M. about 1606 in (probably) Charminster, Dorset, England
Wife: Florence _______
D. before 27 Apr 1664 in (probably) Salem, Massachusetts
Migration to New England in the early 17th century wasn’t strictly Puritans looking for religious freedom. During the 1620s, there were also other men moving to the area, primarily for financial gain, and Richard Norman appears to have been this type of settler.
Richard was born in an unknown place in England, probably during the 1580s, but nothing else is known of his origins. The first time he turned up in records was on the baptism of his oldest child on February 7, 1607 in Charminster, a village just north of Dorchester, England. Richard’s wife was named Florence; they had two sons and five daughters, all baptized in the same place, with the youngest born about August 1622. Richard was said to support his family working as a carpenter.
During the years after the Mayflower, and before the great migration to the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1630, several settlements sprung up in New England. Cape Ann was one of the earliest, being founded by a group calling itself the Dorchester Company, and Richard was one of them. A small band of settlers arrived during 1623-1625, and was said to have consisted of no more than 50 people. Their primary objectives were to develop the area commercially for fishing and to live outside of the "separatist" Plymouth Colony. It’s not known if Richard had gone to America that early, though, because he was named on a document in Dorset in October 1626.
Richard was definitely settled at Cape Ann with his family before 1628. That year, a more established settlement was formed with the arrival of Governor John Endecott at Salem, and Richard was said to already be settled there. In later years, all those who pre-dated Endecott's arrival were called the "Old Planters." Whether or not Richard was literally a planter isn't known; based on his association with the Dorchester Company and the location of some of his property, he was probably more involved with fishing.
During the years after the Mayflower, and before the great migration to the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1630, several settlements sprung up in New England. Cape Ann was one of the earliest, being founded by a group calling itself the Dorchester Company, and Richard was one of them. A small band of settlers arrived during 1623-1625, and was said to have consisted of no more than 50 people. Their primary objectives were to develop the area commercially for fishing and to live outside of the "separatist" Plymouth Colony. It’s not known if Richard had gone to America that early, though, because he was named on a document in Dorset in October 1626.
Richard was definitely settled at Cape Ann with his family before 1628. That year, a more established settlement was formed with the arrival of Governor John Endecott at Salem, and Richard was said to already be settled there. In later years, all those who pre-dated Endecott's arrival were called the "Old Planters." Whether or not Richard was literally a planter isn't known; based on his association with the Dorchester Company and the location of some of his property, he was probably more involved with fishing.
John Endecott.
Richard's name turned up in many land transactions during the 1630's and 1640s, evidence that he had land in the Salem area during those years. His wife was recorded as having testified in a Salem court in 1645, but her name wasn't identified. By 1650, Richard owned 10 acres and a house in Marblehead, on the "Darbe Fort side."
In April 1653, Richard deeded his house and property to his oldest son. The exact date of his death isn’t known, but it was before April 27, 1664 when he was identified in a court proceeding as being deceased. Richard was an ancestor of First Lady Grace Coolidge and John Kerry.
Children:
1. John Norman — B. before 7 Feb 1607, Charminster, Dorset, England; D. (probably) about Nov 1672, Manchester By The Sea, Massachusetts; M. Arabella ________
2. Elizabeth — B. before 12 Jan 1610, Charminster, Dorset, England; D. Apr 1613, Charminster, Dorset, England
3. Margaret Norman — B. before 4 Feb 1614, Charminster, Dorset, England; D. 1694, Salisbury, Massachusetts; M. (1) Robert Morgan (~1601-1672), about 1633, Essex County, Massachusetts; (2) Samuel Fowler (~1618-1711), about 1673, Massachusetts
4. Susanna Norman — B. before 31 Jul 1617, Charminster, Dorset, England; D. 23 Dec 1660, Greenwich, Connecticut; M. (1) Robert Lockwood (~1600-1658), about 1634, Massachusetts; (2) Jeffrey Ferris (1610-1666), after 17 May 1659, Connecticut
5. Florence Norman — B. before 17 Oct 1619, Charminster, Dorset, England; D. 1672; M. (1) John Hart (1595-1655), 1639; (2) Thomas Whitred (1624-?), 1657
6. Richard Norman — B. about Aug 1622, Charminster, Dorset, England; D. 1683, Marblehead, Massachusetts; M. Margaret Flint (1623-1705), 28 Mar 1660, Salem, Massachusetts
Sources:
"The Founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony," Frank A. Gardner, M.D., The Massachusetts Magazine: devoted to Massachusetts history, genealogy, biography, Vol. 1, 1908
"The Old Planters at Salem," Frank A. Gardner, M.D., The Genealogical Magazine, Vol. III, April 1902
A history of the eastern diocese, Calvin Redington Batchelder, 1876
Historical collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. 1, Essex Institute, 1859
The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to NewEngland, 1620-1633, Vol. 1-3, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995
"English Origin of Richard Norman of Salem, Mass.,” Leslie Mahler, The American Genealogist, Vol. 77, 2002
“The Probable Residence in England Before Emigration of Richard Norman of Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts,” Randy A. West, The Genealogist (American Society of Genealogists), Apr 2018
WikiTree
