Thomas Cushman was born 8 February 1607 in Canterbury, Kent, England, United Kingdom to Robert Cushman (1577-1625) and Sara Reder (1585-1616) and died 10 December 1691 Plymouth Colony, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Mary Allerton (1616-1699) 1636 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States.
Children
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Thomas Cushman (1608-1691) | 8 February 1607 Canterbury, Kent, England, United Kingdom | 10 December 1691 Plymouth Colony, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States | Mary Allerton (1616-1699) |
| Child1 Cushman (1612-1614) | |||
| Child2 Cushman (1614-1616) | |||
| Sarah Cushman (1615-) | |||
Biography
Thomas Cushman (1607/8–1691) He came to Plymouth with his father Robert Cushman on the ship Fortune in November 1621, his father being on colony business from England. His father Robert returned to England alone, leaving Thomas as a ward of Governor William Bradford.[1] In 1649 Thomas succeeded William Brewster as Ruling Elder and held that position for over 40 years until his death. Over his long life Cushman became a person of note in the colony being involved in numerous important activities. His wife Mary Allerton (1616-1699) was the daughter of Pilgrim Isaac Allerton (1586-1658).
Robert Cushman and his son Thomas arrived on the ship Fortune on November 11, 1621 at New Plymouth. But Robert Cushman, having already been at sea four months, returned to England shortly thereafter, leaving young Thomas in the care of colony William Bradford. Bradford recorded that Robert Cushman’s stay to attend to business regarding the London Adventurers agreement with the colony was “not above fourteen days”.
Thomas remained in Plymouth, working as a surveyor of roads and as a rate-assessor, as well as numerous other minor positions.
Vital Records
Cushman Memorial
Cushman Memorial is a granite column, twenty-five feet high, and it is by far the most conspicuous monument on "Burial Hill" in Plymouth MA. It is dedicated to this key supporter of the early Mayflower pilgrims.
Memorial South side: --
THOMAS CUSHMAN.
Son of Robert, died X December, MDCXCI, Aged neatly LXXXIV years. For more than XLII years he was Ruling Elder oú the First Church in Plymouth, By whom a tablet was placed to mark his grave on this spot, Now consecrated anew by a more enduring memorial.
MARY,
widow of Elder Cushman, and daughter of Isaac Allerton, Died XXVIII November, MDCXCIX, aged about XC years, The last survivor of the first comers in the Mayflower.
References
- Immigrant_Ships_To_America/First_Families/Mayflower
- Wikipedia Entry for Mary Allerton
- Isaac Allerton at MayflowerHistory.com
- Last Will and Testament of Isaac Allerton at The Plymouth Colony Archive Project
- Thomas Cushman at Find A Grave #12498413
Residences
Footnotes (including sources)