Richard Shortridge (abt. 1631 - abt. 1689)

Born about 1631 in Tiverton, Devon, England

Ancestors

Husband of Esther (Dearborn) Shortridge — married about 14 May 1661 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1689 at about age 58 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire

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Biography

Numerous web sites give the ancestry of Richard Shortridge of Portsmouth who married Esther Dearborn, however, I have been unable to locate any primary sources to confirm Richard's father or grandfather. There was a Richard Shortridge, gent., living in Witheridge, Devon in 1647, which is next to Tiverton, so I wonder if this Richard is the one related to these other Shortridges that have been listed as ancestors of our Richard from Portsmouth.^[1]

Richard was a fisherman and basketmaker and bought a house and land at Sagamore Creek from Nicholas Roe in Oct. 1659. He was a witness in court with John Locke and John Moses in 1659. In 1671 he swore the peace with the Jones family. He had been threatened with a knife and his wife slandered. He took the freeman's oath 15 May 1672. He was on the grand jury in 1675. On 22 Oct. 1677. ^[2]

Richard was one of the 56 people who petitioned the king that Portsmouth should continue to be governed by Massachusetts:

"To the King's most Excellent Majesty & or Dread Soveraign

The Humble Addresse of your Majtie Subjects ye Householders of ye Town of Portsmo on Pascataq River in N England Humbly showeth

That the fear of loseing the long enjoyed & still desired Benefitt of ye Massachusetts Governmt hath occasioned us to adventure to speak unto or Soveraign Lord ye King, it my bee ye Words of or Lord ye King may bee comfortable to us & he will pform ye Request of his Servants yt wee may bee continued & settled under ye same Jurisdiction as formerly, unto which wee at first Voluntarily subjected ourselves and have never yet had any cause to repent of our so doeing; under which by ye good hand of or God upon us & your Majesties Authority over us wee have been duely encouraged to lead quiet & peacable lives in all Godlines & Honesty; with which also wee rest fully satisfied & contented. Wee are men yt desire to fear ye Lord & ye King & not to medle with them yt are given to Change, as well knowing what confusions distractions & Damage Changes of Governmts are not ususually attended with. May this thing seem good in yor Majesties eyes & may we bee favoured in this Matter, wee shall pay or Vowes to ye ffather & ffountain of all or Mercies & find ourselves further obliged to offer up or Prayers for ye life of ye King &c.

Dated in Portsmo in Pascatq River in N.E. this 22 Octobr 1677... Richard Shortridge..."^[3]

On 16 Feb. 1679 Richard was nominated for the New Hampshire Assembly, however, he was not elected.

"An act made for the Calling of A Gen : Assembly :

Wee the president & Council of his majties province of N-Hampshire being reqred by or commisson to call a Gen Assembly of ye said province and it begin left to us to Judge & detirmyn wt persons shall chuse yr deputies for the sd Assembly- Doe hereby ordr & declaire in his Majties Name that the psons hereafter named in the severall Townes shall meet together on ye first day of march next by 9 of the Clock in ye morning & having first each of ym taken ye oath of alleigiance (if they have not taken it Allready) wch oath is to be Administred by the member or members of the sd Council there resideing) chuse from among themselves by ye major Vote given in writing not exceeding the Number of three persons wch persons so chosen, are to appeare at portsmo on ye 16th day of march following by 9 a clock there to attend to him majties service for ye concernes of the said province of N-Hampshire, provided, that wee do not intend that wt is now done be presidentiall for ye future, & that it shall exteend Noe farther then to ye calling of this first Assembly that they being conven'd may as his majties Letters pattents direct make such Laws & constituc'ons in this & other respects as may best conduce to ye weale of ye whole, and wee doe further ordr yt the Constable or Constables in ye severall Towns shall publish this writt, & warne all the persons concerned, to attend theire duties as is above expressed, & make a true Returne Undr yr hands of ye Names of ye persons soe chosen, further it is ordered by this Council yt no man shall Vote for deputies but such as are menc'oned in this List upon penalty of paying a fine of five pound, & yt no man put in but one vote for one man, & yt they doe not cut quite through the names they write in theire papers, Also yt those of ye Councill in portsmo Dover Hampton & Exceter see the respective meetigns in the severall Townes where they Live Regulated in all ye prmisses according to ye Counsils true intent therein.... portsmo... Ric : Shortridge... ^[4]

In Godfrey Dearborn's will from 1680 is mention of Richard's daughter Ann: "I Doe Give and bequeath Unto my Grand Child Ann Shatredg that now liveth with mee one two year old Heffer which she is to Receive att the End of Her time yt she is to live with mee..."^[5]

In 1689 he deeded to his son in law John Davis the land his house stood on. The Davises sold to Mark Hunking who in 1726 sold it to Richard Shortridge III. ^[6]

Richard was born about 1613. He passed away about 1687.

Sources

1. ↑ Devon Record Office- Lease- 20 Apr. 1647- 515M-0/T/1
2. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p. 632
3. ↑ New Hampshire State Papers- Vol. XVII, pp. 526-7
4. ↑ New Hampshire State Papers- Vol. XIX, pp. 658-9
5. ↑ New Hampshire State Papers- Vol. XXXI, p. 243
6. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p. 632

• Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) Vol. 2, Page 926
• Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=15949597&pid=1156756999
• Dearborn Family Tree notes
• The Mansons of New Hampshire