From Susan Woodruff Abbott, Families of Early Milford, Connecticut, (Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc Baltimore 1979), Page 547.:
Ware, England, the market town where he was born and grew up, is a place of some importance in eastern Hertfordshire, and it was a hotbed of Puritanism in the early 17th Century. The famous Rev. Charles Chauncey (later to become President of Harvard College) was vicar of Ware from 1627 to 1633, emigrating to New England in 1638. This was about the same time Richard Platt came, and he was no doubt deeply influenced by Mr. Chauncey's preaching. Richard Platt's religious beliefs were profound and Puritan in character. The sincerity and depth of his religious feelings are shown by his will wherehe took great pains to provide a Bible for 24 of his living grandchildren, and he also made two significant bequests of 5 pounds each, to be devoted towards the "bring up" of a young man "to be a schollar" in the Putitan mould. He was no doubt educated at the Grammar School at Ware, and may have become a tailor as his father and grandfather were, as he apprenticed in 1629 which implies that he was in some trade at the time. In 1639 he was a free planter and his home was # 38 consisting of 4 acres and 1 rod, near the corner of the present West Main and Cherry Streets.
From "Ancestry and Descendants of Henry Perkins Smith and Christiana (Long) Smith - with added data of Henry's brothers and their families and of Henry's father's and mother's brothers and sisters andtheir families" compiled by Georgina (Hathaway) Randall - 1958 beginning of page 95:
Richard died shortly before February 13, 1684 / 5, on which date inventory of his estate was taken.
Richard was under five years of age when his father died. According to his father's will, Richard was to have the family dwelling house after the death of his mother. He was undoubtedly educated atthe Grammar School in Ware and may have become a tailor as had been his father and grandfather before him. He had an apprentice in 1629, which indicates that he was engaged in some sort of trade.
Richard's oldest child was baptized at Royden in 1629 and his next four children in Ware in 1631 through 1636. On April 25, 1638 he disposed of his lands and houses at Ware, receiving 42 pounds and prepared to sail for New England, but he may have been delayed for several months in England. He and his family probably crossed the ocean late in 1638 or early in 1639, but the exact date of their crossing has not been learned.
Richard was probably acquainted with the Reverend Peter Prudden in Hertfordshire. Prudden brought a group of people to New Haven in April 1638. Records indicate that "Richard Plot joined the MilfordChurch January 29, 1639 / 40", so he was not one of the organizers who signed the original covenant August 22, 1639 in New Haven. This Prudden group moved to Milford, Connecticut, after April 8, 1640. "Mary Plot, wife of Richard, " joined this church August 15, 1641, after the group had arrived in Milford. Church records call Richard, "Deacon".
Richard had property in New Haven. A list dated 1643 (but Jacobus believes this date should have been 1640) gives:
Rich: Platt - 4 persons (should be 6)
estate 200 pounds:
20 A. in 1st div.
4 A. in the "Neck"
12 A. meadow
48 A. in 2nd div.
paying yearly rate - 1 pound
Richard lived in the "Hertfordshire quarter" of New Haven with William Fowler, Mr. Peter Prudden, James Prudden, Edmund Tapp, the widow Baldwin, Zachariah Whitman, and Thomas Osborne.
Four more children were born to Richard and Mary in Milford. Their son Epenetus was the first child born in Milford and was baptized by Mr. Prudden July 2, 1640.
Richard held no public office, but he was a witness to several wills, including that of Peter Prudden, his pastor.
In Milford, his home lot was # 38, four acres and one rood. It was located on the east side of Mill River on East Town Street. The Second Congregational Church was built eventually across the road from where this lot was and on the same side of the river.
In the Tercentennary Committee Report on Milford, 1933, p. 11, appears the following report on landed estate of Deacon Richard Plattm an original settler. This is called typical for this colony:
"After the division of 1687 it consisted of one home lot, four strips of meadow, and nine pieces of upland, -------- one farm in fourteen parts, with seven miles between the extreme northern and southern tracts. How a modern farmer would rail at such a system! But there were compensating advantages. By getting his ground in installments the planter could develop his holdings progressively. Heneed not pay taxes on any land much in advance of his capacity to cultivate it properly."
Richard's religious beliefs seem to have been profound and Puritan. The language of his will shows his strong belief. He left a Bible to each of his 24 living grandchildren and made two significantbequests of five pounds each towards "bringing up" of a young man "to be a scholar" in the Puritan mould.
There is a stone to Richard Platt in the Memorial Bridge in Milford. He was buried in the old part of the present Milford CEmetery, but the oldest stones have all disappeared.
Of his children, John went to Norwalk; Isaac and Epenetus to Huntington, Long Island; while Josiah and Joseph (our ancestor) remained in Milford. Richard left his house to his son Joseph.
Research of Evelyn Beran [
[email protected]] as posted on Ancestry.com as "Sanford-Shulsen Family" on 19 October 2004:
Roydon, where Richard and Mary married, is four miles southeast of Ware.
On 16 April 1609 was mentioned as son in the will of George Platte of Ware.
On 13 July 1629 there was an "Order that Richard Platt of Ware and his apprentice be brought before certain justices, that some order might be taken to end the differences between them."
On 25 April 1638 Westminster, England, Richard and Mary Platt signed a final concord to dispose of their lands and houses at Ware, receiving ?42 for the premises. Then they prepared to sail for New England, but may have had to stay in or near London for some months while awaiting passage. They appear to have crossed the Atlantic either in the latter half of 1638 or the first half of 1639.
It has been stated that the Platt family arrived at New Haven in August 1639, and this may be true, but Richard Platt is not among those who signed the covenant of 22 August 1639, and "Richard Plot" did not join the Church of Milford at New Haven until 29 January 1639/1640. He was a free planter, according to Abbott in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, in 1639. His home lot was #38, consisting of 4 acres and one rod, near the corner of the present West Main and Cherry Streets. In 1669 he was chosen deacon of the church at Milford. He appeared on the list of freemen at Milford in October1669: "A List of the Freemen of Milford [October 1669] ... Richard Platt."
In her will dated 9 November 1669, proved 20 November 1669, Sarah (Bryan?) (Baldwin) Astwood of Milford appointed "my beloved brothers Richard Platt and Thomas Wheeler" overseers. Richard Platt and Thomas Wheeler were also witnesses to the will. Since Sarah's maiden name has not been proven, this statement has led to much genealogical speculation as to how she was related to these men -- or were they merely highly esteemed "brethren in the church"? If you look to their descendants rather than their antecedants, another possible explanation suggests itself -- Sarah's grandson Zachariah3 Baldwin(Richard2, Sylvester1) was married to Richard Platt's granddaughter Mary3 Atkinson (Mary2, Richard1).
The will of "Richard Platt of Milford in Ye colony of conecticutt" was dated 4 August 1683: It makes the following bequests:
I give unto my son John Platt beside what I have formerly given him ?26 & foure bibles for his children. I give unto my son Isaac Platt ?20 besides what I have formerly given him & for his children three bibles. I give unto my son Epenetus Platt besides what I have formerly given him ?20 & for his children three bibles.
I give my son in law Christopher Comstocke & his wife beside what I have formerly given him ?22 & for his children 3 bibles. I give Samuel Bech [Beach] beside what I have formerly given him ?6. I giveHannah & Deborah Merwin two bibles.
I give Elder [Daniel] Buckingham ?5 toward bringing up his son to be a schollar.
I give my son Epenetus ?5 toward bringing up his son to be a schollar.
I give my son Josia Platt beside what I have formerly given him the meadow on ye far side the creeke by stubby playne, & halfe the pasture or land by ye necke gate, & the land not yet taken in of my division, & halfe the pasture land below the two orchards, & five bibles for his children. I give Josia Whitmore & his sister two bibles. I give my son Joseph Platt's children two bibles.
I give my son Joseph Platt all the remainder of my estate, housing, barnes, lands, meadows, corne, cattle, horses, mares, sheep, hogs, movables, he paying the legacyes above named & debts.
I make my son Joseph Platt my executor of this my last Will.
I desire Elder Buckingham & my son Josia Platt to see this my Will fulfilled, & I give Elder Buckingham & my son Josia twenty shillings apiece for their paynes.
[Signed] Richard Platt
Daniel Buckingham and Josia Platt, witnesses
The Inventory of the estate was taken 13 February 1684 by Samuell Ells, John Streame, and Sylvanus Baldwin. It totaled ?547:05:07. (New Haven probate records vol 1, part 2, p. 138).
The Platt stone in the Milford Memorial Bridge reads:
"DEACON RICHARD PLATT
Obit 1684
MARY His Wife."
d: BET 17 FEB AND 12 MAR 1565. Richard Platt, Deacon, had person sources.
1,2,3 He was christened on 6 May 1604 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England.
1,2