RICHARD CASE [#84], d. East Hartford, CT 30 Mar 1694, m. ELIZABETH PURCHASE (dau. of John Purchase and Jane).
Richard Case was not as early a settler at Hartford as many others, but he did live there by the 1660's. He removed from there to East Hartford in 1669 where he was made freeman in 1671.[1] Richard Case was perhaps a brother to Henry, John, Thomas, and William, although no document has yet been discovered to prove such. Richard and John were both residents of Hartford County and all pertinent names in the first two generations of Richard's family reappear in John's. Richard married Elizabeth Purchase, daughter of John Purchase, an early settler of Hartford, as noted in John Winthrop's medical journal for the year 1663. This marriage is further proven by Richard Case's receipting to Nicholas Palmer for Palmer's daughter-in-law (i.e step daughter), Elizabeth Purchase, dated 17 Dec 1663. On 1 May 1675 the said Nicholas Palmer made further payments in land to Richard Case in accordance with promises which he had made to his (Palmer's) wife Joan at their marriage.[6/14:157] The marriage of Nikolas Palmer to Jane Purkas is recorded at Hartford on 29 Oct 1646. Her first husband, John Purchase, died in Hartford in 1645 leaving widow Joan and daughters Mary and Elizabeth. The older daughter married Jerrett Speck who also receipted to Nicholas Palmer on behalf of his wife, the date being 26 Nov 1663.[5]
Richard Case was appointed town crier of Wethersfield, CT on 22 Mar 1666-7, and on 17 Feb 1669-70 he bought land from William Edwards.[5] Richard died at East Hartford on 30 Mar 1694, leaving a will dated 8 Sep 1690 in which he describes himself as of Hartford and names his wife Elizabeth, her father Purchase, and three minor children, Richard, John, and Mary. He also willed that his wife Elizabeth and "kinsman" Thomas Olcott to be executors. The court appointed Thomas Olcott and Mr. William Pitkin, Jr. overseers to assist the widow by their advice in April 1694. Inventory taken on the estate 2 Apr 1694 amounted to 203.2.6.[7] Thomas Olcott was born in London. His mother was Margaret Charlfount, who also emigrated to Connecticut, and his sister was Mary, wife of Robert Hardy.[9] No definitive connection has yet been found with Richard Case.
The following story about Richard's daughter Mary, although she is not an ancestor, is included to provide the flavor of the times and to show that former generations had their faults just like we. An added benefit of its inclusion is that it will no doubt be enjoyed by the soap opera fans among the readers. At a session of the Hartford County Court on 18 Jun 1695, Lt. Col. John Allyn, Mr. Nathaniel Stanly, and Capt. Jacob Stanly presiding is the following record: "Mary Case of Hartford complayned of Daniel Eames late of boxford for begetting her with child whoe being examined the sayd Eames & Mary Case both in court acknowledged that they had committed folly together sometime in January last by which the sayd Mary Case is with child as she sayeth & that sayd Daniels wickedness is aggravated in that he had a wife of his owne at that time he committed that folly. We seize & sentence him the sayd Daniel Eames to be severely whipt upon the naked body on Wednesday immediately after the Lecture And the sayd Mary Case for her committing fornication with the sayd Eames whoe is a marryed person & his wife now Liveing we doe sentence her to pay a fine of six pounds or be severely whipt on the naked body as soon as she shall be in a capacity to receive her punishment & we doe order the sayd Eames to depart the colony forthwith & to return to his wife & famaly as the law requires". Whether Mary could raise the fine and avoid the whipping is unknown, but it is doubtful. At a town meeting in Hartford 17 Jan 1695-6 we find that "The State of Mary Case being presented to the Consideration of the town by the townsmen and of their Exspence of ten shillings in Cash for the said Mary her Releife the Town doe order yt the townsmen Shall Enquire into her Estate and wt her mother will doe towards her maintenance and if she refuseth to Contribute theirto, they are to make report theirof to the authority". The child, Kezia, must have been born in September or October of 1695 and she was baptized at the Hartford First Church on 1 Mar 1695-6. The name of the father was not stated.[8/292]
Daniel Eames, the son of Robert and Rebecca (Blake) Eames, was born 7 Apr 1663 and married in Andover, MA 15 Apr 1683 to Lydia Wheeler. They had seven children born in Boxford, MA between 1684 and 1693. Daniel then deserted his wife and disappeared from the Boxford records making it likely that he did not return to his wife after his punishment.[8/293]
REF: [1] Nash Family, 50 Puritan Ancestors - Elizabeth Todd Nash,
1902 (pg.38)
[2] Trumball's Memorial History of Hartford (pg.89)
[3] Early Puritan Settlers of Conn. - Royal R. Hinman, 1852
(pg.501)
[4] Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Windsor (pg.567)
[5] The American Genealogist, Vol. 34 (1958) (pgs.69-70)
[6] Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society (14:157,
168)
[7] Early Connecticut Probate Records - Charles Manwaring, 1906
[8] Genealogies of Connecticut Families, 1983
[9] The American Genealogist - Donald Lines Jacobus, 1937 (14:229-237)
Children:
1. Richard, b. Hartford, CT after 1668, d. Hartford 22 Feb 1724-5, m. Sarah ____ 2. John, m. Sarah ____ 3. Mary, d. Simsbury, CT 10 Sep 1757, m. abt. 1705-6 Joseph Phelps, b. Windsor, CT 20 Aug 1667, d. Simsbury 20 Jan 1749-50
RICHARD CASE [#42], b. Hartford, CT after 1668, d. Hartford, CT 22 Feb 1724-5, m. SARAH ___.
Richard Case was named as a minor in his father's will, dated 8 Sep 1690. Thus Richard would not have been born before 1669. He made his own will at Hartford where he died 22 Feb 1724-5. The will mentions son Joseph, and two unnamed daughters. In the will he gave two acres to "Carter" who was most likely his son-in-law George Charter. Manwaring has "Sarah Case, widow relict of Richard Case" yet he shows that Elizabeth Case signed the document.[3/2:484]
Henry Arnold, Sr. had a daughter Sarah Case who might be assumed to be the wife of Richard Case were it not for the fact that Richard's brother John also had a wife named Sarah.[1/70] Richard's children were baptised at the First Church of Hartford.[2]
REF: [1] The American Genealogist, Vol. 34, 1958
[2] Hartford, Conn. Vital Records
[3] Early Connecticut Probate Records - Charles Manwaring, 1906
[4] Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society (14:589)
Children (born in Hartford, CT[4]):
1. Sarah, b. 1 Oct 1703, d. after 1754, m. George Charter, d. Hartford 6 Nov 1745 2. Joseph, b. 27 Dec 1705 3. Elizabeth, b. 1 Sep 1710
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