The paper trail for the modern day Rushen family with Essex ancestors can be traced with some certainty back to Thomas Rushing born circa 1700 who married Elizabeth Chancefield on the 1 September 1734 at All Saints Church, Great Braxted.
Prior to this time there is circumstantial evidence to be found in the parish records of Suffolk and Essex that the earliest recorded families came from Clare in Suffolk. Were they then driven out of Clare by the Puritan influence and the visit of William Dowsing on the 6 January 1643 who,”brake down a 1000 pictures superstitious”, in the church?
Could it be that this is when some family members took to the high seas and sailed for America. In 1651 a Matthew Rushing married Sarah Elizabeth Edgecome in Virginia, was this the start of the Rushing dynasty in America?
In 1665 the great plague struck and decimated the country, did this cause an exodus from the towns to the country? We will never know for sure, but move they did.
The first parish record is that for the marriage of Elizabeth Rushan to William Cole in 1525 at Sudbury. The first recorded family is that of Richard Rushen who married Elizabeth Fryer at St. James Church in Bury St. Edmunds on the 5 January 1588. I have documented below the records that have survived so that you may try to link these families together. Some are easy like William and William “the younger” of Clare. Some appear on the scene and quickly disappear again but as the name vanishes from Suffolk we can say with some certainty that the Essex tree started off in Suffolk.
William Rushing and unknown wife.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
| Wililm |
15 July 1593 |
Martha Harvy, 29 Apr. 1615 |
|
Clare |
| Elizabeth |
6 July 1695 |
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20 December 1621 |
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| Marya |
2 August 1601 |
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| Gabrille |
16 April 1604 |
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| Ales |
17 August 1606 |
James Hobbord, 29 Mar. 1630 |
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| Philip |
8 April 1610 |
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23 March 1615 |
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| Susan |
13 September 1610 |
Richard Stevenes |
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| Thomas |
10 March 1615 |
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As there were no births in this family after 1615 the assumption is made that William died and was buried at Clare on the 27 January 1619.
Gabriell Rushen was buried at St. George, Pentlow, Essex, 6 August 1669.
William Rushin "the younger"and Martha Harvy.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
| William |
27 October 1618 |
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Clare |
| John |
30 March 1620 |
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| Thomas |
1 October 1622 |
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| William |
20 May 1625 |
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| Daniell |
23 September 1627 |
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| Daniell |
19 September 1630 |
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| Mathew |
2 June 1633 |
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| Sara |
11 June 1637 |
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All christenings can be attributed to this family as the church always referred to William as "the younger" and Martha given as the mother.
Martha was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul on the, 18 June 1639.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
William Rushen and Ann Drury.
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William Rushen and Ann Drury were married at Clare on the 1 December 1639. A William Rushen was a barber in Clare in 1642 occupying a shop owned by William Barron, innkeeper of the "Angel".
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Ambros Rushen and Ann Midson.
| Grace |
23 May 1634 |
|
23 May 1634 |
Clare |
Ambros Rushen and Ann Midson were married at Clare on the 9 May 1633. Ann was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul on the 23 June 1638. It is possible that Ambrose was the son of William "the elder", no other record has been found for him.
It is at this point that these families disappear from the Clare church records. I will attempt to show they moved to other adjacent parishes in Suffolk and Essex.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
John Rushen and unknown wife.
| John |
2 December 1643 |
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St. James, Bury St. Edmunds |
| Francis |
|
|
2 April 1669 |
St. James, Bury St. Edmunds |
This John lived in the parish of St. James. Francis was buried in St. James so has been attributed to this John.
A Jane Rushin married Samuell Cullum at St. James, Bury St. Edmunds on the 30 November 1676.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Rushen and Susan Golding.
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Thomas and Susan, a widow, were married at St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen, Essex,in 1665.
Susan wife of Thomas buried at St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen on the 14 December 1676.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
John Rushen and Elizabeth Laurence.
| Elizabeth |
10 July 1668 |
Francis Turner, 29 April 1689 |
|
Bury St. Edmunds |
| Mary |
5 August 1669 |
|
|
Bury St. Edmunds |
| John |
23 April 1674 |
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|
Bury St. Edmunds |
| Sarah |
23 March 1675 |
|
|
Bulmer, Essex |
| John |
12 December 1677 |
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Bulmer, Essex |
| Thomas |
|
|
5 October 1682 |
Bulmer, Essex |
John and Elizabeth were married at St. Mary, Bury St. Edmunds on 10 December 1666.
John, husband of Elizabeth was buried at St. Mary, Bury St. Edmunds on 19 June 1689.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
John Rushen and Mary.
| Margaret |
22 August 1672 |
|
|
Bury St. Edmunds |
Margaret Rushen married William Westerby at St. Mary’s on the 10 February 1678. It is possible this is the same Margaret who was christened late in life.
Mary wife of John was buried at St. Mary the Virgin, Burnham on Crouch 20 October 1702.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
John Rushen and Ann Docken.
| John |
14 September 1676 |
|
2 February 1710 |
Bury St. Edmunds |
| Mary |
27 July 1679 |
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Bury St. Edmunds |
| Thomas |
28 April 1681 |
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Bury St. Edmunds |
| William |
29 September 1683 |
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Bury St. Edmunds |
| Ann |
21 June 1698 |
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Bury St. Edmunds |
| Annie |
3 September 1707 |
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Bury St. Edmunds |
John and Ann Docken were married at St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmunds on the 31 May 1675.
Ann Rushin, widow of Bury St. Edmunds married John Hilleston of Hepworth on 26 February 1711.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Rushen and Sarah.
| Gabriel |
|
|
8 May 1683 |
St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen |
| John |
8 June 1685 |
|
8 November 1691 |
St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen |
| Constance |
10 May 1693 |
Thomas Sidy, Halstead 1720 |
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St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen |
| Thomas |
18 March 1694 |
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St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen |
In 1669 a Thomas Rushen was a butcher in Ashen, Essex.
A Sarah Rushen was buried in St. Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Rushen and Elizabeth.
| Martha |
12 March 1721 |
|
|
All Saints,Sudbury |
A Martha was buried at St. Andrew, Halstead on 3 December 1729.
Also buried at Halstead were, Thomas a child, in June 1721 and the un-named wife of Thomas in 1729.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Russian and Mary.
| Mary |
1 May 1722 |
|
1 May 1722 |
All Saints,Sudbury |
| Mary |
4 March 1725 |
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All Saints,Sudbury |
| Mary |
9 August 1728 |
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9 August 1728 |
All Saints,Sudbury |
| Sarah |
10 August 1729 |
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10 August 1729 |
All Saints,Sudbury |
| John |
4 August 1733 |
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All Saints,Sudbury |
| Mary |
2 September 1734 |
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|
All Saints,Sudbury |
Mary wife of Thomas buried 4 May 1722.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Rushen and Sara Cranfield.
| Sarah |
2 September 1726 |
|
|
All Saints,Sudbury |
| Sarah |
9 September 1727 |
|
9 September 1727 |
All Saints,Sudbury |
| Thomas |
28 December 1727 |
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All Saints,Sudbury |
| Sarah |
1 May 1730 |
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All Saints,Sudbury |
| Mary |
10 July 1731 |
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28 June 1736 |
All Saints,Sudbury |
Thomas and Sara were married at All Saints, Sudbury on the 15 September 1723.
Elizabeth Russian and Isaac Cranfield both of Sudbury were married at Great Cornard on 2 January 1747.
Sarah Rushin of Ballingdon and Joshua Spaldon of Bulmer were married at Great Cornard on the 21 February 1747.
Thomas Russian buried at Bulmer on the 6 January 1734.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Rushen and Alice Elger.
| Sarah |
|
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Thomas and Alice were married at All Saints, Sudbury on the 8 April 1740.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
William Rushen and Susan Langly.
| William |
1 August 1720 |
|
17 April 1732 |
St. Andrews, Bulmer |
| Elizabeth |
14 June 1723 |
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22 January 1732 |
St. Andrews, Bulmer |
| Ambrose |
31 January 1724 |
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4 November 1760 |
St. Andrews, Bulmer |
| John |
28 September 1726 |
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1 October 1731 |
St. Andrews, Bulmer |
| Susan |
28 December 1728 |
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| Abraham |
1 October 1732 |
Frances |
|
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| Ann |
26 May 1734 |
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| Mary |
27 January 1735 |
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| Isaac |
16 April 1738 |
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27 January 1740 |
St. Andrews, Bulmer |
Wilhelmus Rushen and Susanna Langley were married at Wickhambrook, Suffolk on the 1 April 1720.
William Russian was buried at St. Andrews, Bulmer on the 4 September 1739.
Susana Russian was buried at St. Andrews, Bulmer on the 28 December 1739.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Thomas Rushen and Elizabeth Chancefield.
| James |
25 November 1733 |
Judith Forster |
|
All Saints, Great Braxted |
| Thomas |
1 August 1736 |
Frances Edwards |
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| John |
5 February 1738 |
Anne Appleton |
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| William |
17 February 1739 |
Sarah Shelley |
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| Ambrose |
26 February 1744 |
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Elizabeth wife of Thomas buried 5 December 1733. Could have been first wife dying through childbirth.
Thomas married Elizabeth Chancefield 1 July 1734.
Elizabeth wife of Thomas buried in Great Braxted 25 August 1759.
Thomas buried 30 March 1766 in St. Mary and All Saints, Rivenhall.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Mary Rushing.
| James |
10 June 1744 |
|
|
Glemsford |
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
John Rushing (blacksmith) and Sarah.
| Anne |
8 February 1761 |
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All Saints, Great Braxted |
| James |
31 December 1762 |
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All Saints, Great Braxted |
| Ann |
24 February 1765 |
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All Saints, Great Braxted |
Sarah, wife of John buried in All Saints, Great Braxted, 30 June 1781.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
James Rushen and Judith Forster.
| Judith |
24 January 1762 |
|
|
St. Mary the Virgin, South Benfleet |
| Sarah |
5 July 1764 |
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|
St. Mary the Virgin, South Benfleet |
James married Judith Forster at Rayleigh, 26 June 1759.
Two entries for the burial of a Judith, 27 December 1779.
James Rushing married Elizabeth Clark 20 November 1780 at St. Mary the Virgin, South Benfleet.
James buried at St. Mary the Virgin, South Benfleet 18 Januart 1781.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Abraham Rushian and Francis Pilgrim.
| Mary |
3 March 1765 |
|
|
St. Andrew, Bulmer |
| Abraham |
April 1766 |
|
|
St. Andrew, Bulmer |
| William |
9 August 1767 |
|
27 December 1767 |
St. Andrew, Bulmer |
| Susan |
26 February 1769 |
|
8 December 1779, Mistley |
St. Andrew, Bulmer |
| Ann |
9 September 1770 |
10 October 1781 |
|
St. Andrew, Bulmer |
| William |
24 November 1771 |
|
|
St. Andrew, Bulmer |
| Robert |
6 February 1774 |
Mary |
9 June 1855 |
St. Mary, Mistley |
| Sally |
10 May 1778 |
|
18 March 1783 |
St. Mary, Mistley |
Abraham buried 1732 at Bulmer.
Robert buried as Robert Rusher at Birch.
Abraham Rushen buried at St Mary, Mistley, 8 April 1779.
Frances re-married, 3 April 1781 to Thomas Pryer at Mistley.
| Name |
Christened. |
Married |
Burial |
Location |
Abraham Rushen and Alice.
| Elizabeth |
8 October 1775 |
|
|
St. Mary, Mistley |
Jemima daughter of Sarah Rushen christened 14 January 1781, Rivenhall, St Mary & All Saints.
Jemimah Rushen buried at St Mary & All Saints, Rivenhall 27 July 1783.
Anne Rushen, a pauper, buried at St Mary & All Saints, Rivenhall 30 March 1786.
Sarah Rushen of Rivenhall married William Averitte at St Mary & All Saints, Langdon Hills 23 January 1787.
Elizabeth, illegitimate daughter of Mary Rushen christened 27 October 1793, Rivenhall, St Mary & All Saints.
