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Lieut. William BUSHNELL (1611 - 1683) and Rebecca CHAPMAN
Lieut. William BUSHNELL (1611 - 1683) and Rebecca CHAPMAN
my 8g-grandparents
The parents of Abigail BUSHNELL, my 7g-grandmother, were William and Rebecca BUSHNELL, of Saybrook, CT. (See the John SEWARD Sr page for more information on Abigail.) Rebecca was probably Rebecca CHAPMAN, sister or daughter of Robert CHAPMAN, William's neighbor in Saybrook.
William and Rebecca were married about 1643-4, and William was about 33, hence born about 1610-1, according to Saybrook records. William died 12 Nov 1683 in Saybrook, also according to Saybrook records. "Lieut William Bushnell dyed 12th of November 1683" [VRS, p. 16]
Rebecca probably died before William, or shortly after, as she was not mentioned in his estate settlement. They had at least 10 children.
Many researchers have claimed that this is the same William BUSHNELL who was baptized on 03 Feb 1610/11 in Horsham, Sussex, England, son of Francis BUSHNELL and Ferris QUYNELL. This sounds right because Francis came to America at about the same time as William and his brothers, and they all were in Guilford in the 1640s. Also, William had a younger brother named Francis, so he was perhaps Francis Jr.
However, Vital Records of Saybrook has "William Bushnell the son of John Bushnell Senior late of Boston deceased the 31 day of August 1684." [VRS p. 7] Also, a book of history of the Congregational Church of Saybrook (below) tell us that William, Francis and Richard were sons of John BUSHNELL, of Boston, and it is suggested that Francis of Guilford was their uncle.
If Francis BUSHNELL of Guilford and John BUSHNELL of Boston were brothers, perhaps they both had sons named William, born about 1610-1, who both died in Saybrook in 1683-4? It's a longshot, but there must be some explanation.
William and several siblings came to America between 1635 and 1639. The details that are known have been summarized on the Francis BUSHNELL page. After a short stay in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and possibly Long Island, first settled in Guilford, New Haven Colony. By 1655 William and his brothers, Francis and Richard, had removed to Saybrook, 15 miles east of Guilford, at the mouth of the Connecticut River.
William was a saddler and carpenter, and in 1660 he was Constable in Saybrook. He was Sergeant in charge of the train band (military) in 1661, and was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1679, in Saybrook. He was a leading citizen, and in 1670 he represented Saybrook in the General Court.
Note: The usage varied, but generally speaking, a train band was a local, part-time military unit, consisting of men who received some training, and were ready to meet threats that arose.
It is interesting that he was made Lieutenant at age 69. Since he died at 72, he was not known as Lieut. during most of his lifetime.
1790 map of south central Connecticut
Excerpts from "The First Church of Christ (Congregational), Old Saybrook" (1896) [FCC]
"The builder of the meeting-house is believed to have been William Bushnell, assisted by his brothers Francis and Richard, who, after a brief stay in Guilford, settled here. In consequence of the destruction of the fort with its buildings, work in their line of business, that of carpentry, was then in urgent demand. These men were held in high repute among the early inhabitants, Francis was chosen deacon of the Church during Mr. Fitch's ministry. William was more prominent in civil and military life." [FCC, p. 13]
"Although the erection of a new and more comfortable house of worship was in contemplation at the time of Mr. Buckingham's ordination, no positive action was taken to effect this object until 1676. Much diversity of views, and serious contention prevailed, as to whether it should be built of wood or of stone, as to its dimensions and finish, and especially as to its location. During the controversy, Robert Bull gave to the town for a site a piece of land five rods square from the corner of his lot, and a vote was passed to build the meeting house thereon. But dissatisfaction sprang up and the vote was rescinded. At length, however, after two and a half years of controversy, an agreement was reached; and it was voted that the house should be a frame building, 60 feet by 30 feet on the foundations and 16 feet high; "to stand near about the place of the old one;" and the selectmen were empowered to employ William Bushnell, Jr., to do the work. The bargain with Mr. Bushnell proved to be a losing one to him, and as a result the house was not ready for occupancy till near the close of the year 1681. After its dedication, "Old Goodman Kirtland, the schoolmaster, was engaged to sweep the house for 30 shillings for the ensuing year, and Mr. John Wastoll to beat the drum upon Sabbath and town meeting days for 40 shillings." [FCC, pp. 23-4]
"WILLIAM BUSHNELL, son of John, with five or six brothers, was an early emigrant from England. Remaining but a short time in Massachusetts, he, with his brothers Francis and Richard, taking Long Island on their way, directed their course to Guilford, Conn., attracted thither probably by their acquaintance with and relation to some of the settlers in that place and neighborhood, one of whom was Francis Bushnell, "Ye Elder," who might have been their uncle. Being carpenters, they were invited to remove to Saybrook by Robert Chapman, whose sister Rebecca, William had married, their trade being in great demand in that place. William responded promptly to this call and the birth of his first child in 1644 is recorded in Saybrook. Having secured lands in the Oyster River Quarter, he established his homestead about 1666 a short distance west of Robert Chapman's. It is not certainly known when his brothers left Guilford for Saybrook, but probably within three or four years. There is a tradition that Richard came with William. Negotiations were had with Francis about the running of the Guilford mill. But the burning of the Saybrook Fort with the enclosed and adjoining buildings, in 1647, depriving the settlers of their homes and place of worship, so emphasized the demand for carpentry work as to furnish a reason for believing that their removal took place, if not before, soon after the conflagration. The tradition is that Francis was chosen a deacon of this church in 1648. It is positively certain that before the year 1653, he was established as a resident of Saybrook, as in that year he was appointed an appraiser of certain property in this town by the General Assembly. William was appointed lieutenant of the train band, was elected Deputy to the General Assembly, and held other offices of trust. Among his descendants who have attained distinction may be named the late Dr. Horace Bushnell, of Hartford. He died August 11, 1684.
"Francis Bushnell, the second of the three brothers, though not one of the founders of the church, was its second deacon, and a man of prominence, especially in church affairs. He built the first gristmill, run by water power, in the town, on or near the site of Robert B. Chalker's present mill, and received a valuable perquisite of land on condition that he would run the mill for the accommodation of the inhabitants. In the family genealogy there are honored names. He died December 4, 1681, aged 82.
"Of Richard, the youngest brother, very little is known, as he was not much in public life. He died about the year 1658 and was buried in Saybrook, leaving two sons and two daughters. His widow, Mary by name, who was a daughter of Matthew Marvin of Hartford, married Dea. Thomas Adgate, and the family joined the company which migrated to Norwich in 1660. The present Governor of Ohio, Hon. Asa S. Bushnell, is one of his descendants." [FCC, pp. 74-5]
Saybrook village in 1793.
The original settlement at Saybrook was on a peninsula, surrounded by marshes, at the mouth of the Connecticut River. An area with limited access was easier to defend in case of Indian attacks. The original location of Saybrook College, one of the Yale residential colleges, is on the south side, near the BUSHNELL property.
West side of Saybrook. [GCG]
East side of Saybrook. [GCG]
The map of Saybrook village, above, shows properties of early settlers. Francis BUSHNELL had a 3-acre plot on the south side, and his brother William BUSHNELL had a 2-acre plot next to Francis. Click the map on the left for a larger version, on which the names can be read.
Descendants
Descendants
William and Rebecca had 10 known children. At least the last 4 were born in Saybrook, the others in Guilford.
1 William BUSHNELL bapt. 03 Feb 1610/11 in Horsham, Sussex, England, d: 12 Nov 1683 in Saybrook, CT, age 72
+ Rebecca CHAPMAN m: abt. 1643, d: bef. 1683
......2 Joshua BUSHNELL b: 06 May 1644 in Guilford, CT, d: bet. 12 Jan 1709/10 (date of will) and 06 Feb 1709/10 (date of inventory) in Saybrook, CT
...... + Mary SEYMOUR b: Sep 1658, m: May 1682 in Norwalk, CT
......2 Samuel BUSHNELL b: Sep 1645, d: 1727
...... + Patience RUDD m: 07 Oct 1675
...... + Priscilla PRATT m: 17 Apr 1700
......2 Rebecca BUSHNELL b: 05 Oct 1646
...... + John HAND
......2 William BUSHNELL b: 15 Feb 1648, d: 09 Dec 1711
...... + Rebecca STRATTON d: 14 May 1703
...... + Sarah m: 09 Jun 1705
......2 Francis BUSHNELL b: 06 Jan 1649, d: 1697 in Danbury, CT
...... + Hannah SEYMOUR m: 12 Oct 1675
......2 Stephen BUSHNELL b: 04 Jan 1653, d: Aug 1727
......2 Thomas BUSHNELL b: 04 Jan 1653
......2 Judith BUSHNELL b: Jan 1655 in Saybrook, CT, d: 17 Nov 1740
...... + Joseph SEWARD b: 1655, m: 5 or 7 Feb 1681/82, d: 14 Feb 1732
......2 Abigail BUSHNELL b: mid Feb 1659/60, d: 30 Jun 1750
...... + John SEWARD b: 14 Feb 1654, m: 25 Jun 1679, d: 06 Dec 1748
......2 Lydia BUSHNELL b: 1661 in Saybrook, CT, d: 24 Aug 1753
...... + Caleb SEWARD b: 14 Mar 1662, m: 14 Jul 1686, d: 02 Aug 1728
......2 Daniel BUSHNELL b: abt. 1661, d: Feb 1727/28
Brothers John, Joseph and Caleb SEWARD married sisters Abigail, Judith and Lydia BUSHNELL, daughters of William BUSHNELL and Rebecca CHAPMAN, of Saybrook, CT. [HFS, vol 2, pp. 511-33]
Sources
[FCC] The First Church of Christ (Congregational), Old Saybrook (1896)
[GCG] Saybrook at the mouth of the Connecticut (1935) by Gilman C. Gates
[GEB] Bushnell family genealogy : ancestry and posterity of Francis Bushnel (1945) George Eleazer Bushnell
[VRS] Vital Records of Saybrook
Updated 3 Dec 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.
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