Richard Cutter was born 13 November 1682 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of William and Rebecca (Rolfe) Cutter[1-2]. He was their second child and first son.
Richard Cutter owned the covenant and was baptized in the church at Cambridge, Massachusetts on 15 September 1700[1].
He left New England and settled in Woodbridge, New Jersey in 1706, leaving his parents and siblings in Cambridge behind[1].
He married Mary Pike, the daughter of John Pike, one of the first and most active settlers of Woodbridge, New Jersey, on 20 August 1706[1].
On 14 November 1709, Richard Cutter and John Pike entered into a partnership agreement to build and maintain a grist mill on Pike's Creek. The agreement was entered into the town records by Thomas Pike, town clerk, on 1 March 1710[1].
Richard Cutter had eight children by his first wife, Mary (Pike) Cutter, the first two in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the rest in Woodbridge, New Jersey[1]:
* Sarah Cutter (1707-1758), married Samuel Jaques in 1730.
* Rebecca Cutter (1709-1792), married William Frazee in 1727.
* Elizabeth Cutter (1711-1750), married John Skinner in 1736.
* John Cutter (1713-1759).
* Ephraim Cutter (1715-1770), married Susan Burwell in 1762.
* Esther Cutter (1717-1784), married Charles Marsh in 1742.
* Hannah Cutter (1719-1756), married Robert Dennis (1713-1790)
* Richard Cutter (1721-1768), married Elizabeth Ford.
All of the above children are mentioned in their father's will except Elizabeth who died before her father, but they are not mentioned in the will of Mercy (Kelsey) Cutter, the second wife of Richard Cutter.
On 8 March 1719/20, Richard Cutter was chosen "overseer of the pore" in Woodbridge for the next year. He was chosen again 14 March 1756[1].
Mary (Pike) Cutter died 30 June 1721 in Woodbridge[1].
Richard Cutter married Mercy Kelsey, daughter of Joseph and Jane (DeCamp)Kelsey in about 1722[1]. They had six children between 1722 and about 1734, all probably born in Woodbridge[1]:
* William Cutter (1722-1780), married Mary Kent in about 1744.
* Joseph Cutter (1725-1767), married Ann Campyon before 1752.
* Mary Cutter (1728-????), married Baker.
* Rebecca Cutter (1730-????)
* Ebenezer Cutter (1732-????)
* Samuel Cutter (1734-1759)
Richard Cutter was honorably mentioned in his father's will, who, by a deed of gift, gave him an important part of his estate, which Richard later transferred to his brothers who remained near the family homestead. He was appointed an executor of this instrument, but did not appear at the office of probate when the will was proven. He however in some degree assisted in its final administration[1,5].
He appears to have been a citizen of Woodbridge of the first importance[1].
The will of Richard Cutter was written on 20 September 1756, and proved on 22 January 1757 in Middlesex County, New Jersey[3]:
Richard Cutter
Will Recorded
22 Jan'y 1757
Exam'd
In the name of God Amen the twentyeth day of September in the year of Christ One thousand Seven hundred and fifty six I Richard Cutter of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex and Province of East New Jersey being sick and weak of Body but of sound and perfect mind & memory calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to Dye Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament – And first I Give and recommend my Soul to God that gave it and for my Body I commend it to the Dust to be Buried in a Christian like & decent manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I Give Devise & dispose of the same in manner following.
Imprimis it is my will and I do Order that all my just Debts and Funeral Charges be fully paid by my Executors as soon as may be conveniently after my decease.
Item I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Wife Mercy Cutter the one equal third part of all the Neat profit & Income of both my Grist Mill and Sawmill which she shall have & enjoy for &during her natural life also I Give to my said Wife the one half part of the priviledge use & benefit of my former Dwelling House at the Cornfield Landing her part to be taken where she shall chuse and also the use & benefit of the one half part of the Lands & Meadows lying & adjoyning on the Northerly side of the said Dwelling House & on the North side of the said Dwelling House & on the North side of the Road that goes by the same Bounded Westerly by the Lands herein after given to my Son Richard Cutter Northerly by Zebulon Pike's Land Easterly in part by Will'm Cutter's Land and partly by the great Creek including the Islands & Meadow lying Northerly of Bradly's Creek which moiety shall remain to my said wife during her natural life. Also I Give & bequeath to my Wife aboves'd One Feather Bed & sufficient furniture & also the Sum or value of fifty pounds of curr't money of this Province to be taken out of my Moveable Estate in such particular things as my wife shall chuse & being by her chosen they shall be Prized and Delivered to her by my Executors and shall remain to her her Heirs & assigns for ever.
Item I give & Bequeath to my Eldest Son William Cutter the Dwelling House wherein he now lives together with a piece of Land whereon it stands which Land shall begin at a Stake planted in the line of my Land being nine Rods westward from the great Buttonwood Tree that is near the South East Corner of his House from which Stake it shall run eight Rods north to another Stake planted for a Corner and from thence Easterly on a Strait line parrallell with the front line down to the great Creek and from thence down the said Creek as it runs to the afores'd Front line where it joyns to the said Creek and from thence Westerly as the said line runs to the first mentioned Stake and also the one equal half part of my Grist Mill and Saw Mill including one half of the Stream & all the other priviledges and Utensils to the said Mills now belonging or appartaining And also that Tract of Land on the South side of the Road opposite to my former Dwelling House whereon the Barn and Orchard now stands as far Westward as the line of the Land I bought of Elisha Inslee together with all that Tract of Salt Meadow which I bought of Zebulon Pike lying on the South side of the last mentioned Land & on the North side of the Mill pond (Excepting one acre and a half of said Meadow to be taken of the Westerly end thereof which is hereby reserved for my Son Richard and also the one third part of that Lott of Land on Strawberry Hill which I bought of Richard Dole the said Third part to be taken off the Northerly end of said Lott adjoyning to Zebulon Pikes Land and also the one equal Third part of my Lott of Land call'd Ten Acres lying on the South side of the Brook called Pike's Brook which shall be Divided to him and to his Brothers herein after mentioned by Lott drawn for that purpose and also five acres of Salt Meadow lying at Raraton on the Westward side of the Meadow called Proprietors Meadow & on the North side of the Creek called Abrahams Creek being that Meadow that was given to me by my father in law John Pike and also the one equal third part of that Tract of Land which lyes on and near the hill formerly called Lockhearts hill which belonged formerly chiefly to John Whitcher with some other additions containing in all about twenty seven acres which shall be divided to him & his two Brothers hereafter named in quantity and quality and all abovesaid to remain to him his Heirs and Assigns forever.
Item I Give and bequeath to my Son Richard Cutter the House and Lands which I bought of Elisha [page 399, image 539, right-hand page] Insley and also that one acre & half of Salt meadow reserved as above to be taken off the Westerly end of the Tract I bought of Zebulon Pike between the Mill pond and the upland whereon the Barn stands and likewise the one equal third part of that Lott of Land on Strawberry hill which I bought of Richard Dole which third part of his shall be taken of the South end of s'd Lott & adjoyned to his House Lott and also the one equal third part of that Tract or Parcel of Land which lyes on & near the hill formerly called Lockhearts hill which formerly belonged chiefly to John Whitcher with other additions containing in all about twenty Seven acres which shall be Divided to him & his two brothers as abovesaid in quantity and quality and likewise the one equal third part of my Lott of Land call'd Ten Acres lying on the South side of the brook call'd Pikes brook which shall be Divided to him & his two brothers by Lotts drawn for that purpose and also one third part of that fifteen acres Lott of Salt Marsh lying in Raraton Meadows on the South side of the great Creek which shall be taken of the East end of the Lott and also the one equal half particular of my Grist Mill & Saw mill including one half part of the Stream & all the other Priviledges and utensils to the said Mills belonging or appertaining all abovesaid to remain to him his Heirs & assigns forever.
Item I Give and bequeath to my Son Joseph Cutter all that Tract of Land lying on the Easterly side of the Road that goe to Metuchin between the Lands of Isaac Tappen & David Evans containing near about forty acres being one twenty two acre Lott & a ten acre Lott Drawn in the right of John Whitcher & a small addition taken up in a Ten pound right all adjoyning together also that Six acre Lott of Salt Meadow lying on the West side of the highway that goes from the upland to the bridge over the House Lot Creek in Raraton meadows all abovesaid to him his Heirs and assigns for ever.
Item I Give bequeath to my Son Ebenezer Cutter all that my ancient Dwelling House & Land & meadow adjoyning lying on the North side of the Road that goes from Cornfield Landing to the Amboy Road Bounded Westerly by the Lands of my Son Richard Cutter Northerly by Lands of Zebulon Pike Easterly on the great Creek in part & partly by Lands of my Son William Cutter together with an Island of Meadow lying on the North side of that Lott of Land on Strawberry
hill which I bought of Richard Dole his part shall be bounded South west on the Road and northeast by the Lands of my Son Richard Cutter the Division lines to lye cross the whole Lott parrallel with the line of Zebulon Pike's Land moreover I Give and bequeath to my abovesaid son Ebenezer Cutter the one equal third part of my Lott of Land called Ten acres lying on the South side of the brook called Pikes brook which shall be Divided to him & his two Brothers as abovesaid by Lots drawn for that purpose the Division Lines to run parallel with the Westermost line of said Lott, and also the one third part of that Tract or parcel of Land which lyes on & near the hill formerly called Lockhearts hill being the Land which formerly belonged chiefly to John Whitcher with other Additions containing in all about twenty seven acres which shall be Divided as abovesaid in quantity and quality all given to my said Son Ebenezer Cutter in this & the above sheet shall remain to him his Heirs and Assigns for ever.
Item I Give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Cutter the one equal half part of my sixty acre Lott of Woodland lying in Woodbridge near the place called the Pumpkin patch the whole being bounded Easterly and westerly by William Browns Land northerly by the County line and Southerly by the highway his half part shall be taken of the Easterly side of the whole Lott which shall be Divided by number of Acres and Shall remain to him his Heirs & assigns for ever and likewise my Will is that my Son Samuel Shall pay to my Son John Cutter the Sum of Ten pounds of curr't money of this Province within the space of one year next after my decease.
Item I give to my Son Ephraim Cutter the residue or Westerly half part of my sixty acre Lott of woodland lying near the Pumpkin patch the whole being bounded East & West by William Browns Land Northerly by the County Line and Southerly by the highway which shall be equally Divided by number of acres to him his Heirs & assigns for ever and likewise my Will is that my Son Ephraim shall pay to my Son John the Sum of Ten pounds of curr't money of this Province within the space of one year after my decease and furthermore my Will is that my two Sons Samuel and Ephraim Cutters shall have occupy and enjoy all my Priviledge Right and property (which I have and hold by a Lease) in and upon the Plantation that was formerly John Skinners to be by these my two Sons equally enjoyed and the Rents and conditions of & in said Lease mentioned by them equally paid & performed according to the Tenor of said Lease as I my self ought to do and my Executors to be discharged from any manner of right of having doing or paying any thing in the said Lease mentioned or intended.
Moreover I Give to my Son William Cutter all that Lott of Woodland lying on the North side of Piscataway Road Containing Twenty acres which was taken up in the right of John Whitcher Bounded East by Moses Collyers Land and West by Samuel Comptons Land to remain to him his Heirs and assigns forever. Likewise I further Give to my Son Richard Cutter all that piece of Woodland being Twenty Acres bounded Easterly by Alexander Edgars Land Southerly by Jonathan Rowlands Land and West by Israel Thomels Land to him his Heirs & assigns forever. And furthermore I Give to my Son Joseph Cutter all that Lott of woodland Containing about nineteen Acres Bounded North by Jonathan Congers Land East by Land of Israel Thomel & West by James Ayers his Land all to him his Heirs and Assigns for ever.
Moreover my Will is and I do order that my Son William Cutter shall pay to my Daughter Sarah Jaqueth the Sum of five pounds and to my Daughter Hannah Dennis the Sum of Ten pounds and to my Daughter Esther Marsh the Sum of five pounds all in curr't money of this Province within the space of one year after my decease, and also my Son Richard Cutter shall pay to my Daughter Rebecka Cutter the Sum of Twenty pounds in curr't money of this Province within the space of one year after my deceased And also my Son Joseph Cutter shall pay unto my Daughter Mary Baker the Sum of Twenty pounds of curr't money of this Province within the space of one year all to remain to my abovesaid Daughters and each of them their Heirs & assigns forever.
And further it is my Will and I do order that my three Eldest Sons William Cutter Richard Cutter and Joseph Cutter Shall joyntly & equally pay and discharge all my funeral Charges the Probate of my Will and all my other just Debts that shall be found due at the time of my decease each of them shall pay a third part of the whole. And further it is my Will and I do order that if any of all my Sons do bring an accompt of Debt against my Estate after my Decease for Services done for me or mine before my decease then the Party so proceeding and demanding shall be forever thereupon debarr'd & cut of from any Legacies herein given and the same shall be equally Divided amongst all the rest of my Children.
And furthermore I Give to my Son Samuel Cutter the Westermost third part of that my fifteen Acres of Salt Marsh lying in Raraton Meadows on the South side of the great Creek Bounded Northwest on the highway & South on Parkers Pattent to him his Heirs & assigns forever.
Also I give to my Son Ephraim Cutter the remaining third part of that my fifteen Acres of Salt Marsh in Raraton Meadows lying & to lye between that part given to my Sons Richard and Samuel the Division to be made by South line runing through the whole Lott to him his Heirs and
assigns for ever. And further I Give to my son William Cutter the one half part of those Freehold Rights which I bought of Richard Dole the other half part of said Rights to be equally Divided between my two Sons Richard and Joseph Cutter with all the undivided Lands yet to be taken up or found belonging to the said Rights to them their Heirs and assigns for ever. And further I give to my two Sons William and Richard Cutters all that Ten Acres of Salt Meadow which I bought of Richard Dole lying at Redroot Landing Bounded South by Carkis his Lott and North by John Taylors Lott to each of my said Sons an equal part of the whole to them their Heirs and assigns for ever.
And for the better enabling my Sons William Richard & Joseph Cutters to pay & discharge all my just Debts & funeral Charges & Legacys as abovesaid I do hereby Give to them my said three Eldest Sons all the remaining part of my Moveable Estate that is not before herein given away to my Wife to them their Heirs and assigns for ever.
And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my three Sons William Cutter Richard Cutter and Joseph Cutter to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby utterly revoke & disannull all & every other former Wills ^Testaments^ & Legacies & Executors by me at any time heretofore named, Willed & bequeathed Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day & year above written. Signed Sealed published pronounced & Declared }
by the said Richard Cutter this to be his last Will & } Rich'd Cutter
Testament in presence of us the Subscribers }
William Kent Richard Jaques Joseph + Haveland David Donham
Be it Remembered that on the twenty Second day of January One thousand Seven hundred and fifty seven William Kent and Joseph Haviland two of the within Witnesses personally came before me Thomas Bartow duly Authorized to prove Wills and they being Sworn on the holy Evangelists to do Depose that they were present and Saw Richard Cutter the Testator within named Sign and Seal the within written Will and heard him Publish and Declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind & memory to the best of their knowledge and as they verily believe and that at the same time Richard Jaques and David Donham were present and Signed as Witnesses together with them the Deponents in the Testators presence. Tho's Bartow Be it also Remembered that at the same time William Cutter Richard Cutter and Joseph Cutter the Executors within named were qualified by taking the usual Oath of Executors as by Law appointed. Tho's Bartow
Richard Cutter died 17 December 1756 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Woodbridge. His gravestone reads:
"In memory of Major Richard Cutter,
who dyed ye 17th Decr 1756
in the 75th year
of his age."
Buried with him is his first wife, Mary (Pike) Cutter. Her gravestone reads:
"In memory of Mary Cutter
who Dyed Febr 1721
in the 33rd Year
of her age."
