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Richard Harrison was a Newark Founder
Richard Harrison, son of Richard, was born about 1622 in West Kirby, Cheshire, England. Baptism 23 Jun 1622, Acton (near Nantwich), Cheshire, England Father: Ricardi Harrison[1]
He arrived in Branford by 1646.[2]
Richard married Sarah Hubbard, daughter of George and Mary Hubbard in 1643 probably in Branford, definitely in New England. Torrey says 1643-50.pg. 348.[3] [4]
Children documented to have been born to Richard Harrison in Branford:
Other children said to have been born to Sergeant Richard Harrison include: Samuel, Joseph, born 1649; John, born 1655 (?); George, born 1658; Daniel, born 1661 ; Mary, born 1664, married Samuel Pierson, Jr [7]
When, in 1665, England's King Charles II forced New Haven Colony to unite with Connecticut colony, a contingent of residents of Branford, Guilford and Milford left the colony to found Newark, New Jersey.[8] This included many of the surviving original settlers[9], as well as the town's minister Abraham Pierson (abt.1611-1678). On 20 January 1667/68, 48 of the remaining residents of Branford signed the New Plantation and Church Covenant[10][11], seemingly committing to maintaining the town. Yet, Richard subsequently left for Newark. On 9 December 1667, Richard sold to representatives of the town of Branford his dwelling house, barn and all other lands in town.[12]
Sergeant Richard Harrison was one of the committee sent to Newark "to order and settle the concernments and people of the place till another committee be chosen and settled." He was one of the Branford signers of the Fundamental Agreement. In 1668, as appears in the Newark Records, "the Town hath bargained with Deacon Ward, Serg't Richard Harrison and Serg't Edward Rigs for the sum of seventeen Pounds, to build the same Meeting House according to the Dementions [sic] agreed upon, &c." On August 24, 1670, "the Town made a full agreement with Mr. Robert Treat and Serg't Rich'd Harrison about the Building and Maintaining of a sufficient Corn Mill, to be set upon the Little Brook called the Mill Brook." [13]
Sergeant Richard Harrison was nominated for Ensign, August 30, 1673. He was elected one of the Town's Men, March 19, 1674. On April 17, 1676, he was chosen one of a "Committee to lay out the Highway and the Landing Place by the River." At a Town Meeting, May 16, 1683, "Whereas, there was a Covenant made with Mr. Robert Treat and Serg't Richard Harrison to make and maintain a sufficient Corn Mill, upon such conditions as is in a Covenant exprest, made between them, the said Treat and Richard Harrison, and the Town, recorded in the Town Book, fol. 29.
Be it known that I, Richard Harrison, having bought Mr. Treat's part of the Mill, and am obliged, according to the Covenant and conditions thereof af's'd, have formerly and do now again, make over all my Right to the Mill unto my sons Samuel, Joseph and George Harrison, they being become obliged unto the Town, in all particulars mentioned in the said Covenant, to observe and keep the same in all respects as fully as I, the said Richard Harrison, was obliged to. And the said Samuel, Joseph and George Harrison have and do declare in the Town Meeting, their acceptance of the Mill upon the same Conditions as is in the said Covenant exprest."
Richard Harrison Jr. signed the New Haven Colony Oath of Allegiance 1 July 1644.[14]
In 1666, Richard and others left Branford, to found the town of Newark, New Jersey[2]. He received lot #12 in the NW section of the town. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genepool/nwrkmap.htm
Sargent Richard Harrison was active in town affairs. He helped set the boundary line between Elizabeth and Newark, helped to build the meeting house, was chosen a Deputy to attend meetings in Woodbridge. He took the oath of Allegiance to the Dutch Government Sept 1673[2].
In 1675, he received a patent of 152 acres, and in 1673, he turned over his rights to the Corn Mill to his sons Samuel, Joseph and George.
He died about 1685. He was buried in the memorial garden in the First Presbytarian Churchyard in Newark, New Jersey, [15] No Will was found.
Children:[2]
Copied from The Harrison DNA Project
In Settlers by the Long Grey Trail", there is a paragraph that tells us Richard Jr was the brother of Rev. Thomas Harrison. "It was in or near West Kiry (on the Dee), of the Bromborough neighborhood, that Richard Harrison, founder of New Haven, connecticut line, resided prior to his emigration to America. The children Of Richard Sr. are listed p.16 [16]
"The Connecticut family was founded by Richard Harrison, who came to New Haven with his grown children from West Kirby, in Cheshire, England. He took the oath of allegiance at New Haven, August 5th, 1644, and removed to Branford, where he signed the divisions of land July 1st 1646 and died October 25th, 1653. His children were Richard, Jr; Thomas; Mary or Maria; Elizabeth and probably Samuel and Ellen." "Of these; Richard Jr. m. Sarah Hubbard and removed with his family in 1666, with the Rev. Abraham Pierson, to Newark, New Jersey, where he was one of the founders of the town." "Richard, Jr's. children were; John d. 1876; Joseph b. 1649; Samuel b. 1652; Benjamin b 1655; George b. 1658; Daniel b. 1661 and Mary b. 1664. Richard Jr. died at Newark prior to 1691. Thomas the son of Richard, Sr was born about 1630; he m. first feb 1655-6, Dorothy, the widow of John Thompson and had Thompson Jr b. 1656-7; and Nathaniel b... 1658. Thomas Sr. m. second, the widow Elizabeth Stent, whose first husand had died on the way to America and had Elizabeth b. 1667/8; Mary b. 1668l9; John b. 1670/1; Samuel b. 1673; and Isaac b. 1678. Samuel, who was probably the son of Richard Sr. does not appear to have left any children; he married Sarah Johnson and died at Newark in 1705." [17]
Harrison-5638 was created by Kathy Lamm through the import of Brown.GED on Jul 8, 2014. This comment and citation can be deleted after the biography has been edited and primary sources are included.
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