Isaac Buck

Isaac Buck was a blacksmith, and for many years the town clerk of Scituate. In 1655 he was fined 20s "for refusing to shooe horses which were to be ymployed to carry one of the comissioners to New Hauen on the countryes business." At the same court "Isacke Bucke, the now clarke of the said band," who at the last training "did vnworthyly misdemean himselfe," was ordered to make "a publicke acknowledgement therof att the head of the companie" or answer at the General Court (PCR 3:89-90).

He bought the house of Jeremiah Burroughs, which had been Resolved White's, and in 1660 built a house near the harbour "on the Buck field, so called even now" (Deane, History of Scituate, p. 229), at about 38 Stockbridge Road, by the crossing called "Buck's corner" (Byron Buck). Scituate's town records from 1665 to 1692 are in his handwriting (Deane p. 101n). He was commissioned lieutenant in 1669, when Michael Pierce was made captain of Scituate's company (Deane p. 119).

King Philip's War. In the spring of 1676, when "twenty-five men were ordered to be pressed from Scituate ... Gen. Cudworth, Lieut. Buck and Isaac Chittenden were appointed press-masters," and the town named "Gen. Cudworth, Lieut. Buck and John Cushing" a committee "to take account of all the service of the soldiers in all their goings out, and report to the Governor" (Deane p. 121). On 20 May 1676 a war party burned much of Scituate and attacked the Stockbridge garrison at the mill, and the attackers "were not repulsed until night close." "Lieut. Buck had mustered all the men below," while Cornet Stetson brought men down the river from the south of the town; afterward "Lieut. Buck was in constant service, and his brother John the Cornet" (Deane p. 127). He "repulsed the Indians with great bravery from Scituate," Deane wrote (pp. 229-230).

On 21 July 1676 the council of war at Plymouth entered "The names of such souldiers of Scittuat whoe desired to be satisfyed in lands for such seruice as they pformed for the country," and his name headed them: "Imp[rimis], Leifte Isake Bucke, 10:00:00" (Records of the Colony of New Plymouth 5:206; Deane pp. 129-130; Soldiers in King Philip's War, p. 464). Only Richard Dwelley's credit was larger. Further down were his brother John; "Joseph Garrett, 05:09:07," his son-in-law by 1695; and "Charlse Stockbridge, for Benjamine Woodworth, 07:09:00": Stockbridge, who kept the mill garrison, was there "for" Benjamin Woodworth (see Walter Woodworth).

As town clerk he certified an order of the Andros government read at town meeting on 20 Jan 1686/7: "per me Isaac Buck, Town Clerk" (Deane p. 105). He died in 1695 without a will. His inventory of 25 May 1695 lists "Smith tools" at £5 19s, "Armes and amminition" at £2 10s and "housing and lands" at £130. His sons-in-law Joseph Garrett and Stephen Chittenden swore to it as administrators on 9 July 1695 (Plymouth County Probate 1:222, transcribed in Byron Buck's genealogy). The division of his estate includes "Mehitabel, wife of Stephen Chittenden" (Deane pp. 229-230); his widow Frances's dower lay next to the land of her son Thomas.

Open questions

• His birth, about 1620 by Byron Buck, and his English origin.
• His brother John's rank in 1676: Cornet in Deane, "Cor" in the colony record.