Lydia (Davis) Rich (abt. 1733 - aft. 1804)

Born about 1733 in Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Moses Rich — married after 28 Nov 1754 in Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died after 1804 after about age 71 in Williamstown, Berkshire, Massachusetts [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jackie Marshall [send private message] and Kelly Hatfield [send private message]

Biography

Even though Lydia Davis is not mentioned in it, an NEHGR article, published 1934 after Chronicle of Everyday People (1929), contains information that would have helped Chronicle’s author. Benjamin Davis of Brookfield married Mary Lazell 26 Aug 1725 at Hingham Parish, Cohasset, Massachusetts (VR Cohasset p 140). Baptisms of their daughters Hannah and Abigail were recorded respectively 3 Jul 1726 and 21 Jul 1728 (VR Cohasset p. 39). About 1730 the Davis family & some of the Lazells removed to Brookfield, MA, Benjamin Davis’ hometown. Lydia Davis, Stephen Davis and siblings born later in Brookfield or Western/Warren were never recorded, or perhaps lost.

A Chronicle of Everyday People: being as far as can be obtained the American ancestry of George Schuyler Gardiner and his wife Catherine Larison Marshall.... by Catherine Marshall Gardiner, edited by Harry D. Sleight, 1929, (section: Ancestry of Catherine Larison Marshall, Rich, pages 147-150; and Unproven Section II, Davis, pages 183-186). [Images of this book on ancestry.com accessed by jlsm 23 Dec 2014] Note: Author recognized "quagmire" of Davis families with daughters named Lydia. Gives a consistent line that still lacked proof that Lydia & Stephen Davis were brother & sister. "...the families of Stephen Davis & Moses Rich were so closely associated for many years that a tie of blood is indicated though no proof is found." Page 185, BENJAMIN DAVIS of Warren, Mass, b 1698; died 1759/60; married MARY ----; children: Stephen b - d - m. c1764 Rebecca d/o Moses Young. Perhaps Benjamin. PROBABLY LYDIA, b - d after 1816, m. 1754 MOSES RICH. Author gives a list of authorities consulted but doesn't link any source to specific statements.
Catherine Gardiner was on the right track. There may not be any specific document proving that Lydia (Davis) Rich was the daughter of Benjamin & Mary Davis, and sister of Stephen Davis, but the relationship is implied in Davis probate records mentioning Moses Rich. Benjamin Davis and his father Samuel Davis were living in the same place as Lydia Davis Rich and Stephen Davis.

There is compelling evidence buried in the probate record of Lydia's grandfather, Stephen Davis (b. 1672) of Brookfield who died before 5 Mar 1760. Three of Stephen Davis' sons predeceased him: Benjamin, Joseph and Isaac Davis. On 1 Dec 1762 a committee appointed by the probate judge completed their recommendation for the division of Samuel's real estate. On the back of that document were signatures of four people who agreed to the proposal. Relationships were not stated on the document; added here in brackets.
Mary Dunham [widow, daughter Samuel Davis]
John Bishop Jr. [husband of Rebecca Davis, daughter of Isaac Davis deceased]
Mehitable Davis [a daughter or granddaughter of Samuel]
Moses Rich [husband of Lydia Davis, daughter of Benjamin Davis].
The signature of Moses Rich, along with these signers, supports the theory that Lydia Davis (wife of Moses Rich) was a member of the Davis family in Brookfield.
[Source: Worcester County, MA, Probate File 16173 Samuel Davis, Brookfield; images online familysearch.org Massachusetts, Worcester County Probate Files 1731-1925 > Worcester > Case no 16124-16200 Davis, Phin - Davis, Simon 1731-1881 > images 561-595]

In the probate record of Benjamin Davis of the town of Western (now Warren), his widow Mary Davis, refused administration in favor of her eldest son Stephen, who was appointed administrator by the judge 25 Jan 1759. Benjamin died intestate. None of his other children were named in the probate file. Moses Rich was named in a list of people who received payment from the estate, but not identified as Benjamin's son-in-law. [Worcester County, MA, Probate File 15644, Benjamin Davis, of Western; Document Retrieval Services Copy www.mass-doc.com typed transcript by George R. Ott]

1754 Nov 28: Lydia Daviss & Moses Rich of Brookfield, marriage int. [published Vital Records of Warren, Massachusetts; Marriages p. 99]

1755 Mar __: Moses Rich & Lydia Daviss, marriage int. [published Vital Records of Brookfield, Massachusetts; Marriages p. 377]

1755 Aug 5: [first child] Abi Rich, d Moses & Lydia Rich [published Vital Records of Brookfield, Massachusetts; Births, p. 189]

1765: Moses & Lydia Rich settled at Williamstown in 1765. Stephen & Rebekah Davis were also residing at Williamstown on 16 Apr 1765 when their first child was born. Stephen's mother, Mary Davis died there in 1774.

1790 Apr 7: Moses Rich wrote his will. He named "Lydia Rich my dearly beloved wife."

1790 US Census: Williamstown, Berkshire, Massachusetts; M637_4; Page 692 [semi-alphabetical] Moses Rich 2-0-3 Elijah Rich 1-1-4 Phillip Rich 1-1-1 James Savage 1-2-2 Rachel Davis, p691, 0-0-2 [widow of Benjamin, sister-in-law of Lydia Rich?] Francis Davis, p691, 1-2-3

1790 Oct 16: Williamstown; Whereas Lydia, the wife of me, MOSES RICH, hath behaved herself in a provoking, insulting, and rebellious manner, and hath run me considerably in debt several times, and hath also disposed of my estate, to my damage - This is to forbit all persons trading with her upon the penalty of the law, or crediting her on my account, as I will pay no debt of her contracting. MOSES RICH. Williamstown, October 16, 1790. [The Western Star (Stockbridge, MA), 23 Nov 1790, issue 52, p. 4; America's Historical Newspapers.]

1800 US Census, Williamstown, Berkshire Co, MA, p 130 Elijah Rich 10110-11211 Philip Rich 10010-00010 Moses Rich 20011-20011 *Lydia appears to be accounted for Elnathan Holmes 11101-21010 Francis Davis, p128, 01110-32010

1804 Oct 1: List of letters remaining in the Post Office at Williamstown, (Mas.) on the 1st day of October, 1804: Mrs. Lydia Rich [Sun (Pittsfield, MA), 19 Nov 1804, page 4,

When did Lydia Davis Rich die? The will of Moses Rich (written in 1790) was proved 7 Mar 1816. In the will he named "Lydia Rich, my dearly beloved wife." His full probate file is located at AmericanAncestors.org (paid membership subscription required). This file contains images of the original separate papers from his probate file #3405. There was an inventory; Moses owned land and had a few household possessions at the time of his death. Missing in the file is any kind of final accounting by the administrator. So, we do not see any provision for Lydia's care or her dower thirds in probate. She did not have a probate file of her own. The 'Citation for Probate of a Will' dated 2 Jan 1816 was addressed "To Lydia Rich, the widow and Elijah Rich and others, Heirs of the estate of Moses Rich…" however, Lydia's name has been lined out. Was she still living? Chronicle of Everyday People and most family trees say that she died after 1816. Without a death record, newspaper notice or gravestone, it is difficult to say when she died.

Sources

• Gardiner, Catherine Marshall, compiler, edited by Harry D. Slight. A chronicle of everyday people : being as far as can be obtained the American ancestry of George Schuyler Gardiner and his wife Catherine Larison Marshall with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren born before 1929. Sag Harbor, NY: unknown, 1929. Digital images. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 Apr 2020.
• Worcester County, MA, Probate File 16173 Samuel Davis, Brookfield; images online familysearch.org Massachusetts, Worcester County Probate Files 1731-1925 > Worcester > Case no 16124-16200 Davis, Phin - Davis, Simon 1731-1881 > images 561-595
• Vital Records of Warren (Formerly Western), Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Worcester, Massachusetts, published by Franklin P. Rice, Trustee of the Systematic History Fund. 1910. “Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850.” Database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7820/1
• Vital Records of Brookfield, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Worcester, Massachusetts, published by Franklin P. Rice, Trustee of the Systematic History Fund. 1909. “Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850.” Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7670/397/141189381
• The Sun [Pittsfield, Massachusetts). “List of Letters remaining in the Post Office at Williamstown, (Mas.) on the 1st day of October, 1804.” 27 Oct 1804. Digital images America’s Historical Newspapers.
• The Western Star (Stockbridge, MA), "WHEREAS Lydia, the wife of me, MOSES RICH" 23 Nov 1790. Digital images America's Historical Newspapers.
• Grace Greylock Niles. The Hoosac Vally, Its Legends and Its History. NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, Knickerbocker Press, 1912.
• Lazell, Theodore Studley. “John Lazell of Hingham, Mass., and some of his Descendants.” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. vol. 88, p. 259. Online database AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.
• Giulvezan, Isabel Stebbins. John Sappington Chapter, Affton, MO. "Moses Rich, Revolutionary War Patriot, his wife Lydia Davis of Worcester County, Mass., Berkshire County, Mass., & Some of their Descendants," 1981; National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Genealogical Records Committee, Series 2, Volume 1, #86069
• The Sun [Pittsfield, Massachusetts). “List of Letters remaining in the Post Office at Williamstown, (Mas.) on the 1st day of October, 1804.” 27 Oct 1804. Digital images America’s Historical Newspapers.
• Berkshire County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1761-1917.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2725/i/48367/3405-co1/68573569