Thomas (1) Tarbell, the ancestor of all the early Tarbell families of New England, settled in Watertown as early as 1647, at which time he is mentioned on the town records as owning land. March 30, 1663 he and wife, Mary, sold his house and land there, and moved to Groton, where she died, aged 54 years. The family retired from Groton to Charlestown at the destruction of the former town during King Phillip's War, and there he married second, August 17, 1676, Susanna, widow of John Lawrence, and died of the small pox. The settlement of his estate, as contained in two papers in the Middlesex Co. Court files bearing dates of May 31, 1680, and March 18, 1681 shows the children listed on his family page. Administration upon his estate was granted to his son John, August 17, 1678. (a)

King Philip: (c 1639-1676) A famous Indian Chief called King Phillip by the English. He united the Indians of New England in a general War upon the whites. The death of King Phillip, in 1676, put an end to "King Phillip's War" (b)

References:
(a)Suffolk Deeds, vol. xiv, fol. 25.
(b)Book of Knowledge

Colonial Families of the United States of America: Volume 5
ISSUE BY FIRST MARRIAGE
THOMAS TARBELL, who d. 11th June, 1678, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, was ancestor of all the early New England families of this name; settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, as early as 1647; records show he owned lands there at that time. He sold his property 30th March, 1663, and moved to Groton; after the destruction of Groton during King Philip's War, he moved to Charlestown; m. (firstly) Mary, surname unknown, b. 1620, d. 29th April, 1674, at Groton; m. (second) 15th August, 1676, at Charlestown, Susanna LAWRENCE, widow of John LAWRENCE.
I. THOMAS II, d. 27th April, 1678.
II. Mary, d. 26th April, 1676; m. 3d July, 1665, Jonathan SAWTELL, of Groton.
III. Sarah, b. October, 1648; d. 1715; m. before 31st May, 1680, Cornelius CHURCH, of Groton.
IV. Abigail, m. September, 1672, Joshua WHITNEY, of Groton.

2074. Thomas Tarbell, born 1615 in England; died June 11, 1678 in Charlestown, Mass.. He was the son of 4148. Thomas Tarbell. He married 2075. Mary Groton.
2075. Mary Groton, born Abt 1620 in England; died April 29, 1674 in Groton, Mass..

Notes
THOMAS TARBELL settled in Watertown, Massachusetts as early as 1647. At the town meeting of January 10, 1658, he was allowed one shilling for one fox. He sold his property to Deacon THOMAS HASTINGS on March 30, 1663 consisting of 30 acres and a dwelling house plus four acres of remote meadows in Cambridge. THOMAS TARBELL moved to Groton. He was one of the four persons to whom 20 acres was granted by that town in about 1665 for erecting a mill, to be exempted from taxation 20 years. No else was allowed to erect a mill, except on their own land.
THOMAS TARBELL served as a soldier under Captain THOMAS WHEELER during King Philip's War. After the destruction of Groton by the Indians during that War, he moved to Charlestown. THOMAS died on June 11, 1678 of smallpox in Charlestown. His eight children included THOMAS, MARY, SARAH, ABIGAIL, JOHN, ELIZABETH, MARTHA, and WILLIAM.

Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers, Volume 4 page 256
Tarbell, Tarbole, or Tarball, John, Salem, freem. 1690, liv. at the vill. now Danvers, where he made much trouble to his min. poor Samuel Parris, for his witchcraft delus. THOMAS, Watertown 1644, then bot. ld. in that town, but liv. in ano. wherehe had Thomas, Abigail, and [p.256] perhaps John; and at W. had Eliz. b. 5 Jan. 1657; William, 26 Feb. 1659; and rem. to Groton, a. 1663. When G. was destr. by the Ind. he rem. to Charlestown, there m. 15 Aug. 1676, Susanna, wid. of John Lawrence, and d. erly in 1681. His wid. join. the ch. 6 Mar. of that yr. and d. says gr.-stone 5 Jan. 1691.
THOMAS, Groton, s. of the preced. m. 30 June 1666, Ann Longley, d. of the first William, had Thomas, b. 6 July 1667; Ann, 10 June 1670; William, 1 Oct. 1672; and Mary, 2 Apr. 1675; rem. to Charlestown, on destruct. of G. by the Ind. and there his w. join. the ch. 28 Oct. 1677, and he d. 1678, of smallpox.