Source Text:

Name: Thomas Way
Birth Date: 10 Mar 1583
Birth Location:
Death Date: unknown
Memorial ID: 39743958

Thomas Way, christened 10 March 1583, in Powerstock, Dorset, was the son of George Way and Agnes Symes. George and Agnes were married on 8 Jun 1580 at Powerstock, Dorset.
Thomas' siblings were George born 13 Jun 1581, died in 1641 (will proved 3 Dec 1641); Peternell, who married 4 July 1605 at Ottery St. Mary, Devon, to Christopher Harding; Phillip born 16 Nov 1585 Powerstock; and Agnis, who married 15 Apr 1611 at Ottery St. Mary.
Thomas' wife's name is not known.
Their children were Johan born 5 May 1609; John, born 25 Dec 1611; Thomas born 25 Dec 1611; GEORGE born 2 March 1614, all born at Ottery St. Mary, Devon, England. Then Joane born 16 Jan 1616; Ann born 27 Nov 1618; Christopher born 27 Nov 1618, all born at Powerstock, Dorset.
It is believed that Thomas Way and his sons emigrated to America on the ship Lyon in 1631. It was a harrowing crossing. It sailed from Bristol, England, 1 Dec 1630 mastered by William Pierce with "about" 20 passengers and 200 tons of goods. It was commissioned by a merchant in Dublin whose daughter was living in the New World. After 67 days of stormy weather, they arrived at Nantasket, Massachusetts Bay either the 5 Feb 1631. It arrived late with supplies for the starving colonists who had planned a day of fasting which became a day of thanksgiving. "An entry in the 1877 chronicle Annals of North America by Edward Howland for February 15, 1631 supports this claim: "The Ship Lyon arrived at Nantasket, Massachusetts Bay. She brought twenty passengers and a large store of provisions. The 20th had been set apart as a day of fasting and prayer; the colony was suffering for want of provisions. In consequence of this timely arrival, the day was made one of thanksgiving."" (From "How an Irish Ship Saved the Pilgrims" Posted by Andy Peters on 27th Nov 2019.) The controversial Rev. Roger Williams was also a passenger on the Lyon. Thomas's son George Way's later association with Roger Williams in Rhode Island suggests this George Waye was the man who eventually settled in Providence, Rhode Island. (WordPress.com) According to Winthrop's journal..."a Mr. Way with five sons were passengers on the ship Lyon, Captain Pierce master, for the Massachusetts Bay Colony." The ship arrived on 8 February 1631. During the voyage one son was lost overboard from the rigging during a hurricane. Winthrop's journal documents the presence of the Waye family. Note: Carrying only 20 passengers, along with other known passengers, this trip could not have been referring to the family of Henry Waye, who arrived in America in 1630. Mrs. Margaret Winthrop, wife of the Governor, bound for Boston with Adam and Anne Winthrop, did not arrive on this trip; they came in August 1631. [https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/lyon3.htm]

Family Members
Children
George Way 1614–1689