Talk:Robert Cushman

Removed internally inconsistent and confused text.
I have ruthlessly removed some text which was internally inconsistent (did he not accompany the Mayflower because he was ill or because of trouble with Speedwell, and apparantly mixed up several diffent voyages at different times by different ships (the Speedwell, the Fortune and the Goodspeed).

As a result the article is missing an important bit of the story, but at least that is better than peddling mis-information. -- Starbois (talk) 13:26, 24 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Added information and inserted in proper chronological order. Agreed, a lot was out of order and confusing.  He had nothing to do with the Fortune or the Goodspeed anyway.  Was suppposed to be on Speedwell, but was not seaworthy and had to turn back and passengers were distributed on the Mayflower. Mugginsx (talk) 19:26, 13 March 2012 (UTC)

I have several problems with this article as it stands, as of today, 7/9/13.

1. The article under-emphasizes Cushman's most important historical contribution: As one of the Leiden Separatists' two agents in London, he, along with John Carver, was essentially responsible for negotiating the deal that sent the Leiden "Pilgrims" to the New World. (For a more complete discussion of Cushman's role in these negotiations, including some of the criticisms he received from the company back in Leiden, see G.F. Willison's "Saints and Strangers")

2. No mention is made of Cushman's 1622 "Essay Concerning the Lawfulness of Plantations", which, by its discussion of the economic opportunities that individuals could realize by establishing "plantations" (i.e. settlements) in British North America, was one of the earliest English language articulations of what would become "the American dream". Unfortunately, Cushman's progressive views in this regard have often been overlooked by historians. Unsigned User talk:Lemfoss


 * Lemfross, feel free to edit the article. This is Wikipedia  anyone can edit. Mugginsx (talk) 13:59, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Cushman's Lawfulness is a section of "Mourt Relation" from 1622. Is free at:

https://archive.org/details/mourtsrelationo00dextgoog Bobcushman (talk) — Preceding undated comment added 18:25, 9 April 2014 (UTC)

Correction and addition to Robert Cushman page.
Forgive me. I am new at this. Footnote # 8 is in error. "The Cry of a Stone" is not referenced or discussed at p. 8-85 of the Cushman and Cole book. There simply is no reference to it there. The footnote, as it now reads, says: ""8. Robert E. Cushman and Franklin P. Cole, Robert Cushman of Kent (1577-1625) : Chief Agent of the Plymouth Pilgrims (1617-1625) (General Society of Mayflower Descendants: 2005), 2nd Ed. edited by Judith Swan, p. 82-85". The proper citation is: Robert Coachman (Cushman), The Cry of a Stone, or, a Treatise; . . . commonly called Brownists. (London: R. Oulton & G. Dexter, 1642.) E.137.(32.), 11.   An electronic copy can be accessed on line at the Early English Books Online web site:  http://eebo.chadwyck.com/home. I will try to make this edit.

Secondly, the Mayflower Quarterly has recently published a piece about Robert Cushman in Canterbury. It should be included as a reference. I will try to do so. The proper citation is: Cushman, Robert C. and Paulick, Michael R. “Robert Cushman, Mayflower Pilgrim in Canterbury 1586-1607” The Mayflower Quarterly, Vol. 79, No. 3 (September 2013), 226-235. Bobcushman (talk) 23:46, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

First records of Robert Cushman
The church records of Rolvenden Church show that Robert Cushman was baptised at the Parish Church on February 9 1577 2A00:23C6:9017:C901:FC10:851E:4C4A:4A4E (talk) 18:38, 16 May 2023 (UTC)