Richard ‘the Colonist’ Austin, of Charlestown

Richard Austin from Hampshire came to Massachusetts with his family on the Bevis in May 1638. He died, however, before the year was out. The main line ran through his son Anthony Austin, one of the early settlers in Suffield, Connecticut.

Richard's forebears had come from Tenterden in Kent; as had those of Francis Austin who came to Evesham township in New Jersey sometime in the 1680’s. Meanwhile Jonah Austen had married his wife Constance in Tenterden and they sailed to New England in 1634, eventually settling in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Richard, his wife & 2 sons set sail for America, from Southampton, England in April 1638 aboard the ship 'Bevis'. They landed in Boston Harbor, MA. on May 16, 1638. A tailor in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England. Died before the years end of arriving in Boston Harbor.

Sources:

• The book, 'Passengers to America' (Auburn, WA. Library, pg. 49; 325 TEP)
• The Will of his father, Richard
• The book, 'Some Descendants of Richard Austin of Charlestown, MA. 1638' compiled by members of The Austin Families Assoc. of America.
• The book, 'New England Marriages Prior to 1700'
• 'Complete Book of Immigrants 1607-1779', Colham, Peter, Sec. II, Ch 33, 1638

https://afaoa.org/getperson.php?personID=I111&tree=RichardMA

The Richard Austin who came on The Bevis is technically Richard Austin, II, the son of Richard Austin— [who ironically is the son of Stephen Austin, born November 17, 1557, in Tenterden, Kent, England, and his wife Margaret Wrigley, born in the same city on May 1, 1550.]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Austin_(colonist)_

Richard (Jr.) was born in 1598 to Richard Austin (Sr.) and his wife Annis (of unknown maiden surname) in Bishopstoke, Hampshire,[5] England, and died in 1645 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Richard (Jr.) was buried in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Settlement in the colonies

Richard Austin is the immigrant ancestor of a family named "Austin" that prospered, ultimately settling parts of Missouri and Texas; noteworthy descendants include Stephen F. Austin, Moses Austin, Emily Austin Perry, Guy Morrison Bryan, Moses Austin Bryan and Stephen Samuel Perry. Richard settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts.[6] There are few references to Richard Austin, but in 1651, Richard Austin or a descendant by the same name held some public offices in Charlestown.[6]

Puritan religious conviction resulted in Richard Austin's decision to leave England for New England.[7] Shortly after arrival, Richard's brother-in-law, Edmund Littlefield (who married Agnes Austin), "broke from his congregation" to then settle in Exeter in New Hampshire.[8]

The ship manifest for the Bevis listed Richard Austin as a tailor from "Bishopstocke" (also known as Bishop Stoke), traveling with his wife and two children.[9]

Most information about Richard is derived from genealogical research. Austin records go back to Kent, England in 1522.[10]

The Richard Austin who arrived on the Bevis is the son of another Richard Austin—who is the son of (Stephen or William ?) Austin, born November 17, 1557, in Tenterden, Kent, England, and his wife Margaret Wrigley, born in the same town on May 1, 1550.[11]

Personal life

He married Elizabeth "Betsy" (of unknown maiden surname) in 1630 at Hampshire, England.[12] and they had 2 sons, whose name on the passenger list were not stated. They are believed to be Richard and Anthony, although there is no real documentation to show that the Anthony listed below was their son, that is, outside of having the surname of Austin:

• Richard Austin, III born November 15, 1632 in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England, and died August 15, 1703 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
• Anthony Austin was born 1636 in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England, and died August 22, 1708 in Suffield, Hampshire, Massachusetts

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Richard Austin of Charlestown, Massachusetts Compiler: Jim & Liz Austin Carlin

Richard Austin Sex: M

Born: 1598 at Titchfield,Hampshire,England Died: 1638 at Charlestown,Middlesex,MA Buried: at Charlestown,Middlesex,MA

Marriage Wife: Elizabeth Betsy _____ (1610 - )

Children Richard Austin (1632 - 15 AUG 1703) Anthony Austin (1636 - 22 AUG 1708)

Parents Father: Richard Austin ( - 1622/1623) Mother: Annis _____ (1572 - )

Siblings Daniel Austin (1594 - ) Peter Austin (1596 - ) Richard Austin (1598 - 1638) Joan Austin (1600 - ) Annes or Agnes Austin (1600 - 1677/1678) Emlen Austin (1602 - ) Elizabeth Austin (1602 - )

Notes

BIRTH-RESIDENCE-BIOGRAPHY: EAM Ref: p 9; TEXT EXCERPT: "Will of Thomas Couth in 1698; bequeaths the house he bought from Richard Austin (probably when Richard went to America)."

BIRTH-MARRIAGE-DEATH: Torrey, Clarence Alman, NEW ENGLAND MARRIAGES PRIOR TO 1700; 1620-1700; Geneal. Pub Co, Baltimore, 1985; p 26.

BIRTH-DEATH: Austin, Robert K., GOODLY HERITAGE;1598-1986; Private pub., 1986, Wilmington, DE; pp 7-19; photocopy in poss AFAOA.

IMMIGRATION: Hotten, John Camden, THE ORIGINAL LISTS OF PERSONS OF QUALITY, ETC.; 1638; Geneal Pub Co., Baltimore, 1962; p 298; NOTE: List also includes Annis Littlefield (Richard's sister) with 6 children and two servants.

BIRTH-DEATH: Austin, Paul R., AUSTINS TO WISCONSIN; 1598-1964; Wm. N. Cann, Inc., Publisher, Wilmington, DE, 1964; p 1.

RESIDENCE: Savage, James, A GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND; Subtitled: "Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692", Geneal Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1965, Vol. 1; p 81.

Richard Austin Home Page

Please send all questions, comments, and corrections to Database Compiler Jim & Liz Austin Carlin Please notify the AFAOA Webmaster of any problems Austin Research Home

Genealogy Content Copyright 2011 Austin Families Association of America (Genealogy may be freely distributed, but not sold in any form for profit.)

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"Shortly after arrival, Richard's wife's brother, Edmund Littlefield "broke from his congregation" to then settle in Exeter in New Hampshire.[8]" David B. Gracy II, "George Washington Littlefield: A Biography in Business," p. 4. See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Austin_%28colonist%29

This implies that he married Elizabeth Betsy Littlefield 1610 – 1638 daughter of Francis Littlefield 1565 – 1618 and Mary Hill 1564 – 1605 and sister of Edmund Littlefield. That's how I also see it in most trees.

This would be Elizabeth Littlefield's father's profile:

Francis Littlefield: Francis Fareham Littlefield?...

Notice the son Edmund Littlefield mentioned below who is mentioned is Francis Littlefield's will notes that he married Agnes Austin who was Richard Austin's sister. So we have a brother and a sister married to a brother and a sister:

Francis's will was made 21 Oct 1618 and proved 21 Nov 1618. Edmund had married Agnes (Anne, Annis) Austen 16 Oct 1614. Genealogist Walter Goodwin Davis suggests that property was 'probably' settled on Edmund at the time of his marriage. [All from 'Ancestry of Annis Spear1]

From Find a grave Richard Austin was born in 1598 in Titchfield, Hampshire, England. He was the son of Richard Austin and Annis ________. Richard married Elizabeth Betsy ________. Elizabeth was born in 1610 in Titchfield, Hampshire, England. Richard and Elizabeth had two children Richard born 1636 died August 15 1703 and Anthony b. 1636 and died August 22 1708. Richard was a tailor in Bishopstoke, Hampshire England when he immigrated with his wife Elizabeth and two sons Richard and Anthony on board the "Bevis," setting sail in April from Southhampton and landing May 16 1638 in Boston Harbor. The family settled in Charlestown Massachusetts.

Richard Austin MA Genealogical Database Individual

BobBoston has made a suggestion There is no marker for Richard Austin b. 1598, d. 1638 at Phipps Street Cemetery.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 31 2017, 12:45:16 UTC

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He sailed with his family from Southampton, England, in April and landing in Massachusetts Settlements on May 16, 1638.

• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Jun 2 2016, 0:38:25 UTC

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• Emigration: 1638 - on the Bevis, with his wife Elizabeth?
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 5 2018, 12:05:02 UTC

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Birth: May 15 1598 - Titchfield, Hampshire, England Death: Dec 1638 - Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony Parents: Richard Austin, I, Anne Agnes (born Austin) Siblings: Anne Austin (born Agnes), Robert Barrowe, Robert Austin, Mary Chickering (born Austin), Margaret Aston, John Austin, John Austin, Joan Austin, William Austin, Peter Austin, Emaline Austin, Alice Austin, Daniel Austin, Francis Austin, Elizabeth Austin, Annis Littlefield (born Austin), Emlen Austin, Ellen Austin, Elizabeth Austin, Joseph Austin Wife: Elizabeth Betsy Austin (born Littlefield) Children: Joseph Austin, Mathias Austin, Annis Austin, Edward Austin, Robert Austin, Richard Austin, Isabella Towle (born Austin), Robert Austin, Catherine Austin, Anthony Austin, Violet Austin, Samuel Austin, Keziah Austin, Keziah Tucker (born Austin), Jemima (Austin) Knowles (born Austin), Berenice Austin, Robert Austin, <Private> Austin, Johanna Austin