Ezekiel Richardson (abt. 1604 - 1647)

Born about 1604 in Westmill, Hertfordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Unknown) Brooks — married before 1632 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 21 Oct 1647 at about age 43 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Ezekiel Richardson migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 1580) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

The first American ancestor Ezekiel Richardson arrived in this country from England in 1630. He was soon followed by two brothers, Samuel and Thomas, and assisted in founding the town of Woburn, Massachusetts. ^[1] Ezekiel is a direct ancestor of US President Franklin Pierce.

Origin

Ezekiel Richardson was born about 1604 in Westmill, Hertfordshire, England, the son of Thomas Richardson and Katherine Duxford.^[2]

Ezekiel was not baptized in Westmill with all his siblings, but he was certainly the son of Thomas and Katherine (Duxford) Richardson.^[3]

Davis in Ancestry of Sarah Hildreth ... speculates that Ezekiel may have been baptized at his father's parish of Standon (where the extant parish begins in 1671). Threlfall gives a baptism date of 24 Sep 1606.^[4] However, Anderson, Davis, and Watkins, agree there is no baptism for Ezekiel at Westmill.^[5] The 3 Jul 1608 baptism date is that of his brother, Thomas Richardson.

Marriage

He married by 1632 Susanna (Unknown).^[2]

Susanna’s surname is sometimes given as Bradford, but there seems to be no reason ever mentioned why it should be Bradford. Vinton is cited. He mentions only Betsey Moulton Bradford of 1830 in the Index. She does not appear on the given page (745).^[6]

Emigration

Ezekiel Richardson (and his wife Susanna) are believed to have arrived with Winthrop's Fleet (the Winthrop Migration). Women were not listed in the paperwork. His signature (Richardson) is listed in "History of New England" in the Winthrop Family Papers. His name "Richardson": Ezekiel Richardson is also listed in Group IV in an Annotation to Winthrop's Fleet. ^[7].

Charlestown and Woburn

Ezekiel was the first and apparently the eldest of three Richardson brothers who all immigrated to Massachusetts. Ezekiel came first, and then Thomas and Samuel. Ezekiel was a planter at Roxbury.^[5]

Based on when they were admitted to the Boston Church (#80 and #81, which would have been winter 1630/1), Ezekiel and Susanna came in the fleet of Winthrop in 1630.^[7] His brothers, Samuel and Thomas, arrived in New England by 1635. His sister Elizabeth's children Francis Wyman and John Wyman, also emigrated to New England.^[8]

They were dismissed with others 1 Oct 1632 to establish a church at Charlestown.

Ezekiel was made freeman 18 May 1631; by the Court appointed 1633 constable, and by the people representative 1635, with many of his townsmen united in remonstrance against the Act of the government towards Wheelwright, in 1637, and, his heart failing him, in Nov expressed his contrition and had his name crossed over.^[7] In 1640, when a selectman, he favored settlement at Woburn.^[9]

Hutchinson-Wheelwright Antinomian Controversy

The Massachusetts Bay Colony had a strict and authoritative structure, particularly under the leadership of John Winthrop. Between 1636 and 1638, Anne Marbury Hutchinson, a charismatic Puritan spiritual advisor and religious reformer (and woman) and her brother-in-law, John Wheelwright, helped create a theological schism that threatened the New England Puritan community, referred to as the Antinomian Controversy of 1637. ^[10][11]Numerous Puritans met at Anne's home, and eighty or more signed a Remonstrance in Mr. Wheelwright's favor, which was presented to the General Court on 9 March 1637. Ezekiel Richardson was one of the attendees at Hutchinson's meetings and a signer on behalf of Wheelwright.^[12]The court considered the signing of this document to be seditious. In November 1637, Ezekiel and several others recanted and requested that their names be erased by the Court. Acknowledging his fault, Ezekiel was exempted from censure, and was not disarmed, as were nearly all of the Remonstrants.^[12][7] Hutchinson was banished from the colony and removed to Rhode Island. Wheelwright was banished and removed to Exeter, which became the Province of New Hampshire.

Death and Legacy

Ezekiel died 21 Oct 1647 in Woburn, MA. His wife married (2) by 27 Mar 1651 to Henry Brooks of Woburn and formerly of Concord.^[13] Susannah died on 15 Sep 1681 in Woburn, MA (p 37).^[6]

Last Will & Testament

Dated 20 July 1647, proved 1 June 1648; inventoried 18 Nov 1647.^[14]

• wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus join executors
• Josias my son (under 21)
• James my son (under 21)
• Phebe my daughter (under 20)
• my other children
• my brother Samuell Richardson
• my brother Thomas Richardson, his son Thomas
• overseers Edward Converse, John Mousall of Woburn

Full Text:

I Ezekiel Richardson of Woburn, being in perfect memoir, do make this my last will and testament as followeth, imprimis. I make my wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus joint Executors. Item. I give and bequeath to Josias my son thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age. Item. I give unto James my son thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age. Item. I give unto Phebe my daughter thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when she shall accomplish twenty years of age, or within six months after the day of her marriage, which cometh first. I say all these several legacies to be paid in money cattle or corn at the discretion of the Executors and overseers.

In case any of these three die before they do accomplish the said age mentioned then the said legacy shall be equally divided to them which shall survive. In case my son Theophilus die before he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age then his portion shall be equally divided to my other children which shall survive. Item. I do freely forgive and discharge whatsoever accounts and demands have been between my Brother Samuel Richardson and myself. Item. I give unto my brother Thomas Richardson his son Thomas ten shillings to be paid within one year after my decease. Item. I make for overseers to this my will Edward Converse and John Mousall of Woburn; in case either of them die before the accomplishment of this my will the survivor with the consent of Thomas Carter Pastor of the church of Woburn shall have power to choose an other overseer in his place. Item. I give unto the overseers for and in consideration of their care and pains thirty shillings apiece. Item. all my debts and funeral [expenses] being discharged I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate to my executors, provided that my wife may peaceably enjoy her habitation in the house so long as she shall live.

In witness whereof I have set to my hand. Ezekiel richardson. In presence of these:

Thomas Carter, scribe.

Edward Convers.

John Mousall.

Testified under oath of the said Edward Converse and John Mousall that the above written is the last will and testament of Ezekiel Richardson and that he was of a disposing mind at the making the same. Taken 1 (4) 1648 before the court and myself.

Increase Nowell, Rr. [Register.] (pp 35-36 )^[6]

Children

Children of Ezekiel and Susanna:^[15]

1. Phebe Richardson, bpt Boston 3 Jun 1632; m in Woburn 1 Nov 1649 Henry Baldwin.
2. Theophilus Richardson, bpt Charlestown 22 Dec 1633; m Woburn 2 May 1654 Mary Champney, daughter of John Champney^[7]
3. Josias Richardson, bpt Charlestown 7 Nov 1635; m in Concord 6 Jun 1659 Remembrance Underwood (recorded in Chelmsford), daughter of William Underwood^[7]
4. John Richardson, bpt Charlestown 21 Jul 1638; d Woburn 7 Jan 1642
5. Jonathan Richardson, bpt Charlestown 13 Feb 1639/40; nfr
6. James Richardson, bpt Charlestown 11 Jul 1641, m Chelmsford 28 Nov 1660 Bridget Henchman
7. Ruth Richardson, b Woburn 23 Aug 1643; d there 7 Sep 1643

Above are the only known children of Ezekiel and Susanna. Some also include the children below, without source.

• Hannah Richardson, b 1626

Research Notes

Gravestone Memorial:

Comments related to FindAGrave created on 21 April 2023 by "Mookie":^[16]

Birth and death years listed are incorrect and birth location is inaccurate, in addition to incorrect information regarding wife, Susannah (Unknown) Richardson-Brooks.

All photos associated with this FindAGrave are markers located in the First Burial Ground at Woburn. While Ezekiel Richardson was likely buried there as an early settler of Woburn, there are no to few extant headstones from that time. The First Burial Ground (1642-1794) marker was erected in 2017 by the Woburn Cemetery Commission to recognize the 375th Anniversary Dedication.

WikiTreer Chip White set up a First Burial Ground, Woburn, Massachusetts Category for persons to add this cemetery to early settlers of Woburn. The FindAGrave photos and others are included on this site and added to Ezekiel Richardson's profile. This cemetery is on the National Historic Register and is now only open during the day by appointment.

These research notes were provided by Carol Baldwin, who made numerous trips to Woburn to research Baldwin, Richardson, Thompson and Tidd histories, and spent time at cemeteries, particularly First Burial Ground.

Sources

1. ↑ Meyers, F.W. History of Crawford County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 2. S. J. Clarke publishing Company, 1911 The Richardsons
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Anderson, Robert Charles. "Ezekiel Richardson," Featured name. Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, (Boston: NEHGS, 1995) AmericanAncestors.org p 1582, citing Sarah Hildreth and NEHGR 57:297-300
3. ↑ Davis, Walter Goodwin. The Ancestry of Sarah Hildreth, 1773-1857 : wife of Annis Spear of Litchfield, Maine. (Portland, ME: Anthoensen Press, 1958) HathiTrust.org pp 25-28.
4. ↑ Threlfall, John Brooks. Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England and their Origins. (1990): 535-538.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Watkins, Walter Kendall. "Some Early Emigrants from Herts, England." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 57. (1903) Archive.org Vol 57, Pages 297-300.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} John Adams Vinton, The Richardson Memorial, Comprising a Full History and Genealogy of the Posterity of the Three Brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richardson... Portland, ME: 1876, Archive.org p 890 Index (pp 35-37).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Winthrop Fleet: Massachusetts Bay Company Immigrants to New England 1629-1630. Boston, MA: The New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012. Pages 568-572, 700-701, 704.
8. ↑ Anderson (1995), p 1582, citing Hildreth 25-27
9. ↑ Anderson (1995), p 1580
10. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Hutchinson
11. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wheelwright
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Vinton, John Adams. The Richardson Memorial,....Portland, ME: Brown Thurston & Co., 1876. Page 33.
13. ↑ Anderson (1995), citing Sarah Hildreth Ancestry, p. 30, citing MLR 2:36, 72, 143
14. ↑ Anderson (1995), p 1581, citing SPR Case #72
15. ↑ Anderson (1995), p 1582, citing original vital records
16. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/252628374/ezekiel-richardson: accessed March 24, 2024), memorial page for Ezekiel Richardson (24 Sep 1602–15 Sep 1681), Find A Grave: Memorial #252628374, citing First Burial Ground, Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Mookie (contributor 47515129).

See also:

• Miriam Brightman Eddy, "Thomas, Henry and Hannah Brooks of Concord," in The American Genealogist, 54(1978):234-–235
• Elizabeth ____, French and Allied Families Individual page for Rebecca Payne, RootsWeb/2 Aug 2008. (Link via Wayback Machine at Archive.org, capture date 10 Mar 2023.)
• Frederic Beech Pierce with Frederick Clifton Pierce, Pierce Genealogy, Worcester: Press of Chas. Hamilton, 311 Main St., Boston, Mass., 1882
• Rev. Henry A. Hazen, History of Billerica - 1653-1883, A. Williams and Co. 1883; provides very detailed notes and sources.
• Genealogy and history of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston: New England Historical Pub. Co., 1902.
• Hugh Darrell Miller, "Genealogy: Ethel Peters Miller/Hugh Darrell Miller," 1985.
• History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1890.
• William Richard Cutter, A.M., (1912). Genealogical and Family History of Central New York. A records of the achievements of her people inn the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation. Volume VIII. New York:Lewis Historical Publishing Co. (1912), pg 1161
• The RICHARDSON Family of Westmill, Hertfordshire, England, Charlestown, Suffolk, MA, Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA and Woburn, Middlesex, MA