Thomas Richards (bef. 1596 - bef. 1651)

Born before 16 Apr 1596 in Pitminster, Somerset, England

Ancestors

Husband of Welthian (Loring) Richards — married before 1620 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 25 Jan 1651 at about age 54 in Hull, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

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Thomas Richards migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 1575) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Thomas Richards is the ancestor of three American Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George Walker Bush. ^[1]

Biography

Thomas Richards was baptised on 15 April 1596 at Pitminster or Pilton, Somerset, England. He was baptised the son of Thomas Richards.^[2][3][4][5] His mother may have been an Alice Hulins, though it's likely the name comes from two conflated people. Further discussion: Alice Hulins of Rodborough.

According to ships lists, a Thomas Richards, from Somersetshire bound for Dorchester was aboard the Mary & John's voyage in 1630 which was organized by Rev. John White of Dorchester.^[6][7] Banks also records a Thomas Richards departing Plymouth, England, on 20 March 1630 aboard the Mary & John, Thomas Chubb, master,^[8] and here he lists his wife and children as passengers.

Thomas certainly arrived in New England by mid-year 1633, as he received his first grant of four acres of land at Dorchester on 05 August 1633.^[9]

Thomas Richards did come from the heart of the Mary & John country and was related to at least one of the passengers, Elizabeth Saunders, wife of Henry Wolcott, through their mutual Blake ancestry, but Thomas had children baptised in Pitminster after the Mary & John sailing on 20 Mar. 1630: Hannah, 26 October 1630 & James, 13 September 1632.^[5] Thomas later brought his family to New England on the Hopewell, which sailed from England, 8 May 1635. Most prominent men of the Mary & John (1630) applied for freemanship on 19 October 1630, but Thomas Richards did not. He did not take the freeman's oath until 13 March 1640. If all of the above facts are true, then: (1) he boarded the Mary & John in 1630 when his wife was three months pregnant, (2) he returned to England by December 1631 when his wife again became pregnant, (3) returned to New England by October 1633 for a Dorchester Town meeting^[10] and then returned to England by May 1635 to board the Hopewell with his family. Additionally, Thomas received his first land grant at Dorchester on 05 August 1633.^[9]

Helliwell states "Thomas Richardes" sailed aboard the ship Hopewell from Weymouth, England, to New England on 08 May 1635. He was likely the same man who was in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1633. He was a merchant, and may have returned to bring his family to their new home.^[11]

They removed to Weymouth about 1639, where he owned a mill in common with Henry Waltham. He was Selectman for Weymouth in 1643. Thomas Richards died between 17 December 1650 (date of will) and 28 January 1650/1 (will proved), leaving a good estate to his children and to his wife Wealthian.^[12]

His first six children were baptised at Pitminster between 1620 and 1632.^[5] Children of Thomas Richards and Welthian (Loring) Richards include ^[5]:

1. Mary, bp. Pitminister 11 Nov 1620; m. Barnstable, 4 Dec 1641 Thomas Hinkley, Gov. of Plymouth ^[13]; d. June 24, 1659.
2. John, bp. Pitminister 13 Feb 1624/5.; his mother considered matching him with Mr. William Tyng's eldest daughter ^[14] ; m. (1) Boston, 3 May 1654 Elizabeth (Hawkins) (Long) Winthrop ^[15] m. (2) Boston 1 Sept 1692 Ann Winthrop. ^[16] d. April 2, 1694.
3. Ann, bp. Pitminster, 1 Nov 1626; m. say 1643, Ephraim Hunt of Weymouth.
4. Alice, bp. Pitminster, 7 April 1629 (d. Plymouth 12 Dec 1671, aged 44 ^[13]; m. by 1650 (1) William Bradford, Dep. Gov. of Plymouth, son of William Bradford. d. Dec. 12, 1671.
5. Hannah, bp. Pitminster, 26 Oct 1630; 28 Jan 1650/1 - petitioned to name mother administrator of father's will; not named in mother's will 3 July 1679. May have died before 1679.
6. James, bp. Pitminster, 13 Sept 1632; m. say 1655 (1) Sarah Gibbons. ^[14]; d. June 29 or July 11, 1680.
7. Samuel, b. abt 1634; named in father's will but not in mother's will; In a letter to her son John, the mother Welthian Richards on 20 Mar 1652/3 says of Samuel, "consider the trouble that none will share with me in , and if I put him out it will cost me so much that I cannot bear." ^[14]
8. Joseph, b. abt 1636 (under 21 in 1650). 28 Jan 1650/1 - petitioned to name mother administrator of father's will; not named in mother's will 3 July 1679. May have died before 1679.
9. Benjamin, b. abt 1638 (under 21 in 1650); m. Boston, 10 Oct 1661 Hannah Hudson ^[15]

The following are NOT included as children of Thomas Richards in The Great Migration Begins ^[5]:

1. Margaret
2. Thomas, Esq., 1st of Dorchester and 2d of Boston, d. unm. 1648-50.

Will of Thomas Richards

In his will, dated 17 December 1650 and proved 28 January 1650/1, Thomas Richards "of the town of Waymouth in New England being at this present (illegible) the 17 December 1650 in the town of Hull in New England aforesaid in the house of Tho: Loringe, being weak and sick in body" bequeathed that "when my son John come home my whole estate shall be cast up what it comes to and my sons John and James and Samuell and Joseph and Benjamine shall have all of them alike, double portions to my daughters out of it, my son John shall have no more than one of the rest becuse I have been at greater charge with him than with any of the othe(s)"; "my daughter(s) Mary and Ann and Alce and Hannah shall have half o much as my sons all alike, only my daughter Mary shall have L10 more than any of the other"; "my wife shall have a competent and sufficient maintenance allowed her out of my estate, that is to say L35 a year ... during her life": "I do give to brother Thom. Loring L5 for the charge and trouble they have been at with me": to "Thomas Prosser L20"; "my son John shall have my sons Joseph's and Benjamine's portions i his hands until they be twenty and one years of age"; overseers "my son John and Thomas Loringe and Nicolas Baker both of Hull (sic)" ^{[17] [18]}

The heirs petitioned the court 28 January 1650/1 explaining that "our dear father Mr. Thomas Richards" died without naming an executor in his will, and petitioning that "our dear mother Mrs. Welthian Richards, late wife of our dear father, deceased" be granted power to improve the estate and bring in an inventory. This was signed by "James Richards, Joseph Richards, Benjamin Richards, Mr. Thomas HInckley desires the same by his letter, Mr. Wil(lia)m Bradford also desires the same by his letter, Epharim Hunt and Hannah Richards." The mothion to accept came from Mr. John Richards ^{[19] [18]}The probate papers further indicated that Welthian had "been very faithful and provident for her husband conserning his estate" and that "when he went last to England he made her a letter of attorney to buy or sell or ordering any of his estate he left behind him here" ^[19]

The inventory of the goods of "Mr. Thomas Richards late of Weymouth" was taken 25 January 1650/1 L1300 17s 11d. including L200 in real estate: "his house & land and orchard and mill L200"^[20] This very detailed list includes many items of clothing, obviously a merchant's stock, and "thirty-six swords."

Widow Welthean Richards signed over the estate due him to her son John Richards 30 January 1651/2 saying that "after all the rest of my said husband's estate left to his children be maee appear to be wholly expended in the satisfying of those debts in England, that my said estate shall be liable to make up what shall be remaining unsatisfied thereof" ^[21][5]

Event Type: Will - abs

Date: 28 JAN 1650, Place: Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. The wills of Thomas Richards of Weymouth, Mass., and his widow, Welthian Richards of Boston, will interest many descendants of Plymouth Colony families, since their daughter Mary Richards was the first wife of Thomas HInckley (Samuel), afterwards governor of Plymouth Colony, and bore him eight children, all but one of whom married. The daughter Alice Richards became the wife of William Bradford (Gov. William) and bore him ten children, all of whom married.

The will of Thomas Richards was made at Hull, Mass., at the house of Thomas Loring, on 17 December, 1650, and the inventory of his goods at Weymouth was taken 18 January, 1650/1; he must, therefore, have died between these two dates. None of the papers relating to his estate were recorded, and the following abstracts, with the literal copy of the petition of the heirs, were made from the original documents, now in the Suffolk County Probate Files in Boston.

The will of the widow Welthian Richards was made at Boston on 3 July, 1679, and proved 4 November, 1679, and she must have died between these dates. Her will, also, is in the Suffolk County Probate Files and the abstract here presented was made from the original document.

The will of Thomas Richards of Weymouth was made at the house of Thomas Loring, in Hull, Mass., 17 December, 1650, and was proved 28 January, 1650/1. Bequests were made to his wife; to son John, who is away from home; to son James; to son Samuel; to sons Joseph and Benjamin, both under twenty-one years of age; "daughters mary and An and Alce and Hannah; shall have halfe so much as my sonnes; all alike" but Mary is to have L10 more than the others; "to Brother Thos Loringe." Son John, Thomas Loring and Nicholas Baker are to see that the will is carried out. On 18 and 25 January, 1650/1, the goods at Weymouth, Mass., and Boston were inventoried. On 28 January, 1650/1, the inventories wee sworn to by Mrs. Richards. An account rendered by her mentions debts due to "mr ffermace of Plimouth," to Thomas Hinckley, to Ephraim Hunt and to Captain Standish of Duxbury. On the same day the following petition of the heirs was presented to the court. "To the Honoured Court at Boston: 28: (11) 1650. Wheras our deare father Mr Thomas Richards late of Waymouth: dyed and left a will but appoynted no executors of the same: We whose names are underwritten doe humbly desire this Honor Court that our deare Mother mrs Welthian Richards : late wife of our deare father deceased: may have power granted by this Court to improve the estate that our father leftuntill our Brother John Richards shall returne hether he being now in England: or in case of his not returninge untill the Court shall thinke good to dispose otherwise and that our dear Mother may returne an Inventory into this Court of the whole estate of our said father deceased and also be bound to give an account of the said estate upon all demands: That so the estate may be ordred for our good & the payment of our fathers debt: Thus not doubting of your fatherly care for the fatherlesse we humbly take leave James Richards, Joseph Richards, Benjamin Richards, Mr. Thomas Hinckley desires ye same by his letter, Mr. wilm Bradford also desires ye same by his letter, Epharim Hunt, Hannah Richards

It is also the desire of us whose names are underwritten: whome mr Richard hath cosen Overseers of his last will: Thomas Loringe, Nico Baker.

On 3 December, 1651, John Richards acknowledged himself satisfied with his mother's management of the estate. ^[18]

Research Notes

Uncertain mother: His mother may have been an Alice Hulins, though it's likely the name comes from two conflated people. Further discussion: Alice Hulins of Rodborough.

DNA

• Ancestor of interest associated with AncestryDNA contacts, Lynde Family Tree, Gedmatch ID A435113 and T350954, his father may be a possible duplicate with Thomas RICHARDS m Alicia CHAMBERS. If you are a descendant who has DNA tested please contact Veronica Williams 30 August 2015 (EDT), May 2016.

Sources

1. ↑ Roberts, Gary Boyd. "Ancestors of American Presidents", Santa Clarita, CA: Carl Boyer III (1995); p 303. Published in cooperation with the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N19W-ZTP : accessed 7 May 2016), Thomas Richard, 15 Apr 1596; citing Somerset, England, reference Item 19; FHL microfilm 1,526,710.
3. ↑ Somerset Baptisms suggest birth registered at Pilton First name(s) Thomas Last name Richards Birth year - Baptism date 16 Apr 1596 Denomination Anglican Place Pilton County Somerset Country England Father's first name(s) Thomas Father's last name Richards Mother's first name(s) - Event type Baptisms, marriages & burials Somerset Archives Document type Parish records Archive reference D/P/PILT 2/1/1. Collections from England.
4. ↑ Pitminster Parish Register image 17 https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60856/engl78030_d-p-pit-2-1-1_m_00000-a?
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5} Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633. Volumes I-III. AmericanAncestors.org, pp. 1575-1579
6. ↑ Banks, Charles Edward,Topographical dictionary of 2885 English emigrants to New England, p. 146
7. ↑ http://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/maryjohn1.htm
8. ↑ Banks, Charles Edward, Planters of the Commonwealth ( Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1967) p. 90
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Fourth report of the Record Commissioners of the city of Boston, 1880 : Dorchester town records, ( Boston : Rockwell and Churchill, 1883) p. 2. Archive.org
10. ↑ Dorchester Town Records, p. 3. In a meeting in Dorchester, Mass., on 8 Oct. 1633, twelve men, including Mr. Richards, were chosen to handle the business of the plantation.
11. ↑ Helliwell, Ernest Hyde, III, "Passengers of the Hopewell from Weymouth England, to New England, 8 May 1635,", The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) Vol. 167:182. Link by $ubscription.
12. ↑ Maude Pinney Kuhns. The Mary and John. Tuttle Publishing Co., Inc., Rutland, VT, 1943. p.65. (Record Number: 929.2 K96M)
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, editors. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England. 12 volumes in 10 (Boston 1855-1861). 8:44, 8:33
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} Winthrop Papers, 1498-1654, 6 volumes, various editors. (Boston 1925-1992) 6:268, 6:451
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699, Ninth Report of the Boston Record Commissioners (Boston 1883; rpt. Baltimore, 1978) 48, 82.
16. ↑ M. Halsey Thomas. The Dairy of Samuel Sewall, Volume One 1674-1708, Volume Two 1709-1729. New York, 1973. 295.
17. ↑ Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, New Series 1:64
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2} Mayflower Descendant. Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. vol. 9; 1907; pp. 89-91
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, New Series 1:65
20. ↑ Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, New Series 1:66-72.
21. ↑ Suffolk Deeds Volumes 1 through 14 (Boston 1880-1906). Citations to later volumes are form the microfilm copies of the original. 1:171.

See also:

• Our Royal Titled Noble and Commoner Ancestors, Marlyn Lewis, Portland, OR.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35354306/thomas-richards: accessed April 10, 2024), memorial page for Thomas Richards Jr. (15 Apr 1596–28 Jan 1650), Find A Grave: Memorial #35354306; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Linda Mac (contributor 47062703). (No gravestone, no photos.)

• Stott, Clifford L., Humphrey Blake (1494?–1558) and His Descendants in New England and South Carolina: Blake, Richards, Selleck, Torrey, and Wolcott, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2009) Vol. 163, Page 291-4. AmericanAncestors.org by $ubscription.