William Richardson, the father of Hope Ann (Richardson) (Thomas) Raymond, was born in Virginia, according to all records. His second marriage record identified his parents as John and Kezia Richardson. Virginia marriage records report the marriage of John Richardson to Keziah Dalby in 1802. That is as far as I have been able to trace this Richardson line.
JOHN RICHARDSON married at Northampton County, Virginia, on 19 February 1802 KEZIAH DALBY.[1]
John and Keziah had the following child, perhaps others:
WILLIAM B. RICHARDSON was born at Virginia on 14 December 1810, a son of John Richardson and his wife Keziah Dalby, and died at Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, on 7 April 1878. He married first at Freetown on 15 August 1828 ELIZABETH CLARK. She was born at Freetown on 15 June 1808, a daughter of Asa Clark, Jr., and his first wife Hope Downing. She died at Freetown on 10 July 1848. William married second at Fairhaven, Bristol County, on 26 May 1852 SUSAN (HIGGINS) WING. She was born at Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, on 11 August 1819, a daughter of Constant and Lois Higgins. She died at Freetown on 21 December 1880. Susan had married first, after publishing their intentions at Rochester on 28 September 1839, CHARLES HENRY WING. He was born at Rochester on 1 March 1812, a son of Timothy Wing, and died at Fairhaven on 30 June 1849.[2]
William Richardson was probably born in Northamptoin County, Virginia, where his parents were married. Northampton County is one of the two counties of Virginia on the southern tip of the Del-Mar-Va peninsula, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Chesapeake Bay to the west.
I do not know why William Richardson found his way to southeastern Massachusetts. Thousands of young men, like Ishmael in Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick, were rushing to New Bedford to join the excitement of chasing whales on the ocean. But William became a farmer, not a mariner. Others, like Frederick Douglass, took the "undergrfound railroad" to New Bedford; but William was white. Whatever it was that brought him to New England, the pregnancy of Elizabeth Clark gave him reason to stay, and to settle in Freetown in proximity to her extended family.
Elizabeth Clark grew up on a farm in the Assonet section of the town of Freetown, the third of five children, all of whom lived to marry. William and Elizabeth married when he was seventeen, and she was twenty. Six weeks after their marriage their first child arrived. In the next seventeen years they had seven children, six of whom lived to adulthood and married.
Elizabeth (Clark) Richardson died at the age of forty, leaving William with seven children, ages 19, 18, 14, 12, 7, 5, and 2. Four years later widower William Richardson, 41, married widow Susan (Higgins) Wing, 32. She brought a seven-year-old son to the family; by the time of this second marriage William's two oldest daughters had married, and his oldest son had died.
William Richardson, called "William Richerson" on many records, farmed in Freetown, where he often bought and occasionally sold property. His property transactions, recorded in the South District of Bristol County, consist of:
The 1830 Census reported the young William Richardson family in Freetown, consisting of a man and a woman between 20 and 29, and a boy and a girl under 5.[33] This would appear to be in error, as William was only nineteen at the time of the census, and their two children were both girls, Susan 20 months and Hope 5 months.
The 1840 Census reported the growing family of William Richardson at Freetown. The age and sex categories of the census match approximately what we know of the family:[34]
age/sex | possible identity |
female 30-39 | Elizabeth, 32 |
male 30-39 | William, 29 |
female 10-14 | Susan, 11 |
female 10-14 | Hope, 10 |
male 5-9 | William, 6 |
male 0-4 | John, 4 |
Elizabeth (Clark) Richardson died in 1848. Hope had married the month before, and Susan the year after. The 1850 Census revealed a family headed by William, aided by a woman who was probably a housekeeper, and including five children:[35]
Line | Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | R.E. | Birthplace | Other |
25. | William Richardson | 39 | M | farmer | $3750 | VA | |
26. | William H. Richardson | 16 | M | MA | school | ||
27. | John T. Richardson | 14 | M | MA | school | ||
28. | Mary E. Richardson | 9 | F | MA | school | ||
29. | Nancy M. Richardson | 7 | F | MA | school | ||
30. | George W. Richardson | 4 | F[?] | MA | |||
31. | Emily P. Claridge | 32 | F | MA |
Son William H. Richardson died in 1851, at the age of seventeen, from consumption.[36] Son John married in 1854. The 1855 Massachusetts State Census reported William Richardson, 43, farmer, living in Freetown with his new wife, Susan, 34, his children, Mary, 14, Nancy, 12, and George, 9, and his step-son, Alden Wing (called Alden Richardson on the census), 8.[37] William's daughter Susan, 26, lived in Freetown with her husband, Elnathan Hathaway, 32, stone cutter, their child Mary (in all later records called Harriet), 2, and her mother-in-law Sybil Hathaway, 72.[38] Son John Richardson, 20, farmer, his wife Sophia, 17, and their child Emeline, 4 months, lived in Fairhaven with his in-laws, George and Emeline Wrisley.[39] I have not found daughter Hope (Richardson) Thomas in this census. Hope's daughter, Ellen, 6. was living with her paternal grandparents Calvin and Lois Thomas in Freetown.
Mary Richardson married in 1857, leaving only three children at home in the 1860 Census, Nancy, George, and Alden Wing.[40] In the 1865 Census only Nancy remained at home.[41]
The 1870 Census reported William Richardson, 59, farmer, and Susan, 50, living in a household of two persons in Freetown.[42] Their children were scatterd in the area:
William Richardson died in 1878 from heart disease; his second wife, Susan, died in 1880 from a liver complaint.[47]
William B. Richardson and his first wife Elizabeth Clark had the following children:
Susan (Higgins) (Wing) Richardson and her first husband Charles Henry Wing had the following child:
1Jordan R. Dodd, "Virginia, Marriages, 1740-1850," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 26 January 2016), Richardson-Dalby, 1802.
2Massachusetts Archives, "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 18 September 2017), vol. 301, p. 111, e. 10, Freetown Deaths, 1878, William Richardson; vol. 39, p. 97, e. 5, Freetown Deaths, 1848-9, Betsey Richardson; vol. 60, p. 71, e. 6, Fairhaven Marriages, 1852, Richardson-Wing; vol. 319, p. 120, e. 23, Freetown Deaths, 1880, Susan Richardson; vol. 39, p. 88, e. 57, Fairhaven Deaths, 1848-9, Charles H. Wing. Freetown, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook), "Massachusetts Vital and Town Records," Marriages 1686-1844, 94; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 8 April 2015); Records, 1795-1847 Number 3; 109, 1808. Vital Records of Rochester, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1914), 1:178; v. 2, p. 176
3Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 28, p. 237; Family Search, familysearch.com. accessed 1 November 2020.
4Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 28, pp. 122-3.
5Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 29, pp. 490-91.
6Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 29, pp. 489-90.
7Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 30, pp. 362-3.
8Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 29, pp. 392-3.
9Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 30, pp. 363-4.
10Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 32, pp. 480-1.
11Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 32, pp. 477-78.
12Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 32, pp. 479-80.
13Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 32, pp. 478-9.
14Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 34, pp. 361-2.
15Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 33, p. 362.
16Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 34, pp. 364-5.
17Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 34, pp. 362-3.
18Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 34, pp. 363-4; v. 34, pp. 215-6
19Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 34, pp. 365-6.
20Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 37, pp. 190-1.
21Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 38, pp. 139-40.
22Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 42, pp. 264-5.
23Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 42, pp. 266-7.
24Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 42, pp. 187-8; v. 43, p. 7.
25Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 44, p. 443-4
26Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 48, p. 24
27Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 48, p. 25-6
28Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 48, p. 24-5
29Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 48, p. 26-7
30Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 48, p. 211-2; v. 48, p. 229-30
31Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 51, pp. 237-8
32Bristol County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Fall River District, v. 51, pp. 345-6
33Fifth Census of the United States: 1830, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 59, p. 12, William Richardson; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2020); NARA microfilm publication M19; Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
34Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 177, p. 219, William Richardson; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2020); NARA microfilm publication M704, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
35Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 308, p. 149A, household 176, William Richardson family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 26 January 2016); NARA Microfilm Publication M432; Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
36"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 57, p. 67, e. 8, Freetown Deaths, 1851, William H. Richardson.
37Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1855 Massachusetts State Census, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, v. 6, p. 5, household 73, William richardson family; digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 31 October 2020); Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts.
381855 Massachusetts State Census, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, v. 6, p. 6, household 78, Elnathan Hathaway.
391855 Massachusetts State Census, population, Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts, v. 5, p. 244, household 161, George Wrisley family.
40Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, p. 670, household 1747, William Richardson family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 27 May 2020); NARA microfilm publication M653; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
41Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1865 Massachusetts State Census, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, v. 5, p. 463, household 141, William Richerson family; digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 31 October 2020); Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts.
42Ninth Census of the United States: 1870, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 604, p., 611A, household 234, William Richardson family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 May 2020); NARA microfilm publication M593, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
431870 Census, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 605, p. 20B, household 325, Elnathan Hathaway family.
441870 Census, Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 603, p. 253A, household 514, Newell Raymond family.
451870 Census, New Bedford, Bristol Country, Massachusetts, roll 605, p. 205A, household 471, John T. Richardson family.
461870 Census, Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, roll 639, p. 424A, household 106, Allen Snow family.
47"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 301, p. 111, e. 10, Freetown Deaths, 1878, William Richardson; vol. 319, p. 120, e. 23, Freetown Deaths, 1880, Susan Richardson.
48Information on the Susan (Richardson) Hathaway family is from: Freetown, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Records, 1795-1847 Number 3; 217. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 75, certificate no. 351, New Bedford Deaths, 1910 , Susan M. Hathaway; vol. 265, p. 138, e. 523, New Bedford Deaths, 1874 , Elnathan Hathaway; v. 63, p. 156, e. 1; Births Freetown, 1852; ______ Hathaway; v. 90, p. 90, e. 19; Births Freetown, 1855; ______ Hathaway; v. 105, p. 140, e. 22; Births Freetown, 1857; ______ Hathaway; v. 123, p. 112, e. 21; Births New Bedford, 1859; ______ Hathaway. Lucius Barnes Barbour, "Vital Records for Connecticut," database of transcription, American Ancestors (americanancestors.com : accessed 27 October 2020), p. 117; Stonington, 1849. 1870 Census, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 605, p. 20B, household 325, Elnathan Hathaway family.
49Freetown, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook), "Massachusetts Vital and Town Records,", Records, 1795-1847 Number 3; 217. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 57, p. 67, e. 8, Freetown Deaths, 1851, William H. Richardson.
50Information on family of John Richardson is from: Freetown, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Records, 1795-1847 Number 3; 217. Massachusetts Archives, "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1916-1920," digital images, American Ancestors (american ancestors.org : accessed 27 October 2020), Deaths 1919: v. 36, certificate 318; John T. Richardson. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 78, p. 74, e. 3, Fairhaven Marriages, 1854, Richardson-Wrisley; Deaths 1904: v. 71, certificate 187; Sophia Richardson; v. 90, p. 82, e. 98; Births Fairhaven 1855; Emeline Richardson; v. 262, p. 128, e. 68; Marriages New Bedford 1874; Anthony-Richardson; v. 268, p. 142, e. 285; Births New Bedford 1875; Sophia-Richardson; v. 10,5 p. 126, e. 130; Births Fairhaven 1857; George P. Richardson. 1880 Census, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, ED 114, roll 525, p. 198D, household 46, John T. Richardson family.
51Information on the family of Mary (Richardson) Snow is found in: "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," v. 275, p. 320, e. 20; Deaths Mattapoisett 1875; Mary E. Snow; vol. 108, p. 121, e. 7, Freetown Marriages, 1857, Snow-Richardson; vol. 401, p. 379, Mattapoisett Deaths, 1889, Allen W. Snow; v. 124, p. 327, e. 4; Births Mattapoisett 1859; Lizzie Allen. Snow; v. 335, p. 371, e. 1; Marriages Mattapoisett 1882; Ames-Snow; v. 106, p. 403, e. 184; Births Bridgewater 1857; Frank C. Ames; v. 142, p. 371, e. 9; Births Mattapoisett 1861; Luella. Snow; v. 370, p. 95, e. 2; Marriages Fairhaven 1886; Ide-Snow
52"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 464, p. 656, e. 24, Mattapoisett Deaths, 1896, Nancy M. Caswell; vol. 190, p. 366, e. 18, Mattapoisett Marriages, 1866, Caswell-Richardson; vol. 65, certificate no. 215, Mattapoisett Deaths, 1909, Elbridge G. Caswell.
53"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 16, p. 77, Freetown Births, 1845-6, George Richardson; vol. 352, p. 132, e. 6, Freetown Marriages, 1884, Richardson-West; vol. 36, p. 242, e. 3625, Boston Births, 1848-9, Mary J. Graham.
54Information on the family od Alden Wing is found in: Massachusetts Archives, Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911-1915, Deaths 1914 v. 44, certificate 294, Alden Wing, ; digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 27 May 2020); v. 618, p. 304, e. 860; Marriages New Bedford 1913, Wing-Hathaway. Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population, Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 166, p. 4, household 117, Alden Wing family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 27 May 2020); NARA microfilm group T623; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration; Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, ED 166, p. 4, household 110, Charles Wing family. Elizabeth Starr Versailles, Hathaways of America: 1970 Edition (Northampton, Massachusetts: Gazette Printing Company, 1970), pp. 426,504,882. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," v. 259, p. 135, e. 10; Births Freetown 1874; Susan Wing; v. 536, p. 299, e. 732; Marriages New Bedford 1903; Briggs-Wing; v. 469, p. 211, e. 17; Marriages Freetown 1897; Wing-Frohock; v. 295, p. 124, e. 9; Births Freetown 1878; Frank Wing; v. 313, p. 130, e. 4; Births Freetown 1880; William C. Wing; v. 554, p. 239, e. 2; Marriages Freetown 1905; Wing-Hathaway; v. 331, p. 135; Births Freetown 1882; George C. Wing; v. 594, p. 265, e. 7; Marriages Freetown 1910; Wing-Winslow.
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________. Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2020.
________. Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2016.
________. Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2020.
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________. Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2020.
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