William Richardson (1701 - 1776)

Born 19 Sep 1701 in Dracut, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 6 Jul 1776 at age 74 in Pelham, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

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Biography

William Richardson, the son of Josiah and Mercy (Parris) Richardson, was born in Chelmsford, Middlesex, (then) Province of Massachusetts Bay on 19 September 1701.^[1]

He married Elizabeth Colburn, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Colburn of Dracut, about 1722.^[2]

He settled in Pelham, New Hampshire, in 1722 and had a farm there. Pelham was then part of Dracut, separating from in in 1741 and annexed to New Hampshire. He was a captain of a military company, and a representative in the General Court of the province.^[2]

His gravestone in the Pelham Center Cemetery provides his death date of 06 July 1776 at age 75.^[3]

William Richardson of Pelham, Rockingham, Province of New Hampshire, gentleman, wrote his will on 01 April 1776, which was proved on 07 November 1776.^[4] He named his wife Elizabeth; daughter Elizabeth Butterfield, wife of Capt. Jos. Butterfield; daughter Mary Butterfield, wife of Capt. Reuben Butterfield; daughter Mary Fletcher, wife of Mr. Jacob Fletcher; daughter Sarah Gage, wife of Mr. Benja. Gage; daughter Hannah Richardson, singlewoman, non-compos and incapable of self care; sons-in-law Joseph Butterfield, Reuben Butterfield, Jacob Fletcher rights in land north of Falmouth; two sons Asa Richardson and Daniel Richardson executors. Witnesses were Ebenezer Palmer, David Clement, Jno. Varnum. Capt. William Richardson's estate was inventoried on 25 September 1776.^[5] It included land and buildings in Pelham, cash, many notes of credit due him, the usual farm stock, tools, and household goods.

All the children of Captain William & Elizabeth (Colburn) Richardson were born in Pelham, Dracut Township. Since Pelham was then a part of Dracut, the births are recorded in Dracut, Mass., rather than Pelham, New Hampshire:^[2]

1. Elizabeth, b. 27 Jul 1724; m. Capt. Joseph Butterfield
2. Abner, no date given; not named in father's 1776 will.
3. Mary, b. 18 Apr 1728; m. Capt. Reuben Butterfield; living in 1794.
4. William, b. Jan 1730/1; not named in father's 1776 will.
5. Mercy, b. 17 Jun 1736; m. Jacob Fletcher; called Molly in her father's will, perhaps a copyist error.
6. Asa, b. 23 Feb 1738; living Feb 1794
7. Sarah, b. 23 Feb 1741/2; m. Benjamin Gage
8. Hannah, b. 08 Mar 1746/7; named in father's will as 'non-compos,' and unmarried in 1776.
9. Daniel, b. 11 Mar 1749; m. Sarah Merchant

Sources

1. ↑ Essex Institute, compiler, Vital Records of Chelmsford, MA, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1914), p.133. "Richardson, William, s. Josiah and Mercy, Sept 19, 170[1. T.C.]."
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} John Adams Vinton, Richardson Memorial (Portland, ME: Brown Thurston & Co., 1876), pp. 63-64.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 21 July 2020), memorial page for Capt William Richardson (19 Sep 1701–6 Jul 1776), Find A Grave: Memorial #132487788, citing Pelham Center Cemetery, Pelham, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA ; Maintained by Sara (contributor 47069894). (Includes gravestone photo.)
4. ↑ "New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Rockingham > Probate records 1774-1778 vol 23-24 > image 233 of 555; county courthouses, New Hampshire.
5. ↑ "New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Rockingham > Probate records 1774-1778 vol 23-24 > image 235 of 555; county courthouses, New Hampshire.