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Robert Cushman (1577 – 1625. He was an important leader and organizer of the ''Mayflower'' voyage in 1620, serving as Chief Agent in London for the Leiden Separatist contingent from 1617 to 1620 and later for Plymouth Colony until his death in 1625 in England. Cushman was most likely one of the first ''Mayflower'' passengers when the ship sailed from London to Southampton to meet the ''Speedwell'' coming from Leiden. The ''Speedwell'' was later forced to be abandoned.〔''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury, 1596-1607'', The Mayflower Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, September 2013 p. 226〕 == Early life in England == Cushman was born in 1577 in Rolvenden, co. Kent and is believed to be the second son of Thomas Couchman (Cushman) and Ellen Hubbarde.〔 The first known record of Robert Cushman appears in December 1597 in the parish of St. George the Martyr, Canterbury, co. Kent. City accounts provide information about eighteen-year-old Cushman’s apprenticeship to grocer George Masters, being a second son who did not inherit land and moved to the city to become an apprentice. George Masters had the monopoly of tallow candle making which had been granted to him by the City of Canterbury, with city butchers being obliged to sell animal fat to him for candle production. The parish of St. George being especially malodorous laying between the cattle market on one side and the butcher’s slaughterhouse on the other. Apprentice Robert Cushman lived in George Master’s house in St. George the Martyr parish making tallow candles at least until 1599 and likely as late as 1602 or 1603.〔''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury, 1596-1607'', The Mayflower Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, September 2013 pp. 226-228〕 In 1601 Cushman’s mother Ellen, wife of Thomas Tilden, as her second husband was buried in the village of Ashford which is about fourteen miles south-east of Canterbury. Thomas Tilden, may possibly have been a Puritan, whose descendants later emigrated to Scituate in Plymouth Colony.〔 Many of Robert Cushman’s religious beliefs may have come from other Canterbury puritans and his attendance at illegal religious meetings known as ‘conventicles.’ The best view into his religious principles and possibly some other ''Mayflower'' Pilgrims can be found in his booklet titled ‘The Cry of a Stone.’ He wrote that the Church of England “is wanting and defective”, a “superstitious custome” and he would not wish to worship “humane devices.” He wrote that he decided to seek instead the “nearest fellowship that the Saints can have in this world, () most resembleth heaven.” Cushman also wrote that “God’s people are still few, and scarce one of a hundred..” perhaps thinking of himself as one of the select few.〔''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury, 1596-1607'', The Mayflower Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, September 2013 p. 228〕 Cushman’s first problem with authorities came in 1603 while he was still apprenticed to George Masters. This involved the illegal distribution of libels (derogatory religious writings) in Canterbury by Cushman “of the parish of St. Andrew of Canterbury.” The libels were handwritten notices stating “Lorde have mercy uppon us” which were posted on church doors throughout Canterbury. The authorities ordered that the “lewd seditious persons” posting the libels be found, interrogated and committed to prison if they refused examination. Robert Cushman was arrested by the authorities and not providing satisfactory answers upon questioning, for “certain reasons” was committed to Westgate prison for one night. Friends of Cushman’s from his prior parish of St. George were also involved in posting libels.〔''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury, 1596-1607'', The Mayflower Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, September 2013 p.229〕 In 1604 Cushman was prosecuted by the Court of High Commission for distribution of libels and by the archdeaconry court for non-attendance at his parish church of St. Andrew’s. His first excommunication came on January 16, 1604 for not acknowledging his offense of complaining that he could not be edified at his parish church. Per his request, he was absolved on October 15, 1604. His second excommunication was on November 12, 1604 likely for the offense of spreading libels. Per his request, on July 7, 1605 absolution was granted and the sentence lifted.〔 In 1605 Cushman completed his apprenticeship and became a freeman “grosser” for payment of four shillings and one pence. His surname was variously recorded as “Couchman” and “Cowchman,” which were two of several surnames applied to him in records of the time.〔 Various close connections of Cushman were found in Canterbury parish records as well as those for apprenticeship and marriage. These persons likely thought of themselves as “Godly” and often were called ‘Puritan.” Due to the fact that their conventicles were illegal and secret it is very difficult to research these associations other than to state that these kinship and marriages relationships seem to be true to form for Canterbury non-conformist society. In the pre-Leiden Pilgrim families of Nottingham and Lincolnshire, similar marriage and kinship relationships were found.〔 In 1606 Cushman was involved in an additional religious disturbance when the rector of St. George’s, Thomas Wilson, accused a St. George’s the Martyr parishioner, Gilbert Gore, of “false erroneous and devilish opinions” contrary to the Church of England and “repugnant to the word of God.” Gore was spreading opinions about predestination that apparently was contrary to Church of England doctrine. Thomas Reader, likely Cushman’s brother-in-law, testified that “Cushman of Canterbury was also of Gore’s opinion.” And another St. George’s parishioner stated that Cushman had been “corrupted “ by Gore. There were many other depositions, mostly St. George parishioners, indicating the parish had a number of dissenters and a few Separatists. Several of these deponents were associated with Cushman in earlier religious controversies.〔>''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury, 1596-1607'', The Mayflower Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, September 2013 p. 230〕 A number of Canterbury Pilgrims are known to have moved to Sandwich in Kent where they resided prior to sailing for Leiden, Holland, with the James Chilton family, as an example, moving from Canterbury about 1600.〔 In February 1607/1608 is found the last Canterbury record for the Cushman family at the baptism of Robert’s son Thomas at St. Andrews. The next record of the Cushman family appears in Leiden in 1611 when Cushman bought a house in Nonensteeg which was next to the university.〔''Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury, 1596-1607'', The Mayflower Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, September 2013 p. 232〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Robert Cushman」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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