1-DAVID GASCHIT with his brother Henry came to America from France, sometime after 1685 as French Huguenots, fleeing from religious persecution and settled in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The date of their arrival is uncertain but the first authentic record is found in a Session of Court held at Taunton, Massachusetts January 1699/1700 where Henry Gashett brought action for wages due him and his brother David for work performed in May 1696/7. Henry also brought action for wages due him for work on a vessel. In 1700 David Gashett was a member of the first military company of Taunton. The name in the records is spelled many ways but the pronunciation remains about the same. The descendants of David are known today under the name of "Gushee" but his son Abraham spelled it with one “e”.

David Gaishet was married in Taunton, Massachusetts, June 12, 1705 to Alice Godfrey, daughter of Richard and Mary (Richmond) Godfrey of that place, the ceremony being performed by Thomas Leonard, Justice of the Peace.

On July 22, 1706 David Gashett purchased from John Macumber, Sr., 24 and 1⁄2 acres of land east of the Great River said land lying next to that of his brother Henry. This deed was witnessed by Henry Gashett and Samuel Danforth.

The burial place of David and his wife have not been found nor the dates of their death but she was living in 1722. The town records of Taunton were destroyed by fire in 1838 and valuable material on its early families is forever lost.

2-ABRAHAM GUSHE son of David and Alice (Godfrey) Gaschit died. August 6, 1783 in his 71st year. He was married by James Williams, Justice of the Peace of Taunton, July 23, 1741 to Hannah Staples who died in 1815 in her 94th year. His grave stone may be seen in a good state of preservation in the cemetery at Raynham Center, Massachusetts. Her stone, close by is mostly destroyed but the foot stone is clearly marked. (See pictures.) Her will is filed in Taunton, Massachusetts and reads as follows:

Taking into consideration the uncertainty of human life, I Hannah Gushee of Raynham in the County of Bristol, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, widow of Mr. Abraham Gushee late of Raynham, deceased, being advanced in age though of sound memory and judgment through God's goodness do make this my last will and testament.

First, I would recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body I do bequeath to the earth to be interred in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereafter to be named expecting to receive the same again at the resurrection of the just by the mighty power of God. And touching the temporal estate which God hath pleased to bless me with in my natural life I dispose of the same in the manner and form following: First, I give to my two daughters Sarah Dean and Lydia Shaw my two best calico gowns, my ied quilt and my black silk gown my silver shoe buckles and my stone sleeve buttons to be equally divided between them. Second, I give my gold necklace to my daughter Lydia Shaw. Third, I give my cow to my son Samuel Gushee

and my daughter Lydia Shaw to be equally divided between them. Fourth, I give all my remaining goods not disposed of to my three daughters, Hannah Robinson, Sarah Dean and Lydia Shaw. Finally I appoint my son Samuel Gushee to be the executor of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and affixed my seal this 16th day of July, 1796 and the 21st year of the Independence of America.

Signed sealed and published and declared to be the last will and testament of Hannah Gushee of Raynham in presence of Eleazur Lewis, Mary Lewis and Myron Hall.

Hannah Staple the wife of Abraham Gushe, was the daughter of Deacon Seth and Hannah (Standish) Staple.

3-LYDIA GUSHEE daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Staple) Gushee, died September 12, 1826 aged 68 years. She married December 8, 1778 Jonathan Shaw, son of Colonel Jonathan and Bethia (Hall) Shaw.

(See SHAW)

References: Cemetery at Raynham Center, Mass.; Reed's Cemetery Inscriptions in the custody of The Old Colony Historical Society at Taunton, Mass.; History of Taunton, pages 41, 44; Book of Sessions in office of Clerk of the Court at Taunton, Vol. 2; Taunton Deeds, Liber 5, page 315; Taunton Wills; Raynham Town Records, page 247; New England Register, Vol. 1, page 344.

Isabella M. Shaw m Charles Clark Knowlton

1-HENRY HOLMAN of Swyre, County Dorset, England is the earliest. ancestor of the New England family from whom descent has been proved and was dead in 1587. He married Joan Joliffe who was buried in the church of Swyre June 28, 1604, daughter of William Joliffe of Martinstown, Winterbourne St. Martin, County Dorset.

2-MORGAN HOLMAN son of Henry and Joan (Joliffe) Holman was born in the Parish of Swyre, County Dorset, England about 1563 and was buried there July 1, 1614. He married there October 24, 1596, Alice Odberre who was living June 19, 1614. He was church warden at Swyre in 1607 and overseer in 1608 and 1611. In 1614 he contributed for the relief of the poor twelve shillings the largest amount given by any one person. He held from the Earl of Berwick, by lease dated November 1, 1606 for the term of ninety-nine years a farm at Berwick in the Parish of Swyre and distinct traces of the old house that must have been in existence over three hundred years ago may now be seen in the present enlarged house.

He made his will June 6, 1614 and the original written on two sheets of paper is on file at Somerset House, London and may still be seen in a good state of preservation.

3-JOHN HOLMAN son of Morgan and Alice (Odberre) Holman was baptized at Swyre, England January 27, 1602/3 and died at Dorchester, Massachusetts between June 10, 1652 the date of his will and March 18, 1652/3 the date of his inventory. He married first Anne, whose maiden name is not known but she was admitted to the church in Dorchester November 4, 1639 and died there December 1 of that year. He married second in 1640 Anne Bishop who after his death became the wife of Rev. Henry Butler, A. B. the schoolmaster of Dorchester and returned to England with him. Just what year he came to New England is not known but it was about 1630. He is mentioned in the Boston records in 1632 and in the Pyncheon papers is mentioned as a collector of furs at Dorchester in 1633.

He was a landholder at Dorchester and is mentioned often in the town records at that place. On September 1, 1634 Bray Clarke and John Allen were ordered to build a house "upon the rocke by John Holman." His farm was in that part of Dorchester which was set off in 1662 as the town of Milton. He was a Selectman of Dorchester in 1636, 1637 and 1642 and was chosen by the General Court March 9, 1636/7 ensign for Dorchester. He was member of the Jury of Life and Death at a Quarter Court held at Boston and Newtown September 19, 1637 and was the nineteenth signer of the original roll of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston in 1637.

His will is dated June 10, 1652 and in it he mentions the disobedience of his eldest son and deprives him of his double share of the estate. The son tried to break the will but was not successful.

4-MARY HOLMAN daughter of John and Ann Holman was born about 1639 and died after August 5, 1700. She married in Boston, May 29, 1662, Governor John Endicott officiating, Samuel Mason born in England about 1632, died in Boston, September 20, 1691 son of Ralph and Anne of Boston.

(See MASON)

References: New England Register, Vol. 72, pages 185 to 194.

Isabella M. Shaw m Charles Clark Knowlton

1-EDWARD BANGS was born in England about 1592 and came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in the ship Anne, July 1623 where he was granted four acres of land on the "other side of Eeel River in 1623". In 1634, 1635 and 1636 he was the Assessor for the Plymouth Colony and in 1647, 1650 and 1663 one of the Deputies to the General Court from Nansett now Eastham, Massachusetts. He married Lydia the daughter of Robert Hicks and died in Eastham in 1677/8 aged 86 years. A tablet erected to his memory bears the following inscription:-"Edward Bangs one of the original purchasers and first settler of Nanset 1644 and an incorporator of the town renamed Eastham in 1651. The First Treasurer of the town holding the office continuously from 1646 until 1665; chosen Deputy to the General Court and elected Selectman in 1665 for two years. He came to Plymouth in the Anne 1623 and was the founder of the American branch of the Bangs family. He died in Eastham in 1677 or 1678 aged 86 years. His life work is known by the record of his forty years service in Plymouth Colony. In appreciation of his character, his faithfulness to every trust and his high conception of duty as a member of the church and a citizen of the Colony this memorial is erected by The Edward Bangs Decendants, August 1916."

2-MERCY BANGS daughter of Edward and Lydia (Hicks) Bangs was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, October 15, 1651 and married December 28, 1670, Stephen Merrick according to the Plymouth records but when they took up their residence in Norwich, Connecticut they recorded their marriage there as December 28, 1671.

(See MERRICK)

References: Bangs Family; History of Eastham, Mass., page 19; Mayflower Magazine, Vol. 17, page 70.