Richard Saltonstall

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Sir Richard Saltonstall (Halifax, England April 4, 1586 - October 1661^[1]) led a group of English settlers up the Charles River in settle in what is now Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1630.

He was a nephew of the Lord Mayor of London Richard Saltonstall and before leaving England for North America, he served as a Justice of the Peace for the West Riding and was Lord of the Manor of Ledsham.^[2] He was one of the grantees of the Massachusetts Company and left England on August 26, 1629 aboard the Arbella. He was named First Assistant to Governor John Winthrop.^[3]

Saltonstall arrived in Massachusetts with his wife, Elizabeth, and his children, Richard, Jr., Samuel, Robert, Henry, Grace, Rosamund, John, and Anne.^[1][3] The illness of one of his daughters caused him to return to England in 1631, along with his wife, daughters, and two of his sons. He maintained an interest in the colonies and was one of the patentees of the Connecticut Colony. In 1644, he was appointed ambassador to Holland, where his portrait was painted by Rembrandt.^{[citation needed]}

Saltonstall served as one of the judges who condemned the Duke of Hamilton to death for treason.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Family

Saltonstall's first wife was Grace Kaye. They had five children: sons Richard, Robert, and Samuel, and a daughter, Grace. After his wife died in 1625, Saltonstall married Lady Elizabeth West, by whom he had two additional children, Anne and John.

Although Saltonstall only remained in Massachusetts for a brief time, his descendents played a major role in New England history.

[edit] Legacy

There is a small granite monument commemorating their settlement close to the Mt. Auburn Bridge in Cambridge.

[edit] References