M. (1) 13 May 1605 in Horsham, Sussex, England2
Wife: Ferris Quenell
M. (2) 2 Jun 1629 in Horsham, Sussex, England3
Wife: Joan Kinward
D. before 13 Oct 1646 in Guilford, Connecticut1
When Francis Bushnell sailed to New England in 1639, he joined his shipmates in signing a pledge to work as one. The document would become known as the Guilford Covenant, a rare written agreement for the establishment of a colonial community.
Francis spent his early life in southern England, born in about 1580, possibly in the village of Thatcham in Berkshire;1 his parents are unknown. He first turned up in records at his marriage to a woman named Ferris Quenell on May 13, 1605.2 Their wedding took place in Horsham, which is located in Sussex, and the couple settled there. Between 1606 and 1628, they had 11 children. Four of the children died young, including the final child who died along with Ferris within days of its birth.1 Francis married a second wife, Joan Kinward, on June 2, 1629,3 but she passed away about two years later, buried at the church on June 21, 1631.1
Puritanism was widespread across England, and Francis’ family were followers of that set of beliefs. All five of his surviving sons decided to leave England for the colonies in America, sailing to Massachusetts in 1635.1 Francis stayed behind — it isn’t known what his circumstances were — but four years later, he made the move as well. He brought his youngest two children with him, daughters 18-year-old Rebecca and 14-year-old Sarah, and they boarded the ship St. John in the late spring of 1639.1
The Bushnells were part of a small group of families led by a minister, Reverend Henry Whitfield. Their destination was the south coast of Connecticut, and unlike some Puritan migrations, they would be forming a new community right from the start. The leaders gathered onboard the ship to draft a contract, and when they were about 10 days into the voyage, it was agreed to by all of the men, 25 in total.4 Their names appeared on the document in order of rank of seniority and leadership, and Francis was the third one. It was a simple statement that committed everyone to collectively work for the the community as a whole:4
We whose names are herein written, intending by God's gracious permission, to plant ourselves in New England, and if it may be in the southerly part, about [Quinnipiac], we do faithfully promise each for ourselves and families and those that belong to us, that we will, the Lord assisting us, sit down and join ourselves together in one entire plantation and to be helpful to the other in any common work, according to every man's ability and as need shall require, and we promise not to desert or leave each other on the plantation but with the consent of the rest, or the greater part of the company, who have entered into this engagement. As for our gathering together into a church way and the choice officers and members to be joined together in that way, we do refer ourselves until such time as it shall please God to settle us in our plantation. In witness whereof we subscribe our hands, this first day of June 1639.
The Guilford Covenant.
The contract was initially called the Plantation Covenant, but it later took the name of the settlers’ new town, Guilford. After they arrived on the coast of Connecticut, Francis and the others divided up the land into tracts, built their houses, and formed their community. One of Francis’ sons, Francis, came down from Massachusetts to join him, and built a house next door.1 The younger Francis also likely did some of the labor for his father, who was now about 60-years-old.
Francis lived in Guilford, Connecticut for just a few more years; he died there in 1646, with his will probated on October 13th.1 As an early settler of New England, he had many notable descendants: William Samuel Johnson (signer of the U.S. Constitution), John Foster Dulles, Thomas Dewey, Mamie Eisenhower, Jill Biden, Adlai Stevenson, Bill Weld, Warren Buffet, Margaret Hamilton, and Jordana Brewster.5
The covenant Francis was a part of was also notable. It’s been said that “in terms of early colonial documents of this kind, there are only the Mayflower Compact and the Guilford Covenant.”24 The original parchment is kept at the Massachusetts Historical Society, and in June 2014, a large granite tablet with the Covenant inscribed on it was dedicated at a park in Guilford.
The Guilford Covenant monument .
Children (all by Ferris Quenell):
1. Edmond Bushnell — B. before 27 Apr 1606, Horsham, Sussex, England;6 D. 28 Mar 1636, Medford, Massachusetts;7 M. Martha Hallor, 16 May 1627, Horsham, Sussex, England8
2. Francis Bushnell — B. before 8 Jan 1609, Horsham, Sussex, England;9 D. 4 Dec 1681, Saybrook, Connecticut;10 M. (1) Mary Grombridge (~1606-?), 27 Jun 1631, Horsham, Sussex, England;11 (2) Grace Wells, before 1660, (probably) Guilford, Connecticut1
3. William Bushnell — B. before 3 Feb 1611, Horsham, Sussex, England;12 D. 12 Dec 1683, Saybrook, Connecticut;1 M. Rebecca Chapman, about 1643, Saybrook, Connecticut1
4. Stephen Bushnell — B. before Jan 1613, Horsham, Sussex, England;13 D. before 12 Mar 1625, Horsham, Sussex, England14
5. John Bushnell — B. before 23 Apr 1615, Horsham, Sussex, England;15 D. 5 Aug 1667, Boston, Massachusetts;10 M. Jane _____, about 165010
6. Thomas Bushnell — B. before 31 Aug 1617, Horsham, Sussex, England;16 D. before 16 Sep 1617, Horsham, Sussex, England17
7. Mary Bushnell — B. before 25 Dec 1618, Horsham, Sussex, England;18 before 2 Mar 1629, Horsham, Sussex, England19
8. Rebecca Bushnell — B. before 15 Apr 1621, Horsham, Sussex, England;20 D. before 11 Feb 1647, Guilford, Connecticut;1 M. John Lord (~1625-?), about 1646, (probably) Connecticut1
9. Richard Bushnell — B. before 20 Apr 1623, Horsham, Sussex, England;21 D. before 17 Jul 1660, (probably) Connecticut;1 M. Mary Marvin (1628-1713), 11 Oct 1648, Hartford, Connecticut1
10. Sarah Bushnell — B. before 20 Nov 1625, Horsham, Sussex, England;22 D. 1 Nov 1693, Halstead, Kent, England;1 M. John Hoadley (1616-1668), 14 Jul 1642, Guilford, Connecticut1
11. Elizabeth Bushnell — B. before 5 Mar 1628, Horsham, Sussex, England;23 D. 10 Mar 1628, Horsham, Sussex, England23
Sources:
1 Bushnell Family Genealogy, George Eleazer Bushnell, 1945
2 Marriage record of Francis Bushnell and Ferris Quenell, Sussex, England Parish Records, 1538-1910, FamilySearch.org
3 Marriage record of Francis Bushnell and Joan Kinward, E.P.R.
4 Plantation Covenant (Wikipedia article)
5 Francis Bushnell listing in FamousKin.com
6 Christening record of Edmund Bushnell, E.P.R.
7 Find-A-Grave listing for Edmund Bushnell
8 Marriage record of Edmund Bushnell and Mary Hallor, E.P.R.
9 Christening record of Francis Bushnell (younger), E.P.R.
10 The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999
11 Marriage record of Francis Bushnell and Mary Grombridge, E.P.R.
12 Christening record of William Bushnell, E.P.R.
13 Christening record of Stephen Bushnell, E.P.R.
14 Burial record of Stephen Bushnell, E.P.R.
15 Christening record of John Bushnell, E.P.R.
16 Christening record of Thomas Bushnell, E.P.R.
17 Burial record of Thomas Bushnell, E.P.R.
18 Christening record of Mary Bushnell, E.P.R.
19 Burial record of Mary Bushnell, E.P.R.
20 Christening record of Rebecca Bushnell, E.P.R.
21 Christening record of Richard Bushnell, E.P.R.
22 Christening record of Sarah Bushnell, E.P.R.
23 Christening and death record of Elizabeth Bushnell, E.P.R.
24 “375-Year-Old ‘Guilford Covenant’ Returns To Town,” Erik Hesselberg, Hartford Courant, June 8, 2014
