GENEALOGY OF THE CUSHING FAMILY
(Online Version 2002)
INTRODUCTION
The remote ancestry of the Cushing family has been the subject of a number of investigations, which have succeeded in tracing the family to very early times. The first work of importance was undertaken by the Hon. Caleb Cushing. He traced the family to Norfolk County, England; and finding himself unable to give the necessary time to the research, engaged the late H . G. Somerby of London, a well known genealogist, to continue it. Mr. Somerby entered on the task with enthusiasm, as evidenced by his letters, some of which are in the writer's possession. During the years 1851-1853 he examined the ancient manuscripts in the British Museum, the Subsidy Rolls and Heraldic Visitations for Norfolk, the parish registers and ancient deeds and wills connected with various estates and manors in Hardingham, Hingham, and other places. His efforts were crowned with unexpected success; he established the fact that the Cushings were one of the leading families in Norfolk County during the 15th and 16th centuries, being lords of numerous manors, and he published his results in several important papers before historical and genealogical societies in Great Britain.
The late Mr. Lemuel Cushing, having received the papers and correspondence relating to the subject from the Hon. Caleb Cushing, continued the work, adding many details, and published the whole in the first edition of the Genealogy of the Cushing Family in 1877. In this work he traces the family back to Thomas Cushing of Hardingham, Norfolk Co., who lived in the early part of the 15th century.
After Mr. Lemuel Cushing's death, Mr. Frank Hamilton Cushing continued the investigation. Assisted by various recent publications on the early history of Norfolk County, and obtained valuable evidence of the descent of the Cushings from the DeLimisi family who owned numerous manors in Norfolk County in the 11th and 12th centuries. His early decease interrupted the work, but, through the kindness of his widow, the papers containing the results of his work were submitted to the present writer. As one or two links of the chain are still missing, it was thought best to publish Mr. Frank Hamilton Cushing's manuscript verbatim, in the hope that at some future time the work may be completed and to commence the genealogy of the family at a point from which the actual descent from father to son rests on direct documentary evidence.
