Birth: Thomas Cushman was baptized at St. Andrew, Canterbury
February 8, 1607/8, and so was born shortly before that date.
Death: He died in Plymouth December 11, 1691, and was
buried on Burial Hill, Plymouth.
Ship: Fortune, 1621
Life in England: Thomas Cushman was born to Robert and
Sara (Reder) Cushman in Canterbury, Kent. His father was a grocer,
having served his apprenticeship in that trade. When Thomas was very
young, the family emigrated to Holland.
Life in Holland: Robert Cushman was a wool-comber in
Leiden. In 1616, his wife, Sara, and two children were buried at St.
Peter’s church. Robert married (2) Mary (Clark) Shingleton on June 5,
1617.
Life in New England: Robert Cushman and his son,Thomas,
came over on the Fortune in November 1621, but Robert returned
shortly thereafter, leaving Thomas in the care of Governor William
Bradford. Thomas remained in Plymouth, serving as surveyor of highways
and rate-assessor, as well as numerous other minor positions. He was
chosen as Ruling Elder of the church on April 6, 1649, a position he
held until his death.
Family: Thomas married Mary, daughter of Isaac Allerton,
about 1636 and had eight children. She died in Plymouth November 28,
1699, the last of the Mayflower passengers.
Children of Thomas and Mary Cushman:
- Thomas was born about September 1637 in Plymouth. He married (1)
Ruth Howland on November 17, 1664, and had three children. He married
(2) Abigail (Titus) Fuller on October 16, 1679 and had four children. He
died in Plympton August 23, 1726.
- Mary was born in Plymouth, but the year is unknown. She married
Francis Hutchinson about 1676 had three children. She died before
October 22, 1690.
- Sarah was born about 1641 in Plymouth. She married (1) John Hawkes
in Lynn on April 11, 1661, and had eight children. He died August 5,
1694. She married (2) Daniel Hutchins shortly after November 7, 1695.
She died after February 10, 1706/7.
- Isaac was born February 8, 1648/9, in Plymouth. He married Rebecca
Harlow about 1675 and had seven children. He died in Plympton on October
21, 1732.
- Elkanah was born June 1, 1651 in Plymouth. He married (1) Elizabeth
Cole on February 10, 1677, and had three children. She died January 4,
1681/2. He married (2) Martha Cooke on March 2, 1673, and had five
children. He died in Plympton on September 4, 1727.
- Fear was born on June 20, 1653. She died before October 22, 1690.
- Eleazer was born February 20, 1656/7, in Plymouth. He married
Elizabeth Coombs on January 12, 1687/8, and had eight children. He died
after November 1733.
- Lydia was born about 1662 in Plymouth. She married William Harlow
about January 1682/3 and had nine children. She died in Plymouth on
February 11, 1718/9.