Nicholas Rich (1660 - bef. 1726)

Born 1660 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 21 Oct 1726 before age 66 in Preston, New London, Connecticut

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Biography

Abigail (Green) Rich, the first wife of Nicholas Rich and mother to Samuel, David, Jonathan, Abigail, Mary and Sarah Rich, was one of five known children born to John and Mary (Warren) Green of Salem, Massachusetts. John Green died intestate January 11, 1690/1, and his estate was divided February 28, 1690/1. The administration of his estate was recorded in the Essex Registry of Deeds on August 8, 1693, naming his wife, "Mary Green, widow", his children "Abigail, wife of Nicholas Rich", Elizabeth Green, "Mary, wife of Tobias Trow", and John Green, Jr.

The Vital Records of Salem Massachusetts contain the birth records of five children of John and Mary (Warren) Green- Abigaile Greene, born 22 February 1660-Mary Greene, born March 1, 1663 -Sara Greene, born August 14, 1666-Elizabeth Greene, born February 20, 1667-John Green, born June 28, 1671.

John Green's eldest daughter, Abigail (Green) Rich and her husband Nicholas Rich settled in Wenham, Massachusetts (near Salem), where the birth of their daughter, Abigail Rich, was recorded on October 2, 1687, and the birth of their son David Rich, was recorded on July 18, 1695.[4] (Considering the range between Abigail and David's birth dates, it's possible that all six of the Rich children were born in Wenham).

Abigail (Green) Rich must have died before 1713, because by this time, Nicholas Rich had married the widow Grace Lewis. Nicholas and Grace Rich were in Preston, Connecticut by 1716 when Nicholas bought the fifty-acre tract of land from John Ames, and thereafter deeded one-half of the tract to his wife, Grace. Although I have found no proof of Nicholas Rich's demise, the most logical explanation for why Samuel, David, Jonathan, Abigail, Mary, and Sarah Rich would sell this tract of land in October of 1726 is that Nicholas had died and his heirs were in the process of dispersing his estate amongst themselves. The fact that Grace Rich freely relinquished her rights to her one-half of the Rich tract in 1720 may also be significant. It's possible that Nicholas Rich died as early as 1720, since he neither signed nor witnessed the 1720 document.

Sources

• Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex Co.Massachusetts {Salem, MA,Essex Institute, 1975 reprint} Vol. #8:297
• New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Clarence Almon Torrey, Elizabeth Petty Bentley. Genealogical Publishing Com, Jan 1, 1985 - Reference - 1009 pages. Page 621. [1].
• [[2]] U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 for Nicholas Rich- Title: NEHG Register: NEHGS online database; some printed volumes in personal library. Page: 22:94
• [[3]] Nicholas Rich in the Millennium File - Name: Nicholas Rich - Birth Date: 1660 Birth Place: Massachusetts, USA - Death Date: 21 Oct 1726 - Place: Preston, New London, Connecticut, USA - Spouse: Abigail Green - Children: Abigail Rich
• “Descendants of Nicholas Rich & Abigail Green” by Doris R. Sheridan. [4]