FOREWORD 167 



He at once took a prominent part in the civic and business 

 life of the new town. During King Philip's war he was 

 active in the military service of the colony. He was 

 commissioned lieutenant-commander of the forces from 

 his town and is said to have repeatedly saved the settle- 

 ment at Halifax and Middleboro from the attacks of the 

 Indians through "his superior skill and well timed caution." 



Lieutenant Thompson became a prosperous farmer 

 and was one of the most respected citizens of his town. 

 He died in Halifax, June 16, 1696, and was buried in 

 Middleboro. 



He married December 26, 1645, Mary Cooke, daughter 

 of Francis Cooke, one of the "Pilgrim Fathers," who 

 emigrated to Massachusetts in the Mayflower in 1620. 

 Mrs. Thompson was born in 1626 and died March 21, 1714. 

 Eleven children were born to Lieut. John and Mary 

 (Cooke) Thompson: 1 Adam, who died young. 2 John, 

 born in 1648, married Mary Tinkham. 3 Mary, born 

 in 1650, married Capt. Thomas Taber, and settled near 

 Bedford, Mass. 4 Esther, born July 28, 1652, married 

 William Reed. 5 Elizabeth, born Jan. 28, 1654, mar- 

 ried Thomas Swift, and settled in Nobscusset. 6 Sarah, 

 born April 7, 1657, died unmarried. 7 Lydia, born 

 Oct. 5, 1659, married James Soule. 8 Jacob, mentioned 

 below. 9 Thomas, born Oct. 19, 1664, married Mary Mor- 

 ton. 10 Peter, married Rebecca Sturtevant. 11 Mercy, 

 born in 1671, died April 19, 1756. Rev. Zadock Thomp- 

 son's line of descent from John Thompson is as follows : 



(II) Jacob, son of Lieut. John and Mary (Cooke) 

 Thompson, was born in Halifax, Mass., April 24, 1662 and 

 died there Sept. 1, 1726. He was, a prominent citizen of 



