William Richardson Sr. (abt. 1640 - 1697)

Born about 1640 in Accomack, Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Ewen) Richardson — married about 1667 in West River Hundred, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

Descendants

Died 2 Nov 1697 at about age 57 in West River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

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William was a Friend (Quaker)

Biography

William Richardson was born about 1640, possibly in Accomack County, Virginia. He may be the William Richardson who was recorded as living in the Maryland Colony by 1671 after being transported by his father, Robert Richardson.^[1]In 1666 he moved to West River Hundred, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He was a member of the Lower House of the Assembly from 1676-1683. He was a prominent Quaker, active in the West River Meeting and meetings were held at his home. "Watkins Hope" until his death. He was married there in 1667, to Elizabeth Ewen (b. 06 June 1630?, Virginia? or England?; d. 01 January 1703/04, Anne Arundel County, Maryland), daughter of Richard Ewen and Sophia Scarborough.

Land Records

Prior to 1680, William Richardson acquired "Watkins Hope" (near Owensville), part of this land now called "Woodstock", in West River Hundred, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He was a Quaker minister and the Quaker meetings were held at his home. In 1682 when William Penn traveled to Maryland to negotiate with Lord Baltimore over the disputed boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, they met with William Richardson at his farm before proceeding to the local Quaker meeting.

William became a large landowner and was in possession of over 4000 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred on 02 September (or 02 November) 1697, presumably at his home at "Watkins Hope", West River Hundred, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Marriage & Children

William was likely married to a first unknown wife who was the mother of his two eldest sons:

William Jr. b. abt. 1672 m. Margaret Smith in 1697

Daniel b. abt. 1674

[William Richardson, Jr. was born 26 Aug 1668, and Daniel on 13 Mar 1670/70; the sons of Elizabeth (Ewen) Talbott Richardson.] ^[2]

William was married to Elizabeth, the widow of Richard Talbott, and the mother of Edward Talbot before 1677.^[3] A birth record found in the West River Minutes gives a birthday of 6th day of 9th month 1658 for Edward Talbott, son of Richard and Elizabeth. Some researchers place her as Elizabeth Ewen before her marriage. The first evidence of William and Elizabeth in Quaker records is the following:

"Sophia Elizabeth Richardson, dau. of William and Elizabeth, d. 2nd day of 7th month, 1678."

The births of the following children were recorded by the West River Quaker meeting:

Sophia Elizabeth Richards, b. 4 Jul 1675; d. 2 Sep 1678.^[2]

Joseph b. 3rd day 2nd month 1678; d. 18 Aug 1748.^[2]

Sophia & Elizabeth b. 2nd day of 5th month 1680, 2 or 3 hours with night, Sophia being first born.^[4]

Death

The next entry in Quaker records for this family is the death of William Richardson Sr. on the 2nd day of the 9th month of 1697.^[4]

Abstract of Will

1st day of the tenth month called December 1691, I William Richardson, Senr. being sick and weak in body . . .

• I give to my two sons, Daniell & Joseph, those five patents of land, known by the names of Henry Hills & Franklin’s Enlargement, lying between South River & the branches of Patuxant River about 600 acres to be equally divided among them, Daniell to have that moiety that Hugh Abrahams, now lieveth upon and Josph to have the next plantation.
• To my loving wife, Eliza Richardson, the use of my now dwelling plantation known by the name of Watkins his Hope, during her natural life, my eldest son, William, to have occasion to make use of any part of the tract or timber before his mother’s decease [always provided that he makes use be not prejudical to his mother.]
• I give to my dear grandchild, Wm. Richardson 50 acres of land if he shall live to attain age 21 years laid out at the southeast end of the aforesaid land.
• I give to my daughter Sophia Richardson a tract called The Deligent Search, lying in the branches of Roade River 75 acres.
• I give to my daughter, Sophia Richardson, one negro girl named Mary to be delivered her when she shall attain age 16 years or the day of her marriage.
• I give to my youngest son, Joseph, one negro boy called Cargoe to be delivered when he attains age 19 years.
• I give to my grandson, Wm. Richardson, one negro girl known by the name of Susan, to be delivered for his use after my wife’s decease, if then living, if not then to his father or mother.
• I give to my grandson, Wm. one cow calf to be delivered two years after my decease.
• I give to Eliza, daughter of John Talbot & Sarah Talbot, one cow calf, to be delivered two years after my decease.
• I give to the three children of Edward Talbot, each of them, one cow calf to be delivered two years after my decease.
• I give to Margaret Richardson, the wife of Wm. Richardson Jr., one two year old heifer to be delivered two years after my decease.
• I give to the stock of Friends, in scorne called Quakers, five pounds sterling money to be paid within three years after my decease.
• The remaining part of my personal estate found in Maryland or in England be equally divided into three parts and my loving wife to take her choice of one third part and the other two thirds be equally divided into four parts and one part to my eldest son, Wm. Richardson and another to my son Daniell Richardson and another part to my son Joseph Richardson, the other part to my daughter Sophia Richardson.
• I will that Joseph’s part and Sophia’s part shall remain in their mother’s hands until they attain their several ages.
• I appoint my loving wife, Eliza Richardson and my son William Richardson, my executors desiring my friends Richard Johns, Richard Harrison, John Talbott and Wm. Coles overseers.
• My intent is that the three negro children that I have given to my children called Cargo, Mary & Susan shall serve until they attain the ages of fifty years and then be set free.

Signed by Wm. Richardson (with a signature) in the presence of James Elpinstone, John Westnult, John Elsey. Probated 28 MAY 1698. ^[5]

[Daughter Elizabeth is not mentioned in William's will, suggesting she died prior to its writing in 1691.]

Research Notes

William Richardson Sr. came to Virginia in "the Paul of London" 1634. Removed to Maryland in 1666. In 1682, William Penn, with Lord and Lady Baltimore and their retinue, visited William Richardson Sr, at his West River home. It seems likely that descendants of William would be eligible for "Colonial Dames" and for "Daughters of the American Colonists" or for "Sons of the American Colonists".^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ earlysettlers.msa.maryland.gov
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Shrink, Ida Morrison (Murphy). Descendants of Richard and Elizabeth (Ewen) Talbott of Poplar Knowle West River, Anne Arundel County Maryland. Clearfield. p.17. Citing: The Thomas Book, p. 477-79, which gives as authority West River Friends' Register of births and burials.
3. ↑ Maryland Land Patents Liber WC/480
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Peden, Henry C. Quaker Records of Southern Maryland: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Abstracts from the Minutes, 1658-1800. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend, 2000
5. ↑ Maryland Colonial Wills Liber 7 folio 388
6. ↑ Warfield, J. D. The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland: A Genealogical and Biographical Review from Wills, Deeds, and Church Records. Baltimore, Maryland: Kohn & Pollock, Publishers, 1905. Pages 174-177.

Also see:

• Book: Peddicord Junction by Ms. Gray Smith Harmon, Page 254, and my notes from correspondence with Gray; page 27.
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I039947&tree=Tree1