William Buckland (abt. 1609 - 1683)

Born about 1609 in Manchester, Lancashire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Bosworth) Buckland — married 1630 in England

Descendants

Died 1 Sep 1683 at about age 74 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts

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William Buckland migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 1, p. 454) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Caution, Two William Bucklands

Here we have an unusual case of error in Anderson's Great Migration series, albeit self-corrected. In the profile for Jonathan Bosworth, the incorrect statement was made that the William Buckland convicted of stealing corn in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631 was identical with the William Buckland who married Mary Bosworth (Jonathan Bosworth's sister), and apparently immigrated with the Bosworth family in 1634.^[1] In the profile for Edward Bosworth, written a little later, Anderson corrects this statement and concludes there must have been two William Bucklands in Massachusetts in the 1630's.^[2]

Disputed Parents

This profile was previously connected as son to John Buckland and Katherine Kerslake, of Dorset. There was at least one other William Buckland (see above, "Caution, Two William Bucklands") that could have the son to this couple. In addition, Dorset (place of a surviving birth record) is over 250 miles from Manchester, the English home of Henry Sewall, William's sponsor. This was a great distance in the early 1600's and would be a significant barrier to association. It does not seem probable that this William Buckland is identical to the William Bucklin of Dorset. Also, according to Robert C. Anderson, in the Great Migration series, William Buckland's origin is unknown.^[3]

Biography

As noted above, William Buckland's location of birth and his parents names are unknown.^[3] Anderson estimates his date of birth as about 1609, based on his estimated date of marriage (c. 1634).^[3] Anderson contends that if William was married at England, then he probably immigrated in 1634 with his father-in-law, Edward Bosworth.^[3] If this was the case, then William was probably also associated with Henry Sewall, and this would point to "an origin in or near Manchester, Lancashire, England."^[3]

Immigration

The Elizabeth & Dorcas had a difficult journey in 1635. First there was the delay in starting, and then the ship was damaged when it hit a rock in the Scilly Islands.^[4] Limping along, they finally arrived, after a voyage of over 100 days (usually 72 to 77 days).^[4] They ran our of provisions, and suffered many deaths, among these was William's father-in-law, Edward Bosworth, who survived only as far the Boston Harbor, where he died on the deck.^[4]

The shipboard passage for the Bosworth family was paid by Henry Sewall, which implies that they sailed aboard the Elizabeth & Dorcas, although no passenger list is extant.^[2] On 7 July, 1635, the Massachusetts Bay Court Record includes the document in which each Bosworth family group member agrees to make repayment to Henry Sewall.^[2] These persons were: Jonathan Bosworth, Will[ia]m Buckland, Nathaniel Bosworth, Benjamin Bosworth.^[2]

Family

William married by about 1634 to Mary Bosworth, daughter of Edward Bosworth.^[3]

Children:

1. Joseph, b say 1634 (26 June 1633 calc from gravestone); mar Deborah Allen
2. Lydia, b say 1637; mar 1) John Brown, 2) William Lord, 3) Thomas Dunk, 4) Abraham Post
3. Benjamin, baptized 2 July 1640 Hingham; mar Rachel Wheatley
4. ? William "Bucly", b c. 1644; mar by 1666 to Elizabeth Williams

The above are the only known children for William and Mary. The following child has been claimed by others, without citation.

• John Buckland

Property and Positions

On 3 April 1636, William was granted a houselot and five acres, and he continued to attain other lots at Hingham over the next few years.^[5][3] William or his wife had become a member of the Hingham Church by 1640 when their son was baptized there, but he took the Oath of Fidelity in Rehoboth in 1659.^[3]

Death and Legacy

William was buried at Rehoboth on 1 September 1683.^[3] On 1 November 1684, William's son, Joseph, posted bond in order to administer his father's estate.^[3] Wife, Mary, was buried on 29 July 1687, also at Rehoboth.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "Jonathan Bosworth" Featured Name (Vol I-III, Page 190) The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database accessed May 5, 2015: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Anderson, Robert Charles, "Edward Bosworth," Featured Name (Vol A-B, Pages 356-57) Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B. (Online database accessed May 5, 2015. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10} Anderson, Robert Charles, "William Buckland," Featured Name (Vol A-B, Pages 454-56) Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B. (Online database accessed May 5, 2015. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} User contributions, "Great Migration: Passengers of the Elizabeth and Dorcas, 1634." Geni project, accessed May 5, 2015
5. ↑ History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts (The Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, 1893): Vol II, p.96

See also:

• Clarke, Mary (Bosworth), Bosworth Genealogy; a History of the Descendants of Edward Bosworth ... (1: 51-60, 2: 139-49) San Francisco, 1926-, HathiTrust.org accessed May 5, 2015 (Anderson called this "an excellent and detailed genealogy of Edward Bosworth and his descendants").

• Anderson, Mary Audentia Smith, Ancestry and Posterity of Joseph Smith and Emma Hale ... (Pages 493-96) Independence, MO: [Herald publishing house] 1929 (per Anderson, "included ... records which more likely belong to his son of the same name").

• Harris, Gale Ion, "William Williams, Cooper, of Hartford, Connecticut, and his Sons-in-law, William Buckland and William Biggs." (Vol 69 1994, Pages 87-94, 174-83) The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database accessed May 5, 2015. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Anderson mentions this article