| Notes |
- AAS - 6 Nov 2010: I did not include the section on the inventory which appears on page 505, as it does not space correctly in Legacy Family Tree nor on the Internet. The missing section is represented by the row of Xs below.
THOMAS RICHARDSON was the youngest of the three brothers of that name, EZEKIEL, SAMUEL, and THOMAS, who united with Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, John Mousall, William Learned, and others, in the settlement of Woburn, and the formation of a church there, in 1641. The seven men, whose names have just been written, were the commissioners chosen by the church in Charlestown, Nov. 5,1640, to commence the settlement; with this exception that William Learned was substituted soon after for Thomas Graves, who had been chosen, but declined taking part in the enterprise.
Ezekiel Richardson, it is well known, came from England in the fleet with Winthrop in 1630, and must have been in Charlestown by the sixth of July in that year, when fifteen ships of that fleet had already arrived. It is highly probable that he originated in Norfolk, England, where the name had been settled as early as the sixteenth century, and doubtless long before. It appears that Winthrop, whose home was in Groton, in the adjoining county of Suffolk, had already invited Ezekiel Richardson to accompany him on the voyage, and that the latter had consented to go. Hubbard, in his History, p. 133, says, "the greater number came from about London," which would include, at least, a part of Norfolk. The family of Richardson, however, existed in Sussex, Surrey, and many other counties.
It is believed that Samuel and Thomas Richardson, who were younger than Ezekiel, did not come from England, till at least five years after. The colonists suffered greatly from famine during the first year, and few came over till 1633 or later. A list of the inhabitants of Charlestown, dated Jan. 9, 1633-4, does not contain the name of Samuel or Thomas Richardson. The same deficiency exists in a similar list, made one year after. The first notice we find of either of these brothers, is dated Feb. 21, 1635-6, when Mary, the wife of Thomas Richardson united with the church in Charlestown. Samuel and Thomas Richardson joined said church the 18th of the 12th month [February], 1637-8; in consequence whereof they were admitted freemen of the colony, May 2, 1638. Their names are found on the records of Charlestown for the first time in 1637, when to each of them the town granted a house-plot, clearly indicating that they had recently become citizens of the place. The same year, their names are for the first time found on the records as citizens of Charlestown. They doubtless came from England together.
The three brothers were all young. They probably did not marry until on the eve of embarking for America; Ezekiel in 1630; Samuel and Thomas in 1635. This is inferred from the dates of the births of their children.
The three brothers had lots assigned them, April 20, 1638, on "Misticke Side and above the Ponds," that is, in Malden. The share they had in the settlement of Woburn, and the organization of the church in that town, has been sufficiently related in the notices already given of Ezekiel and Samuel Richardson.
Thomas Richardson died in Woburn, August 28, 1651. There is no will of his on record. Below is an inventory of his estate found in the Middlesex Registry of Probate, dated Sept. 22, 1651, and signed by Edward Johnson, Edward Convers , John Mousall, and Samuel Richardson.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Following the inventory, and, it would seem, a part of it, is this statement:
"He hath left a wife, three sons, and four daughters. The eldest son is 8 years old; the second, 6 years; and the third, three-quarters [of a year]. The eldest daughter is 13 years old; the second, 11 years; the third, 4 years; the fourth, 2 years."
In the foregoing inventory, as in that of his brother Ezekiel, there is not an article of silver plate, or of china, crockery, or glass ware. Nothing better than pewter, or brass, was used at meals. The same is likely to have been true in the dwellings of the colonists generally.
The name of the wife of Thomas Richardson was MARY. After his death she became, Oct. 26, 1655, the second wife of Michael Bacon, senior, who is said to have come from Ireland, and was one of the original inhabitants of the town of Woburn, 1641. He was the ancestor of the distinguished Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, Ct. Bacon's fist wife, also named Mary, died Aug. 26, 1655. The second wife died May 19, 1670 and then he took to wife a third Mary, Mary Noyes, Nov. 28, 1670. He died July 4, 1688.
His only son married a daughter of Thomas and Mary Richardson.
[Richardson Memorial, Johh Adams Vinton, 1876]
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NOTES ON THE RICHARDSON FAMILY.
(Communicated by EDWARD S. L. RICHARDSON)
Sketch of the Genealogy of the Richardson Family, including a part of the Descendants of Thomas Richardson of Woburn, Mass.
Thomas Richardson, (brother of Ezekiel and Samuel R.) b. in England, came to New England ; was admitted freeman 1638; was one of the first settlers of Woburn, where he d. 28 Aug. 1651. He had three sons and two daus., viz. : Isaac, Thomas, Ruth, Phebe and Nathaniel.
Nathaniel, son of Thomas R., b. 2, 11(?), 1650-51, m. Mary -, and d. 4 Dec. 1714 ; Mary, his widow, d. 22 Dec. 1719. They had nine sons and two daus., viz. : Nathaniel, James, Joshua, John, Thomas, Hannah, Samuel, Phineas, Phebe, Amos, and Benjamin.
Joshua R., son of Nathaniel and Mary R., b. 3, 4, 1681; m. Hannah --; he d. 5 Nov. 1748, (" aged 68," N. E. Gen. Register, Vol. III, p. 148.) His widow d. 27 Dec. 1768. They had one son and three daus., viz.: Hannah, Mary, Martha, and Joshua.
Joshua R., son of Joshua and Hannah R., b. 18 Oct. 1716 ; entered his intention of marriage with Eunice Jennisen, "Genneson," of Watertown, 27 April, 1739. They had five children, viz. : Lucy, ("Lucie,") b. 21 July, 1740; (d. 27 Dec. 1741, aged I year ; N. E. Gen. Reg., Vol. III, p. 46,) Nathaniel, Lucy, Joshua, and Israel, b. 29 March, 1748, d. 20 April, 1748. Eunice, wife of Joshua R., d. 13 April, 1748, (" aged 29," N. E. G. Reg., Vol. III, p. 148,) and he m. 2dly, Abigail Carter, and they had six or more children, viz.: Josiah, Abigail, Israel, Asa, Polly, and Eunice; and one copy adds Alford. Joshua R., son of Joshua and Hannah, d. . His widow Abigail Carter R. d. at Salem, Mass. about 1795, date now uncertain.
Nathaniel R., son of Joshua and Eunice Jennison R., b. 20 March, 1742 ; m. Eunice Putnam, (dau. of David and Rebekah Perley Putnam, who was b. at Danvers, Mass. 29 March, 1751,) at Middleton, Mass. Sept. 1771. They removed to Salem, Mass. where they both died. They had five sons and two daus., viz.: Nathaniel, Joshua, Jesse, Eunice, William Putnam R., and Betsey -. Nathaniel R. son of Joshua and Eunice J. R. was a merchant and a tanner; he was accidentally killed by a building he was assisting to remove, 25 Jan. 1796, ae. 53. His widow, Eunice Putnam R. d. 26 Nov. 1846, aged 95 yrs. 7 mos. 27 days.
William Putnam R., son of Nathaniel and Eunice Putnam R., b. 5 May, 1785, and Deborah Lang, (dau. of Edward and Rachel Ward Lang,) b. 23 Sept. 1785, were m. 6 Aug. 1807. They had five daus. and four sons, viz.: Ellen Octavia, Sarah Lang, Augusta Ilsley, William Putnam R., M. D., Edward Symmes Lang R., Eliza Anne, Charles Frederick, Caroline Louisa, and Nathaniel Putnam R. Capt. William Putnam R., son of Nathaniel and Eunice P. R., d. 5 Sept. 1826, aged 41 yrs. and 4 mos.. He was a sea captain and afterwards a merchant. His widow Deborah L. R. d. 4 March, 1845, aged 59 years and 5 months.
Edward S. L.. R. son of Wm. P. and Deborah L. R. b. 28 Feb. 1816; was m. at Salem, Mass. 6 Oct. 1848, to Harriet Emeline Norris, (dau. of Emery and Abigail Millet Jeffs Norris) who was b. at Salem 7 Dec. 1821. They reside at Kendall, Kendall Co., III., and have no children.
The authorities for the above, are several Family Bibles, containing Family Records; Extracts from Woburn Town Records, and from New England Hist. and Gen. Register ; and also from letters written to me.
[NEHGS Register, Vol. 9, Jan 1855, p. 68.] [3]
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- 1651
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