logo

An American Family History

Edward Richards

Settlers from Salem purchased land in an area known as Saugus from the Indians. This land originally included the towns of Swampscott, Nahant, Saugus and Lynnfield. In 1630 the land was incorporated as the Town of Saugus. The settlers changed the name to Lynn in 1637 in honor of their first official minister, Samuel Whiting, from King’s Lynn, England.
Children of John Richards
and Mary Brewer
  • Mary Richards Darling Shaw
  • Captain John Richards
  • Edward Richards
  • Crispus Richards
  • Elizabeth Richards Kent
  • Joseph Richards
  • William Richards
  • Abigail Richards Collins
    		•

    Edward Richards was born on July 13, 1679 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were John Richards and Mary Brewer.

    He married Mary Kidder on December 6, 1703. Cotton Mather performed the ceremony in Boston. 

    Edward and Mary's children were John Richards (1704), Mary Richards (1706), Abigail Richards (1708), Elizabeth Richards (1711), Edward Richards (1717), and Joseph Richards (1718).

    In 1713 he received 20s from his father’s will and his son John Richard’s received one sheep.

    His second wife was Hannah. Their son was Edward Richards (1727).

    He became wealthy with a large business in Boston.

    He died February 11, 1747/48 and is buried at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in Boston with his wife and some of his children.

    Copp's Hill
    Copp's Hill Burying Ground

    Cotton Mather was a Puritan clergyman and theological writer. His writings had great influence in his time. He is generally pictured as the archetype of the intolerant and severe Puritan and is known for his part in the Salem witch trials in 1692 . He did not approve of all the trials, but had helped to instigate the hysteria by his Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions (1689).


    mather
    Cotton Mather

    Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.

    In
    Memory of
    MR IOSEPH RICHARDS
    Son to Mr Edward & Mrs Mary Richards
    who died at Port Mahone
    January ye 18th
    1742
    aged 24 years

    Here lyes the Body of
    MR JOHN RICHARDS
    who died Janunary 5th 1732
    aged 29 years

    Here lyes the Body of
    MRS ABIGAIL RICHARDS
    dau to Mr Edward & Mrs Mary Richards
    died Nov ye 4th 1745 in ye
    36th year of her age
    Here lyes buried ye Body of
    MR EDWARD RICHARDS
    son to Mr Edward Richards died
    February ye 11th
    1747
    aged 70 years
     

    Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans by Abner Morse

    8. 23. Edward, [Richards] m. Dec. 6, 1703, Mary Kidder; and, 2d, Hannah; r. Boston, where he did a large business and acquired wealth, died, and was interred on Copp's Hill.

    He had,
    24. i. John, b. June 20, 1704, at Lynn, d. at Boston, Jan. 5, '32, pr. unm.
    25. ii. Mary, b. Nov. 16, 1706, at Boston; no further reported.
    26. iii. Abigail, b. 1708, d. in Boston, Nov. 4,1745, in her 36 year, unm.
    27. iv. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 3, 1711, at Boston, no further reported.
    28. v. Edward, b. May 16, 1717, who died young.
    29. vi. Joseph, d. at Port Mahon, Jan. 18, 1742, aged 24 years; pr. unm.
    30. vii. Edward, b. Nov. 8, 1727, by 2d wife, Hannah, and pr. d. yg.

    This family early paid the penalty of riches, and probably became extinct in the first generation.

    		  

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com

    Back to Top