Richard Austin (colonist)

Coat of arms of Richard Austin

Richard Austin (1598–1645) was an early puritan colonist who landed in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts on 16 May 1638[1] on board a ship called the Bevis.[2][3][4] Richard Austin is the immigrant ancestor of a family named "Austin" that prospered, ultimately settling parts of Missouri and Texas; noteworthy descendants include Stephen F. Austin, Moses Austin, Emily Austin Perry, Guy Morrison Bryan, Moses Austin Bryan, Stephen Samuel Perry, and hundreds of others. Richard settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts.[5] There are few references to Richard Austin, but in 1651, Richard Austin or a descendant by the same name held some public offices in Charlestown, Massachusetts.[6]

Puritan religious conviction resulted in Richard Austin's the decision to leave England for New England.[7] Shortly after arrival, Richard's brother-in-law, Edmund Littlefield (who married Agnes Austin) "broke from his congregation" to then settle in Exeter in New Hampshire.[8]

The ship manifest for `The Bevis' listed Richard Austin as a tailor from "Bishopstocke" (also known as Bishop Stoke), traveling with his wife and 2 children.[9]

Most information about Richard is derived from genealogical research. Austin records go back to Kent, England in 1522.[10] The Richard Austin who came on The Bevis is technically Richard Austin, II, the son of Richard Austin — who ironically is the son of (Stephen or William ?) Austin, born November 17, 1557, in Tenterden, Kent, England, and his wife Margaret Wrigley, born in the same city on May 1, 1550.[11]

Richard (Jr.) was born in 1598 to Richard Austin (Sr.) and his wife Annis (of unknown maiden surname) in Titchfield, Hampshire, England, and died in 1645 in Charleston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Richard (Jr.) was buried in Watertown, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth "Betsy" (of unknown maiden surname) in 1630 at Hampshire, England.[12] and they had 2 sons:

- Richard Austin, III born November 15, 1632 in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England, and died August 15, 1703 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts. - Anthony Austin was born 1636 in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England, and died August 22, 1708 in Suffield, Hampshire, Massachusetts.

References

  1. ↑ Literary papers of William Austin, with a biographical sketch by his son, William Austin, James Walker Austin, p. vi
  2. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: K-R By James Savage, John Farmer, Orrando Perry Dexter
  3. ↑ Moore, Edith Austin, The Descendants of Richard Austin of Charlestown. Massachusetts 1638, unpublished manuscript
  4. ↑ LDS Film#0873972#2
  5. ↑ Literary papers of William Austin, with a biographical sketch by his son By William Austin, James Walker Austin
  6. ↑ Literary papers of William Austin, with a biographical sketch by his son By William Austin, James Walker Austin
  7. ↑ Edith Austin Moore and William Allen Day, The Descendants of Richard Austin of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1638, 9-10
  8. ↑ David B. Gracy II, "George Washington Littlefield: A Biography in Business," p. 4.
  9. ↑ Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620 - 1650" by Charles Edwards Banks, Edited and Indexed by Elijah Ellsworth Brownell, Southern Book Company, Baltimore, 1957 (Lady Anne's Library)
  10. ↑ http://www.renderplus.com/hartgen/htm/austin.htm#src1
  11. ↑ http://hartgen.renderplus.com/charts/austin-wrigley.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.familycentral.net/index/family.cfm?ref1=5506:3804&ref2=5506:3805
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