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Thomas Richards (bp. 1596–1650/1)
Welthian ___ (d. 1679)
Ancestry of Thomas Richards [9]
Humphrey Blakes's immediate ancestry is unknown. However, based on the arms of his descendant Adm. Robert Blake and the 1623 visitation of Wiltshire, Stott concludes that Humphrey is the descendant (perhaps the great-great-grandson) of Henry Blake who married Margaret, the daughter and heiress of Walter Bellet. Henry is the son of William Blake who married Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas Power. William is the son of Henry Blake who married a daughter and heiress of Unknown Durant. William is the son of Robert Blacque or Blake of Wiltshire.
The Blakes were an English gentry family in Somerset during the 16th and 17th centuries. The descendants of Humphrey Blake, gentleman of Over Stowey and Spaxton, were involved in the cloth trade from at least the middle of the 16th century.
First Generation
Humphrey Blake (say 1494–1558) of Over Stowey
Humphrey Blake was born, say, 1494. He died on 19 November 1558 in Over Stowey. He was buried there on 28 December 1558. He married Anne or Agnes (the names were interchangeable then) ___, but he may also have had an earlier wife.
Humphrey leased the manor of Plainfield in the parish of Over Stowey from Reginald Williams. He bought the adjoining manor of Tuxwell in Spaxton parish from George Sydenham in 1556. He was seized 40 acres in the parish of Bishops Lydiard.
Humphrey Blake, gentleman, signed his will on 19 November 1558; it was proved on 11 May 1559. He asked to be buried in the church at Over Stowey.
Children of Humphrey Blake (among others):
i. John Blake, the elder, was born about 1522. He married Joan ___.
ii. Robert Blake was born, say, 1530. He was the grandfather of Admiral Robert Blake.
Second Generation
John Blake (c. 1522–1576) of Over Stowey
John Blake was born about 1522. He was buried on 10 December 1576 in Over Stowey. He married Joan ___. She was buried on 27 June 1595 in Over Stowey.
John was his father's eldest son.
John's father left him lands in Bishops Lydiard, co. Somerset. He acquired property in Plainsfield, Aisholt and Spaxton. He was involved in the cloth trade.
John signed his will on 26 Nov 1576; it was proved on 25 Jan 1575/7. He asked to be buried in the church at Over Stowey.
Children of John Blake and Joan ___ (among others):
i. Alice Blake was born about 1548. She married James Richards.
ii. Anne Blake was born about 1552, probably in Over Stowey. She died after 26 March 1609. She married Thomas Saunders. Their daughter Elizabeth Saunders married Henry Wolcott of Windsor, Connecticut.
iii. Elizabeth (Isabel) Blake was born about 1550. She was buried on 12 May 1624 in Lydeard St. Lawrence, Somerset. She married Robert Selleck on 9 Oct 1571 in Over Stowey. Robert, the son of John Selleck of Gaulden Manor, Tolland parish, died in 1623. Her grandson David Sellick went to Dorchester.
iv. William Blake was born about 1562 in Over Stowey. He was buried on 13 Jun 1642 in Over Stowey. He married Anne ___. She was buried on 14 Aug 1644 in Over Stowey. His son William went to Dorchester.
Third Generation
James Richards (d. 1608) of Pitminster
Alice Blake (c. 1548–1585)
James Richards was buried on 19 January 1607/8 in Pitminster. He married Alice Blake on 2 October 1569 in Over Stowey.
Alice Blake was born about 1548, probably in Over Stowey. She was buried on 17 August 1585 in Pitminster.
Children of James Richards and Alice Blake (among others):
i. Thomas Richards was born about 1571, probably in Pitminster.
ii. Alice Richards was baptized in January 1580/1 in Pitminster. She married Philip Torrey. Their son William Torrey went to Weymouth.
Fourth Generation
Thomas Richards (b. c. 1571) of Pitminster
Thomas Richards was born about 1571, probably in Pitminster. He was the father of Thomas Richards, baptized on 19 April 1594.
Thomas, the son of Thomas Richards, was baptized on 15 April 1596 in Pitminster, Somersetshire. [1] He died between 17 December 1650 and 18 January 1650/1. He married Welthian ___.
Welthian ___ died between 3 July and 4 November 1679.
Perhaps Welthian was the sister of Thomas Loring.
Thomas was a merchant. [1]
On 24 April 1632, Welthian, wife of Thomas Richards of Pitminster was presented to the church court, and not for the first time, "for not frequenting her parish church on Sabbath days in the the afternoon in evening prayer time, she doth contemptuously continue her absence, usually on those days at time of evening prayer." [2]
Thomas Richards came to New England in 1633, settling in Dorchester and moving to Weymouth in 1639. [1] He was granted a four-acre lot in Dorchester on 5 August 1633. [1] Mr. Richards was granted six acres on 22 November 1634. [1] He received ten acres at Squantum Neck on 5 July 1636. [1] He received an 11-acre and a 12-acre grant on 18 March 1637/8. [1] Mr. Richards received the 12-acre lot 11 in the meadow beyond Naponset. [1]
Thomas returned to England in 1640, 1646, and in about 1649. [1]
Thomas was a freeman on 13 May 1640. [1] He was a selectman in Dorchester on 8 October 1633. [1]
In about 1640, Thomas Richards of Weymouth sold 12 acres on Dorchester Neck to Nicholas Butler. [1]
The last time that Thomas went to England he gave Welthian power of attorney "to buy or sell or ordering any of the his estate he left behind." [1]
Thomas Richards of Weymouth made his will on 17 December 1650 at Thomas Loring's house in Hull; it was proved on 28 January 1650/1. He said that when his son John came home, his estate should be divided. He made bequests to his wife; his son; his sons James and Samuel; his sons Joseph and Benjamin, who were under 21; his daughters Mary, Ann, Alice, and Hannah; his Brother Thomas Loring. His son John, Thomas Loring, and Nicholas Baker were to see that his will was carried out. His inventory was taken on 18 and 25 January 1659/1 at Weymouth. Mrs. Richards swore to the inventory on 28 January 1650/1. [1][3]
On 28 January 1650/1, Thomas's heirs—James Richards, Joseph Richards, Benjamin Richards, Mr. Thomas Hinckley (by letter), Mr. William Bradford (by letter), Ephraim Hunt, and Hannah Richards—petitioned the court to allow their mother, Mrs. Welthian Richards, the widow of their deceased father, Mr. Thomas Richards of Weymouth, to manage Thomas's estate until their brother John Richards returned from England. They also asked that she be allowed to return an inventory of his entire estate and be bound to give an account of the estate. Thomas Loring and Nicholas Baker added their assent. [3]
Thomas's probate papers said that Welthian had "been very faithful and provident for her husband conserning his estate." [1]
Inventory on Thomas's estate amounted to £1,300-17-11. There was £200 of real estate—his house, land, orchard, and mill—and merchant's stock, including 36 swords. His children deeded the real estate and a sizable sums of money to Welthian on 30 January 1651/2. [1]
In 1653/4 Welthian with threatened with witchcraft charges. She had, in anger, threated that terrible things would happen to those she was angry at. Later they would fall victim to unpleasant fates. Thomas Thatcher defended her to John Wilson and others in Weymouth saying that should took Christian care of her children. He added that God had blessed them in that five or six had approved themselves to some church, three had died and one gives "great hope of a thorough work on his heart." [1]
Welthian—clearly a woman of strong views—had an unpleasant dispute with Henry Waltham, whom she characterized as a "cozener and a cheater" and "never feared God nor never will." [4, 4: 298] Henry wrote to John Winthrop, defending himself and saying, "[S]hee hath often Abused [his servants], not wih ill termes only, but in striking and distorbing them in ther bussines, unbeseming a moddeste woamanes carreadge ... ." [4, 4: 310]
Welthian Richards, widow of Boston, made her will on 3 July 1679; it was proved on 4 November 1679. She left bequests to her eldest son John Richards; James Richards; Thomas, Alice, Hannah, Mercy, William, Jr., John, Samuel, Melatiah, Mary, and Sarah Bradford, the children of William Bradford of Plymouth Colony and her deceased daughter Alice; Samuel Hinckley, Thomas Hinckley, Jr., Sarah Bacon, Hannah Glover, Melatiah Crocker, Bathshua Hinckley, Mehitable Hinckley, and Mary Wiborne, the children of Thomas Hinckley of Plymouth Colony and her deceased daughter Mary; Ephraim and John Hunt, sons of Ephraim Hunt, Sr. of Weymouth and her deceased daughter Anne; Mary Wiborn's daughter, Hannah Glover's son, John Bradford's two children, Samuel Hinckley's child, Sarah Bacon's two children, her son James's six children, Thomas Hunt's children. She also left bequests to Alice and Hannah Bradford for [clothing?] to be worn at her funeral; the poor of Boston; the First Church in Boston; Harvard College; Sarah Leverett, the widow of the late Governor; the overseers of her will. She left Mercy Bradford her worst feather bed and its bedding; the rest was to go to Alice Bradford and [worn], to be equally divided. Her wearing apparel was to be divided between Alice and [worn] Bradford and Bathshua Hinckley. She added that if Alice Bradford—apparently a favorite, who was left 60 pounds—married without her consent or the consent of her executor, she was to lose all bequests. She named her son John Bradford her executor. [3]
George W. Bush and John K. Kerry are both descendants of Thomas and Welthian. [5]
Children of Thomas and Welthian Richard, the first six baptized in Pitminster. [1]
i. Mary Richards was baptized on 11 November 1620. She died on 24 June 1659 in Barnstable. [6] She married Governor Thomas Hinckley on 4 December 1641 in Barnstable. [1][3] Thomas was the son of Samuel Hinckley. [3] He was baptized on 19 March 1619/20 in Hawkhurst, Kent. [6] He died on 25 April 1705 in Barnstable. [6] He married second Mary (Smith) Glover on 16 March 1659/60 in Barnstable. Mary, the daughter of John and Dorothy Smith, was born on 20 July 1630 in Toxteth Park, near Liverpool. [6] She died on 29 July 1703 in Barnstable. [6] She married first Nathaniel Glover by 1653, probably in Dorchester. [6] Nathaniel, the son of John and Anna Glover, was probably born about 1633 in Prescot, Lancashire. [6] He died on 21 September 1657 in Dorchester. [6]
Thomas was the governor of Plymouth Colony. [3]
Mary's mother left bequests to Mary's eight children in her will of 3 July 1679.
ii. John Richards was baptized on 13 February 1625. He died suddenly on 2 April 1694 in Boston. [7] He married first as her third husband Elizabeth (Hawkins) (Long) Winthrop on 3 May 1654 in Boston. [1] Elizabeth, the daughter of Captain Thomas Hawkins was born on 8 May 1629 and baptized on 14 May 1629 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney, co. Middlesex. [7] She died on 1 November 1691, probably in Boston. [7] She married first Nathaniel Long about 1647. [7] Nathaniel was born about 1622 and died of the plague before 1648 in Barbados. [7] Elizabeth married second Adam Winthrop. [7] Adam was born on 7 April 1620 in Groton, Suffok and died on 24 August 1652 in Boston. [7] John married second Ann Winthrop on 1 September 1692 in Boston. [1] Ann was the daughter of Governor John Winthrop, Jr. of Connecticut. [7]
Nathaniel Long was a prosperous Boston merchant. [7] John Winthrop noted, "The plague is still hott at Barbados: Mr. Parker, the minister, and Mr. Longe, who married Capt. Hawkins daughter are dead there." [7]
John Richards returned to England by 17 December 1650. On 3 December 1651 John said he was satisfied with his mother's management of his father's estate. [3]
In his will, John's father said that John should have no more than the rest because he had been at "greater charge with him" than any of the others. [1]
John was a merchant of Boston, a member of the Artillery Company, a representative for Newbury in 1671 and 1672, a representative for Hadley in 1675, and a representative for Boston in 1679 and 1680. [7] He was named a councilor in the new charter of the province and he became a judge of the Supreme Court. [7]
John Richards of Boston made his will on 1 April 1694. [6]
iii. Anne Richards was baptized on 1 November 1626. She married Ephraim Hunt before 28 January 1650/1. She died between 28 January 1650/1 and 3 July 1679.
Anne's mother left bequests to Anne's two children in her will of 3 July 1679.
iv. Alice Richards was born about 1627. She died on 12 November 1671 in Plymouth. She married Major William Bradford.
v. Hannah Richards was baptized on 26 October 1630. She was alive and unmarried on 28 January 1650/1, but probably died before 3 July 1679.
vi. James Richards was baptized on 13 September 1632. He died on 29 June 1680. [8] He married Sarah Gibbons. [1] Sarah was the daughter of William Gibbons of Hartford. [8]
James and Sarah had 11 children and their daughter Jerusha married Governor Gordon Saltonstall of Connecticut. [8]
James took the freeman's oath on 26 May 1652 in Boston. [8] He moved to Hartford about ten years later. [8] He was a merchant. [8]
In May 1665 he was chosen Assistant and in 1667 he was chosen commissioner of the united colonies. He was re-elected to this position three times. [8]
James made his will on 9 June 1680. The inventory of his estate amounted to a sizable 7,930 pounds. [8]
vii. Samuel Richards was born say 1634. He was alive on 17 December 1650 but probably died before 3 July 1679.
Samuel did not sign the 28 January 1650/1 petition with his siblings. On 20 March 1652/3, his mother wrote to her son John, "[C]onsider the trouble that I have with Samuell for his is such a trouble that none will share with me in, and if I put him out it will cost me so much that I cannot well bear." [1]
iv. Joseph Richards was born say 1636. He was alive on 28 January 1650/1 but probably died before 3 July 1679.
v. Benjamin Richards was born say 1638. He married Hannah Hudson on 10 October 1661. [1] He probably died before 3 July 1679.
References:
1. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1575–9.
2. "Focus on the West Country (continued)," Great Migration Newsletter 21–25 (2005): 118.
3. George Ernest Bowman, "The Wills of Thomas and Welthian Richards," Mayflower Descendant 9 (1907): 89–91.
4. "Gov. John Winthrop Papers, Vol. 1-5, 1557-1649, database with images, AmericanAncestors.org. Originally published as: Winthrop Paper. (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1929 –).
5. Gary Boyd Roberts, "The 2004 Election Year, continued," New England Ancestors 5.5 (2004): 43.
6. Alicia Crane Williams, "Early New England Families, 1641–1700," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Thomas Hinckley (m. 1641, 1660).
7. Wayne H.M. Wilcox, "Captain Thomas Hawkins, Shipwright ..., " New England Historical and Genealogical Register 151 (1997): 193–216.
8. Edes, Harry H., "Documents Relating to the Colonial History of Connecticut—With Notes," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 23 (1869): 21–33.
9. Clifford Stott, "Humphrey Blake (1494?–1558) and his Descendants in New England and South Carolina: Blake, Richards, Selleck, Torrey and Wolcott," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 163 (2009): 85–97, 199–211, 278–95; 164 (2010) 63–74.
10-Dec-2023