Richard West (bef. 1705 - bef. 1760)

Born before 1705 in Province of New Jersey [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 22 Jan 1760 at about age 55 in Greenwich, Gloucester, Province of New Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile manager: H Husted [send private message]

Biography

Richard's DOB is estimated as "before 1705" because we know his son John was born in 1735 and listed second in his father's will.

Family

Married Rachel ___ by about 1730. She is likely the mother of all his children; Richard called her his mother in his 1768 will and John's tombstone says he was the son of Richard and Rachel West; per his tombstone he was born in 1735.

Children

1. Thomas
2. John b.a. 1735 (per tombstone)
3. Israel
4. Richard
5. Elisabeth

Land Records

These land records place Richard West in what is today East Greenwich, New Jersey. They reference Edward's Run. See Edwards Run in Greenwich on Google Maps

EDWARD'S RUN / EDWARD'S CREEK

Part of Mantua Creek Watershed [Lower Delaware Watershed]

Edwards Run, the second major tributary of Mantua Creek, flows north for 6.9 miles from its headwaters in Mantua Township, through East Greenwich and empties into Mantua Creek at Mt. Royal. Edwards Run drains an area of 10.6 square miles.

This waterway originally emptied into Mantua Creek near the railroad tracks but the course of the stream was diverted by Restore Lippincott. This creek was named in honor of Edward Byllings, an early owner of the land in our township. Edward's Creek at Gerrard's Dam, was the line between Mantua and Greenwich before the creation of East Greenwich Township. ^[1]

• 3 May 1737 survey of Samuel Driver's land, 85 acres. Gloucester County, West Jersey. Richard West listed as owner of adjoining land; other owners of adjoining land are Thomas Spicer, Thomas Bryan, and Alexander Morgan.^[2]

• 1 Dec 1742 survey and map of Richard West's 267 acres on a branch of Edwards Creek, Greenwich Township, Gloucester County. Owners of adjoining land: Jeffery Chew, Jonathan Fisher, Thomas Holloway, William Sweeting, Mathew Tomlin.^[3]

• 20 Mar 1753 RESURVEY AND MAP of Isaac Stephen's plantation, Meadows and Meadowlands; Edwards Creek; 560 acres. Richard West owned adjoining land, as did [Unrecorded] Burge (Former owner of adjoining land), Jacob Couzens, Francis Easley, Timothy Elington, Robert Mofford, [Unrecorded] Richard.^[4]

• 24 Mar 1753 Richard West conveyed land to Isaac Stephens in West Jersey.^[5]

• 16 Apr 1753 another survey of Isaac Stephen's land^[6]

Contemporaries

Neighbors of Samuel Driver, 1737

• Richard West
• Thomas Spicer Sr. (1686-1759)
• Thomas Bryan
• Alexander Morgan
  • Presumably Alexander Morgan (abt.1694-1751)?

Neighbors of Richard West, 1742

• Isaac Stephens
• Jeffrey Chew
• Jonathan Fisher
• Thomas Holloway
• William Sweeting
• Mathew Tomlin

Neighbors of Isaac Stephens, 1753

• Richard West
• ___ Burge
• Jacob Couzens
• Francis Easley
• Timothy Elington
• Robert Mofford

Witnessed his will, 1760

• Restore Lippincott
  • Was this Restore Lippincott and is he the same Restore who diverted Edward's Run?
• Sarah Willson (witness)
• Jacob Spicer (witness)
  • son of Thomas Spicer Sr. (1686-1759)?

Court Records

There are likely more (need to check Glo Co court books at Glo Co Historical Society) but there is a 1754 court case record for Richard West suing the estate of William Gerrard for payment of a debt on bond.^[7]

Death and Legacy

Abstract of will

"1759, Oct. 4. West, Richard, of "Greanwitch," Gloucester Co.; will of. Wife, Rachel. Children--Thomas (who has son Uriah), John, Israel, Richard and Elisabeth. Real and personal estate. Witnesses--Sarah Willson, Restore Lippincott, Jacob Spicer. Proved Jan. 22, 1760. Lib. 9, p. 443"^[8]

Transcription of Will

The original will is on microfilm at the New Jersey State Archives. Transcription by H. Husted from a photographed copy of the microfilm.

"I Richard West of Greanwitch in the County of Gloucester and province of New Jersey being frail and weak of body but of sound and ??? mind do this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine make this my last will in the manner following

Item. I give unto my son Thomas the plantation or tract of land whereon he now lives with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging being part of the Land purchased of Andeeio? Readman beginning by the corner of said land and thence along the line thereof till it cross the mill pond thence up said pond to the head thereof so as to include all the meadow thence across? to Emlens Line thence along said line until it come down to a small run near John Tomlins thence a cross said run to the side of the hill thence along the side of the hill as to include all the meadows and conveniencies [sic] for a grist mill to be ??etter thereon and to ? to Chews line and along said line and Allens line to the place of beginning

Item I give unto my son John some access of meadow ground at the beginning corner of a certain tract of land purchased of John Alford and further I give unto my said son John the plantation where I now live with all the land thereunto adjoining not allready given

Item. I give unto my sons Israel and Richard a tract of land purchased of John Alford as all to be equally divided in quantity between them Israel to have the upper part and Richard the lower as next the river Exceting [sic] four acres of said tract already given to my son John above and I give to my sons Israel and Richard a tract or parcel of land lying of the L?? side of the land given to my son Thomas joyning Sweten and Chews Lands to be equally divided between them in case Richard should die before he live? to the age of twenty one Israel to have Richard's tract exception six acres of meadow ground adjoining lower abovesaid? to go to John? And in case John die then the ten acres abovesaid to Israel and Richard and the plantation of John to go to my son Thomas. I also order my four sons to pay to my daughter Elizabeth yearly and every year during her life the sum of five pound each

Item I give and bequeath the profits of the plantation where I now live to my beloved wife during her life and the servis of my negress alone? and at her death to dispose of the Negro woman as she shall think proper and John to have Toby Israel to have Step and Richard to have Cate.

I also give my personal estate to my beloved wife and further I improve? my executors hereafter to be named to cut timber of the land whereon I live for the discharge of my just ???

And lastly of constitute ordain and appoint my beloved wife and my sons Israel and Richard executrix and executors of this my last will revoking and annulling all others in wills whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year abovesaid

I further order that there be paid my grandson Uriah son of my son Thomas ten pound with the interest arising then from my deceased when he shall arrive to the age of twenty this last request was inserted? before executed

Richard West (seal)

Signed sealed and pronounced to be the last will and testamen [sic] of the said Richard West in presence of us

Sarah Willson

Restore Lippincott

Jacob Spicer

On 22 Jan 1760, Rachel West, israel West, and Richard West "being of the people called Quakers on their solemn affirmation which they took according to law, did declare and affirmthat the within written instrument contains the true last will and testament of Richard West."

On 11 Feb 1760, Restore Lippincott and on 21 Feb 1760 Sarah Willson, being Quakers, solemnly affirmed before John Ladd, surrogate, they witnessed Richard West the testator therein named signed and sealed the same will.

Slaves

Richard West's will names three slaves and an enslaved woman.

• enslaved woman, left to wife Rachel
• Toby, left to son John
• Step, left to son Israel
• Cate, left to son Richard

Research Notes

Possible Origins

There are some interesting records attached to an Ancestry profile for Richard West, which has Richard as the son of James West, Jr. whose birth was recorded in Bristol Monthly Meeting in 1681 and who was named in his mother's 1702 will. Given the overlapping dates, clearly these are not all for the the same Richard son of James.

• a 6 May 1700 indenture for Richard West, son of James West, late of Baisingstoke, County of Southern ???, for seven years to Elizabeth Godwin, relict of Charles Godwin.^[9]
• Baptism of Richard, son of Mr. James West, glazier, at Banbury St. Mary 14 Dec 1708.
• Supposed grandmother Prudence West (widow of James & mother of James) died 10d 4m 1702 in Philadelphia MM.

Other Wests of interest (aside from those in Shrewsbury)

• John West of Philadelphia
• Quaker John West of London, died 1699, had a son and grandson named Richard (perhaps he was the grandson?) -- and a married daughter in Philadelphia
• Long story, but there is a Richard West in New Jersey who wrote a letter to Parliament (pull citation when you can)

No New Jersey Quaker records for Richard West found in searches, so where was he practicing? Was he going to an Anglican church (Burlington? Christ Church in Philadelphia?)

Speaking of Anglican, here's a contemporary Richard West (it cannot be him, however, given we know son John was born in 1735 to Richard and Rachel)

• Richard West married Elizabeth Moon 13 December 1733 at Christ Church, Philadelphia. Rev. Archibald Cummings presiding. ^[10][11]

Wife Rachel

Is Richard's wife the Rachael West named in the 1753 will of William Weatherby? Both families were in Greenwich, and a granddaughter married a Weatherby, so the families were known to each other.

Sources

1. ↑ Brown, Janice. "WATERWAYS of East Greenwich." http://www.nj.searchroots.com/EG/waterways.htm
2. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records, 1650-1900s. citing WJ Loose Records : 1737 - Driver, Samuel (39727) (PWESJ004) and Book M, Part 2 (WJ Surveys) : Folio 231 (PWESJ004)
3. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records, 1650-1900s. citing WJ Loose Records : 1742 - West, Richard (40230) (PWESJ004) and Book E (WJ Surveys) : Folio 231 (PWESJ004)
4. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records, 1650-1900s. citing Book S-6 (WJ Surveys) : Folio 119 (PWESJ004)
5. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records, 1650-1900s. citing Q (WJ) : Folio 60 (SSTSE023)
6. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records, 1650-1900s. citing Book S-6 (WJ Surveys) : Folio 119 (PWESJ004)
7. ↑ New Jersey State Archives. Early Land Records database. https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/SupremeCourt.aspx
8. ↑ West, Richard. Calendar of Wills 1751-1760. Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. 1751-1760. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. (Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey), volume 32, page 353
9. ↑ London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2052/images/32512_a063007-01636?pId=846009. Original: London Metropolitan Archive; Reference Number: COL/CHD/FR/02/0230-0235
10. ↑ Book Year: 1709-1800 Page Number: 4181 Cross Reference: Mr. Cummings's Private Register from Sept.r 9th 1726 to Jan. 31st 1741 A Register of Persons married in Philad.a"
11. ↑ Book Year: 1709-1800 Page Number: 4074