Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

BUCKNAM As a steamer took her way along the New England coast the wind came shrieking from the east, black clouds swept in on beach and headland, and when night fell the craft was trembling from stem to stern in the buffetings of the gale. A gray-haired sea captain calmed the fears of many passengers by his bright smile and cheery assurance, "You needn't have a single care about this storm, for we've got Josh Bucknam for engineer, and he never got beat by easter or no'easter. He's taken this steamer through twenty storms like this. The Bucknams have been engineerin' and guidin' things ever since the family came to old Falmouth, Maine, so long ago. It's quite a while ago that Jeremiah Bucknam and his wife Mary were laid away in the old cemetery, but people know how great their help was in all town and coast affairs. And when Nathan Bucknam and Betsy Moody hitched up there was another pair of good engineers to help in all places where they might be needed, and their children, and all of the family, have kept up the old record for guiding people, churches, ships, and every createds thing, through storms and shoals where other mortals would have failed. Yes sir, Joshua Moody Buckman is engineer on this craft, and we'll come safe past the twin lights!" "Ay, ay," another man responded, "the Bucknams are a born race of engineers on sea and land. They never bluster about saying 'Here, let me do that,' but just go to work in a quiet way, that straightens out all the tangles. Yes, a family with a wonderful record for helping in good things along the Maine coast. And if you take pains to go to Falmouth, or Cumberland, or Yarmouth, you'll find that this stock isn't petering out a bit. There! Josh knew just how to make the steamer ride over that big sea. He'll take us through." And while the storm thundered in vain against the steamer many stories were told of the Bucknam skill and helpfulness, which quieted the fears of many a man and woman. It was a scene which has often been repeated when the strong merits of this sturdy family have been known. (I) Captain William Bucknam was born in North Yarmouth, Maine, and was admitted to the church there Sept. 20, 1784. The greater part of his life was spent on the sea, as he was a very successful captain, both in the coasting trade and in his trips to many foreign ports. He ws one of the most public spirited men of his day, and was ever willing to give generously of his time, strength and money for the good of his town, and of others also. He was very prominent in local politics and held all the various town offices, in each one of these discharging his duties in a very prompt and efficient manner. He married Susan Loraine. (See "Old Times in North Yarmouth"). (II) Samuel, son of Capt. William and Susan (Loraine) Bucknam, was born in North Yarmouth about 1779 and died in 1855. In early life he followed the sea with great success, and afterward retired to a farm in what was then North Yarmouth. He had a brisk and cheery manner, which made him a very popular man in his town and in all places where he was known, and he was always active in local affairs, and willing to help in every good cause with great earnestness. He was one of the most active members of the First Congregational Church of North Yarmouth, and aided in making its services very helpful to a large number of people. The children of his first marriage were: Mary and Annie. The name of his second wife was Phoebe Chandler and their children were: Jerry, Joseph, Samuel 2nd, Charles and James Monroe. These boys had a very happy boyhood on their father's farm of one hundred and fifty acres, but the ocean appealed so strongly to them that all became shipmasters of great success. Joseph, Samuel and James M. being in command of large vessels which sailed from Portland to foreign ports. (III) James Monroe, son of Samuel and Phoebe (Chandler) Bucknam, was born in North Yarmouth Sept. 12, 1818, and died in Yarmouth Village, Oct. 3, 1905. He received a good education in the schools of his native town. He had twenty years of very successful sea life, and was a captain who was widely known for his quick voyages and his kindness to his sailors. When his father's health began to fail he left his ship and returned to the home farm, where he did all in his power to cheer the last days of the parents who had always been so kind to him. He carried on the work there in a very energetic manner until 1904, when he sold the farm and removed to Yamouth Village. In politics he was a very sturdy Republican, and held many town offices, being member of the board of selectmen for a number of years. He also held several offices in the Baptist church, where he was a very helpful member. Mr. Bucknam married (first) Caroline, daughter of Nicholas Drinkwater, of North Yarmouth. Children of 1st wife: 1. Clarence Leland, who died at the age of two years. 2. Caroline Augusta, who died in infancy. 3. Nicholas Drinkwater, who is a farmer in Yarmouth. 4. Hon. Clarence Loraine. 5. James Monroe Jr., who is deceased. Mr. Bucknam married (second) Abbie Frances, daughter of Nathaniel Twombly, of Yarmouth. Children of 2d wife: 6. Albion L., who resides in Washington, D. C. 7. Caroline Frances, who married David Miller and lives in North Jay. (IV) Hon. Clarence Loraine, son of James Monroe and Caroline (Drinkwater) Bucknam, was born in Yarmouth, Oct. 4, 1850, and has long resided in Yarmouth. He was a very diligent student and a graduate of the North Yarmouth Academy, which has helped to successfully train so many men and women of the old Pine Tree State. In 1873 he went to Minnesota for improvement of his health, and remained there about a year. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, and continuted this work in a very active manner until 1873. In 1877 he bought the farm which has since been his cosy home. In 1885 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Benjamin True and held this position in a very acceptable manner until 1900. He was tax collector of Yarmouth from 1885 until 1892. In 1891 he was elected representative to the legislature. For six years he was messenger in the insolvency court and resided in Portland. For the last ten years he has been moderator of the Yarmouth town meetings, and has been chairman of the board of selectmen for the years 1902-05-07. He is a sturdy Republican and was a member of the Cumberland county Republican committee from 1901 to 1907. He has also been a member of the Republican town committee for the last twenty years, and has been its chairman for the past five years. He has now practically retired from business and just keeps doing "enough farming to keep himself busy!" He is a man who is very highly esteemed by all who know him. He is an attendant of the Congregational church in Yarmouth. He is an Odd Fellow, a member of the Masonic Lodge, Chatper, Commandery and Council, and of the Kora Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In the Red Men's Brotherhood he has held all the various offices which the state can give, and is a member of the Grand Counci of Maine, and has been representative to the U. S. Council five times. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has held all the chairs in that body, and in 1902 was grand chancellor commander. He is also of great help in the work of the Grange in his native state. Mr. Bucknam married (first) Georgianna, born May 18, 1851, daughter of Sumner Perkins, of Farmington; she died Sept. 29, 1888. Children: Allura Marilla, born April 13, 1876, died June 12, 1887. Sumner Perkins, born June 6, 1882, died April 25, 1896. He married (second) Jennie M. Young, of Yarmouth, born Oct. 28, 1870. Child: Sumner Earle, born Jan. 11, 1898. BUCKNAM Buckman or Bucknam is an ancient English surname, originally a trade-name, meaning a man who cared for bucks. (I) William Bucknam, immigrant ancestor, came from Ipswich, England. He settled first in Salem, but removed to Rumney Marsh, now Chelsea, in 1632, and later to Charlestown, Mass. He was in the Mystic side (Malden) prior to Nov. 1, 1664, according to the selectmen's records. His house and garden in Charlestown adjoined the land of E. Carrington. He bought land at Malden, adjoining I. Allen's, R. Russell's, W. Sargent's and W. Phillips' land, in 1649. He bought a meadow lot in Malden in 1650. He married (first) Prudence Wilkinson; (second) Sarah Knower. He was admitted a freeman March 22, 1689-90. His will was dated June 12, 1679, and the inventory is dated the same year. Children: 1. John, died June 14, 1705. 2. Joses (son of the 2d wife), born July 3, 1641, mentioned below. 3. Elizabeth, married B. Whittemore. 4. Mercy, born Feb. 14, 1647-48, married Dec. 7, 1669, Benjamin Webb. 5. Sarah, born July, 1650. 6. William, born Aug., 1652, married Oct. 11, 1676, Hannah Wait; he died Sept. 16 or 17, 1693 (gravestone). 7. Mehitable, born Aug., 1654, married Samuel Wait. 8. Edward, born 1657. 9. Samuel, died Sept. 13, 1658. 10. Samuel, born Jan., 1659-60. (II) Joses, son of William (1) Bucknam, was born July 3, 1641, and died Oct. 10, 1694. He married (first) _____; (second) March, 1673, Judith Worth, died Aug. 24, 1694, aged fifty-three years (gravestone at Malden). She was a daughter of Lionel and Susannah (Whipple) Worth. John Worth, father of Lionel, was the immigrant ancestor. Children, b. at Malden: 1. Joses, born Jan., 1666-67, married Hannah Peabody of Boxford. 2. Hannah, born Aug., 1669. 3. Elizabeth, married John Mellen. 4. Samuel, mentioned below. Born at Malden: 5. Judith, born Aug. 7, 1676, married 1700, Zaccheus Hill. 6. Susanna, born Aug. 8, 1685. 7. William, born Feb. 12, 1888; removed to Portland. 8. Edward, born March 22, 1691, settled in Stoneham; married Rebecca Sprague; died May 14, 1773. 9. Lydia, born March 24, 1695. (III) Samuel, son of Joses Bucknam, was born in 1673 and died July 3 of 4, 1751. He settled in Malden and married there Sept. 22, 1697, Deborah Mellen. He removed to Falmouth with his son Samuel, 1720, and was on a list of persons who removed there at this time. He was one of thirty-nine persons who received grants of land on condition "that those who had not brought forward a settlement already, should do it upon their sixty-acres lots within twelve months, and on three home lots within six months. (Willis Portland, p. 341). Children: 1. Samuel, born April 7, 1699. 2. Phebe, born Oct. 22, 1700. 3. Abigail, born June 7, 1702. 4. Lydia, born Jan. 23, 1704. 5. Mehitable, born Oct. 1, 1705. 6. William, born Nov. 8, 1706, died young. 7. John, born Nov. 8, 1707. 8. William, born July 3, 1709, mentioned below. 9. Benjamin, born Aug. 1, 1711. 10. Deborah, born March 11, 1714. (IV) William (2), son of Samuel Bucknam, was born July 3, 1709, and resided in Falmouth, now Portland, Maine. He married Jan. 15, 1736, Ann Pote. Children: 1. Deborah, born Oct. 10, 1737, died Dec. 16, 1761. 2. William Jr., born July 27, 1739, died Oct. 7, 1761. 3. John, born July 17, 1741, died young. 4. Lydia, born July 16, 1742, died Feb. 7, 1778; married Cornelius Buxton. 5. Abigail, born Sept. 26, 1744, died young. 6. John, born July 2, 1746, mentioned below. 7. Abigail, born June 15, 1748, died young. 8. Jeremiah, born Feb. 11, 1750. 9. Samuel, born Jan. 1, 1752, died April 2, 1814. 10. Ann, born July 8, 1754. 11. Nathan, born Nov. 11, 1756, died May 11, 1824. 12. Phebe, born Feb. 13, 1759, died young. (V) John, son of William (2) Bucknam, was born in Falmouth, July 2, 1746, died April 22, 1792. He was a soldier in the revolution in Capt. Thomas Parrat's company in 1777 at Machias, Maine, and in Lieut. John Scott's company, the sixth Lincoln, in 1779 at Machias. He was at Pleasant River, April 27, 1778, with eight in his family and settled at what is now Columbia Falls Village, where he built the house occupied by Walter Bucknam in 1888. He was engaged in lumbering and farming. He married, Jan., 1773, at Pleasant River, Columbia, now Columbia Falls, Mary, daughter of Joseph Wilson of Columbia Falls. She died Aug. 15, 1804, aged fifty-two. Children: 1. William, married Abigial Drisko; died Jan. 1, 1829, aged fifty-five. 2. Anna, married William Wass, of Wilmot. 3. John, unmarried; died at the age of thirty. 4. Jeremiah, resided in Addison; married Nancy Yates. 5. Ichabod, married Elizabeth Wilson; died Aug. 26, 1846, aged sixty-two. 6. Mary, died unmarrire aged twenty. 7. Samuel, married Almira (Godfrey) Foster, widow. 8. Robert Pazan, married Sarah Foster. 9. Nathan, mentioned below. (VI) Nathan Bucknam, son of John Bucknam, was born at Columbia, now Columbia Falls, June 3, 1792, and married Feb. 17, 1828, Esther Carleton, of the same town, born Dec. 23, 1804, daughter of John and Amy (Noonan) Carleton, the former born Jan. 26, 1772, the latter April 7, 1777. John Carleton came from Methuen, Mass., died June 13, 1814; his wife, born in Gouldsboro (Prospect Harbor), Maine, died Feb. 21, 1868; her father came from Ireland; he was a school teacher. Children: 1. Cordelia Carleton, born Dec. 12, 1828, died Jan. 24, 1829. 2. Gilbert Lafayette, mentioned below. 3. Benjamin Thomas, born April 13, 1832, died Feb. 18, 1834. 4. Benjamin Franklin, born Nov. 21, 1835, died June 11, 1886. 5. Emma Louisa, born Oct. 20, 1837, married Isaac Proctor, of Malden, Mass. 6. Julia Maria, born April 1, 1840, died March 6, 1842. (VII) Gilbert Lafayette, son of Nathan Bucknam, was born in Columbia, now Columbia Falls, Maine, May 17, 1830. He received his education in the common schools of his native town. He learned the trade of ship-builder and was in the ship-building business in Columbia Falls for several years; also engaged in lumbering and farming. In politics Mr. Bucknam was first a Whig, then a Republican. He was for nearly twenty years deputy sheriff of the county and was well known among the lawyers and public officers of that section of the state. He was tax collector for about fifteen years and member of the board of health in the town of Columbia. He retired from business several years ago and has since lived quietly at his home in Columbia Falls, Maine. He is a prominent Free Mason, a member of Tuscan Lodge, No. 106, at Addison, Maine, of Dirigo Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Cherryfield, Maine, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He married June 22, 1858, in Addison, by the Rev. C. C. Long, a Baptist clergyman, Susannah Ingersoll, who was born in Columbia April 14, 1837, daughter of Nathaniel Jr. and Mary (Coffin) Ingersoll, parents of one other chld, Lorenzo Porter Ingersoll. Nathaniel Ingersoll was engaged in lumbering and farming. William Ingersoll, grandfather of Nathaniel Ingersoll, came from Yarmouth, Maine. Mary (Coffin) Ingersoll traced her ancestry to Sir Richard COFFIN, who came from Normandy with William the Norman, fought at battle of Hastings, Oct. 14, 1066. A direct descendant of Sir Richard was Peter Coffin, who married Joan Thimber; children: Tristram, John, Eunice and Mary. Tristram, son of Peter and Joan Coffin, was born in 1605, near Plymouth; married Dionis Stevens; children: Peter, Tristram, Elizabeth and James, who were born in England. In 1642 Tristram and family, consisting of his wife, mother, two sisters, and children, came to America and settled at Salisbury on the Merrimac river, where Mary, John and Stephen were born; he also resided in Haverhill, Mass. Matthew, a descendant of the above, son of Richard and Mary Coffin, was born at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, about 1756, and came with his family to Addison, Maine, about 1768; they had twelve children, among whom was Richard, who married Hannah Whitten, and they were the parents of Mary, aforementioned. It is said that all the Coffins in the United States are descendants of Tristram Coffin, who came over in the year 1642. [trans. note: they don't mention Nantucket here, and they should]. Children: 1. Mary Emma, born March 19, 1863, graduated from Machias high school and Grey's Business College, Portland, married Dec. 20, 1892, Henry Oswald Staples; no children. Mrs. Staples acts as her husband's accountant. 2. Frank Gilbert, born Aug. 16, 1870, graduated from Kent's Hill school, is mate on steamship "W. S. Porter"; married June 10, 1896, Elizabeth Mary Rumball, of Harrington, Maine; children: i. Everett White, b. April 26, 1897; ii. Mary Emma, b. Dec. 17, 1898. 3. Nathan Carleton, mentioned below. (VIII) Nathan Carleton, son of Gilbert L. Bucknam, was born in Columbia Falls, Feb. 9, 1880. He attended the public schools there, the Nichols Latin school in Lewiston and Bates College, where he was graduated in the class of 1903, with the degree of A. B. He was elected principal of the Dexter high school directly after he graduated and has held that position to the present time. In politics he is a Republican; in religion Universalist. He is a member of Penobscot Lodge of Free Masons, of St. John Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, both of Dexter. He married June 26, 1907, Helen Grace, born Dec. 12, 1878, daughter of Job and Amanda Abbott, of Dexter. Child: Carleton Abbott, born May 4, 1908.