Antony Thacher came to the US in 1635 on the "James" with him were his second wife, Elizabeth Jones, five children from his first wife, Mary and his nephew Thomas Thacher. They later were traveling to Ipswitch when they were shipwrecked on what is now Thacher Island off Cape Ann by Rockport. All but Antony and his wife were lost. They later in 1639 settled in Yarmouth where they were of the founding group. Elizabeth and Antony had three children: Judah, Bethiah, and John. John was born 17 Mar 1638, he founded the Yarmouth Branch of the Thacher Family. Thomas, who did not accompany the rest of the group by boat, founded the Boston Branch of the Thacher Family.∼Came from Salisbury, Wiltshire, to Massachusetts Bay in 1635 on the James. (on or about 5 Apr 1635, "Anthony Thetcher, of Sar[u]m, tailor," was enrolled on the James of London, preparing to sail from Southampton. He first settled in Newbury MA, moved to Marblehead in 1635, and Yarmouth in 1639.
He was Curate at St. Edmund, Salisbury, from 1631 to 1635, under his brother Peter, who was pastor of the same church. In Yarmouth, he was an innkeeper.
He was born about 1593 (based on estimated date of marriage), son of Peter Thatcher of Queen Camel, Somerset.
He married 1st, by about 1618, Mary ____ ("Mary, wife to Anthony Thacher, cleric," was buried at St. Edmund, Salisbury, on 26 Jul 1634). They had five known children.
He married 2nd, by 1635, Elizabeth Jones, who was baptized at Dinder, Somerset, 1 Jan 1602/3, daughter of George Jones of Dinder. This marriage was said to have taken place "about 6 weeks before the date of his sailing for New England.." They had 3 known children.
He died between 5 Jun 1667 & 22 Aug 1667 (date of inventory).
Anthony was uncle of Thomas Thatcher, son of Anthony's brother Peter, who had arrived in New England by 1637, when he witnessed a will in Newbury. Thomas was 15 in 1635 & therefore would have been listed among the "men, youths & boys" listed on the James roster, if, as some claim, he accompanied his uncle to New England.
Totten discussed at length English records for 2 men named Anthony Thatcher who were distinct from, & apparently unrelated to this Anthony. One of these men also had a wife named Mary, which has caused some confusion in the literature.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project.