Notizen zu dieser Person
REFERENCE: 420 Died at sea. There is some research to suggest that William and Thankful were not married but had a child, Alexander. See article in notebook, "The Paternity of Captain Alexander Bushnell of Hartland, Connecticut and Hartford, Ohio " by Nancy Bushnell Foster. ... ."William Bushnell born in Boston, Mass., 2 Dec., 1716, was taken by his parents in their removals to Norwich, Connecticut in 1717 and Hartford, Connecticut in 1725. He became a mariner and was captain of a small vessel plying down the Connecticut River from Hartford past Lyme and Saybrook and on the Long Island coast. In this occupation he had business dealings with Capt. Joseph Higgins who had a wharf and warehouse at Lyme and thus became acquainted with the latter's Neice, Thankful Higgins, bornat Truro, Mass., 17 Aug., 1717, daughter of Beriah and Desire (Cooke) Higgins. William Bushnell was lost at sea in 1739 and Thankful next married in 1741, Daniel Rathbone of Lyme, born there 30 Oct., 1706. In their old age they moved to Hartland , Connecticut to live with her eldest son, Capt. Alexander Bushnell: here Daniel Rathbone died 7 Oct., 1789 and his widow Thankful died 16 Mar 1792. ...."To the Sheriffs of the of Hartford or New London or toeither of their deputies or to any of the constables in any of the towns in either of the counties, this greeting.....whereas Thankful Higgins of Saybrook in the of New London, single woman, complains to me the subscriberthat she is with child by fornication and that William Bushnell of Hartford in the of Hartford is the father of the child with which she is now pregnant and thereupon prays that the said Bushnell may be arrested and dealt withal according as is provided by one statute of this government entitled an act against fornication and bastardy in page 7 of the law Book--they are therefore in his Majesty's name to require you forthwith to arrest the said William Bushnell and bring him before me the subscriber or some other of the civilauthority in the of New London to be examined in the premises and dealt withal as the law directs hereof fail not bond for presentation being given as the law directs--Dated in Saybrooke, August 9, 1739 Samuel Lynde Assistant." At a court held that day at Saybrook, Thankful Higgins of Saybrook was examined under oath, William Bushnell being present: Q. Do you conclude thatyou are now with child? A. Yes Q. Who is the father of the child you are nowbig with? A. William Bushnell of Hartford who is now present. Q. When was ithe begat you with child? A. The 17 or 18 of last Mar Q. Where was it he got you with child? A. At Mr. Harris in this town. Q. Had no other man Carnalknowledge of you about that time so that he might possibly be the father of the child you are big with? A. No Both were ordered to appear in court later but neither one showed up. In 4/1737. another woman Abagil Thorton of Hartford, single woman complained that William Bushnell, Jr. of Hartford was the father of her bastard child born 15, Mar 1736. again, William pled not guilty but the court found him guilty and ordered him to pay 4s per week from the time of the birth of the child to the time of the judgement for four years. [Bushnell.GED.FTW] Robin Kasper refers to "the Bushnell Book." and says that William became acquainted with Thankful in Lyme, CT where she was visiting heruncle. There is a quote from Phoebe Bushnell Borden, Alexander's daughter, that her grandfather died at sea before her father was born. So, Alexander wasapparently the only child of William and Thankful.[bushnell.FBK]
Michael
Grimes
