I had a very interesting day in the "old town" of Franklin, MA today. A History teacher at the high school invited me to speak with his class who is researching Civil War soldiers from the town, as several of the Richardson's are in that group, and he asked that I describe some of the sources of information available. Following that, I paid a visit to 3 former Richardson homes in town, and was fortunate to find the owners all present. "Aunt Alice's" house on Union Street was first. William Stephen Richardson (Uncle Will) moved there with his wife, Sarah Allen, when his father sold the original Richardson Homestead, and moved to CO. The current owners are only the 2nd family to live there since it was first owned by the Allens, although they are preparing to sell and move back to Maine. The house is not in the best of shape, but it has not changed substantially since our family sold it back in the 60's. Very nice corner lot, right next door to a cemetery where several family members are buried. The home on Lincoln Street (one of two Richardson Homesteads) is now owned and occupied by Esther Locke, who was born in the house next door, and a relative of the Adams family, from whom her husband bought this house. It was in the Richardson family from 1772 until Clarissa Day Richardson married Peter Adams in 1841, and ownership passed to Adams at that point. Mrs. Locke has a nice collection of Richardson and Adams books, a family chart from Clarissa and Peter, and a direct connection to the home's original owners. At age 90, she's thinking of selling, although her daughter lives nearby, and may inherit the home. They bought the home with 35 acres, added another 30, and then sold all but 6 acres to a developer who has since added many new homes. The old tractor barn and one or two other outbuildings are still there, and overall the home is in excellent shape. Both of the previous owners come from the John Richardson line, although the Lincoln Street house is on property that originally was the Richard Puffer farm. I believe this house was built by the Richardson's, however, or at least modified. My understanding is the land alone is worth in excess of $1M. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if either, or both, of these two properties were eventually torn down and replaced with more modern homes, but it would be a shame to see them go. Finally, the "real" Richardson Homestead on Skyline Drive was a treat. The current owner gave me the grand tour, including the attic, where you could see the workmanship of John Richardson, with roof trusses all joined without the benefit of nails or screws, and timbers that looked more like trees than anything else. He has educated himself on the history of the home, and Richardson's in general, and told me about one more Richardson home in nearby Millis, MA that was once a tavern. This house lost a portion to fire in 1958, but the main house is intact, as is an outbuilding, and two silo foundations, which have been turned into a fish pond and a large fire pit in the back yard. Just about an acre of land remains, compared to the hundreds of acres, when it was a working farm. An interior door on the first floor, is ca. 1730, hand-carved, and all original. Parts of the original floors are still intact, and the house is in excellent condition, overall. The owner took me down the road to the City Mills Cemetery, where we found the original builder of his house, and many other family members. In fact, with few exceptions, the gravestones looked like my Richardson family tree! Albert Deane Richardson's large monument (erected in his memory after he was murdered by a jealous ex-husband of his second wife) was there, along with his first wife and children, John Warren Richardson's first wife (JWR was the last Richardson to own the Homestead) and several children who didn't go to CO with him, and many more. I believe the earliest Richardson there was early 1700's or late 1600's, although some of the dates have become difficult to read. Mr. Leighton (HS History teacher) has a student who completed an Eagle Scout project, cataloguing the entire City Mills Cemetery, and I am in hopes of obtaining a copy of the CD. He also had a copy of the town records from 1893, listing all residents of the town, all businesses, and many advertisements, several of which included John Warren Richardson's companies, and other relatives. Mrs. Locke inquired about what she should do with some of her historical pieces, as she has no family members to pass them to. I told her I would check with the local historian and historical society, to see if there is an appropriate place to safely keep them, and make them available for viewing by the public. All in all, a very rewarding day in Franklin. Gary Allen Richardson

Very interesting reading. M.R.B. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Richardson" <gar3131@msn.com> To: <RICHARDSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 5:41 PM Subject: [RICHARDSON] Richardson's in Franklin, MA >I had a very interesting day in the "old town" of Franklin, MA today. A >History teacher at the high school invited me to speak with his class who >is researching Civil War soldiers from the town, as several of the >Richardson's are in that group, and he asked that I describe some of the >sources of information available. Following that, I paid a visit to 3 >former Richardson homes in town, and was fortunate to find the owners all >present. > > "Aunt Alice's" house on Union Street was first. William Stephen > Richardson (Uncle Will) moved there with his wife, Sarah Allen, when his > father sold the original Richardson Homestead, and moved to CO. The > current owners are only the 2nd family to live there since it was first > owned by the Allens, although they are preparing to sell and move back to > Maine. The house is not in the best of shape, but it has not changed > substantially since our family sold it back in the 60's. Very nice corner > lot, right next door to a cemetery where several family members are > buried. > > The home on Lincoln Street (one of two Richardson Homesteads) is now owned > and occupied by Esther Locke, who was born in the house next door, and a > relative of the Adams family, from whom her husband bought this house. It > was in the Richardson family from 1772 until Clarissa Day Richardson > married Peter Adams in 1841, and ownership passed to Adams at that point. > Mrs. Locke has a nice collection of Richardson and Adams books, a family > chart from Clarissa and Peter, and a direct connection to the home's > original owners. At age 90, she's thinking of selling, although her > daughter lives nearby, and may inherit the home. They bought the home > with 35 acres, added another 30, and then sold all but 6 acres to a > developer who has since added many new homes. The old tractor barn and > one or two other outbuildings are still there, and overall the home is in > excellent shape. > > Both of the previous owners come from the John Richardson line, although > the Lincoln Street house is on property that originally was the Richard > Puffer farm. I believe this house was built by the Richardson's, however, > or at least modified. > > My understanding is the land alone is worth in excess of $1M. I wouldn't > be terribly surprised if either, or both, of these two properties were > eventually torn down and replaced with more modern homes, but it would be > a shame to see them go. > > Finally, the "real" Richardson Homestead on Skyline Drive was a treat. > The current owner gave me the grand tour, including the attic, where you > could see the workmanship of John Richardson, with roof trusses all joined > without the benefit of nails or screws, and timbers that looked more like > trees than anything else. He has educated himself on the history of the > home, and Richardson's in general, and told me about one more Richardson > home in nearby Millis, MA that was once a tavern. This house lost a > portion to fire in 1958, but the main house is intact, as is an > outbuilding, and two silo foundations, which have been turned into a fish > pond and a large fire pit in the back yard. Just about an acre of land > remains, compared to the hundreds of acres, when it was a working farm. > > An interior door on the first floor, is ca. 1730, hand-carved, and all > original. Parts of the original floors are still intact, and the house is > in excellent condition, overall. > > The owner took me down the road to the City Mills Cemetery, where we found > the original builder of his house, and many other family members. In > fact, with few exceptions, the gravestones looked like my Richardson > family tree! Albert Deane Richardson's large monument (erected in his > memory after he was murdered by a jealous ex-husband of his second wife) > was there, along with his first wife and children, John Warren > Richardson's first wife (JWR was the last Richardson to own the Homestead) > and several children who didn't go to CO with him, and many more. I > believe the earliest Richardson there was early 1700's or late 1600's, > although some of the dates have become difficult to read. > > Mr. Leighton (HS History teacher) has a student who completed an Eagle > Scout project, cataloguing the entire City Mills Cemetery, and I am in > hopes of obtaining a copy of the CD. He also had a copy of the town > records from 1893, listing all residents of the town, all businesses, and > many advertisements, several of which included John Warren Richardson's > companies, and other relatives. > > Mrs. Locke inquired about what she should do with some of her historical > pieces, as she has no family members to pass them to. I told her I would > check with the local historian and historical society, to see if there is > an appropriate place to safely keep them, and make them available for > viewing by the public. > > All in all, a very rewarding day in Franklin. > > Gary Allen Richardson > > > ==== RICHARDSON Mailing List ==== > To use the Richardson Query Board: > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=surnames.richardson > To review Archived messages: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/RICHARDSON-L >

Gary, I have really enjoyed reading about your trip and about your time that you were spending with the class. I also am a Richardson but cann't go past my great grandfather, but enjoying your history. Keep us informed on your trip. Gary Richardson <gar3131@msn.com> wrote: I had a very interesting day in the "old town" of Franklin, MA today. A History teacher at the high school invited me to speak with his class who is researching Civil War soldiers from the town, as several of the Richardson's are in that group, and he asked that I describe some of the sources of information available. Following that, I paid a visit to 3 former Richardson homes in town, and was fortunate to find the owners all present. "Aunt Alice's" house on Union Street was first. William Stephen Richardson (Uncle Will) moved there with his wife, Sarah Allen, when his father sold the original Richardson Homestead, and moved to CO. The current owners are only the 2nd family to live there since it was first owned by the Allens, although they are preparing to sell and move back to Maine. The house is not in the best of shape, but it has not changed substantially since our family sold it back in the 60's. Very nice corner lot, right next door to a cemetery where several family members are buried. The home on Lincoln Street (one of two Richardson Homesteads) is now owned and occupied by Esther Locke, who was born in the house next door, and a relative of the Adams family, from whom her husband bought this house. It was in the Richardson family from 1772 until Clarissa Day Richardson married Peter Adams in 1841, and ownership passed to Adams at that point. Mrs. Locke has a nice collection of Richardson and Adams books, a family chart from Clarissa and Peter, and a direct connection to the home's original owners. At age 90, she's thinking of selling, although her daughter lives nearby, and may inherit the home. They bought the home with 35 acres, added another 30, and then sold all but 6 acres to a developer who has since added many new homes. The old tractor barn and one or two other outbuildings are still there, and overall the home is in excellent shape. Both of the previous owners come from the John Richardson line, although the Lincoln Street house is on property that originally was the Richard Puffer farm. I believe this house was built by the Richardson's, however, or at least modified. My understanding is the land alone is worth in excess of $1M. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if either, or both, of these two properties were eventually torn down and replaced with more modern homes, but it would be a shame to see them go. Finally, the "real" Richardson Homestead on Skyline Drive was a treat. The current owner gave me the grand tour, including the attic, where you could see the workmanship of John Richardson, with roof trusses all joined without the benefit of nails or screws, and timbers that looked more like trees than anything else. He has educated himself on the history of the home, and Richardson's in general, and told me about one more Richardson home in nearby Millis, MA that was once a tavern. This house lost a portion to fire in 1958, but the main house is intact, as is an outbuilding, and two silo foundations, which have been turned into a fish pond and a large fire pit in the back yard. Just about an acre of land remains, compared to the hundreds of acres, when it was a working farm. An interior door on the first floor, is ca. 1730, hand-carved, and all original. Parts of the original floors are still intact, and the house is in excellent condition, overall. The owner took me down the road to the City Mills Cemetery, where we found the original builder of his house, and many other family members. In fact, with few exceptions, the gravestones looked like my Richardson family tree! Albert Deane Richardson's large monument (erected in his memory after he was murdered by a jealous ex-husband of his second wife) was there, along with his first wife and children, John Warren Richardson's first wife (JWR was the last Richardson to own the Homestead) and several children who didn't go to CO with him, and many more. I believe the earliest Richardson there was early 1700's or late 1600's, although some of the dates have become difficult to read. Mr. Leighton (HS History teacher) has a student who completed an Eagle Scout project, cataloguing the entire City Mills Cemetery, and I am in hopes of obtaining a copy of the CD. He also had a copy of the town records from 1893, listing all residents of the town, all businesses, and many advertisements, several of which included John Warren Richardson's companies, and other relatives. Mrs. Locke inquired about what she should do with some of her historical pieces, as she has no family members to pass them to. I told her I would check with the local historian and historical society, to see if there is an appropriate place to safely keep them, and make them available for viewing by the public. All in all, a very rewarding day in Franklin. Gary Allen Richardson ==== RICHARDSON Mailing List ==== To use the Richardson Query Board: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=surnames.richardson To review Archived messages: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/RICHARDSON-L

Has anyone traced forward from HUGH d'AVRANCHES as this is where the name RICHARDSON came from !!!! INFO BELOW.. Regards Peter Richardson (Freeman of Chester) Melbourne. Australia. Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester (died July 27, 1101) was one of the great magnates of early Norman England Hugh was the son of Richard Goz, viscount of Avranches in the far southwest of: Normandy A former province of north western France on the English channel; divided into Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie Normandy, and inherited from his father a large estate not just in the Avranchin but scattered throughout western Normandy. Hugh became an important councilor of: William Duke of Normandy. He contributed 60 ships to the invasion of England, but did not fight at Hastings , instead being one of those trusted to stay behind and govern Normandy. The decisive battle in which William the Conqueror (duke of Normandy) defeated the Saxons under Harold II (1066) and thus left England open for the Norman Conquest. After William became king of England, Hugh was given large grants of land, and then, in 1071, was made Earl of Chester Hugh spent much of his time fighting savagely with his neighbors in Wales One of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; during Roman times the region was known as CambriaWales, in the end subduing a good part of northern Wales and the island of Anglesey An island northwest of Wales Anglesey. In time Hugh became so fat he could hardly walk; he is often referred to as Hugh the Fat. He married Ermentrude of Claremont, by whom he had one son, Richard, who succeeded him. Richard married Matilda of Blois, daughter of Stephen, Count of Blois and Adela, a daughter of William the Conqueror. Both Richard and Matilda died in the White Ship Ship disaster (1120), and he was succeeded by his first cousin Ranulph le Meschin, Earl of Chester. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.6 - Release Date: 8/06/2005

Hello, Whilst we all like to think that our beginnings were not *humble*; Richardson derived from the *son of Richard* at the time only surnames were recognised. I have no doubt that some so named ,were of high rank, in the manner of those times, however many were not. I should like to think that mine derived from a clearing in a forest, where Rickard! worked at coppicing hazel and making charcoal. Now I am romanticising! John Richardson Cambs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Richardson" <peter_richardson@optusnet.com.au> To: <RICHARDSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 1:39 PM Subject: RE: [RICHARDSON] CHESTER.U.K. > Has anyone traced forward from HUGH d'AVRANCHES as this is where the name > RICHARDSON came from !!!! INFO BELOW.. > Regards > Peter Richardson (Freeman of Chester) > Melbourne. > Australia. > > Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester (died July 27, 1101) was one of the > great magnates of early Norman England > > Hugh was the son of Richard Goz, viscount of Avranches in the far > southwest > of: Normandy > A former province of north western France on the English channel; divided > into Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie Normandy, and inherited from his > father a large estate not just in the Avranchin but scattered throughout > western Normandy. > > Hugh became an important councilor of: William Duke of Normandy. He > contributed 60 ships to the invasion of England, but did not fight at > Hastings , instead being one of those trusted to stay behind and govern > Normandy. > The decisive battle in which William the Conqueror (duke of Normandy) > defeated the Saxons under Harold II (1066) and thus left England open for > the Norman Conquest. > After William became king of England, Hugh was given large grants of land, > and then, in 1071, was made Earl of Chester > > Hugh spent much of his time fighting savagely with his neighbors in Wales > One of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain > and Northern Ireland; during Roman times the region was known as > CambriaWales, in the end subduing a good part of northern Wales and the > island of Anglesey An island northwest of Wales Anglesey. > > In time Hugh became so fat he could hardly walk; he is often referred to > as > Hugh the Fat. > > He married Ermentrude of Claremont, by whom he had one son, Richard, who > succeeded him. Richard married Matilda of Blois, daughter of Stephen, > Count > of Blois and Adela, a daughter of William the Conqueror. Both Richard and > Matilda died in the White Ship Ship disaster (1120), and he was succeeded > by > his first cousin Ranulph le Meschin, Earl of Chester. > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.6 - Release Date: 8/06/2005 > > > > > ==== RICHARDSON Mailing List ==== > To use the Richardson Query Board: > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=surnames.richardson > To review Archived messages: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/RICHARDSON-L > >