It’s thanks to this document we know that Theophilus and his wife had 8 children with his wife.
Ezekiel (Oct 28, 1655)
Mary (Jan 15, 1658)
Sarah (April 23, 1660)
Abigail (Oct 21, 1662)
Hannah (Apr 6, 1665)
John (Jan 16, 1668)
Hesther (Jun 25, 1670)
Ruth (Aug 31, 1673)
Woburn, Mass records of births, deaths, and marriages
Some say that Bridget Richardson born March 17, 1674, is also Theophilus’s daughter, but she wasn’t listed in the Woburn book.
However, I found a document called “Massachusetts Town Birth Records – Vital Records of Chelmsford” which states that she was born on March 17, 1674, in Chelmsford and that he father is James, not Theophilus.
Theophilus Richardson is the son of my 11th great-uncle, Ezekiel Richardson. Theophilus’s grandfather is Thomas Richardson of Standon, my 12th great-grandfather. So while he’s not in my direct line, he’s still a blood relative that lived in the same small town that my other family members did. For reference … here’s my direct family line.
Thomas Richardson of Standon had 7 children, one of which was Ezekiel (Theophilus’s father) and the other being Samuel, which is my family line. These 7 children would be the last generation born in England. From there the kids would all move to America and have children of their own, who will become the first generation of American born Richardson’s.
Ezekiel Richardson first came to America in 1630. He has also been known as Ezechll Richeson.
He was the son of Thomas Richardson and Katherine Duxford. His exact date of birth is unknown but it is thought to be somewhere between 1601-1604.
He died in Woburn, MA on October 21, 1647.
He married Susanna and together they had 7 children.
Phebe (Phoebe) (June 3, 1632)
Theophilus (December 22, 1633)
Josiah (November 7, 1634)
John (July 21, 1638)
Jonathan (February 13, 1639/40?)
James (July 11, 1641)
Ruth (August 23, 1645)
Ezechiel Richardson and his wife were admitted to Boston church as members #80 and #81, which would be in the winter of 1630/1; on 14 October 1632.
Ezechiell Richardson and Susan his wife were dismissed to participate in the organization of Charlestown church; on 2 November 1632 “Ezek:” and “Susan Richeson” were admitted to Charlestown church as founding members.
Ezekiel Richardson was admitted as an inhabitant of Charleston in 1630 and appeared in the lists of inhabitants of January 9, 1633/4 and January 1635/6.
In his will, dated 20 July 1647 and proved 1 June 1648, “Ezekiell Richardson of Woebourne” appointed “my wife Susanna and my eldest son Theophilus joint executors”; and bequeathed to “Josias my son �30” at twenty-one years of age; to “James my son �3O” at twenty-one years of age; to “Phebe my daughter �3O” at “twenty years of age or within six months after the day of her marriage”; if any of these three should die before they come of age, the legacies be shared among the survivors; in case “my son Theophilus die before he shall accomplish one and twenty years of age, then his portion shall be equally divided to my other children”; discharged demands against “my brother Samuell Richardson“; to “my brother Thomas Richardson, his son Thomas, 1Os.”; overseers Ed-ward Converse and John Mousall of Woburn, if either of these die, then the survivor with the consent of Thomas Carter, pastor of the church in Woburn, to choose a replacement overseer; 30s. to each overseer; residue to my executors, “provided that my wife may peacably enjoy her habitation in the house so long as she shall live”.
The inventory of the estate of Ezekiell Richardson was taken 18 November 1647 and totalled �19O 6s. 6d., with no real estate included.
On 6 March 1649/50 Edward Converse confirmed to the heirs of Ezekiel Richardson an earlier sale of twelve acres of meadow & upland in Woburn [MLR 2:71].
Now look at this tidbit of information —
On 27 March 1651 Samuel Richeson of Woburn “having formerly sold unto Ezekill Richeson my brother (who is since deceased) forty acres of arable & meadow land” in Woburn, con-firms the same to “my sister Susanna Brookes (who was the wife of my deceased brother Ezekill Richeson”, On 23 March 1654/5
See that? That shows us that in fact, Ezekiel Richardson was the brother of Samuel Richardson, son of Thomas Richardson. So I’m not sure why Thomas Richardson of Standon left him out of the will, but it could have to do with why Ezekiel left to America a few years prior.
“Susanna Richeson now Brookes formerly the wife of Ezek: Richeson” confirmed a sale made eight years earlier by “Ezekill Richardson & Sussanna Richardson my wife” to Thomas Moulton and John Greenland of thirty-five acres of land in Woburn. On 13 December 1659 “Henry Brookes & Susanna Brookes of Woburn,” in accordance with an award of the court, deeded to Theophilus Richardson the right and title they had in “the moiety or half part of the housing & land of Ezekiell Richardson of Woburn aforesaid, by executorship or otherwise”.
Stephen Richardson was born on February 7, 1674 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died on February 4, 1752.
The first bit of verifiable information comes from the book – A genealogical dict. of the first settlers of New England, showing three generations of those who came before May, 1692. By James Savage. Boston. 1861. (4v.)v.3:536 — volume 146 page 1.
Next, we have The Richardson Memorial, Part 1 of 2, John Adams Vinton, Brown Thurston & Co. Portland, ME, 1876, pg 186-187. It tells us —
1555.
JOSEPH RICHARDSON,2brother of the preceding, and second son of Samuel Richardson,1 was born in Woburn, July 27, 1643; married, Nov. 5, 1666, HANNAH GREEN,2 born about 1647, daughter of Thomas1 and Elizabeth Green, of Malden.
Thomas Green, her father, was born in England, probably about 1606. He came to this country probably before 1640; lived in the north part of Malden, now the town of Melrose; was a selectman in 1658, and died Dec. 19, 1667. For a further history of him and his numerous descendants, see the Green Family, in the VINTON MEMORIAL, by the compiler of this volume.
Joseph Richardson dwelt in Woburn; was admitted freeman of the colony, May 15, 1672, and was, therefore, a member of the church. He was one of Major Samuel Appleton’s soldiers, and was engaged in the fierce assault on the Narraganset fort, Dec. 19, 1675, In that severe encounter six brave captains fell, and eighty privates were killed. He was a selectman of Woburn, 1693, 1694, and 1702.
He died in Woburn, March 5, 1717-18. His will is dated June 24, 1717; proved April 22, 1718; recorded Midd. Prob. Rec., xv. 143. He provides very carefully and liberally for his “well-beloved wife Hannah,” and, among other things, that his son “Joseph shall find her a horse, and keep the same for her use, and a man or himself to ride before her on Sabbath days, or where she shall have occasions to go, all during her natural life, if she remains my widow.” He also mentions his five children, as in the sequel. His widow Hannah died May 20, 1721.
Their children, all born in Woburn were:
+1567 Hannah3, b. Oct. 22, 1667; m Daniel Baldwin.
+1568 Mary3, b. March 22, 1668-69; m. first James Fowle; second, Samuel Walker
+1569 Elizabeth3, b. June 28, 1670; m. first John Coggin; second, Jacob Wyman.
+1570 Joseph3, b. May 19, 1672; m. Mary Blodget.
+1571 Stephen3, b. Feb 7, 1673-74; m. Bridget Richardson.
Next, we have a record of those buried in Woburn. Notice you’ll see Stephen Richardson died on February 4, 1752.
Stephen Richardson married Bridget Richardson and together they had six children.
Stephen Richardson 1696–1703
Phebe Richardson Snow 1704–1785
Ichabod Richardson 1706–1768
Stephen Richardson 1707–1787
Adam Richardson 1709–1758
Asa Richardson 1713–1752
It’s not uncommon for people to name their children after family members. You’ll notice their daughter Phebe with its unusual spelling. She might have been named after Phebe, daughter of Ezekiel and Susanna Richardson.
Joseph Richardson was born on July 27, 1643, in Woburn, Mass.
He married on November 5, 1666, to Hannah Green. He died on March 5, 1718, in Woburn, Middlesex, Mass.
We can verify this date of birth in the Woburn, Mass records of births, deaths, and marriages records. It shows us that he was born on July 27, 1643, and is the son of Samuel.
Woburn, Mass records of births, deaths, and marriages
Joseph Richardson’s children include:
Hannah (October 22, 1667)
Mary (March 22, 1669)
Elizabeth (June 25, 1670)
Joseph (May 19, 1672)
Stephen (February 7, 1674)
We know about him from The Richardson Memorial, Part 1 of 2, John Adams Vinton, Brown Thurston & Co. Portland, ME, 1876, pg 186-187. It tells us —
1555.
JOSEPH RICHARDSON,2brother of the preceding, and second son of Samuel Richardson,1 was born in Woburn, July 27, 1643; married, Nov. 5, 1666, HANNAH GREEN,2 born about 1647, daughter of Thomas1 and Elizabeth Green, of Malden.
Thomas Green, her father, was born in England, probably about 1606. He came to this country probably before 1640; lived in the north part of Malden, now the town of Melrose; was a selectman in 1658, and died Dec. 19, 1667. For a further history of him and his numerous descendants, see the Green Family, in the VINTON MEMORIAL, by the compiler of this volume.
Joseph Richardson dwelt in Woburn; was admitted freeman of the colony, May 15, 1672, and was, therefore, a member of the church. He was one of Major Samuel Appleton’s soldiers, and was engaged in the fierce assault on the Narraganset fort, Dec. 19, 1675, In that severe encounter six brave captains fell, and eighty privates were killed. He was a selectman of Woburn, 1693, 1694, and 1702.
He died in Woburn, March 5, 1717-18. His will is dated June 24, 1717; proved April 22, 1718; recorded Midd. Prob. Rec., xv. 143. He provides very carefully and liberally for his “well-beloved wife Hannah,” and, among other things, that his son “Joseph shall find her a horse, and keep the same for her use, and a man or himself to ride before her on Sabbath days, or where she shall have occasions to go, all during her natural life, if she remains my widow.” He also mentions his five children, as in the sequel. His widow Hannah died May 20, 1721.
Their children, all born in Woburn were:
+1567 Hannah3, b. Oct. 22, 1667; m Daniel Baldwin.
+1568 Mary3, b. March 22, 1668-69; m. first James Fowle; second, Samuel Walker
+1569 Elizabeth3, b. June 28, 1670; m. first John Coggin; second, Jacob Wyman.
+1570 Joseph3, b. May 19, 1672; m. Mary Blodget.
+1571 Stephen3, b. Feb 7, 1673-74; m. Bridget Richardson.
I found this document created by another person doing research. Please keep in mind, just because someone says something doesn’t make it true. However, I did want to include it for your reference. Just don’t consider it 100% factually true unless you personally verify the information.
Next, we have a record of those buried in Woburn. Notice you’ll see Stephen Richardson died on February 4, 1752.
Samuel Richardson was born in 1602 in Westmill, Hertfordshire, England. He died on March 23, 1658, in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
He is the son of Thomas Richardson and Catherine Duxford. We know this because Samuel was the executor of his father’s estate on July 31, 1634, in Hutchins, England. This is the Thomas Richardson that we also call Thomas Richardson of Standon.
Samuel Richardson was christened at St. Mary the Virgin in Westmill on December 22, 1604.
Samuel Richardson married Joanna Thake. They were married on October 18, 163 in Great Hormead, Hertfordshire, England.
Together they had at least 9 children.
Mary (1637-1677)
John (1639-1696)
Hannah (1642-1642)
Joseph (1643-1718)
Samuel (1646-1712)
Stephen (1649-1717)
Thomas (1651-1657)
Elizabeth (1653-1677) ?????
In 1636 they arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was one of the founders and largest landowners of Woburn, Mass.
Benjamin Wayne Richardson (1951 – )
son of Reuben Namon Richardson
Samuel Richardson is one of three brothers who came to America. Ezekiel came to America first in 1630, and Samuel and Thomas followed a few years later (1636).
A list of fifty-eight men, inhabitants of Charlestown, dated Jan. 9, 1633-4, is found on the records of that town. Among them is the name of Ezekiel Richardson, but not Samuel or of Thomas, his brothers.
The first notice we find of Samuel is dated July 1, 1636, when he and his brother Thomas Richardson, with others, were on a committee to lay out lots of land for hay. In 1637, the names of Samuel and Thomas Richardson first appear in a list of inhabitants of Charlestown.
The same year the town of Charlestown granted to each of them a “house-plot,” clearly indicating that they had become residents.
Map of Waterfield 1638 Richardson-Johnson — This map was constructed by the late George Cooke and George T. Littlefield of Winchester and is designed to show “the approximate location in 1638” of the lots in Woburn and Winchester which had been granted to the inhabitants of Charlestown. The descriptions of the lots, from which the compilers prepared their map, were taken from the Charlestown Book of Possessions. This land is situated in the westerly part of Winchester.
Samuel and Thomas were admitted as members of the local church on February 18, 1637-8, making them freeman of the colony on May 2, 1638.
Samuel was chosen surveyor of the highways on March 17, 1636-7.
The three brothers had lots assigned them on April 20, 1638, on “Misticke side above the Ponds,” that is, in Malden, and their names, among others, appear as persons having the privilege of pasturing cows upon the Common, Dec. 30, 1638.
On the 5th of Nov., 1640. the three brothers and four others, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, John Mousall, and Thomas Graves, were chosen by the church of Charlestown as commissioners or agents for the settlement of a church and town, within what were then the limits of Charlestown, but soon after erected into a separate town, and called Woburn. That whole territory was then a wide, uncultivated waste.
In the February 1641, the commissioners built a bridge over the Aberjona River, north of Mystic Pond. This bridge was known as Converse Bridge, from Edward Converse, the proprietor of the adjacent mill. He lived in the immediate vicinity, in the first house built in Woburn.
This mark is set in the north side of the Converse Bridge, carrying Main St over the Aberjona River in downtown Winchester, MA. The marker reads: “Converse Bridge – 1640 1915 – Site of first bridge crossing the Aberjona river over against the Edward Converse house. Also site of The King’s Ford located at lower side of bridge from 1638 to 1845.”
His descendants lived there, or in that vicinity, and the entire locality is now in the heart of the town of Winchester.
When the church was constituted in Woburn, Aug. 14, 1642, O.S., Samuel Richardson and his two brothers, with John Mousall, Edward Johnson, Edward Converse, and William Leonard, solemnly stood forth, as the nucleus around which the church was to be gathered.
The first organizational Town Meeting was held on April 13, 1644, and the first town officers were chosen. Town Selectmen were Edward Johnson, Edward Converse, John Mousall, William Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson, and James Thompson. William Learned was also selected as Constable.
Michael Bacon, Ralph Hill, Thomas Richardson were chosen for Surveyors of Highways. As you may recall, this was a position that Samuel previously held.
The three brothers lived near to each other, on the same street, which has ever since been known as “Richardson’s Row.” In 1647 the town officially named it Richardson Street which still exists to this day.
Samuel Richardson was selectman of Woburn in from 1644-1646 and from 1649-1651.
In 1645, he was listed as having paid the highest tax of any man in Woburn; Capt. Edward Johnson the next.
Samuel Richardson was married to Joanna Thake who united with the church in Charlestown on the 9th of July, (or Sept 9th), 1639.
Samuel Richardson died on March 23, 1658, without leaving a will. His widow and eldest living son John were appointed administrators of his estate. John would have been about 19 at the time his father died.
Mary Trueblood was born in 1684 in Albemarle County, Pasquotank, North Carolina. This is where she lived her entire life, got married, had children and eventually died.
No this isn’t the same Mary Trueblood from the James Bond movie or any other made up Hollywood show. This Mary Trueblood was a real-life person who just so happened to be my 8th great-grandmother.
Mary Trueblood was a quaker. We know this because on March 21, 1770, she attended the Symons Creek Quaker Monthly Meeting and there is a record of that. This took place in Pasquotank, North Carolina. The physical location of this meeting was ….
Elizabeth City 27909, Nixonton, Symonds Creek Rd
What’s nice about finding this record is that it pinpoints not only an exact date in history but also a place and a religious affiliation. So now we can later go back and use that information to do further research. It’s my understanding that the Quaker’s in that area kept records from 1677 (their first meeting) to June 17, 1854 (date of their last meeting).
Mary’s father was John Trueblood who was born in Shoreditch (London), England. Her mother was Agnus Fisher who was born in Ulverstone, Lancashire (Cumberland), England. Mary was their eldest child and was named after her grandmother Mary Baker (Agnus Fisher’s mother). The Trueblood’s were Quakers.
Mary’s father died when he was 37 in July of 1692 and her mother died just a few months later in September of 1692 when she was 36.
On August 19, 1699 (or thereabouts) Mary Trueblood married Stephen Richardson.
Please note there is another Mary Trueblood out there, but she was married in 1770. So that is not the same as our Mary Trueblood.
We see by both her mother and father’s will, Mary is one of 4 children – Mary, Elizabeth, John, and Amos. Their parents were John Trueblood and Agnes Fisher.
__________________
Will of Agnes Trueblood – Will dated 15 September 1692.
Know all men by these presents that I Agnes Trublood of Pasquotank River and of the County aforesaid widdow; through the naturall affections that I bare unto my dear Children & for other good reasons and ___ ___ ____: doe To my voluntary good will and naturall respects to my fore children that is to say Mary Trublood Elizibeth Trublood John Trublood & Amos Trubloo.
I doo freely give unto my fore Children the one halfe of all the negro Children that shall be begotten or born of the body of my negro woman called Diana;
And if it should happen that she should have but one that then the young negro to be valued and my Children to have their choyce either the young negro or of halfe worth of ____negro & if the negro woman should have two Children that they shall have theire first choyce; And I doo freely give unto my Children aforesaid the mantainance of those young negros untill my Children comes to age to receive them;
That is my daughter Mary to have the first negro child if it Lives my daughter Elizibeth the next as they fall in ___ as above mentioned _____ To my Children partcularly as they come to age likewise I do give unto my four Children above said theire mantained untill they come To Lawful Age for the use of theire Estate; and to pay them theire portions as they come to Age according to the Appraisment of their fathers Estate as wittness my hand this fifteenth day of September/ 1692
__________________
Will of John Trueblood
In the name of God Amen I John Trublood being sick & weak do make this my Last will & testament as follow with Firstly I give unto my Loving wife Agnes Trueblood the _______ or one half part of my moveable goods & estate and one halfe my Land during her natural life and after her death to be Equally divided between my two sons, John Trublood and Amos Trublood to them and their heirs forever. Secondly I give and bequeath the other _______ or half part of my moveable goods to be Equally divided between my four children that is to say Mary Trublood Elizibeth Trublood John Trublood and Amos Trublood Thirdly I ordain and appoint my Loving wife Agnes Trublood to be my true & Lawfull Executrix of this last will and testament and to bring up my children according to her discretion, and to pay them their portions as they come to Lawfull age.
Fourthly And lastly I do ordain and Appoint in case that my wife should dye without making of any will, that then my Love- ing friends Thomas Symons & Jeremiah Symons shall take my Estate into theire possesion and care for the good of my children, and to bring them up according to their discreation; as wittnes my hand & seal, this seventh day of May 1692 Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us John (his mark) Trublood Joseph Sparnon Proven in Court this 4th day of July 1692 Griffin (his mark) Gray by the oath of Joseph Sparnon Alice Sparnon Alice (her mark) Sparnon Griffin: Gray as attist Paul Lathum C per C
Here is the marriage agreement between her parents John Trueblood and Agnes Fisher. Look how they describe her — a Spinster! LOL
Anno 1679 John Trublood of Shoreditch in ye County of Middlesex, Laborer, and Agnes Fisher of Shoreditch aforesaid Spinster, appeared in a Solemne and Publike assembly of ye people of God called Quakers in their meeting place at Devonshire house London, the 31th day of ye 5th Month 1679 where ye said John Trublood taking Agnes Fisher by ye hand did openly declare as followeth viz: Friends in ye feare of ye Lord and in the presence of you his people I John Trublood doe take Agnes Fisher to be my wife and doe promise to be unto her a lovinge and faithfull husband till Death Shall us Separate. And ye said Agnes Fisher did declare as followeth viz: I Friends in ye feare of ye Lord and in the presence of you his people I Agnes Fisher doe take John Trueblood to be my husband and Doe promise to be unto him a loveing and faithfull wife till death separate us and as a further confirmation they sette their hands to a certificate in Ye presence of Thomas Kitchen, Lawrence Fuller, Sarah Hikier(?), James Parke, John Lonte, Anne Trueblood …”
Stephen Richardson is the son of Stephen Richardson and Bridget. He was born on June 12, 1696, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. He died on July 16, 1723 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
In 1713 Stephen was granted 381 acres by Lords proprietors in Pasquotank, Co, North Carolina on the Southwest side of the Pasquotank River. Stephen Richardson was a farmer. He called his plantation Poplers Haven. This area seems to be around present-day Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Some people use this land grant information to say he didn’t come to Pasquotank until that time. However if you refer back to his wife, you’ll note that she was born and died in Pasquotank. She also married her husband there (most likely) in 1699. So logic dictates that for her to have met and married Stephen Richardson, he would have had to have been in Pasquotank prior to being granted land there, or at least somewhere close.
Stephen Richardson was very sick and son on February 7, 1722 he wrote out his will, during which he named off all of his living children. He died about a year later. We know this because His will went into probate on July 16, 1723.
Together Stephen and Mary had at least 7 children.
Stephen Richardson 1708 – 1762
Richard Richardson 1712 – 1780
Labboos (Lebbeus?) Richardson (1714)
Benjamin Richardson (1720)
John David Richardson (1720)
Elizabeth Richardson (1722)
Joseph Richardson (1723)
Stephen Richardson is my 8th great grandfather
Land Transaction Witness
Witness to Patrick Henley’s Will in Albemerle County, Pasquotank Precinct 24 Jul 1697;
// Stephen Richardson of Pasquotank & province of NC planter … whereas the true and absolute Lds proprietors of Carolina did by their Deed or Patent bearing date ye 14th day of Jany. 1713/14 give and grant unto Stephen Richardson a Tract of Land ct. 381 Acres lying on ye So. west side of the Pasquotank River … for a valuable Consideration to me in had paid by Jerr. Everton of the same place … sold … (for 8 pounds) … 40 acres of the Afsd tract of land … 1717. Stephen Richardson, Mary M. Richardson (her mark) Ack 15th 8ber 1717 Regt 17 8ber 1717;
// 615 pg 214 Stephen Richardson 14 January 1713/14 395 acres on ye fork of Pasquotank River, joining ye Creek of ye sd. fork, William RELFE sd, /rucgardsibm te /swano if te /ruverm abd te /ruver /s/ T. Pollock, T. Boyd, N. Chevin, C. Gale, T. Knight.
18 July 1704 – Edward Jones proved three rights and assigned them to Stephen Richardson – Himself, Eleanor-his wife, and Thomas Steward. – These land rights would indicate that Stephen Richardson came to NC (along with Thomas Steward and Eleanor, and settled in NC in 1704.
A rough translation of the Last Will and Testament of Stephen Richardson
In the name of God, Amen – The Seven Day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty two
-I Stephen Richardson of the County of Albemarle in the provence of North Carolina in the precinct of Pasqutank ___ being very Sick and weak in body but of perfict Sense and memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and know in that it is appointed for all men once to die
– now make and ordains this my last will and testament that is to say ___ first of all I Grant and Recommend my Soul to __ to the hands of God that Gave it and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be buried in decent and Cristen manner at the discretion of my Executrix not doubin but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the all mighty power of God and as ___ sutch worldly estate whereas with it hath pleased God to bless me for this Life I Grant and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and format
– Imprimis: I Give and bequeath unto my son John Richardson my now ___ plantation whereon I live called the Poplers Havin __ the benefit of the said
– Plantation and orchard During the days of hir natural life the wife of Stephen Richarson Mary Richardson and after the Desese of my wife Mary Richardson then to possess the same for ever
– Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Stephen Richardson a Neck of land called White Oaks Neck and ___ if my Lawful wife Mary Richardson be not with Child then the same neck of Land shall be evenly divided between my son John Richardson and my son Stephen Richardson with my now ___ plantation to be equally divided between them both but if my Lawful wife Mary Richardson now be with Child then the said neck of Land called White Oaks Neck to be equally divided between my son Stephen Richardson and the child which we suppose whe may fo with but if my wife be not with child then my ___ in plantation and the said Neck of Land called white Oaks Nect to be equally divided between my son John Richardson and my son Stephen Richardson. Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Richard Richardson my Lower Neck of Land Joynon one Jerimiah Everton Line called Blewbootens Neck and the said Richard Richardson not to ___ of
– Of the said Neck of Land Thomas Bettys and his wife ___ the natural days of theyre life and this provision that the said Thomas Bettyes shall proform the promises made that is to build a framed house twenty five foot long and fiftene foot wid one good __ and to plant ought a orchard of a hundred apells trees thirtey foot Destent for the Great Stones Sort and Twenty five foot aney other Sort and to keep it under close form from the distruction of ___ but if the said Thomas Bettys shall not ___ the said Richard Richardson when he shall come of age so live upon part of the said Neck of Land called Blewbootens and to have leave to ___ hogs or cattle or any other __ with the benefit of the orchard for ___.
Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Labboos Richardson and Joseph Richardson and Benjamin Richardson and Elizabeth Richardson one tract of land formerly called (Anavenolls?) containing three hundred nintey five akors and to be equally divided my three sons a hundred dkors for each of them and nintey five akers for my Daughter Now as consernin these tracts of land which I do leave to my ___ if any of them shall die before they com of age then there part to be equally divided amongst the rest of my leggatees or theyre part to be __ appraised and the vallue share of equally divided among my issue and he that buys the said part of land to pay so the rest theyr equal share of eatch tract. Item: I give and bequeth the stock of cattle __ to me befor I was maried to my Lawful wife Mary Richardson __ to be equally divided among all my Children. Item: I Grant and Bequeath to my lovin and lawful wife Mary Richardson all the rest of my personable estate leaving hir my whole and sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament and I leave my true and trusted friend John Trueblood and James Trueblood as trustees to be a guide to theyre sister in __ as may be required to act and do for the good of hir and hir children to the best of youre power. Wined Seled published and Delivered in presents of us the subscibers: Stephen Richardson
— Pasquotank Court the 16th day of July 1723 Synopsis: Sons: John (“plantation whereon I live called the Poplars Havin”), Steven (land called the White Oak Neck), Richard (land called Blewbootens Neck, the said Richard to allow Thomas Bettys to live on said land if he, the said Berrys shall build a house “twenty five foot long and fifteen foot wide and plant ought a orchard of apells trees thirtey foot Destent for the Great Stones Sort and Twenty five foot aney other Sort &c.”), Lebbeos and Joseph. Daughter: Elizabeth. Wife and Executrix: Mary. Trustees: John and James Trewblood. Witnesses: James Greves, Katherine Greves and Hannah Everton. Clerk of the Court: W. Norris
The first Wegley to come to the US, at least in my line is Johann Paul Wegerlin. He is my 6th great grandfather and was born on May 10, 1699, in Lampertheim, Bergstrasse, Hessen, Germany.
When I first started this website, I was sure I knew everything I could about him. but in time I learned that just because someone else says something is true, doesn’t make it so.
Is Johann Hana Paul Michael Wägeli the same as Johann Paul Wegerlin or Paulus?
That’s really what I needed to try and figure out. Only it’s not exactly that easy. The Germany birth, death and marriage records are hosted by Family Search and not a single image is available. The translated data is, but as we all know, that is very possibly wrong. My question is simple … what is our real family name … not our anglicized name, but our original name? Simple enough question, right? Well not so easy to answer.
In the same batch of Germany records, here are the 15 common variations of our family name.
Wegerlin
Wegelin
Wägerlin
Wegerlein
Wägele
Wägeli
Waegerlen
Waegerlin
Weckherlin
Weekerlin
Wegerle
Weikhelin
Wiegerlin
Wigerli
Wigerlin
Waeckherlin
Wuekherlin
I actually went as far as to hire someone from Germany who does translations to ask him who you even pronounce the name Wägeli. Was it why-gull or wu-ghel-ly or something different altogether?
He ended up telling me that the “ä” has a sound that is unique, there is no way to write it correctly for an English speaker but if you had to sound it out like why-gull, he said the closest would be the one that you said “wu-ghe-ly” but it’s only close and not the right way.
Here is a recording of his saying it so you can hear it said in his nature German tongue. 🙂
What I can say for sure is that Johann Paul came to America, specifically the Port of Philadelphia when he was 33 years of age, on September 18, 1732. Once in America, he would become known as Paul Wegerline. This “Americanization” of names wasn’t uncommon. More specifically he arrived in the Port of Philadelphia on board of the Johnson Galley of London. We have the passenger list that tells us on that day he had with him his wife, Ottilia and four of their children … three girls, one boy.
And we aren’t even sure if her name was Ottilia or Obtilia or Otella or Otelia. I will say this though, Lancaster County, PA records her death in the year 1763. They have a copy of her will on file in book J, volume 1, page 344, again listing the spelling of her name as Wegerlin, Obtilia.
Katharine Wegerlin became Catherine Wegerline
1727 – 1800
Ottilia Wegerline
1729 –
Anna Clara Wegerline
1731 – 1784
Jacob Wegerline
Born sometime between 1716 and 1732
When they came to America the original oath translations listed them as
Paul Wegerllue, (husband)
Jacob Wegerline, (son)
Otella Wegerline, (wife)
Oteliea Wegerline.. (daughter)
Katharine Wegerline. (daughter)
Anna Clara Wegerline. (daughter)
See how easy it is to lose track of someone when names are often times so misspelled? Also, I should note there is a separate entry for a Paulus Wegerlin.
We have a birth record for Anna Clara and on that record, it tells us that her mother’s name is Ottilia and her father’s name is Johann Paul Wegerlin. This record tell us that Anna Clara was baptized on April 16, 1731, in the city of Darmstadt in Germany, which is just south of Frankfurt.
The exact record reads “Evangelisch,Lampertheim,Starkenburg,Hesse-Darmstadt” but this is a translation mistake. “Evangelisch” tells us that she was baptized in the Evangelical Church in Germany. The identifying location is “Lampertheim, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt” which is actually the city of Darmstadt, in the province of Starkenburg in the German state of Hesse. I asked a few different people from Germany and got varied results. While most agree it was in the city of Darmstadt a few said it meant she was baptized in the town of Lampertheim, a small town near Darmstadt in Germany.” Google maps tells us that Lampertheim is about 25 miles south of Darmstadt.
So now we’ve matched the mother, father and at least one child in two different records – the immigration passenger list and the child’s baptismal records. So this tells us that his full name is “Johann Paul Wegerlin” and when he came to America it became Paul Wegerline.
Next, we have the baptismal records of their daughter Ottilia. She has her mother as Ottilia but the father is Johann Paul Wegerle. This is a perfect example of why I wished we could see the actual records because obviously, the person who transcribed the data made a mistake. We know from other sources though that Wegerle is a common misspelling of Wegerlin / Wegerline.
So moving forward we now have three records that group this family together. It may not seem like a lot but keep in mind these are records from hundreds of years ago and there were a lot of people with similar names.
There was a Johann Nicklaus Wegerlin or married a Clara and had a daughter named Ottila who also happened to be baptized in the exact same place as our own Ottila Wegerlin. Of course, we know this wasn’t our Ottila because this one was was baptized in January of 1735 and by then our Ottila was already in America. There was also a Paulus Wegerlein who married an Ottila Beyer and came to America but they are not the same as our Paul and Ottila.
I AM STILL WORKING ON VERIFYING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER IT 100% ACCURATE AT THIS TIME.
It is possible his full name is Johann Hana Paul Michael Wägeli or Johann Hana Paulus Michael Wägeli or Johann Hanß Paul Michael Wägeli.
It is possible that his father is Zacharias Wägeli and his grandfather is possibly Hanß Wegerlin …. although at this time I can not say for sure. It could be that Zacharias is his grandfather making his father possibly Han Philipp Wegerle, which to me seems far more likely if you do the math.
So is Johan Michel Weigel the same as Paulus Wegerline?
I’m sorry to say but Johan Paul and Johan Michel Weigel are not the same person. And I can prove it with old obscure German birth records.
Johan Michel Weigel was married to Anna Elisabetha and yes they had a child named Anna Catharina but it’s not the same.
Paul or Paulus Wegerlin was married to Otillia. We know this because they came to America together and we have a zillion records to prove that they came over together with two of their daughters that we also have old German birth records for.
Another bit of proof is that during the 1736 PA Early Census Index, Johan Michael Weygell lived in Philadelphia County, and we already knew Paulus was leaving in nearby Lancaster County during that time period.
Life as we know it, for my family at least all leads back to a man by the name of Zacharias Wegerle aka Zacharia Weigel or Zacharias Wegerlin. He is my 8th great grandfather and he was born in or around 1638 in Lampertheim, Bergstrasse, Hessen, Germany which turns out means he was born in the town of Lampertheim within Bergstraße district. Lampertheim is a town in the Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany. You can click here to view the map of the town as it exists today.
What makes doing research on the Wegley family line so complicated is that there are so many spellings and misspellings of the last name. Here are just some of the ways people have spelled the Wegley name over the years.
Wegley (1900s)
Weighley (1800s)
Weigley (1700s)
Wageli (1600s)
Weigel (1600s)
Weichel (1500s)
Weigle
Weigel
Weagley
Wegerlin
Wagerline
Wegerle
Weygell
Weigele
Wegerle
Weckerly
Freigley (obvious typo)
I haven’t proven who his father is yet but it looks like it may be a man by the name of Hanß or Hanss, Han or Hana. Hanß could have been known by the last name of Wegerlin or Wageli. To avoid confusion for now we are going to call him Han Wageli as this is what most of the other researchers are calling him. The only thing I can really do now is get all the records from the 1600s for the town of Lampertheim within Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany.
So what do we know about Zacharias?
We know that he died and was buried in Germany (1638-1695)
(FIND A GRAVE LINK)
Zacharias Wegerlin
BIRTH
Lampertheim, Kreis Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany
DEATH
1695 (aged 56–57)
Lampertheim, Kreis Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany
BURIAL
Lampertheim (Friedhof Huettenfeld)
Kreis Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany
Zacharias Wägeli was born in 1638 in Lampertheim, Germany and died in 1695, in Lampertheim, Germany. He appears to have married a woman by the name of Anna Elisabeth Treiber (1636-1720) on May 8, 1660 when he was 20 years old.
They possibly had 14 children.
Han Philipp Wegerle (1664 – 1747)
Anna Catharina Wegerlin (1665 –)
Han Georg Wegerlin (1667 – 1668)
Nicolaus Wegerle (1675 – 1731)
Johann Heinrich Wageli (1678 – 1678)
Johann Peter Wegerle (1678 – 1678)
Johann Martin Wageli (1679 –)
Paulus Wegerle (1684 – 1684)
Euphrosina Wegerle (1686 – 1686)
Zacharias Wegerlin was born in 1638 in Lampertheim, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt the only known child of Hana Wegerlin and his wife (UNKOWN NAME??). He married Anna Elisabeth Treiber on May 8, 1660 in Lampertheim, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt in the Lutheran Church. They had four children in 14 years. He died in 1695 in Lampertheim, at the age of 57.
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