Josiah Richardson

     Josiah Richardson was born circa 1634.² He was the son of Ezekiel Richardson and Susanna (—?—) (Richardson-Brooks).¹ He was baptized on 7 November 1635 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.^3,4 He was married by Captain Simon Willard in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, on 6 June 1659 to Remembrance Underwood, daughter of William Underwood and Sarah (—?—) (Underwood).^5,6 He died intestate on 22 July 1695 in Chelmsford.^2,7 His gravestone at Forefather's Burying Ground, Chelmsford Center, is inscribed ""Here Lyes ye Body of Capt Josias Richardson Aged 61 Years Died the 22 of July 1695," but the inventory of his estate says 22 June.^2,5
     
     In his will dated 20 July 1647, Ezekiel Richardson bequeathed to "Josias my son £30 to be paid in money, cattle or corn" at twenty-one years of age.^8,9

     Josiah Richardson had settled in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, by 17 May 1658 when he signed a petition to the General Court asking that the inhabitants of "this Remoat Corner of the wildenes" be allowed to trade with the Indians.⁵

     Josiah Richardson was named, in 1662/63, to represent Chelmsford on a joint committee of Groton and Chelmsford men to lay out a highway between the two towns. He was elected constable in 1667. He became a selectman in 1668 and was elected again in 1673, in 1677 and every year thereafter, except 1684, through 1689, and finally in 1693.⁵ In 1669, with Captain Thomas Henchman and William Fletcher, Josiah erected a sawmill, the town granting them a tract of land and giving them liberty to cut suitable timber on the town commons.¹⁰ He purchased gunpowder for 3s. from the town in the fall of 1674 before the outbreak of King Philip's War, but he does not seem to have taken an active part in the conflict although he was a sergeant in the local militia company.¹¹

     John Fiske, the Chelmsford parson, certified on 9 March 1673/74 that Josiah Richardson had "approved himself unto our church" and desired to take the Freeman's Oath, which he did on 11 March 1673/74. He was one of the committee to seat the people of Chelmsford in their meeting house in 1678.¹¹

     On 2 February 1685, Captain Henchman, Mr. John Fiske and Sergeant Josiah Richardson were a committee to treat with the Indians and the General Court "about Wamasecke Neck of land in way of purchasing the same." They were successful and Josiah Richardson and his son Josiah were among the grantees.¹¹ On 19 January 1688/89, some of the Christian Indians, the Wamesits, that remained on the northern bounds of Chelmsford "for the love they bore to" the sergeant, conveyed to him a parcel of land where the Concord River flows into the Merrimac, where the city of Lowell now stands.¹²

     Josiah Richardson represented Chelmsford in the General Court in 1688 and 1689. On 20 June 1689, was recorded "Thees to sertifi: the Honored Council in Boston that Sergent josiah Richardson was Legalli chosen Captaine . . . by ye Towne of Chelmsford." He was elected town clerk in 1691, 1692, 1693 and 1694, for which he was paid £1 a year. He also received £10 "for his service done" between 1689 and 1692, which possibly included attendance at the Court.¹³

     When Indian war again broke out, Chelmsford made "a last division" of powder, shot and flints, and on 30 November 1691, Captain Richardson received two pounds of powder and three pounds of shot. At his garrison in Chelmsford on 16 March 1691/92, the captain had with him John Spauldin, Josiah Richardson, his son, and Thomas Scotborn and their families, the men numbering eleven.¹³

     The inventory of Josiah Richardson's estate, made by John Spaulding, senior, Nathaniel Butterfield, senior, and Eliazer Brown, senior, was presented on 4 September 1695 in the amount of £697 : 05 : 6. The "homstall," consisting of forty-five acres of land, buildings, orchard and fences, was valued at £100, and there were other parcels of land at "newfeeld," Stony brook, Flagy meadow, Tadnek, at the mouth of the Concord River and at the sawmill. Sixty-nine acres of land and three houses, their location not given, but probably built by the captain for his sons, were worth £80. "Severall persuns owed him £99 : 15 : 0." Except for a bed and a cupboard, no furniture is listed but chairs, stools and tables may have been included in "several other things" and "sum other things." He had "yarn Redy for weaving" worth £11 : 3 : 0, and "New Cloth Redy fuld" worth £8 : 10 : 0. Cattle, sheep and swine came to £80 and there was a good supply of hops, wheat, rye and Indian corn. On 12 March 1695/96, the widow and children entered an agreement for the division of the estate. She was to have the liberty of dwelling in the west end of the house and the improvement of the orchard and arable land that was enclosed on the north side of the house, also one-third of the hops on "that parcell of land now Improved for said fruite" and pasturage for a horse and a calf. Also her four sons bound themselves to till for her four acres of good land and to sow for her a peck of wheat and a peck of flax, to bring to her eight loads of good hay "and the several fruites produced on land aforesaid." She was to have one-third of the movables except certain stock and tools which were assigned to Samuel Richardson, the youngest son. "The four sons of said Captain Richardson, namely Josiah, Jonathan, John and Samuell," then divided the upland and meadows, while Sergeant William Fletcher, Thomas Colburne and Hennery Farwell, the husbands of the three daughters (Sara, Mary and Susanna) shared two-thirds of the movable estate.¹⁴ His widow, Remembrance Richardson, was appointed to administer his estate on 12 March 1695/96, her sureties being the eldest son Lieut. Josiah Richardson, William Fletcher and Jonathan Richardson, all of Chelmsford.⁷