From: Margot <hi-bumpus@home.com>
To: <bumpushart@yahoo.com>
Subject:
Date: Saturday, May 12, 2001 11:34 AM The Traditions of Bumpas Origin
Bumpas, Bonpas, Bompus, Bumpasse, Bumpus
Bompasse, Bump
TRADITIONS
by Rev.Robah F. Bumpas
I traced the Bumpas name back to the land of its origin in Southern
France, in
Provence, the land of sunny vineyards, of music and song, of poetry
and romance;
the home of the troubadours. Aix as its capital: sleepy old Aix, as
it appeared
on a warm mid-summer's day, with its uncommonly lovely fountain, set
in a large
grove of old trees in the very heart of the city; its fine old cathedral,
holding the pure, white marble statutes of its heroes of by-gone days,
looking
so virile and lifelike.
Living years before the time of Martin Luther and John Huss, there
were many
believers in France, who did not accept the teaching of the Roman
church and
drew up articles of faith far more drastic and stringent than those
subsequently
formulated by the sixteenth century reformers. There were two political
parties
in France, the Protestant and the Catholic. Sometimes one party was
in the
ascendant and sometimes the other. In those early wars our ancestors
adhered to
the Protestant cause, and fought on that side. Frequently were they
subjected
to severe persecution, and when the Catholic party came into power,
the more
pronounced Protestants were forced by fire and sword to seek refuge
in the
Netherlands, whence they came to Wales, England, and America. Tradition
says that in January, 1240, in the wars of Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse,
a youth, was handed a very important dispatch to convey from one commander
to another. To deliver this, it became necessary that he pass thru
the enemies' line. It was a difficult and delicate errand, demanding
not courage alone, but astuteness and tact.
When, at length, he dashed into camp and laid the
dispatch at the feet of his commander, the General clapped his hands
and shouted "Bon pas!" "Bon Pas!" (a brave pass,
also meaning 'good job'). His comrades caught up the expression, and
shouted back "Bon pas!" "Bon pas!". So on that
day he received a new name, a title of honor, conferred for valiant
services rendered. The name clung to him until he came to be known
as Bon Pas, and was father of the race Bon Pas. In French the name
is sometimes spelled as pronounced, Bon Par. The name was Anglicized,
the two words composing it run into one, and it became Bonpas, Bompas,
Bumpas, Bumpus. In New England records of Edward and his
family, I find it written Bonpas, Bompas, Bompasse, Bompus, Bumpasse,
Bumpus.
The name still occurs in its original orthography
in its native land. Some
eight miles from Avignon, on the road to Aix, is a bridge spanning
the river
Durance, known as the Pont de Bon Pas, and near by a silk factory
of the same
name. This was formerly a religious house built by the hermit, Silbert,
In
1076. In 1320 it became the home of the Knights Hospitaliers. Here
also is the
magnificent church erected by Simon Langham, Archbishop of Canterbury.
There is a reference to this bridge in the "Historic Des Contes
De Toulouse" by
M. De Saint-You, Vol. IV, page 344; (translation) "They stormed
the Pont de
Bonpas, and left a corps of troops sufficient to hold it and secure
the passage
of the river." This was January, 1240, wars of Raymond VII, Count
of Toulouse.
Written by ROBAH P. BUMPAS [Entered by MBumpus]
HISTORY
Edward Bumpas and Some of His Descendants
From Book "The Story of the Bumpas Family"
Compiled by Mootie Clemmons Cherry
Could be written by or from research of Rev. Robah P. Bumpas
In the History of Duxbury, Winsor puts down Edward Bumpas as one of
27 heads of
families who arrived at Plymouth on the "Good ship Fortune"
10 Nov. 1621, and
became proprietors. At the division of land in 1623, and of cattle
in 1627, he
was unmarried. He sold land in Plymouth in 1628, and removed to Duxbury,
bought land at Eagle's nest creek, upon which he built a house and
"palisado." The palisado is described as a fortified cottage,
having "One large room, a
bedchamber and kitchen, on the lower floor, with two large and two
small
chambers above, and sometimes an attic above all." He sold this
in 1634. In
1640 he was of Marshfield and in 1684 was living in that town, at
Duck Hill,
near Gen. Winslow.
He seems to have married about the time he moved to
Duxbury. The record is: "Hannah, widow of old Edward Bumpas,
died 12th of Feb. 1693," and that Edward died nine days earlier.
Edward Bumpas, an alleged French Huguenot of about
sixteen years of age- sailed from London in "The Good Ship Fortune"
first after the Mayflower, July 1st, and arrived in Plymouth, Nov.
10, 1621. There is a possibility that Hannah, who
became the wife of Edward, was the daughter of Anthony Annable who
arrived in
Plymouth on the "Annie" in 1623 (*inserted note: This has
since been disproven,
Hannah's last name is not known. Anthony Anable's daughter Hanah married
Thomas Borman Mar 3, 1645. See the Annable Family in Americam 1623-1967
also Pioneers of Massachusetts by Pope. We have only the name Hannah
for Edward Bumpas' wife.).
Edward Bumpas born in England about 1605, died in
Marshfield, Mass.,
Feb. 3rd, 1693. Having lived in New England 72 years, Hannah, his
Wife died 12
days later. In 1627 Edward bought land in, and moved to Duxbury. He
built a
house and palisado at Eagles Nest Creek, near Miles Standish and Elder
Brewster.
Later he purchased land in the Northern part of the town near Philip
Delano and
John Alden. In 1640 his land became a part of the newly founded Town
of
Marshfield where he was a Freeman in 1643. In that year it is indicated
he was
one of the twelve who contributed toward the maintenance of a public
school, the
first in the New England Colonies. Edward and Hannah reared a large
family.
Their first two children, Faith and Sarah, both born in 1631, are
thought to be
twins.
The Mayflower came to our shores shortly before Christmas-, 1620.
Just before
hanksgiving, the following year came "The Good Ship Fortune,"
bringing Edward
Bumpas. He settled amongst the Mayflower people, and his descendants
and theirs intermarried, and soon the name appears in the list of
Mayflower descendants.
Within the century we find his grandchildren and great-grandchildren
domiciled
in North Carolina and Virginia. Their children moved out to the West
and South,
until today they are scattered over the face of the earth.
And who were the descendants of Edward Bumpas?
They were pioneers; they went before and opened the way. They hewed
down the primeval forests, built the rude palisado, and tilled the
soil. They were
familiar with the plow, the hammer, the saw, the anvil and the forge.
They were
a modest folk, content to toil in obscurity, shunning the glare of
the footlights, nor seeking the plaudits of men. They entered the
school room and taught the young. In college they occupied the professor's
chair, and sat in the president's seat. They edited journals,
contributed to magazines, published books. They were civil engineers,
erecting factories, going into trade and commerce, developing the
material resources of the country, adding to its wealth, and becoming
captains of industry.
They entered the church; they preached beneath the spreading oak and
in the
crowded street, filled the rural chapel and occupied the city pulpit;
visited
regions no white man's foot had ever trod to plant the banner of the
cross, and
today are in far-away lands pointing the natives to Jesus.
They learned the healing art and became skilled surgeons and physicians.
They
entered the courts, plead at the bar, and sat upon the bench. They
entered
legislative halls, and assisted in framing the laws.
They were true patriots. Scan the muster rolls of the Republic, and
you will
discover when our country called for men, they were found at the front.
They
fell by the arrow of the red man, and felt the keen edge of his tommyhawk
and
scalping knife. Scores of them were found in the Revolutionary army.
They
followed the flag to Mexico and Cuba. They fell upon the battlefields
of
Virginia. Some of them tramped after McClelland and Grant, and some
followed
Jackson and Lee, as their forefathers had followed Washington and
Lee. Side by
side they rest, life's last conflict ended. They sleep beneath the
lilies and
poppies in France and Flanders.
In France there were many Christians who did not accept the teachings
of the
Roman Church, and declined to be absorbed by it. Living years before
John Huss
and Martin Luther, they drew up articles of faith far more drastic
and stringent
than those subsequently formulated by the sixteenth century reformers.
Judge
Savery says: "The name (Bumpas) is well and favorably known in
the legal annals
of the past and present generation in England." Documents reveal
the fact that
among the descendants of Edward, the name soon appeared in an abbreviated
form as Bump, losing something of its euphony.
There are certain physical characteristics found in this family. They
are a
long-lived race. The Pilgrim was past ninety and numerous descendants
of his,
not content with the allotted three score and ten, persist in living
on to
eighty, ninety, nearly approaching the century line. They produce
super-men,
attaining six feet in height, six two, four, six and above. They are
heavyweights, tipping the scales at two hundred, three hundred, three
twenty and
beyond. While large, they have been alert, active, athletic, possessing
powers
of strength and endurance. Many of the women have been noted for physical
perfection and beauty.
There are strongly marked resemblance’s in personal appearance.
This is particularly noticeable in groups which have been long and widely
separated.
The many pictures I have seen of the late venerable Bishop Bumpas
present a man who would look decidedly at home, placed in a group
of our Southern tribe. The portraits of some members of the Virginia
and North Carolina clans of a century ago are so much alike that they
might almost be interchanged.
Their minds are cast in a similar mold. They are persistent, I would
not say
stubborn, yet not to be lightly deflected from the course they have
elected.
1. Edward Bumpas (Edouard Bonpasse) Pilgrim, was a French Huguenot.
Left France and went to England from whence he came to America. He
landed at Plymouth, Mass., Nov. 10th, 1621, from "the Good Ship
Fortune" first after the "Mayflower". He died Feb. 3rd, 1693. Married Hannah, who
died Feb. 12th, 1693,
nine days later than Edward.
Children
1. Faith, born 1631, and
2. Sarah, born 1631, thought to be twins.
Sarah married "ye last of March" 1659, to Thomas Durham.
3. Elizabeth, born 9 Mar., 1633, married 5 June, 1654, to Joseph Rose,
Mayflower
descendant.
4. John, born June, 1636.
5. Edward, born 15 April, 1638.
6. Joseph, born 15 Feb., 1639.
7. Isaac, born last of March, 1642.
8. Jacob, born 25 March, 1644.
9. Philip, "who was alive in 1677", married Sarah Eton,
daughter of Sam'l and
Martha Eaton, Mayflower descendant.
10. Thomas, born 1660. Probably another son of Edward; On Sun., 26
March,
1675-6, English and Allies met an overwhelming force near Pawtucket,
and were
nearly. all slain. Among the slain was Samuel Bump.
