Richard PINKHAM

Abt 1613 - Aft 1671  (~ 58 years)

• Name	Richard PINKHAM
  Born	Abt Nov 1613	Alvington, Devonshire, England
  Gender	Male
  Migration	10 Oct 1633
  Noteworthy	A founder of Dover, NH
  Immigrant?	Y
  Died	Aft Jun 1671	Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire
  Person ID	I7411	Main
  Last Modified	10 Sep 2023

  
  

  Father	Richard PYNCOMB,   b. 27 Mar 1585, Biddeford, Devonshire, England
  Mother	Mary RUSSELL,   b. Abt 1590, England
  Family ID	F10651	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Julia,   b. Abt 1622, England ,   d. ?
  Married	Abt 1639	Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire
  Children	1. Richard PINKHAM,   b. 1639, Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire ,   d. Aft 1699, Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire  (Age > 61 years) + 2. John PINKHAM,   b. Abt 1644,   d. ?
  Last Modified	17 Dec 2023
  Family ID	F10640	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - Abt Nov 1613 - Alvington, Devonshire, England Married - Abt 1639 - Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire Died - Aft Jun 1671 - Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Notes

  Signed Dover Combination. ----- In 1648, on the 27th of the 7th month (which might be either July or October by the reckoning of the time), Richard Pinkham was commissioned to "beat ye drumme on Lord's day to call the people to meeting and to sweepe ye Meeting House, for which he shall be allowed six bushels of Indian corn for his pay this yeare, and to be free from Rates [taxes]." The broom was of evergreen boughs. According to local tradition the Indians saw Richard Pinkham beating his drum every 7th day and believed it to be the center of the white man's magic. Wanting to drive the colonists away they set a watch on his house, planning to steal of the drum on a Saturday, replace it with something the same size, and cover the substitution with the same cloth that Pinkham used to cover the drum. Then the Indians planned that on Sunday they would light a fire near the Church, shout to attract the settlers' attention, and throw the real drum on the fire. Then when the white men saw their magic destroyed they would leave. On a Saturday afternoon when Pinkham walked up the forest path to the Meeting House the Indians stole the drum and replaced it as planned. They watched as Pinkham returned. Some of the Indians began to worry and wanted to abandon the plan and merely kill Pinkham. The worriers were overruled and the Indians decided to go through with their plan. The next day the Indians watched as Pinkham walked to the meeting house. Pinkham did not seem to be concerned about the loss of his drum and the Indians became apprehensive. Pinkham lifted the wooden latch on the Meeting House door, went inside, came out with an even larger drum, and began to beat it. The Indians, though alarmed, went through with their plan. They shouted to attract attention, then threw the stolen drum on the fire. This drum, however, was packed with gunpowder, and the resulting explosion killed many Indians, while the rest fled from the noise and flames. A few Indians were captured and brought to the Minister who was in conference with Pinkham. It was Easter Sunday and the Minister offered a prayer before asking Richard Pinkham to speak to the startled congregation. Pinkham explained that with the guidance of God he had suspected the Indian plot, made a duplicate drum, and filled the one in his house with gunpowder.