M. 25 Feb 1630 in England
Wife: Susannah ________
D. 21 Oct 1647 in Woburn, Massachusetts
When masses of English people who were united by their religion settled in the colony of Massachusetts, some splintered off when they disagreed with authorities. Ezekiel Richardson was about to go off in that direction, but changed his mind at a critical point.
Ezekiel was born in Westmill, England in about 1602 to Thomas Richardson and Katherine Duxford. He had at least two brothers and one sister. Westmill was located in eastern Hertfordshire, the mill that gave the village its name being long gone by the time Ezekiel grew up there. On February 25, 1630, Ezekiel married a woman named Susannah (whose maiden name is unknown); the wedding may have taken place in Westmill, but this is unproven.
Ezekiel and Susannah were Puritans, and shortly after their wedding, they joined the Winthrop Fleet, a mass migration for those seeking religious freedom in America. The exact ship they sailed on is unknown, but likely by the mid-summer of 1630, they arrived in the Massachusetts colony to start a new life there. They settled first in Boston, then moved to Charlestown by 1632; this is evidenced by their names being on a list of the original members of the church at Charlestown, which was founded on November 2nd.
Ezekiel and Susannah were Puritans, and shortly after their wedding, they joined the Winthrop Fleet, a mass migration for those seeking religious freedom in America. The exact ship they sailed on is unknown, but likely by the mid-summer of 1630, they arrived in the Massachusetts colony to start a new life there. They settled first in Boston, then moved to Charlestown by 1632; this is evidenced by their names being on a list of the original members of the church at Charlestown, which was founded on November 2nd.
The Richardsons started a family, and between about 1632 and 1643, they had seven children. Ezekiel was chosen as a constable by Charlestown’s council in 1633, and served as selectman during 1634-35 and 1637-39. For the years 1634 and 1635, he was Charlestown’s representative to the General Court in Boston. By early 1638, Ezekiel’s brothers Samuel and Thomas also migrated to the colony, and the three were given lots in Malden, Massachusetts on the “mistick side above the ponds.”
Like some of his fellow Puritans, Ezekiel became a follower of Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright, two people who ran counter to the leadership in Massachusetts. Wheelwright was judged to be guilty of sedition, and Ezekiel was one of 80 men signing a petition presented to the General Court in 1637 opposing the ruling. But then he presumably had second thoughts when he saw the serious nature of defying colony leadership. Along with many others, he got his name removed from the document in order to save himself from being censured. However, it seems his expression of dissent may have led him to leave Charlestown.
Like some of his fellow Puritans, Ezekiel became a follower of Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright, two people who ran counter to the leadership in Massachusetts. Wheelwright was judged to be guilty of sedition, and Ezekiel was one of 80 men signing a petition presented to the General Court in 1637 opposing the ruling. But then he presumably had second thoughts when he saw the serious nature of defying colony leadership. Along with many others, he got his name removed from the document in order to save himself from being censured. However, it seems his expression of dissent may have led him to leave Charlestown.
Reverend John Wheelwright.
On May 15, 1640, Ezekiel was among a small group of Charlestown men to explore territory granted by the General Court for a new town. In November, he was on a committee to establish what would become Woburn, Massachusetts. The committee met at the houses of each of the men who served. There were seven members, and Ezekiel hosted the meeting held on February 13, 1641. At that gathering, it was decided that February 16th would be the day all of the new settlers would help lay out the town at the site.
The 1640 expedition to Woburn.
In the next couple of years, Woburn’s settlers built their houses and established a church. Ezekiel and his brothers took up residence on one road which became known as “Richardson’s Row.” The first town council was named in 1644, and Ezekiel was one of the first seven selectmen. He went on to serve for the three years that followed. Ezekiel would have likely continued doing even more in early Woburn, but sadly, he died October 21, 1647 when he was in his early 40s. He left a will naming all of his surviving children and his wife Susannah. The inventory of his estate was valued at £100. Susannah remarried another Woburn man, and died in 1681.
Ezekiel’s descendants include Franklin Pierce, George W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Jeb Bush, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Katharine Hepburn, former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bartlett Giamatti and actor Paul Giamatti. Today’s Woburn has a street named Richardson, perhaps in his and his brothers’ honor.
Children:
1. Phebe Richardson — B. before 3 Jun 1632, (probably) Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 13 Sep 1716, Woburn, Massachusetts; M. Henry Baldwin (~1630-1698), 1 Nov 1649, Woburn, Massachusetts
2. Theophilis Richardson — B. before 22 Dec 1633, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 28 Dec 1674, Woburn, Massachusetts; M. Mary Champney (1635-1704), 2 May 1654, Woburn, Massachusetts
3. Josiah Richardson — B. before 7 Nov 1635, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 22 Jun 1695, Chelmsford, Massachusetts; M. Remembrance Underwood (1640-1718), 6 Jun 1659, Concord, Massachusetts
4. John Richardson — B. before 21 Jul 1638, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 7 Jan 1643, Woburn, Massachusetts
5. Jonathan Richardson — B. before 13 Feb 1640, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. (probably) young
6. James Richardson — B. before 11 Jul 1641, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 28 Jun 1677, Scarborough, Maine; M. Bridget Henchman (~1638-1731), 28 Nov 1660, Chelmsford, Massachusetts
7. Ruth Richardson — B. 23 Aug 1643, Woburn, Massachusetts; D. 7 Sep 1643, Woburn, Massachusetts
Sources:
The Richardson Memorial, John Adam Vinton, 1876
Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire, Vol. 1, Lewis Publishing Company, 1908
Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts, Vol. 2, William Richard Cutter, 1908
The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Samuel Sewell and Charles Chauncy Sewell, 1868
WikiTree
Famous Kin (website)
