Ebenezer Richards Esq. (1719 - 1799)

Born 12 Jan 1719 in Dedham, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Thankful (Stratton) Richards — married 24 Dec 1741 (to 1 Jun 1796) in Cambridge, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 27 Feb 1799 at age 80 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bobbie Hall [send private message]

Biography

Dea. Ebenezer Richards Esq. was born on 12 Jan 1718/19 in Dedham, Suffolk County, Province of Mass. Bay, the son of James and Hannah (Metcalf) Richards.^{[1][2] [3][4]} He settled upon the family's original homestead in Dedham, later belonging to the Rev. Dr. Burgess.^[4] He was admitted as a member to the First Parish Church 20 Sep 1741.^[1] He was "of Dedham" at the time of his marriage^[5] On 24 Dec 1741, he married Thankful Stratton, daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia (Fuller) Stratton, in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Province of Mass. Bay.^{[6][5] [2][4]} He was named as executor and an heir in the will of his father, James Richards, who wrote his will on 29 Aug 1746.^[7] He was mentioned in the will of Lydia Stratton dated on 21 Oct 1747 in Cambridge.^[8] He was granted administration on the estate of his father, James Richards, 20 Jun 1760 in Boston, Suffolk County.^[7] He was an heir in his father's will, probated on 20 Jun 1760. To James and Samuel, the father bequeathed half his lands at Strawberry Hill, and the other half to Ebenezer. To son Ebenezer, Mr. Richards gave half his house and homestead at his death, and the other half at the decease of James' widow; and bound Ebenezer to support the 'unfortunate' Jonathan, and pay the funeral expenses of himself, wife, and Jonathan. ^[7]

From 1769 to 1793 Ebenezer had performed the office of deacon, in the First Church in Dedham, for 24 years, and received a vote of thanks for his faithful services. ^[4] He was named as the head of household on the Federal Census of 1790 in Dedham, Suffolk County, MA, USA, as "Eben~r Richards", a male aged over 16 with a household containing two females. Enumerated in the home was perhaps wife Thankful.^[9] His wife Thankful died on 1 Jun 1796 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA <^[1][10][4]

He died on 27 Feb 1799 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA, USA, "suddenly", aged 80 years,^[11][1] and was buried on 2 Mar 1799 in the First Parish, Dedham, Norfolk County, Mass., where his tombstone reads In memory of Dea'n Ebenezer RICHARDS, who departed this life 27 Feb 1799, Aet. 80 yrs. He performed the office of Deacon in the first church of Dedham for 27 years. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord^[1][12][10]

Birth

"RICHARDS, Ebenezer, the son of James and Hannah Richards, was born January the 12th, 1718-19."^[13]

Date: 12 JAN 1718

Place: Dedham, Mass.^[14]

Marriage

Cambridge Church of Christ Records: "1741, Dec 24, Ebenezer Richards & Thankfull Stratton [married by Nath~ll Appleton]."^[15]

Cambridge VRs: "STRATTON, Thankful and Ebenezer Richards (of Dedham, int.), Dec. 24, 1741."^[16]

Occupation

Occupation: had performed the office of deacon, in the First Church in Dedham, for 24 years, and received a vote of thanks for his faithful services

Date: FROM 1769 TO 1793

Place: the First Church, Dedham, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA^[17]

Death

"[Feb] 27. [1799] Dn Ebenr Richards aged 80 years, suddenly."^{[18][19][20][21]}

Date: 27 FEB 1799^[22]

Burial

His tombstone reads:
'In memory of Dea'n Ebenezer RICHARDS, who departed this life 27 Feb 1799, Aet. 80 yrs. He preformed the office of Deacon in the first church of Dedham for 27 years. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.'^[23][24]

Ames Diary: "Snowy day. Deacon Eb. Richards buried."^[25][26]

Date: 02 MAR 1799

Place: the First Parish, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA

His gravestone is recorded as Find A Grave Memorial# 21096839

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Robert B. Hanson, editor, Dedham, MA, Vital Records 1635-1845 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1997), pp. 169, 450, 453.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Jeremiah Richards, editor, Richards Family [Also Metcalf, Aldis, Stratton, Wiswall, Barrett, Kidder, Peck, Crane, Monfort, and Carman families, all ancestral to Jeremiah Richards, b. 1844, and his wife Susan Adrianna Monfort.] (New York, NY: n.pub., 18--?), p. 1
3. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ... Town of Dedham, MA, 1635-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1886), p. 45.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Rev. Abner Morse, compiler, Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans (Boston, MA: HW Dutton & Son, 1861), Vol III, pp. 124, 128.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Thomas W. Baldwin, compiler, Cambridge, MA, Vital Records to 1850 (Boston, MA: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1915), Vol 2, p. 378 .
6. ↑ Stephen P Sharpies, Records of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New England 1632-1830 (reprint Boston: Eben Put. Pub., 1906), p. 111.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} James Richards, Probate Records Docket #12401: Vol. 57, pp. 51-53, pp. 227-8; Vol. 59, p. 61, Suffolk Co. Probate Court, Boston, Suffolk County, MA, USA, Vol. 57:52-53.
8. ↑ Lydia Stratton, Probate File #21867 (1776), Middlesex Co. Probate Court, Middlesex County, MA, USA.
9. ↑ 1790 US Census, population schedule, Suffolk Co., MA, p. 198, Micropublication M637, Roll 4.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Robert Brand Hanson, editor, The Diary of Dr. Nathaniel Ames of Dedham, Mass., 1758-1822 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1998), p. 630, 679.
11. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ...transcribed from the Church Records in the Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1888), p. 101.
12. ↑ Carlos Slafter, compiler, Epitaphs in the Old Burial Place, Dedham, Mass. (Dedham, MA: Dedham Historical Society, 1888), p. 49.
13. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ... Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1886), p. 45.
14. ↑ Source: #S01719 Date of Import: 27 Mar 2010
15. ↑ Stephen P Sharpies, Records of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New England 1632-1830 (1632-1830; reprint Boston: Eben Put. Pub., 1906)
16. ↑ Thomas W. Baldwin, compiler, Cambridge, MA, VRs to 1850 (Boston, MA: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1915), Vol. 2, p. 378
17. ↑ Source: #S159 Vol III, p. 128
18. ↑ Source: #S1646 First Parish Church records, p. 101
19. ↑ Source: #S158 p. 450
20. ↑ Source: #S159 Vol III, p. 128
21. ↑ Source: #S528 p. 1
22. ↑ Source: #S01719 Date of Import: 27 Mar 2010
23. ↑ Source: #S158 p. 450
24. ↑ Source: #S642p. 49
25. ↑ Source: #S1646 Epitaphs upon the tomb stones, Rev. Carlos Slafter, p. 289
26. ↑ Source: #S643 p. 679

• Source: S158 Robert B. Hanson, Dedham, MA, Vital Records 1635-1845 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1997)
• Source: S159 Rev. Abner Morse, Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans (Boston, MA: HW Dutton & Son, 1861)
• Source: S1646 Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ...transcribed from the Church Records in the Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1888) Repository: #R59
• Repository: R59 Dedham Public Library, Dedham, Massachusetts
• Source: S528 Jeremiah Richards, Richards Family [Also Metcalf, Aldis, Stratton, Wiswall, Barrett, Kidder, Peck, Crane, Monfort, and Carman families, all ancestral to Jeremiah Richards, b. 1844, and his wife Susan Adrianna Monfort.] (New York, NY: Richards, 18--? Repository: #R104 Call Number: Call #CS71 .R5122 18-?
• Repository: R104 NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts
• Source: S642 Carlos Slafter, Epitaphs in the Old Burial Place, Dedham, Mass. (Dedham, MA: Dedham Historical Society, 1888) Repository: #R59 Call Number: 929.3-Dedham
• Source: S643 Robert Brand Hanson, The Diary of Dr. Nathaniel Ames of Dedham, Mass., 1758-1822 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1998)
• Source: S644 Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ... Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1886) Repository: #R59