Richardsn Memorial
The Richardson Memorial
POSTERITY OF THOMAS RICHARDSON.
5100.
Thomas Richardson1 was the youngest of the three brothers of that name, Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas, who united with Edward Conners, Edward Johnson, John Mousall, William Learned, and others, in the settlement of Woburn, and the formation of a church there, in 1641. The seven men, whose names have just been written, were the commissioners chosen by the church in Charlestown, Nov. 5, 1640, to commence the settlement; with this exception that William Learned was substituted soon after for Thomas Graves, who had been chosen, but declined taking part in the enterprise.
Ezekiel Richardson, it is well known, came from England in the fleet with Winthrop in 1630, and must have been in Charlestown by the sixth of July in that year, when fifteen ships of that fleet had already arrived. It is highly probable that he originated in Norfolk, England, where the name had been settled as early as the sixteenth century, and doubtless long before. It appears that Winthrop, whose home was in Groton, in the adjoining county of Suffolk, had already invited Ezekiel Richardson to accompany him on the voyage, and that the latter had consented to go. Hubbard, in his History, p. 133, says, “the greater number came from about London,” which would include, at least, a part of Norfolk. The family of Richardson, however, existed in Sussex, Surrey, and many other counties.
It is believed that Samuel1 and Thomas Richardson,2 who were younger than Ezekiel, did not come from England, till at least five years after. The colonists suffered greatly from famine during the first year, and few came over till 1633 or later. A list of the inhabitants of Charlestown, dated Jan. 9, 1633-4, does not contain the name of Samuel or Thomas Richardson. The same deficiency exists in a similar list, made one year after. The first notice we find of either of these brothers, is dated Feb. 21, 1635-6, when Mary, the wife of Thomas Richardson united with the church in Charlestown. Samuel and Thomas Richardson joined said church the 18th of the 12th month [February], 1637-8; in consequence whereof they were admitted freemen of the colony, May 2, 1638. Their names are found on the records of Charlestown for the first time in 1037, when to each of them the town granted a house-plot, clearly indicating that they had recently become citizens of the place. The same year, their names are for the first time found on the records as citizens of Charlestown. They doubtless came from England together.
The three brothers were all young. They probably did not marry until on the eve of embarking for America; Ezekiel in 1630; Samuel and Thomas in 1635. This is inferred from the dates of the births of their children.
the three brothers had lots assigned to them, April 20, 1638, on “Misticke Side and above the ponds,” that is, in Malden. The dhare they had in the settlem,ent of Woburn, and the organization of the church in that town, has been sufficiently related in the notices already given of Ezekiel and Samuel Richardson.
Thomas Richardson died in Woburn, August 28, 1651. There is no will of his on record. Below is an inventory of his estate found in the Middlesex Registry of Probate, dated Sept. 22, 1651, and signed by Edward Johnson, Edward Converse, John Mousall and Samuel Richardson.

4 Working Oxen £24. 0. 0
5 Cows 22. 10 0
3 Steers 8 0 0
2 Heifers 4 10 0
3 Calves 4 0 0
1 Mare 4 0 0
1 Ewe 1 0 0
8 Swine 5 0 0
Corne in the Barne 30 0 0
10 pieces of Pewter 1 0 0
3 Pieces of Brass 1 5 0
3 Iron Pots 1 0 0
5 Pairs of Sheets 1 13 4
1 Table Cloth, 2 pillow beers 0 5 0
Bedding and the Furnature belonging to it 3 0 0
His wearing apparel 4 5 0
Two muskets and other arms 2 4 0
Tubs and other wooden vessels 0 16 0
1 Table, 1 Cupboard, 2 Chairs and other lumber 0 16 0
Iron tools 0 17 0
Carte, plows, chaines, and other instruments of husbandry 7 13 0
For his servant’s time, that he hath yet to serve 6 0 0
  
£133 14 0
Further, the said Thomas Richardson died possessed of one Dwelling House, Barn, and One hundred acres of Land, situate in the Town of Woburn, of which 25 acres are plowed land, and ten of meadow. Real Estate valued at £80. 0. 0.
He is indebted the sum of ten pounds, ten shillings.
The two steers formerly forgotten, £4. 10s. Od.

Following the inventory, and, it would seem, a part of it, is this statement:

“He hath left a wife, three sons, and four daughters. The eldest son is 8 years old; the second, 6 years; and the third, three-quarters [of a year]. The eldest daughter is 13 years old; the second, 11 years; the third, 4 years; the fourth, 2 years.”

In the foregoing inventory, as in that of his brother Ezekiel, there is not an article of silver plate, or of china, crockery, or glass ware. Nothing better than pewter, or brass, was used at meals. The same is likely to have been true in the dwellings of the colonists generally.
The name of the wife of Thomas Richardson was Mary. After his death she became, Oct. 26, 1655, the second wife of Michael Bacon, senior, who is said to have come from Ireland, and was one of the original inhabitants of the town of Woburn, 1641. He was the ancestor of the distinguished Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, Ct. Bacon’s first wife, also named Mary, died Aug. 26, 1655. The second wife died May 19, 1670; and then he took to wife a third Mary, Mary Noyes, Nov. 28, 1670. He died July 4, 1688. His only son married a daughter of Thomas and Mary Richardson.

The children of Thomas and Mary Richardson were,
Born in Charlestown:
  1. Mary,2 bap. Nov. 17, 1038; m. May 15, 1655, John Baldwin, of Billerica, who must have been a brother of Henry Baldwin, of Woburn, the husband of Ezekiel Richardson’s daughter Phebe. Children, born in Billerica:
  2. Mary (Baldwin), d. Feb. 1, 1658-9.
  3. Mary (Baldwin), b. July 28, 1659.
  4. John (Baldwin), b. Sept. 25, 1665.
  5. Jonathan (Baldwin), b. Jan. 28, 1667-8.
  6. Hannah (Baldwin), b. May 6, 1670.
  7. Sarah,2 bap. Nov. 22, 1640; m. March 22,1600, Michael Bacon, jr., the only son of Michael Bacon, senior, already mentioned. Their children were:
  8. Mary (Bacon), b. March 1, 1661.
  9. Sarah (Bacon) b. Aug. 24, 1663.
  10. Abigail (Bacon), b. March 5, 1666-7.
  11. Michael (Bacon), mentioned in a deed given by his father, Oct. 4, 1696, as then “of Billerica, shoemaker.”

    12. Born in Woburn:

  12. Isaac,2 b. May 14, 1643; m. Deborah Fuller
  13. Thomas,2 b. Oct. 4, 1645; m. first, Mary Stimpson; second, Sarah Patten.
  14. Ruth,2 b. April 14, 1647.
  15. Phebe,2 b. Jan. 24, 1648-9.
  16. Nathaniel,2 b. Jan. 2, 1650-1; m. Mary ______.
    17. One of the daughters of Thomas Richardson,1 probably Ruth, married Thomas Fuller,2 born April 30, 1644, son of Lieut. Thomas Fuller,1 who came from England, 1638, and is the ancestor of the Fuller Family in New England. See Geneal. Reg., vol. xvii., p. 361.
The Posterity of
Samuel Richardson
Index.
Second Generation
Richardson Memorial
Contents