One of the more notable individuals included in this family tree is Thomas Rogers, one of the original “Pilgrims” who journeyed to what is now the United States aboard the Mayflower in the year 1620. He made the journey with his son, Joseph Rogers, who was 13 years of age at the time. Thomas Rogers died during the first winter in the new colony during the “Great Sickness”. He left behind his son, who went on to marry and father nine children.
Below is an excerpt concerning Thomas Rogers from the book “Mayflower Families – Through Five Generations”; Volume Nineteen – Thomas Rogers” and published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in the year 2000. ISBN: 0-930270-21-5
In order to make for easier reading, I've translated the abbreviations used in the book to more readable text.
FIRST GENERATION
THOMAS ROGERS was born in Watford County, Northamptonshire, England circa 1571. He died in Plymouth in the winter of 1620-1621 “in the first sickness”. He was the son of William and Eleanor Rogers. Eleanor's unmarried surname is unknown.
Thomas Rogers married ALICE COSFORD in Watford, Northamptonshire, England on October 24, 1597. Alice was baptized in Watford on May 10, 1573. Alice was the daughter of George and Margart Cosford. Margart's unmarried surname is unknown. Both Alice and Thomas were name in George Cosford's will.
The primary evidence gathered from Dutch (the Pilgrims headed for Holland in 1608 before heading across the Atlantic Ocean) and New England sources establishes that Thomas Rogers had a wife named Alice who survived him, and at least four children; Joseph, John, Elizabeth and Margaret, probably born in that order. Joseph was likely the eldest, because he came to Plymouth in 1620 with his father, while the birth order of the others is suggested by the 1622 tax lists. Thomas left England by 1616 or 1617 when he bought a house at Leiden. Another son Thomas died young, and a possible son named Richard also died young.
In the 1623 Plymouth Colony land division, Joseph Rogers was allotted two acres; one for himself and one on behalf of his late father. He may have been living in the household of Governor Bradford with whom he was grouped in May 22, 1627 in the division of cattle. Joseph and twelve other inhabitants of Plymouth received “an heyfer of the last year which was of the Great white back cow that was brought over in the Ann, and two shee goats.”
The 1622 Leiden poll tax list revealed that when Thomas Rogers left for America, his wife Alice, two daughters Elizabeth and Margaret and son John remained in Leiden in the household of Anthony Clements, who was apparently one of the English Separatists who did not emigrate to Plymouth.
Thomas Rogers died in the first sickness, but in 1650 son Joseph was still living and married with six children. Only one of his other children, John Rogers, can be authenticated from New England records. John probably arrived in Plymouth about 1630 when the last of the Separatists arrived from Leiden. John was taxed in Plymouth on March 25, 1633. In April of 1640, Joseph Rogers and John Rogers, “his brother”, were granted 50 acres each at North River (Marshfield), thus proving John's identity.