THE HAZARD FAMILY OF RHODE ISLAND

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THOMAS HAZARD, the progenitor of the Hazard family in the United States of America, was born in 1610; he died in 2 1680; he married, Ist, Martha ,who died in 1669. He mar— ' ried, 2d, Martha, widow of Thomas Sheriff; she died in 1691.

. ‘ His name is first found in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635. 13%;? f In 1638, March 25, he was admitted freeman of Boston. Two

' “’1‘“ T" years later he was admitted freeman of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. In 1639, April 28, he and eight others signed the following contract, preparatory to the settlement of Newport, Rhode Island: “It is agreed by us whose hands are underwritten to propagate a plantation in the midst of the island or elsewhere, and to engage ourselves to bear equal charge, answer— able to our strength and estates, in common, and that our determination shall be by major voice of judge and elders, the judge to have a double voice.” The founders and first officers of the town of Newport were William Coddington, Judge; Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall, William Brenton, John Clarke, Jer— emy Clarke, Thomas Hazard, and Henry Bull, Elders; William Dyre, Clerk. In 1639, June 5, he was named one of four proportioners of land in Newport, any three of whom might proportion it; “ the company laying it forth to have 4d. an acre for every acre laid.” September 2, 1639, he was admitted freeman of Newport, and in 164.0, March 12, he was appointed a member of the General Court of Elections. In 1665, he was for a short time in Newtown, Long Island. In his will, proved 1680, his wife Martha, whom he calls his “beloved yoke- fellow,” is sole executrix, and he gives her “ all movable and immovable estate, as I housing,