Born ‎24 Jun 1679 Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, died ‎31 Jul 1728 Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut‎, age 49 years
The first regular and datable settler within the limits of the present Thompson, was Richard Dresser of Rowley, who, after a year's trial of the new settlement at Mashamoquet, purchased of Captain John Chandler in 1707, for £120, "the place called Nashaway." This name, originally designating the point of land between the Quinebaug and French Rivers, was also extended to the land west of this point, on which Mr. Dresser settled. The road from Woodstock to Providence passed near his dwelling, which was a little south of the site of the present West Thompson village. Richard Dresser married Mary Peabody of Rowley, in 1708, and their son, Jacob, born in 1710, was the first white male child born within Thompson territory. In 1708, Richard Dresser sold "the land between the rivers" to Sampson Howe of Roxbury, who took immediate possession and was at once claimed as an inhabitant of Killingly, becoming one of its most prominent and useful citizens. The land west of the Quinebaug was never claimed by that township.

Marriage: June 29, 1708 At: Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts Spouse: Mercy Peabody Born: January 15, 1688 At: Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts Parents: Peabody, Jacob and Abigail Towne Residence 1: prob. Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut Residence 2: prob. Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut

Born ‎15 Jan 1688 Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts