Samuel Richardson Family
Killed by Indians
Researchers: Barbara, Joyce, Kathy, Norris, Terry

Background: In 1675, an Indian action was commenced against the European Settlers by King Philip, chief of the Wampanoag Indians. Contrary to the inital appearance of the name, this is the name given to the Indian leader. He was a son of Massasoit, the chief who had befriended the Pilgrims fifty years earlier in 1620. Note this is not Samuel Richardson the immigrant, but his son. The following story, involving our family, occurred during that Indian uprising:

"The town (Woburn, Mass) was visited the following spring by two or three of their savage enemies upon a work of death, which they but too successfully accomplished. In the afternoon of April 10, 1676, as Mr. Samuel Richardson, who lived upon what has been recently called the Miller Farm in Richardson's Row, was employed in sorting manure into his field, accompanied by his son Samuel, a boy between five and six years of age, he was surprised in looking toward his house, to see feathers flying about it, and other tokens of mischief within. Apprehending that Indians might be there he hastened home, and there found two of his family murdered, viz: his wife, Mrs. Hannah Richardson, who had been lately confined; and his son, Thomas, twin brother to him who had been with him in the field.

Upon further search, it was ascertained, that the infant also, a daughter named Hannah, had been killed by the same ruthless hands. The nurse, it appeared, had snatched it up in her arms, upon the alarm of danger, and hurried away to a garrison house in the vicinity for protection. But, so closely was she pursued by the enemy, that finding she could not save herself and the babe too, she let the babe drop, and the Indians despatched it upon coming up.

Mr. Richardson now rallied some of his neighbors, who went with him in pursuit of the enemy. After following them some time, they espied three Indians sitting together on a rock, and discharged their muskets at them. The Indians instantly fled to a piece of woods hard by (sic); and it being near night, their pursuers fearing that they themselves might be waylaid by them, or decoyed into danger, desisted from following them, and returned home. Upon going afterwards to the place where the Indians entered the woods, they discovered blood on their track, and upon further search, they found an Indian buried under the leaves who was doubtless one of the three, who had been fired upon by Mr. Richardson and company, and who, being mortally wounded, had died upon the spot where found, and had been buried there by his associates."
 
Woburn, History of, Samuel Sewell, M. A. Wiggin and Lunt, Publishers, Washington Street, 1868, Pg 119.

Editor's Note: Samuel Richarson married Phebe Richardson, his first cousin, once-removed, shortly after this incident and had one child with her before she died. So, descendants of that child are in both the Baldwin and Richardson trees in two different places.

Baldwin Genealogy, Charles Candee Baldwin, 1881, Pg 616

Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Pg 535

Related Links

King Philip's War  resulted in attacks on 52 of the 90 towns existing in Puritan New England and the leveling of 13 of them. 600 settlers were killed. The Indians were thoroughly defeated, as much from disease as from bullets. See also a page from the History of Holyoke, Massachusetts web site, that contains a compact history of this confilict.

Return to the Richardson Index at this site

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The copyright on the quoted material has expired and is in the public domain. Please quote the source if you use it. Otherwise, Copyright 1998 Norris Taylor