William Bucknam

     William Bucknam was born in 1602, in Ipswich, England.¹ He immigrated on the ship Abigail, one of the fleet of eleven ships and 900 immigrants led by John Winthrop. Both of the women he married, Sarah Wilkinson and Sarah Knower also arrived in the same fleet with their parents. in 1630.² William was brought over from England in order to build a house for Matthew Craddock, governor of a commercial company in England, for his future residence (he never came).³ William bought land in Chelsea, MA in 1632, in the Mystic Side in 1647 and in Everett in Nov 1664.² He married Sarah Wilkinson say 1634.⁴ William Bucknam married Sarah Knower, daughter of Thomas Knower and Mrs Noel (Unknown) Knower, circa 1640.¹ He reconstructed the old Knower house. He also built his own home, which remained in the Bucknam family for over 100 years. It was a farm, with orchards and brooks. He owned slaves; later his son freed the slaves. There were several brooks of running water on the estate. A great quantity of clam shells, probably left by Indians, was dug up on the property. Such names as "Lower Orchard", "Upper Orchard", "Baiting Ground", "Pasture Land", Gravel Pit", "Meadow Land", and "Button Wood" were associated with the estate, and it was in the general area of what was then known as Johnson's Playne.² In 1667 when he made his Will, he refers to many things that were then modern and only the prosperous could have... [He had the] respect of his neighbors, and townsmen. He was a devout and sincere Christian, and instilled the fear of God into the hearts of all his family, taught all his children to read and write, which could not be said of all of Malden's citizens of even a later date. Old records show that he was prominent in the Town Affairs, his judgment often sought, and his decision being regarded as final."---(From an article written to be read and printed in connection with an organization called "National Society of Puritan Descendants", 5 Dec. 1898.² William Bucknam left a will dated 3 June 1667. With a codicil added 5 Feb 1678.² To view the will, please click here:. He died on 28 March 1679 in Charlestown, MA.⁵ He was buried at the Bell Rock Cemetery in Malden, MA.⁵ To view the will, please click here:.⁶