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RICHARDSON HISTORY

Copyright © 2006 Bruce Richardson

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1. Generation 4

     Samuel Richardson, b. 22 Dec 1603 Westmill, England 

 

2. Endnotes

 

 

1600 - Shakespeare publishes "Hamlet".

1603 - James I succeeds Elizabeth I to the English throne.

1607 - Jamestown is founded in Virginia by the colonists of the London Company--the first English settlement on the American mainland. By the end of the year, starvation and disease reduce the original 105 settlers to just 32 survivors. Capt. John Smith is captured by Native American Chief Powhatan and saved from death by the chief's daughter, Pocahontas.

 

 

It is three of the aforementioned brothers, Ezekiel, Thomas, and Samuel that emigrated to New England, in large part because of the following historical events occurring in England:

 

The death of Elizabeth I in 1603, with no legitimate heir, brought James I, a Scotsman and Stuart, to the throne. He was looked upon as a foreigner. Convinced that kings ruled by divine right, he made it clear that he intended to govern as he pleased. His illegal and arbitrary taxation and support of "high-church" forms of elaborate ceremonial worship antagonized the Puritans. More and more religious nonconformists began to look for places of refuge outside the kingdom of England. In an effort to appease the many religious rumblings, James commissioned a new Bible and in 1611 the King James version of the Bible was completed.

The Puritans opposed many of the elements of worship that the Church of England had retained from Catholicism, such as Bishops, priestly garments, and all the high church pomp. They insisted on a sober life, guided by the commandments of Scripture. There were several different groups of Puritans with varying beliefs. One group believed that baptism ought to be administered only to believing adults and were therefore called "Baptists," the roots of the Baptist church today.

 

The Puritans didn't trust James I, being the son of Mary Stuart. The fact that he was a homosexual who freely dispensed unmerited favors and power to his favorites didn't help matters. Increasingly, he directed legislation and canon law against the Puritans.

Thus it was that in 1620 a group of Puritans, The Pilgrims flee England via Holland and later land on Plymouth Rock on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the Mayflower.

 

 

 

1624 - England declares war on Spain.

1625 - Charles I succeeds to the English throne.

1628 - The narrow-minded William Laud is made archbishop of London. He oversees the persecution of Puritans.

1629 - In England, King Charles I dissolves parliament and attempts to rule as

absolute monarch, spurring many to leave for the American colonies.

1630 - In March, John Winthrop leads a Puritan migration of 900 colonists to

Massachusetts Bay, where he will serve as the first governor. In September,

Boston is officially established and serves as the site of Winthrop's government.

 

Things in England went from bad to worse when James' son Charles I became king. Charles married Henrietta Maria, a sister of King Louis the XIII of France. Her catholic persuasion further offended the Puritans who likened the Queen with Jezebel of the Bible. Things deteriorated with Charles and his political maneuvering favoring his aristocratic supporters who oppressed the poor. Charles deprived the powers of the archbishop of Canterbury and gave them to William Laud, one of the most bitter opponents of the Puritans.

Walter Watkins, in his The Richardsons of Westmill, Herts, England, notes that:

Religious persecution was not the only factor in driving the people of Herts to other parts. It was necessary in 1632 and succeeding years, for the justices of the peace for the county to take measures for the relief of the poor, the country being over-populated, and it was with difficulty that the poor obtained employment and food.

 

It was, however, the ship money tax, first designed in June 1634, and to which I have alluded in other communications to the REGISTER, that in the succeeding four years was a cause of the emigration to New England of many of the people in Herts.[5]

Additional factors that prompted the Puritan removal to America were a decline in the making of cloth, the principle industry in the Puritan area of England, illegal forced loans instituted by Charles with the penalty for non-payment of imprisonment, or "hundreds of poor men were forced into the army, leaving their families to beg for bread or to starve."[6]  Billeting of soldiers was forced upon them as well with drastic effect: "These ruffians not only ate their hosts out of house and home, but often robbed them."[7]

It was about this time that three of the Richardson brothers joined Winthrop's fleet and emigrated to the New World. First, the oldest brother Ezekiel in 1630 (only ten years after the Pilgrims on the Mayflower) and then in 1636 Samuel and Thomas.

 

 

 

John Winthrop figured large in the new Colony. He was a Puritan educated at Cambridge and a prosperous lawyer. He left England to travel to the New World to establish a new society in America, a society he envisioned as a "city upon a hill," a godly community that would serve as an example to the rest of the corrupt world. Winthrop commanded the expedition that sailed in 1630 in seventeen ships and established the Massachusetts Bay Company as its first governor. One of the new towns was Charlestown where the Richardson brothers settled.  The older brother Ezekiel was possibly the first Richardson in America.[8]

 

                 John Winthrop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I begin a lengthy quote from The Richardson Memorial as it is not only a fascinating chronicle of our Richardson ancestors, but gives us a real flavor for life in those troubled times:

 

The principal early emigration from Old to New England took place in 1630. It had long been contemplated, and ample preparation had been made. It took place in fulfillment of one general plan, under the auspices of the Massachusetts Company, an organization formed in England in March, 1628, having a royal patent, granting them all the land between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, and in width from a line running west three miles north of Merrimack River to a line running west three miles south of Charles River.

 

To take possession of this extensive territory a party of fifty or sixty persons, under John Endicott, was sent out to Salem the following June, and another party of two hundred, under Francis Higginson, the year after. In the year 1630, seventeen ships in all, but not all together, brought at least one thousand passengers from England, as estimated by Palfrey in his History of New England. Of these ships the Lion left Bristol in February, bringing people from the west of England; the Mary and John sailed from Plymouth March 20th, and arrived May 30th, bringing passengers from Devonshire, Dorsetshire, and Somersetshire. Four ships, the Arbella, Jewel, Ambrose, and Talbot, left the Isle of Wight together, on the 8th of April, having on board Winthrop, Dudlley, Isaac Johnson, his wife the lady Arbella, Increase Nowell, William Pynchon, and other principal persons; seven ships, the Mayflower, Whale, Hopewell, and others, sailed from Southampton in May, and four others followed not long after.

 

In one of these ships Ezekiel Richardson came to New England; in which of them cannot now be determined. . . .

By the sixth of July, 1630, eleven of the ships of Winthrop's fleet had arrived, besides the Lion, Mary and John, which left England before the Arbella and her consorts; and we are safe in saying that by this sixth of July Ezekiel Richardson was in New England. If I mistake not, this makes him the earliest colonist of that name in New England.

 

He and his wife Susanna became members of the church gathered in Charlestown, Aug. 27, 1630, which afterwards became the First Church in Boston; and both were dismissed from it, with thirty three others, Oct. 14, 1632, to form the present First Church in Charlestown, which was gathered on the second day of November following. He was admitted a freeman of the colony, May 18, 1631, which was in consequence of his church membership.

 

Soon after his arrival in this country, he and his wife took up their abode in Charlestown, and must have shared in the hardships and privations endured by the early settlers. They lived in a log house, hastily and rudely constructed, the interstices filled with mud, and utterly insufficient for their protection against the rude blasts of winter. All around was a dense forest, or a dreary waste, infested with wolves and other ferocious animals. They probably lived in constant fear and alarm. During the first two years, the colonists suffered greatly from famine. Shellfish, clams, lobsters, etc., had to serve for meat; groundnuts and acorns for bread. The relief expected from England did not come; bread stuffs were scarce and dear there, and the colonists had no money to buy with. The salaries of their ministers were paid in pork, barley, and other articles of food, of which the people had not sufficient for themselves. The harvest of the weather after their arrival was scanty, by reason of cold and wet weather through the summer. But these sufferings were patiently borne.

Ezekiel Richardson was a man of great respectability and worth. His name often occurs on the Charlestown records. He was, in 1633, appointed by the General Court a constable, then an office of much responsibility. In the following years, he was appointed by the town on several important committees. He was one of the first board of selectmen in Charlestown, chosen Feb. 10, 1634-5; also in 1637, 1638, 1639. He was a deputy or representative of that town in the General Court, chosen Sept. 2, 1634, and also the following year, 1635. In 1637, a lot of land was granted to him on "Misticke [a river in the area] Side," or Malden; also to each of his brothers, of whom more in the sequel.

 

He was a follower of Ann Hutchinson and John Wheelwright in the Antinomian Controversy of 1637, as were most of the members of the Boston church, and was one of the eighty or more persons who signed the Remonstrance in Mr. Wheelwright's favor, presented to the General Court on the ninth of March in that year. At the session of the General Court held in November following, he and several others desired that their names might be erased from that paper, which the Court had judged to be of seditious tendency. Thus acknowledging his fault, he was exempted from the censure inflicted by the Court; in other words, he was not disarmed, as were nearly all of the Remonstrance. It is creditable to his memory that he was willing to abandon an enterprise in which he had conscientiously, but unwisely, embarked.

 

In May, 1640, the town of Charlestown petitioned the General Court for an enlargement of her territory. The petition was granted, and addition made to her territory of two miles square, soon after increased to four miles square. On the 15th of May, Ezekiel Richardson, Edward Johnson, Edward Convers, and some others were sent to explore this grant and to determine its bounds. The original design was to make a village within the bounds of Charlestown and dependent on it. But as early as the 5th of November, 1640, the church of Charlestown chose seven men, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, Ezekiel Richardson, John Mousall, Thomas Graves, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson, as commissioners or agents, for the erection of a new church and town, upon the land thus granted, to be entirely distinct and separate from Charlestown.

A beginning was made in the erection of houses. Log houses, doubtless during the year 1641, at and near the center of the new town, which at its incorporation, in September, 1642, received the name of WOBURN, from Woburn in Herefordshire, England, where was an ancient abbey, founded in 1145, and where was the palatial residence of the noble family of Russells, dukes of Bedford, long known as the friends of liberty. The church in Woburn was solemnly constituted Aug. 14, 1642, O.S. [old style dating], answering to Aug. 24, N. S. [new style dating]. Seven persons were embodied in a church state, viz.: John Mousall, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, William Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson. These persons stood forth, one by one, and declared their religious faith and Christian experience. These seven men were the "seven pillars," Prov. ix. 1; they were the nucleus of the new church, and theirs was the responsible duty of deciding what other members should be admitted. It was also their duty to lay out the new town to be formed in connection with this church, and make all needful arrangements for this purpose. The fact that the three Richardson brothers were appointed on so important a service is conclusive proof of their general excellence of character and of the confidence reposed in their wisdom and integrity.

 

The first settlers of Woburn, 1642, could not have exceeded thirty heads of families. Thirty two men subscribed the "Town Orders," agreed on by the commissioners at their first meeting, in Charlestown, for the settlement of Woburn, Dec. 18, 1640; but several more became inhabitants of the new town.

Ezekiel Richardson and his two brothers, after their removal to Woburn, lived near each other, on the same street, which, from its having been their residence and that of many of their posterity, has been known from time immemorial as "Richardson's Row." It was in the present town of Winchester, a little north and east of the village; the "Row" now constituting a part of Washington Street. He himself lived half a mile north of the present village of Winchester; a locality, until April 30, 1850, included in the town of Woburn. The descendants these three brothers, bearing the name of Richardson, long have been and still are more numerous than persons of any other name in Woburn, and among them have been found some of the most useful and valued members of the church and citizens of the place. [Statement of Rev. Samuel Sewall, of Burlington, in his History of Woburn, p. 71] At the first election of town officers in Woburn, April 13, 1644, Ezekiel Richardson was chosen a selectman, and continued to be chosen to that responsible office in 1645, 1646, and 1647. Edward Convers, John Mousall these were deacons of the church till their death and Ezekiel Richardson were appointed "to end small causes under twenty shillings," at Woburn; and so continued till death.

Edward Convers, Ezekiel Richardson, Capt. Cooke, and Edward Goffe, with Mr. Stileman, were appointed a committee to lay out a road from Cambridge to Woburn.

 

Ezekiel Richardson, one of the founders of Woburn, died in that town Oct. 21, 1647. From the fact that all his children were at this time under the age of twenty one, it is inferred that his age at his decease did not exceed forty five. His will is dated 20th day of the fifth month, 1647; equivalent to July 20, 1647. It was proved June 1, 1648, and is on file in the Suffolk Probate Office, Boston. A copy now follows:

 

I Ezekiel Richardson of Woburn, being in perfect memoir, do make this my last will and testament as followeth, imprimis. I make my wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus joint Executors.

   Item. I give and bequeath to Josias my son thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age.

   Item. I give unto James my son thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age.

   Item. I give unto Phebe my daughter thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when she shall accomplish twenty years of age, or within six months after the day of her marriage, which cometh first. I say all these several legacies to be paid in money cattle or corn at the discretion of the Executors and overseers.

In case any of these three die before they do accomplish the said age mentioned then the said legacy shall be equally divided to them which shall survive. In case my son Theophilus die before he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age then his portion shall be equally divided to my other children which shall survive.

   Item. I do freely forgive and discharge whatsoever accounts and demands have been between my Brother Samuel Richardson and myself.

   Item. I give unto my brother Thomas Richardson his son Thomas ten shillings to be paid within one year after my decease.

   Item. I make for overseers to this my will Edward Converse and John Mousall of Woburn; in case either of them die before the accomplishment of this my will the survivor with the consent of Thomas Carter Pastor of the church of Woburn shall have power to choose an other overseer in his place.

   Item. I give unto the overseers for and in consideration of their care and pains thirty shillings apiece.

   Item. all my debts and funeral [expenses] being discharged I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate to my executors, provided that my wife may peaceably enjoy her habitation in the house so long as she shall live.

 

In witness whereof I have set to my hand. Ezekiel Richardson. In presence of these Thomas Carter, scribe. Edward Convers. John Mousall. Testified under oath of the said Edward Converse and John Mousall that the above written is the last will and testament of Ezekiel Richardson and that he was of a disposing mind at the making the same. Taken 1 (4) 1648 before the court and myself.

            Increase Nowell, Rr. [Register.] 

 

An inventory of the goods of our deceased brother Ezekiel Richardson, month 9th, day 18th, 1647. [in pounds, shillings, pence]

 

Eight cows £4 10s apeece £36. 0.0

one pair of oxen 13. 0.0

one pair of oxen three years old 10. 0.0

two young steers 7. 0.0

two heifers 7. 0.0

four calves 6. 0.0

one mare 8. 0.0

seven hogs 2. 0.0

four ewes 8. 0.0

one ewe lamb and two wether lambs 2.10.0

eight acres of corn upon the ground 8. 0.0

twelve acres of fallow ground 3. 0.0

within the barn in wheat and rye 8. 0.0

Barelie, oats and Pees 4. 0.0

two ffanns (?) and other implements for corn 0.15.0

Indian corn 3. 0.0

plow irons & chains 1.10.0

one carte Hogshead & Boxes 1.10.0

one carte & one dung cart 1.10.0

Hemp & flax 2. 0.0

one flock bed with other implements on the

parlor chamber 4.10.0

his wearing apparel 10. 0.0

ten pewter dishes with other pieces of pewter 2.10.0

two plates, dripping pans and a Trammel 0. 2.6

five pair of Sheets, 2 pillow cases, two table

cloths, 12 napkins, with other linen 16. 0.0

one feather bed & 1 flock bed with furniture 10. 0.0

two chests, 2 Boxes, one hanging cup board

with other implements in the parlor 12. 0.0

one musket with Bandoleer, one hachell,

one long table, one small table, one warming

pan, one forme with other implements in the

hall 3.10.0

other implements 0.15.0

in the cellar four flitches of Bacon, with other

pieces of Pork five trays, five cheeses,

one churn with other implements 4. 0.0

In the Kitchen, three Brass kettles, three pots,

3 skillets with other implements 4. 0.0

7 axes with handles and other tools 4. 0.0

due for the Mill Stone 2.12.0

paid for Bees 1.12.0

Total £190.

Signed Edward Convers,

John Mousall,

Samuel Richardson

sworn to before Increase Newell 1 (4) 1648.

 

In the foregoing inventory there is not an article of silver plate, not an article of china, crockery, or glass ware, not an article of cotton manufacture, not a carpet, not one book. Truly our ancestors had a hard time of it.

After the death of Ezekiel Richardson, his widow Susanna married Henry Brooks, of Woburn, as we learn from sundry conveyances of land. For instance:

   Susanna Richardson (now Brooks), widow of Ezekiel Richardson, quitclaimed, March '23, 1655, thirty five acres of land in Charlestown to Thomas Moulton and John Greenland. [Midd. Deeds, ii. 36.]

   Again: March 27, 1657. Samuel Richardson, brother of Ezekiel Richardson, now deceased, quitclaims forty acres of land in Woburn, on the side towards Reading, to my sister Susanna Richardson, now Brooks, during her lifetime, and then to my cousin [nephew] Theophilus Richardson. This land is described as bounded south by land of Samuel Richardson (himself), north by land of our brother Thomas Richardson, west by a running brook, east by the common, i.e. by the common unappropriated land. [Midd. Deeds, ii. 72.]

   And again: Dec. 13, 1659. "We, Henry Brooks and Susanna Brooks, resign onehalf of Ezekiel Richardson's house and lands." [Midd. Deeds, ii. 154.]

 

This Henry Brooks was formerly of Concord, and while a resident there was made freeman, March 14, 1639. He is noticed in the Town Records of Woburn as an inhabitant, and a proprietor of land there, near Horn Pond, Jan. 10, 1652. He was one of the selectmen of Woburn, 1669. His wife Susanna died Sept. 15, 1681. He died April 12, 1683. He had children by a former wife, John, Timothy, Isaac, and Sarah.[9]

 

 

Copyright © 2006 Bruce H. Richardson. This data file may not be copied except for small quotations used with citation of source.

 

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