Richard Marchant (1700 - 1752)

Born 1700 in Queen Anne, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Ebden) Marchant — married 1723 in Saint Pauls Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland

Descendants

Died 1 Sep 1752 at about age 52 in Frederick County, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Carollo [send private message]

Biography

Richard married Mary (Ebden) Sweeting on 28 Jul 1723 at St. Paul'S Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland. Among their children are:

• William, b. 15 Sep 1725
• Eleanor, b. 12 Mar 1727
• Mary, b. 27 Jul 1734

Richard Marchant is first found in records in 1723 Baltimore, where he marries Mary Sweeting (who we know was a widow, born Ebden). There is no evidence connecting Richard Marchant to a William Marchant of Dorcester, MD, or to anyone in Dorcester, MD. There is no evidence that Richard descends from an Abashai Marchant of Massachusetts, whose forebears were on the Mayflower. Such as connections seems to be wishful thinking with absolutely zero evidence. Some family say Richard was born in England but this is again undocumented. We do not know where he was born. Richard Marchant left Baltimore about 1734, relocating to the frontier of Frederick County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah. He is found in Quaker records there. He and Mary had five known children. Their first three children (William, Ellinor and Mary) are in the records of St. Paul's parish church, Baltimore. This says nothing of the religion of Richard, since all births, regardless of the faith of the parents, were recorded in Church of England parish records in Maryland.

Richard received his land through Alexander Ross who was granted 100,000 acres on condition that he settle 100 families on the land.

Records indicate that Richard was a weaver in Baltimore (he lived on a farm in Frederick and likely both farmed and wove in Frederick). Richard's son William had much weaver's equipment among his possessions when he died in 1772, so probably followed his father in the profession. There are records of Marchants coming over from Flanders (France/Belgium) to England as far back as the Middle Ages, and remaining weavers through the generations. It is possible - but certainly unproven - that weaving as a profession was a very long family tradition.

(Note: Some researchers confuse Richard Marchant with a Joseph Marchant of Dorcester, MD, but they are two separate people.)

Sources

• Maryland, Church Records, 1668-1995
• WikiTree profile Marchant-175 created through the import of CJB001.ged on Jul 18, 2012 by Christopher Becker. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Christopher and others.

• "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4ZR-MQL : 12 December 2014), Richard Marchent in entry for William Marchent, 15 Sep 1725; citing ST PAUL PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,BALTIMORE,BALTIMORE,MARYLAND; FHL microfilm 13,696

• "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4Z5-KXW : 12 December 2014), Richard Marchent in entry for Ellinor Marchent, 12 Mar 1727; citing ST PAUL PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,BALTIMORE,BALTIMORE,MARYLAND; FHL microfilm 13,696

• Maryland, Church Records, 1668-1995, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4NC-1JB : 24 February 2016), Richard Marchent and Mary Sweeting, 28 Jul 1723; citing Marriage, St. Paul'S Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland, United States, various libraries, churches, historical and national societies, private and public records; FHL microfilm 13,696

• Notes for Richard Marchant:

" In 1725 Richard Marchant, weaver, and Mary, his wife, deed to Samuel Harrison all that tract or parcel of land called Johns Interest, lying on the south side of Back Rr., being a part of a greater tract of land called Todds Range, surveyed in 1669 for Capt. Thomas Todd, 50 ac. of land. ( This was recorded on Aug. 3, 1725 Baltimore Co., Md. 50 acres that was originally patented April 7, 1699.) In 1732, Richard Marchant, weaver, deeds a gift of some cattle to George Blankenship, orphan of William Blankenship of Arundel Co.,MD. No wife signs deed of gift. "Richard Marchant became a Quaker <http://www.rootsweb.com/~quakers/>, when he did is unknown. About 1734 he moved his family to Frederick Co., MD. in the Opeqon area near Mill Creek, close to the Village of Hopewell <http://www.rootsweb.com/~quakers/hopewell.htm>. Richard received his grant of land thru Alexander Ross who received a grant of 1000,000 in 1730 providing he would settle 100 planters within the grant. His description of land is as follows: "187 and one-half ac. on the north side of Mill Creek near the Opequon Creek". Alexander Stewart was also one of these families to reside in the same area. Hopewell Meeting was established in 1734, and Hopewell Friends Meeting House was set up near what is now Hopewell, VA., and between Winchester, VA., and Martinsburg, WV., west of Opeckon Creek. The earliest records of Hopewell Meeting have been lost, with the exception of a few items: "At our Monthly Meeting of Hopewell at Opeckon the fourth day of the Second month A.D. 1748. .....Ja. MaGrew and Jno. Hiatt are appointed to enquire into Richard Merchant's Conversation and what else may be Necessary & prepare a Certificate Accordingly to North Carolina or elsewhere...." Richard Marchant remained in Frederick Co. and died there. He made his will Mar. 25,1752; probated Sept. 1,1752. Some of his descendants sold their plantation and moved to Edgefield, SC. at Bush River." http://lauracivey.tripod.com/Marchant.html