An American Family History

Esther Richards Estey was born on July 7, 1705 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Crispus Richards and Sarah Collins.

She married Aaron Estey on June 7, 1723 in Lynn. Their life together is described in detail in the Aaron and Esther Richards Family section.

She became a widow when Aaron died in 1783. She died on July 17, 1805 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was buried in Topsfield in the South Side Cemetery.

DIED.--At Topsfield, Mrs. Esther Estey, aged 100, relict of the late Mr. Aaron Estey. Early in her youth she became devoted to religion, and was a distinguished member of Christ's Church, for about eighty years. During which time she maintained a character comporting with her profession. As a wife she was kind, prudent and virtuous; she was an affectionate and instructive parent, a humane and indulgent mistress, a generous and obliging neighbor, and a faithful hospitable friend, at whose habitation wine and oil were poured into the wounds of the afflicted, and the indigent were not sent empty away. As a Christian she was humble and submissive yet zealous and active, placing all confidence in the merits of Jesus. She stood with loins girt about, and her lamp trimmed and burning, waiting with patience for that glorious day, when her Lord should call her from this vain world to shout forth ceaseless praises to her redeemer, in his kingdom of unfading felicity.

The South Side Cemetery is in the southern part of Topsfield. In 1740 Joseph Herrick deeded to David Cummings, John Cummings, Joseph Towne, Nathaniel Porter, Thomas Dwinell, Benjamin Towne, Samuel Curtis, Aaron Estey, Gideon Towne, Nathaniel Porter, Jr., Amos Dorman, Thomas Dorman, Israel Towne, Daniel Robinson and Joseph Hobbs a half acre of land in Topsfield on the south side of Ipswich River, known as the burying place, enclosed with a stone wall, to be used as a cemetery. No stones mark the earliest graves and the resting places of only a few of the Revolutionary soldiers buried here can be identified. Mrs. Esther Estey who lived to be over a hundred years old is buried there.