Richard (Sikes) Sykes
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Richard (Sikes) Sykes (1598 - abt. 1675)

Richard Sykes formerly Sikes
Born in Glenmore, Yorkshire, Englandmap
Son of and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1640 in Roxbury, Suffolk, MAmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , and
Died about at about age 76 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusettsmap
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The Puritan Great Migration.
Richard (Sikes) Sykes migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 326)
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Contents

Biography

disputed origins: The location of Richard Sikes birth in England is disputed between Anderson in his Great Migration Series where he states that the origin is unknown.[1] and Arthur M. Sikes at the Sikes/Sykes Families Association who states that Richard was born in Stafford County, England.[2]
disputes About His Wife's Surname Arthur M. Sikes in his book "Richard Sikes and His Descendants..." states that his wife's name was Phoebe (Green) Sikes.[2]The website, "Sikes/Sykes Families" disputes this, however, and presents the possibility that she may have been Phoebe (Cooley) Sikes, brother to Benjamin Cooley, another early Springfield family. This hypothesis is corroborated by the fact that in Benjamin Cooley's will he mentions "my cousin Sikes land..." Additionally there is a Phoebe Cooley baptized November 10, 1609 and a Benjamin Cooley baptized February 25, 1615 at Tring, Hertford England.[3]"Richard Sikes and His Descendants" says on p. 17 says that her LN could not be "Green" because Phoebe Green married William Healy. (see sidebar comment)
clarification about spelling: either "Sikes or Sykes" was interchangeable and both spellings were used by Richard's descendants.[2]

Birth

Richard Sikes was born about 1618.[2]According to the Sikes/Sykes Families Association, his father's name was James Sykes.[2]

Emigration

Richard Sikes immigrated to New England in 1639[1]probably before September 1639.[2]He settled first at Dorchester, Massachusetts[2][1]This is the first record of him in New England at which time he joined the Church[4] on November 4, 1639. In May of 1640 at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he was included on a list of several Dorchester men who became Freemen.[5][2][6]He settled in Springfield, Massachusetts.[1]

Marriage

According to "Torrey's New England Marriages" the surname of Richard Sikes wife is unknown.[7] What is known is that her first name was Phebe,[7]the couple was married in 1640 at Dorchester/Springfield,[7][8] and that she died in 1687. [7]Phoebe joined the church in Dorchester on June 9, 1640.[4]This is the first record of Phoebe in New England.

Children of Richard and Phoebe Sikes

  1. Rebecca was born December 6, 1640 at Roxbury, Massachusetts and baptized at Dorchester Church on March 9, 1691.[4] She married Nathaniel Burtson of Henry.[8]
  2. Experience was born November 5, 1642 at Springfield, Massachusetts and died June 7, 1648[8]also at Springfield.
  3. Increase was born August 6, 1644[8]at Springfield, Massachusetts. He married Abigail Fowler.[8]
  4. Nathaniel was born October 30, 1646 at Springfield, Massachusetts. He married Hannah Bagg[8]daughter of John Bagg.[9]
  5. Victory was born March 3, 1648 or 1649[8]at Springfield, Massachusetts. He married (1) Elizabeth Burt;[8](2) Elizabeth Granger; (3) Mary Pritchard.
  6. James was born June 11, 1651 at Springfield, Massachusetts. He died March 24, 1712[8]

Residence in the New World

They settled first at Roxbury, where their first child Rebecca was born.[8]

They evidently were in Springfield by May 14, 1636 as Richard was highly involved in the settlement's beginning stages.

Made Freeman

He is listed among those men who were of the Freemen in Springfield on May 8, 1663.[10]

Civic Duties

It was on January 26, 1642 that Richard Sikes, along with Henry Smith, Elizur Holyoke, Henry Burt, Samuel Chapin, and Thomas Mirick were given full power to lay out the lands both of upland and meadow on the west side of the Connecticut (River).[9]

On March 9, 1642, Richard Sikes and Henry Smith were appointed as overseers of a project to build a bridge and high way to the mill as passage for carts and cattle.[9]

Richard Sikes was on the First Board of Selectmen chosen on September 26, 1644.[9]

Again on July 26, 1644 it was agreed by general vote that Richard Sikes, along with Henry Smith, Tho Cooper, Samuell Chapin & Henry Burt "shall have power to order in all the prudential affaires of the Towns, to prevent anything they shall judge to be to the damage of the Towne or to ordr any thing they shall judge to be for ye good of ye Towne...to hear complaints, to Arvitrate controversies, to lay out high ways, make bridges, repayr high ways, scouring of ditched, killing of wolves, training up children or any other thing they shall judge to be ye p'fitt of ye Towne."[9]

We see that in 1652, Richard Sykes and Thomas Cooper were to judge whether John Pynchon exceeded the quantity of 400 bushels of corn in the chamber over the meeting house. If he exceeded the limit, Pynchon was to underprop the floor at his own charge.[9]

And that on November 1, 1653 he was chosen and sworn to the office of a Sealer of weights and measures in the town of Springfield.

Richard Sikes was considered one of the foremost of "discreet men," and his public service was indisputable. He not only toiled as a farmer and had several civic duties, he also seemed to do whatever came his way. On February 10, 1653 the following is recorded, "Richard Sikes hath covenanted to ring the Bell and to sweep the meeting house according to former terms, namely 12d the week, provided he will have his liberty to leave the work at a months warning. His pay to be payed halfe merchandable Indian Corne and halfe merchandable wheat, to be payd at one intire payment at the end of the June next, ending the date hereof, but if he leave the work after the payment is made he is to abate 1 shilling the week. There is granted to Richard Sikes for ringing the Bell for marriages and Burials 1 shilling a time. This pay to be payd by those who shall imploy him for such service." He continued to serve the town in this office for several years, for which he received 52 shillings a year. On November 4, 1651, Richard Sikes was chosen to present breaches of Order as He shall take notice of or ye shall come to his knowledge by information.[9]

His Land Ownership

Richard Sikes was granted lots for planting ground, "provided that those ye have broaken up ground there shall have allowance for it as 2 indifferent men shall Judge equall. As a married person he was granted "10 rods in bredth to begin upward at ye edge of ye hill."[9]

On February 10, 1652 Richard Sikes was granted a home lot that was Mr. Moxons for 8s the acker. On February 8, 1654 he was granted 4 acres in the meadow commonly called by the name of wattchuett. A wood lot of five acres of lang was granted to him on the further side of the mill river on the east side of the way that goes up the hill on January 30, 1655. On March 13, 1660 Richard Sikes along with Thomas Bancroft, Abell Wright and John Lumbard were granted a parcel of lang on the west side of the great river. They were to share the threescore acres of land or divide it equally among themselves. On February 26, 1661 Rich Sikes was granted a house lott of 6 acres between the two brooks below Chickuppe playne with a wood lot of 6 acres provided he build and dwell there, not dispose of the land but build and dwell upon it.[9](Additional land grants are recorded on page 299 of the book "The First Century of Springfield..." by Burt, also p. 320, 359

An honored man of the church and community

It is recorded on page 127 of the book "The First Century of the History of Springfield..." Vol. 1, page 127 that Richard Sikes, along with Thomas Merrick, William Warriner, and Richard Fellows were to sit in the "2nd Seate" of the meeting house - the year was 1659. Additionally in 1663, he retained the same seat.[9]

Copy of the Will of Richard Sikes
I Richard Sickes being Exercised under much Weakness of Body and yet having through the goodness of God my Perfect sences & being in my Right Minde and Understanding Doe bequeath my Soule unto God, and I Doe declare yt [that] I doe believe Salvation to be had in noe other name but Only Jesus Christ & yt [that] by Christ layd hold on by faith and alsoe yt [that] Resurrection of ye [the] Body at ye [the] Last Day by ye [the] Power of almighty God who shall judge quicke and deade.
And for my Outward Estate of yt [that] God hath given me I make my Wife whole Executrix Only I give to my son Encrease ye [the] West End of my Dwelling House in Springfield and half my home Lott Through Ou Both ploweing Land & meadow also three Rowes of aple trees Through Out next to Brother Burts Land & half my Land at Pacowsett. Also I give to my Son Nathaniell all & Every part of Land at Chicabee home Lott and meadow thereabouts.
I give to my Son Victory yt [that] homelott on which his house did stand and half of my Land at Pacowsett with my Son Encrease.
I give to my Son James all my Land over ye [the] Mill River betwixt yt [that] and Pacowsett & Alsoe fifteene acres of Land Over ye [the] greate iver against Quarter Master Coltons The Rest of my Landes and Cattell with oveables I leave to be at my Wives Dispose for her Livelyhood and to pay my Debts
As it sayd Before as for ye [the] Rest of my Landes and Debts being payd & my Wife if she should dye without Making a Will then I would have my Landes devided among my Sones & if any of my Sons should be more helpful to there Mother then other then I Leave it to ye [the] Overseers of my Will for to Confider ym [them] ye [the] Proportioning of my Landes.
Alsoe I Declare yt [that] I doe appointe Sam[ue] ll Marshfield & Jonathan Burt as Overseers of this my Last Will & testament as witness my hand and Seale.
Witnesses
Sam[ue]ll Marshfield
Jonathan Burt
Daniell Denton
Thomas Eliote

Death and Burial

Richard died in March of 1676[8][11] at Springfield, Massachusetts.[2][9] His widow, Phoebe, died January 2, 1687.[8]

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Robert Charles Anderson. "Great Migration Directory" Published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. 1995-2011. Page 326.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Arthur M. Sikes. "Richard Sikes and His Descendants: The First Seven Generations" Publisher [Suffield, Conn] Sikes/Sykes Families Association, 2000
  3. ↑ Sikes-Sykes Families link; this source was also used for information about their children.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Records of the First Church at Dorchester in New England, 1636-1724" (Boston 1891), pages 4, 5, 153; see at archive.org
  5. ↑ NEHGR Vol. 3 (1849), page 187. Massachusetts Colony Freemen
  6. ↑ *"Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" 1628-1686, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., 5 volumes in 6 (Boston 1853-1854), Vol 1, page 377
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Henry M. Burt. "The First Century of the History of Springfield, The Official Records from 1636-1736." Printed and Published by Henry M. Burt, Springfield, Mass. 1899. Vol. II p.636-637.link
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 Henry M. Burt. "The First Century of the History of Springfield, The Official Records from 1636 to 1736, With An Historical Review and Biographical Mention of the Founders." Printed and Published by Henry M. Burt.1898. Volume I, p.26, 42, 50, 69, 126, 127, 144, 167, 170, 175, 176, 219, 235, 240, 286, 298, 299, 320, 359, 401 see at archive.org
  10. ↑ Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts (1639-1702), The Pynchon Court Record. An Original Judges' Diary of the Administration of Justice in the Springfield Courts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Joseph H. Smith, ed. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1961), page 375
  11. ↑ Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016)

See also:

  • Sources from The Great Migration Directory, page 326:
Springfield, Massachusetts, Town Records, page 167.
  • Arthur M. Sikes. "Richard Sikes and His Descendants: The First Seven Generations" Publisher [Suffield, Conn] Sikes/Sykes Families Association, 2000. pp 15-20link to FamilySearch
  • "Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" 1628-1686, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., 5 volumes in 6 (Boston 1853-1854), Vol 1, page 377.see at archive.org
  • Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts (1639-1702), The Pynchon Court Record. An Original Judges' Diary of the Administration of Justice in the Springfield Courts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Joseph H. Smith, ed. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1961), page 375.see at hathitrust
  • Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).subscription site




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Edgerton-1127 Brian Edgerton
Marriage of Richard Sikes (Sickes) and Phoebe (Cooley?, Peerce?) in Dorchester, MASSACHUSETTS - 4 Sep 1639 per old Sykes family papers in Dorset, Vermont passed onto Brian Edgerton.

Additional biographical notes:

BIRTH: A birth date of 1600 is also found for Richard Sykes. [Ref: Genealogical Chart by Mrs. Edward D. Humphries, Iowa Dept. of History and Archives].

Richard Sykes is noted in the Index of Immigrants (p. 24-2) in the "Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620 - 1650, Charles Edward Banks, Baltimore Southern Book Co., 1957.

Richard Syckes, in the settlement of Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony was admitted to the Puritan congregation on (September 4) 1639, and Freeman (i.e. full rights or dividends of membership) on (March/May 3/13) 1640 at Dorchester, Massachusetts. "Freeman" refers to the church or congregation of Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.


The first record of Richard Sykes/Sikes in the New World was when he joined the Church of Dorchester, Massachusetts on September 4, 1639. It is currently unknown on what ship Richard arrived in America. There is some circumstantial evidence that Richard may have sailed from England in 1639/40 on the ship "Victory" for Barbados since he later named one of his sons "Victory", (Ref: Art Sikes Jr., "Sikes/Sykes Tributaries", Vol 6/No 4, Oct. 1997). His religious affiliation would have indicated that he arrived in the Spring of 1639/1640 at the very latest. (Ref: Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England, John Farmer, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964.)

"Richard Sikes was the earliest New England settler from this Flockton, England family. He first settled in Dorcester, Massachusetts in 1639 and subsequently moved to Cambridge. But by 1641 he had joined the John Pynchon Plantation in Springfield. During the next three decades, this multitalented man became a prominent figure in the Springfield community. His name appears with John Pynchon's on the petition to form the new town of Stony Brook, now Suffield." ref: "Stony Brook Currents", Newsletter of the Suffield Historical Society, Vol. II, No. 2, April 2007, BGE, 10/2008)

Richard Sykes along with Henry Smyth appear as "prisers" [appraisers] in "A Coppy of the Inventory of the Goods and Chattalyes of the late deceased John Searle taken the 8 Feb: 1641 [1642], ref: "The Pnychon Court Record - Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts, 1639-1702", 1961, [BGE, 01/05]

Also reference "Genealogical Records on the Sykes or Sikes Family ", presented to the DAR by Mrs. Jess W. Nicholson, February 1, 1946.

In 1642 Richard worked as an appraiser and in 1643 helped set boundaries. He was elected a Selectman in 1644 and from 1650-1654 was on the Board of Townsmen. Later, in 1652 Richard Sikes was presenter of the town. He relinguished his half of fines due on at least two occasions. In 1653 Richard was the Sealer of Weights and Measures.


A comprehensive genealogical compendium of Richard Sykes is found with "Richard Sikes and His Descendants, the First Six Generations", Arthur M. Sikes, Jr., Suffield, Connecticut.

Based upon the above, it would be reasonable to presume Richard Syckes was born about 1605 - 1615.

Richard Sykes is listed on a Dorchester Map of 1639. Noted as soldier and emmigrant. Richard later removed to Springfield, Massachusetts in "1691" (this date was probably about 1661 based upon his age and court records of the time). (Ref: "Sykes Family Genealogy, Mrs. Burr Phillips).

Richard Sykes became a freeman (full member of the Puritan Church) on 13 May 1640. He subsequently, around 1640, removed from Dorchester to Springfield, Massachusetts.

It is an interesting coincidence that Richard Sykes (Sikes) appeared before the Massachusetts court on September 23, 1661 held in Springfield. As the final case of the day (Case # 12), Richard successfully petitioned the Court to release him from further military duty by reason of his age and weakness. The Court did indeed grant his petition. One of the jurors on that day was Phillip Smith from nearby Wethersfield who is a 10th generation ancestor of Deborah Edgerton. Brian Edgerton, Deb's husband, is an 11th generation ancestor of Richard Sykes. What a small world!! (B. Edgerton, 11/95)

BIRTH: Research by Arthur M. Sikes, Jr. [1175 River Blvd., Suffield, Ct. 06078] entitled "Richard Sikes and His Descendants, the First Six Generations" indicates a more precise birthdate of 1618/9. [BGE, 3-97]


Richard Sikes was a neighbor of our immigrant ancestor Benjamin Cooley. His wife was Phebe, last name unknown. It is speculated that Phebe was Benjamin's sister. The origins of Richard are unknown. The Sikes/Sykes Family Association is interested in joining our investigation to learn what they can about the origins of Richard and any confirmation of a U.K. connection between Richard and Benjamin/Phebe. They are not interested in distracting you from your primary objectives as we have defined them. They are interested in having you document anything you find in the course of your Cooley research that may be germane to their interests in Sikes and Phebe.

If you can reasonably revise the original scope of your research to include Phebe/Sikes, that would be good and we will of course be responsible for incremental fees, if necessary. So please first reply with your assessment of the impact of this request and we will consider whether or not to formally request it. And if we proceed, I will send you more detailed background information. There is quite a bit of information found on the Sikes/Sykes web site:

http://sikes-sykesfamilies.rootsweb.com/ss-04.html

I await your comments.

Doug Cooley, Genealogist

Cooley Family Association of America

email from Laraine Clark, 11/16/07:

That site on Benjamin Cooley is extremely interesting and seems to be very well documented.

It seems very reasonable, given the evidence, that Phebe, wife of Richard, was indeed a Cooley, sister to Benjamin.

If the DNA testing points Richard's origins to York County (Honley, Slaithwaite area) and Benjamin Cooley is from a totally different area of England and Benjamin refers to Richard Sikes as his "cousin" then the relationship must be one by marriage and "brother-in-law" is a reasonable assumption.

Laraine

Original Message -----

From: "Sikes, Arthur" &lt [email address removed] gt; To: "Laraine Clark" &lt [email address removed] gt;; "Don McBride" &lt [email address removed] gt;; &lt [email address removed] gt;; "Brian Edgerton" &lt [email address removed] gt;; &lt [email address removed] gt;; "Diane Scannell" &lt [email address removed] gt;; &lt [email address removed] gt; Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 10:45 AM Subject: FW: Wikigenealogy


> Richard Sikes family members, > There are more waki Genealogy sites out there, here is a list put > together by Scot Austin. I went to the one sponsored by Allen County > Library and searched on Sikes and came up with this: > > http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Benjamin_Cooley_%281%29 > > Read Scot's comments and check out these sites. > Art

DEATH: Listed by Arthur Sikes references as Springfield, Massachusetts.

DEATH: Richard Sikes made his will on 24 February 1676. The inventory of Richard's estate was taken by Jonathan Burt and Samuel Marshfield on 28 March 1676. His widow Phebe Sikes presented the Will and Inventory to the court on 26 September 1676. (Eleanor Rue, et al, "Sikes/Sykes Tributaries", Vol. 6, No. 4, Oct. 1997)

BIOGRAPHY: Richard Sikes' lot in Springfield was on the east bank of the Connecticut River, south of Thomas Reeves' lot and north of Wm. Warriner (Ref: Eleanor Rue, map from Cooley Genealogy, 1941, "Springfield, Massachusetts as known by Benjamin Cooley about 1645", "Sikes/Sykes Tributaries", Vol 6/No 4, Oct. 1997).

posted by Brian Edgerton
Aldrich-908 Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Tayler, I checked American Ancestors for any information on Phoebe Green Sykes. Nothing.

Additionally, on "Richard Sikes and His Descendants" it states categorically that her name was NOT Green because Phoebe Green married William Healy. See here: https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE973353 p. 17 Phoebe LNAB is Unknown.

posted by Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Aldrich-908 Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Hi Tayler, I'm wondering if Richard Sikes could be a Puritan Great Migration profile? I put the question on G2G.

Cheryl

posted by Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl

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Categories: Founders and Early Settlers of Springfield | Puritan Great Migration