Thomas R Richards^[1]

1596 - 1650  (53 years)

• Name	Thomas R Richards
  Birth	15 Apr 1596	Pitminster, Somerset, England
  Gender	Male
  Death	28 Jan 1650	Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  Person ID	I7418	Master
  Last Modified	8 Feb 2019

  
  

  Family	Welthian Loring,   b. 1600, Dorchester, West Dorset District, Dorset, England d. 3 Jul 1679, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 79 years)
  Marriage	1618	, , , England
  Children	1. Hannah Richards,   b. 1618   d. 1624 (Age 6 years)   2. Samuel Richards,   b. 1619, Dorchester, Dorset, England d. 1651, , Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 32 years) + 3. Mary Richards,   b. 11 Nov 1620, Pitminster, Somerset, England d. 24 Jun 1659, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 38 years)   4. Benjamin Richards,   b. 1623, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 1665, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 42 years)   5. John Richards,   b. 13 Feb 1625, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 12 Apr 1694, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 69 years)   6. Anna Richards,   b. 1 Nov 1626, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 10 Nov 1651, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 25 years)   7. Alice Richards,   b. 16 Jun 1628, Keynsham, Somerset, England d. 12 Dec 1671, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (Age 43 years)   8. Hannah Richards,   b. 26 Oct 1630, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 10 Nov 1651, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 21 years)   9. James Richards,   b. 13 Sep 1631, Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 29 Jun 1680, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 48 years)   10. Robert Richards,   b. 13 Sep 1631, Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 12 Apr 1694, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 62 years)   11. Samuel Richards,   b. 1633, Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 5 Feb 1701, , , Connecticut, USA (Age 68 years)   12. Joseph Richards,   b. 1635, Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 1651, Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 16 years)   13. Benjamin Richards,   b. 1637   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F2456	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Feb 2019

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 15 Apr 1596 - Pitminster, Somerset, England Marriage - 1618 - , , , England Death - 28 Jan 1650 - Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Notes

  Thomas Richards Birth: Apr 1596 Pitminster, Somerset, England Death: 1650 Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA Baptized: 15 April 1596 Pitminster, Somersetshire, England Son of Thomas Richards. A merchant from Pitminster, Somersetshire to Massachusetts Bay in 1633. First settled in Dorchester; moved to Weymouth in 1639. Died between 17 December 1650 (date of will) and 18 January 1650/1 (date of first inventory). Married by 1620, Welthian _____. Perhaps she was sister to Thomas Loring, whom Thomas called "brother" in his will. She died between 3 July 1679 (date of will) and 4 November 1679 (probate of will). Source: Anderson"s Great Migration Study Project. Children: Mary Richards Hinckley (1620 - 1659)* John Richards (1625 - 1694)* Anna Richards Hunt (1626 - ____)* Alice Richards Bradford (1629 - 1671)* THOMAS RICHARDS ORIGIN: Pitminster, Somersetshire MIGRATION: 1633 FIRST RESIDENCE: Dorchester REMOVES: Weymouth 1639 RETURN TRIPS: To England about 1640, again 1646, again about 1649 (and perhaps on other occasions) OCCUPATION: Merchant. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Weymouth church prior to 13 May 1640 implied by freemanship. FREEMAN: 13 May 1640 [MBCR 1:377]. EDUCATION: He signed his will. No doubt he was a competent arithmetrician, being a well-stocked merchant. OFFICES: Dorchester selectman, 8 October 1633 [DTR 3]. ESTATE: On 5 August 1633 Thomas Richards received a four acre lot at Dorchester [DTR 2]. On 22 November 1634 "Mr. Richards" was granted a great lot of six acres [DTR 9]. On 5 July 1636 he received a grant of ten acres at Squantum Neck [DTR 18]. On 2 January 1637/8 he was granted two acres [DTR 26]. On 18 March 1637/8 he received grants of eleven acres and twelve acres [DTR 29]. In the meadow beyond Naponset, Mr. Richards received lot number eleven containing twelve acres [DTR 321]. In about 1640, Thomas Richards of Weymouth conveyed to Nicholas Butler twelve acres on Dorchester neck [Lechford 243]. In his will, dated 17 December 1650 and proved 28 January 1650[/1], Thomas Richards "of the town of Waymouth in New England being at this present [illegible] the 17 December 1650 in the town of Hull in New England aforesaid in the house of Tho: Loringe, being weak and sick in body" bequeathed that "when my son John come home my whole estate shall be cast up what it comes to and my sons John and James and Samuell and Joseph and Benjamine shall have all of them alike, double portions to my daughters out of it, my son John shall have no more than one of the rest because I have been at greater charge with him than with any of the other[s]"; "my daughter[s] Mary and Ann and Alce and Hannah shall have half so much as my sons all alike, only my daughter Mary shall have £10 more than any of the other"; "my wife shall have a competent and sufficient maintenance allowed her out of my estate, that is to say £35 a year ... during her life"; "I do give to brother Thom. Loring £5 for the charge and trouble they have been at with me"; to "Thomas Prosser £20"; "my son John shall have my sons Joseph's and Benjamine's portions in his hands until they be twenty and one years of age"; overseers "my son John and Thomas Loringe and Nicolas Baker both of Hull [sic]" [SPR NS 1:64; see also MD 9:90]. The heirs petitioned the court 28 January 1650[/1] explaining that "our dear father Mr. Thomas Richards" died without naming an executor in his will, and petitioning that "our dear mother Mrs. Welthian Richards, late wife of our dear father, deceased" be granted power to improve the estate and bring in an inventory. This was signed by "James Richards, Joseph Richards, Benjamin Richards, Mr. Thomas Hinckley desires the same by his letter, Mr. Wil[lia]m Bradford also desires the same by his letter, Epharim Hunt and Hannah Richards." The motion to accept came from Mr. John Richards [SPR 1:65 NS; MD 9:90]. The probate papers further indicated that Welthian had "been very faithful and provident for her husband conserning his estate" and that "when he went last to England he made her a letter of attorney to buy or sell or ordering of any of his estate he left behind him here" [SPR NS 1:65]. The inventory of the goods of "Mr. Thomas Richards late of Weymouth" was taken 25 January 1650[/1] £1300 17s. 11d. including £200 in real estate: "his house & land and orchard and mill £200" [SPR NS 1:66-72]. This very detailed list includes many items of clothing, obviously a merchant's stock, and "thirty-six swords." Widow Welthean Richards signed over the estate due him to her son John Richards 30 January 1651[/2] saying that "after all the rest of my said husband's estate left to his children be made appear to be wholly expended in the satisfying of those debts in England, that my said estate shall be liable to make up what shall be remaining unsatisfied thereof" [SLR 1:144]. Her children deeded to her the home, land and mill and sizable sums of money for her comfortable maintenance 30 January 1651[/2] [SLR1:171]. In her will, dated 3 July 1679 and proved 4 November 1679, "Welthean Richards of Boston ..., widow," bequeathed to "my eldest son John Richards all that my dwelling house & land adjoining scituate in Boston," along with £300 of mine which has been in his hands; to "my son James Richards" £250 of mine which has been in my hands; to Thomas Bradford £5, to Alice Bradford £60, to Hannah Bradford £40; to Mercy Bradford £10, to William Bradford Jr. £20, to John Bradford £10, to Samuel Bradford £5, to Melatiah Bradford £5, to Mary Bradford £5, to Sarah Bradford £5, "these ten above last named being children of William Bradford of Plimouth Colony & my daughter Alice deceased"; to Samuel Hinckley £20, to Thomas Hinckley Jr. £30, to Sarah Bacon £10, to Hannah Glover £5, to Mellatiah Crocker £5, to Bathshua Hinckley £5, to Mehitable Hinckley £5, to Mary Wyborne £5, "these eight last mentioned being children of Thomas Hinckly of Plimouth Colony & my daughter Mary deceased"; to Ephraim Hunt and John Hunt, "sons to Ephraim hunt Sr. of Weymoth & my late daughter Anne," £5 apiece; to "the daughter of Mary Wiborne abovesaid £5, & to her son £10; to the son of Hannah Glover £5; to John Bradford's two children £5 each; to Samuel Hinckley's child £5; to Sarah Bacon's two children £5 each; to "my son James's six children" 20s. apiece; to Thomas Hunt's two children £5 apiece; "more to Alice & Hannah Bradford £5 each to put them in mourning at my funeral"; various philanthropic bequests and bequests of household goods to some of the children and grandchildren named above; "my loving son John Richards to be sole executor and residuary legatee [SPR 6:314-16; MD 9:91]. BIRTH: Baptized 15 April 1596, Pitminster, Somersetshire, son of Thomas Richards [UGM 24:93]. DEATH: Between 17 December 1650 (date of will) and 18 January 1650/1 (date of first inventory). MARRIAGE: By 1620 Welthian _____. Perhaps she was sister to Thomas Loring, whom Thomas called "brother" in his will. She died between 3 July 1679 (date of will) and 4 November 1679 (probate of will). CHILDREN (i-vi baptized Pitminster, Somersetshire [UGM 24:92]): i MARY, bp. Pitminster 11 November 1620; m. Barnstable 4 December 1641 Thomas Hinckley [PCR 8:44]. ii JOHN, bp. Pitminster 13 February 1625 [1624/5?]; in 1652/3 his mother considered matching him with Mr. William Tyng's eldest daughter [WP 6:268]; m. (1) Boston 3 May 1654 Elizabeth (Hawkins) (Long) Winthrop [BVR 48]; m. (2) Boston 1 September 1692 Ann Winthrop [Sewall 295]. iii ANN, bp. Pitminster 1 November 1626; m. say 1643 Ephraim Hunt. iv ALICE, bp. Pitminster 7 April 1629 (d. Plymouth 12 December 1671, aged 44 [PCR 8:33]); m. by 1650 as his first wife William Bradford, son of WILLIAM BRADFORD. v HANNAH, bp. Pitminster 26 October 1630; petitioned to name mother administrator of father's will (28 January 1650/1), but not named in mother's will (3 July 1679); no further record. vi JAMES, bp. Pitminster 13 September 1632; m. say 1655 as her first husband Sarah Gibbons [WP 6:451]. vii SAMUEL, b. say 1634; named in father's will but not mother's; "consider the trouble that I have with Sammuell for he is such a trouble that none will share with me in, and if I put him out it will cost me so much that I cannot well bear" (Welthian Richards to her son John, 20 March 1652/3 [WP 6:268]). viii JOSEPH, b. say 1636 (under 21 in 1650); petitioned to name mother administrator of father's will (28 January 1650/1), but not named in mother's will (3 July 1679); no further record. ix BENJAMIN, b. say 1638 (under 21 in 1650); m. Boston 10 October 1661 Hannah Hudson [BVR 82]. ASSOCIATIONS: On 26 March 1654 Thomas Allyn of Barnstable deposed regarding a trip which he had made to England five years earlier, during which he had sought out Hugh Norman, a former resident of Yarmouth in Plymouth Colony who had abandoned his wife in Yarmouth, returned to England and was living in Orchard, a parish near Taunton, Somersetshire. In the course of this deposition Allyn reported that, "having understood that Mr. Richards lived thereabouts, I went unto him he being his cousin and brought him over to New England, so he told me of his wickedness and his bad life he then lived in." This document was followed immediately by an undated deposition by Thomas Richards, also reporting on what he knew of Hugh Norman [MD 6:102-03, citing PCLR 2:1:105; see also NEHGR 68:62]. Assuming that the deposition of Thomas Richards was made at the time about which Allyn was reporting, this would place Thomas Richards in the vicinity of Taunton in England in 1649, probably on his last trip to England before his death. This does not constitute proof that Richards resided in this part of England before he first migrated to New England, but it is certainly a clue which should be vigorously pursued. COMMENTS: In about 1638 Aspinwall recorded the receipt of £100 by Israel Stoughton from Thomas Richards in payment of a debt due Gabriel Cornish of Weymouth and Melcomb Regis, Dorsetshire [Lechford 159-60;WP 4:133-34]. About 1640, Joseph Hollway of Sandwich, millwright, deposed that "in or about March last past he heard the wife of Thomas Richards of Weymouth speaking of Henry Waltham & Willm Waltham say these words vizt The Walthams are cozeners & cheaters" [Lechford 321]. Henry Waltham told his side of the story to John Winthrop in a letter dated 25 January 1640/1, indicating that Mrs. Richards behaved in a fashion "unbeseeming a modest woman's carriage" [WP 4:310]. Lechford also recorded an undated (circa 1640) action by Henry Waltham against "Thomas Richards and Welthin his wife ... for the division of one dwelling house belonging to the mill in Weymouth" [Lechford 351]. The general court ruled that Welthia, the wife of Thomas Richards of Waymoth, was to enjoy rent from Mr. Waltham's part of the house until "her husband return, (if he return this summer)" [MBCR 1:313]. Mrs. Richards brought her maid Edye White to John Winthrop for correction. Among the charges against the maid was that she was "discovering the secrets of the family, one thing she confessed about a maid that drank too much there" [WP 4:232]. On 5 December 1646 Ephraim Hunt of Weymouth, blacksmith, appointed Thomas Richards of Weymouth his lawful attorney to "take possession & seisin of certain lands in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire formerly the possessions & lands of John Hunt of Winchmore Hill in Agmondsham parish" [Aspinwall 50]. On 2 January 1649[/50] once more on his way to England, Mr. Thomas Richards gave a letter of attorney to Welthian his wife to act in all matters on his behalf [Aspinwall 273]. In 1653/4 Welthian Richards was threatened with the charge of witchcraft, having in the heat of passion threatened terrible things would happen to those she was angered at, they later falling victim to various unpleasant fates. Thomas Thacher, writing in her behalf to John Wilson and others from Weymouth 27 February 1653/4, indicated that she took Christian care of her children and that "God hath so blessed [them] that five or six of them have approved themselves to one church or other, and been readily entertained into their fellowship. Three of whom are now asleep in Jesus. Three survive. One more with us gives great hope of a thorough work on his heart" [WP 6:362]. Her case does not seem to have been brought forward.

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=156193840&pid=179