William Throope (or Throop, Troop, June 13, 1739-February 26, 1817) was the fourth child Thomas Throope and Mary Billings. He worked as a leather dresser and was given a piece of land by his father in 1762. This was most of William’s inheritance (the rest being a sum of $1 at the time of his father’s death). In 1765, He married Alathea Fales (1743-1789), the second child of Nathaniel Fales and Sarah Little. William and Alathea had a son named William Jr. in 1771. In 1774, as part of a town-wide effort, William sent a sum of seven shillings, sixpence to support the people of Boston (that city’s port having been recently closed by the British). He was counted as a head of household in the 1774 Rhode Island Census. William was listed as a lieutenant in Stephen Smith’s company of Bristol Militia in August, 1776. In June 1777, he was listed as recruiting officer for Bristol. He was captain from 1777 to the end of the war. The company under his command participated in Major General Joseph Spencer’s failed expedition against Aquidneck Island in 1777. In 1778, they were involved in the Battle of Rhode Island. William also worked as a gravestone carver. After Alathea’s death, he remarried to Mary Healey (circa 1744-1834) in 1790. At the time of his death, William’s estate was valued at $151.73, the most valuable items being two old beds valued at $35. He was buried in the East Burial Ground next to Alathea. Mary died in 1834 at age 90. William was probably the namesake of William Throop Waldron (1770-1843), the 10th child of Nathaniel Waldron and Hannah Throope.
Rev War Bristol 