Paul spells his surname Bumpus, as do most family members, although Bompasse, Bumpas, Bump, and other variants are sometimes seen, especially before standardized spelling.
The Bumpus family is widely seen throughout southeastern Massachusetts. Immigrant Edward Bumpas came on Fortune 1621, lived at Plymouth, Duxbury and Marshfield, was a purchaser of Dartmouth in 1652, ans was granted land at "Pochade necke neare unto Namassakett" in 1664. For perhaps the definitive account of Edward, his wife, and their children, see:
Robert Charles Anderson, "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants To New England 1620-1633," 3 Volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995) at 1:273-276.
For a discussion of the early generations of the family, see:
Mrs. John E. (Florence Harlow) Barclay, "The Bumpus Family of New England" (The American Genealogist, 43 (1967):65-75, 150-155, 211-216; Corrections 44 (1968):232-235; 64 (1989):112).
Dale H. Cook, Member, NEHGS and MA Society of Mayflower Descendants;
Plymouth Co. MA Coordinator for the USGenWeb Project
Administrator of
http://plymouthcolony.net