Zachariah Richardson

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Captain Zachariah Richardson (1696–1776), son of Josiah Richardson and Mercy Parish

Sarah Butterfield (1701–1788), daughter of Benjamin Butterfield and Sarah Bates

Zachariah Richardson was born on 16 February 1695/6 in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [1] Captain Zachariah Richardson was buried on 23 March 1776, age 80, in Chelmsford. [1]

Sarah Butterfield, the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Butterfield, was born on 23 September 1701 in Chelmsford. [1] Sarah, the wife of Captain Zachariah, died on 11 August 1788, age 87, in Chelmsford. [1][2]

Zachariah and Sarah and—except for Bridget, Rebecca and Lucy—their children and their spouses are buried in the Forefather's Burial Ground in Chelmsford. [2]

Zachariah was a soldier in Captain Robert Richardson's Chelmsford snow shoe company in 1724. [3] He was a selectman in 1733, 1734, 1744, 1745–1747 and 1754. [3]

Zachariah made his will on 21 March 1776. Very ill, he signed it with his mark. On 12 September 1788 the judge of probate asked interested parties to appear. As none of the witnesses did, on 21 April 1789 he asked them to be deposed. On 12 May, Benjamin Spaulding testified that he had been at Captain Zachariah's house and seen his brother David Spaulding write the instrument. At the request of Zachariah he took the instrument into his custody and kept it until the decease of the widow. The other witnesses, David Spaulding and James Parkhurst, agreed that Zachariah was in his right mind, despite his infirmity, and that they had signed the instrument. The will was then probated. [4]

Zachariah's will [4]

I hereby certife whome it may concern that I Zachariah Richardson of Chelmsford in the county of Middlesex gentleman have given to my beloved wife Sarah the whole improvement of all my household goods and furniture and likewise all my stock of every sort during the term of her natural life. I also further certifie that it is my mind and will that after the decease of my said wife the above said goods and livestock or such a part as shall then remain shall be equally divided between all my daughters or their heirs. In witness where of I the s. Zachariah Richardson have here unto set my hand this twenty first day of March AD 1776.

memorandum: Before the signing here I certifie that it is my mind and will that the note of hand I have against my son Josiah Richardson for the sum of two pounds thirteen shillings & four pence be given to my grandchild Paul Richardson for his use and benefit.

Children of Captain Zachariah Richardson and Sarah Butterfield: Births recorded in Chelmsford. [1]

i. Sarah Richardson was born on 13 October 1719. Sarah, the wife of Samuel, died on 28 April 1767, age 47 years, six months and 16 days, in Chelmsford. [1] She married Samuel Perham after 11 April 1741 in Chelmsford. [1] Samuel, the son of Benoni and Sarah (Robbins) Perham, was born on 4 March 1715/6 in Chelmsford. [1] He died "suddenly" and was buried on 20 or 24 May 1794, age 78, in Chelmsford. [1]

ii. Zachariah Richardson was born on 19 February 1721/2. He died on 20 May 1773, age 51, in Chelmsford. [1] He married first Hannah Blodgett on 9 October 1753 in Chelmsford. [1] She died on 10 March 1754, age 22, in Chelmsford. [1] Zachariah married second Sarah Warren on 22 April 1755 in Chelmsford. [1] She was buried on 4 July 1785, age 52, in Chelmsford. [1]

iii. Mercy Richardson was born on 15 July 1724. She died on 19 January 1745/6, age 21, in Chelmsford. [1]

iv. Bridget Richardson was born on 23 April 1726. She died on 8 June 1770, age 44, in Westford. She married Timothy Fletcher.

v. Deborah Richardson was born on 1 June 1727. She died on 30 June 1808, age 81. [2] She married Joseph Farrar after 7 March 1742/3 (int.) in Chelmsford. [1] Joseph is probably the son of Joseph and Mary Farrar, born 10 October 1716 in Concord. [5] He died on 20 or 22 April 1797, age 78, of "numb palsy," in Chelmsford. [1][2]

vi. Lydia Richardson was born on 17 May 1729. She died on 31 May 1775, age 46. [2] She married Jacob Chamberlain on 21 May 1761 in Chelmsford. He died on 20 April 1797, age 78. [1]

vii. Mary Richardson was born on 20 February 1730/1 in Chelmsford.

viii. Josiah Richardson was born on 9 May 1734 in Chelmsford. He was buried on 16 April 1801, age 67, in Chelmsford. [1] He married Lydia Warren on 1 or 2 December 1761 in Chelmsford. [1] She died on 13 October 1822, age 84, in Chelmsford. He was buried on 16 April 1801, age 67, in Chelmsford. [1]

Josiah and Lydia's daughter Lydia was the mother of the famous genealogist John Farmer. [6]

ix. Rebecca Richardson was born on 16 February 1735 in Chelmsford.

x. Lucy Richardson was born on 11 November 1742. Lucy, the wife of Peter, died on 30 June 1786 in Chelmsford. [1] She married Peter Spaulding on 24 February 1763 in Chelmsford. [1] Peter is probably the son of John and Phebe (Keyes) Spalding, born on 26 May 1734 in Chelmsford. [1] He died on 16 March 1801, age 63, in Chelmsford. [1]

References:

1. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1914).

2. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 26 May 2023), memorial paged for

Zachariah Richardson (Feb 1695–22 Mar 1776), Memorial ID 18169298, Sarah Butterfield Richardson (23 Sep 1701–11 Aug 1788), Memorial ID 18169292, Deborah Richardson Farrer (1 Jun 1727–30 Jun 1808), Memorial ID 18168349, citing Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; Maintained by Denise (contributor 46820671).

Joseph Farrar Jr. (10 Oct 1716–20 Apr 1797), Memorial ID 18168353, citing Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford; Maintained by . (contributor 47348938).

3. Wilson Waters, History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Lowell, MA: Courier-Citizen, 1917).

4. "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," database with images, Ancestry, Zachariah Richardson: case 19206.

5. Concord, Massachusetts: Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635–1850 (Concord: Beacon Press, 1895).

6. Gary Boyd Roberts, "Notable Kin," Nexus Nexus 12(1) (1995): 24.

Revised 27-May-2023