Isaac Buck

Blacksmith, and for many years town clerk of Scituate (compiled). 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).

Deane says 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). Byron Buck’s genealogy places the homestead at about 38 Stockbridge Road, by the crossing called “Buck’s corner.” Scituate’s town records from 1665 to 1692 are in his handwriting (Deane p. 101n). 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 was commissioned lieutenant in 1669, when Michael Pierce was made captain of Scituate’s company (Deane p. 119). On 20 May 1676, when a war party burned much of Scituate and attacked the Stockbridge garrison at the mill, 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). Deane says he “repulsed the Indians with great bravery from Scituate” (pp. 229-230). All this is Deane’s compiled account.

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’s title) and English origin.