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CONTROVERSY: The parents of Richard Booth have not been verified as there is no agreement as to Richard's origins. There is more than one Richard Booth in English records, from different locations, with different christening records, hence different parents. See the discussion below, especially the notes of Donald Jacobus, a highly respected genealogist of early CT families. He has been detached from his previous parents of Richard Booth and Elizabeth Brooke.
Richard Booth was born at England, 1607-8. He is sometimes identified as baptized Great Budworth, Cheshire, 21 August 1608[1] and otherwise said at Derbyshire, 1607/1608. The date and location of Richard's birth has not been documented. Donald Lines Jacobus argued (1952) that he likely came from Derbyshire (rather than Cheshire) because so many others --including his brother-in-law (settled Stratford in the 1630s) came from Derbyshire and the great number of Booths in Derbyshire records of the period.[2]
Jacobus (1952) wrote,[3]
Richard Booth was one of the original settlers of Stratford, Connecticut.
Jacobus notes that although Stratford was settled in 1639, early records are so few that it is difficult to assign a specific date to the arrival of the early settlers. He concludes that Booth and brother-in-law Joseph Hawley were living there prior to 1650 and most likely arrived ca 1641 or shortly after. While the children's birthdates begin in 1641, they weren't recorded in Stratford records as a group until 1649, and no location is given thus not useful as evidence of Richard's arrival.
Although the list of the 17 original proprietors of the town has been lost, evidence points to Richard Booth as one of them. In 1724, Ambrose Tompson age 72 and Ebenezer Boothe age 72 (son of Richard Booth) complain of injustice in the distribution of land, stating: "Our parents we suppose were actually or virtually among some of the very first settlers of the town of Stratford, which was settled with very great difficulty and charge, as we have been informed. The expense of one of our parents for watching and warding and other charges, cost more than L40, money."[4]
Richard Booth's name appears often in the town records of this day as "townsman" or selectman, and in other commissions of office and trust. The prefix Mr before his name in the colonial records, indicates, under the rigid adjustment of social rank then observed, a position decidedly influential and respectable. His large landed property he divided in this lifetime, among his children. He left no will. The latest mention of him extant, is a March 1688-89, in his 82nd year. As the Congregational Burial Ground, west of Main Street, was opened in 1678, he was doubtless buried there as was his son Joseph, who outlived him not more than 12 to 15 years.
He owned, through grant and purchase, extensive property which he divided in his lifetime among his children. He was one of the owners who received land by 1670 in the section known as Nichols' Farms, where one branch of his descendants lived for several generations. Like others, his lands were spread over a considerable area, not necessarily adjoining one another. His home lot #29 was located on the west side of Main St., between Joshua Judson and Adam Hurd and across the street from Isaac Nichols, Sr. It was the fifth below the Bridgeport road.
On March 15, 1687/88, he states he was about 81 and speaks of "my now wife", perhaps indicating he had an earlier wife. His first wife was Elizabeth Hawley, sister to Joseph Hawley the first town clerk and another early settler.
No recorded will has been found but his children's names and birthdates are recorded at Stratford.
It may be possible that Ulysses S. Grant descended from Richard Booth.[5]
Richard Boothe's name and those of his descendants are prominent on Stratford records. His home lot, 29 indicates his settlement there among the earliest, but probably before his marriage in 1640. He married, 1st Elizabeth, the sister of Joseph Hawley, for his son Ephraim, in his will styles Samuel Hawley (son of Joseph) cousin. He was one of the proprietors of the township and received a division of land located in various parts of the town, as did the other proprietors. He was probably[??] married twice and had eight children. The latest mention of him extant is in March 1688/89, in his 82d year.[6]
Early American Census shows Richard in Stratford, Fairfield Co CT in the years 1650,1655, 1658 & 1669.
(a) WikiData reference The Peerage gives a baptism date 5 Mar 1607, citing Burke's Peerage and Gentry. The reference in Burke's has not been found, but the baptism is cited above.
(b) A previous version of this profile attributed the quote that follows to Jacobus, but this was not confirmed. "The Booth chart compiled by George Munson Booth of Chicago, Ill., states that Richard was bapt. at Great Budsworth, co. Cheshire, Eng., Aug. 1608, a son of Edward (d. 1628), who was a son of William of Twemlow, co. Cheshire (by his wife Ellen, dau. of John Davenport of Davenport), who was a son of Edward of Twenlow, who was a son of Sir William Booth of Dunham Massie, co. Cheshire (d. 1519). The earlier generations of this pedigree are authentic, but I know not the authority for the connection of this line with Richard of Stratford."
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Categories: Puritan Great Migration Adjunct | Stratford, Connecticut
Additionally, we are making an assumption of a second wife for Richard solely based on his use of the phrase "my now wife" in one document. It proves nothing, unfortunately, as he didn't provide a name of that wife.
Booth as a surname is also quite common in lowland Scotland.
"Richard, the son of Rick and Margaret Booth was born about 2 of the clock on Monday, being the 30th of July1655. And was baptised on the 27th of August following. Susanna the daughter of Rick and Margaret Booth was born between 8 and 9 of the clock att night on Saturday being the 27th February 1657 and was baptised on year 18th March following William Son of Richard and Margaret Booth was born between 2 or 3 of the clock in the morning on Tuesday being the 28th of May 1661. And was baptised 30th of the same month Abraham the son of Rick and Margaret Booth was born between 8 and 9 att night on Tuesday being the 27th of May (1662) being very weak and was immediately baptised: died 3rd May 1663 Richard the son of Rick and Margaret was born about three of the clock in the morning on friday being the 23rd of October 1663 and was baptised the same day follo This would indicate that Margaret was the SECOND wife not the first and that these children were born in America and would appear to disperse any ambiguity.
The bible is in absolutely excellend condition, the writing above clear and easily desciperable. Because of the red lining and other features, including its original binding and metal fittings etc., I have been told that it was originally the possession of a rich nobleman. If you are interested I can send you photos
Lineage of BOOTH: SIR WILLIAM BOOTH, of Dunham Massey and Bollin Hall, near Wilmslow, Cheshire (see BEP WARRINGTON, E), married first 1486 Margaret ASSHETON (died 1504), daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas ASSHETON, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire (see BEB ASSHETON of Middleton, Bt), and had issue,
1a George BOOTH, of Dunham Massey, born 1491, married 1515 Elizabeth BOTELER, daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas BOTELER, KB, of Bewsey, near Warrington, Lancashire, only son of Sir John BOTELER and his third wife Dame Margaret TROUTBECK, eldest daughter of Thomas STANLEY, 1st Baron Stanley, KG (see DERBY, E and GREY OF CODNOR, B), and died 1531, having had issue (twelve children, of whom),
1b George BOOTH, of Dunham Massey, born 21 December 1515, married first 12 June 1531 Margaret BULKELEY (died without issue), daughter of Rowland BULKELEY, Constable of Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey (see WILLIAMS-BULKELEY, Bt). George BOOTH, married second 20 May 1536 Elizabeth TRAFFORD (died 22 June 1582), daughter of Sir Edmund TRAFFORD (see DE TRAFFORD, Bt), and died 3 August 1543, having had issue (two sons and three daughters, of whom the elder son),
1c Sir William BOOTH, of Dunham Massey, Kt (1558), High Sheriff of Cheshire 1570–71, born 1540, married 1565 Elizabeth WARBURTON (died 1628), daughter of Sir John WARBURTON, High Sheriff of Cheshire (see BLG 1969 EGERTON-WARBURTON of Grafton Hall
1d William BOOTH, died 1572.
2d Sir George BOOTH, of Dunham Massey, Kt (1599), created a baronet 22 May 1611, High Sheriff of Cheshire 1596–97, born 20 October 1566, educated at Lincoln College Oxford, married first (licence) 18 February 1577 Jane CARRINGTON (died without issue), daughter and heiress of John CARRINGTON, of Carrington, Cheshire and his wife Ellen HOLFORD (see CHOLMONDELEY, M). Sir George BOOTH, married second 1591 Catherine ANDERSON (died 1639), daughter of Sir Edmund ANDERSON, KB, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1582–1605 (see BP 1891 ANDERSON, Bt), and died 24 October 1652, having had issue,
3d Edmund BOOTH, barrister-at-law, born 1568, educated at University College Oxford, and Gray’s Inn, and died without issue.
4d John BOOTH, married Elizabeth PRESTWICH, daughter of Edmund PRESTWICH (see BEB PRESTWICH, Bt), and died 1644, leaving issue.
5d Robert BOOTH, a soldier, born 1570; killed in action in the Spanish Netherlands.
6d Peter BOOTH, born 1576; died 7 September 1576. 7d Richard BOOTH, born 18 June 1578, married Elizabeth MASSEY (died 1641), daughter and co-heir of George MASSEY, of Cogshall, Cheshire, and died 28 March 1628, having had issue,
1e Peter BOOTH, lord of the manor of Cogshall, married 9 June 1638 Mary BRERETON, and had issue,
1f Captain Sir William BOOTH, Kt (1689), Commissioner Royal Navy 1688–89, born 1641, and died in exile.
2f Martha BOOTH, baptised 24 July 1644.
3f George BOOTH, baptised 24 February 1646.
2e William BOOTH, of Withington, Lancashire.
3e Richard BOOTH, born 5 March 1607, married first 3 July 1632 Margaret HARDMAN, daughter of Geoffrey HARDMAN, of Clough, Lancashire. Richard BOOTH, married second 10 September 1640 Elizabeth HAWLEY (died 1689), sister of Captain Joseph Hawley, Recorder of Stratford, Connecticut, and died 1687, having had issue (with three sons and three daughters),
G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume VI, page 197.
Cokayne, G.E.; Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed.. 13 volumes in 14. 1910-1959. Reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000.
edited by Andrew Waite
Welcome to WikiTree.
I have not researched this man or his family, but apparently there is no shortage of English records of the day sporting the name Richard Booth. The challenge has been to find other records that would identify those named as the same person who immigrated and/or the same person named in yet other records. If you will, "the glue."
You wrote, "source shows Richard Booth (b. 1607) marrying an Elizabeth Hawley ..." Does the source reference a marriage record?
http://www.lan-opc.org.uk Source: Private Transcription
edited by Maddy Hardman
Jen, for PGM