The RICHARDS family of Pitminster, co. Somerset, England, Dorchester, Suffolk, MA and Weymouth, Norfolk, MA; The Blake family of Over Stowey, Somerset, England Send comments and corrections to anneb0704@yahoo.co.uk
 
HUMPHREY BLAKE (1494 - c. 1558) of Over Stowey
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JOHN BLAKE (c. 1522 - 1576) of Over Stowey m. Joan Unknown (d. 1595)
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JAMES RICHARDS (d. 1608) of Pitminster m.
ALICE BLAKE (c. 1548 - 1585)
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THOMAS RICHARDS (b. abt 1571) of Pitminster
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THOMAS RICHARDS (bp. 1596 - 1650/1) of Pitminster, Dorchester and Weymouth m. Welthean Loring (d. 1679)
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ALICE RICHARDS (bp. 1629 -1671) m. Maj. William Bradford

Generation 1

HUMPHREY BLAKE (d. 1558) of Over Stowey

Parents: Humphrey's immediate ancestry is unknown. However, based on the arms of his descendant Adm. Robert Blake and the 1623 visitation of Wiltshire, Stott [Ref] concludes that Humphrey is the descendant (perhaps the great-great-grandson) of Henry Blake who married Margaret, the daughter and heiress of Walter Bellet. Henry is the son of William Blake who married Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas Power. William is the son of Henry Blake who married a daughter and heiress of Unknown Durant. William is the son of Robert Blacque or Blake of Wiltshire.

The Blakes were an English gentry family in Somerset during the 16th and 17th centuries. The descendants of Humphrey Blake, gentleman of Overstowey and Spaxton, were involved in the cloth trade from at least the middle of the 16th century. [Ref]

Humphrey Blake was born, say, 1494. died on 19 Nov 1558 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He was buried there on 28 Dec 1558. [Ref] He married Anne or Agnes Unknown, but he may also have had an earlier wife. [Ref]

Humphrey leased the manor of Plainfield in the parish of Over Stowey from Reginald Williams. [Ref] He bought the adjoining manor of Tuxwell in Spaxton parish from George Sydenham im 1556. [Ref] He was seized of 40 acres of land in the parish of Bishops Lydiard. [Ref]

Humphrey Blake, gentleman, signed his will on 19 Nov 1558; it was proved on 11 May 1559. [Ref] He asked to be buried in the church at Over Stowey. [Ref]

Children of Humphrey Blake:

  1. John Blake, the elder, was born about 1522. He was buried on 10 Dec 1576 in Over Stowey. He married Joan Unknown.
  2. Robert Blake was born, say, 1530. [Ref] He was buried on 15 Oct 1592 in Bridgewater, co. Somerset. [Ref] He married Margaret Symonds. [Ref] She was buried on 10 Apr 1600 in Bridgewater. [Ref]
    Robert was a merchant. [Ref] He operated a fulling mill in Tuxwell in 1577. [Ref] Robert's son Humphrey Blake was the father of Robert Blake, one of the most famous naval officers in British history. [Ref]
  3. Thomas Blake may be the Thomas Blake who married Ann Castleton on 29 Apr 1570 in Bridgewater. [Ref]
    The manor of Tuxwell was settled on Thomas in 1572. [Ref] He sold it to his brother Robert in 1577. [Ref]
  4. Agnes Blake married Unknown Manning. [Ref]
  5. Eleanor Blake married Unknown Langham. [Ref]
  6. John Blake, the younger, was born about 1533. [Ref] He was buried on 21 Aug 1571 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He married Christian Jugg. [Ref]
  7. Alice Blake married George Slocombe on 18 Aug 1558 in Over Stowey. [Ref]

Generation 2

JOHN BLAKE (c. 1522 - 1576) of Over Stowey

Parents: Humphrey Blake [Ref]

John Blake was born about 1522. [Ref] He was buried on 10 Dec 1576 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He married Joan Unknown. [Ref] She was buried on 27 Jun 1595 in Over Stowey. [Ref]

John was his father's eldest son. [Ref]

John's father left him lands in Bishops Lydiard, co. Somerset. [Ref] He acquired property in Plainsfield, Aisholt and Spaxton. [Ref] He was involved in the cloth trade. [Ref]

John signed his will on 26 Nov 1576; it was proved on 25 Jan 1575/7. [Ref] He asked to be buried in the church at Over Stowey. [Ref]

Children of John Blake and Joan Unknown:

  1. Alice Blake was born about 1548, probably in Over Stowey. She was buried on 17 Aug 1585 in Pitminster. She married James Richards.
  2. Elizabeth (Isabel) Blake was born about 1550. [Ref] She was buried on 12 May 1624 in Lydiard St. Lawrence, Somerset. [Ref] She married Robert Selleck on 9 Oct 1571 in Over Stowey. [Ref] Robert, the son of John Selleck of Gaulden Manor, Tolland parish, died in 1623. [Ref] They had five children. [Ref]
  3. Ann Blake was born about 1552, probably in Over Stowey. She died after 26 Mar 1609. She married Thomas Saunders.
  4. Humphrey Blake was buried on 20 Mar 1619/20 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He married first Agnes James on 23 Oct 1578 in Over Stowey. [Ref] She was buried there on 10 Aug 1602. [Ref] He married second Ann Unknown in 1602 - 3. [Ref] She was buried on 11 Dec 1645 in Over Stowey. [Ref]
    Humphrey signed his will on 21 Sep 1618; it was proved on 17 Jun 1620. [Ref]
  5. William Blake was born about 1562 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He was buried on 13 Jun 1642 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He married Anne Unknown. [Ref] She was buried on 14 Aug 1644 in Over Stowey. [Ref]
  6. Richard Blake was baptised on 1 Jan 1563/4 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He was buried on 24 Apr 1620 in Stogumber, co. Somerset. [Ref] He married an unknown first wife. [Ref] He married second Grace Napcott on 29 May 1589 in Over Stowey. [Ref]
  7. Robert Blake was baptised on 22 May 1566 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He was buried on 25 Jan 1626/7 in Over Stowey. [Ref] He married Eleanor Unknown. [Ref] She was sburied on 16 Nov 1615 in Over Stowey. [Ref]

Generation 3

JAMES RICHARDS (d. 1608) of Pitminster

James Richards was buried on 19 Jan 1607/8 in Pitminster. [Ref] He married Alice Blake on 2 Oct 1569 in Over Stowey. [Ref]

ALICE BLAKE (c. 1548 - 1585)

Parents: John Blake [Ref]

Alice Blake was born about 1548, probably in Over Stowey. [Ref] She was buried on 17 Aug 1585 in Pitminster. [Ref] She married James Richards on 2 Oct 1569 in Over Stowey. [Ref]

Children of James Richards and Alice Blake:

  1. Thomas Richards was born about 1571, probably in Pitminster.
  2. William Richards was baptised on 26 Jan 1573 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  3. Joan Richards was baptised on 26 Jan 1576/6 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  4. Agnes Richards was baptised on 27 Mar 1576 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  5. John Richards was baptised on 4 May 1578 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  6. Alice Richards was baptised in Jan 1580/1 in Pitminster. [Ref] She married Philip Torrey. [Ref]

Generation 4

THOMAS RICHARDS (b. abt 1571) of Pitminster

Parents: James Richards and Alice Blake [Ref]

Thomas Richards was born about 1571, probably in Pitminster. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Richards:

  1. Joan Richards was baptised on 19 Apr 1594 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  2. Thomas Richards was baptised on 16 Apr 1596 at Pitminster. He died between 17 Dec 1650 and 28 Jan 1650/1, probably at Hull, Plymouth, MA. He married Welthean Loring.
  3. Dorothy Richards was baptised on 27 Nov 1598 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  4. Henry Richards was baptised on 13 Mar 1600/1 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  5. Dorothy Richards was baptised on 21 May 1603 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  6. James Richards was baptised on 19 Oct 1605 in Pitminster. [Ref] He was buried on 30 Jul 1645 in Pitminster. [Ref]
  7. Christopher Richards was baptised on 21 Feb 1607/8 in Pitminster. [Ref] He was buried on 9 Nov 1623 in Pitminster. [Ref]

Generation 5

THOMAS RICHARDS (bp. 1596 - 1650/1) of Pitminster, Dorchester and Weymouth

Parents: Thomas Richards [Ref]

Thomas was baptised on 16 Apr 1596 at Pitminster. [Ref] He died between 17 Dec 1650 and 28 Jan 1650/1, probably at Hull, Plymouth, MA. He married Welthean Loring. She died between 3 Jul 1679, when she signed her will, and 4 Nov 1679, when it was proved. [Ref]

Mr. Thomas Richards was a merchant in Dorchester. [Ref] He was a selectman there on 8 Oct 1633. [Ref]

He moved to Weymouth in 1639/40. [Ref]

Welthean Loring was under suspician of witchcraft in 1653/4, but the case does not appear to have been prosecuted. [Ref]

In her will, dated 3 Jul 1679, the widow Welthean Richards names Thomas, Alice, Hannah, Mercy, William Jr., John, Samuel, Melatiah, Mary and Sarah Bradford "children of William Bradford of Plimoth Colony & my daughter Al (ce) deceased." [Ref ]

Thomas Richards of Weymouth wrote his will on 17 (10) 1650, while sick and at his "brother" Thomas Loring's house in Hull. He mentions his sons John (who was away), James, Samuel, Joseph and Benjamin; his daughters Mary, Ann, Alice and Hannah; his wife; his brother Thomas Loring; Thomas Prosser. Both Joseph and James are referred to as under 21. His wife is allowed "sufficient maintenance" of £35 a year. The will was proved on 28 (11) 1650. Inventory was taken on 25 (11) 1650: it amounted to a then sizable £1,300.17.11. Thomas had requested that his estate not be settled until his son John returned. His heirs James, Joseph, Benjamin and Hannah, petitioned the court the day the will was proved to allow their mother, "Mrs. Welthian Richards" to have the power to improve the estate until John returned. [Ref 7;232]

Children of Thomas Richards and Welthan Loring:

  1. Mary Richards was baptised on 12 Nov 1620 in Pitminster. [Ref] She died on 24 Jun 1659 [Ref] in Barnstable. [Ref] She married Gov. Thomas Hinckley on 7 Dec 1641. [Ref] Thomas, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Soole) Hinckley, was baptised on 19 Mar 1619/20 in Hawkhurst, Kent. [Ref] He died on 25 Apr 1706. [Ref] He married second Mary (Smith) Glover on 16 Mar 1660. [Ref] Mary was the daughter of Quarter Master John Smith of England and the widow of Nathaniel Glover of Dorchester. [Ref]
  2. John Richards was baptised on 13 Feb 1624/5 in Pitminster. [Ref] He died on 2 Apr 1694 in Boston. [Ref] He married first Anne, the daughter of Gov. John and Elizabeth (Reade) Winthrop, Jr. of Connecticut [Ref][Ref] He married second Elizabeth, the daughter of Capt. Thomas and Mary (Welles) Hawkins, as her third husband, on 3 May 1654 in Boston. [Ref] Elizabeth was born on 8 May 1629. [Ref] She was baptised on 14 May 1629 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney, Middlesex. [Ref] She died on 1 Nov 1691 in Boston. [Ref] She married first Nathaniel Long in about 1645 in Boston. [Ref] She married second Adam Winthrop, Esq. on 7 May 1649 in Boston. [Ref]
    On 7 May 1651 John deposed that he was 26 and that he had lived in New England about 19 years. [Ref] John was a merchant and a member of the Artillary Company. [Ref] He was representative for Newbury 1671 - 1673; representative for Hadley in 1675; representative for Boston 1679-80 and judge of the Supreme Court. [Ref] He signed his will on 1 Apr 1694; it was proved on 18 May 1694. [Ref]
  3. Anne Richards was baptised on 1 Nov 1626 in Pitminster. [Ref] She died in 1650-5. [Ref][Ref, p. 7, about 1654] She married Ephraim, the son of Enoch Hunt. [Ref][Ref, p. 7] Ephraim died between 14 Jan 1681, when he signed his will, and 7 Apr 1687, when it was proved. [Ref, p. 7] He married second Ebbett Brinsmead. [Ref, p. 7] Ebbett, the daughter of William Brinsmead of Dorchester, died on 9 Sep 1712 in Dorchester. [Ref, p. 7]
    some descendants of Anne Richards
  4. Alice Richards was baptised on 7 Apr 1629 in Pitminster. She died on 12 Dec 1671. She married Maj. William Bradford.
  5. Hannah Richards was baptised on 26 Oct 1630 in Pitminster. [Ref] She died on 10 Nov 1651 in Boston. [Ref 10;71]
  6. Lieut. James Richards was baptised on 13 Sep 1632 in Pitminster. [Ref] He died on 29 Jun 1680. [Ref] He married Sarah, the daughter of William and Ursula Gibbins of Hartford. [Ref] She was born on 17 Aug 1645 in Hartford and died on 8 Feb 1714 in Woburn. [Ref] They had 11 children. [Ref] Their daughter Jerusha married Gov. Gordon Saltonstall of Connecticut. [Ref]
    James took the freeman's oath of 26 May 1652 in Boston. [Ref] He moved to Hartford about 1632. [Ref] He was a lieutenant of the militia in May 1664. [Ref] He was an Assistant in 1665. [Ref] He was a commissioner of the United Colonies in 1672. [Ref] After his death, his estate was appraised at £7,930: a very large sum for the time. [Ref]
  7. Samuel Richards
  8. Joseph Richards
  9. Benjamin Richards married Hannah Hudson on 10 Oct 1661 in Boston. [Ref] Hannah, the daughter of William and Anne Hudson, was born on 12 Mar 1643/4 in Boston. [Ref]

Generation 6

ALICE RICHARDS (bp. 1629 - 1671)

Parents: Thomas Richards [Ref] and Welthean Loring [Ref ]

Alice Richards was baptised on 1 Nov 1626 in Pitminster. [Ref] She died on 12 Dec 1671, age 44, in Plymouth. [Ref][Ref] She married Maj. William Bradford.

References

Crowell, F. E., New Englanders in Nova Scotia, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1938.

Edes, Harry H., "Documents Relating to the Colonial History of Connecticut - with Notes," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 23, 1869, 21-33.

Fessenden, G. M., "A Genealogy of the Bradford Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4, 1850.

Messinger, George W., "The Hinckley Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 13, 1859, 208-212.

Paige, Lucius, R., "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3, 1849, 89-96, 187-194, 239-246, 345-352.

Pulsifer, David, trans., "Records of Boston," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 10, 1856, 71.

Stott, Clifford, "Humphrey Blake (1494? - 1558) and his Descendants in New England and South Carolina: Blake, Richards, Selleck, Torrey and Wolcott," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 163, 2009, 85-97, 199-211, 278-295; 164, 2010, 63-74.

Trask, William, "Abstracts from the Earliest Wills on Record in the County of Suffolk, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7, 1853, 232.

Wakefield, Robert S., FASG, William Bradford of the Mayflower and His Descendants for Four Generations 3rd ed., General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1991.

Weber, David Jay, "Major William Bradford's Second Wife: Was she the Widow of Francis Griswold?" New England Historical and Genealogical Register 155, 2001.

Wilcox, Wayne, H. M., "Capt. Thomas Hawkins, Shipwright of London and Dorchester, Massachusetts and Three Generations of his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 152, 2997, 193-216.