Ezekiel Richardson, of Woburn

Ezekiel Richardson

• Find A Grave Memorial ID # 34381011
• Posterity of Ezekiel Richardson
• The Vinton Memorial

Descendants of Ezekiel Richardson of Woburn:

There were other Richardsons in the First Generation of New England people, besides those who settled in Woburn. We find John Richardson, a proprietor in Watertown, 1636-7. George Richardson, aged 30, embarked at London, April, 1635, in the Susan Ellen; and was a proprietor in Watertown, 1642. Amos Richardson, and his wife Mary, were of Boston, 1657. Edward Richardson, b. in England, 1619, was of Newbury, 1649. William Richardson was of Newbury, 1655; d. 1658.

It has been suggested that the Richardson family is of Danish origin, and that they came from the North of England; because there are people of that name in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. But there are Richardsons in other parts of the kingdom; and the compiler, in looking over the Suffolk Probate Records, has found persons of the name who came from the South of England. Edward Johnson, one of the founders of Woburn, was from the County of Kent; why not his associates?

The name Richardson seems to bespeak not a Saxon, but a Norman origin.

There were four brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel, Thomas, and James Richardson, of whom Ezekiel, the eldest, is said to have come over in the fleet with Winthrop, which arrived June, 1630. The other brothers may have come then, or four or five years later. They were men of the middling class in life; men of strong minds and hearts; men of discretion and piety. James settled in Chelmsford; the other three brothers removed from Charlestown to Woburn in Feb. 1640-1, and were among the earliest settlers of that place. They settled, as tradition reports, in the present town of Winchester, a little north and east of the village, on a road which from them received the name of Richardson Row; a name it still bears.

Ezekiel Richardson was admitted freeman, May 18, 1631; was a man of note; one of the first board of selectmen in Charlestown; constable, appointed by the court, 1633, then an office of much responsibility. He was deputy to the General Court, 1635. He and his wife Susanna were members of the First Church in Boston, which was originally gathered at Charlestown, July 30, 16-30; and were dismissed, with thirty-three others, from that church, Oct. 14, 1632, in order to the founding of a new church at Charlestown. This new church was gathered at Charlestown, Nov. 2, 1632, and is the present First Church in that place.

Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richardson were three of the seven original members of the church at Woburn, the twenty-third church gathered in the Massachusetts colony. When a new church was to be formed, it was the practice to designate seven men of eminent piety and sound judgment to be the "seven pillars" of the new structure ; so they were called, in allusion to Prov. 9: 1. They were to constitute the nucleus of the church; and theirs was the responsible duty of deciding what other members should be added. It was also their duty to lay out the new town, which was to be formed in connection with the new church, and make all needful arrangements for the same. The seven commissioners appointed by Charlestown for the establishment of a new church and town at "Charlestown Village," afterwards called Woburn, were Edward Johnson, Edward Convers, John Mousall, Win. Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson, Thomas Richardson. The fact that the three brothers Richardson were appointed on so important a service, is conclusive proof of the confidence reposed by their fellow-christians in their wisdom and integrity. The church in Woburn was formed "on the 14th day of the 6th moneth, 1642," i. e. Aug. 24, 1612, N. S. In ten years, the number of its members had increased to seventy-four; of which, says Johnson, "the greater part, according to their own confession, were converted by the preaching of the Word in NewEngland."—Wonder-Working Providence, a volume written by Capt. Edward Johnson, an original member of the church in Woburn, and town clerk there for thirty years, till his death, April 23, 1672.

FIRST GENERATION.

1. EZEKIEL RICHARDSON,1 lived on the "Shattuck place," in Winchester, half a mile north of the village, on the plain; a locality included, till about the year 1850, in the town of Woburn. He was selectman of Woburn, 1644-5-6. He d. nt Woburn, Oct. 21, 1647. His will, dated July 20, 1647; proved June 1, 1648, appoints wife Susanna and eldest son Theophilus, executors. Gives to son Josias 30 pounds when arriving at the age of 21. Gives 30 pounds to son James, and the like sum to dau. Phebe. Discharges all demands between his brother Samuel Richardson and himself. Gives Thomas Richardson, son of his brother Thomas, ten shillings. Overseers of the will, Edward Convers and John Mousall, [the two deacons of the chh. in Woburn.] Inventory taken Nov. 18, 1647; amt. £183. Mk. 6d.

Children—

2. Phebe,2 bapt. Boston, June 3,1632; m. Dea. Henry Baldwin, Nov. 1,1649.

3. Theophilus,2 bapt. Charlcstown, Dec. 22, 1633; m. Mary Champney.

4. Josiah,2 bapt. Charlestown, Nov. 7, 1635; m. June 6, 1659, Remembrance Underwood, dau. of William. He was of Chelmsford; freeman, 1674. Has numerous descendants.

5. John,2 bapt. Charlestown, July 21, 1638; d. Jan. 7, 1642-3.

6. Jonathan,11 bapt. Charlestown, Feb. 5, 1640; d. young.

7. James,8 bapt. Charlestown, July 11, 1641.

8. Ruth,2 b. in Woburn, Aug. 23, 1643; d. Sept. 7, 1643.

Bibliographic information:

• Title The Vinton Memorial: Comprising a Genealogy of the Descendants of John Vinton of Lynn, 1648: Also, Genealogical Sketches of Several Allied Families ... With an Appendix Containing a History of the Braintree Iron Works, and Other Historical Matter
• Author John Adams Vinton
• Publisher S.K. Whipple, 1858
• Original from Harvard University
• Digitized Nov 3, 2006
• Length 534 pages
• Page 375
• https://books.google.com/books?id=IV8hPxRANm8C&pg=PA391&lpg=PA391&d...

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Will:

Ezekiel Richardson of Woburn.

20 : 5: 1647. I, Ezekiell Richardson, of Woebourne, being in perfect memorie. Wife Susanna, and Eldest Son, Theophilus, Executors. To son Josias, thirtie pounds, to be paide in mony, Cattell or come, when 21. Vnto son James, £30; Vnto dau. Phebe, £30. I discharge whatsoever demands haue bin between my brother, Samuel Richardson, and my selfe. Vnto brother, Thomas Richardson, his Son Thomas, 10'. Overseers, Edward Converse and John Mousall of Woebourne. In case either die before the accomplishment of this my will, the surviuer, with the consent of Thomas Carter, pastor of the church in Woebourne, shall haue power to chuse an other overseer in his place. Vnto the Overseers MP a peece. Debts discharged, all the rest to Executors, provided wife may peacablie injoy her habitation in the house.

Ezekiel richardson,

Proved by Edward Convers &, John Mowsall. 1 (4) 1648, before the Govr & my selfe.

Increase Nowell, sec.

Thomas Carter, scribe

Edward Convars

John Mowsall.

Inventory taken 9: 18: 1647, by Edward Convars, John Mowsall, Thomas richarson. The debts of our sister Susanna Richarson, 6-100. Her legasie, 93-10-0. The remainder to the Executors, .£90-6s.-6.

Bibliographic information:

• Title the new england historical and genealogical register
• Published 1853
• Original from Oxford University
• Digitized Dec 4, 2006
• Page 172
• https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2oFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA172&lpg=PA172&d...

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Ezekiel and Susanna probably came in the fleet of Winthrop in 1630. The Winthrop Fleet consisted of eleven ships sailing from Yarmouth, Isle of Wright to Salem. Some sailed April 8, arriving June 13, 1630 and the followng days, the others to sail in May, arriving in July. The total count of passengers is believed to be about seven hundred, and presumed to have included the following people. Financing was by the Mass. Bay Company.

The ships were the Arbella flagship with Capt Peter Milburne, the Ambrose, the Charles, the Mayflower, the Jewel, the Hopewell, The Success, the Trial, the Whale, the Talbot and the William and Francis.

Sailed April 8 1630: Ambrose, Arbella, Hopewell, Talbot,

Sailed May 1630: Charles, Jewel, Mayflower, Success, Trial, Whale, William and Francis

Winthrop wrote to his wife just before they set sail that there were seven hundred passengers. Six months after their arrival, Thomas Dudley wrote to Bridget Fiennes, Countess of Lincoln and mother of Lady Arbella and Charles Fiennes, that over two hundred passengers had died between their landing April 30 and the following December, 1630. That letter traveled via the Lyon April 1, 1631 and reached England four week later.

They belonged to the church of Boston, and were dismissed with others 1 Oct 1632 to establish a church at Charlestown. Ezekiel was freemand 18 May 1631; by the Court appointed 1633 constable, and by the people representative 1635, with many of his townsmen united in remonstrance against the Act of the government towards Wheelwright, in 1637, and, his heart failing him, in Nov expressed his contrition and had his name crossed over. In 1640, when a selectman, he favored settlement at Woburn.

Ezekiel and Susannah “became members of the church gathered in Charlestown, Aug. 27, 1630, which afterwards became the First Church in Boston; and both were dismissed from it, with thirty three others, Oct. 14, 1632, to form the present First Church in Charlestown, which was gathered on the second day of November following. He was admitted a freeman of the colony, May 18, 1631, which was in consequence of his church membership.

   ... 

“His name often occurs on the Charlestown records. He was, in 1633, appointed by the General Court a constable, then an office of much responsibility. In the following years, he was appointed by the town on several important committees. He was one of the first board of selectmen in Charlestown, chosen Feb. 10, 1634-5; also in 1637, 1638, 1639. He was a deputy or representative of that town in the General Court, chosen Sept. 2, 1634, and also the following year, 1635. In 1637, a lot of land was granted to him on ‘Misticke Side,’ or Malden; also to each of his brothers, of whom more in the sequel.
“He was a follower of Ann Hutchinson and John Wheelwright in the Antinomian Controversy of 1637, as were most of the members of the Boston church, and was one of the eighty or more persons who signed the Remonstrance in Mr. Wheelwright’s favor, presented to the General Court on the ninth of March in that year. At the session of the General Court held in November following, he and several others desired that their names might be erased from that paper, which the Court had judged to be of seditious tendency. Thus acknowledging his fault, he was exempted from the censure inflicted by the Court; in other words, he was not disarmed, as were nearly all of the Remonstrance. It is creditable to his memory that he was willing to abandon an enterprise in which he had conscientiously, but unwisely, embarked.
“In May, 1640, the town of Charlestown petitioned the General Court for an enlargement of her territory. The petition was granted, and addition made to her territory of two miles square, soon after increased to four miles square. On the 15th of May, Ezekiel Richardson, Edward Johnson, Edward Convers, and some others were sent to explore this grant and to determine its bounds. The original design was to make a village within the bounds of Charlestown and dependent on it. But as early as the 5th of November, 1640, the church of Charlestown chose seven men, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, Ezekiel Richardson, John Mousall, Thomas Graves, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson, as commissioners or agents, for the erection of a new church and town, upon the land thus granted, to be entirely distinct and separate from Charlestown. A beginning was made in the erection of houses. Log houses, doubtless during the year 1641, at and near the center of the new town, which at its incorporation, in September, 1642, received the name of Woburn, from Woburn in Herefordshire, England, where was an ancient abbey, founded in 1145, and where was the palatial residence of the noble family of Russells, dukes of Bedford, long known as the friends of liberty. The church in Woburn was solemnly constituted Aug. 14, 1642, O.S., answering to Aug. 24, N. S. Seven persons were embodied in a church state, viz.: John Mousall, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, William Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson. These persons stood forth, one by one, and declared their religious faith and christian experience. These seven men were the ‘seven pillars,’ Prov. ix. 1; they were the nucleus of the new church, and theirs was the responsible duty of deciding what other members should be admitted. It was also their duty to lay out the new town to be formed in connection with this church, and make all needful arrangements for this purpose. The fact that the three Richardson brothers were appointed on so important a service is conclusive proof of their general excellence of character and of the confidence reposed in their wisdom and integrity. The first settlers of Woburn, 1642, could not have exceeded thirty heads of families. Thirty two men subscribed the ‘Town Orders,’ agreed on by the commissioners at their first meeting, in Charlestown, for the settlement of Woburn, Dec. 18, 1640; but several more became inhabitants of the new town.
“Ezekiel Richardson and his two brothers, after their removal to Woburn, lived near each other, on the same street, which, from its having been their residence and that of many of their posterity, has been known from time immemorial as ‘Richardson's Row.’ It was in the present town of Winchester, a little north and east of the village; the ‘Row’ now constituting a part of Washington Street. He himself lived half a mile north of the present village of Winchester; a locality, until April 30, 1850, included in the town of Woburn. The descendants these three brothers, bearing the name of Richardson, long have been and still are more numerous than persons of any other name in Woburn, and among them have been found some of the most useful and valued members of the church and citizens of the place. [Statement of Rev. Samuel Sewall, of Burlington, in his History of Woburn, p. 71] At the first election of town officers in Woburn, April 13, 1644, Ezekiel Richardson was chosen a selectman, and continued to be chosen to that responsible office in 1645, 1646, and 1647. Edward Convers, John Mousall these were deacons of the church till their death and Ezekiel Richardson were appointed "’o end small causes under twenty shillings,’ at Woburn; and so continued till death.
“Edward Convers, Ezekiel Richardson, Capt. Cooke, and Edward Goffe, with Mr. Stileman, were appointed a committee to lay out a road from Cambridge to Woburn. Ezekiel Richardson, one of the founders of Woburn, died in that town Oct. 21, 1647. From the fact that all his children were at this time under the age of twenty one, it is inferred that his age at his decease did not exceed forty five. His will is dated 20th day of the fifth month, 1647; equivalent to July 20, 1647. It was proved June 1, 1648, and is on file in the Suffolk Probate Office, Boston.”
Will: I Ezekiel Richardson of Woburn, being in perfect memoir, do make this my last will and testament as followeth, imprimis. I make my wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus joint Executors. Item. I give and bequeath to Josias my son thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age. Item. I give unto James my son thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age. Item. I give unto Phebe my daughter thirty pounds to be paid in money, cattle, or corn, when she shall accomplish twenty years of age, or within six months after the day of her marriage, which cometh first. I say all these several legacies to be paid in money cattle or corn at the discretion of the Executors and overseers.

In case any of these three die before they do accomplish the said age mentioned then the said legacy shall be equally divided to them which shall survive. In case my son Theophilus die before he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age then his portion shall be equally divided to my other children which shall survive. Item. I do freely forgive and discharge whatsoever accounts and demands have been between my Brother Samuel Richardson and myself. Item. I give unto my brother Thomas Richardson his son Thomas ten shillings to be paid within one year after my decease. Item. I make for overseers to this my will Edward Converse and John Mousall of Woburn; in case either of them die before the accomplishment of this my will the survivor with the consent of Thomas Carter Pastor of the church of Woburn shall have power to choose an other overseer in his place. Item. I give unto the overseers for and in consideration of their care and pains thirty shillings apiece. Item. all my debts and funeral [expenses] being discharged I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate to my executors, provided that my wife may peaceably enjoy her habitation in the house so long as she shall live.

In witness whereof I have set to my hand. Ezekiel richardson.

In presence of these

   Thomas Carter, scribe. 

Edward Convers.
John Mousall.
Testified under oath of the said Edward Converse and John Mousall that the above written is the last will and testament of Ezekiel Richardson and that he was of a disposing mind at the making the same. Taken 1 (4) 1648 before the court and myself.

Born: 1604 - "based on estimated date of marriage and chronology of siblings"(TGMB)

Proof to parents: Ezekiel's baptism record is not found with his siblings in the English records. His status as their sibling lies in his will and the wills of his siblings and real estate transactions with them.

Immigration: In 1630, with Winthrop's Fleet. Wife Susanna and probably oldest child, Phebe, came in that fleet. Phebe was among the earliest baptisms in New England, recorded in Boston, June 03, 1632.

Residences: Charlestown 1630 > Woburn 1640

Spouse: Susanna, likely married in England just a few years before their migration. Surname of Bradford, used by many people, not proven. She survived Ezekiel and married, second, Henry Brooks on March 21, 1651, age estimated 41. She died September 15, 1681, in Woburn, aged estimated 71 years.

Freeman: Was admitted to freeman status May 18, 1631.

Died: October 21, 1647, Woburn, Middlesex Co, Mass. Age approximately 43. Children aged from 4-15 years old.

"1630.. Ezekiel and Susannah (Bradford) Richardson arrive in the first substantial immigration of the Puritans in Winthrop's Fleet.

1632.. Phebe Richardson, Ezekiel and Susannah's first born child is born. She is the tenth child born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Actually, the June, 1632 date is the date of her baptism. Some genealogies list her place of birth as "possibly England". I think it more likely she was born on American soil sometime after the Winthrop Fleet arrived and then baptized in 1632.

1640.. The three Richardson brothers, with others, are commissioned by Governor John Winthrop to establish a colony at Woburn, Massachusetts.

1640.. The Richardson brothers build homes close together so that the road passing by becomes known as Richardson's Row. The Richardson brothers are large landholders in the Woburn area. The area of Richardson's Row is in what is now Winchester, Massachusetts.

1647.. Ezekiel Richardson dies in Woburn. He must have been a relatively young man, probably under 45, per estimate of Vinton. His oldest child, Phebe, had been baptized only 15 years earlier. His widow, left with seven children, remarried Henry Brooks four years later, in 1651.

A quote from one of the many biographies of the Richardson brothers says, "Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richardson, brothers, were the emigrant ancestors of a family remarkable for their numbers, their widely scattered homes, their virtue, and their intelligence. At least nine of their descendants bearing their name have been deacons in the church they assisted to organize... (and) a large number have been officers of churches elsewhere - in Winchester, and, far and wide, in the United States..... In the secular professions, also, many of this familiar old Woburn name have been found, and some of them have achieved a high and most honorable position. Old Woburn has, from the beginning, been largely indebted to the successive generations of this excellent family." The Three Richardsons, The Winchester Record, Vol II, No. 2, March, 1886, Pg 199."

- The Richardson Brothers of Woburn, Mass

Copyright 1996, 1997 Norris Taylor

"On November 5, 1640 a committee of seven was appointed by Charlestown to determine the boundary lines of the new settlement. The seven men who received this grant to undertake the settlement of Charlestown Village, as it was to be called, were Captain Edward Johnson, Thomas Richardson, Samuel Richardson, Ezekiel Richardson, Thomas Graves, Edward Converse and John Mousall. These men were required to build houses for habitation within two years. They also were entrusted with the power to grant lands to other persons willing to build and live within the newly formed Village. The grant further stated that it was the duty of these men to select newcomers who would work as a unit to improve the land, lay out the streets and maintain a civil and religious society."

"The first organizational Town Meeting was held and the first town officers were chosen on April 13, 1644. Selectmen were: Edward Johnson, Edward Converse, John Mousall, William Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson and James Thompson. William Learned was also selected as Constable."

"Ezekiel Richardson, one of the original founders died on October 21, 1647."

- A Chronological History of Woburn, Massachusetts

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Ezekiel Richardson

Winthrop's Fleet Passenger (1630)

Founder of Charlestown Church (1632)

and Town of Woburn, Massachusetts (1640)

Researchers: Barbara, Joyce, Kathy, Norris, Terry

Source: The Great Migration Begins – Immigrations to New England, 1620-1633, Vol III P-W, Robert Charles Anderson, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995

Church membership: “Ezekiel Richardson and his wife” admitted to Boston Church as members #80 and #81, which would be in the winter of 1630/1 (BCHR 13); on 14 October 1632 “Ezechiell Richardson and Susan his wife” were dismissed to participate in the organization of Charlestown church (BChR 16); on 2 November 1632 “Ezek:” and “Susan Richeson” were admitted to Charlestown church as founding members (ChChR 7)

Offices: Deputy for Charlestown to General Court, 2 September 1635 (MBCR 1:156). Petit jury, 19 September 1637 (MBCR 1:203). Charlestown member of colony committee on valuation of livestock, 13 May 1640 (MBCR 1:285) Commissioner for small causes at Woburn, 10 May 1643 (MBCR 2:35). Committee to lay out highway between Cambridge and Woburn, 10 May 1643 (MBCR 2:36).

Charlestown selectman, 10 February 1634/5, 12 February 1637/8 (ChTR 13,34). Constable, 3 April 1633 (MBCR 1:104). Committee to lay out lots, 9 January 1633/4, 23 November 1635 (ChTR 10, 17). Committee to lay out highways, 10 February 1737/8, 20 December 1638 (ChTR 12,39, 40). Committee to regulate wages, 28 November 1636 (ChTR 23). Committee on stinting the common, 17 February 1636/7 (ChTR 25).

Estate: In 1635, Ezekiel Richardson surrendered back to the town five acres of land Mystic Side (ChTR 14). In the same year he was granted five shares of hay ground, which was increased to six shares (CrTR 19, 20).

On 24 October 1636 the town of Charlestown “agreed to allow Ezek(ie)ll Richeson 2 acres of ground besides the two due to him, to make & keep two sufficient gates for the highway between Mr. Mayhew’s & New Towne, & the highway to have 6 pole in breadth” (ChTR 23). On 3 March 1636/7 “Goodman Ezek(ie)ll Richeson had a ½ a cow’s grass appointed by Tho(mas) Squire” (ChTR 26).

Ezekiel Richardson had five acres of land Mystic Side in 1637, and also four and three-quarter cow commons (ChTR 27, 33). On 23 April 1638 he had Mystic Side allotments of 35, 85 and 5 acres (ChTR 36). On 30 December 1638 he had 6 ½ cow commons in the stinted common (ChTR 42).

In the 1638 Charlestown Book of Possessions “Ezechell Richardson” held thirteen parcels of land; three acre homestead in High Field; one acre meadow at north end of aforesaid three acres; one half acre meadow in High Field, one acre meadow on northeast side of Gibbon’s Field (which “he bought of William Nash to whom at first if fell by lot”); one acre arable land in East Field; two acres meadow bounded to the south on Cambridge Field and to the north on Gibbon’s Field and to the north by Gibbon’s River (later annotation: “sold to Thomas Brigdon”); six acres meadow in Mystic Field; five acres woodland in Mystic Field; thirty-five acres woodland in Mystic Field; three acres meadow “lying to the northward of Mount Prospect”) ninety acres of land in Water Field; six and a half milch cow commons (four and three quarters granted to him, one and a quarter bought of William Nash, and a half bought of George Whitehand); and four acres arable land in Line Field (ChBOP 3-4).

In his will, dated 20 July 1647 and proved 1 June 1648, “Ezekiell Richardson of Woebourne” appointed “my wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus joint executors”; and bequeathed to “Josias my son 30 pounds at twenty-one years of age; to “James my son 30 pounds” at twenty-one years of age; to “Phebe my daughter 30 pounds” at “twenty years of age or within six months after the day of her marriage”’ if any of these three should die before they come of age, the legacies be shared among the survivors; in case “my son Theophilus die before he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age, then his portion shall be equally divided to my other children”; discharged demands against “my brother Samuell Richardson”; to “my brother Thomas Richardson, his son Thomas, 10 s.” overseers Edward Converse and John Mousall of Woburn, if either of these die, then the survivor with the consent of Thomas Carter, pastor of the church in Woburn, to choose a replacement overseer; 30s to each overseer; residue to my executors, “provided that my wife may peacably enjoy her habitation in the house so long as she shall live” (SPR Case #72).

The inventory of the estate of Ezekiell Richardson was taken 18 November 1647 and totalled 190 pounds 6s, 6d, with no real estate included (SPR Case #72).

On 6 March 1649/50 Edward Converse confirmed to the heirs of Ezekiel Richardson an earlier sale of twelve acres of meadow & upland in Woburn (MLR 2:71). On 27 March 1651 Samuel Richeson of Woburn “having formerly sold unto Ezekill Richeson my brother (who is since deceased) forty acres of arable & meadow land” in Woburn, confirms the same to “my sister Susanna Brooke (who was the wife of my deceased brother Ezekill Richeson (MLR 2:72). On 23 March 1654/5 “Susanna Richeson now Brookes formerly the wife of Ezek: Richeson” confirmed a sale made eight years earlier by “Ezekill Richardson & Susanna Richardson my wife” to Thomas Moulton and John Greenland of thirty-five acres of land in Woburn (MLR 2:36). On 13 December 1659 “Henry Brookes & Susanna Brookes of Woburn,”in accordance with an award of the court, deeded to Theophilus Richardson the right and title they had in “the moiety or half part of the housing & land of Ezekiell Richardson of Woburn aforesaid, by executorship or otherwise” (MLR 2:154).

Associations: Samuel Richardson and Thomas Richardson, brothers of Ezekiel, arrived in New England by 1635; Francis Wyman and John Wyman sons of Ezekiel Richardson’s sister, Elizabeth, also came to New England (Sarah Hildreth Anc 25-27).

Comments: “Ezech(ie)ll Richeson” was admitted as an inhabitant of Charlestown in 1630 (ChTR 5) and appeared in the lists of inhabitants of 9 January 1633/4 and January 1635/6 (ChTr 10,15)

Bibliographic Note: In 1876, John Adams Vinton published a comprehensive genealogy of the descendants of the three Richardson brothers (The Richardson Memorial, Comprising a Full History and Genealogy of the Posterity of the three brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richardson (Portland, Maine, 1876). In 1903, Walter Kendall Watkins published the data on the English origin of the Richardson’s (NEHGR 57:298-300), and this material was incorporated in Walter Goodwin Davis’s treatment of the family (Sarah Hildreth Anc 25-31)

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RICHARDSON. Ezekiel Richardson, apparently the eldest of the three brothers of this name engaged in the settlement of Woburn, was born in England; came with his wife, Susanna, to Charlestown, probably in the fleet with Winthrop, in 1630. Both joined the church which was gathered there in 1630, and which afterwards became the First Church in Boston; and both were dismissed from it, 11 Oct. 1632, with others, in order to form the present First Church in Charlestown, which was gathered in November following. He was Representative of Charlestown in General Court, 1635; Selectman, in 1640; and one of the seven Commissioners appointed

Town Records. * Savage's Geneal. Diet. Wob. Reo. of Births, Deaths, etc. «Rev. Lucius B. Paige. «Bec. of Town, Vol. I., p. 12*. 'T. K., Vol. III., p. 93; Rec. of Births, etc., etc.

that year by the church of Charlestown to effect the settlement of Woburn. Of the church of Woburn, he was one of the original members. By his wife, Susanna, he had: (1) Phebe, baptized in Boston, 3 June, 1632, and married, 1 Nov. 1649, to Henry Baldwin. (2) Thcophilus. (3) Josiah. (4) John, who died at Woburn, 7 Jan. 1642-3. (5) Jonathan; died young. (6) James. (7) Ruth, born at Woburn, 23 Aug. and died 7 Sept. 1643. Ezekiel Richardson died 21 Oct. 1647.

came from Westmill, Hertfordshire, England 1630 to Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts . Lived in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Children: Josiah Richardson, Phebe Richardson, Theophilus Richardson, John Richardson, Jonathan Richardson, James Richardson, Ruth Richardson, Esther Richardson

BIRTH: By about 1604 (based on estimated date of marriage and chronology of his siblings), son of Thomas and Katherine (Duxford) Richardson. Came from Westmill, Hertfordshire to Massachusetts Bay in 1630. First settled in Charlestown MA; moved to Woburn in 1640. Died in Woburn, 21 October 1647. Samuel Richardson and Thomas Richardson, brothers of Ezekiel, arrived in New England by 1635; Francis Wyman and John Wyman, sons of Ezekiel Richardson's sister Elizabeth, also came to New England. Married by 1632, Susanna _____. She married (2) by 27 March 1651 Henry Brooks. He was brother of SAMUEL RICHARDSON {1636, Charlestown} & THOMAS RICHARDSON {1636, Charlestown}, and uncle of FRANCE_IS WYMAN {1640, Charlestown} and JOHN WYMAN {1640, Charlestown}, sons of his sister, Elizabeth (Richardson) Wyman. Source: Anderson's Winthrop Fleet.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34381011/ezekiel-richardson

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 6 2019, 18:55:42 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

He came to America in 1630 on the Arbella with Governor John Winthrop. His two brothers, Samuel and Thomas came over in 1636. Ezekiel and his wife Susanna became members of the church gathered in Charlestown, Aug. 27th , 1630, which afterwards became the First Church of Boston. He was admitted a Freeman of the Colony on 5/18.1631, which was in consequence of his church membership. he was, in 1633, appointed by the general court, a constable. He was one of the first board of selectmen in Charlestown, chosen 2/10/1634-5, and again in 37,38, and 39. He was deputy, or representative of that town in the general court chosen Sept. 2, 1634, and again in 1635. On May 15, 1640 the town Charlestown petitioned the general court for an enlargement of her territory. The petition was granted and an addition was of 4 square miles, and Ezekiel Richardson and 2 others were sent to explore the grant, and to determine the bounds. the new town was incorporated in 1642 and received the name of Woburn, from Woburn in Herefordshire, England where there was an ancient abbey founded in 1145 and here was the palatial residence of the noble family of Russel, Dukes of Bedford. The church in Woburn was instituted Aug. 14,1642. Seven persons were embodied in a church state, including Ezekiel and his 2 brothers Samuel and Thomas. All the brothers, after their removal to Woburn lived near each other on the street which from having been their residence and that of their posterity, has been known from time immemorial as "Richardson's Row". At the first election of town officers in Woburn, April 13, 1644 Ezekiel was chosen selectman and continued to be chosen each year til 1647. He was appointed to hear small causes under twenty shillings and so continued until his death. He died Oct. 21, 1647. There is some confusion as to his date of birth, ranging from 1591-1606. His will is dated July 20, 1647, was proven June 1, 1648 and is on file int the Suffolk Probate Office, Boston.

(This information was provided by Harry Thomas Boynton Richardson in 1911 approx.)

Below = Source: The Great Migration Begins – Immigrations to New England, 1620-1633, Vol III P-W, Robert Charles Anderson, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995
Church membership: “Ezekiel Richardson and his wife” admitted to Boston Church as members #80 and #81, which would be in the winter of 1630/1 (BCHR 13); on 14 October 1632 “Ezechiell Richardson and Susan his wife” were dismissed to participate in the organization of Charlestown church (BChR 16); on 2 November 1632 “Ezek:” and “Susan Richeson” were admitted to Charlestown church as founding members (ChChR 7)

Offices: Deputy for Charlestown to General Court, 2 September 1635 (MBCR 1:156). Petit jury, 19 September 1637 (MBCR 1:203). Charlestown member of colony committee on valuation of livestock, 13 May 1640 (MBCR 1:285) Commissioner for small causes at Woburn, 10 May 1643 (MBCR 2:35). Committee to lay out highway between Cambridge and Woburn, 10 May 1643 (MBCR 2:36).

Charlestown selectman, 10 February 1634/5, 12 February 1637/8 (ChTR 13,34). Constable, 3 April 1633 (MBCR 1:104). Committee to lay out lots, 9 January 1633/4, 23 November 1635 (ChTR 10, 17). Committee to lay out highways, 10 February 1737/8, 20 December 1638 (ChTR 12,39, 40). Committee to regulate wages, 28 November 1636 (ChTR 23). Committee on stinting the common, 17 February 1636/7 (ChTR 25).

Estate: In 1635, Ezekiel Richardson surrendered back to the town five acres of land Mystic Side (ChTR 14). In the same year he was granted five shares of hay ground, which was increased to six shares (CrTR 19, 20).

On 24 October 1636 the town of Charlestown “agreed to allow Ezek(ie)ll Richeson 2 acres of ground besides the two due to him, to make & keep two sufficient gates for the highway between Mr. Mayhew’s & New Towne, & the highway to have 6 pole in breadth” (ChTR 23). On 3 March 1636/7 “Goodman Ezek(ie)ll Richeson had a ½ a cow’s grass appointed by Tho(mas) Squire” (ChTR 26).

Ezekiel Richardson had five acres of land Mystic Side in 1637, and also four and three-quarter cow commons (ChTR 27, 33). On 23 April 1638 he had Mystic Side allotments of 35, 85 and 5 acres (ChTR 36). On 30 December 1638 he had 6 ½ cow commons in the stinted common (ChTR 42).

In the 1638 Charlestown Book of Possessions “Ezechell Richardson” held thirteen parcels of land; three acre homestead in High Field; one acre meadow at north end of aforesaid three acres; one half acre meadow in High Field, one acre meadow on northeast side of Gibbon’s Field (which “he bought of William Nash to whom at first if fell by lot”); one acre arable land in East Field; two acres meadow bounded to the south on Cambridge Field and to the north on Gibbon’s Field and to the north by Gibbon’s River (later annotation: “sold to Thomas Brigdon”); six acres meadow in Mystic Field; five acres woodland in Mystic Field; thirty-five acres woodland in Mystic Field; three acres meadow “lying to the northward of Mount Prospect”) ninety acres of land in Water Field; six and a half milch cow commons (four and three quarters granted to him, one and a quarter bought of William Nash, and a half bought of George Whitehand); and four acres arable land in Line Field (ChBOP 3-4).

In his will, dated 20 July 1647 and proved 1 June 1648, “Ezekiell Richardson of Woebourne” appointed “my wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus joint executors”; and bequeathed to “Josias my son 30 pounds at twenty-one years of age; to “James my son 30 pounds” at twenty-one years of age; to “Phebe my daughter 30 pounds” at “twenty years of age or within six months after the day of her marriage”’ if any of these three should die before they come of age, the legacies be shared among the survivors; in case “my son Theophilus die before he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age, then his portion shall be equally divided to my other children”; discharged demands against “my brother Samuell Richardson”; to “my brother Thomas Richardson, his son Thomas, 10 s.” overseers Edward Converse and John Mousall of Woburn, if either of these die, then the survivor with the consent of Thomas Carter, pastor of the church in Woburn, to choose a replacement overseer; 30s to each overseer; residue to my executors, “provided that my wife may peacably enjoy her habitation in the house so long as she shall live” (SPR Case #72).

The inventory of the estate of Ezekiell Richardson was taken 18 November 1647 and totalled 190 pounds 6s, 6d, with no real estate included (SPR Case #72).

On 6 March 1649/50 Edward Converse confirmed to the heirs of Ezekiel Richardson an earlier sale of twelve acres of meadow & upland in Woburn (MLR 2:71). On 27 March 1651 Samuel Richeson of Woburn “having formerly sold unto Ezekill Richeson my brother (who is since deceased) forty acres of arable & meadow land” in Woburn, confirms the same to “my sister Susanna Brooke (who was the wife of my deceased brother Ezekill Richeson (MLR 2:72). On 23 March 1654/5 “Susanna Richeson now Brookes formerly the wife of Ezek: Richeson” confirmed a sale made eight years earlier by “Ezekill Richardson & Susanna Richardson my wife” to Thomas Moulton and John Greenland of thirty-five acres of land in Woburn (MLR 2:36). On 13 December 1659 “Henry Brookes & Susanna Brookes of Woburn,”in accordance with an award of the court, deeded to Theophilus Richardson the right and title they had in “the moiety or half part of the housing & land of Ezekiell Richardson of Woburn aforesaid, by executorship or otherwise” (MLR 2:154).

Associations: Samuel Richardson and Thomas Richardson, brothers of Ezekiel, arrived in New England by 1635; Francis Wyman and John Wyman sons of Ezekiel Richardson’s sister, Elizabeth, also came to New England (Sarah Hildreth Anc 25-27).

Comments: “Ezech(ie)ll Richeson” was admitted as an inhabitant of Charlestown in 1630 (ChTR 5) and appeared in the lists of inhabitants of 9 January 1633/4 and January 1635/6 (ChTr 10,15)

Bibliographic Note: In 1876, John Adams Vinton published a comprehensive genealogy of the descendants of the three Richardson brothers (The Richardson Memorial, Comprising a Full History and Genealogy of the Posterity of the three brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richardson (Portland, Maine, 1876). In 1903, Walter Kendall Watkins published the data on the English origin of the Richardson’s (NEHGR 57:298-300), and this material was incorporated in Walter Goodwin Davis’s treatment of the family (Sarah Hildreth Anc 25-31)

The Massachusetts Bay Colony had a very strict and authoritative structure. Outsiders were not welcome and folks who didn't support the views of the leadership, particularly John Winthrop, were expelled. One such expulsion was Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island and made it a haven for religious freedom as a result.
Another such expulsion was Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson (and her husband's brother-in-law, John Wheelwright). She believed, and preached, that salvation could be realized through faith and belief alone, without the aid of the church. This affair paralyzed the Colony for nearly a year and a half, from October 1636 to March, 1638. She apparently was a gifted speaker and had a lot of followers. But Governor Winthrop certainly wasn't one of them. Her teachings were considered an attack on the rigid moral and legal codes of the Puritans, as well as the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This affair has drawn much attention among historians ever since.

In 1637, she was tried by the General Court of Massachusetts, presided over by Winthrop, on the charge of "traducing the ministers". The trial was a travesty of justice; Hutchinson was found guilty, excommunicated, and banished from the colony.

After she was expelled from the colony, she moved to Rhode Island for awhile, then to New York, where she and all but one of her family were killed by Indians in 1643.

This is what John Adam Vinton had to say in Ezekiel Richardson's biography in the Richardson Memorial, 1876:

"He (Ezekiel Richardson) was a follower of Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright in the Antinomian Controversy of 1637, as were most of the members of the Boston church, and was one of the eighty or more persons who signed the Remonstrance in Mr. Wheelwright's favor, presented to the General Court on the ninth of March in that year. At the session of the General Court held in November following, he and several others desired that their names might be erased from that paper, which the Court had judged to be of seditious tendency. Thus acknowledging his fault, he was exempted from the censure inflicted by the court; in other words he was not disarmed, as were nearly all of the Remonstrants."

Then, Vinton makes a statement that I do not know if all of his descendants would agree with today: "It is creditable to his memory that he was willing to abandon an enterprise in which he had conscientiously, but unwisely embarked."
Sounds to me like he just backpedalled so he wouldn't get run out of town, too. (He had a wife and a family in a raw land, after all.)

From the Journal of John Winthrop (Abridged Edition, edited by Dunn & Yeandle, p. 137):

".... And after many speeches to and fro, at last she was so full as she could not contain, but vented her revelations; amongst which this was one, that she had it revealed to her that she should come into New England, and she should here be persecuted, and that God would ruin us and our posterity and the whole state for the same. So the court proceeded and banished her; but because it was winter, they committed her to a private house where she was well provided, and her own friends and the elders permitted to go to her, but none else.
The court also ordered, that the rest, who had subscribed the petition, (and would not acknowledge their fault, and which near twenty of them did,) and some others, who had been chief stirrers in these contentions, etc, should be disarmed. This troubled some of them very much, especially because they were to bring them in themselves; but at last, when they saw no remedy, they obeyed."

Ezekiel Richardson was one of the twenty (actually, the book of Winthrop's Journal reveals in a foonote that there closer to thirty-five) who recanted signing the petition.

He was married in 1632 in New England. In 1633 he was Constable of Charlestown, Massachusetts and appointed by the Massachusetts General Court. On 2 Sep 1634 and again in 1639 he was chosen Representative or Deputy from Charlestown to the Massachusetts General Court. On 10 Feb 1634/35 and in 1637, 1638 and 1639 he was chose to be on the first board of Selectmen of Charlestown. In 1637 he was one of the followers of Ann Hutchinson and John Wheelwright in the Antinomian Controversy of 1637. He was also a member of the Church of Boston and one of the 80 or so signers of the Remonstrance in Mr. Wheelwright's favor, presented to the Massachusetts General Court. In the same year, Ezekiel was granted a lot of land on "Misticke Side" or Malden and also to his brothers.

On 15 May 1640 in Massachusetts he was chose with Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, Ezekiel Richardson, John Mousall, Thomas Grave, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson as commissioners or agents of the First Church of Woburn, Massachusetts. Ezekekiel was also the first colonist in New England with the name Ezekiel. On 13 Apr 1644 at the first election of town officers in Woburn, he was chosen Selectman of Woburn and held that office in 1645 and 1647; he was also appointed to "End Small Causes" of Woburn with a pay of 20 shillings. He was also appointed at one point along with Edward Convers, Capt. Cooke, Edward Golfe and Mr. Stileman to lay out a road from Cambridge to Woburn. He wrote his will on 21 Oct 1647 in Woburn and it was approved on 1 Jun 1648.