Person:Richard Hubbard (22)

"Richard Hubbard, b. about 1631 (aged 4 on 18 July 1635 [Hotten 107]); Harvard College 1653 (Sibley 1:342-43]; …"

"Richard, sixth and youngest child of William, Sr., was born about 1631 in Essex County, England, and came over with his parents in the Defence in 1635. He attended Harvard University and became B. A. Aug 9, 1653, and M. A. in 1655. His college bills were paid (for his father, doubtless) by James Oliver, 'mr will payne of Ipswich,' and Joseph Jewett, according to Harvard College records. He married about 1658 Sarah Bradstreet, dau of Governor Simon and Anne (Dudley) Bradstreet (a brilliant poetess and the daughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley). There is no record showing when he was made freeman, though he was a deputy to the General Court in 1660, feoffer of the grammar school in 1665, and a selectman Feb 20, 1665, and up to Nov 2, 1680, when he was made chairman; chosen 'tithinman' Dec 20, 1677, and possessed of right of 'comonage.' In 1672 he is mentioned in the Journal of William Adams (H. U. 1671) as having given 'several scriptures to consider of' to Thomas Whitteridge's wife, who was distressed at a fortune-teller's story, i.e., 'yt she would meete with great trouble if she escaped with her life.' This woman soon after drowned herself. 'April 16, 1666, At a meeting of the selectman Mr. Richard Hubbard, Cornett Whipple, Ed: Coborne, and William Reiner [were] apovntcd to run the line between Wennam and us,' which shows that he possessed a knowledge of surveying. In 1679-S0 he was on another committee appointed by the General Court to settle the boundary lines between Salem, Beverly, and Wenham. His father left him a valuable farm of 800 acres at 'the Hamlet' when he removed to Boston in 1662, which is now the town of Hamilton. He also owned ten 'double shares' in Plum Island in 1664. He was one of the 27 richest men of the 230 freeholders of Ipswich in 1664. 'Monday, May 2, 1681, Mr. Richard Hubbard of Ipswich Farms, dyeth suddainly in the afternoon. Goeing to ly on's Bed after diner was there found dead by his daughter accidently goeing in thether.' The inventory of his estate taken June 4 [probable error for 14], 1681, showed him worth £1,457.5s., which was settled by his administratrix, Sarah, his widow, who afterward and by Apl 12, 1683, had married Major Samuel Ward, widower, of Marblehead, who had a son, also named Major Samuel Ward. The court ordered Sep 27, 1681, in the distribution of his estate 'that the eldest sonn shall for his portion have £260 and the rest of the children £130 p. peace,' naming Sarah, Richard, Nathaniel, John, and Simon, 'and the rest be left to his widdow,' etc. His assets consisted mostly of real estate, the land records in Ipswich showing a large number of transfers between him and others."

"Administration upon the estate of Mr. Richard Hubbard, intestate, was granted June 2, 1681, unto Sarah, the relict, and an inventory being presented upon oath, the court reserved the settlement of the estate to the next court held at Ipswich.
Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 6, leaf 17.

Inventory of the estate of Mr. Richard Hubbard late of Ipswich, taken June 14, 1681, by John Appleton and John Whipple: … debts due to the estate from sevrall men, 4li. 4s.; total, 1457li. 5s. Debts due from the estate to sevrall men already knowne, 691i. 13s. 3d. Attested in Salem court 28:4:1681 [June 28, 1681], by Sara, relict and administratrix.
Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 35, leaf 139.

The court Sept. 27, 1681. ordered for the settlement of the estate of Mr. Richard Hubbard, that the eldest son should have 260li. for his portion, and the rest of the children 130li. each, to he paid in the land, and the rest to the widow for her part of the estate and payment of debts. The land to stand bound for security of the children's portions. If any of the children, namely, Sarah, Richard, Nathaniel, John and Simon, die before they come to age or marriage, their portion shall be divided amongst the surviving children.
Ipswich Deeds, vol. 4, page 414.”