William Buckman

Ancestrial File AFN 1JR8-DN Came to America from England in the ship Welcome, 1682, headed by William Penn. There were 100 passengers listed upon departure. Small pox broke out and 60 were buried at sea. He came with his wife, daughter, and daughter's 5 small children from her first marriage. No record of his birth has yet been found. However, his close association with his brothers Thomas and Edward, and his mother, has led historians to the conclusion that he was a son, probably the eldest son, of Edward and Joan (?Bagham) Buckman. Of these associations, he is listed along with his mother & siblings in the goods loaded on the ship in 1682 bound for PA. He also inherited the land rights of his brothers Edward and Thomas when they died without issue. In the history of Bucks Co., PA, general W.W.H. Davis states that William's family spent their first winter in a cave south of Fallsington. There is also a strong tradition among the Strawn family that their ancestors (usually supposed to have been Strawns) lived out the first winter in a cave on the bank of the Delaware. Records of the Middletown Monthly Meeting minutes show: * 2 Oct 1690: William Buckman contributes 0-05-01 to the meeting house fund. * 2nd Wed Dec 1693 (i.e., 23 Dec 1693 gregorian): Appointed to lay out a road from Newtown to the ferry. * 10 Jun 1696: Reappointed, & same day work reported done. * 5 Oct 1697: Appointed to lay out road from Wrightstown to Neshamineh Meeting House. * Juror 1684; Grand juror 1688, 1689, 1691, 1698; witness on 14 Apr 1698. Bucks Co. Deeds include: * 7 Sep 1697, rec 14 Apr 1698: William Buckman of Newtown, yeoman, sold to John Shaw of same, yeoman, for 24 pounds, land which had been granted to William Buckman by the proprietor 13 Sep 1686. [Book 2, p.142] * 7 May 1695, rec 11 oct 1697: William Buckman of Bucks, husbandman, bought land from Robert Webb of Philadelphia, gent., and Elizabeth his wife who had been the widow of John Barber (Elizabeth & John Barber, and Elizabeth's father John Songhurst, had been passengers on the Welcome). [Book 2, p.143] * 12 Mar 1705, rec 3 Dec 1705: John Rowland & wife Priscilla of Bristol twp (both also Welcome passengers), he a yeoman & she formerly a Shepperd & first purchaser, sold to William Buckman land that Priscilla had bought from William Penn n 19 Aug 1681 before her marriage to John Rowland [Book 3:242]. * 7 Dec 1708: Henry Cooper [Wm's son-in-law] of Newton, blacksmith, sold land to William for 90 pounds. After his first wife Sarah died, he waited 16 years to remarry. !Intention(2:Elizabeth Wilson): First intentions at Middletown 1 6th mo 1706, second intentions 5 7th mo 1706. !Will: Dated Sep 4, 1716, proved Oct 26, 1716. Transcription: "William Buckman of newtown in the County of Bucks: to eldest son William Buckman plantation in Newtown purchased from Samuel Hough and also piece of meadow and woodland by Neshamineh Creek to teh extent of 50 acres, and if William lack heirs of his body, then to son David Buckman or to son Thomas Buckman; to wife Elizabeth Buckman remainder of lands until son Thomas is aged 21 and one-third part afterwards during life or widowhood. To sons Thomas Buckman and David Buckman the last mentioned lands from the time Thomas is 21, he to have the town lot in his share, subject to the life interest of his mother as stated above; if either Thomas or David die in their minority, then the survivor shall have the whole, paying L10 current money of the province to each of the two daughters Elizabeth Buckman and rebeckah when they are 21. To son-in-law edward Beck five shillings to be paid 12 months after testator's decease; Beck is indebted to testator abuot eleven pounds old Currency which debt and also thirty shillings more currency money of the province is to go to each of the three children of said Edward Beck, Sarah, Franciss, and Edward, to be paid when they are respectively aged 21. To daughter Mary Strawhen fifty shillings currency money to be paid 12 months after testator's decease and to her five children Ruth, Sarah, Willia, Henry and John fifty shillings when they respectively arrive at the age of 21. To daughter Ruth Blaker fifteen pounds currency money to be paid 12 months after testator's decease. To two youngest daughters Elizabeth and Rebeckah Buckman fifteen pounds currency money each to be paid at age of 21 years. To three sons William, Thomas, and David, all the carpenter toolls equally divided. To son William Buckman one Cowe called prissy and her calf. To wife Elizabeth Buckman all rest and residue of personal estate as long as she remains a widow, but if she marry, then this to the two daughters Elizabeth and Rebeckah one-half to be equally divided between them. Wife Elizabeth Buckman and son William Buckman joint executors." Witnesses: Stephen Twining, John Frost, and Joseph Scott.