FRANCIS 1 BUSHNELL, born about 1580, died Guilford, CT about 1646, married 1st, at Horsham,13 MAY 1605, Ferris QUENELL, baptized Horsham, 17 APR 1587, died in childbirth, and buried there with her daughter Elizabeth 10 MAR 1627/8, daughter of Henry and Beatrix (CARTER) QUENELL, who married at Horsham 30 JAN 1585/6, and grand daughter of Henry, and great grand daughter of Henry Quenell. He married 2nd, at Horsham 02 JUN 1629, Joan KINWARD who died at Horsham and was buried there 21 JUN 1631.
It is asserted by some American writers that he married Rebecca Holmes, but no record has been produced, nor has any record been brought to my attention, where his name is associated with the name Rebecca, though diligent search has been made. It is certain that there were no children by such a marriage even if it was a fact.
Francis Bushnell, born Thatchem, county Berks, England about 1580, first appears of record at Horsham, county Sussex, England on the date of his first marriage, and for 27 years, he or his children are mentioned in the church register, after which the name disappears for some forty years. All the Bushnell records during this period pertain to him, his children, or his grand children, with the exception of two entries which we have failed to identify, viz: Peter Bushnell, "a child," buried 21 FEB 1622/3, and Mary, "wid." buried 22 FEB 1624/5,
In 1635, his five living sons left their native shore bound for America, and four years later he followed with his two daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, in the company of Rev. Henry Whitfield, aboard the "St. John." After they had been at sea about ten days, the company formulated a covenant, sometimes called the "Guilford Covenant," or "The Plantation Covenant," upon which his name appears third, while that of the Rev. John Hoadley, who married his daughter Sarah, appears ninth. The company landed at Fair Haven, CT between the 10th and 15th of July 1639 and two months later the deed was signed for their new settlement at Menunkatuck, purchased of the Quinipiac Indians, which they named Guilforde after the shire town in Surrey, England from which some of the emigrants came.
He does not seem to have been very active in the affairs of the colony, although his home lot of about 3 1/2 acres, on the N.E. corner of the roads now known as Fair and Broad Streets, was one of the choice locations. When his son, Francis, Jr., came to Guilford, he acquired the lot next north of the northwest corner lot, on Fair Street, while the Rev. John Hoadley had a lot on the south side of Broad Street between Fair and River Streets.
Here he resided until his death in 1646, and his will, attested to by Mr. Henry Whitfield, the first minister, and William Leete, the first governor, at a session of the Plantation Court, held 13 OCT 1646, was the first document of it's kind to be probated there. Both Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Leete, as well as the Rev. John Hoadley, were 'Pillars' of the First Church of Guilford.
No evidence has been presented that he had either a brother, a wife, or any other relative in America, other than his five sons and two daughters.
Children, 10:
1. Edmond, baptized 27 APR 1606,
2. Francis, baptized 08 JAN 1608/09,
3. William, baptized 03 FEB 1610/11,
4. Stephen, baptized JAN 1612/13 and buried 12 MAR 1624/5,
5. John, baptized 23 APR 1615,
6. Thomas, baptized 31 AUG 1617 and buried 16 SEP 1617,
7. Mary, baptized 25 DEC 1618 and buried 02 MAR 1629/29,
8. Rebecca, baptized 15 APR 1621and died Guilford, CT before 11 FEB 1646/47,
9. Richard, baptized 20 APR 1623, and
10. Sarah, baptized 20 NOV 1625 and died at Halstead, Kent County, England 01 NOV 1693.
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