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Thomas Cushman (1607/8-1691) is buried in Burial Hill, Plymouth, Mass. The picture on the left is his footstone, and the picture on the right is his headstone. No gravestone remains for Mary Allerton Cushman
Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton
In 1636 Thomas married Mary ALLERTON. She came on the Mayflower in 1620,
along with her parents, Isaac ALLERTON, (1583-February 1658-9) & Mary
NORRIS, (1588-25 Feb 1625), in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Mary was born
in June 1616 in Leyden, South Holland, Netherlands, and was baptized in Leyden,
Holland in June 1616. Mary died in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts at the age
of 83 on 28 Nov 1699. Thomas and Mary are both buried in Old Burial Hill
Cemetery, Plymouth, MA. .
Children of Elder Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton. Henry Wyles Cushman, The Descendants of Robert Cushman, The Puritan, From
the year 1617 to 1855
2. THOMAS, (3) familiarly known by the name of Elder Thomas Cushman, was b.
in England in February, 1608. He was probably in the Mayflower when his father
with the other Pilgrims sailed for America, in August, 1620; for Robert Cushman
and his family were among that famous band of Puritan brethren, — and with his
father went back to London in the Speedwell. In July, 1621, the ship Fortune
sailed for New England having on board thirty passengers among whom were Robert
Cushman and his family, —consisting of an only son, Thomas, then fourteen years
of age. Thomas arrived at Plymouth, in good health, in Nov., 1621. In a few days
his father returned to England, leaving his only son in the family of his
particular friend, Gov. Bradford. And in a subsequent latter, he entreats the
Governor “to have a care of my son, as your own, and I shall be bound unto you.”
If it is true, that, i. Thomas,(1637-1726)
ii. Sarah,(1639->1695)
iii. Martha "Mary",(1641-1684)
iv. Isaac,(1647-1732)
v. Elkanah,(1651-1727)
vi. Feare,(1653-<1690)
vii. Eleazer,(1656-1723)
viii. Lydia,(1662-1718
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“1627. At a public Court held on the 22d of May, it is considered by the whole company, that the cattle which were the company’s, to wit, — the cows and the goats should be equally divided by lot to all persons of the same company.” The cattle and goats were, therefore, divided into twelve lots, and thirteen persons appointed to each lot.
The eleventh lot fail to Gov. Bradford and those with him, among whom was
Thomas Cushman, then in the 20th year of his age. “To this lot fell an heifer of
the last year, which was of the great white back cow that was brought over in
the Ann Jan. 1, 1633. These following ware admitted into the freedom of the society,
via:. Mr. William Collins, Thomas WilIett, John Cooke and Thomas Cushman.” He
was then twenty-five or twenty-six years of age.
July 1, 1634. “At a general Court holden before the Governor and Council,
Thomas Cushman plantife agaynst John Combe, Gent. defendant, being east and
adiudged to pay the sayd summe of ten pounds to the plaintife or his Assigns at
or before the first of Aug. or else to deliver to him a cow cafe weaned. or
weanable About the year 1635 or 36 he m. Mary Allerton, the third child of Isaac
Allerton, who came over in the Mayflower in 162O
River (now Kingston) about this time, which was not long after he was
married, and that there he lived and died. 1645, he purchased “Prance’s farm” at
Jones River (now “Rocky Nook,” in Kingston,) by exchanging land at
Sowams1 for it, for £75. It was first owned by his father-in-law,
Isaac Allerton.
The exact locality of his house is now pointed out, and a spring of water
near it has for many years received the cognomen of “the Elder’s Spring,” from
Elder Thomas Cushman, whose house stood near it. It is located in that part of
Kingston now called “Rocky Nook,” about fifty rods northerly from the present
traveled highway, on the border of the marsh. & description and the
boundaries of the land as given in the early Colony Records, show,- beyond a
doubt, that the tradition respecting that spring and the location of the Elder’s
Rouse, must be correct. Men and things have changed in, the course of two
hundred years: yet the topography of that vicinity, remains the same.
The ”Elder’s Spring” is often visited by antiquarians, and by those who have
sprung from the stock of the Pilgrims; and who venerate their deeds. The writer
of this has drank from that pure spring, where his venerable ancestor allayed
his thirst in days of yore; and he hopes he has thus become inspired with
something of the Pilgrim’s faith, and a fearless determination, to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience and judgment ;“ and in the
strong and emphatic language of another2, “has sworn upon the altar
of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over tha mind of man.”
In 1649, the office of Ruling Elder of the Church at Plymouth, having become
vacant by the death of the venerable Elder Brewster, Thomas Cushman was
appointed to that office and continued in it to his death, — a period of over
forty-three years. Be was ordained to that office by appropriate ceremonies and
religious services, on Friday the 6th of April, 1649.
In order to show the importance of the office of Ruling Elder, that was held
for so long a period by our worthy ancestor, we give, from Prince’s Chronology,
the following summary of the
religious tenets of the Plymothean Fathers, so far as they relate to Church
government:
“They rnain that every Christian congregation ought to be governed by it own
laws, without depending on the jurisdic tion of Bishops, or being subject to the
authority of Synods, Presbyteries, or fl9 ecclesiastical assembly whatever. They
maintained that the inspired scriptures only contain the true religion, and that
every man has the right of judging for himself and worshipping according to his
apprehension of the meaning of them. “Their officers. were Pastors or teaching
Elders, who have the power of overseeing and teaching, and of administering the
sacraments, & c. We thus see that Thomas Cushman held a highly responsible and important
office in the hierarchy of the Plymouth Colony.
April 4, 1654. Mrs. Sarah Jenny1 of Plymouth, by her Will, gave
are able to teach;” which abilities (as Mr. Robinson observes in one of his
letters) other reformed churches did not require of their Ruling Elders.
Extract from a Deed of land:
“Two acres of marsh meadow bee it more or lease lying before the house and
land of the Elder Cushman at Joaneses Riener next vnto a pcell of, meadow which
was Phineas Prats."1
March 29, 1668. Ousamequin (Massasoit) and his oldest son Wamsitto’ convey by
deed a tract of land in Rehoboth to Thomas Prance, Thomas Cushman and others,
for which they pay the sum of thirty-five pounds sterling. This is another
evidence of the justice of our fathers. They showed their faith by their worics.
“About the year 1650 to 1660 the Quakers proved very troublesome to the
Church and subverted many. The Lord was pleased to bless the endeavors of their
faithful Elder, Mr. Cushman, in concurrence with several of the abler brethren,
to prevent the efficacy of error and delusion; and (though destitute of a
Pastor) the body of the Church were upheld in ttieir integrity and in a constant
opposition to their pernicious tenets. And we desire, say the records, that the
good providence of God herein may never, be forgotten, but that the Lord may
have all the praise and glory thereof; for how easily might these wolves in
sheep’s clothing have ruined this poor flock of Christ, if the Lord had not
interposed by his almighty power an goodness; improving this our good
elder as a special instrument in this worthy work, both by teaching the will
of God every Lord’s day, for a considerable time, plainly, powerfully and
profitably; and seconding the same by a blameless life and conversation.”
“After Rev. Mr. Rayner left, the worship of God was carried on by their
Elder, Mr. Cushman, assisted by some of the brethren: insomuch that not one
Sabbath passed without two public meetings.”2
Elder Cushman, having been raised and educated in the family of Gov.
Bradford, was ever his intimate and confidential friend. He was, therefore, the
principal witness to his Will, which was proved at Ptymouth, June 3, 1657. The
Governor’s estate was also inventoried by Thomas Cushman.
June 30, 1669. Mr. John Cotton, Jr., son of the famous
Rev. John Cotton, Pastor of the first Church in Boston, was ordained as
Pastor of the fist Church in Plymouth. “Elder Thomas Cushman gave the charge and
the aged Mr. John Howland (whose daughter had married his son, Thomas Cushman,
Jr.) was appointed by the Church to join in imposition of hands.”
“The Ruling Elder (Cushman) with the new Pastor, made it their first special
work to pass through the whole town, from family to family to enquire into the
state of souls.” The following is a facsimilo of the signatures of Elder Cushman
and of his minister, Rev. Mr. Cotton, written in the year 1782.
The first volume of the records of the first Church at Plymouth, contains the
following notice of Elder Cushman’s death:
“1691. It pleased God to seize upon our good Elder, Mr. Thomas Cushman, by
sickness, and in this year to take him from ‘us. He was chosen and ordained
Elder of this Church, April 6, 1649; he was neere 43 yeares in his office, hi
sicknesse lasted about eleven weeks; he had bin a rich blessing to this church
scores of yeares, he was grave, sober, holy and temperate, very studIous and.
solicitous for the peace and prosperity of the church and to prevent and heale
all breaches: He dyed, December 11, neare the end of the 84th yeare of his life;
December 16: ‘was kept as a day of humiliation for his death, — the Pastor
prayed and preached. Mr. Arnold and the Pastor’s 2 sons asisted in prayer; much
of God’s presence went away from this church when this blessed Pillar was
removed.”
“A liberal contribntion was made that fast day for the Elder’s widow, as an
acknowledgment of his great services to the church whilst living.”
In another place we find the following in the Plymouth Church Records:
1691. Elder Thomas Cushman dyed December II: having within two months
finished the 84th year of his life.” He died on Friday the 11th day of Dec., 1891, and we may, therefore,
reasonably conclude that his funeral was attended on the following Sunday.
He was buried on the southerly brow of “Burying Hill,” in a very beautiful
locality, commanding a full view of Plymouth harbor, of the town, of the green
hills in the distance, and of the “heating House” in which for more than seventy
years he had prayed and worshiped.
The gravestone, erected by the Plymouth Church, twenty-four years after his
death, is a plain slab of mica slate, about 3 feet in height, and was probably
imported from England. It is now in a good state of preservation, and although
it has stood nearly one hundred and forty years, the inscription is yet distinct
ani.l legible. Such a tribute as that to his memory, by the Church of which he
was a member, speaks volumes in his praise.
The inscription is as follows:
The foregoing is nearly a fac-simile, except that the letters are about
three-fourths of an inch in size.
At his grave stands a board with this inscription, of recent; origin,
undoubtedly, designed to direct the stranger to the grave of one of the moat
noted of the old Pilgrims:
It will be noticed that the day of his death by the Church Records, is Dec.
11th, — but by his gravestone it is Dec. 10th; which is correct is unknown. -
About a year before his death, Elder Cushman made his Will. As a part of his
history, we give it entire.
From the quantity of real estate devised to his children, and the amount of
the inventory of his personal property, — a copy of which is subjoined, — we
must infer that the Elder was prosperous in temporal things, as well as in
spiritual. His personal estate amounted to £50, of which £4 was in books.
Considering the value of money at that time, — much greater than now, — he must
have been quite wealthy.
ELDER CUSHMAN’S WILL.
Copy of Probate Records County of Plymouth —Book 1, Commencing with page
129.
“To all People to whom these presents shall come, etc. — Know ye that I
Thomas Cushman, Sen’r, of the town of Plimouth in New England, being through
God’s mercy and goodness unto me at this present in some measure of good health
of body and of sound understanding and strength of memory, yet considering my
frailty and uncertainty of my abiding in this vale of tears, do make this to be
my last Will and Testament. And by these presents I do make this to be my last
will and testament to remain firm and in forever as followeth: Imprimis — I give
and bequeath my soul to God that gave it, and my body to ye dust; and to be
decently buried in hopes of ye grace of God through Jesus Christ to enter into a
joyful resurrection. And for my outward estate I dispose of an followeth, via: I
will and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife Mary Cushman all my house and
housing, together with all my uplands and meadow lands I am now possessed of in
the township of Now Plimouth, to be for her
use and support during ye time of her natural life, excepting such parcels as
I do in this my will give to my children.
Item, - I give unto my son Thomas Cushman two twenty acre lots lying upon ye
southerly side of Mr. Joseph Bradford’s land, as also ye enlargements of ye head
of these lots; and also twenty acres of upland, more or less, lying upon ye
easterly side of Jones River by the bridge, with a skirt of meadow lying by said
river; and also one third of my meadow at Winnatuxet1, and also a
parcel of salt marsh meadow from our spring unto cross westerly of a salt hole
and so down to ye river, which said parcel of meadow is to be his after our
decease. All ye above said parcels of upland and meadow I do by these presents
give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Cushman, to him and his heirs forever.
Item, — I give unto my son Isaac Cushman one twenty acre lot, with ye addition
of ye head lying on the northerly side of Samuel Plande land in ye Township gf
Plimouth, and also the one half of my land lying at Nemasket Pond in ye Township
of Middleborough as also ye one half of my right in the sixteen shilling
purchase, so called, in Township above said, and also one third part of my
meadow at Winnatuxet in Plimouth, all which parcels of upland and meadow last
above expressed, I do by these presents give and bequeath unto my son Isaac
Cushman, and to him and his heirs forever, together with all the privileges
thereunto belonging..
Item, —X do give unto my son Elkanah Cuslunan one twenty acre lot with the
addition of the head lying on the northerly side of ye land I now improve, but
in case my son Thomas’s new dwelling house be upon part of this lot, my will is
my son Thomas enjoy ye land his house now standeth on without molestation. As
also I give to my son Elkanah Cushman the one half of my land lying at Neniasket
Pond, as also ye one half of the sixteen shil ling purchase above expressed, as
also onà thirit of my meadow ac Winnatuxet. All the above said parcels of lands
and meadows last above expressed, with all the privileges ther belonging I do by
these presents give unto my son Elkanab Cushman, and to his heirs forever.
Item, — I do give unto my son Eleazer Cushman the rest of my lands both
upland and meadow lands not above deposed of in Plimouth and Duxborough, as also
my new dwelling house and out housing, which house and lands I do by these
presents give and bequeath unto my son Eleaner Cushman, to him and his heirs
forever to enjoy after I and my wife are deceased.
And my will is that my four sons Thomas, Isaac, Elkanah and
Eleazer shall each of them allow twenty to their sisters, that is to say
Sarah Hanks and Lidiah Harlow. As also my will, is that if any of my sons as
cause to make sale of their land I have given them in Plimouth, that they do let
their brothers that do reside in Plimouth have the said lands as they shall be
valued by five different men as also my will is, and I do by these- presents
give and bequeath unto my three grand children in Line the children of my
daughter Mary Hutchinson deceased, to each of them twenty shillings to be paid
unto them out of my estate soon after my decease.
And do constitute and appoint my dear and loving wife Mary Cushman to be the
sole executrix of this my-last Will and Testament, my debts, legacies and
funeral charges being paid my will is that whatever other estate is found of
mine in goods, chattels or debts either in Plimouth or elsewhere shall be for ye
support of my wife during her natural life; and my will is that what remains of
my estate at my wife’s decease the one half I do give to my son Eleazur Cushman
and the other half unto my two daughters, to Sarah Hanks and Lidiah Harlow to be
equally divided between them. And my will is, and I do by these presents appoint
my two sons Thomas Cushman and Isaac Cushman and Thomas Faunce to be ye
supervisors of this my last will and testament, much confiding in their love and
faithfulness to be helpful to my s’d executrix in the acting and disposing of
particulars according to the tenore thereof, thus hoping that this my last will
and testament will be performed, and kept, revoking all other wills, written or
verball. I have in witness thereof set to my hand and seal on the 22d of
October, 1690.
Signed, sealed and declared to be his last will and testament in presence of
us witnesses. James Warner and Thomas Faunce, the witnesses here named, made oath before
the County Court of Plymouth, March ye 16th 1691, — that they were present and
saw the above named Mr. Thomas Cushman sign and seal, and heard him declare the
above written to be his last Will and Testament, and that to ye best of their
judgment he was of sound mind and memory when he so did.
1 The first cattle imported from England were "a bull and three
heifers," by Edward Winslow, in 1624. 2 Plymouth Colony Records; Court Order 3,
vol. 1. 3 From Thomas and his wife Mary and their desceodants. have come all the
Cushmans in the United States, except those mentioned in Appendix S. They are,
therefore, of full blood Puritan stock; both their paternal and maternal
ancestors having been among the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth.
1 On Naragansett Bay in Rhode Island. 2 Thomas Jefferson’s letter
to Dr. Bush, dated at Monticello, Virginia, Sept. 23, 1800.
“2d, RULING ELDERS who are to help the Pastor in ruling
and overseeing.
“3d, DEACONS who are to take care of the treasury of the
Church; distribute to the needy, and minister at the Lord’s Table.”
"To Elder Cushman the Bible which was my daughter Susannah's.
From an
“Account of the Church of Christ in Plymouth, by John Cotton, Esq., a member,
published in 1760,” we take the- following statement of the duties and character
of Elder Thomas Cushman: “About four or five years after Mr. Brewster’s death,
(he d. Tuesday, 16 April, 1644,) the Church chose Mr Thomas Cushman as his
successor in the of of Ruling Elder, son of that servant of Christ, Mr. Robert
Cushman, who had been their chief agent in transacting all their affairs in
England, both before and after their leaving of Holland, till the year 1625. And
this his son, inheriting the same spirit and being completely qualified, with
gifts and graces, proved a great blessing to the Church; assisting Mr.
Rayner2 not only in ruling, catechising and visiting, but also in
public teaching, as Mr. Brewster had done befOre him: it being the professed
principle of this Church in their first formation ‘to choose none for governing
Elders, but such as
1 The wife of John Jenny, who came over in the ship Ann, in 1623.
He was a member of Rev. Mr. Robinson’a Church, at Leyden. 2 Pastor of the Church
at Plymouth.
1 Plymouth Records. 2 Cotton's Account of Plymouth Church.
1 It was for a time the practice in Congregational ordinations for
laymen to bess a part in the solemnities, by laying on of hands. Dr. Elliott in
his Biographical Dictionary, gives us the following anecdote: When Israel
Chauncy, son of the President was ordained minister of Stratford, Conn., in 1665
( one of the lay brothers, in laying on hands, forgot to take off his mitten,
and this was ridiculed by the Episcopalians by styling it the leather mitten
ordination. — Dr.Thacher's History of Plymouth.
And at a later period, we find on those
records the following:
“August 7, 1715. A contribution was moved and made,
both by the church and congregation to defray the expense of Grave Stones sett
upon the grave of that worthy and useful servant of God Elder Thomas Cushman the
whole congregation were very forward in it.”
1 Now in Plympton.
James Warner,
An addition to ye last
Will of Thomas Cushman, Sen’r, which is as followeth:
Whereas in my last
Will, which was in sixteen hundred and
