Friday, April 20, 2018

52 Ancestors - Week 223: #314 Joseph Richards (1703-1748) of Lynn and Southborough, Massachusetts

Joseph Richards is #314 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandfather, who married #315 Mary Bowden (1705-1755)  in 1726 in Lynn, Massachusetts.


I am descended through:

*  their daughter #157 Mary Richards (1733-????) who had a relationship with   #156 Isaac Buck (1732-?????) in 1757.
*  their son, #78 Isaac Buck (1757-1846) married #79 Martha Phillips (1764-????) in 1780.
*  their daughter, #39 Sophia Buck (1797-1882 married  #38 Thomas J. Newton (ca 178800-????) in about 1834.
*  their daughter #19 Sophia Newton (1834-1923) married #18 Edward Hildreth (1831-1899) in 1852.
*  their daughter #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) married #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) in 1874.
*  their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

=====================================================

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
*  Name:                      Joseph Richards[1–10]    

*  Sex:                         Male    

*  Father:                    Crispus Richards (1681-1763)    
*  Mother:                   Sarah Collins (1678-1757)  

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                      about 1703, Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[10]    

*  Deed:                     16 April 1726 (about age 23), given land by father Crispus Richards, 12 acres of upland and swamp, and five common lots; Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[2]    
*  Deed:                     9 February 1732/3 (about age 30), bought land from Joseph Wetherbee for 250 pounds, 73 acres in two parcels; Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[4]    
*  Deed:                    26 February 1732/3 (about age 30), sold two common lots in Lynn to John Hart; Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[5]    
*  Deed:                    23 April 1733 (about age 30), sold 12 acres of land in Lynn to John Richards Jr. for 490 pounds; Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[6]    

*  Will:                     12 March 1747/8 (about age 45), will written; Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[7]    

*  Death:                  4 June 1748 (about age 45), Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8–9]  

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:             Mary Bowden (1705-1755)    
*  Marriage 1:          5 May 1726 (about age 23), Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[3]    

*  Child 1:               William Richards (1729-1794)    
*  Child 2:               Joseph Richards (1731-    )    
*  Child 3:               Mary Richards (1733-    )    
*  Child 4:               Ebenezer Richards (1738-1807)    
*  Child 5:               Martha Richards (1740-    )    
*  Child 6:               John Richards (1742-1840)    
*  Child 7:               Hannah Richards (1744-1841)    
*  Child 8:               Esther Richards (1746-1847)  


4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

The early descendants of Edward Richards of Lynn were described in Winifred Lovering Holman's article "Edward Richards of Lynn" in The Essex Genealogist[1].

Joseph Richards was born about 1703 in Lynn, Massachusetts, the eldest child of seven children born to Crispus and Sarah (Collins) Richards of Lynn[10].

On 16 April 1726, Crispus Richards, husbandman of Lynn, gave land in Lynn to his son Joseph Richards, yeoman of Lynn, in consideration for natural love, good will and affection[2].  The land in Lynn was upland and swamp which was previously owned by his grandfather Crispus Brewer and was about 12 acres.  It was bounded northerly by a country road, easterly on his own land, southerly by land of Ebenezer Burrill and westerly by land of Benjamin Carr.  Also, a Common lot of 15 acres in the general pasture in the third division, and a Common lot of 5 acres in the Ox pasture in the fourth division, and a Common lot of 1 acre and 140 poles in the fifth division, and a Common lot of 1 acre and 130 poles in the sixth division, and a Common lot of 72 poles in the sixth division.   The witnesses were William Collins and Edmand Lewis.  The deed was recorded on 3 May 1726.

On 5 May 1726, Joseph Richards married Mary Bowden in Lynn, Massachusetts[3].  They had 8 children between 1730 and 1746.  The first two were recorded in Lynn town records, and the other six were recorded in Southborough, Massachusetts town records.

The Joseph Richards family, along with other families of Lynn in Essex County, moved to Southborough in Worcester County in early 1733.

On 9 February 1732/3, Joseph Wetherbee, husbandman of Southborough, sold land in Southborough to Joseph Richards, husbandman of Lynn, for 250 pounds in currant money[4].  The land was 60 acres in Southborough, lying on the north side of the road by Caleb Wetherbee's land, bounded westerly by common land and land of Thomas Bellows, northerly by land of Benjamin Woods, and easterly by Caleb Wetherbee's land, with a dwelling house; also a second piece of land with 13 acres bounded northerly by land of Woods, southerly by land of Caleb Wetherbee, westerly by Woods land, and easterly by Benjamin Newton's land.  The deed was witnessed by Jonathan Collins and John Richards, Jr.  The deed was recorded on 21 September 1742.

On 26 February 1732/3, Joseph Richards Jr., yeoman of Lynn, sold land to John Hart, shipwright of Lynn, for nine pounds in good publick bills of credit[5].  The land in Lynn was a Common lot in the 6th Division that contained one acre and 130 poles and also a common lot in the 6th Division of 72 poles.  The deed was witnessed by Theo. Burrill and Mary Baldwin.  The deed was recorded 26 Feberuary 1732/3.

On 23 April 1733, John Richards, husbandman of Lynn, sold land in Lynn to his brother, John Richards Jr., joyner of Lynn, for 490 pounds[6].  The land in Lynn was upland and swamp which was given by his father Crispus Richards, and  was about 12 acres.  It was bounded northerly by the country road leading to Marblehead, easterly on his father's land, southerly and westerly by land of Ebenezer Burrill.  Also, a Common lot of 15 acres and 20 poles in Edgcombs pasture in the third division, and also the small lot purchased of his Aunt Lyscomb.  The witnesses were William Collins and Ester Este.  The deed was recorded on 22 May 1753.

Joseph Richards died in Southborough on 4 June 1748[8-9].  There are no known burial records for him.

Joseph Richards died testate, and his probate records are in Worcester County Probate Records, Probate Docket #50,155[7].  The will reads:

"In the Name of God Amen the Twelfth Day of March AD 1747/8.  I Joseph richards of Southborough in the County of Worcester within his majestys province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman, being under Indisposition of Body but of Perfect mind and memory Thanks be Given unto god.  Therefore Calling unto 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 that is to say principally & First of all I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Burried in Decent Christian Burrial at the Discretion of my Executor, Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God and as Touching Such Worldly Goods & Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this Life I Give Demise and Dispose of ye Same in the Following manner and form --

"Imprimis I Give & Bequeath to Mary my Dearly Beloved wife the whole of all of any moveable Estate after all my Debts & Funeral Charges are paid of all Sorts both ye Indoor and outdoor moveables Including all my Creatures of all sorts and I also Give her the whole Benefit & Improvement of all my Lands untill my Son Joseph Richards arive to the age of Twenty one years and her Lawfull Right of Thirds in the same Dureing Life or as She and they to whom the said Land herein Given Shall agree.

"Secondly I Give to my Son William Richards the Full half part of all my Lands & Buildings as they shall appear to be mine by Record he yielding to his mother the use and Benifit of the Said Lands as aforesaid and paying Fifty pounds a peice to Each of his Brothers and Sisters as they arive at the age of Twenty one years old Tenor at the same Value it is at the Day of This Date and No Division of said Lands to be made untill the Time that said Joseph will be Twenty one years of age, the said Brothers & Sisters to whom the said Fifty pounds a peice is to be paid as aforesaid is Mary Eben-r Martha John Hannah and Esther.

"Thirdly I Give to my Son Joseph Richards the other half part of all my said Lands and Buildings for him and his said Brother William to Divide when the said Joseph shall be Twenty one years old always yielding to his said Mother her Right of Thirds in the Same Dureing her Life as aforesaid and the said Joseph Shall pay to Each of Their said Brothers and Sisters as they Come to Twenty one Years of age Fifty pounds a peice old Tenor at the Same Value it is at the Day of the Date hereof.

"Fourthly I Give to my Daughter Mary one hundred pounds old Tenor of the Present Value to be paid her in Equal proportion by my said son William Richards and Joseph Richards when the said Mary is Twenty one years old as aforesaid.

"Fifthly I Give to my Son Eben-r Richards to be paid to him when he Comes to be Twenty one years of age by my said Sons William and Joseph the Sum of one hundred pounds old Tenor at ye Present Value in Equal proportion from them as aforesaid.

"Sixthly I Give to my Daughter Martha when she comes to be Twenty one years old one hundred pounds old Tenor of the Present Value to be paid her by her said Brothers William and Joseph in Equal proportion from them as aforesaid.

"Seventhly I Give to my Son John Richards one hundred pounds to be paid to him when he Comes to be Twenty one years old, old Tenor of the Present Value to be paid to him then by said William and Joseph in Equal proportion from them as aforesaid.

"Eightly I Give to my Daughter Hannah Richards one hundred pounds old Tenor of this Present to be paid to her when she comes to be Twenty one years old by my said Sons William and Joseph in Equal proportion by them as aforesaid.

"Ninethly I Give to my Daughter Esther Richards one hundred pounds old Tenor of the Present Value to be paid to her the said Esther when she Comes to be Twenty one years old by her two said Brothers William and Joseph in Equal proportion by them as aforesaid.

"Tenthly I do hereby Constitute Make and Ordain Mr. Thomas Graves of said Southborough in the County and province aforesaid yeoman my Sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament and I do hereby Utterly Disalow Revoke & Disanul all and Every other Former Testaments wills Legacies and Bequests and Executors by me in any ways Beforenamed Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this an no other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the Day and year before written.
Joseph Richards  (seal)

"Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared
by the said Joseph Richards as his Last Will and
Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers
Caleb Witherbee
John Amsden
Samuel Lyscom"

The will was proved by the Court at Worcester on 16 August 1748, with Caleb Witherbee and Samuel Lyscom appearing and making a solemn oath that they saw Joseph Richards the Testator sign and seal the will and heard him at that time say that it was his Last will and testament. However, Thomas Graves declined the executorship of the estate, and Mary Richards, the widow, was appointed administratrix of the estate.
   
5)  SOURCES


1. Winifred Lovering Holman, "Edward Richards of Lynn," The Essex Genealogist, Volume 13, Number 1, February 1993., pages 33-39, Richards family sketches.

2. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 20 April 2018), Essex County, Volume 48, page 133, Crispus Richards to Joseph Richards, 16 April 1726, recorded 3 May 1726.

3. Vital Records of Lynn, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849 (Salem, Mass. : The Essex Institute, 1906), 2 Volumes, Volume 2, Marriages, page 327, Joseph Richards and Mary Bouden entry, 1726.

4. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, FamilySearch, accessed 20 April 2018, Worcester County, Volume 15, page 297, Joseph Wetherbee to Joseph Richards, 9 February 1732/3, recorded 21 September 1742.

5. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, FamilySearch, accessed 20 April 2018, Essex County, Volume 63, page 52, Joseph Richards Jr. to John Hart, 26 February 1732/3, recorded 26 February 1732/3.

6. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, FamilySearch, accessed 20 April 2018, Essex County, Volume 98, page 142, Joseph Richards  to John Richards, Jr. Hart, 23 April 1733, recorded 22 May 1753.

7. "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Volume 3, Page 29, Joseph Richards of Southborough, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,856,275.

8. "Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Southborough Births, Marriages and Deaths," Page 85 (image 124 of 1007), Joseph Richards death entry.

9. Systematic Historic Fund, Vital Records of Southborough, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: Franklin P. Rice, 1903), Deaths, page 181, Joseph Richards entry, 1748.

10. Winifred Lovering Holman, "Edward Richards of Lynn", The Essex Genealogist, Volume 13, Number 1, February 1993, page 36, Joseph Richards sketch.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 
 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2018 to 260 Ancestors in 260 Weeks.

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

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