Joseph Tompson

Joseph Tompson was the son of Rev. William Tompson, pastor of the church in Braintree; his elder brother William spent several years as a missionary among the Pequot at New London, Connecticut, before dying young. Better educated than most of his neighbors, Joseph became Billerica's first schoolmaster in January 1679-80; "it was many years before he had a successor," town historian Henry Hazen notes. He also served as deacon of the church, succeeded Jonathan Danforth as town clerk, held the rank of Captain in the militia, and represented the town in the General Court on several occasions. He married Mary Bracket in 1662 and, after her death, Mary Denison of Roxbury in 1680-1. He died October 13, 1732.