| 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 |
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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.
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.
He married by 1632 Susanna (Unknown).[2]
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].
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]
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.
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]
Dated 20 July 1647, proved 1 June 1648; inventoried 18 Nov 1647.[14]
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:
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.
- Thomas Carter, scribe.
- Edward Convers.
- John Mousall.
- Increase Nowell, Rr. [Register.] (pp 35-36 )[6]
Children of Ezekiel and Susanna:[15]
Above are the only known children of Ezekiel and Susanna. Some also include the children below, without source.
Gravestone Memorial:
See also:
This week's connection theme is Saints. Ezekiel is 13 degrees from Marguerite D'Youville, 21 degrees from Birgitta Birgersdotter, 15 degrees from Marguerite Bourgeois, 14 degrees from Katherine Drexel, 20 degrees from Philippine Duchesne, 20 degrees from Isaac Jogues, 18 degrees from Mary MacKillop, 34 degrees from Zélie Martin, 20 degrees from John Newman, 22 degrees from Lorcán Ua Tuathail, 11 degrees from Elizabeth Ann Seton and 25 degrees from Edith Stein on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
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Categories: First Burial Ground, Woburn, Massachusetts | Winthrop Fleet | Antinomian Controversy | Woburn, Massachusetts | Estimated Birth Date | Puritan Great Migration
edited by Richard Barton
Keep in mind it will never be updated.
If not then I have no other answer yet. Does not work on wc.rootsweb.com addresses. I think those were pulled into Ancestry.
Richard.
edited by Richard Barton
RIck Draper (Draper-310)