** Source: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

She was the eldest child of Thomas Richardson and Katherine Duxford. Elizabeth Richardson is my 12th great-aunt.

Elizabeth would go on to marry Francis Wyman on May 2, 1617, and together they had five children.

• Thomas (Baptized April 5, 1618)
• Francis (Baptized February 24, 1619)
• John (Baptized February 3, 1621)
• Richard (Baptized March 14, 1623)
• William (Baptized August 31, 1628 – Buried July 3, 1630)

** Sources, Boston Transcript. Volume 1, page 67: N.E.H.G. Reg. Volume 50, Page 45.

She was born and lived in West Mill her entire life.

This Elizabeth Richardson is not the same as the one who died on September 4, 1630 and was buried in Middlesex, England. Our Elizabeth died in Westmill, England, and was buried at St. Mary the Virgin in Westmill – St Albans, St Albans District, Hertfordshire, England.

So let’s talk about where she is from.

Standon is a historic village in Hertfordshire, located about 25 miles north of London. During Elizabeth’s lifetime, it was a rural agricultural community with a close connection to England’s broader economic, religious, and political transformations.

• Standon was a typical English parish village, with life centered around the parish church, which served as both a spiritual and social hub. Elizabeth would have been baptized, married, and buried in the church, as was customary.
• The economy of Standon was primarily agricultural. Farmers worked on open fields, practicing a mix of subsistence and market-oriented farming. Sheep grazing for wool production was particularly important in Hertfordshire, as the county was known for its contribution to England’s textile industry.
• Local markets and fairs were key parts of village life. Surplus goods—like wool, grain, and dairy—were sold at markets, often regulated by local lords or the crown.
• Most people in Standon lived in timber-framed cottages with thatched roofs. Homes were simple, often consisting of one or two rooms, with a hearth for cooking and heating.
• Life was communal, with extended families often living together. Tasks like cooking, weaving, and farming involved the entire household.

The Broader Historical Context (1593–1630)

1. Elizabethan England (1558–1603):
   • Elizabeth Jane Richardson was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a period often referred to as England’s “Golden Age.” It was marked by relative political stability, economic growth, and cultural flourishing.
   • The Elizabethan Poor Laws, passed in 1601, began to formalize social welfare, reflecting the growing concern about poverty and vagrancy in rural areas like Standon.
2. The Early Stuart Period (1603–1630):
   • After Elizabeth I’s death in 1603, James I (James VI of Scotland) ascended the throne, ushering in the Stuart dynasty. James’s reign saw ongoing religious tension between Anglicans, Puritans, and Catholics.
   • Hertfordshire was largely Protestant by this time, aligned with the Church of England. However, Puritan influence was growing, especially in rural areas. Religious conformity was expected, and deviations (like Catholicism or nonconformist Protestantism) were met with suspicion or punishment.
   • The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed Catholic conspiracy to assassinate James I, heightened anti-Catholic sentiment across the country.
3. Economic and Agricultural Shifts:
   • The Enclosure Movement, which saw common lands privatized and fenced, was transforming rural life. While enclosure brought efficiency and productivity, it also displaced small farmers and contributed to rising poverty.
   • Farming in Standon would have been impacted by these changes, with some families thriving and others struggling to adapt.
4. Family and Gender Roles:
   • Women like Elizabeth Jane Richardson were expected to marry, bear children, and manage households. Marriage was typically arranged based on family alliances or economic considerations.
   • Childbirth was a frequent and dangerous part of women’s lives. The high infant and maternal mortality rates meant that families often had large numbers of children to ensure some survived to adulthood.

Daily Life and Customs

1. Religion:
   • Religion was central to daily life. The Anglican Church governed not just spiritual practices but also many aspects of social and civic life. Church attendance was mandatory, and major life events—like baptisms, weddings, and funerals—were conducted according to religious rites.
   • Elizabeth’s baptism in 1593 and burial in 1630 would have followed traditional Anglican practices, reflecting the deep integration of religion into the rhythms of life.
2. Food and Diet:
   • The diet of rural villagers like Elizabeth would have been simple but hearty. Bread, cheese, porridge, and ale were staples, supplemented by vegetables from gardens and occasionally meat or fish.
   • Seasonal cycles dictated food availability. In winter, preserved foods like salted meats and dried fruits sustained families.
3. Education:
   • Formal education was limited, especially for girls. Elizabeth would likely have been taught basic literacy and household skills by her family, as education for women was considered unnecessary beyond practical knowledge.
   • The Protestant emphasis on reading the Bible may have encouraged some level of literacy, but most women’s roles were centered on domestic work.

Major Events During Elizabeth’s Lifetime

1. Plague Outbreaks:
   • Elizabeth lived through repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague, which struck England periodically throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Villages like Standon would have been vulnerable, as people had limited understanding of disease transmission.
2. The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648):
   • While largely centered in Europe, this devastating conflict between Catholic and Protestant powers influenced England. James I attempted to mediate peace, but the war heightened religious anxieties within the country.
3. Early Colonial Ventures:
   • The late 16th and early 17th centuries marked the beginning of English colonization efforts. In 1607, Jamestown was founded in Virginia, initiating England’s overseas empire. Though far removed from life in Standon, this era of exploration and expansion reflected the growing ambitions of Elizabethan and Stuart England.

End of Life

Elizabeth Jane Richardson’s burial on June 22, 1630, was likely conducted in the parish churchyard of Standon, in accordance with Anglican customs. Her death occurred just four years after the ascension of Charles I to the throne in 1625, a period of rising political tension that would later culminate in the English Civil War (1642–1651).

Legacy

Elizabeth’s life was shaped by the rhythms of rural village life, deeply influenced by the church, the land, and the family. Her experiences reflect the transition from the Elizabethan “Golden Age” to the uncertainties of early Stuart England, providing a window into the daily lives and challenges faced by ordinary people in 17th-century England.

If you’d like, I can help further explore religious practices, gender roles, or another aspect of life in her time!

However, I should note there is a Millennium file document that says he died in March of 1630. But that could be his son.

What I can say for sure is when he was born and married.

• Born: May 14, 1523, in Westmill, Hertfordshire, England
• Married on June 15, 1567, in St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, England

It was originally thought that Thomas Richardson I of Westmill’s father was Ralph Richardson of the Jersey Channel Islands. That turns out, however, not to be true.

Thomas Richardson I of Westmill had a son known as Thomas Richardson of Westmill. We call him Thomas Richardson II of Westmill, just to avoid confusion.

This Thomas is not the person known as Sir Thomas Richardson. He is also not the Thomas Richardson from Alphamstone. This is also not the Thomas Richardson, who married Margaret and has a son named Thomas, who was born in Kirkham, Lancashire, England. We can say this for sure because that child was born on July 20, 1823. Our guy was dead hundreds of years before that.

Many have wrongly associated this Thomas Richardson with Sir Thomas Richardson of the Scottish Peerage. That would be impossible because ancient records tell us that he married on December 14, 1626, at St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London, without issue. That means he had no children, so he can’t be your ancestor because his line ended with him.

So who is our Thomas Richardson? This gets confusing for a few generations so to clarify …

• Thomas Richardson I of Westmill married Margaret Silverside (1523-1570)
• Thomas Richardson II of Westmill married Mary Margaret Champney (1543-1630)
• Thomas Richarson of Standon married Katherine Duxford (1590 – 1633)

Thomas Richardson I of Westmill married Margaret Silverside on June 15, 1567. How do we know when our Thomas was born? Thanks to the “Heritage Consulting. Millennium File”.  This record tells us that he was born in 1523.

Heritage Consulting. Millennium File. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003. Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.

The problem is the death date is wrong. It lists the death date of his son, Thomas II. This is why it’s so hard to find accurate information when even “official” records are flawed.

Thomas Richardson married Margaret Silverside in 1567 at St. Albans Abbey.

Below is a copy of their marriage register which clearly shows they were married in 1567 on June 15th.

The problem with the name “Thomas Richardson” is that at this time in history, there were more than a few of them in the area. This makes it very hard to figure out which one is which. That’s why when you find any sort of absolute proof of information, you have to hold onto it tightly to make sure you don’t confuse or mix up people because it’s so easy to do.

This record comes from the Hertfordshire online archives. Why it is important because it further proves we have the right Thomas with the right wife.

So now the question is, who is Thomas Richardson I of Westmill’s father?

Thomas Richardson I of Westmill’s life, spanning the mid-16th century, occurred during a time of profound cultural, religious, and political transformation in England. He married Margaret Silverside on June 15, 1567, at St. Albans Abbey, another Hertfordshire town with deep historical significance. Although the details of his death remain unclear, it is likely he passed away around 1570, as you’ve noted.

Here’s a closer look at what life was like in Westmill and England during this period:

Westmill, Hertfordshire in the 1500s

1. A Rural Village Setting:
   • Westmill, like much of Hertfordshire, was a small agricultural village. It was surrounded by fertile farmland, which supported the livelihoods of most of its inhabitants. Families like the Richardsons would have been engaged in farming, producing crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and vegetables, as well as raising livestock like sheep, cows, and chickens.
   • The village likely consisted of a few cottages clustered around a parish church, connected by dirt roads. The church played a central role in daily life, not only as a place of worship but also as a hub for social and communal activities.
2. Population and Economy:
   • The population of Westmill in the mid-1500s was small, likely a few hundred people. Life revolved around agricultural work, with a strong emphasis on self-sufficiency. Any surplus produce was sold or bartered in local markets or fairs, such as those in nearby towns like St. Albans.
   • Land ownership was hierarchical, with local gentry or landlords controlling large estates. Tenant farmers and laborers worked the land in exchange for rent or wages. The Richardsons may have been tenant farmers or small landowners.

Religious and Political Landscape

1. Religious Change:
   • Thomas Richardson was born during the early years of the English Reformation. In 1523, England was still a Catholic country, but by the 1530s, King Henry VIII had broken from the Catholic Church and established the Church of England. This led to significant upheaval in local parishes, including those in Hertfordshire.
   • By the time Thomas married Margaret in 1567, Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne, and Protestantism had been firmly established as the state religion. However, tensions between Catholics and Protestants persisted, and compliance with the Church of England was mandatory. Religious conformity was enforced, and dissenters were often fined or punished.
2. Social Structure:
   • Society in Westmill and Hertfordshire was highly stratified. The monarch and aristocracy held the most power, followed by the gentry and yeoman farmers. Below them were tenant farmers, tradespeople, and laborers.
   • The Richardsons may have been yeomen or prosperous tenant farmers, as they appear to have been respected members of their community. Marrying in St. Albans, a more prominent town, suggests some level of social mobility or standing.

Daily Life in 16th-Century Westmill

1. Work and Routine:
   • Life revolved around the agricultural calendar. Men and women worked long hours in the fields, tending crops and animals. Children were expected to help from a young age.
   • In addition to farming, villagers engaged in small-scale crafts or trades, such as weaving, smithing, or carpentry. Any extra income would be used to purchase essentials that couldn’t be produced locally.
2. Marriage and Family:
   • Marriage in the 16th century was often arranged or influenced by practical concerns, such as consolidating property or strengthening family alliances. Thomas and Margaret likely married for both social and economic reasons.
   • Families were large, as high infant mortality rates meant that not all children survived to adulthood. The Richardsons’ son, Thomas Richardson II, carried on the family legacy in Westmill, demonstrating the importance of maintaining a lineage during this period.
3. Education and Literacy:
   • Literacy was not widespread, but it was becoming more common among wealthier farmers and tradespeople. The Protestant Reformation placed a greater emphasis on reading the Bible, which may have encouraged basic literacy in rural communities like Westmill.

Hertfordshire’s Role in Tudor England

Hertfordshire, including Westmill, was strategically located near London and played a role in supplying food and goods to the capital. It was a relatively prosperous county due to its fertile soil and proximity to trade routes. Towns like St. Albans, where Thomas and Margaret were married, were significant centers of commerce and religion.

Clarifying Thomas Richardson’s Lineage

The challenge of accurately tracing Thomas Richardson I of Westmill’s ancestry underscores the complexity of genealogical research during this period. As you’ve noted, there were many individuals named “Thomas Richardson” in the area and throughout England, which complicates efforts to distinguish one from another. Misattributions, such as connecting him to Sir Thomas Richardson of the Scottish Peerage or other prominent figures, highlight the need for caution in interpreting historical records.

The Hertfordshire Marriages Record provides crucial evidence of Thomas’s marriage to Margaret Silverside, solidifying their connection and place in history. However, the question of Thomas’s father remains unresolved due to the lack of definitive documentation from the early 1500s. While it was previously believed that Ralph Richardson of the Jersey Channel Islands was his father, this claim has been debunked, leaving the matter open for further investigation.

Historical Significance

Thomas Richardson I of Westmill lived during a transformative period in English history, witnessing the shift from medieval to early modern England. His life, marriage, and descendants are part of the broader story of Hertfordshire’s development and England’s religious and social upheavals. As a farmer or tradesman in Westmill, he would have experienced both the challenges and opportunities of life in a rural Tudor community, contributing to the foundation of his family’s enduring legacy.

He is not the person known as “Sir Thomas Richardson.”

He is also not the person who was buried on  December 13, 1630, at St Mary, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex, England.  Although they have the same name and died in the same year, our Thomas Richardson, Thomas Richardson of Westmill II, died in March, not in December. Our Thomas died in Westmill, not in Middlesex.

There is a record out there stating that Thomas Richardson was buried on December 13, 1630, at St Mary, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex, England. This is an official Parish register.

This is from “London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1538-1812 – Tower Hamlets – St Mary, Whitechapel – 1558 – 1643”.

Middlesex is in modern-day London. That’s about an hour’s drive from Westmill. St. Mary’s was a church in the 1600s that was located in Whitechapel. This is a district that is now in the East End of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The document in question refers to the St Mary Matfelon church, which was an English parish church on Whitechapel Road in Whitechapel, London.

The distance from Westmill to Whitechapel (approximately 30–40 miles) would take at least 8–12 hours round-trip, depending on road conditions and breaks. Travel in the 1600s was arduous and not undertaken lightly, particularly for funerals.

It’s highly improbable that a person who was born, married, and lived in Westmill their entire life would have been buried at St. Mary’s in Whitechapel. Burials typically occurred in the local parish churchyard, which, in the case of Westmill, would have been St. Mary the Virgin, the village church.

Given the historical context of burial practices, the importance of local parish records, and the travel difficulties of the time.  Therefore, we can reasonably assume that the record for Thomas Richardson, who was buried on December 13, 1630, is not our Thomas Richardson II of Westmill.

____________________

Thomas Richardson II of Westmill was born in St. Albans Abbey in Westmill.  His wife was Mary Margaret Champney and together they had at least one child.

• Thomas Richardson of Standon

They could have had more children and likely did, but so far, I haven’t been able to find any information other than about their son, Thomas Richardson of Standon.

His date of death on March 4, 1630, in Westmill, comes from the Find a Grave listing. This, however, lists his wife as Mary Margaret Silverside, who, in fact, is his mother.

We have a record called the Millennium File that tells us Thomas Richardson was born in 1523 in Westmill. He died in March of 1630 in Westmill, and his wife was Margaret Silverside. Their child was Thomas Richardson.

Because this can get confusing, I named  …

• Thomas Richardson was born in 1523 – Thomas Richardson I of Westmill
• I then named his son Thomas Richardson II of Westmill.
• I then named his son Thomas Richardson of Standon.

We next have the England, Select Births and Christenings file that tells us Thomas Richardson of Standon is the father of Samuel Richardson.

Next, we have a document telling us that Thomas Richardson married someone named Mary. Well, guess what?  That document is totally useless to us because both Thomas Richardson I and Thomas Richardson II of Westmill both married someone named Mary.

• Thomas Richarson I of Westmill married Mary Margaret Silverside.
• Thomas Richarson II of Westmill married Mary Margaret Champney.

See the problem? So, we must keep trying to figure out more family connections.

Thomas Richardson of Standon is my 12th great-grandfather.

This is a person that I was struggling to verify information about. Luckily the UK is big on record keeping and thanks to the fact that Hertfordshire in England has their very own records database I was able to confirm the identity of Thomas Richardson who from now we will refer to as Thomas Richardson of Standon.

• Birth: Aug 24, 1560 (1565??) – Standon, Hertfordshire, England
• Death: Jan 7, 1633 – Westmill, Hertfordshire, England

The International Genealogical Index says that he was born on August 24, 1560, and died on January 8, 1633. It also states that he was married on  August 24, 1590.

Here is an image, although not a clear one — proving his marriage in 1590 – August 24, 1590, to be exact.

Notice the typos in the name. It’s not really as much a typo as a variation of the spelling.  Look at this clearer image of his grandmother’s marriage registry (Thomas Richardson I of Westmill)

We spell May as May and they spell it, Maye. We spell July they spell it, Julie. February to them was Februarie. Obviously, in context, we know what they meant, but it’s just a perfect example of why it’s so hard sometimes to find certain information.

So while we know they are talking about Thomas Richardson of Standon, it can complicate things when we are trying to find out the details Thoms Richardson of Stondon’s life.

We know he married Katherine Duxford of Westmill, but they call her Kathren Duxforde of West.

Thomas Richardson married Kathern Duxford (Katherine Duxford) on August 24, 1590, in Westmill, Hertfordshire, England. Their marriage took place at the St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Westmill. This is also where he would later be buried.

We know for a fact this is his wife because a copy of his will still exists in the Hertfordshire, England archives to this day.

For clarification purposes, this Thomas Richardson’s mother is not Agnes. So if you find a record that says something else, then it is not a record that belongs to this Thomas Richardson who we are now referring to as Thomas Richardson of Standon. Thomas Richardson of Standon’s mother was Mary “Margaret” Champney and his father, who married his father, almost named Thomas Richardson.

This Thomas Richardson is not Sir Thomas Richardson. Sir Thomas has some association with Alphamstone, while our Thomas does not. If you come across a Thomas Richardson record that references Alphamstone, then that isn’t Thomas Richardson of Standon.

Westmill is a very tiny village in England. Today less than 300 people live there. It’s just north of London.

Together he and his wife had 7 children.

• Elizabeth (1593)
• John (1596)
• James (1600)
• Samuel (1602)
• Ezekiel (1604 ???)
• Margaret (1607)
• Thomas (1608)

We know the names of his children from his will. His will lists the name of each child as well as the exact date of their baptism.

Elizabeth y^ daughter to Thomas Richardson baptized 13 Jan. 1593.
John son to Thomas Richardson baptized 7 Nov. 1596.
James, y” sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 6 Apr. 1600.
Samuel y® sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 22 Dec. 1602 [or 1604],
Margaret ye daughter of Thomas Richardson baptized 19 April 1607.
Thomas ye sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 3 July 1608. 

Notice that their son Ezekiel who had gone off to America in 1630, wasn’t event acknowledged in the will.

Thomas’ will indicates he was a farmer of moderate means. He was a Husbandman when his will was created on March 4 in 1630 (31?).

A husbandman in England at that time period was a free tenant farmer or small landowner. The social status of a husbandman was below that of a yeoman. The meaning of “husband” in this term is “master of the house” rather than “married man” like we know it today.

Back then yeomen were farmers who owned land. Their wealth and the size of their landholding varied. Sir Anthony Richard Wagner, Garter Principal King of Arms, wrote that “a Yeoman would not normally have less than 100 acres and in social status is one step down from the Landed Gentry, but above, say, a husbandman.”

Often it was hard to distinguish minor landed gentry from the wealthier yeomen, and wealthier husbandmen from the poorer yeomen.

Landed gentry basically meant the lesser nobility in England. They basically consisted of Baronets, Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen.

So it went Landed gentry, then yeoman and then husbandmen — which is what Thomas Richardson of Standon was.

When he passed he left Katherine “my littell close of pasture called little hunnymease, containing half an acre”.

*** half an acre in Westmill today will cost you upwards of a million bucks.

After her death, he wishes it all to go to his son Samuel and his heirs.

John is to be paid 40 shillings for 3 years, after both his mother and father die.

James is to be paid 12 pence and his son Thomas will get 3 pounds, to be paid within 5 years of his and Katherine’s death.

In other words, after Thomas and Katherine are both dead, he wants Thomas to be paid 3 pounds within 5 years.

To his beloved with Katherine, he gives her all his movable goods for her life and thereafter they should go to his son Samuel who was named his executor. The will was witnessed by Richard Baker and Philip Baker.

You’ll also notice that in his will he leaves everything to Samuel and not John. Back then in England, they left everything to their eldest son. That means that John and James would have probably died prior to the creation of the will, sometime prior to March 4, 1630.

Thomas Richardson of Standon and Katherine Duxford of West mill were married 24 Aug. 1590. 

Elizabeth y^ daughter to Thomas Richardson baptized 13 Jan. 1593. 
John son to Thomas Richardson baptized 7 Nov. 1596. 
James, y'' sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 6 Apr. 1600. 
Samuel y® sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 22 Dec. 1602 [or 1604], 
Margaret ye daughter of Thomas Richardson baptized 19 April 1607. 
Thomas ye sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 3 July 1608. 

Catherine the wife of Thomas Richardson buryed the x*** of March 1631. 
Thomas Richardson was bui*yed the viii daye of January 1633. 

It would naturally be supposed that the will of Thomas Richardson would 
be found in the Commissary Court of Essex and Hertfordshire, but the 
Archdeaconry Court of Huntingdon, or that portion in the Hitchin Reg- 
istry, had jurisdiction over part of Hertfordshire, and included 77 parishes. 

The original will of Thomas Richardson of West Mill, Herts, found at 
Hitchin, reads : . 

March the 4'^'^ Ano domini 1630. In the name of God Amen I Thomas ) 

Richardson of Westmill in the County of Herts, husbandman, being sick / 

in bodye but of good an perfect memory thanks be to God doe make and 
ordeyne this my laste will in manner and forme following, firste. I bequeath 
my soull unto the hands of God my maker and Redeemer by whose merits 
I only truste to be saved, and my body to be buryed in the i^lace of Chris- 
tian buryall and Touchinge my temporall goods I doe dispose of them as 
followeth. 

First. I gyve unto Katherine my wife duringe the tearme of her natu- 
rall life my littell close of pastm-e called little hunnymeade cont half an 
acre and after her decease I give the same to my sonn Samuell and his 
heyers for ever. 

Item. I give to my sonn John forty^ shillings to be payed to him within 
the space of three yeares next ensueing the decease of me and Katherine 
my now wife by my executor. 

Item. I give to my sonn James Twelve pence. 

Item. I give to my sonn Thomas three pounds to be payed to him with- 
in the space of fyve yeares next ensueing the decease of me and Kathy- 
rine my now wife. 

Item. I gyve unto Katherine my wife all my movable goods to use for 
and during the terme of her life and after her decease I gyve the same 
unto my sonn Samuel whom I doe ordeyne and make my sole executor. 
In Witness whereof I have sett my hand and Seal the daye and yeare 
above sayd. 

Sealed and declared vSig™ Thomas 

in the presence of us [mark] Richardson 

Richard Baker. 

Philip Baker, 
proved 31 July 1634 at Hitchin presented by son Samuel Richardson." 

The three brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel and Thomas Richardson, are known 
as such by the will of Ezekiel, who names the other two as his brothers. 

Ezekiel, evidently the oldest, was the first to come to New England, and 
was a planter in Charlestown in 1630. His departure previous to the 
making of the will, perhaps against his father's wishes, or possibly having 
received his share of his father's small estate, maj' account for the name of 



Ezekiel not appearing in the will. His baptism is not found at "West 
Mill, as are the baptisms of Samuel and Thomas. 

Ezekiel probably came with Winthrop, he and his wife becoming mem- 
bers of the Charlestown church, 27 Aug., 1630. 

Thomas Richardson, baptized at West mill, 3 July, 1608, had wife Mary, 
who joined the Charlestown church, 21 Feb., 1635-6, and he joined, 18 
Feb., 1637-8. 

Samuel presented the will of his father for probate ^t Ilitchin, England, 
31 July, 1634. He had previously married ; and had baptized, at West 
Mill, a son Samuel, 3 July, 1633, and a daughter Elizabeth, 22 May, 1635. 

Samuel Richardson's name does not appear in the Tithe Book of West 
Mill after 1635. Against Over Green, where he (and also his father, 
Thomas) lived, is written " none." It was, therefore, after that date he 
and his brother Thomas sailed for New England, with their families ; and 
we find, on 1 July, 1636, the brothers were on a committee to lay out lots 
of land in Charlestown, for hay. There is no record of the birth or bap- 
tism of a daughter Elizabeth to Samuel in Woburn, but the will of his 
wife Joanna, in 1666, mentions a daughter Elizabeth, who was probably 
the one baptized at West Mill, 22 May, 1635. 

Doubtless the register of the parish of Standon, which is but a few 
miles south of West Mill, would, if it existed, give further particulars of 
the Richardsons, or at least of Thomas who married in 1590 ; but the ear- 
liest entry to be found is 1671. Braughing, just east of West Mill, has 
a register which begins in 1563, but it gives no items of the Richardson 
name. Great and Little Hormead, north-east of West Mill, was the 
home of some of the Wymans in the past, but there are no traces of 
the Richardsons there. Just east of this locality is the border of Essex, 
and there are many of the name in that county, though the name is com- 
mon in aU the counties of England. From Nazing, Essex, about ten miles 
from West Mill, came John Eliot, the apostle, and many of the settlers of 
Roxbury, Mass. 

St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Westmill, where Thomas was married and buried has been around for a thousand years. The church still stands to this day.

It has the oldest bell in Hertfordshire, it’s 600 years old and still rings. Below you’ll find a video about the effort to rebuild the roof. Searching for roofing companies near me. Call Overson Roofing in Arizona.

He made a will on 4 Mar 1630/31 at Westmill, Hertfordshire, England.1

Thomas RICHARDSON357, 9G Grandfather. Born abt 1565-70. Buried on 7 Jan
1633/4 in Westmill, Hertfordshire, England. Will dated on 4 Mar 1630/1 at Westmill,
Hertfordshire, England. Will proved on 31 Jul 1634.

According to Threlfall’s GMC50358, “THOMAS RICHARDSON was born about 1565-70. On
24 August 1590 [Threlfall gives this date as 25 August on p. 536] at West Mill, Hertfordshire,
he married Katherine Duxford of that parish. The marriage record states that he was of Standon,
which is the next parish to the south. She was the daughter of Richard and Joan Duxford, and
was born about 1565-70. They settled down in West Mill.

“Katherine was buried 10 March 1630/31 [Threlfall gives this date as 1631/32 on p. 536] at
West Mill. Thomas was buried there 7 January 1633/4. An abstract of his will follows.”

Thomas Richardson’s son Ezekiel had been comprehensively documented in Anderson’s
GMB359 where it is noted that “Samuel Richardson and Thomas Richardson, brothers of
Ezekiel, arrived in New England by 1635; Francis Wyman and John Wyman, sons of Ezekiel
Richardson’s sister Elizabeth, also came to New England [Sarah Hildreth Anc 25-27].”

Thomas Richardson and Katherine Duxford are ancestors to U.S. Presidents Bush, Coolidge,
Hoover (probably), and Pierce,360 and to suffragist Susan B. Anthony.281

Gary Boyd Roberts, Ancestors of American Presidents: First Authoritative Edition, Santa
Clarita, CA: Carl Boyer, 1995 (published in cooperation with the New England Historic
Genealogical Society).

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It would naturally be supposed that the will of Thomas Richardson would be found in the Commissary Court of Essex and
Ilertfordshire, but the Archdeaconry Court of lluntingdon. or that portion in the Hitchin Registry, had jurisdiction over part of
Tlertfordshire, and included 77 parishes.
The original will of Thomas Richardson of West Mill, Herts, found at Hitchin, reads:
March the 4th Ano domini 1630. In the name of God Amen I Thomas Richardson of Westmill in the County of Herts,
husbandman, being sick in hodye but of good an perfect memory thanks be to God doe make and ordeyne this my laste will in
manner and forme following, llrste. I bequeath my soul1 auto the hands of God my maker and Redeemer by whose merits I
only truste to be saved. and my body to be buryed in t.he place of Christian buryall and Touchinge my teniporall goods I doe
dispose of them as followeth.
First. I gyve unto Katherine my wife (luringe the tearme of her naturall life my littelI close of pasture called little
hunnymeade cont half an acre and after her decease I give the same to my sonn Samuel] aud his heyers for ever.
Item. I give to my sonn John forty shillings to be payed to him within
the space of three yeares next ensueing the decease of me and Katherine
my now wife by my executor.
Item. I give to my sonn James Twelve pence.
Item. I give to my sonn Thomas three pounds to be payed to him within the space of fyve yeares next ensueing the decease of
me and Kathy-
rifle my now wife.
Item. I gyve unto Katherine my wife all my movable goods to use for and during the terme of her life and after her decease I
gyve the same unto my sonu Samuel whom I doe ordeyne and make my sole executor. In Witness whereof I have sett my hand
and Seal the daye and yeare above sayd.
Sealed and declared Sigm THOMAS
in the presence of us [mark] . RICHARDSON
Richard Baker.
Philip Baker.
proved 81 July 1634 at I-Iitchin presented by son Samuel Richardson.” He was married to Katherine DUXFORD on 13 Jan
1593 in , West Mill, Herts, England. (1288)

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/2806/d1841.htm

XXXXXXXXXXXX

First let’s start with what we know. We know, thanks to our research into Zacharias there are several ways to spell the Weigel family name, which would in time many many years later become the Wegley family in America. 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
• Van Veigle
• Weagley
• Wegerlin
• Wagerline
• Wegerle
• Weygell
• Weigele
• Wegerle
• Weckerly
• Freigley (obvious typo)

Silesia is located in the historical region that is now in southwestern Poland. This is where we are told is the first recorded use of the Weigel name. You can view the map here.

The Weigel family was very well established in this area. Then at some point at history they migrated to other places, perhaps due to the political unrest going on in the Silesia area.

At one time they Weigel’s were one family so we can assume it was during this time in Silesia, but that again is not confirmed data so take it for what you will.

Eventually the family separated and branches settled in different places. We know of three main branches of the family. There are the Bavarian Weigls, Saxon Weigels, and further north, along the Baltic Sea, the name appeared as Weigele.

The Bavarian and Saxon Weigels preoccupied themselves mostly with matters of religion and in printing and publishing books. The Bavarian Weigls remained Catholics, but some of the Saxon Weigels became followers of the Lutheran religion.

Valentin Weigel was born on August 07, 1533 in Hayn and died on June 10, 1588 in Zschopau.

He was a German theologian, philosopher and mystical writer, and an important precursor of later theosophy. In English he is often called Valentine Weigel. Valentin Weigel, who was of the Saxon branch of the family, is also been referred to as “Der Grosse (Great) Herder”.

He was born at Hayn, near Dresden, into a Catholic family. Now I should point out that there are other sources which say he was born in Naundorf near Grossenhain – this I tend to believe more because it is in Saxony and well Valentin was of the Saxon branch of the Weigel family, so wouldn’t it make sense that he was born in Saxony, instead of in Hayn, some 118 miles away?

That issue aside, what we do know that in 1533 the Weigel family of the Saxon branch were still Catholic. However that obviously changed because in 1567 he became a Lutheran pastor at Zschopau, near Chemnitz. So now we know that sometime between 1533 and 1567 the Saxon branch of the family went from Catholics to Lutherans. We don’t know why, or the exact dates.

We also know that he studied at Meissen, Leipzig, and Wittenberg. And after becoming a Lutheran pastor in Zschopau at the age of 34, he lived out a quiet life, engaged in his writings. He would spend the rest of his life in Zschopau and would eventually die there in 1588 at the age of 55. I wondered how old the average person lived to be in the 1500s and found out that the peasantry could expect to live to be about 40-45 years while nobility would average 50 years and anything beyond that was considered fairly ancient. So in terms of the sixteen century, Valentin Weigel lived to be an old man.

Valentin Weigel was best known for his belief that the Virgin Mary was herself the product of a virgin birth. He based his belief on the idea of the immaculate conception, which required that Mary must also be sinless in order to bear God in the flesh. He kept his ideas secret, entrusting them only to personal friends. He carried out his parishioner duties in the Lutheran church and kept a low profile.

But all the while he had very profound beliefs that he documented extensively. When he died he left around 6000 pages in printed or manuscript works.

His ideas on human nature were only gradually and posthumously published. Johann Arndt, Gottfried Arnold, and Gottfried Leibniz helped to spread Weigel’s ideas. His mysticism was marked by that of Johannes Tauler and by doctrines of Paracelsus; he was also a follower of Sebastian Franck and Caspar Schwenckfeldt. Like these two latter, he emphasized the inner life. He advocated a “spiritual church” in which one could know Christ without books or scripture. When he died, his followers spread his word and those followers were called the “Weigelaner.”

Valentin Weigel emphasized the necessity of internal unction (an anointing of Spirit; see 1 John 2:20) and illumination. He taught … that knowledge does not come from without, but from the Spirit operating upon our spirit within. In cosmology, Valentin Weigel stands near Paracelsus … (After his death), his writings were published in various places, and Weigelanism became widely spread. His opponents represented him (falsely) as a dangerous revolutionary who aimed at the overthrow of all political and social order.”

Valentin Weigel’s father was Michael Weigel. At least one sort lists Michael’s wife as Anna Katrina Van Veigle, but the English translation of Katrina is Catherine. Also, in German, a “v” is prounounced as a “w”, so that would account for the spelling of her last name. However this information may not be accurate. There is also – Michael Johannes HABLUZEL and Anna Katherina Van Veigle (1750 – 1820) so if this is the person they speak of then Anna Katherina couldn’t be his mother because she was born way after his death. It is worth mentioning however due to the unique spelling of the name.

More About Johannes Michael Hablutzel:
Census: 1764, Colonial America 1607-1789 Pennsylvania Census Index.
Estate Inventory: May 03, 1796, Woodford County Will Book B 1796-1807.
Immigration: 1764, Sailed from Rotterdam on the Ship Chance.

Marriage: Catherine Weigle 1770, Pennslyvania. / Johannes married ^{1, 3, 6} Anna Katrina Van Veigle (Weigle) “Caty” in 1780 in , Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Anna Katrina Van Viegle
Catherine Weigle
Anna Katherina Van Veigle
Anna K. Van Veigle (Weigel)
Anna Catherine Weigel
Anna Catherina Weigle
Anna Katrina “Caty” Van Veigle (Weigle)