An American Family History

Richard Buffington, Sr. was born on May 30, 1654 in Buckinghamshire, England.

His first wife was Anne Francis. She was born about 1652 in England.

Ann Buffington (1674, married Benjamin Hickman)
Richard Buffington, Jr. (1679, married Phebe Grubb),
William Buffington (1681),
Ruth Buffington (1682, married Ezekiel Harlan),
John Buffington (1683, married Sarah Eaverson),
Thomas Buffington (1684, married Ann Matthews and Ruth Cope),
Hannah Buffington (1685, married Jeremiah Dean),
Mary Buffington (1687, married Charles Turner and William Baldwin),
Elizabeth Buffington (1689, married John Freeman and Peter Collins),
Lydia Buffington (1691, married George Martin).

They came to America on the Ship Griffin.

In March, 1698, Anne Buffington and several other individuals were charged with being witnesses at an unlawful marriage.

In June, 1689 Anne was charged and convicted of adultery.

1oth month 1689

ffrancis Smith Senior was Called to answer a former assault Comitted upon Richard Buffington butt ye said Buffington not appearing he was acquitted paying his fees

In 1695 Anne was presented to the Grand Jury along with Robert Roman

the said Robert Roman Takeing the wife of Henry Hastings Away from her husband and Children and Convaying her Away And the said Ann Buffington being Confederate with the said Robert Roman.

Richard became a Baptist in 1699.

Richard married Frances Vane Grubb in 1709. She was born about 1660 in England and was the widow of John Grubb.

On February 25, 1720/21, he conveyed his land to his sons, Thomas and William, but reserved a life interest.

He married Alice Palmer in 1720. She was born in 1633

Richard and Alice's children included:

Abigail Buffington (1721, married David Fling and Edward Seed),
Joseph Buffington (1725), and
Alice Buffington (1730, married James Hance and Robert McArthur).

Richard died in January, 1748.

from the Proceedings of the Chester County Historical Society, "Some Annals of the Buffington Family," by Gilbert Cope.

After the coming of William Penn, a Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania was given in 1680. Richard Buffington was appointed Constable of Chester and served the Colony and the Crown well. At a Court on 6th day of the 11th month, 1684,

Richard Buffington is Ordered to Receive the Levies raised for the Cort house and Prison in the Township of Chester, also, Ordered that the Collectors of Levie for the Cort house and Prison shall be Considered for their time and Paines twelve pence in the pound. Ibid, p.50.

He received several honors and increased greatly in land and prospered. He and his son made good marriages into the Vane and Grubb families who had for generations been of great value to Crown of England. These families extended the power of the Crown into the far away colonies of the British Empire.

He had three wives:

(lst) Ann/ Annie Francis, married in "Old England" before 1675, and the mother of his first ten children. She died about 1695, and he married

(2nd) Francis Vane Grubb, the window of John Grubb.

(3rd) He then married Alice Palmer who was mother of his last three children.

Richard became a Baptist in 1699, and remained a stanch member being the first of record to leave money to the Baptist Society upon his death. His son, Richard Jr. remained active in the Friends fellowship.

The Pennsylvania Gazette, June, July 1739, reported a gathering in May of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to the number of one hundred and fifteen, in Chester County. Richard Buffington was then aged about 85, and declared himself still hearty and active and of perfect memory. His eldest son, then sixty, he said was the "first born of English descent in the Province." This claim did not hold good for the Chester Monthly Meeting of Friends, made the same claim for the son of John and Frances Grubb, but a daughter of Roger and Rebecca Pedrick, was born at Marcus Hook, on 7 July, 1678, having actually been the first.

Richard's death occurred in January, 1747-8, during his 94th year. Ibid, p. 51.

from Chester County Pennsylvania Record of the Courts

Anne ye wife of Richard Buffington being by Warrant apprehended and Convicted before John Bristow for defiling her marriage Bed was by her Suirtyes Richard Buffington and ffrancis Little bound over to this court and Accordingly made her appearance and was Indickted.

Witnes and Prosecutor James Chivers

The grand Inquest finde ye Bill Whereupon shee is Called to ye Barr and Pleads not guilty and referrs her Selfe to God and ye Country.

The names of ye Petty Jury
William Jenkin
Adam Roads
Robert Barber
Nathaniel Parkes
Albertus Hendrickson
John Mendenhall
Walter Marten
James Swaford
Thomas Smith
Caleb Pusie
John Whood
Randall Vernon

The testimony of James Chivers taken in writing before John Bristow remaines on ye file. The said James Chivers being attested in Open Court saith that as he was coming from Concord downe to Chichester He did see a man and a Woman lying upon ye Ground and ye man lying Upon ye Top of ye woman and ye woman looking up he saw it was Anne Buffington.

John Eldridge being attested declareth as above.

James Chivers upon his Attest further saith that Anne Buffington was very earnest to know who this man and woman was for said she there is never a Woman whereabouts that hath a Black Hatt but I and then it must needs be me.

Wee ye Jury unanimously agree that Anne ye wife of Richard Buffington is guilty of this Indicktment.

Walter Marten Foreman

Whereupon Judgement is granted that she receive 10 strips upon her bear back well laid on and 12 months Imprisonment at hard labour in ye house of Correction and to pay all Court Charges.

 

Chester County December ye 11th 1695

we The Grand Inquest by the Kings Authority Doe Present Robert Roman of Chichester and Ann Buffington the wife of Richard Buffington: the said Robert Roman Takeing the wife of Henry Hastings Away from her husband and Children and Convaying her Away And the said Ann Buffington being Confederate with the said Robert Roman.

Walter Martin foreman.

The Court orders that they be sommoned to Appeare Att the next County Court. 10th day of March 1695/6:

And the wife of Richard Buffington was Called To Answer to the presentment of the Grand Jury the last Court: and Answer was made she was ill and Could not be heare: order that she apeare the next Court.

1695, 9th of 10th mo; Philip Roman and his brother Robert Roman, sons of Philip Roman--spoken to about

concerning astrology and other sciences as geomancy and chiromancy and necromancy, etc. as these sciences bring a vaile over the understanding and a death upon the life.

Robert Roman -

spoak to and reproved about his late evill practis with Henry Hastings his wife and was tenderly admonished: he acknowledged he had done badly.

In the Name of God Amen. The Seventh Day of January in the year of our Lord 1747-8,

I Richard Buffington in the County of Chester and Province of Pennsylvania yeoman, being Sick in Body, but of Perfect Memory, Thanks be to God, therefore, calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is for all Men once to Die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.....

Imprimis, it is my will, and I do order, That in the first place, all my Just Debts and Funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied.

Item, I give and bequeath unto Alice my dearly beloved Wife

• one Room at the N. E. corner of the House with the Cellar under it and
• five pounds a year and
• firewood Sufficient for one fire brought convenient, and
• one Milch-cow resonably kept without any cost to her,
• one feather Bed the one I now lieth on with
• Suitable furniture as now is, one Case of draws that stands in the said Room and one Walnut chest that stands in the House and
• fourty shillings to buy other furniture with, During her Widowhood. Only the feather bed and furniture and One Case of Draws and Chest and fourty Shillings worth of furniture as before mentioned forever.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Hannah Dean one Bible worth thirty Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Turner One Bible worth thirty Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Freeman One Bible of thirty Shillings price

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Lida Martin One Bible worth thirty Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son William Buffington all my wearing apparel.

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Abigail Seed one Bible worth thirty Shillings.

Item, i give and bequeath to my Daughter Alice McArthur one Bible worth thirty Shillings and a Horse named Roan.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Buffington Deceased's Heirs five Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann Hickman deceased's Heirs five Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ruth Harlan deceased's Heirs five Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Son Richard Buffington deceased's Heirs five Shillings.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Son John Buffington deceased's Heirs five Shillings.

And the remainder of all my Estate I give and bequeath to my Son Joseph Buffington his Heirs and Assigns for Ever both Real and Personal Whatsoever and Wheresoever. But in case of sd son Joseph Should die without Heirs lawfully begotten, my Will is that it shall descend to my two Daughters, Abigail and Alice their Heirs and assigns forever Equally to be divided Share and Share alike.

Item, I give and bequeath to Owen Thomas now Minister of the Anabaptist Society held at John Bently's in the Township of Newlin and county aforesaid five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to the [Anabaptist] Society before Mentioned twenty pounds to be paid in the manner following, viz't, five pounds to be paid four years after my decease, five pounds the Ensuing year, five pounds more the Ensuing year and five pounds the next Ensuing.

Item, I give and bequeath to Richard Kimbol two pounds ten Shillings.

Likewise I constitute, make and ordain my sd son Joseph my Only and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament,

And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors, by me in any way before this Time Named, Willed and bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and Year above written.

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced, and declared by the Said Richard Buffington as my last will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers, viz. The words (of all my Estate) interlined before Signed and delivered & Sealed.

His
Richard B. Buffington (Seal)
Mark

Evan Jones, William Bennett, Sam'll Grubb