James N. Buffum

James Needham Buffum (May 16, 1807 – June 12, 1887) was a Massachusetts politician who served as the twelfth and fourteenth Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Early life

Buffum was born in North Berwick, Maine on May 16, 1807^[1][4] to Samuel and Hannah (Varney) Bufum.^[2]

Abolitionist

When Frederick Douglas was dragged out of a train car of te Eastern Railroad, Buffum helped Douglas fight off the mob.^[4] In 1845 Buffum went to Scotland with Douglas to protest against the Free Church of Scotland keeping money donated to it from American slave holders.^[4]

References

• New York Times obituary; June 13, 1888.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1888), History of Essex County, Massachusetts: with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Volume 1, Issue 1, Philadelphia, PA: J. W. Lewis & CO., p. 261. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Essex Institute (1889), Bulletin of the Essex Institute, Volume XX, Salem, MA: Essex Institute; printed by the Salem Press and Printing Co., p. 156. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} The New York Times (June 13, 1887), JAMES N. BUFFUM DEAD.; A COLLEAGUE OF GARRISON AND PHILLIPS AND A FRIEND OF DOUGLASS., New York, NY: New York Times Company, p. 1. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Friends' Intelligencer United with The Friends' Journal (June 18, 1887), JAMES N. BUFFUM, Philadelphia, PA: Friends' Intelligencer Association, Limited, p. 398.