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Richard King (abt. 1718 - 1775)

Richard King
Born about in Boston, Massachusettsmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of and
Husband of — married 30 Nov 1753 in York, Mainemap
Husband of — married 31 Jan 1762 in Scarborough, Cumberland Co., MEmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , and
Died at about age 57 in Dunston Landing, Scarborough, Cumberland, Mainemap
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Profile last modified | Created 14 Nov 2014
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Biography

Richard King was born circa 1718 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the eldest son of John King and Mary Stowell. From his early youth displayed singular vitality, ability, and versatility. He was a merchant, trader, speculator,soldier, farmer, and writer, in all of which callings he made his mark. After serving in the expedition against Louisburg, during the war with France, he moved to Scarborough, Maine which became the permanent home of himself and of some of his descendants. [1]

He was twice married.

He married first Isabella Bragdon, daughter of Jeremiah S. Bragdon and Tabitha Banks, on 20 November 1753. Isabella Bragdon, bore him three children, of whom Rufus, the eldest [1755], became the head of the New York house.

Children:
  1. Rufus King b. 24 Mar 1755, d. 29 Apr 1827
  2. Mary King b. 7 Nov 1756
  3. Paulina King b. 1 Mar 1759

He married second Mary Black, daughter of Samuel Black, on 31 January 1762 at Second Church, Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine.[2] Mary Black, his second wife, bore him five children, of whom William became the first Governor of the State of Maine, and Cyrus a noted Congressman from Massachusetts.

Children:
  1. Richard King b. 22 Dec 1762
  2. Isabella King b. 1764, d. 12 Sep 1770
  3. Dorcas King b. 20 May 1766
  4. Governor William King+1 b. 9 Feb 1768, d. 17 Jun 1852
  5. Elizabeth King b. 7 Jan 1770
  6. Cyrus King b. 6 Sep 1772, d. 25 Apr 1817
  7. Lyden King b. 28 Apr 1775[3]

Richard King was a prosperous farmer-merchant, "lumberman, and sea captain" who had settled at Dunstan Landing in Scarborough, near Portland, Maine, and had made a modest fortune by 1755, the year his son Rufus King was born. His financial success aroused the jealousy of his neighbors, and when the Stamp Act 1765 was imposed, and rioting became almost respectable, a mob ransacked his house and destroyed most of the furniture. Nobody was punished, and the next year the mob burned down his barn.[4]

"Mr. Richard King, the elder, had three brothers, David, Josiah and William." It is highly probably, says [William S.] Southgate, in his History of Scarborough (Maine Hist. Coll., Vol. iii.), that Richard King was descended from the Kings of Kittery, who settled there during the seventeenth century." (William Scott Southgate, author of the History of Scarborough, was the great-grandson of Richard King through daughter Mary and grandson Horatio).4

Richard King was appointed by Governor Shirley as commissary of the British army troops destined for Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia in 1744 and subsequently established himself in business in Watertown, Massachusetts, and in 1746 in Scarborough, Maine.5,3

Richard King, in 1746 conveyed to Jonas Cooledge of Watertown, land in Watertown, bought of Thornton in 1742. David King was witness.6

Richard King was a farmer, merchant and the largest exporter of lumber from the district of Maine.7

David King and Elizabeth King sold land in Pepperellborough, Maine, on 16 September 1765: "David King of Maine trader and Elizabeth his wife to Richard King of Scarboro, Gent."

Death

He died on 27 March 1775 at his home near Dunstan Landing, Scarborough.3 He was buried on 30 March 1775 in Scarborough.[2]

Sources

  1. ↑ John King of Boston MA, online http://members.tripod.com/~loupero/famous1.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), (Orig. Pub. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 148 vols., 1847-1994) 38:342.
  3. ↑ Wm. M. Sargent Esq., "Records of the First Congregational Church in Scarborough, Maine", Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder 2:2 (1885): 83.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia: Rufus King Bio

See also: page 50-1 Stowell Genealogy; a record of the Descendants of Samuel Stowell of Hingham, MA by William Henry Harrison Stowell {1922} as cited https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:STF8-9Q6 Digital available at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/255771?availability=Family%20History%20Library





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Comments: 1

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Johnson-43462 Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear
Hi. I realize there's a Wikipedia page on him but while I was researching the Scarborough, Maine township area I came across what can be viewed as, without exaggeration, a simply marvelous (academic) paper, fully sourced, on the harassment and mob destruction of his home, property and papers the latter which included many land deeds he held in security for debt owed by some of those in the mob who used the Stamp Act Riots as a cover for their real motives. These men were involved in the rioting upon his property. Like I said, it's a marvelously researched paper; If you're a descendant of this profile you need it in your family archives.  :-)

P.S. In retrospect let me add another comment: The height of King's prosperous life was during the mid 1760's which witnessed colonial resistance to British taxation particularly during economic downturns. Additionally, King was a successful merchant who openly feuded with certain outspoken Scarborough patriarchs who were also either directly in debt to him or knew someone who was. Events leading up to the American Revolution did not favor King who was also a well known town and General Court representative. He was seen as being on the side of the oppressive British. Then, there's his unfortunate LNAB which certainly added fuel to the fire. On p. 87 author Leamon further discusses how King tried to come to grips with his Tory leanings, then he died.

Leamon, James S. . "The Stamp Act Crisis in Maine: The Case of Scarborough." Maine History 11, 3 (1972): 74-93. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainehistoryjournal/vol11/iss3/3

posted by Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear
edited by Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear

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