Notes for Robert CUSHMAN: Robert Cushman, son of Thomas Couchman, was born in Kent, England in 1578. He lived in Canterbury (where his house is still standing and bears an historical marker), was a wool comber and a man of some education and better off than most of the others of the Calvinist group with which he subsequently emigrated to Holland. He married his first wife, Sarah Reeder, in 1606. Following her death in Leyden, Holland in 1616, along with one of her two children, he married Mrs. Mary (Clarke) Singleton of Sandwich, widow of a Canterbury shoemaker.
Cushman was a member of the Calvinist group which included the Reverend Richard Clifton, the Reverend John Robinson, Elder Brewster, Governor Carver, Governor Bradford and Issac Allerton which began holding church services in the house of Elder Brewster in the town of Scrooby, about the year 1602.
Because of the persecutions of the Church and government, this group removed to Holland between the years of 1607 and 1609, settling initially in Amsterdam but moving, probably in 1608, to Leyden. Ultimately this community of separatists numbered about 300 communicants. After about eight or nine years at Leyden, when it became evident that if they stayed in Holland they must become merged with the Dutch, they decided to emigrate as a body to America. Therefore, in 1617, “Mr. Carver, one of the deacons, and Mr. Cushman, one of the members of the church, were dispatched to England as agents of the exiled company to seek permission of the King to settle in some parts of Virginia.”
Carver and Cushman could have secured grants of land for the Company in Virginia if they had been willing to forego the requirement of freedom of worship. This they would not do, so returned to Leyden in November of 1617. Early in 1619 Robert Cushman and William Brewster returned to England to pursue the design of the company. On Wednesday, May 8, 1619 Robert Cushman reported to the Company in Leyden in the letter quoted in this history.
A patent was finally granted and accepted by the Pilgrim Company. It did not grant them religious liberty in specific terms but, “if they behaved themselves quietly and were faithful subjects of his Majesty, King James I,” they were not to be molested. In the spring of 1620 Carver and Cushman returned to England to make final arrangements for the voyage; Cushman to London and Carver to Southampton. The SPEEDWELL was obtained in Holland by the company and was expected to be retained by the Company in the New World. The MAYFLOWER was hired by Robert Cushman in London and sent to Mr. Carver at Southampton where it was to meet the members of the Company being brought from Holland in the SPEEDWELL.
On Wednesday, August 5, 1620 both ships sailed for the New World. Robert Cushman and his son Thomas were in the MAYFLOWER. The master of the SPEEDWELL was fearful of the voyage and twice turned back for “repairs.” On the second occasion it was decided to dispose of the SPEEDWELL and the less strong of the Company were returned to London in the charge of Robert Cushman. In London he continued to promote the interests of the Company until the MAYFLOWER returned to England in the spring of 1621. Cushman then chartered the FORTUNE, a vessel of 55 tons burden, to bring to the Colony the 36 persons who had been left behind when the SPEEDWELL failed the previous year. This group reached the Colony at Plymouth on Tuesday, November 9, 1621.
Robert Cushman returned to England in the FORTUNE, sailing on Monday, December 13, 1621, leaving his son Thomas, a boy of 15, in the care of Governor Bradford, with whose family he remained until he reached manhood. Robert Cushman remained in England until his death in 1625, where he served with Edward Winslow as agents of the Colony. It is noteworthy that Robert Cushman and William Brewster negotiated, in 1619, with the Countess of Lincoln the Patent of the original Colony and that he and Edward Winslow negotiated, in 1623, with Lord Sheffeyld, the Cape Ann Charter for the purpose of establishing a Colony there (the present town of Goucester). This charter was granted to “Robert Cushman and Edward Winslow, their associates, and assigns.....” Although Robert Cushman never lived in the Colony he was considered a member of it for the earliest records show that he was, along with the resident members, allotted his acre of land each year for his use. Upon his death, probably of the plague, in London in January or February of 1625, he was described by Governor Bradford in the following terms, “....who was as our right hand with the Adventurers and who for divers years had managed all our business with them to our great advantage.” Historians of early New England describe him as one of the driving forces among those who quitted England on account of liberty and conscience. It is an established fact that he preached the first sermon in New England to be published; during his five-week stay in 1621 he preached a sermon on the dangers of self love that was printed in England in 1622. He is quoted as saying, “I seek no name, though the memory of this action shall never die.” By this it is supposed he meant that although he sought no personal acclaim for his part in bringing the success of the Colony to fruition, the establishing of the Colony in search of freedom to exercise liberty of conscience was an event that would have lasting effect on the history of mankind.
NOTE - Robert Cushman’s original deed is in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts. The manuscript was written in 1591 in Latin Medieval Script.
Translation:
To all those faithful to Christ to whom this present indented writing shall come I Robert Cuchman yeoman of Withyham in the County of Sussex send greeting in the Lord Everlasting. Know that I the aforesaid Robert Cuchman, as much in consideration of a grant, surrender and release made by William Cuchman of Withyham aforesaid my brother at my particular entreaty and request to a certain Robert Sackville, John Baker and John Towston esquires of the whole title, estate, right of sale, remainder, claim, demand and interest whatever which the same William Cuchman recently held of and in four parcels of land called longfeld, Heathcrofte, le Su(r)t, and Paradise with appurtenances in Withyham aforesaid and in performance of my prior promise made to the aforesaid William my brother as for diverse other good causes and considerations especially moving me, have given, granted and by this my present indented writing have confirmed to Lewis Jones Gentleman, William Alfrey and William Ch(in)kinge yeoman of Withyham aforesaid all those parcels of land together lying in Withyham aforesaid containing by estimation fifteen acres called Cleyland ( ) lying in particular between the royal road leading from Birchden to Cosely on the south side, my lands called Stonefield on the west side, the lands of Edward (Nevell) called Shurlock on the north side and other settled lands there of the aforesaid Robert Sackville on the north and east sides which certain parcels of land I the aforesaid Robert Cuchman recently held for myself and my heirs from the gift and grant of the afore said Robert Sackville namely in a certain deed the date of which is the third day of this present month of March then as it appears fully completed. To have and to hold the said above granted parcels of land called Cleyland with their appurtenances to the aforesaid Lewis Jones, William Alfrey and William Chinkinge their heirs and assigns to the maintenance and use of the aforesaid Robert Cuchman and the male heirs of my body legitimately conceived and at the predestined death of such to the sole maintenance and use of the said William Cuchman my brother his heirs and assigns forever, from the chief lords of that fee for services thence owed and accustomed by right. And I indeed the aforesaid Robert Cuchman and my heirs will warrant the said above granted parcels of land with their appurtenances to the said Lewis Jones, William Alfrey and William Chinkinge their heirs and assigns to the maitenance and use described above against all men forever by these presents. In witness of which for the better corroboration of these terms both I the aforesaid Robert Cuchman and the aforesaid Lewis Jones, William Alfrey and William Chinkinge have set our seals to this indented writing. Given on the fourth day of March in the thirty third year of the reigh of our Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. [family tree maker lap.FTW]
Robert CUSHMAN (b. 1578, d. 1625)
Notes for Robert CUSHMAN: