FACTS COLLECTED IN REGARD TO HISTORY OF THE TIDBALL FAMILY IN AMERICA
(copy of manuscript in possession of Mrs. Nancy Tidball of Millersburg, Ohio, copied by Milford Tidball January 6, 1880).
During the reign of William the Third and Mary; King and Queen of England, in the latter part of the 17th century, an expedition was sent abroad by the British government. To what place and for what purpose is not known.
Among others who embarked on the expedition was an eminent physician of London, Dr. William Brownhill by name, who acted in the capacity of ship’s surgeon. During the voyage an epidemic broke out among the men of the expedition and made such havoc and devastation not only among the privates, but also among the officers. In a short time not a single officer was left to command the ship. Dr. Brownhill, being the only person on board who understood navigation was chosen to take command of the vessel.
However, not long after he had been chosen to this office, the vessel under his care met with another serious disaster. Meeting with a hostile fleet of Portuguese vessels which were more numerous and better equipped for battle than themselves, they were compelled to surrender. They were taken prisoners and their ship was despoiled of its treasures. But not feeling satisfied and thinking that more treasure was hidden somewhere on board the vessel, the Portuguese endeavored to find it by making threats against the commander. He truthfully asserted that the victors already possessed all the treasures on board.
Thinking that Dr. Brownhill’s denial was made with a view of deceiving them, the Portuguese commander threatened death to Dr. Brownhill in case the treasures were not produced. He still persisted in his first statement and was accordingly hung to the yard arm of the vessel, after he had remained in this position a few moments, he was let down and again questioned in regard to the supposed treasure.
Again he denied and was hung the second time and remained suspended by the neck until life was almost extinct when he was then lowered. When sufficiently restored he was again commanded to tell where the gold and silver was hidden.
He still denied that there were any treasures on board except what they had already taken. Again the enemy threatened and again he denied and in compliance with their threats, Dr. Brownhill was hung the third time. His own men succeeded in persuading the Portuguese that there was in reality, no more treasure on the ship and that their commander could not reveal treasure which did not exist, so he was released and restored to consciousness.
He was not permitted to escape. He was taken to Portugal and confined to prison seven long years. At the end of that time, he gained his liberty and immediately departed for London anxious to see his wife and family whom he had not seen or heard from in all that time.
On entering the city he went immediately to his former residence and knocking at the door he was invited into the house by a little girl whom he soon discovered to be his own daughter, Lizzie. He inquired if Mrs. Brownhill resided there and if she were at home. The little girl said that her mother was Mrs. Brownhill but she was visiting a neighbor and would not return until evening.
The base insult as she regarded it, was still fresh in her mind and burned with indignation whenever she thought of the stranger. But how much stronger were her feelings of anger when she saw the same stranger walking down the street not only with her Mother holding his arm but even resting her head upon his shoulder.
The secret was soon revealed to her and she joyfully embraced her long lost father, whom she had supposed dead.
Dr. Brownhill’s reputation soon became so well established that he was chosen surgeon to King William III, Prince of Orange.
In this capacity he was engaged until his death. He died as a result of a fall and was mourned by many who held him in high esteem as a man.
For some reason not now known, Dr. Brownhill advised his wife to take Lizzie and their other daughter (name not known) and move to America. In 1714 she prepared to do as her husband advised and set sail on a vessel bound for Philadelphia.
By this time, Lizzie had become a young woman. While crossing the ocean this young woman saw a young sailor by the name of “THOMAS TYDBALL†with whom she immediately fell in love. He as also effected in the same manner by the young lady’s beauty and manner. But the circumstances of these young people were so very different that a [personal meeting seemed impossible. She was a wealthy young English lady and he was only a sailor. It would have been regarded as improper for him in his lowly position in life to have spoken to her or in any way to have sought her acquaintance.
The difference in social rank seemed to be an insurmountable barrier between them. And yet the young sailor could not dismiss the fair young passenger from his thoughts. He thought of her by day and dreamed of her by night. Occasionally he saw her promenading the deck with her Mother. Strange it seemed to him, he would catch her eye glancing at him. Thus several months of a long voyage passed away.
Miss Brownhill had similar experiences as was afterward learned. She thought she saw in him something superior to the other sailors. She saw in him a noble, manly look and something in his manner which told her he was no ordinary man. The more often she saw him, the stronger became her attachment for him. She resolved to seek an opportunity to speak with the young sailor, but no opportunity was offered.
On August 11, 1714, the ship landed in Philadelphia and here the lovers were for the time separated. The Brownhill family left the ship and the young sailor then returned with his ship to England.
Now for a few words in regard to the sailor named Thomas Tydball. (This is the way the name was spelled in England). His father (first name unknown) resided in England. He had two sons, Charles and Thomas. At his death, the older son had been appointed guardian of the younger, therefore had possession of most of the property, leaving Thomas with little means. (As was the custom in those days,)
In his straightened circumstances he had taken to the sea for a means of livelihood o in the story, we find Thomas employed. After his return to England, his love for the fair passenger still remained strong within him and he resolved to take shipping to America in order, if possible, to find the object of his deep affections.
To find Elizabeth Brownhill was not an easy task. He knew not where to find her. After a diligent search his efforts were rewarded with success. The former barriers were no longer in the way. Mrs. Brownhill and her daughter were soon convinced that Thomas was a worthy young man and above the lowly calling in which they had found him at the time of their coming to America. Very soon, an engagement was entered into by the lovers.
In a story received from Jennifer Ann Larson of 2499 Sky Line Circle, Salt Lake City Utah 84103; this was additional information.
After Mrs. Brownhill and her daughters settled in Philadelphia an English nobleman, influenced doubtless by her wealth, followed over and became married to her. He left America to attend to her property in Jamaica and was never afterward heard from. Many supposed him to be lost at sea or murdered, yet it is possible that having obtained her property he absconded—It had been told that of Dr. Brownhill’s wealth, the most of this was composed of large possessions which he had in Jamaica. In his capacity as the Surgeon to King William, he was considered to be the most skilled in London. When he received the severe fall on the sidewalk, which broke his thigh bone, the walk being covered with ice and sleet, the King spared no expense in securing the most skillful physician for the Dr. that he might be restored to health, but it was all in vain, he died from its effects. A man beloved by all, he stood high in his profession and had many to mourn his departure.