Richard Holbrook

     Richard was born in 1617 in Somersetshire, England. In 1635, Richard immigrated aboard the ship Richard immigrated, with his father, in 1634. He was one of the original proprietors of Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635. Richard married Agnes (?) circa 1640 in Massachusetts.⁵ He moved on to Springfield where he was made a "freeman" on the 10th of May 1648. In the spring of 1653, Richard, with a party of twelve Puritian men, left Cape Cod & sailed to Long Island to establish a colony. They landed at Oyster Bay. On the 2nd of April 1653, Richard, with Robert Williams & Daniel Whitehead, purchased the first tract ever recorded in what is known as Huntington from twenty-two Indians. This tract, known as "The Old First Purchase" was paid for with miscellaneous household items. Richard built the first house within the city limits of Huntington & his son, Abel, was the first white child born there. On 6 February 1657, he returned to New England, settling in Milford, Connecticut where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a weaver. Richard made his will on 29 March 1670 at New Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut.

I, Richard Holbrook, being in perfect memory, though week in body, do hereby make my last will and testament, as followeth. Item. I give unto my son Abel Holbrook, my loom, and all the tackling belonging to it, and he shall work with them for his mother, and maintain them, and these shall be his when he is married. Item, my will is, that my son, Abel Holbrook, shall live with his mother, and be obedient unto her, and work for her, until he is married and at the day of his marriage, he shall receive the loom, with all the gears. Item. I give unto my son Abel, above mentioned my gray mare. Item. I give unto my son, Israel Holbrook, my yearling mare colt. Item. I give unto my son, Peletiah Holbrook, the first colt that either of these two mares has, and they shall bring it up for him. Item, I give unto my three daughters which are unmarried, Mary Holbrook, Hannah Holbrook, and Patience Holbrook, those of them which marry while their mother lives; Item. my will is, that their mother shall endeavor to give them ten pounds a piece, so soon as she can, after the day of their marriage; but if they live with her until the day of her death: Item. my will is, that after their mother is dead, the household goods and cattle shall be equally divided between these my three daughters, above mentioned, Mary Holbrook, Hannah Holbrook, and Patience Holbrook.
Item. My will is, that if my beloved wife, Agnes Holbrook, should marry again, then what estate is then, in household goods and cattle, shall then be equally divided between her and her daughters, above mentioned, Mary Holbrook, Hannah Holbrook, and Patience Holbrook. Item. My will is that the day of my beloved wife's decease, or marrying again, which of them shall first happen, my house and hand shall then be equally divided between my three sons, above mentioned, Abel Holbrook, Israel Holbrook, and Pelatiah Holbrook.
Item. My will is, that if any of these my three sons, Abel Holbrook, Israel Holbrook, and Pelatiah Holbrook, doth prove perverse or disobedient unto their mother's lawful commands, or will not live with her, then they shall have no right unto my house and land, above mentioned; then those of them that are obedient shall have it. Item. Unto my son, John Holbrook, I give one shilling. I give unto my son, Daniel Holbrook, one shilling. Item. I give unto my daughter, Abigail, one shilling. she having received her portion already. Item. My will is. that my beloved wife, Agnes Holbrook, shall be my whole and sole executrix. In witness thereof, I do here unto set my hand, and seal, Richard Holbrook [29 March 1670 at Milford, Connecticut].

Richard departed this life after 29 March 1670 there in New Milford.