| Notes |
- From New England Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series, Volume IV, p. 1853:
ANGELL The origina of Angell as a surname is uncertain. Some authorities claim that it is derived from Angel, a town in France, and some claim it is from the Greek word meaning "messenger." In very ancient times it was used in connection with the Christian name, as a descriptive term applied to character, and later to show that the family was of extraordinary beauty. In the Byzantine Empire in 1185, Konstantinos Angelos was a young man of noble family who received his name for that reason.
Thomas Angell, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England about 1618. There is a tradition that he was the son of Henry Angell, of Liverpool, England, and that at the age of twelve he went to London to seek his fortune. In 1631 he came with Roger Williams, in the ship, "Lion," from London to Boston, and he was then regarded as a servant or apprentice of Williams. He went with Williams to Salem, remaining until 1636. He removed with him to Providence, Rhode Island, and had granted him the lot fronting on North Main street where now the First Baptist Church, the High School house and Angell street are situated. In 1652 and 1653 he was elected a commissioner, and in 1655, constable, which office he held for many years. He was as were all the inhabitants of Providence of that day a farmer. His will was dated May 3, 1685, and proved September 18, 1685. He was about seventy-six years old at the time of his death. He married Alice (???), whose will is dated October 2, 1694, and proved the January following. Children: John, mentioned below; James, married Abigail Dexter; Amphillis, married Edward Smith; Mary, married Richard Arnold; Deborah, married Richard Seabury; Alice, married Eleazer Whipple; Margaret, married Jonathan Whipple.
From Thayer and Burton Ancestry, p. 15:
THOMAS ANGELL, the early companion of Roger Williams and the first of the family name to settle in Rhode Island, was the son of Henry Angell, of Liverpool, England, and came to this country in the ship "Lyon," from Bristol, arriving at Boston in December, 1630. He first settled at Salem, but in 1636, with four others, came with Roger Williams to Providence, R. I., arriving there earlier than July. The previous winter had been spent at Seekonk. He was then a young lad living in the family of Roger Williams, whose only companion he was in that first memorable trip up the Providence river in a canoe. The next year, although still a minor, he signed the famous civil compact with twelve others.
In 1656-7 a Massachusetts officer came to Pawtucket, arrested a man and attempted to return with him to Boston. The Providence authorities, hearing of it, sent Constable Thomas Angell, with others, one of whom was John Sayles, to rescue the prisoner. They found the Massachusetts officer at a house where he was to remain over night. The officer thus relates the occurrence: "About 10 o'clock comes in Thomas Angell, the constable of Providence, and a sergeant with four men more for to apprehend my body and Richard Chasmor, who was then our prisoner." The matter was argued at some length, with the result that the prisoner was finally released.
At the close of the King Philip war Thomas Angell was on the committee that recommended the conditions under which the Indian captives were disposed of by the towns. They were required to serve those plucky inhabitants of Providence and Warwick who, upon being invited to seek shelter on the island of Rhode Island, "stayed and went not away." Besides being constable, he served as town clerk, juryman and commissioner.
In 1694 he died, first making careful provisions in his will for his widow's welfare. Among other things, he stipulated that his son, James, should give her another cow, and the "keep of same" when the one given her by his son, John, had "become unfit for milk by age."
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1618 - 1694 (75 years)
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