An American Family History

William Richards was born on June 7, 1663 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Edward Richards and Ann Knight.

William was living abroad in 1688. A letter from his parents asking him to come home has survived. It was addressed to him at an inn, "the Greenet Bullitt, near Samuel Coxfords's at Philadelphia Pa."

After returning to Lynn from Pennsylvania to be with his aged and inform parents, he quit his rights to the property he inherited in Lynn in favor of his brother Daniel and "probably returned to pennsylvania, or even further south” (Essex Genealogy Volume 12, 3; August 1992, p. 156).

History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts: Including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant by Alonzo Lewis, James Robinson Newhall, published by J.L. Shorey, 1865

William was living abroad in 1688, as appears by a parental letter superscribed "These for my loveing sonn William Richards Liveing att Philadelphia in pensylvanah or elsewhere present," and sent " ffrom Lin in New England this 12th of June, 1688." The letter urges him to return to Lynn, as his parents are getting old, and much desire his presence. And they want him to make up his mind never to leave the place again; the father agreeing, for his encouragement, to give him half of his place.