I am working on a hypothesis that Richard Stites came to Long Island sometime before 1653 as a servant of John Seaman. Most family trees say Richard was born in London to Dr. John Stites in 1640 but this seems to be based on family lore and there is no documentation of John Stites in Long Island. The Annals of Hempstead, 1643 to 1832 that Henry Onderdonk compiled in 1878 mention Richard Stites many times, but never his reputed father, John. The Annals (p. 24)
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/yale.39002013506937 note that "Richard Stiles .. in 1653, when he went from Mr. Seaman's, he then agreed with William Washborne to do his weekly labor..." I believe this is a reference to Richard Stites because (a) the index references this to Richard Stites (b) there is no other mention of any Stiles in the Annals, and (c) the people involved (Washborne, Seaman) are all closely associated with Richard Stites in other passages in the Annals. An alternative hypothesis proposed by Simon Parker-Galbreath (
http://www.simonpg.com/d312.htm#P1100) is that "Richard was originally known as Richard Stich(e) in England and Mass. before arriving on Long Island." Parker-Galbreath also cites the following from Jim Stites (?) "Ref: Quarterly Courts of Essex Co, Mass 1636-1656 Vol 1 & 2 Several Court records concerning Richard Stites/Stich/Stick,etc and Henry Stich/Stiche,etc. Henry aged 102 or there about in 1653 testified per court records. In 1650 last Court record regarding a debt Richard owed. He didn't appear. He already had left and went to Hempstead. I believe that Stiche is most likely our original name. There is a birth record in 1625 in Norton, Derby, England of a Richard Stich, son of Henry. The story of Doctor John is pure legend. As is the notion that this John married Alice Stott. It seems that Stites researchers don't bother looking in Mass records. Richard probably came to Mass in 1635, though no ship record exists with his name on it. In 1577 A William Stiche married a Widow named Bennett in London, England. Samuel Bennett came to Mass in 1635 on the Ship James. He appers in court records along with Richard and Henry. Henry never came to Hempstead, he likely died in Mass in old Norfolk County.
[Ancestry - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - 27 Dec 2002]" (from
http://www.simonpg.com/d315.htm#P1105)
