A HISTORY OF RICHARD CHURCH AND ELIZABETH WARREN FOLLOWS:

A HISTORY OF RICHARD CHURCH AND ELIZABETH WARREN FOLLOWS:

RICHARD CHURCH was born 6 February 1608, at Shoreditch, London, England, to Richard Church (1570-1623) and Alice Vassell (1572-1621.) He married Elizabeth Warren 7 March 1636, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Richard immigrated in 1636 to Hartford with Hooker, and died in Hadley, Mass., 16 Dec. 1667. What induced him to emigrate, if of course uncertain. Evidently he came over with his relatives John Marsh, Nathaniel Marsh, and Issac Graves, who all came from Braintree, Essex, England, to Hartford, Massachusetts.

The Pequot War

A Pequot Fort

The First Meeting House -- 1634

In a letter of 6 February 1631/2 from the governor and assistants of Plymouth to the governor and assistants of Massachusetts Bay on various matters of mutual interest to the two colonies, Bradford in listing persons who had moved from Massachusetts Bay to Plymouth, included “Richard Church [who] came likewise as a sojourner to work for the present; though he is still here resident longer than he purposed; and what he will do, neither we nor I think himself knows. But if he resolve here to settle we shall require of him to procure a dismission; but he did affirm to us at the first, that he was one of Mr. Webb’s men, and freed to go for England or whither he would, the which we the rather believed because he came to us from Wessagasscusett upon the falling out of his partner.” [WP 3:65].

On 2 June 1640 several people residing at Eel River were presented for not building a bridge there according to order, and repay 50s. to Richard Church and Robert Bartlett (perhaps for undertaking some of the work themselves.) [PCR 1:156].

In his will dated 25 December 1668 and proved 26 January 1668/9, “Richard Church of Hingham” bequeathed to my beloved wife Elizabeth Church … the remainder during her natural life” (after debts are paid); after her decease remainder to “be equally divided amongst my children only my son Joseph to have a double portion … by reason of the lameness of his hand, whereby he is disenabled above the rest of my children.”

The inventory of the estate of Richard Church of Hingham deceased, taken 1 January 1668/9, totaled £365 14s, of which £270 was real estate: “the dwelling house with the barn, orchard & houselot contained six acres,” £110; “half a tide mill, £100, “his share of the ironworks at Taunton,” £50; and “2 acres of land lying by the mill,” £10.

Richard died 27 December 1668, age 60, Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, when visiting his son, Caleb. In his will, written the day before his death, he calls himself of Hingham, but the witnesses are all of Dedham. Richard burial site is now covered by the highway leading to Old Steamboat Wharf, near the water, about 1669.

Plymouth Plantation

Graveside of Richard Church

Richard Church was born in 1608 in London, Middlesex Co, England. He married Elizabeth Warren, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Warren. They had 11 children, namely, Elizabeth, Joseph, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Richard, Charles, CALEB, Abigail, Sarah, Mary, and Deborah. He first appeared in New England records on Oct. 19, 1630 when he desired to be made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1633 he was listed as a freeman of the Plymouth Colony. In 1649, Richard sold his land in Plymouth to Robert Bartlett. In July of 1649 land was sold to Richard from Thomas Prence in Marshfireld. In 1652 he purchased half of a corn mill in Hingham. Richard died in Dedham on Dec. 27, 1668.

I have a record called "The Pioneers of Massachusetts, A Descriptive List", which says the following of Richard Church:

"Richard, carpenter, Boston apple farmer October 19, 1630. Removed to

Weymouth then to Plymouth before 1932. Volunteer for the Pequot War

before 1637. He removed to Charlestown and bought one half of a corn mill at

Hingham on Jan 24, 1653 and removed thither. He was town officer there. He

He deposed 15 (11) 1656 ae. about 47 years. Died at the home of his son, Caleb.

His will gave lands in Hingham and a share in Iron Works at Tauton, etc to his

wife Elizabeth. he left his son, Joseph, a double portion on account of the

lameness of his hand."

Richard Church - The Immigrant

Richard Church born 1608, arrived at Boston, 1630; freeman, 1632; and from 1633 to 1649 inc. a resident of Plymouth Massachusetts. Subsequesntly he was for a short time at Eastham, removing thence to Charlestown. January 24, 1653, he purchased of Thomas Joy "one halfe or moytie of his Corne mill standeing vppn y* towne Coue in hingham. It is with y* damme head & streame thereunto belongeing and halfe y* lott of Lande Lying there unto contayneing fower or six acres wth was formerly y* lands of Abraham Martyn," etc. (C.R. Vol. II. pp. 82, 83).Richard, without doubt, was a resident of Hingham during the remainder of his life. He married about 1636 Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Elixzabeth (Jouatt) Warren, who, in 1620, came to Plymouth in the "Mayflower." She died in Hingham 4 March, 1670.

Richard Church died at Dedham, 27 December 1668, "though he was buried in Hingham, and his will was made here." "Carpenter." Selectman in 1665. Resided on the spot now owned and occupied by heirs of the late Col. Charles Lane, on North Street. Source: History of the Town of Higham Massachusetts, Volumes II, III, page 125.

Born about 1608 (deposed 27 Apr 1657 aged 48 years or thereabouts; deposed 25 Aug 1664 aged about 56 years). Came to Plymouth Colony in 1630 as servant to Francis Webb & first settled in Weymouth. Moved to Plymouth in 1631, Eastham in 1649, Charlestown by 1652, and finally Hingham in 1654. Died in Dedham 26 December 1668, probably on a visit to his son Caleb. In his will, written the day before his death, he calls himself of Hingham, but the witnesses are all of Dedham.

Married by 7 March 1636/7 (and probably by 14 March 1635/6), Elizabeth Warren, daughter of RICHARD WARREN. She died in Hingham 9 March 1669/70.

Their ten children: Elizabeth Hobart, Joseph, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Charles, Caleb, Abigail Thaxter, Sarah Burroughs, Mary, & Deborah.

"He died in Dedham where he was on a visit, his demise taking place "Sabbath day early in the morning," and is buried in Hingham at a spot which is covered now by the highway leading to the Old Steamboat Wharf, and near the water. (Letter of Mrs. Henrietta Church Dunham.)" Source: Anderson's Winthrop Fleet.

May have also lived in Polesworth, Suffolk. Came to Plymouth, Mass in 1630 where he built the first Plymouth church. Removed to Boston, freeman 1632, to Eastham 1653, to Hingham 1653, and then to Dedham.

He was a carpenter, a millwright and a Sergeant in the Pequot War.

Marriage date to Elizabeth may have been 4 Oct 1632.

Richard Church died 27 December 1668, Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts, and was buried 29 December 1668, Hingham, Suffolk, Massachusetts, age 60.

ELIZABETH WARREN was born about 1616 of England, to Richard Warren (1580-1628) and Elizabeth Walker (1583-1673.) She married Richard Church 7 March 1636, at Plymouth Colony Massachusetts.

She came with her mother and four sisters, on the Anne, 23 June 1623. Her father, Richard Warren had come on the Mayflower, 1620.

Elizabeth Warren passed away 9 March 1670, at Hingham, Suffolk, Massachusetts, age 54.

Children of Richard Church and Elizabeth Warren:

1.Elizabeth Church (1636-1658); md. Caleb Hobart 8 January 1657/8.

2.Joseph Church (1638-1711); md. Mary Tucker 13 December 1660.

3.Col. Benjamin Church (1639-1717); md. Alice Southworth 26 December 1667 (daughter of Constant Southworth.)

4.Nathaniel Church (1642-1689); md. Sarah Barston 8 June 1666.

5.Richard (Charles) Church was born about 1645 of Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts to Richard Church (1608-1668) and Elizabeth Warren (1616-1670.) He married unknown. Richard was buried 3 November 1659, Plymouth, Massachusetts, age 15. (Died when cart turned over on him.)

6.Hannah Church (1647-1696)

7.Caleb Church (1647-1722)

8.Abigail Church (1648-1677)

9.Sarah Church (1650-1688)

10.Lydia Church (1652-)

11.Mary Church (1554-1662)

12.Deborah Church (1657-1690)

13.Priscilla Church, (1657-)

14.Mary Church (1660-1695)

15.Richard Church (1660-1710)

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