Source: The Tilson Genealogy, From Edmond Tilson at Plymouth, N. E., 1638 to 1911, With brief sketches of the family in England back to 1066 by Mercer V. Tilson.Plymouth:The Memorial Press, 1911.

Charles I imposes a tax

James the 1st died 1625. His son, Charles 1st, succeeded to the throne, and soon in 1625 made the attempt to force from the people a general loan by mere exercise of Royal authority, without consent of Parliament. Throughout England many refused to pay the tax, and by warrant of the council were imprisoned.

At Lincoln, March, 1626.

John Whitinge, Maior of Boston burge, formerly called before his ma'ts commissioners & by them required to ayde his ma'ts in this way of loane, and having refused, was again called before us whos names are underwritten, and demanded if he still contynued in the same mynde, answered he did, and that he would not lend any money in this kinde, and being told by the commissioners that such as refused & contynued in that mynde incured his m'ts highe displeasure; nevertheless he still refused; and being required to become bounde by obligation to his ma'ts in the sume of fifty pounds for his appearance before the Lordes of his ma'ts most ho'ble privite counsell at Whitehall, the XIX day of this instant, also refused to be bounde.

Edward Tilson, Alderman of Boston, havinge as much saide unto him as was saide to the Mayor, Refused to lend the Kinge so small a sum as XXs, or to so enter bond for his appearance. Ten of the princapal ones were imprisoned as below:

Sr. John Wray, Sr. Thomas Grantham, Sr. Edward Aschough, Gate house.

Sr. William Armyn, Sr. Thomas Dornall, William Anderson, Esq., and the Maior of Boston, Alderman Tilson, Fleete.

William Tarald, Esquier, Norwood, Esq, Marshalsey.

Sixty-eight refused, and were imprisoned. The Gate house, the Fleete, and Marshalsey, were well known prisons to which these gentlemen were commited. The refusal became general. The answer of John Diconson, who refused, was this, "he would give nothing in this illegal way, but whatsoever a Parliment might impose, he would willingly pay." The great majority were released, but not allowed to go to their homes for fear of their stirring up fresh disaffection among their neighbors. The release was in July, 1627. They were called nonconformists.

Genealogical Register.

You may alsoe please to take into your consideration that one Benj. Dickoson of Boston, adviseth that the town of Boston is able and ought to contribute to the charge and expense of theyre late Mayor and Edw. Tilson, or anye else that suffer trouble in cause of the loane; and to help towards theyre losses. p. John Hobson collector.

Edward Tilson was Mayor of Boston in 1625-6, reign of Charles 1st.

Thompson's His. of Boston, England.

In 1640 the families of Tilson, Whiting, Leake of Leake, heirs of Wm. Coney and Andrew Baron, held property in Sibley's lane. The property adjoining this immediately North of Sibley's Lane belonged to the Tilson family in 1640. A garden and orchard on North side Sibley's Lane was surrounded by garden and orchard of Edward Tilson, and the Staplers, and Mr. Tilson's warehouse on the west.

From the Parish Register of St. Botolph's church, Boston, Lincolnshire, Eng., copied by M. V. Tilson, July, 1890.
John, the son of Edward Tilson, b. Aug. 29, 1613.
Edward, son of Edward Tilson, b. Feb. 11, 1615.
Elizabeth, dau. of Edward Tilson, b. June 9, 1618.
Abigail, dau. of Edward Tilson, b. Feb. 22, 1623.
Sarah, dau. of Mr. Edward Tilson, Maior, b. April 13, 1626.
Hannah, dau. of Edward Tilson, Gent, b. Nov. 20, 1628.
Deborah, dau. of Edward Tilson, b. Sept. 22, 1631.
Edward, son of Edward Tilson, buried Oct. 8, 1618.
Drusilla, wife of Edward Tilson, buried June 5, 1632.
Ann, wife of John Tilson, buried Jan. 3, 1643.

The religious and political persecutions in the reign of James 1st, which drove the Puritans from the Kingdom in 1620, and forced them "for conscience sake to find a new home in the bleak and almost unknown shores of New England," continued to operate for a long period. Many obstacles were interposed in the reign of Charles 1st, and by the influence of Archbishop Laud, orders of council were passed compelling those who wished to emigrate to take the oath of supremacy and allegiance. It was the exercise of this arbitrary power which has furnished us with the means of determining at what period our forefathers left England, and in many cases the places, and whence they came, and their ages and occupations; as the certificate of the administration of the oath was recorded in the office, it was found in the augmentation office Westminster Hall in 1842. It contains names of persons permitted to embark at the Port of London after Christmas, 1634. It is quite evident that Edmond Tilson and family came in one of those vessels, where the list of passengers were not given by names, and previous to Sept. 3, 1638, when he was recorded at Plymouth, New England. The following is a list of vessels leaving different ports of England, between Feb., 1634, and May, 1637, for New England, with dates of permit to passengers of each vessel.