a son of the Thomas, listed as dead in 1623. Thomas Winslow of Essex County, was possibly a descendant of these two.
THOMAS WINSLOWE, as he was sometimes known, was a witness to a deed in old Rappahannock County in April 1683. His indenture dated February 9, 1693, in Essex County reads: "In consideration of 1000 pounds of tobacco and cake, 5 shilling Stirling to Nicholos Faulker received by estimation, 50 acres of land". Indenture recorded February 10, 1693, old style. Note: Estate being added to in Essex County.
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Thomas Winslow's Will:
In the name of God, amen, I, Thomas Winslow of St. Anns Parish in Essex County, being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last Will and Testament, revoking hereby all other or former Wills by me made heretofore.
First: -- I bequeath my soul to God that gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried decently at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and for the worldly good it hath pleased God to bless me withal and dispose of in manner following viz:
First: -- It is my will that all my just debts be paid.
2ndly: -- I give unto my eldest son Thomas the plantation he has now and upon situate and lying in South Farnham Parish, to him, his heirs forever.
3rdly: -- I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin after my wife's decease, the plantation that I live upon, to him, his heirs forever.
4thly: -- I give unto my son Benjamin and his heirs forever after my wife's decease the land I bought of John Smith,
5thly: -- It is my will that my wife enjoy my said dwelling plantation land bought of John Smith for and during her natural life.
6thly: -- I give unto my sons Thomas and Benjamin and my daughter Elizabeth five pounds each.
7thly: -- I give unto my sons Richard and Joseph and my daughter Mary Ann and Elizabeth my two negroes Tony and Bess, the said negroes to be valued and two of my sons or daughters to have the said negroes paying to the other three their proportionable part of their value.
8thly: -- As to my personal estate it is my will that it be equally divided between by beloved wife Ann, my daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Ann and my sons Richard and Joseph.
9thly: -- It is my will that my sons Joseph and Richard have their portions at the age of twenty and one years or married and my daughter Ann have her portion at the age of eighteen or married.
10thly: -- I do hereby appoint my wife Ann and my son Thomas my Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal affixed this 19th day of January in the year of our Lord God 1725.
Thomas Winslow -- Seal
Signed, sealed and declared to be his last will and testament in the presence of Richard Covington, Jr., Francis Covington and Robert Parker, at a Court held for Essex County the 10th day of August, 1726. The will was sworn to by Benjamin Winslow, oldest surviving son of Thomas Winslow, deceased, and was proved by the oaths of Robert Parker and Richard Covington, Jr., witnesses thereof and admitted to record.
Test -- W. Beverly -- Clerk"
It it noted in the will that Thomas Winslow, who would be JUNIOR and eldest son of Thomas Winslow, SENIOR, was named Joint Executor, with his mother, but that Benjamin Winslow, oldest surviving son, is mentioned as Executor; therefore, Thomas Winslow, Jr. died some time between 10 January 1725, and 10 August 1726.
Total value of Thomas Winslow's holding, exclusive of his Real Estate, appears to be 298 pounds, 10 shillings, 8 1/2 pence, and it would appear that he had a least six slaves. (Reference a personal letter from STU VOGT of VA, "Thomas was a citizen of unusual standing in his county.")
Benjamin was appointed Guardian to Mary Ann, by Law, 18 October, 1726. Later we find Richard Covington (who was witness to Thomas Winslow's Will) was appointed her Guardian by Law, 16 February 1730. (Ref: RECORDS OF SALINE COUNTY MISSOURI from THE MARSHAL CHAPTER D.A.R., January 1960.)
From ESSEX CO., VA COURT ORDER BOOK 3, pg. 330, 331, dated 10 Mar 1706/07, "John Parker was summond to answer Thomas Winslow and Ann, his wife, lastly called Ann Parker and John Watkins and Elizabeth, his wife, lastly called Elizabeth Parker and Francis Parker of a plea that whereas they, ye said Thomas Winslow and Ann his wife, John Watkins and Elizabeth aforesaid John Parker together and undivided to hold eight hundred acres of land with the said appurtenances in this County, he ye said defendant doth_________to make Partition.
NOTE OF INTEREST: (SOURCE: Personal letter from STU VOGT of VA, dated 31 Jul 1999) The story of how the ancestral Winslow home and property around it, got out of the family -- a Mr. William H. B. Thomas settled in Orange. Thomas was a lawyer, and he took up with Percyanna Winslow, who at that time had the property. Against the wishes of the family, she named Thomas as the "heir" to everything she owned. When she died, he got it all. He was the one who had the old house torn down, because he told me that it was so termite ridden that it couldn't be saved. I do believe him on that count. Thomas remarried and repeated being the recipient of another woman's estate, which was considerable. According to the 1860 US Census, a later Thomas Winslow is shown as having real estate valued at $5000 and personal property at $2,781. So, right before the Civil War, they were doing all right."
Thomas Winslow 
