The Furniture of Thomas Buck I

After his death in 1659, the estate of Thomas Buck was inventoried and that list has survived. The furniture of Thomas Buck is referred to (actually only mentioned) in the book “The Furniture of our Forefathers” by Esther Singleton, published in 1916 by Doubleday, Page and Company.

Of sufficient interest to be included in the book were
- 4 lined back chairs
- 3 wainscot chairs
- 1 hide couch
- 1 wainscot couch
- 1 frame table
- 2 joint stools
- 1 little stool.

Not mentioned in the book but interesting furnishings include
- one looking glass
- one carpet

A looking glass was said to be somewhat unusual and expensive, even in England, before about 1660.

A carpet was not a floor covering; it was a rough cloth for covering a table or cupboard.

The estate of Thomas Buck also included two beds: one was described as a feather bed with bolster and two pillows; the other as a flock bed with bolster. Various bed linen and sheets were included. Some of the bed linen was described as being for a child’s bed.

Associates of Thomas Buck I

In the few records that exist, the following names are somehow associated with Thomas Buck I.

In 1635, William Neesun is listed on the passenger list of the ship George just before Thomas Buck; George Smith is listed just after Thomas Buck.

In the court case of 1658, Robert Goffe is described as the indentured servant of Thomas Buck. Alexander Sanderson testified on behalf of Robert Goffe. Edward Pierce, John Cooper, Henry Walton and Henry Towson testified on behalf of Thomas Buck.

In the will of Thomas Buck, 1659, Richard Smith and Nicholas Bond were listed as overseers of the estate and guardian of his children, Thomas and Dorothy Buck. The bills of Thomas Packman, Randolph Rhoades, George Falkner and Mr. Pansdale are included in the inventory of the estate of Thomas Buck. Gregory Rue, Henry Russ and Elizabeth W. Frie were witnesses to the will.

After his death, the court ordered payments to Jeffrey Moore and Edward Wade from the estate of Thomas Buck for their appraisal of his estate. John Overstreet was paid for treatments to the wife of Thomas Buck.

The Will of Thomas Buck I

This is the will of Thomas Buck I (1618 ‑ 1659), the progenitor of the Buck Family of Virginia. Apparently, he and his wife died about the same time leaving their two children, Thomas and Dorothy, both minors, to be raised by guardians. At the time the will was transcribed, it was said to be in poor conditions with some sections unreadable. I assume some of his will, as written below, may have been filled in by using the standard forms of the day; however, I don't know if that was actually done.


The last will and TESTAMENT of mee Thomas Bucke, being very sicke and weake in body but in perfect memory:

First, I bequeath my Soule to God that gave itt, trusting in ye meritts of Jesus Christ that itt shall be everlastingly saved, and my body to be burryed.


PREMESSES:

It: I give unto Thomas Bucke, my sonne, the Land and housing and further I give to my sonne Thomas Bucke, and Daughter Dorothy Bucke my cattle and hoggs, and household stuffe to be equally divided between them, with the servants and all other of my estate to be divided between my Sonne and Daughter when they come to age.

It: I give to my Sonne Thomas Bucke and my Daughter Dorothy Bucke my horse and mare and coult and their increase.

And further I appoint Richard Smith and Nicholas Bond overseers and guardians of my children and their estate and I leave Richard Smith and Nicholas Bond full and whole Executors of ye Estate for my children, and I do appoint that my children be brought upp to learning, Read and Wright, and in Ye fear of God, and this I doe order my debts and funeral charges being paid -- confirming this my last will and Testament, with my hand and Seale this 23rd. of October 1659.

My cattle not to be transferred off ye ground.

Thomas Bucke (Seale)

Testes -- Gregory Rue
Henry Russ
Elizabeth W. Frie (Mark)

Thomas Buck I in Virginia

In some Buck family histories and commentaries, Thomas Buck I is described as a well-to-do gentleman leaving England with his two servants for the New World. I suspect this is not the case but was derived from his eventual prosperity in Virginia. By the time of his death, Thomas owned 250 acres of land in York County and actually did have two indentured servants. Unfortunately, almost nothing is known about his path to prosperity.

There is very little mention of Thomas Buck in the extant records. He left England in 1635 and the next reference to him is in the York County court record of June 25, 1658. There appears to be no extant record of the twenty-three year interval in the life of Thomas Buck.

The York County Patents do not include any land patented to Thomas Buck. Therefore, he must have purchased or inherited it; however, there are no records of such transactions.
In 1658, just a year before his death, there was a significant dispute involving Thomas Buck and his indentured servant, Robert Goffe. Apparently, Robert Goffe claimed that his period of indenture had been completed but Thomas Buck was able to prove that Goffe’s period of indenture was a full seven years and had not yet been completed. Judging from the will of Thomas Buck, the remaining period of indenture must have been about four more years.
Essentially nothing is known about the wife of Thomas Buck – not even her name. Apparently his wife died shortly before Thomas because she is not mentioned in his will and guardians were appointed for their children. York county records do include a bill to be paid for the medical treatment of “the wife of Thomas Buck, deceased”.

After his death, Thomas Buck’s name appears occasionally. Sometimes his land is referenced in a survey or will of other colonists. His shipments, payments and debts can be found in various lists. The estate of Thomas Buck must have been relatively valuable because the York County court records include several references to it and the guardians of Thomas Buck’s children.