Robert Buffum, of Yorkshire & Salem

Robert Buffum was born ABT 1590 in Buffum, Yorkshire, England, and died 06 AUG 1669 in Salem, Essex Co, MA. He was the son of James Bougham and Margery Raylton.

family

He married

1. He married Margaret Blessing 23 AUG 1613 in St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, daughter of William Blessing.
2. Tamasin Ward 11 MAY 1634 in St. Walsham, Norfolk, England, daughter of George Ward and Diones Burrow. She was born 1607 in Holy Trinity, Coven. England, and died 23 MAR 1688 in Salem, Essex Co, MA.

Marriage 1 Margaret Blessing Married: 23 AUG 1613 in St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England

Children

1. Mary Buffum b: BEF 21 AUG 1614
2. Samuel Buffum b: BEF 22 DEC 1616
3. Deborah Buffum b: BEF 26 SEP 1619
4. Joshua Buffum b: BEF 25 AUG 1622
5. Abraham Buffum b: BEF 17 AUG 1625
6. Jacob Buffum b: BEF 28 OCT 1627
7. John Buffum b: BEF 22 MAY 1631

Marriage 2 Tamasin Ward b: 1607 in Holy Trinity, Coven. England Married: 11 MAY 1634 in St. Walsham, Norfolk, England

comment: "Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants says although proof of George Ward's (Thomasine's father) parentage is lacking, it is "highly probable from naming patterns and chronology alone," Thomasine (Ward) Thompson Buffam is probably a descendant of Henry II, King of England, d. 1189 through his illegitimate som, William Longespee, Earl of Salisbury. (See Gary Boyd Robert's Noteable Kin #52)"

Children

1. Margaret Thompson Buffum b: 1633
2. Joshua Buffum b: 22 FEB 1634 in Salem, Essex Co, MA
3. Mary Buffum b: 1637 in Salem, Essex Co, MA
4. Deborah Buffum b: 1639 in Salem, Essex Co, MA
5. Damaris Buffum b: 30 JAN 1641
6. Lydia Buffum b: 19 FEB 1643 in Salem, Essex Co, MA
7. Robert Buffum b: 30 NOV 1643
8. Sarah Buffum b: ABT 1648
9. Caleb Buffum b: 29 SEP 1650 in Salem, Essex Co, MA

biography

From the Buffum Family Vol. 2, p. 5 -

Emigration excerpt said to have been signed by Robert Buffum : " ...to be embarqued in ye 'Planter,' Nicholas Trarice, master, bound for New England per certificate and attestacon from Sir Thomas Jay and Mr. Simon Muskett, Justices of the Peace, and the men have taken their oath of allegeance and supremacie."

From monument erected in the cemetery at Salem, Massachusetts in 1990 by the Buffum Family Association:

"Born circa 1590 at Buffum, Yorkshire, England. The immigrant Buffum to Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, America in 1634. Died March 6, 1669 at Salem.

"Robert was a seedman, owner of forty acres of upland and five acres of meadow or marsh, the beginning of Buffum's Corner, well known in Salem and perpetuated to this day by the proverbial expression, 'It is just one mile from Buffum's Corner to the neck gate.'

"Robert was the father of 17 children, 45 grandchildren, 114 great-grandchildren and over 264 great-great-grandchildren.

"Quad centennial monument erected by Buffum Family Association, Inc., Dedicated August 1990."

From "Buffum Family Volume II":

Persistent and diligent search has been made to discover the place from which Robert Buffum emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, the date of departure and arrival, and the ship on which he traveled, his family genealogy in England, the genealogy of his wife Thmoson, and other related data. In the opinion of the compiler, no one has yet completely solved the problems. However, the following is what this compiler feels to be the best evidence to date (1974).

"Robert Buffum came to America of English stock. In a letter dated June 12, 1633, written from Yorkshire, England, stating, 'Goodman Choat with his wife and goodman Bowham and goodman Bacon with his good wife of Boxford having divers young children want to go to New England.'

"He brought with him a 'Breeches Bible' from England.

....In October of 1649 in the Book of Grants for Salem, "Goodman Buffum" was given 40 acres of upland and give acres of meadow or marsh. This was the beginning of "Buffum's Corner," well known in Salem and perpetuated to this day by the proverbial expression, 'It is just one mile from Buffum's Corner to the Neck Gate.'

He was first buried in the First Quaker Burying Ground in Salem, and was later moved.

supporting data

• Robert Buffam in England Marriages, 1538-1973
• Marriage: Aug 23 1613 - Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
• Wife: Margeret Blessing

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• http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/af/individual_record.asp?rec...
• link to A History of Salem by Sidney Perley, 2:39
• http://stanleyhistory.net/descnarratives/blessingwilliam7662.shtml
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=lahope&id...