John Richardson1,2,3,4,5
M, b. circa 1621, d. after 16 November 1679
John was born circa 1621 in County Essex, England. John married Martha Mead, daughter of William Mead and Martha (?), circa 1650 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. John immigrated from County Essex, England. He arrived in Connecticut, but soon became with a group of settlers who removed to Westchester County, New York. John had resided at Westchester atleast five years prior to becoming the original purchaser of "West Farms". After the purchase, John built a dwelling on the property which was marked "Old Homestead". This dwelling was to become residence of Gabriel Leggett and later, John Leggett, eldest son of Gabriel. John made his will on 16 November 1679 at West Farms, Westchester County, New York.
The last will and testament of John Richardson of Westchester, New York, in body but perfect in mind and memory, I will and beget my soul to God that gave it and my body to the dirt from which it was taken and to be decently buried as a Christian and all just debtors to be honestly paid. First, I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Martha all my housing and orchard and all all moveables without and within and all ----- Neck and all my land and meadows in the planting Neck, and all the long Neck that run southward from Thomas Hunt's now dwelling house, to the soun and this during her life to use to and dispose as she shall see ----. Next I give and bequeath to Joseph Hadly, my son-in-law. a pasture of 8 oakors already laid out, more or less at or about the first spring and all the meadow that is all ready divided that is on this side of the river above the planting Neck. I will and bequeath to my three daughters, said Bethia, wife of John Cathham, of Newtown, Mary, wife of Joseph Hadley, and Elizabeth, wife of Gabriel Leggot, all which meadow shall be equally divided between them. Each of them a part ---- Also, I will and bequeath to my daughters aforesaid 200 acres of land. I also give and bequeath to my brother's son in England, Joseph Richardson one hundred acres of land if he comes within the space of one whole year to receive it and if he come not within the time pre---- it shall remain in Martha my wife hands. And all lands and meadows that shall be found upon --- that is not before expressed I give to my three daughters aforesaid. Also I desire, constitute and upon my well beloved friends William Richardson and Richard Ponton of Westchester and Jonathan Hazzard of newtown desiring them to be my executors and to see this my last will and testament fulfilled and that this is my whole will and testament after my ---- of witness under my hand this sixteenth of November 1679 final and in the presence of us Walter Webley, Joseph Laurence, Thomas Hunt, Jr., Edward Walters.
John John's Richardson [his mark] [New York Wills: Liber 1-2. page 260].6
John departed this life after 16 November 1679 in West Farms, Westchester County, New York, at his home the "Old Homestead".
The last will and testament of John Richardson of Westchester, New York, in body but perfect in mind and memory, I will and beget my soul to God that gave it and my body to the dirt from which it was taken and to be decently buried as a Christian and all just debtors to be honestly paid. First, I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Martha all my housing and orchard and all all moveables without and within and all ----- Neck and all my land and meadows in the planting Neck, and all the long Neck that run southward from Thomas Hunt's now dwelling house, to the soun and this during her life to use to and dispose as she shall see ----. Next I give and bequeath to Joseph Hadly, my son-in-law. a pasture of 8 oakors already laid out, more or less at or about the first spring and all the meadow that is all ready divided that is on this side of the river above the planting Neck. I will and bequeath to my three daughters, said Bethia, wife of John Cathham, of Newtown, Mary, wife of Joseph Hadley, and Elizabeth, wife of Gabriel Leggot, all which meadow shall be equally divided between them. Each of them a part ---- Also, I will and bequeath to my daughters aforesaid 200 acres of land. I also give and bequeath to my brother's son in England, Joseph Richardson one hundred acres of land if he comes within the space of one whole year to receive it and if he come not within the time pre---- it shall remain in Martha my wife hands. And all lands and meadows that shall be found upon --- that is not before expressed I give to my three daughters aforesaid. Also I desire, constitute and upon my well beloved friends William Richardson and Richard Ponton of Westchester and Jonathan Hazzard of newtown desiring them to be my executors and to see this my last will and testament fulfilled and that this is my whole will and testament after my ---- of witness under my hand this sixteenth of November 1679 final and in the presence of us Walter Webley, Joseph Laurence, Thomas Hunt, Jr., Edward Walters.
John John's Richardson [his mark] [New York Wills: Liber 1-2. page 260].6
John departed this life after 16 November 1679 in West Farms, Westchester County, New York, at his home the "Old Homestead".
Family | Martha Mead b. 1632, d. b 20 Nov 1695 |
| Children |
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Citations
- [S77] Copied from the manuscript record of the late Rev. Theodore A. Leggett by A. Hatfield Jr., Early Settlers of West Farms, Westchester County, New York [Copied from the manuscript record of the late Rev, Theodore A. Leggett], page 6.
- [S473] Eliza Seaman Leggett, Leggett Scrapbook - Number 1.
- [S415] LEGAL DOCUMENT: Deed of partition between _______ of John Richardson date of 20 November 1695
Number A:
Whereas John Richardson late of the town of Westchester deceased did give & bequeath unto Martha his then wife all his houses land & meadows during her life with other things there unto relating as appears by the Last will & Testament of the said John Richardson bearing date 16th of November 1679 And the said Martha being deceased the wife of Thomas Williams of said place And since her interment _____ Controversies hath arisen by John Ketcham & Bethia his wife Eldest Daughter to the said John Richardson And Gabriel Legat & Elizabeth his wife the other daughter of the said John Richardson And John Lawrence of Newtown Guardian to the two orphanes of Joseph & Mardly late of the Yonkers deceased the other daughter of the said John Richardson concerning the dividing the Estate given unto their said Martha during life And for the pacifying of all _____ and contentions which hath Arrisson between the said John Ketcham of Newtown & Bethia his wife And Gabriel Legat & Elizabeth his wife And John Lawrence for & on the behalf of Georg & Mary hadly the two Orphans of Josep Hadly & Mary hadly his wife aforesd & for the preventing of lawsuits hath _____ Mutually Agreeded & Concluded to Divide the sd Land & Meadows House & Orchard in Manor & form following viz /
_____ That John Ketcham & Bethia his wife shall have the long neck with all & Singular the wood underwoods & all the appertances with a Highway thereto belonging together with three acres of meadow within the planting neck
The said neck with other the premisses to the only proper use & benefit of him the said John Ketcham [sic] his heirs & assigns forever
That Gabriel Legat and Elizabeth his wife shall have the now dwelling house & orchard with a piece of meadow along the side of said orchard with evenly _____ of land to be laid to said house & orchard in liou of that land which the said Gabriel Legat bought of John Horgason with the lane between the two orchards together with one third of the undeded lands after the 1200 acres is laid out and one third of the meadow in the planting neck after the three acres is laid out to the said John Ketcham the aforesaid land _____ with all & every there appurtances unto the said Gabriel Legat his heirs & assigns forever
That Georg Hadly & Mary hadly shall have the land lying upon the planting neck belonging to said estate and two thirds of the meadow upon said neck after John Ketcham has his three acres. Together with two thirds of the undivided lands after the 1200 acres of land is laid out & John Ketcham shall pay unto John Lawrence of Newtown for the use of the orphans four pounds ten shillings & nine pence in money and Gabriel Legat shall pay to the said John Lawrence for the use aforesaid the sum of three pence _____ shillings _____ their appurtances unto the said George & Mary hadly their heirs & assigns forever
[Note: Transcribed by Alice H. Close from document belonging to Rudy Papalini - January 2002]. - [S457] Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, On "the 18th day of the last month 1642" (i.e., 18 February 1642[/3]), Edward Hilton, John Richardson and John Legat filed an "explication" of the will of Thomas Wilson, in which they presented "our best understanding & apprehension" of "the true intent & meaning of his last will & testament" [Suffolk County, Massachusetts Probate Records Volume 1: page 29].
- [S474] W. W. Spooner, Westchester County, New York: Biographical, The West Farms patent was confirmed on the 25th of April, 1666, to Edward Jessup and John Richardson, by Richard Nicolls, the first English governor of the Province of New York. In the letters-patent it was stated that the two grantees had previously satisfied the original Indian owners by regular purchase, these documents being still in existence. The West Farms lands, like the Eastchester patent and the borough Town of Westchester, were never erected into a hereditary manor, but were parceled out to the various heirs of the first proprietors, and gradually transmitted to numerous descendants or sold to strangers. The continued existence at the present day of a considerable landed ownership in the hands of a direct descendant of one of the patentees is on this account even more a matter of interest.
John Richardson left two sons and three daughters. One of the daughters, Elizabeth, married Gabriel Leggett, who emigrated to this country from England, about 1661. By the right of his wife he became possessed of a large portion of what was then known as the Great Planting Neck, a part of which was subsequently called Leggett's Point, and is now called Oak Point. One section of this property (lot No. 11 of the original West Farms subdivision) passed uninterruptedly to 'Charlotte Leggett, the wife of William W. Fox. - [S30] New York Historical Society, Collections of the New York Historical Society Abstract of Wills, Volume 15: pages 64-65 - Will of John Richardson dated: 16 November 1679.