By Jared L. Olar
December 2018
Our ancestry traces back to a Connecticut colonist named Clement Buxton (c.1610-1657), one of the early settlers of Stamford, Connecticut. His surname indicates that he is a descendant of a man who lived in one of the English villages called Buxton. Buxton in Derbyshire was formerly called Buchestanes or Bucstones, from the Anglo-Saxon for "bowing stones." But other places called Buxton -- those in Norfolk, Yorkshire, Herefordshire, and Northumberland -- derive their name from the Anglo-Saxon for "buck's town" or "deer's enclosure." Nothing is known of Clement Buxton's ancestry or of where he lived in England before emigrating to New England. Some online genealogies claim Clement's father was Thomas Buxton (1575-1654), who was born and died in Wookie (or Wookey) Parish in Somersetshire, England, and that Clement's mother was Isabell Browninge, born 1579 in Yardley, Somersetshire, England, died 30 Dec. 1632 in Wookey Parish. However, Descendants of Clement Buxton offers these remarks on Clement's possible origins:
"Where did Clement and Unica Buxton come from? Of course we assume they are from those parts of England associated with the Parlimentarians, but have no evidence to suggest what town or shire. Mrs. Robert Buxton of Albuquerque, NM, did much correspondance with areas associated with the name "Buxton" but found nothing. Robert Charles Anderson, compiler of the "Great Migration Study" at the New England Historical & Genealogical Society, felt it unlikely that evidence of Clement & Unica will be found in Colonial records prior to their appearance in Stamford, CT. He also found no evidence in English records while researching other families for the Study.
"Some earlier Buxton researchers made him the brother of Anthony Buxton of Salem, MA, but the current (1998) Historian for that group, Beatrice Buxton, has disproved the relationship beyond doubt. Also earlier researchers suggested he was associated with Oliver Cromwell during the rebellion, perhaps in Cromwell's army, but no evidence was cited nor has any been found. He appeared in Connecticut about 1647 when the English soldiers not needed for garrisons or for service in Ireland were being disbanded.
"Another curiousity is whether Elizabeth Buxton, who was apparently born in England, was their daughter or his sister. Judging from their apparent ages she could have been his sister or even some other relative."
Following is an account of our Buxton ancestor:
1. CLEMENT BUXTON, possibly son of Thomas and Isabell Buxton, born circa 1610 in England, died of malaria 2 Aug. 1657 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Clement's wife was EUNICE (NN), born circa 1613, died probably in early April 1670 in Stamford, Connecticut. Clement and Eunice had a son and three daughters. In contemporary records, Eunice's name is spelled "Unica" or "Uneca," and sometimes is misspelled "Unity." Clement death occurred during a general illness afflicting Stamford -- the disease is now thought to be malaria. After Clement's death, Eunice remarried on 22 July 1658 at Stamford, Connecticut, to PETER BROWN, whose wife Elizabeth had also died in 1657 probably of malaria. Peter himself died 22 Aug. 1658, not even a month after he married Eunice. She then married a third time on 9 March 1659 at Stamford to NICHOLAS KNAPP, born circa 1605 in England, died 16 April 1670 at Stamford, Connecticut.
The following account of Clement Buxton and his family was published in Connecticut Ancestry, Nov. 2008, Vol. 51, No. 2:
"Clement Buxton died at Stamford on 2 August 1657, one of those Stamford citizens to succumb to the general illness at that time now thought to have been malaria. His parents, and place and date of birth are completely unknown.
"His wife's name was Eunice (?) (also spelled Unica or Uneca or even Unity in the records). After Clement's death, she married (2) at Stamford on 22 July 1658 Peter Brown, whose wife Elizabeth had also died in the summer of 1657 (21 September), probably another malaria victim. Peter Brown died on 22 August 1658, less than a month after this marriage, and "Unica Brown" then married (3) at Stamford on 9 March 1659, Nicholas Knapp. She appears to have died at Stamford in early April 1670. The will of Nicholas Knapp, made on 15 April 1670, probably shortly after her death, after providing for his own natural children, included the following provision for Eunice's daughters: 'I give to my two daughters in law (i.e. stepdaughters) Viz: Sarah and Unice Buxton all their others clothes as a free gift: except one hat and one new petticoat which my will is that they should have owned of their portions: also I will and bequeath unto Unice Buxton the new bible as a free gift (also) My will is that the portions due to my two daughters in law, viz: Sarah Buxton and Uneca Boxton out of the estate of their father Clement Buxton I say that their portions be currently payd according to their proportion of that inventorie.'
"The lands of Clement 'Buckston' were recorded in Stamford on 15 March 1650 (probably 1650/51) as part of the general inventory of real estate being made at that general time. . . . By the time of the 1701 tax assessment he had accumulated a real estate valuation of 112 pounds that was among the more substantial holdings in the town.
"His inventory was taken on 3 September 1657 by Richard Law and John Holly, and contained 4 Bibles and other books in addition to the usual real estate, livestock and household items, probably indicating that he was a literate man. The same inventory also demonstrated that he had shoe-making equipment, and also clothes made of leather. Jeanne Majdalany studied this inventory in detail as well as those of several others that were recorded in the Town Records, and made the interesting observation that he was, 'the only man listed as having a desk and also a wheelbarrow.'"
The known children of Clement and Eunice Buxton were:
-- ELIZABETH BUXTON, born before 1637 in England.
-- CLEMENT BUXTON, born 31 Jan. 1646, married Judith Prence.
-- EUNICE BUXTON (Unica, Unity), born circa 1653 in Stamford, Connecticut, married first Jonathan Waterbury, married second Richard Higgenbotham.
-- SARAH BUXTON, born circa 1656 in Stamford, Connecticut, married Joseph Stephens.
2. ELIZABETH BUXTON, daughter of Clement and Eunice Buxton, born before 1637 in England, died circa 1710 in Stamford, Connecticut. Elizabeth married on 9 Jan. 1655 at Stamford, Connecticut, to ROBERT HUSTIS JR., probably born circa 1628 in Dorsetshire, England, died 23 Nov. 1704 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, son of Robert and Elizabeth Hustis. Robert and Elizabeth had six sons and four daughters. Robert had moved to Westchester County, New York, by 1662, when he was recorded as a magistrate, and the following year he was made a Freeman of Connecticut. He made his will on 19 Nov. 1701. He and his sons Robert, John, Samuel, and David were enrolled in the 1698 Westchester County census.
-- MOSES HUSTIS, died 1694 in Salem, New Jersey, probably unmarried.
-- JONATHAN HUSTIS, married Mary Brandreth.
-- SAMUEL HUSTIS, married Elizabeth Pell.
-- ELIZABETH HUSTIS, married Horseman Mollineaux.
-- SARAH HUSTIS, married John Betts.
-- MARY HUSTIS, married Edward Collier.
-- ABIGAIL HUSTIS, married Josiah Hunt Jr.
-- ROBERT HUSTIS, died childless in 1718.
-- JOHN HUSTIS, died 1737.
-- DAVID HUSTIS, born circa 1684.
Buxton Genealogy Resources:
Descendants of Clement Buxton Darlene's Family Genealogy, with information on Clement Buxton and his family. GEN-UK-I: Wookey, England