NameRichard BUFFINGTON 748
Birth Date30 May 1655
Birth PlaceGreat Marle, Upon Thames, Buckinghamshire, ENGLAND
Chr Date1676/1677
Chr PlaceChester County, PA, USA
Chr Memo“Moved to”
Death Date8 Jan 1748 Age: 92
Death PlaceChester, Delaware Co., PA, USA
Burial PlaceEast Bradford, Chester Co., PA, USA
FatherThomas BUFFINGTON (~1604-)
MotherAnn [BUFFINGTON] (~1610-)
Spouses
Birth Dateabt 1652
Birth PlaceGreat Marlow, Buckinghamshire, ENGLAND
Death Dateabt 1697
Death PlaceChester, Delaware Co., PA, USA
Misc. Notes
BIOGRAPHY of Ann Buffington first wife of Richard Buffington.
by Linda Jo Yax, IBSSG

FROM RECORD OF THE COURTS OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 1681-1697.

Published by the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania. 1910. Page 157-158. This record is at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. 
Ann Buffington- June 5th 1689

Anne ye wife of Richard Buffington being by Warrant apprehended and Convicted before John Bristow for defiling her marriage Bed was by her Suirtyes Richard Buffington and Francis Little bound over to this court and Accordingly made her appearance and was Indickted. (She was found guilty) and judgement is granted that she receive 10 strips upon her bear back well laid on and 12 months imprisonment at hard labor in ye house of correction and to pay all court costs." James Chivers was the witness.

Record of the Courts of Chester County, PA 1681-1697. Pub. by the Colonial Society of PA. 1910. page 157-158 Found at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

She was (or should have been) publicly humiliated by 1689 morals and was sentenced to 1 year hard labor and 10 strips on her bare back!

Nothing was mentioned about punishment for the man!

Witnes and Prosecutor James Chivers The grand Inquest finde ye Bill Whereupon ahee is Called to ye Barr and Pleads not guilty and referrs her Selfe to God and ye Country.

The names of ye Petty Jury
William Jenkin Adam Roads
Robert Barber Nathaniel Parkes
Albertus Hendrickson John Mendenhall
Walter Marten James Swaford
Thomas Smith Caleb Pusie
John Whood Randall Vernon

The testimony of James Chivers taken in writing before John Bristow remaines on ye file. The said James Chivers being attested in Open Court saith that as he was coming from Concord downe to Chichester He did see a man and a Woman lying upon ye Ground and ye man lying Upon ye Top of ye woman and ye woman looking up he saw it was Anne Buffington.

John Eldridge being attested declareth as above.

James Chivers upon his Attest further saith that Anne Buffington was very earnest to know who this man and woman was for said she there is never a Woman whereabouts that hath a Black Hat but l and then it must needs be me.

Wee ye Jury unanimously agree that Anne ye wife of Richard Buffington is guilty of this Indicktment.

Walter Marten Foreman

Whereupon Judgement is granted that she receive 10 strips upon her bear back well laid on and 12 months Imprisonment at hard labour in ye house of Correction and to pay all Court Charges.

Chester County December ye 11th 1695 we The Grand Inquest by the Kings Authority Doe Present Robert Roman of Chichester and Ann Buffington the wife of Richard Buffington: the said Robert Roman Takeing the wife of Henry Hastings Away from her husband and Children and Convaying her Away And the said Ann Buffington being Confederate with the said Robert Roman.

Walter Martin foreman.

The Court orders that they be sommoned to Appeare Att the next County Court. 10th day of March 1695/6: And the wife of Richard Buffington was Called To Answer to the presentment of the Grand Jury the last Court: and Answer was made she was ill and Could not be heare: order that she apeare the next Court.

1695, 9th of 10th mo; Philip Roman and his brother Robert Roman, sons of Philip Roman--spoken to about "concerning astrology and other sciences as geomancy and chiromancy and necromancy, etc. as these sciences bring a vaile over the understanding and a death upon the life."

Robert Roman - "spoak to and reproved about his late evill practis with Henry Hastings his wife and was tenderly admonished: he acknowledged he had done badly."

I don't know what Ann's punishment was for the last offense. Seems that Robert Roman was only "tenderly admonished". I guess Robert explained away his offense was being caused by one of the "sciences bringing a vaile over the understanding". A likely story...
======

This story represents the abuses on family of those that choose to stand and fight for their rights against the powerful. Ann suffered because of her courage to do what is right.4660
Family ID8628
Marr Dateabt 1674
Marr PlaceBuckinghamshire, ENGLAND
ChildrenAnn (1674-)
 Richard (1677-1741)
 William (1681-)
 Ruth (1682-1743)
 John (1683-1736)
 Thomas (1680-1739)
 Hannah (1685-1720)
 Mary (1687-1748)
 Elizabeth (1689-1748)
 Lydia (1691-1785)
 Joseph (~1693-1785)
 Alice (~1697-1775)
Family ID8634
Marr Date1710
Marr PlacePennsylvania, USA
Birth PlaceChester, Delaware Co., PA, USA
Family ID8635
Marr Date1720
Last Modified 22 Jan 2016Created 17 May 2017 Rick Gleason - ricksgenealogy@gmail.com