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Buffum Family Papers, 1660-1771, 1854-1917, undated

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 887

Scope and Contents

The Buffum Family Papers contains papers from the first and second generations of the Buffum family of Salem, Massachusetts, and genealogical materials. This collection has been divided into two series.

Series I. Buffum Family Documents contains legal and financial documents, mostly from the second generation of Salem, Massachusetts Buffums. Most of the legal documents are related to estate management; however, other topics include items concerning the Old Ferry Tavern and Pope House. Some of the documents are 20th century copies. The Joshua Buffum correspondence is a letter from John Smith, written November 4, 1660, while he and other Quakers were in the Boston House of Correction, to Joshua Buffum who had been banished and who fled to Shelter Island in the Long Island Sound (N.Y.). This series also contains a diary from Caleb Buffum (1816-1899).

Series II. Buffum Genealogy contains genealogical materials about the Buffum family. Included in this series are notes, newspaper clippings,a monograph, and photographs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1660-1771, 1854-1917, undated

Creator

Language of Materials

These materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Biographical / Historical

The Buffum family in Salem, Massachusetts began with Robert Buffum, born approximately 1590, in Norfolk, England. His first wife, Margaret Blessing, died in 1631. They had seven children together: Mary (1614-); Samuel (1616-); Deborah (1619); Josua (1622-); Abraham (1625-); Jacob (1627-); and John (1631-). Robert's second wife was Thomasine (aka Tamsen) Ward Thompson (born approximately 1606). They settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1634. The Buffums were Quakers who had moved to Massachusetts in the hope of escaping religious persecution; however, that does not appear to have been the case, as both parents and children were persecuted. Their children include: Joshua (1635-1705); Mary Neal(1637-); Margaret Smith; Deborah Wilson (1639-1668); Lydia Hill(1644-);Sarah Bean; and Caleb (1650-). Robert died in 1669, and Tamsen died in 1688 (Find a Grave).

Joshua Buffum (1635-1705) was a carpenter. He married Damarius Pope.

Caleb (1650-approximately 1730) was a constable. He married Hannah Pope.

Extent

2.08 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Abstract

The Buffum Family Papers contains papers from the first and second generations of the Buffum family of Salem, Massachusetts, and genealogical materials. This collection has been divided into two series.

Series List

SERIES I. Buffum Family Documents

SERIES II. Buffum Genealogy

Provenance

This collection is made up of two smaller collections. Fam. Mss. 122 Buffum Family Papers, was donated to the Essex Institute by Marjorie Buffum Foss, in 1967. The monograph, "Notes Relating to Robert Buffum and His Children," which was part of Fam. Mss. 122, wad donated by it's author Walter Buffum on May 12, 1931. MSS 0.888 Letter to Joshua Buffum, was donated to the Essex Institute in February 1989 (#88044). This item's original enclosure read "lent to the Essex Institute by Mrs. Mary Cassandra Hodges of New York City. Now property of Mrs. F. C. Munroe. 81 West Cedar Street, Boston, August 28, 1950."

Materials about the Quaker Burial Ground were donated by David T. Bavenda on September 5, 1967.

Bibliography and Related Collections

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Processing Information

This material was placed in acid free folders.

Title
Buffum Family Papers
Author
Hilary Streifer
Date
November 2020
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

Contact:
Peabody Essex Museum
306 Newburyport Turnpike
Rowley MA 01969 USA