The family Gorham is traced from the DeGorran of Tannerie,, near Gorram in Maine, which borders Brittany, France. Several of the family removed to England in the eleventh century during the reign of William the Conqueror. In England, many of the name were men of wealth and influence. The Northamptonshire branch of the Gorhams, descended, per family tradition, from Sir Hugh de Gorham and his wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir William L’Angevin. Sir Hugh de Gorham, in 1281, possessed the Manor of Churchfield and land in Benefield in the parish of Oundle. Our documented lineage commences with John-1 Gorham, who was born in 1504 and died ca 1527+, both at Glapthorne. Northants. He married, prior to 1527 at Glapthorne, (–) whose name is unknown. There are little specific details about John-1 who had a son John-2 who was born in 1527 at Glapthorne and died in 1588 at Benefield, Northants. John-2 married, ca 154x at Benefield, Elena (–) who was born ca 152x, probably at Glapthorne, and died 1550+ at Benefield. Her surname and ancestry are not known. It should be noted that both Glapthorne and Benefield are located within one mile of Churchfield, the location of the manor house of the contemporary Sir Hugh de Gorham. John-2 and Elena/Eliza (–) Gorham. had two sons, James to come and John
Sources: FH33:xvii-xviii; FH45:198.

James Gorham, (RN 1563) the first son of John and Elene/Eliza (–) Gorham, was born in 1550 and died in 1576, both in Benefield, Northants. James married, in 1572 at Benefield, Agnus Bernington who was born in October, 1552 and died 1575+, probably both at Benefield. Her ancestry is unknown. These early Gorhams were most likely farmers who grew crops for consumption and for selling. Based on generations to come, they had a separate trade such as operating a grist mill or a tannery or perhaps raising sheep for wool. We can assume that they were financially independent. James and Agnes Bernington Gorham had at least one son, Ralph to come.
Sources: FH33:xviii-xvix; FH45:50,198; FH146:V2:90; PH37:407.

Ralph Gorham, son of James and Agnes Bernington Gorham, was born in 1575 in Benefield and died ca 1643, probably at Plymouth, Ma. Ralph married, on 23 May 1610 at Oundle, Northants, Margaret Stephenson who was born ca 158x and died ca 16xx, both at Benefield, Northants. Margaret’s ancestry is unknown. Little is known of the early life of Ralph Gorham; he and his son John were established in the Plymouth Colony before 1637. There was a John Gorham, perhaps the son of Ralph, who was a passenger on board the ship Philip, bound for North America 20 June 1635, Richard Morgan, master. Ralph Gorham, on 02 October 1637, was granted for a house and garden land in Plymouth. On 05 March 1638, Ralph had a complaint against Francis Sprague. And on 05 March 1639, Ralph Gorham, the elder, was presented “for breaking the peace”. “Ralph Gorham the elder” implies a “Ralph Gorham, the younger”; however here are no known records concerning “Ralph Gorham, the younger”; this does not preclude “the younger” maybe being in England. Re Ralph-the elder, we find a record dated 01 September 1640 where he complains against Ralph Smith and on 02 March 1641, Ralph Smith complaints against Ralph Gorham. And finally, on 05 April 1640, our Ralph Gorham sued Tristam Clark and John Crab for debt owed. No more is heard again concerning our Ralph Gorham, the father of our John Gorham to come. Ralph and Margaret Stephenson Gorham had one known son, i.e., John Gorham and perhaps a second son, Ralph-the younger of whom there are no known records.
Sources: FH33: xviii-xxi; FH45:50; FH146:V2:90; FH220:V1:9; PH7:313; PH37:407.

Our Capt. John Gorham was baptized in Benefield, Northants. on 28 January 1621 and was buried on 05 February 1676 at Swansea, Ma. He married, ca March1643 at Plymouth, Ma., Desire Howland who was born, ca 1625/1626, at Plymouth, Ma. and died 13 October 1683 at Barnstable, Ma. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Tilley Howland, both of whom were on the ship, the Mayflower; John Howland was of Fenstanton and Elizabeth Tilley was of Henlow both of which are located in Huntingdonshire, England. During the seventeenth century, other than our John Gorham and his descendants, there were no others by the name of Gorham mentioned as residents of the colony.

We know little of our John Gorham’s early life except that he had a good common school education, that he was brought up in the Puritan faith and that he was a consistent and exemplary Christian. From the time of his arrival in New England, John Gorham resided in Plymouth, Ma where in 1643 his name was on the list of those able to bear arms. After the birth of their first child, Desire, on 02 April 1644, John with his new family, in 1646 removed to Marshfield, Ma. where he resided at Green Harbour. He was chosen constable of Marshfield in 1648 and he was made a freeman on 04 June 1650. In 1652 he removed to Yarmouth, Ma. and purchased the house lot on the north County road adjoining to the bounds of Barnstable. At the same time he purchased a part of the Hallett farm which contained 100 acres of planting lands situated mostly within the bounds of Barnstable but adjoining his house lot. This farm contained very little wasteland and under Capt. John Gorham’s capable management, there were few better farms in the Colony. John also owned the Grist Mill known as Hallet’s Mill plus the landing place on the wharf. John also owned a tannery. As such, it is safe to assume, considering the number of working assets, that our John was in sound financial condition.

Capt. John Gorham was deputy from Yarmouth to the Plymouth Colony Court at the special session on 06 April 1653; he was chosen surveyor of highways in 1654. He was a selectman in Barnstable in 1673 and 1674. In 1672 he received the appointment of Lieutenant of the Plymouth forces in the Dutch war. In June 1675, the King Philip’s War was underway with our Capt. John Gorham being much involved. On 04 October 1675, John was appointed Captain of the second company of the Plymouth forces. One important battle was at Swamp Fort in the Narraganset on 19 December 1675; the weather was very cold and much of the fighting was in marsh and swamp. This battle was decisive in its results. It crushed the power of the Narragansett Indians and destroyed the hopes of King Philip. It was noted that the Indians lost seven hundred fighting men plus three hundred that later died of wounds. Eighty of the colonial force were killed and one hundred and fifty were wounded; practically all of the wounded subsequently recovered. Capt. John Gorham never recovered from the cold and fatigue to which he was exposed on this expedition. He was seized with fever and died at Swansea on 05 February 1676. On the 7th of March following, letters of administration were granted by the court to his widow, Desire Howland Gorham and to his sons, James and John, to settle the estate. Capt.John Gorham was a well respected man, considered most worthy of the time.

Capt. John and Desire Howland Gorham had a total of eleven children, i.e., five sons and six daughters. In chronological order, Desire was born in Plymouth; Temperance, Elizabeth James and John were born in Marshfield; Joseph was born in Yarmouth, and Jabex, Mercy, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Shubael were born in Barnstable. Desire Howland, born on 02 April 1644 to come. Temperance Gorham was born 05 May 1646 and died 12 March 1715 in West Yarmouth. She married, in 1663 at Yarmouth, Edward Sturgis who was born 10 April 1642 and died 08 November 1678. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters.. Edward Sturgis was a brother of Hannah Sturgis Gray who married Temperance’s brother, Jabez Gorham and of Sarah Sturgis who married another brother, Joseph Gorham. Temperance married, as her second husband on 27 January 1680 at Yarmouth, Thomas Baxter who was born ca 1653 in England and died 22 June 1713 at Yarmouth. Thomas was a soldier in Capt. John Gorham’s company in the King Philip War in 1675 where he was wounded. His heirs were made grantees of Narrangansett County in 1675. Temperance had three children by Thomas Baxter. Elizabeth Gorham was born 02 April 1648 and died prior to 05 March 1684 probably at Barnstable where she married, prior to 05 March 1667, Joseph Hallett who was born in England in1630 and died after30 June 1715. Joseph and Elizabeth Gorham Hallett had two daughters, Mary and Lois, and maybe a daughter Elizabeth. James Gorham was born 28 April 1650 and died, at Barnstable, in November/ December 1707. James married, at Barnstable on 24 February 1673, Hannah Huckins who was born 14 October 1653 and died 13 February 1728, both at Barnstable. Hannah was the daughter of Thomas and Rose (–) (Hillyer) Huckins. James was a farmer and was admitted as a freeman of Barnstable in June 1689. James and Hannah Huckins Gorham had eleven children, i.e., four daughters and seven sons. John Gorham, the fifth child of John and Desire Howland Gorham, was born on 20 February 1652 and died at Barnstable on 11 November 1716. John married, in Barnstable on 24 February 1674, Mary Otis who was born in Hingham on 14 March 1653 and died in Barnstable on 01 April 1732. She was the daughter of John and Mary Jacobs Otis. John was a tanner and a conveyor, a Deputy to the General Court, and Captain for the expedition to Canada led by Sir William Philips. As Major John Gorham he served as Deputy from Barnstable; he was commissioned a colonel in 1704. John and Mary Otis Gorham had nine children, five sons and four daughters. Joseph Gorham was born 16 February 1654 and died in Yarmouth on 09 July 1726. Joseph married, prior to 1678 in Yarmouth, Sarah Sturgis who was born ca 1656 and died , in Yarmouth, prior to 03 February 1739. See Temperance above. Joseph Gorham was a farmer and served as an Ensign in the militia. Joseph and Sarah Sturgis Gorham had eight children including John who died young plus Isaac and Hezekiah who died in 1714 without issue.

Jabez Gorham, the seventh child of John and Desire Howland Gorham, was born 03 August 1656 amd died, in Bristol, Ma. (later a part of Rhode Island) prior to 12 April 1725, the date his will was proved. Jabez married, ca 1676, widow Hannah (Sturgis) Gray who was born ca 1654 and died at Harwich, Ma. on17 October 1736. Jabez served and was wounded in King Philip’s War, was a constable in 1680, and took the freeman’s oath in 1683. Jabez and Hannah (Sturgis) Gray Gorham had eleven children, three daughters and eight sons. Mercy Gorham was born 20 January 1658 and died 24 September 1725 at Stonington, Ct. Mercy married, probably in Barnstable ca 1677, George Denison-2 who was born ca 1653, the son of George-1 and Ann Borodell Denison; George-2 Denison died at Westerly, RI27 December 1711. George and Mercy Gorham Denison had nine children, four sons and five daughters. Lydia Gorham was born 11 November 1661 and died , at Yarmouth, 02 August 1744. Lydia married, as his second wife at Yarmouth on 01 January 1684, John Thacher who was born in Marblenead, Ma. on 16 March 1639 and died at Yarmouth 08 May 1713. John was the son of Anthony and Elizabeth Jones Thacher and was a colonel in the militia. John and Elizabeth Gorham Thacher had twelve children, eight daughrters and four sons. Hannah Gorham was born 28 November 1663 and died at Cape May, NJ ca 1728. Hannah Gorham married, in Barnstable/Yarmouth ca 1682, Joseph Whillden/Wheldon, who was born ca 1660 at Yarmouth and died 1727 at Cape May, NJ. Joseph was the son of John and Mary (Folland) Whilldin/Wheldon. Joseph was a sea captain and a farmer. In Cape May, NJ Joseph became a coroner in 1699, High Sheriff from 1705 to 1708, a Collector in 1709, and Commissioner of Pleas in 1713 and 1722. Joseph and Hannah Gorham Whilldin had five children, two sons and three and three daughters. Shubael Gorham, the youngest child of John and Desire Howland Gorham, was born on 21 October 1667 and died in 1750 in Barnstable in his eighty third year. Shubael married, on Nantucket Island in May1695, Puella Hussey who was born in Nantucket on10 October 1677 and died at Barnstable before 23 September 1748. Puella was the daughter of Stephen and Martha Bunker Hussey. Colonel John Gorham’s “Wast Book” states that, when Shubael and his family and friends sailed to Nantucket for his marriage to Puella Hussey, the members of the wedding party were taken prisoner by a French shallop from Port Royal and were stripped of all of their valuables. After the marriage, Shubael moved to South Sea in Barnstable and built a tavern near Hyannis Port. Shubael had been left money by his father to be used to educate him for a learned profession; he instead became a house carpenter. He also had a farm of own plus one hundred acres of land at Papasquash Neck in Bristol which he had inherited from his father; on 07 February 1690 he sold this land to Nanthaniel Byfield of Bristol. On 08 July 1749 Shubael Gorham’s son-in-law, James Lovell, Jr., of Barnstable, gentleman, the husband of his daughter, Abigail, was appointed as Shubael’s guardian after Shubael had been judged non compos mentis by the Inquisition of Selectman. Shubael’s will was dated 23 September 1648 and was proved 07 August 1750; he gave all of his real estate to his only surviving son, George Gorham of Stamford, Ct. He personal estate was divided among his seven beloved daughters. His wife Puella was not mentioned in his will indicating that she had died earlier. Shubael and Puella Hussey had three sons, George mentioned above, Daniel who died of smallpox in London prior to January 1746, and Jonathan who died young. They also had seven daughters. Concerning this section on Capt. John and Desire Howland Gorham and their children, a special acknowledgment is made of “John Howland of the Mayflower-V1" by Elizabeth Pearson White, Picton Press 1990.
Sources:FH33:xviii, xxi-xxvii; FH45:50; FH146:V2:90-91; FH178:6; FH179:20; FH220:V1:9-33; PH7:313; PH37:407-413; PH67:V2:49; PH76:9.

Desire Gorham, the first child of John and Desire Howland Gorham, was born in Plymouth, Ma. on 02 April 1644 and died in Yarmouth, Ma. on 30 June 1700, age 56 years. Desire married, in Barnstaable on 07 October 1661, Capt. John Hawes who was born ca 1640 in Duxbury, Ma. and died 11 November 1701 at Yarmouith. He was the son of Edward and Eleanor Lombard Hawes of Yarmouth, Ma.
Sources: FH146:V2:91; FH220:V1:11,13-14,35; PH7:354; PH37:413-414.