Hi In case this hasn't been passed along I wanted to share the following on George BUNCAR registered as a Freeman in Charlestown. First is information about them and then a list with his name enlarged. Enjoy. Sharon Owen > Winthrop Society-- > The First Freemen of Massachusetts Bay Commonwealth. An alphabetized list > of the Freemen and Officers has been prepared as an aid in the use of the > following rolls. > > Redacted and introduced by Marcia Stewart, > Chairperson of The Winthrop Society > > A primary goal of The Winthrop Society is to determine the identities of > the first settlers of Massachusetts Bay Commonwealth. There are no firmer > grounds for establishing an early settler among the founders of the > Commonwealth than the lists of the first Freemen --- those who applied for > that estate in Boston in October, 1630, and those so sworn thereafter. The > Freemen were the only colonists who were franchised to vote, and the > franchise was not offered to all. One generally had to be a mature male > church-member, and must have experienced a transforming spiritual > experience by God's grace, as attested by himself and confirmed by church > leaders. Therefore, the list of names below represents just a small > percentage of the population. And apparently, a number of qualifying > church-members would not take the oath because they had problems with the > wording. An oath in those times was taken very seriously, as though it were > a promise made directly to the Almighty with ones soul forfeit in the > breach. Numerous persons who are on church and court records of 1630-1632 > did not take the oath until 1634, when the oath was shortened and modified > to replace the persons of the Governor etc. to whom obedience was due with > the impersonal "common weale." Others, such as those who later became > Quakers, objected strongly to oaths in general. One can understand all > their reservations when one reads this "mother of all American loyalty > oaths," below. > > > The Oath of a Freeman, or of a Man to be made free. > > > I, A B, etc., being, by the Almighty's most wise disposition, become a > member of this body, consisting of the Governor, Deputy Governor, > Assistants and a commonalty of the Mattachusets in New England, do freely > and sincerely acknowledge that I am justly and lawfully subject to the > government of the same, and do accordingly submit my person and estate to > be protected, ordered, and governed by the laws and constitutions thereof, > and do faithfully promise to be from time to time obedient and conformable > thereunto, and to the authority of the said Governor and Assistants and > their successors, and to all such laws, orders, sentences, and decrees as > shall be lawfully made and published by them or their successors; and I > will always endeavor (as in duty I am bound) to advance the peace and > welfare of this body or commonwealth to my utmost skill and ability; and I > will, to my best power and means, seek to divert and prevent whatsoever may > tend to the ruin or damage thereof, or of any the said Governor, Deputy > Governor, or Assistants, or any of them or their successors, and will give > speedy notice to them, or some of them, of any sedition, violence, > treachery, or other hurt or evil which I shall know, hear, or vehemently > suspect to be plotted or intended against the said commonwealth, or the > said government established; and I will not at any time suffer or give > consent to any counsel or attempt that shall be done, given, or attempted > for the impeachment of the said government, or making any change alteration > of the same, contrary to the laws and ordinances thereof, but shall do my > utmost endeavor to discover, oppose, and hinder all and every such counsel > and attempt. So help me God. > > Freemen made at the General Court, March 4th, 1634/1635. > Capt. John Mason Hugh Mason George Munnings John Brandishe Samuell Hubbert Edward Dixe Thomas Bartlett George Buncar Robert Blott Richard Kettle William Johnson Thomas Lynd Mr. William Andrewes William Westwood Mathewe Allen Guy Bambridge William Pantry Thomas Fisher John Hopkins John Bridge William Kelsey John Bernard James Ensigne Samuel Greenehill Tymothy Stanley Richard Lord John Prince Edward Winshipp Samuel Greene Joseph Clerke John Wulcott Abraham Newell Richard Pepp Isaac Johnson Christopher Peakes Thomas Woodford Thomas Scott Thomas Boreman Roger Lanckton John Webster Hugh Sheratt Joseph Metcalfe William Bartholomewe Thomas Dorman Richard Kent James Davis John Newegate Mr. William Hutchingson Thomas Marshall Richard Cooke William Netherland Thomas Wardall Richard Hutchingson Frauncis Hutchingson Gamaliel Wate Richard Trusedale Edward Hitchin Robert Parker Joseph Easton John Tylley Thomas Stanley Sharon Owen Systems Librarian Center for Oral and Public History California State University, Fullerton sowen@fullerton.edu 714 278-4635 http://coph.fullerton.edu