Robert CUSHMAN

Bef 1577 - Abt 1625  (> 48 years)

• Name	Robert CUSHMAN
  Birth	Bef 9 Feb 1577	Rolvenden, Kent, England
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Couchman, Cowchman
  Reference Number	1393997
  Reference Number	1417459
  Reference Number	60
  WWW	https://www.WikiTree.com/wiki/Cushman-136
  Death	Abt 6 May 1625	Benenden, Kent, England
  Person ID	I147	Gummer
  Last Modified	1 Aug 2024

  
  

  Father	Thomas CUSHMAN,   b. 1538, Rolvenden, Kent, England d. Bef 14 Feb 1585, Rolvenden, Kent, England (Age < 47 years)
  Mother	Elinor HUBBARD,   b. Abt 1545, Rolvenden, Kent, England d. 20 Jul 1601, Ashford, Kent, England (Age 56 years)
  Marriage	18 Jul 1568	Rolvenden, Kent, England
  Family ID	F41	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Sara REDER,   b. Bef 17 Sep 1585, Lenham, Kent, England d. 11 Oct 1616, Leyden, Holland, Nederland (Age > 31 years)
  Marriage	31 Jul 1606	Canterbury, Kent, England
  Children	+ 1. Rev. Thomas CUSHMAN, Sr.,   b. 8 Feb 1608, St. Andrew's Parish, Canterbury, Kent, England d. 11 Dec 1691, Plymouth, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay (Age 83 years)
  Family ID	F39	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Aug 2024

  
  

  Family 2	Mary CLARKE,   b. Abt 24 May 1590, Sandwich, Kent, England d. Bef 1621 (Age < 30 years)
  Marriage	5 Jun 1617	Leiden, Holland, Nederland
  Family ID	F221	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Aug 2024

  
  

• Photos		Robert Cushman Image 1
  		Robert Cushman is my 9th great grandfather. FYI Jim :)

  
  

• Notes

  [[Category:Fortune, sailed 1621]] {{Puritan Great Migration|GMB|1|502}} == Biography == {{PGM Beyond|place=Benenden, Kent, England.}}:Robert Cushman was an important leader and organizer of the Mayflower voyage in 1620. He was the Chief Agent of the Plymouth Pilgrims 1617-1625. He was an important Pilgrim and historical figure. Surname variants for the surname Cushman or Couchman appear, even in the same record. Common surname variants for the name also include: Coucheman, Croucheman, etc. === Origin ===:Robert Cushman was baptized 9 February 1577/8 in St.Mary the Virgin parish Rolveden, Kent, England, the second son of [[Cushman-575|Thomas Cushman]] and [[Hubbard-2420|Helyn Hubbard]] Couchman. Underhill[[#Underhill|Underhill]]. Underhill, Lora Altine Woodbury ''Descendants of Edward Small of New England, and the Allied Families, with Tracings of English Ancestry.'' vol. 2. (Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1910): [http://tinyurl.com/y8a63xbh pages 511-595]. reports that records at Leiden reported he had lived in Canterbury, England.[[#GMB|Anderson]], Anderson, Robert Charles, "Robert Cushman." ''The Great Migration Begins'', vol. 1: A-F. (1995): pages 502-504 [https://www.americanancestors.org/DB393/i/12107/502/0 American Ancestors (subscription)].Wikipedia contributors, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cushman Robert Cushman Wikipedia article] last edited 15 February 2018 and accessed February 19, 2018.Source: Family History Center online Rolvenden, Kent parish register, Film # 1473764 Item 2, Rolvenden Baptisms, 1558-1637; marriages, 1559-1639; burials, 1558-1639. The camera symbol indicates that a copy of the original Rolvenden parish register in available online, free of charge at Family History Centers and affiliate libraries. Cushman was incorrectly transcribed in familysearch.org as “Robert Dutcheman” His time in Canterbury is described in ''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury 1596-1607''Cushman, Robert C. and Paulick, Michael R. Robert Cushman,”Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury 1586-1607” in ''The Mayflower Quarterly'', Vol. 79, No. 3 (September 2013): 226-235. A shorter version of the article also appears in ByGone Kent Magazine November/December 2013, Vol.4, No 6. and "Robert Cushman of Kent (1577-1625) Chief Agent of the Plymouth Pilgrims (1617-1625)".Cushman, Robert E and Franklin P. Cole, ''Robert Cushman of Kent (1577-1635), Chief Agent of the Plymouth Pilgrims (1617-1625)'', 2nd ed. (Plymouth, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2005). :The first known record of Robert Cushman in Canterbury is dated 20 December 1597 and concerned his apprenticeship to grocer George Masters.Cowper, Joseph Meadows ed. ''The Roll of the Freemen of the City of Canterbury From AD 1392 to 1800''. (Canterbury: Cross & Jackman, 1903), 183. “Robert Couchman ”grosser” freeman by apprenticeship to George Masters, 1605. He was nineteen years old at the time and, as a second son, would not inherit land. His troubles with the established church began soon thereafter. In 1604, Robert was excommunicated twice, for distribution of libels and nonattendance.Minutes of the diocesan Court of High Commission for Canterbury Diocese 1584-1603, CCA-DCb-PRC/44/3, folio 126 and 127. See also, Dr. William Urey. Trouble with the Established Church, Kentish Gazette, November 9, 1970. See also, Miscellaneous documents, including summons, penances, probate matters, CCA-PRC44/3, page 7 dated 27th October, 1603. See printed transcriptions and introduction by Michael R Paulick, transcriptions by Simon Neal Canterbury Cathedral Archives Robert Cushman’s Libels of 1603 in ‘’The Mayflower Descendant’’, Vol. 60. No 1 (Spring 2011): 36-49. === Leiden, Holland ===:Little is known about Cushman's Leiden years. In his book, The Cry of a Stone, written in 1619, he wrote that he had joined a society of excellent Christians” [the Pilgrim Church] and had been “an Apprentice” for ten years.Robert Coachman (Cushman), ''The Cry of a Stone, or, a Treatise; . . . commonly called Brownists''. (London: R. Oulton & G. Dexter, 1642.) British Library E.137.(32.), a2verso, The fore-speech to the Reader. That meant that he joined the Pilgrims in Leiden in 1609. He later appeared in the Leiden records on November 4, 1611, when "Robert Cushman, from Canterbury, a wool-comber, purchased from Cornelis Ghysberts van Groenendael a small house near the university on ''Nonenstreeg.''Bangs, Jeremy Dupertuis. "Pilgrim Homes in Leiden." ''New England Historical and Genealogical Register'', vol. 154 (Oct 2000): 425-426. On April 19, 1612, Robert bought a larger house from van Groenendael, and Richard Masterson provided surety.[[#Underhill|Underhill]], note 2. === Marriages and Children === :''Robert married twice''.:'''Married:''' ''1st -'' Robert married on 31 July 1606 at St. Alphege, Canterbury, Kent, as his 1st, to Sara Reader from Lenham, Kent. [[Reder-13|Sarah Reder]].Bishops transcripts for St Alphege’s Church, Canterbury, 1569-1903, FHL British Film 1736585, Item 2. :Their first child, Thomas, was born 7 February 1607/8, in Canterbury,''St. Andrew's, Canterbury, Archdeacon’s transcripts'', FHL microfilm 1751624, Indexing Project (Batch) Number I06288-0, incorrectly transcribed as 8 rather than 7 February, 1607/8. French, Elizabeth, Genealogical Research in England – Cushman”, in ''New England Genealogical and Historical Register'', vol. 68. (1914). P. 181-185. and died 11 Dec 1691, Plymouth, Massachusetts,"Plymouth Vital Records", in ''Mayflower Descendants'', vol. 16, p.62 says Thomas died 10 Dec 1691 at Plymouth, Mass and was buried at Burial Hill, Plymouth, Mass. He is the ancestor of many Cushmans living in America, today. The next record is of a child who was buried 11 March 1616 at St. Peter's, Leiden. Robert's wife, Sara, was buried there on 11 October 1616, and on the 24th of October, another child also was buried there.Dexter & Dexter: ''England and Holland of the Pilgrims'', (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1978): Page 611. The first edition was published at London in 1906. :Children of Robert and Sara Reader:#Thomas baptized 7 February 1607/8 at St. Andrews, Canterbury, Kent, England. (See St. Andrews parish register.) #Child bur 11 March 1616 at Leiden #Child bur 24 Oct 1616 at Leiden :'''Married:''' ''2nd -'' Robert married second, 5 June 1617, at Leiden, "Mary Shingelton of Sandwich, England, widow of Thomas Shingelton.Erfgoed Leiden in Leiden (Netherlands), Church records marriages Schepenhuwelijken (1592-1795), Part: 198, Period: 1611-1633, Leiden, archive 1004, inventory number 198, June 5, 1617, Trouwen Gerecht B. juli 1611 - april 1633., folio B – 064. Original Leiden marriage record can be downloaded by using the name “Robbert Coetsman”. Bans were published three times, on 20 and 27 May, and 3 June 1617.See Banns were shown on the original marriage record, cited previously as "Erfgoed Leiden". :The marriage record read: Robert Cushman, wool-comber from Canterbury, England, widower of Sarah Cushman, dwelling in the little alley of the Nunsgate, accompanied by John Keble his friend, with Mary Shingelton of Sandwich in England, widow of Thomas Shingleton, accompanied by Catherine Carver her friend.''William Bradford, of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647'', Morison, Samuel Eliot ed. (New York. Alfred A Knofp. 1998): 48 and 53. :We do not know the date of Mary’s death. There is no evidence she came to Plymouth on the Fortune with Robert and his son, Thomas (her step-son). === Associations ===:From 1617 until his death, Robert was in London most of the time advocating for the Leiden Separatist contingent, making arrangements for them in the Plymouth Colony as Chief Agent for the Pilgrims in London. He worked on behalf of the Pilgrims, both for their voyage to the New World and provisioning them once they had established Plymouth Colony. He spent much time and energy negotiating with London merchants for supplies on the ''Mayflower'' and the ''Speedwell.''[[#Banks|Banks]], Charles Edward. ''The English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers: who came to Plymouth on the "Mayflower" in 1620, the "Fortune" in 1621 and the "Anne" and the "Little James" in 1623.'' [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000007062395;view=1up;seq=115 page 103]. === Immigration ===:Robert was scheduled to sail aboard the ''Speedwell,'' but that voyage was abandoned when the ship developed leaks.[[#Morison|Morison]] ''William Bradford, of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647'', (1998): 53. He finally arrived in November 1621 aboard the ''Fortune'' with his son, Thomas, then thirteen years old.[[#Morison|Morison]] ''William Bradford, of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647'', (1998): 90. Robert boarded the Fortune in December 1621 for the voyage back to London but the ship was captured by a French Man of War in January 1621/2 and taken to the Ile d'Use, France for thirteen days, later returning to London.Arber, Edward , ''The Story of The Pilgrim Fathers''. (London; Ward and Downey Limited 1897): 506-508, quoting State Papers, Colonial, Vol. V., No. 112. In 1623, Robert was assigned land in the 1623 Plymouth division as a passenger on the ''Mayflower,'' certainly in honor of his work for the colonists (for he was not on the ''Mayflower'').Pulsifer, David ed. ''Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, Deeds, 1620-1651'', vol. I, (Boston: William White, 1861): 4, “Robert Cochman”. ===Death and Burial===:Robert Cushman died suddenly in 1625 while visiting his relatives and was buried in St. George's Churchyard, Benenden, Kent, England on 6 May 1625. Benenden is near Rolvenden, Kent where Robert was baptized.Benenden, Archdeacon’s transcripts, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1560-1680 [FHL 1751587, Item 5] 1625 Burials, online at Family History Centers. Canterbury Cathedral Archives, CCA-Dca-BT/10, 1560-1812. :Descendants constructed a memorial for him at Plymouth, described in a FindaGrave memorial. Cushman Monument Association, Proceedings at the Consecration of the Cushman Monument, 1858, (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1859). Copy online. See also {{FindAGrave| 173123473}}, accessed February 5, 2015, updated 25 August 2021. == Sources == * Anderson, Robert Charles, ''The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633'': vol. 1: A-F, (Boston: NEHGS, 1995): 502-504, biography of Robert Cushman. (online database accessed February 5, 2015: [https://www.americanancestors.org/DB393/i/12107/502/0 AmericanAncestors.org], New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010. *Anderson, Robert Charles. ''The Pilgrim Migration: Immigrants to Plymouth Colony, 1620-1633''. (Boston: NEHGS, 2004): 158-160. *Banks, Charles Edward. ''The English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers: who cam to Plymouth on the "Mayflower" in 1620, the “Fortune” in 1621 and the “Anne” and the “Little James" in 1623''. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 2006): [http://tinyurl.com/ycfsv36o page 103]. *Cushman, Robert E. and Franklin P. Cole, ''Robert Cushman of Kent (1577-1635), Chief Agent of the Plymouth Pilgrims (1617-1625)'', 2nd ed. (Plymouth, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2005). *Cushman, Robert C. and Paulick, Michael R. "Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury 1586-1607” in ''The Mayflower Quarterly'', Vol. 79, No. 3 (September 2013), 226-235. A shorter version of the article also appears in ''ByGone Kent Magazine'' November/December 2013, Vol.4, No 6. *Morison, Samuel Eliot ed. ''William Bradford, of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647'', (New York. Alfred A Knofp. 1998): 48 and 53. * Paulick, Michael,R. and Cushman, Robert C. "The Probale Origins of Sara Reader, first wife of Robert Cushman, Chief Agent of the Mayflower Pilgrims", Mayflower Journal, Vol. 1, No. 22 Fall 2016 pp. 22-28. * Paulick, Michael R. and Cushman, Robert C., "The Household Inventory of Thomas Cushman (circa 1538-1585/6), Rolvenden, Kent, Father of Pilgrim Robert Cushman (1577/8-1625)", Mayflower Descendant, Summer, 2018, Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 107-112.. * Paulick, Michael R. and Cushman, Robert C. "Pilgrim Robert Cushman, A Chronology, 1577-1625" in Mayflower Journal, Vol. 3 No. 2 Fall 2018 pp. 62-70. * Paulick, Michael R. and Cushman, Robert C. "The Discovery of Robert Cuhsman's Hubbarde Grandparents" in Mayflower Journal Vol. 3 No. 2 Fall 2018 pp. 71-79. * Paulick, Michael R., and Cushman, Robert C. "The 1625 Death of Pilgrim Robert Cushman in Benenden, Kent", in ''New England Historical and Genealogical Register'', vol. 172 no. 1 (Winter 2018): pages 25-29. * Paulick, Michael R., "Pilgrim Robert Cushman's book, The Cry of A Stone", Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 60, No. 1 Spring 2011 pp. 30-35. * Underhill, Lora Altine Woodbury, ''Descendants of Edward Small of New England, and the Allied Families, with Tracings of English Ancestry.'' vol. 2. (Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1910): 511-595. Called by Anderson, "the best biography available on the man." [http://tinyurl.com/y8a63xbh Archive.org LINK] *Wikipedia contributors, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cushman Robert Cushman Wikipedia article] November 23, 2014, accessed February 5, 2015. :'''See Also:'''* [https://web.archive.org/web/20230131071950/http://www.cushmansite.com/Cushman_Gen_site/Robert_Cushman_of_Kent.html Cushman genealogy site]* Cushman/Couchman Y-DNA Project at: **https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/cushman/dna-results **https://mayflowerdna.org/wiki/index.php/Cushman_(Y-DNA) * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune_%28Plymouth_Colony_ship%29 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passengers_of_1621_Fortune_voyage* Cushman, Henry Wyles. ''A Historical and Biographical Genealogy of the Cushmans'', (Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1855): [https://archive.org/details/historicalbiogra00cush linkat Archive.org]*Mayflower Descendant Editors. "The Marriage of Robert Cushman and Mary Shingelton" in ''The Mayflower Descendant'' vol 10 no. 4 (October 1908): [http://tinyurl.com/yazlwaee Page 193].*Philbrick, Nathaniel ''Mayflower: A story of courage, Community and War''. (New York: Viking 2006): 81.* Hotten, John Camden, ''[[Space:The Original Lists Of Persons|The Original Lists Of Persons Of Quality]]'' (John Camden Hotten, 1874) [https://archive.org/stream/originallistsofp00hottuoft#page/n31 Page xxviii]* Paulick, Michael R., ''Mayflower and Other Pilgrims from Kent in Leiden in the Early 1600s'', [[Space:NEHGR|The New England Historical & Genealogical Register]] (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2020) Vol. 174, Page 105.* Paulick, Michael R., ''Richard Masterson, John Ellis, Christopher Verrall and The Sandwich Separatists 1603-1620'', [[Space:NEHGR|The New England Historical & Genealogical Register]] (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2000) Vol. 154, [https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/i/14301/356/0 Page 356].