John Buck (abt. 1645 - bef. 1687)

Born about 1645 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Catherine (Acton) Kitton — married about 1680 (to 1687) in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 18 Mar 1687 before about age 42 in Anne Arundel, Province of Maryland

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Biography

John Buck was a Maryland colonist.

Origin

The index of the early settlers of Maryland lists three men named John Buck. It is hard to tell if they are just three entries for the same person or 3 different men named John Buck arrived in Maryland before 1680. The entry that best fits the man in this profile is the following warrant dated in 1663:

Cornelius Howard demands land for the transporting of John Buck, James Bollard and Joane K, a maid servant, all transported into the province this present year.^[1].

John Buck would later own land patented by Cornelius Howard so there is a strong tie.

It is also possible, but not proved, that he was related to a family of merchants located in Bideford, England. Maryland did a great deal of trade in tobacco with this city located in southwest England, and Maryland Archives has many records of George & John Buck of this city trading with merchants in Annapolis and sending ships to trade tobacco. They had a warehouse in Annapolis^[2] and owned a ship named the "Pelican".^[3].

Property

John Buck was definitely in the colony by the year 1680 when he purchased a 150 acre tract of land in the Annapolis area that was part of a larger tract on the south side of the Severn River called Howard & Porter's Range. This 500 acre tract was originally laid out for Cornelius Howard and Peter Porter. The deed only states the land was sold for a valuable consideration. ^[4] In 1684 he bought a small parcel containing 26-1/2 acres from his son-in-law, John Marriott. This deed gives valuable genealogical information as it states the consideration paid was 2 cows and calves by their sides delivered by John Buck father, and for love and affection for the present John Buck who is the nephew of John Marriott's wife.^[5] The two deeds mentioned above were recorded at the courthouse after 1704 when a fire destroyed all the county's records. The deeds were recorded by the second husband of John Buck's wife, Theophilus Kitten.

Death

John Buck was deceased sometime before the 18th of March 1687/88. His widow, Katherine Buck was left with four young children to care for and likely married to Theophilus Kitten fairly soon after his death. Kitten posted a bond in the amount of 17,498 pounds of tobacco as administrator of Buck's estate. Securities for Kitten were Robert Proctor and Richard Owing.^[6] An inventory of Buck's possessions was recorded on the 9th of January 1687 in the amount of about £36 sterling. The greatest value of his estate was in 18 cows and steers. He owned one luxury item in the form of a feather bed & furniture that was valued at £1.14.0, a little more than the value of two cows. ^[7]

John Buck was buried on his 176 acre farm on the south side of the Severn. In 1702, his son, John Buck, sold this farm to his step-father, except for the 30 square feet for a grave near his father's in the orchard. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Maryland Patent Records Liber AA folio 375 [msa.maryland.gov]
2. ↑ Anne Arundel Deeds Liber WT 2 folio 54
3. ↑ Archives of Maryland on-line[1]
4. ↑ AA Land Records IH 3/75
5. ↑ AA Land Records IH 3/73
6. ↑ Testamentary Proceedings Liber 14 folio 63
7. ↑ Inventory & Accounts Liber 9 folio 494
8. ↑ AA Land WT 2/93