James Richards (1683 - 1760)

Born 24 Apr 1683 in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 May 1760 at age 77 in Dedham, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

James Richards was born on 24 April 1683, recorded as "24: 2: 83," in Dedham, (then) Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Aldis) Richards.^[1][2]

He married Hannah Metcalf about 1706. There is no marriage record to be found, but the proof of their union is supplied by James' will which names Hannah,^[3] and that she is called Hannah Richards in her father's will.^[4] They had twelve children born, all recorded in the Dedham Vital Records, between 1707-1730. Four of these children died young, the other eight were named in his will.

James' will,^[3] was dated Aug 29, 1746, proved 20 Jun 1760, in which he gave the improvement of half his estate to his widow Hannah, while a widow, and £150 O.T. if married again. To children James, Samuel, Hannah, Mary, Mehetable, and Elizabeth, besides what he had already bestowed, Mr. Richards gave £100 O.T. each, to be paid one half within three years after the death of his widow, and the other half after the death of his son Jonathan. To James and Samuel, the father bequeathed half his lands at Strawberry Hill, and the other half to Ebenezer. To his four daughters, Mr. Richards gave his cedar swamp in Walpole, and room in his house for two of them while unmarried. To son Ebenezer, Mr. Richards gave half his house and homestead at his death, and the other half at the decease of his widow; and bound him to support the 'unfortunate' Jonathan, and pay the funeral expenses of himself, wife, and Jonathan. He died in Dedham on 22 May 1760 at age 77 years.^[5][6]. The "unfortunate" Jonathan died about 6 months before his father, and James' widow lived for another 10 years.

A double headed stone marks the graves of James & Hannah Richards in Dedham's Old Village Cemetery, on which is cut
"The memory of the just is blessed
In memory of Mr. James RICHARDS, who died 22 May 1760, Ae. 77 yrs.
Mrs. Hannah RICHARDS, wife of Mr. James RICHARDS, who died 8 Jeb 1770, Ae. 83 yrs
The memory of the Just is Blessed. ~ The saints though buried in the dust, ~ Shall rise again among the just. ~ Surviving friends, O drop a tear, ~ Remember your own death is near."^[7] His gravestone has been photographed, and a memorial for the couple is found on Find A Grave: Memorial #21096843.^[8]

Children, born Dedham:

1. Hannah, b. 10 Oct 1707, d. 1786; m. Joseph Everett 1728.
2. James, b. 28 Jul 1709, d. 1778 Newton; m1. Mary Woodward 1735, m2. Mary Flagg 1739.
3. Jonathan, b. 14 Jun 1711, d. 04 Sep 1759.
4. Samuel, b. 24 May 1714, d. 1764; m. Hannah Metcalf 1737.
5. Mary, b. 09 Oct 1717, d. 1749; m. Jonathan Fisher 1737.
6. Ebenezer, b. 12 Jan 1719, d. 1799; m. Thankful Stratton 1741.
7. Eliphalet, b. 11 Sep 1720, d. 29 Sep 1720.
8. Ephraim, b. 12 Apr 1724, d. bef. 1746 (not named in father's will).
9. Mehitable, b. 26 Jan 1727, d. 1785; m. Nathan Richards 1752.
10. Abigail, b. 31 Jan 1729, d. 03 Jul 1738.
11. Elizabeth (twin), b. 09 Nov 1730, d. 1814; m. Abiathar Richards 1753.
12. Eliphalet (twin), b. 09 Nov 1730, d. 27 Nov 1730.

Will

Being in bodily health and of sound & disposing mind & memory (praised be God) knowing my mortality, & that it is appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in form & manner following.

Imprimis - I give and bequeath my Lord into ye Hands of God that gave it, & my Body I recommend to ye Earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at ye direction of my Executors hereafter named, not doubting but at ye general Resurrection I shall receive ye same again by ye mighty power of God, & touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give Demise & Dispose as follows.

Item. - I give & bequeath to Hannah my beloved wife ye use and improvement of on half of my house, barn & homestead land & meadow, half my stock of cattle sheep & swine with all my indoor moveables, & half of my outdoor moveables, to be for her use & improvement during her remaining my widow, and in case she shall see good to dispose herself in mariage then my will is that she have one hundred and fifty pounds, according to bill of Old Tenor out of my Estate, and also that she have such indoor moveables as he shall have occasion for.

Item. - To my beloved children, James, Samuel, Hannah, Mary, Mehittable, Elizabeth each one hundred pound, old tenor, besides what I have before given them, to be paid to them within three years after my or my wifes death, which shall last happen, the other half after ye death of my son Jonathan. I further give to my two sons James & Samuel & to their heirs forever one moiety or halfpart of my land at Strabory [Strawberry] Hill (so called) on both sides of ye way to Springfield, & to my son Ebenezer & his heirs forever ye other half of ye abovesd. land, and to my four sons all my wearing apparel & half my books to be equally divided amongst them.

Item - I give to my four daughters, above named t them & their heirs, forever, my lot of cedar swamp & all my within door moveables after my & my wifes decease to be equally divided amongst them, excepting my wearing apparel & half my books given to my sons, and my will further is that my two younger daughters have convenient room in my house to dwell in as long as they shall remain single.

Item. I further give to my said son Ebenezer & his heirs forever, the one half of my houseing barn & homestead, stock of cattle sheep & swine & outdoor moveables at my decease, and ye other half at my wifes decease he doing & performing as is hereby injoined. And my will is & I do hereby ordain that my said son Ebenezer seasonably pay all my just debts funeral charges and ye several legacies hereby bequeath'd and all payments to be paid & to receive all my debts & also that he take suitable care of & provide & give unto my son Jonathan food & apparel & all other necessarys of life both in health & sickness while he lives & at his decease shall give unto him decent Christian burial. And I do hereby utterly disallow & revoke all & every other Testaments or wills heretofore made, & constitute & ordain my beloved wife & son Ebenezer joint Execution of this my las Will & Testament giving them full power & authority to execute ye same according to ye express meaning thereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the twenty ninth day of August One thousand seven hundred forty six & in ye twentyeth year of ye Reign of George ye Second over Great Britain King. I also give to my three sons & their heirs, James, Samuel & Ebenezer my three common reights.

Signed, seal'd published & declared by James Richards & a seal

ye said James Richards as his last will & Testament in presence of us after the alterations & interlines in 22d & 30th line were made, ye interline on ye upper line of this Page -

John Metcalf, Jonathan Metcalf, William Avery Jr?^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9979-R6YK?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D6-FMC%3A353350501%2C353350502%2C353355801 : 20 May 2014), Norfolk > Dedham > Births, marriages, deaths 1635-1853 > image 42 of 763; town clerk offices, Massachusetts.
   Dedham Vol. 1, 1683. [Image of original record]

   "[1683] James, son of Nathanell & Mary Richards was born 24 : 2: 83."

2. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ... Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1886), p. 18
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} James Richards, Probate Records Docket #12401 Suffolk Co. Probate Court, Boston, Massachusetts
4. ↑ Jonathan Metcalf's will, Case #5453, Dedham (1727), Suffolk Co. Probate Court, Boston, Massachusetts.
5. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ... Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1886), p. 93
6. ↑ Robert B. Hanson, editor, Dedham, MA, VRs 1635-1845 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1997), p. 451
7. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ...transcribed from the Church Records in the Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1888), Epitaphs upon the tomb stones, Rev. Carlos Slafter, p. 285
8. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 January 2019), memorial page for James Richards (24 Apr 1683–22 May 1760), Find A Grave: Memorial #21096843, citing Old Village Cemetery, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Bill Boyington (contributor 46800933).
9. ↑ James Richards, Probate Records, Docket #12401: Vol. 57, pp. 51-53, Suffolk Co. Probate Court, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA

See also:

• Rev. Abner Morse, compiler, Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans (Boston, MA: HW Dutton & Son, 1861), Vol. III, p. 124