Susannah Buck

     Susannah Buck was born in 1622 at Kent, England.¹ She married Thomas Hartshorne circa 1640 at probable Reading, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; A tailor, Thomas was living in Reading in 1639, five years before its incorporation in 1644. "About 1640 settled on Elm Street. The old Thomas Hartshorn place remained two hundred years in the family." [Lily Eaton: History of Reading, 1874]. Arnold's history [James N. Arnold: The Arnold Genealogy] also states that a house on a hill was occupied by two Hartshornes who kept tavern, that Reading had 59 houses in 1667, including those of Daniel Hartshorn and Thomas Hartshorn. Probably the name Daniel is a misreading, and Thomas and one of his sons is meant. No other suggestion has been found that any other Hartshorn besides Thomas and Susanna were among the first settlers of Reading. Thomas was recorded as freeman 10 May 1648. A member in full of First Church 29 Sep 1648, his Church rate was £1-9s-7d. Susanna was also a member, and Rev. Samuel Haugh was the pastor.¹ Susannah Buck died on 18 May 1659 at Reading, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; After Susanna's death, several of her children were put out as apprentices, as most of the Lamson children already had been. No legal record of their apprenticeship had been found, except Jonathan. He was on the rolls of the First Church on 6 Apr 1663, by letter from the church in Ipswich.¹
     Henry Bachelor, brewer, of Dover, was of the Parish of St. George, Canterbury, aged about 35 on 15 Apr 1637, when a license was granted him for marriage with Martha Wilson of the same parish. On passenger list of 1637 is Henry Bachelour of Dover, brewer, and wife Martha and servants: John Buche, Susan Bucke, Samuel Taylor, Marjorie Walker. (reading doubtful). Henry Bachelour settled in Ipswich. He died 02 Feb 1678/9. Martha died 04 Apr 1686 at Ipswich (but possibly in Reading). As the Bachelors were friends, Susanna was probably brought up in that society. In Essex Co. Court Records, we find that after Susanna came out of her apprenticeship, Henry Bachelor sued her for slander, but lost that suit. She retaliated by suing him for detaining her baggage.¹