Ralph Earle

EARLE FAMILY. Ralph Earle (i), who was in Newport, Rhode Island, as early as 1638, was the emigrant ancestor in the paternal line ot Mrs. Emily D. Richardson, of Worcester, Massachusetts. He married Joan Savage, who was born in England 1594 or 1595. Ralph Earle was born in 1606 and they were doubtless married in England. Ralph Earle was one of fifty-nine persons admitted, October I, 1638, freemen of the Island of Aqueedneck (Newport). He bought and sold land frequently for many years in various parts of Rhode Island. In 1655 and 1669 he served on the grand jury. On May 251)1, he was appointed by the court of commissioners to keep a house of entertainment. He joined a company of horse August 10, 1667, and later was chosen captain. On June 7, 1671, he was on a special jury to try two Indians. Ralph claimed the lands of the Dutch House of Good Hope, now Hartford, Connecticut, and commenced a lawsuit to establish his claim against Richard Lord and James Richard, possessors of the Dutch land, about K')67. Earle affirmed that he purchased the land of Underbill in August, 1653, and paid him twenty pounds sterling for it; but Underbill protested against the claim of Earle. It is not improbable that the claim was well founded.

The children of Ralph and Joan Earle were: Ralph, married Dorcas Sparague; William, married (first) Mary Walker; (second) Prudence ; Mary, married William Cory; Martha, married William Wood; Sarah, married Thomas Cornell.

(II.) William Earle, son of Ralph Earle (l), was born in England. The first known record of William Earle is dated April 2, 1634, when he and .his wife Mary sold to James Sands their interest in fourteen acres that came by right of the late Widow Walker, the land having come by marriage of Mary Walker, daughter of the widow, to William Earle. He was admitted a freeman at Bristol, Rhode Island, May II, 1658, and on May i8th he was -admitted a freeman of the colony at the general court held at Warwick. On June 8th, in the same .year, he was chosen to represent Bristol in the general court of trials at Newport. He was given -a grant of land in partnership with William Cory .May i, 1665, provided they maintain a windmill for the use of the town. In 1668 the windmill had been erected. William Earle removed to Dartmouth -about 1670, and stayed there several years, his interests there being large. He owned more than two thousand acres from his claims in the original division of the land.

The general assembly for Rhode Island and Providence plantations, for the election of general officers for the colony, was held May 6, 1691, at the house of William Earle, it being removed from Newport by reason of the distemper. He was a deputy from Portsmouth to the general assemblies held at Providence, October 25, 1704, and at Newport May i, 1706, and July 3, 1706. He made a will November 13, 1713, mentioning various legatees. He died January 15, 1715. The children of William Earle were: Mary, bqrn 1655, married John Jjorden; William, born at Portsmouth, Rhode Island; married Elizabeth ; Ralph (see forward); Thomas, married Mary Taber; Caleb; married Mary ; John, born at Portsmouth, married Mary Wait; Prudence, married Benjamin Durfee.

(Ill) Ralph Earle, son of William Earle (2), born in 1660; married Mary (Carr) Hicks, widow of John Hicks, and daughter of Robert Carr, of Newport, Rhode Island. She died the same year that he died, 1757, at Leicester, Massachusetts, and both are buried in the Friends' burying ground at Leicester, where the graves of no less than six generations of their descendants are. The earliest known record of Ralph Earle is to the effect that he had taken the freeman's oath prior to March 24, 1686. In 1688 his father gave to him and his wife the land adjoining the "fall river" at Pocasset, in Freetown, His removal to and occupancy of this Jand must have occurred soon afterward. He lived there between twenty-five and thirty years, the site of this house being on what is now Bedford street, -about ten rods northeast of the northeast corner of the market, which was standing in 1860. The house had a gambrcl roof and was destroyed about 1848. He was surveyor of Highways in 1690-92- 96, constable in 1699, and grand juryman in 1700 and 1715. He had the military title of ensign.

In 1716 he went through Providence, Rhode Island, into the interior of Massachusetts, as far as what is now Leicester. On the way, at Grafton, he hired an Indian, named Moses Printer, as guide. Over part of the way there was no path and they blazed their way in order to find the track back again. In 1717 he removed with part of his family to Leicester and purchased of the original proprietors of the town two tracts of land, containing in the aggregate five hundred and fifty acres. One of the tracts included the Mulberry Grove, now or lately owned by George and Billings Mann, and the other -was on the west side of Asnebumskit Hill, in what

is now town of Paxton. Its westerly boundary appears to have been the road leading northerly from the Penniman place, a mile east of Paxton Centre. His dwelling house was built about one and one-half miles northeasterly from the present village of Leicester, on Mulberry street, and very near the site of the residence now or lately owned by Benjamin Wilson. It was a one story house with a gambrel roof and was torn down in 1846. In 1721 he was a member of the" church that is the Congregational church of Leicester. Within a year a Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, was organized in the town and he joined it. In 1732 he and his sons William and Robert, with four other men, asked to be released from paying any part of the tax for the support of the minister or ministers established by the laws of this province, alleging that they as Quakers with a conscientious scruple against paying such a tax. The Quaker meeting house was erected upon land taken from the farm of Ralph Earle and that of his neighbor, Nathaniel Potter, both of whose graves are within a few feet of the site of the old church. Ralph Earle's interest in the society was so great that he made a trip to Philadelphia to visit William Penn, the best known Quaker in the country. Penn at the time was building a house at Pennsburg and it is said told Earle that he would put his initials on the chimney.

He still retained the confidence of his fellow- citizen for he was chosen March 22, 1736, to perambulate the line between Leicester and Worcester, with the committee from the other town, for which the town paid the munificent sum of four shillings. It is said that Earle once owned Mount Hope, Rhode Island, but no deed of it can be found on record.

His will was made May 25, 1750. Among the bequests to his wife is the negro boy Sharp; and he directs that if the negro be faithful and well behaved, he should have his freedom at her decease; if not, he may be sold. But before Earle died he himself manumitted the slave and April 6, 1756, gave him thirty acres of land on the southern declivity of Asnebumskit. The negro took the name of Freeborn as a surname later.

Children of Ralph and Mary (Hicks) Earle were: William, born November 12, 1690, married Anna Howard; John, born April 24, 1692, married Widow Sarah Borden; Mary, born October 24, 1693, married

Sheffield; Elizabeth, born December 24, 1696,

married Robert Lawson; Sarah, born January 18, 1698, married Stephen Manchester; Martha, born December 21, 1700; Patience, born November 24, 1702, married Benjamin Richardson; Ralph, born March 14, 1704; Robert, (see forward) ; Mercy, born March 13, 1708, married Jotham Rice; Benjamin, born March 14, 1711, married (first) Abigail Newhall; (second) Deborah (Buffum) Slade.

(IV) Robert Earle, son of Ralph Earle (3), born March 2, 1706, in Freetown, Massachusetts; married (first) Mary Newhall, born November 5, 1704, daughter of Thomas Newhall, of Leicester, formerly of Maiden, Massachusetts, by whom he had ten children. He married (second), March 23, 1756, Hepsibah Johnson, of Worcester, Massachusetts. He died in 1796. He was eleven years old when his father moved to Leicester, Massachusetts. When he was of age his father gave him two tracts of land, on one of which he erected his house at the corner of Earle and Mulberry streets, and resided there during all his married life. He sold the place to his grandsons, Pliny and Jonah Earle, for three thousand pounds, April II, 1792. In the following year Pliny removed the old dwelling house to the opposite side of the road and erected upon the old site a new house, which with some changes and additions is still standing. Here Robert Earle passed the remainder of his days with the family of his grandson Pliny. He had a remarkable constitution and retained his vigor and activity to almost the close of his long life. After the ninetieth anniversary of his birth he went alone on horseback to visit his sons at Chester, Vermont. On his return he arrived home at night, having ridden fifty miles during the day. Once at least when at this extreme age he rode, in one day, to Providence, Rhode Island, to attend the yearly meeting of the Society of Friends, to which he belonged. Some years before his death he was injured by a fall from his horse, and was afterward somewhat lame from the effects of the injury received.

The wife of Robert Earle, Mary Newhall, was the granddaughter of Thomas Newhall, the first white child born in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was the son of Thomas Newhall, who died at Lynn, May 25, 1674, and Mary Newhall, who, died September 25, 1665. Both were emigrants from England. Children of Robert Earle were: Martha, born November 3, 1726, married (first) David Earle; (second) Heztkiah Ward; Nathan, born May 12, 1728, married Elizabeth Richardson; Mary, born August 10, 1730, married Jonathan Sargent; Elizabeth, born October 18, 1732, married John Whittemore; George, born March 3, 1735, married Mary Baker; Thomas, August 27, 1737, married Hannah Wait; Esek, born February 10, 1741, married Mehitable Snow; Robert, born October 10, 1743, married Sarah Hunt; Lydia, born August 15, 1746, married (f1rst) John Wilson; (second) Micah Johnson; (third) Jonas Newton; Marmaduke, (see forward); Phebe, born December 22, 1756, married Francis Flagg; Timothy, born March 13, 1759, died in the Unites States army, November 3, 1777.

(V) Marmaduke Earle, son of Robert Earle (4), born in Leicester, Massachusetts, March 8, 1749; married, 1772, Elizabeth Newton, daughter of Jonas and Rebecca (Richardson) Newton, of Paxton, Massachusetts. She was born June 22, 1755; died November 3, 1840; he died May 29, 1839. He was a farmer and his homestead was on the road to Barre, about a mile northwest of Paxton Centre. He and his wife retained their membership in the Society of Friends during life and were buried in the Friends' burying ground, at Leicester. None of the children were Quakers. Children were: Lucretia, born February 25, 1773, married Samuel Brown; Catherine, born March 3, 1775, married Francis Washburn; Winthrop, born May 5, 1777, died, unmarried in Paxton, January 15, 1836; Deliverance, born November 10, 1779, married Jonathan Cunningham; Samuel, born December 26, 1781, died June 21, 1787; Amasa, born March 11, 1784, married Lucy Howe; Philip, born April 10, 1786, married Patty Barton; Rebecca, born July 21, 1788, married James Thompson; Emory, born September 10, 1790, married Eunice Smith; Candace, born November 3, 1792, married William Boynton; Persis, born December 18, 1794, married William H. Scott; Phebe, born June 22, 1797, married Moses Parkhurst; Elmer, (see forward); Homer, born May 6, 1802, died August 30, 1804.

(VI) Elmer Earle, son of Marmaduke Earle (5). born January 6. 1800, in Paxton. Massachusetts; married Sally Bellows, daughter of Jonas and Martha (Bridges) Bellows, born April 19. 1804: died March 30. 1881. They lived in Worcester. Massachusetts, where he died September 2. 1869. Their children were: Louisa, born February 9. 1825, died September 26, 1827; Adeline A., born October 26, 1827,

married Charles Newton; Emily D. (see forward); Charles G., born April 22, 1833, married Louisa M. Starkweather; Susan M. (see forward); Henry M.\ born July 23, 1841, died September 4, 1845.

(VII) Emily Davis Earle, daughter of Elmer Earle (6), born at Leicester, Massachusetts, August 31, 1830; married July 9, 1851, Seneca M. Richardson, of whom later. (See Richardson Family under William A. Richardson sketch elsewhere in this work).

(VII) Susan M. Earle, daughter of Elmer Earle (6), born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, August 24, 1838; married Gilbert J. Rugg, of Lancaster, MassacI1usctts, October 20, 1858, at Worcester.

(VIII) Seneca Merrill Richardson, son of Wyman Richardson (7), was born in Corinth, Vermont, December 5, 1830. For the ancestry of Mr. Richardson see sketch of his brother. William A. Richardson. He was educated in the schools at Sm1thville. where his parents were living during his boyhood. He learned the machinist's trade as his brother and ancestors had done. Both father and grandfather on the Richardson side were expert blacksmiths and machinists. His father worked in various places. He was at Athol, Barre, Petersham and Boston, filling positions where his skill and experience as a mechanic and superintendent were needed.

Sene'.a Richardson came to Worcester to work for Willard Williams & Company, manufacturers of wood-working machinery, in their machine shop. He went to Fitchburg and worked there in the manufacture of cane goods for five years. Then he took the position of superintendent of the E. C. Cleveland Machine Co., manufacturers of woolen machinery, in the so-called Junction shop. This firm was composed of J. M. Bassett, one of the veteran manufacturers of Worcester, and J. C. Mason, also a well known name in Worcester industrial history. In 1864 he went into business for himself in the firm of Witherby, Rugg & Richardson, to manufacture wood-working machinery. His partners were Luke B. Witherby and Gilbert J. Rugg,. both men who had worked in the shops, manufacturing wood-working machinery such as the new firm began to make. They began in a shop in the Armsby building, at the corner of Central and Union streets with twenty men. Later they moved to the building on Salisbury street which was built by the older firm of wood-working machine makers. Ball S: Williams, in 1865. The firm of Ball & Williams formerly employed all three of the partners in the firm of Witherby, Rugg & Richardson. It was founded i" 18.ro by Thomas E. Daniels in the Court Mills, sold to Deacon Richard Ball and Thomas Rice, who were succeeded by the firm of Ball & Ballard. This firm became later Ball & Williams, the partners being Richard Ball and Warren Williams, his son-in-law. Mr. Williams retired from business in 1865. The business of Witherby, Rugg & Richardson prospered for nearly thirty years, when the death of Mr. Witherby and Mr. Richardson left the business in the hands of Mr. Rugg. It was incorporated in loot, and Mr. Rug)? was elected president of the company—the Witherby, Rugg & Richardson Company— and managed the business until March 1, 1003, when the entire capital stock of the corporation was sold to the Hohbs Manufacturing Company of Worcester. Mr. Rugg, then retired from the business, which has since been conducted by the Hobbs Manufacturing Company as part of their business. Mr. Richardson was highly esteemed as a citizen. He ranked high as a business man. and was acknowledged to be one of the best mechanical experts in his line of business. He died August 15, 1899. He was a well known Mason, being a member of theWorcester Count}' Commandery, Knights Templar. He was a charter member of Qmnsigamond Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He was a Republican and thoroughly posted in public matters, and interested in public affairs. He represented Ward One for two years in the board of aldermen. He and his wife were life members of the Unitarian Association and were leaders, both being delegates to different conventions and active in the councils of the association. He married, July 9, 1851, Kmily Davis Earle, daughter of Elmer and Sally (Bellows) Earle. (See sketch of Earle family). Her father was born in Paxton. Massachusetts, January 6, 1800; the son of Marmaduke and Elizabeth (Newton) Earle. Her mother was born in West Boylston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson had one child: Hattie Collins, born November 18, 1856; married May 15, 1879. William Henry Rrigham and they have three children William Seneca, Bertha Emily. Katharine.

Mrs. Richardson lives in an attractive home at 134 Paine street, Worcester, Massachusetts.

She is a descendant of Ralph Earle, the emigrant, who settled in Rhode Island among the early colonists/ and of his grandson, Ralph Earle, the Quaker, who was among the early settlers of Leicester, Massachusetts. (See sketch of the Earle Family in this work).

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Earle page 31
took freeman oath in Dartmouth prior to March 24 1686.

In 1688 his father gave to him and his wife the land “adjoining the Fall River” at Pocasset, in Freetown. the top of the left ear off.

His dwelling house was about one and one half miles north-easterly from the central village of Leicester on Mulbery street. It was a gambrel one-story dwelling. Which was taken down in 1846.

March 5, 1721 Ralph was “Voted that Ralph Earl” should have a certain “pew spot” in the meeting-house, he paying the town ten shillings.

In the next twelve years the Quakers were established in Leicester. Ralph joined the group. In 1732 Ralph and his sons William and Robert and four other men, asked to be released from paying “ any part of the Tax for the Seport of the minister or ministers established by the Laws of the province” because they were alleged they were Quakers. Ralph went to Philadelphia to visit William Penn.

At a town meeting March 22, 1735 “ voted to allow Mr Ralph Earl four shillings to meet worcester men to perambulate ye line between worcester and lester.”

Society of Friends organized in Leicester in 1735. as early as 1732 Ralph and sons William, Robert and Benjamin declared themselves Quakers and asked to be excused from the payment of parish taxes for the support of the Congregational minister. on account of conscientious scruples. pg 95 meeting house of Quakers was built on Earle family property

Will executed May 25 1750. Among the bequests to his wife is his “negro boy Sharp”; and he directs that if the negro be faithful and well=behaved, he shall have his freedom at her decease. If he be not faithful, he may be sold. Before Ralph died he manumitted the slave, and on April 6th 1756 gave him 30 acres of land on the southern declivity of Asnebumskit. In the dee he state “In consideration of Love, good will and faithful service to me performed by my negro servant Sharp” he make this gift. Sharp would assume the name Freeborn” as his surname. Ralph deed recorded Worcester Registry Book 38 p 85
Nathaniel son of Nathaniel grandson of Thomas was another to have been given property. lot 141 on map and 297
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