John Rich (aft. 1674 - bef. 1747)

Born after 1674 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Treat) Rich — married 10 Dec 1700 (to 4 Jan 1723) in Eastham, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Hope (Howes) Rich — married after 2 Aug 1723 (to before 11 Nov 1747) in Eastham, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 11 Nov 1747 before age 73 in Eastham, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

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Biography

John Rich was born after 1674, the younger son of Richard Rich and Sally Roberts.^[1][2] His elder brother Richard was born in 1674, and named in their father's probate file as his eldest son.^[3]

He was among the children listed in the settlement of his father's estate in 1697, along with siblings Richard, Sarah, Thomas, Samuel and Lydia.^[3]

He married first Mary Treat, daughter of Rev. Samuel Treat, on 10 Dec 1700 in Eastham, Barnstable County, MA.^[4][1][2] Mary died on 4 Jan 1722/23.^[5][6] He married his second wife, the widow Hope Sears of Chatham, daughter of Samuel Howes of Yarmouth,^[7], and the widow of Richard Sears after 2 August 1723, the date of intentions in Eastham, Barnstable County.^[8][1][2]

John Rich lived in the part of town called Billingsgate, and was treasurer from 1723-1726. The area was incorporated as Wellfleet in 1763.^[2]

Deacon John Rich died of smallpox in 1747 in Eastham.^[2] His will (see below), dated 15 June 1743 and probated 11 November 1747, mentions wife Hope, sons Robert, Reuben, Joshua and John; daughters Hope, Mary and Thankful; step-daughter Hannah.^[9]

Children by first wife born Eastham (now Wellfleet):

1. Mary, b. 14 Feb 1702, mar. James Cahoon, d. ca. 1743
2. Robert, b. 23 Oct 1703, mar. Lydia Collins
3. John, b. 23 Feb 1706, mar. Thankful Sears, d. 27 Mar 1779
4. Reuben, b. 6 Feb 1707, d. Feb 1714
5. Joshua, b. 31 Mar 1710, mar. Hannah Bacon
6. Moses, b. 1712, d. 1714
7. Reuben, (twin) b. 13 Apr 1715, mar. Martha Smith, mar. Ruth Brown, d. 18 Jun 1770
8. Thankful, (twin) b. 13 Apr 1715, mar. John Harding Jr.

Child by 2nd wife, born Eastham (now Wellfleet):

9. Hope, b. 7 May 1725, mar. Col. Elisha Doane, d. 23 Jun 1766

Probate

In his will dated 15 June 1743 and proved 11 November 1747, John Rich of Eastham, yeoman, named his wife Hope, giving her 1/3 of his estate; sons Robert, Reuben, Joshua, John; daughters Hope (unmarried), Mary (married with children), Thankful (deceased) the wife of John Harding and their unnamed minor son, his wife's daughter Hannah "now the wife of Zoheth Smith having been a dutifull child to me". He named as his executors his wife Hope and two eldest sons Robert & John. Witnesses were Edward Righley, Isaiah Lewis, Abigail Lewis. The will was proved 11 November 1747, and sons Robert & John were approved as executors, being "the two only surviving executors in the same will named." (So wife Hope was deceased by November 1741.) On 6 July 1748 the inventory of his estate was exhibited and totaled £872, including lands in Truro and Eastham.^[10]

On 29 June 1748, "Loheth" (i.e., Zoheth) Smith of Eastham, gentleman, appointed guardian of his sons "Loheth", Richard, and Samuell Smith, grandsons to Deacon John Rich late of Eastham, deceased, to manage the proceeds of his sons' rights in the estate.^[11]

Research Notes

Bradley Rootsweb Selected Individuals Contains potential sources. (Link via Wayback Machine at Archive.org, capture date 05 Sep 2014.)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Evelyn Rich, "Richard Rich of Eastham on Cape Cod and some of his Descendants," NEHGR Vol. 83:262-264.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} John Harvey Treat, The Treat Family: A Genealogy of Trott, Tratt, and Treat (Salem, MA: Salem Press, 1893), p. 189-190.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 2:44-45
4. ↑ George E. Bowman, Mayflower Descendant "Eastham & Orleans Vital Records" Vol. 9:13. "John Rich and Mary Treat ware married the tenth day of december : In the year 1700."
5. ↑ George E. Bowman, Mayflower Descendant "Eastham & Orleans Vital Records" Vol. 9:13. "Mary Rich the wife of John Rich dyed on the fourth day of January annodomini : 1722/3"
6. ↑ Births, marriages, deaths, 1649-ca.1840; intentions of marriage, 1700-ca.1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9979-9XFV : 3 October 2022), FHL microfilm 007009735, image 157, Eastham, Massachusetts, Volume 2, Births, & Deaths, 1654-1797, Page 101.
7. ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 4:90, the will of Samuel Howes of Yarmouth, dated 7 Jun 1722 and proved 29 Jan 1722/3, names his daughter "Hope Sears".
8. ↑ George E. Bowman, Mayflower Descendant "Eastham & Orleans Vital Records" Vol. 23:113. "august ye 2th 1723 John Rich of Eastham Signified his purpose to marry with Hope Seers of Chatham."
9. ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 8:109-112, will & inventory of John Rich of Eastham 1747 No date of death is recorded in the probate records.
10. ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 8:109-112, will & inventory of John Rich of Eastham 1747
11. ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 7:63-65, John Rich's grandchildren's guardianship appointment: Zoheth, Richard & Samuel Smith.

See also:

• Paine, Josiah, Early settlers of Eastham : containing sketches of all early settlers of Eastham (Yarmouthport, MA, C.W. Swift, 1916) , p. 19.
• Library of Cape Cod History #32, p. 19, "Richard Rich".