Issue: When did Robert Richardson (d1682) arrive in the Colonies?
Until I applied to become a member of the Order of Founders and Patriots of
America, I had not given this much thought. In my line, I have 2 ancestors
who can be listed as Patriots, but I needed Robert Richardson (d1682) to be a
Founder or in the Colonies within 50 years of the founding of the Jamestowne
Colony i.e. before May 14, 1657!
Background: There are two references citing a Robert Richardson arriving in the
Colonies in 1615. One was age 20 [1], the other age 33 [2]. Both would have been too old
to be the Robert Richardson who married Susan Smith (c1642-?) and was about her age. There
are also two references for Robert Richardsons in different parts of Virginia:
one went to Nutmeg Quarter, near Charles City now Prince George County area in 1639 [3]
- this Robert Richardson was referenced with a wife named Mary in 1655 [5]. In
Gloucester County, we find that a Mr. Thomas Peck had brought to Virginia a
number of people for his Patent of land, one of whom was a Robert Richardson
[4].
We can trace Robert Richardson (d1682) back to December 1659 [6] in Northampton County, VA
where he bought sheep along with his brother-in-law Nathaniel Bradford. The early colonial times
the part of York County which became Gloucester County in 1639 (on the mainland
between the York and Rappahannock Rivers) and Northampton County (after 1642,
Northampton/Accomack Counties) of Eastern Shore of Virginia were connected by commerce and regular
trading routes were established [7] due to their close proximity [When I was
sailing, this would have been a easy day trip, depending on the wind
direction (see map below)]. Also, when I was at the Nabb
Research Center of Salisbury University, MD they have archives from Northampton
and Accomack Counties Virginia as
well as from Maryland and Delaware due to the migration patterns of the early
emigrants! It has yet to be confirmed that the Thomas Peck, who moved to and
died in Old Somerset County, Maryland is the same one who was on the Gloucester
County, Virginia 1655 patent and on the adjoining land was listed as owned by
Major Taylor - He may be the Major [Wm.]Taylor who was one of the men who
conducted court at Accomack Co ...
Hence, I conclude that Robert Richardson (d1682) of Mount Ephraim Plantation arrived in the Colonies by 6
April 1655 in Gloucester County, Virginia. Who later moved straight across
Chesapeake Bay to Northampton
County, VA before December 1659. In c1666 he and his family moved to the Mount
Ephraim Plantation, which was then in Accomack County, VA. In 1668, the VA- MD
line was changed so that Robert Richardson and family then lived in Somerset
County, MD! Later in 1742 that part of Somerset County, MD became Worcester
County, MD, which it is called today.
Taken from "Tobacco Coast A Maritime History of
Chesapeake Bay in the Colonial Era" by Arthur Pierce Middleton
The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (1953) pg 45
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[1] The Original Lists of Persons of Quality
by John Camden Hotten page 50.
[2] Ibid. page 128.
[3] Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell
Marion Nugent page 111.
[4] Ibid. pages 306-307.
[5] Virginia Land Records Indexed
by Gary Parks page 615.
[6] Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court
Cases Vol 8,
1657-1664 Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves page
151.
[7] Conversations with researchers from Accomack and Gloucester Counties.
Donald Richardson, PhD