Edward Bompasse or Bumpas was born 1605 in England to John Thomas Bompasse (1575-1628) and Ann Brodforde (1578-1606) and died 3 February 1693 Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Hannah Unknown Bompasse (1602-1693) 3 February 1630 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
Biography[]
Bompasse Surname Origin[]
Edward Bompasse (or Bumpas, Bumpus, or Bump) (1605-1683) - is the immigrant ancestor of all those who bear the names Bumpas, Bumps, Bump, and other variations. Born in England, though the name is French in originally was Bon Passe "Bon Pas", which means "Goodspeed" "Brave Pass" "Good Pass". The Bon Passe family was originally of Perpigan, France, part of southwest France, near the Mediterranean.
"Tradition says that in January, 1240, in the wars of Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, a youth was handed a very important dispatch to convey from the commander to another. To deliver this, it became necessary that he pass through the enemies' line. It was a difficult and delicate errand, demanding not courage alone, but astuteness and tact. There is reference to the Pont De Passe Bridge in "Historic Des Contes De Toulouse" by M. De Saint-You, Vol. IV, Page 344: (translation) "They stormed the Pont de Bonpas and left a corps of troops sufficient to hold it and secure the passage of the river." When, at length, this brave young boy dashed into camp and laid the dispatch at the feet of his commander, the General clapped his hands and shouted "Bon Pas!" "Bon Pas!" (a brave pass). His comrades caught up the expression, and shouted back "Bon Pas!" So on that day, he received a new name, a title of hone, conferred for valiant services rendered. He received a Coat of Arms bearing his new name Bonpas.
Origin is France, in the 1400's the Bompasse family is recorded to be in Gloucestershire, England. Found records in the 1500-1600's in Dalbury, Derbyshire, England. Edward Bompasse' family lived in St. Bartholomew Parish, London, England in 1620." (Ref. Ancestry.com)
1621 Migration To the New World[]
Edward was a pilgrim in the Plymouth Colony. He was a passenger on the English ship The Good Ship Fortune, which was the second ship to sail from London (July 1621), bound for New England. The ship arrived safe at Cape Cod on Nov 9, 1621 less than one year after the Mayflower. This ship contained many relatives and friends of the Mayflower pilgrims, led by Robert Cushman (1577-1625).
Edward sailed from London on 1 July 1621 on ship The Good Ship Fortune and arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts 9 Nov 1621.
☀Single upon arrival and, per Bradford, was one of the “lusty yonge men” who arrived on the Fortune. In the 1623 land division as “Edward Bompasse.” Member of 1626 Purchaser investment group as “Edward Bumpas.” In 1627 cattle division as “Edward Bumpasse.” Died c.1683/84. He and his wife Hannah are listed on Green Harbor Monument. They had twelve children with one additional child who died at birth. Edward was on the committee for establishing their school. It was the first school in the New World. He was a carpenter and he taught the colonists how to build a grass roof home quickly. He built their stockade fence and was appointed guardsman for the colony. He served as a juror. He lived with the Allerton Family on arrival and stayed close to their family through his lifetime. "Edward seemed to have been treated nicely by the Plymouth Colony. Even though quite young, he was generally treated as an adult, even the head of household before he married." He was listed in the 1985 Book of Scholarly Records according to the Genealogy Society of Boston.
Edward's birth name is Edouad Bompasse born St. Bartholomew Parish in London, England 1605. He is listed as a Saint. He is the son of John Thomas Bompasse "Bonpas" "Brave Pass" French Origin (1575-1628) and Ann Brodforde "Bradford" (1578-1606). There are records of a John "Jean" Thomas Bompasse and his wife were living in the Parish of St. Bartholomew the Great in 1620. Edward was only 16 yrs old when he traveled The Good Ship Fortune. He was described as very tall, said to be over 6 ft tall, muscular and handsome. His daughters were said to be very beautiful. Records read, "His wife Hannah died nine days after Edward". (Ref: Ancestry.com)
Governor Bradford recorded the arrival of the Fortune in his history of Plymouth Colony, as follows:
In November about the time twelfe month that them selves came, there came a small ship to them unexpected in which Mr. Cushman had with him 35 persons to remain and live in ye plantation which did not a little rejoice in them. And they when they came a shore and found all well, saw plenty of vitails in every house, were very glad. For most did not know what they would find when the came into the harbors of Cape Cod.
To the right, this is the Allerton House in Plymouth Colony. Edward lived and slept on the second floor of their house after his arrival November 9, 1621 on the Good Ship Fortune. Steep roof pitch gives us a clue that very tall Edward may have built this home for them. (Photo)
To the right, "These two houses are standing on the one acre given to Edward in 1623 in Plymouth Colony, the very first place of property ever owned in the United States of America by a person named Bompasse." (Photo)
Green Harbor Settlement[]
So with the division of cattle in 1627, Edward Bompasse was recorded as being a single man. He signed an agreement made July 1627 between New Plymouth and William Bradford, Captain Miles Standish, Isaac Allerton (1586-1658) and other parties. He sold land in Plymouth in 1628 and moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts and there bought land near John Olden. Edward's third location, Dutch Hill was near Mill Brook, which was near Philip Delano (1602-1683).
He moved in 1642 to Marshfield, Massachusetts where he formed the boundaries of land which incorporated the town. He appears as a Freeman and one of the first purchasers of Marshfield and able to bear arms. He was appointed a guard, with others in the Pequot War against the Indians. In 1652 he purchased land around Dartmouth. There is an indication that Edward in 1643 was one of the twelve who contributed toward maintenance of a public school in New England Colonies. There is land which is marked today as Bump's Pond. He was also a proprietor of Middleboro.
Marriage and Family[]
He was with the division of cattle in 1627, Edward Bompasse was recorded as being a single man. He married about 9 Mar 1631 to married Hannah (unknown maiden name) in Duxbury, Massachusetts and in about 1642 they removed to Marshfield, Massachusetts. Hannah has said to have arrived at Cape Cod on the Anne in 1623 with her parents Anthony and Jane, but this is still heresay and has not been confirmed. They had 12 children with one additional child "Faith" who died at birth.
EDWARD's CHILDREN OF THE SECOND GENERATION AT PLYMOUTH COLONY:
Faith - b. 1631 d.1631 (She was a twin and died at birth)
Sarah - b. 1631 m. Thomas Durram/Durham (Sarah was a twin)
Elizabeth - b. 1633 m. Joseph Rose
John - b. 1636 m. Sarah Hunter
Edward - b. 1638 m. Unmarried
Joseph - b. 1639 m. Wybra Glass
Isaac - b. 1642 m. Unmarried
Jacob - b. 1644 m. Elizabeth Blackmer/Blackmore
Hannah - b. 1646 m. Unmarried (Disabled and a dependent of Edward and his wife)
Philip - b. 1648 m. Sarah Eaton/Easton
Thomas* - b. 1650 m. Phebe Lovell/Lovel
Mary - b. 1652 m. Daniel Crocker
Samuel - b. 1652 m. Unmarried - He served as Plymouth Militia Soldier, died in the King Philip War protecting the Plymouth colonists. d. March 26, 1676 in Pawtucket River (Scholarworks at UMass Boston, Investigation of Captain Pierce's Fight Remembrance and Memorialization). Records read, "Samuel was captured, tortured, scalped and left to die in the river" That was the bloodiest war ever recorded in the history of our country. Samuel's life was short, but not forgotten.
In the New World unfortunately records were not formally kept or preserved in the 1600's. Due to the D.O.D. records not being clear for Edward's children, we have left them out while updating 3/2021.
References:
Last Updated 3/2021: Deborah Mae (Conover) Barnes, daughter of Mary Louise "Marylou" (Loveland) Conover, Dury (Twin), daughter of Besse (Bump) Loveland
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Faith Bumpas (1632-1632) | |||
| Elizabeth Bumpus (1633-1710) | |||
| John Bumpus (1636-1715) | |||
| Edward Bumpas (1638-1693) | |||
| Joseph Bumpus (1639-1704) | |||
| Isaac Bumpas (1642-1720) | |||
| Jacob Bumpas (1644-1720) | |||
| Hannah Bumpas (1646-1647) | |||
| Thomas Bumpas (1650-1724) | |||
| Mary Bumpas (1652-1692) | |||
| Samuel Bumpas (1653-1676) | |||
Siblings[]
Vital Records[]
Green Harbor Monument[]
This person is listed in memoriam on the Green Harbor Monument, located in Marshfield, Massachusetts and dedicated in honor of the early colonists from Plymouth Colony who settled this area in the early 1600s.
Marshfield Cemetery[]
Bompasse Family Gravesite - Old Winslow Burial Ground.
Gravesite Location: Old Winslow Burial Ground at Marshfield, Massachusetts Evidence suggests that these four eroded and uninscribed stones marks the final resting place of the early Bompasse Family.
References[]
- Edward Bompasse at Find A Grave #34833800
- MainTour Marshfield
- Marshfield Historical Society
- Marshfield History - PlymouthColony.net Historical Listings