Biography of Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet 1620-1679

Around 1620 Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet was born to John Modyford Mayor of Exeter.

Around 1640 Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet (age 20) and Elizabeth Palmer were married.

After 1640 [his son] Thomas Modyford 2nd Baronet was born to Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet (age 20) and [his wife] Elizabeth Palmer.

In or after 1641 [his son] Charles Modyford 3rd Baronet was born to Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet (age 21) and [his wife] Elizabeth Palmer.

On 15 Feb 1664 Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet (age 44) was created 1st Baronet Modyford of Lincoln's Inn and was created Governor of Jamaica.

Evelyn's Diary. 26 May 1671. A letter was then read from Sir Thomas Modiford (age 51), Governor of Jamaica; and then the Council broke up.

Evelyn's Diary. 29 Jun 1671. To Council, where were letters from Sir Thomas Modiford (age 51), of the expedition and exploit of Colonel Morgan (age 36), and others of Jamaica, on the Spanish Continent at Panama.

1671 Raid on Panama

Evelyn's Diary. 19 Aug 1671. To Council. The letters of Sir Thomas Modiford (age 51) were read, giving relation of the exploit at Panama, which was very brave; they took, burned, and pillaged the town of vast treasures, but the best of the booty had been shipped off, and lay at anchor in the South Sea, so that, after our men had ranged the country sixty miles about, they went back to Nombre de Dios, and embarked for Jamaica. Such an action had not been done since the famous Drake.

Evelyn's Diary. 20 Oct 1674. At Lord Berkeley's (age 46), I discoursed with Sir Thomas Modiford (age 54), late Governor of Jamaica, and with Colonel Morgan (age 39), who undertook that gallant exploit from Nombre de Dios to Panama, on the Continent of America; he told me 10,000 men would easily conquer all the Spanish Indies, they were so secure. They took great booty, and much greater had been taken, had they not been betrayed and so discovered before their approach, by which the Spaniards had time to carry their vast treasure on board ships that put off to sea in sight of our men, who had no boats to follow. They set fire to Panama, and ravaged the country sixty miles about. The Spaniards were so supine and unexercised, that they were afraid to fire a great gun.

Before 25 Jan 1674 [his son] Charles Modyford 3rd Baronet (age 33) and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Norton Lady Modyford (age 23) were married.

On 01 Sep 1679 Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet (age 59) died. His son [his son] Thomas Modyford 2nd Baronet (age 39) succeeded 2nd Baronet Modyford of Lincoln's Inn.

[his brother] James Modyford was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica by his brother Thomas Modyford Governor of Jamaica 1st Baronet.