Richmond, John

BIOGRAPHY: He probably left England about 1635, and was one of thepurchasers of Taunton in 1637. Undoubtedly he was married before he cameto this country, but neither the name of his wife, the date of theirmarriage, nor the date of her death, has been found. He was away fromTaunton much of his life, -- through the records he is known to have beenat Newport and other places.

BIOGRAPHY: He was one of the Commissioners, for Newport, of the Court ofCommissioners, held at Portsmouth in 1656. He owned six shares in theoriginal purchase of Taunton in 1637.

BIOGRAPHY: John Richmond was one of the older men of the settlement inTaunton. His name does not appear in the list of males (able to beararms) in 1643: he was in Rhode Island in 1655, and it is probable that hewas there at that time or in England. He took the oath of fidelity inTaunton before 1640. The family were large land-owners in the easterlypart of the town, and gave to a village in that section the name ofRichmondtown, which it still bears.

BIOGRAPHY: John was a soldier in Cromwell''s army during the English civilwars, and it is said that he accidentally killed his brother Henry, amember of the king''s forces, when the latter entered his tent one nightbefore a battle.

BIOGRAPHY: there is a complete blank in his life between 1649 and 1655,and the many troubles that then befell his children suggest that theirmother was dead and that their father was away so they no one to lookafter them.

WILL: This fourteenth day of December in ye year of our Lord one thousandsix-hundred and
sixty three, I, John Richmond of Taunton in Plymouth. Patent. Being ofperfect understanding
Blessed be God. Do make this my last Will and Testament as followeth. Igive and bequeath
unto my eldest son John Richmond my purchase held in Taunton. Also I giveand bequeath my
land which is at Squamicott which is half a share purchase, first, I giveand -bequeath to my son
in law William Paul and Mary his wife and to their children forty acresof ye land at Squamicott
above named. And also I give and bequeath unto my younger son EdwardRichmond and his son
Edward after him forty acres of ye land at Squamicott. Also I give andbequeath unto my son in
law Edward Rew and to Sarah his wife half a share of land which is atSquamicott. Also I give
and bequeath unto my eldest son John Richmond and to his son after himthe remainder of my
lands at Squamicott. Also I give and bequeath unto my eldest son JohnRichmond my mare,
only ye first foal my mare bringeth I do give and bequeath unto ye use ofhis son Thomas. Also I
give and bequeath unto my eldest son John Richmond all debts that are dueto me &c, he my
eldest son John Richmond shall see my debts which I do owe discharged.Also I give and
bequeath unto my eldest son John the mare or sixteen pounds which I layedout for ye land
wherein my son John now dwelleth. Also I give and bequeath unto my eldestson John all my
goods which are in my eldest sons house now. Also I give and bequeathunto my son in law
Edward Rew and Sarah his wife all my goods which are now in my son EdwardRew''s house,
except a pair of sheets and a Hamack, which sheets I give and bequeathunto my daughter Mary
the wife of William Paul, and the Hamack I give unto my son in lawWilliam Paul. Also I give
and bequeath unto my eldest son John Richmond my cow to defray funeralcharges. Also I give
and bequeath unto my youngest son Edward Richmond all my wearingapparrel. Also I give and
bequeath unto my eldest son John Richmond all my writings in my chestwhich are in my son in
law Edward Rew''s house. And I the said John Richmond do nominate andappoint my eldest son
John Richmond, Executor of this my last Will and Testament. And I thesaid John Richmond Institute and Appoint, Shadrach Wilbore with my eldestson John Richmond to see this last Will
and Testament performed and to this as my last Will and Testament I haveset my hand and seal
the day and year above said.
Witness his
Joseph Wilbore. John X Richmond.
Shadrach Wilbore. Mark, a (seal)

WILL: This above written Will was exhibited to ye Court held at Plymouthye 29 day of October
1669. On ye oaths of Joseph Wilbore and Shadrach Wilbore.
Althog it was made as ye date first above expresseth yet it was notrecorded until ye date
last mentioned by reason of an obstruction that fell in the way.
Ven copia as appears of record at Plymouth.
October ye 10, 1702 Samuel Sprague, Register.