Notes:

Surname: Recorded as 'Huchenson' in Salem, Massachusetts VRs, p. 1:455.

Mr. Hutchinson lived through the ever memorable period of the Witchcraftdelusion of 1692. Strong in his mind, and sensible as he was on everyother subject, yet he was not proof against the current of thought whichpervaded some of the noblest intellects of that age. He was one of anumber who entered a complaint against Tituba, an Indian woman living inthe family of Rev. Samuel Parris, Sarah, the wife of Wm. Good, and Sarah,wife of Alex'r Osborn.

During the greater part of its seventeenth-century existence SalemVillage was torn by internal and external dissension. There were fierceboundary disputes with Topsfield, dissatisfaction with the village'srelationship to the mother town of Salem, quarrels between the parish(political) and the church (spiritual) and personal controversies overthe choice of ministers, all culminating in the horrors of the witchcraftdelusion of 1692. Joseph Hutchinson seems to have kept fairly clear ofcontention. He was, however, definitely of the parish party. In 1686 hefenced off his loand surrounding the meetinghouse acre, leaving anentrance on the end toward the road. The authorities sued him for sodoing and his answer is indicative of his character:

"Joseph Hutchinson his answer is as followeth:--First, as to the covenantthey spoke of, I conceive it is neither known of by me nor them, as willappear by records from the farmer's book. Second, I conceive they haveno cause to complain of me for fencing in my own land; for I am sure Ifenced in none of theirs. I wish they would not pull down my fences. Iam loath to complain, though I have just cause. Third, for blocking upthe meetinghouse, it was they did it, and not I, in the time of theIndian wars; and they made Salem pay for it. I wish they would bring memy rocks they took to do it with; for I want them to make fence with.

"Thus hoping this honored Court will see that there was no just cause tocomplain against me, and their cause will appear unjust in that theywould in an unjust way take away my land, I trust I shall have relief; soI rest, your Honor's servant.,

(Nov. 27, 1686.)
Joseph Hutchinson."

In the long controversy between the parish and the church resulting fromthe personality and cupidity of Mr. Parris, Hutchinson was definitelyarrayed against that clergyman, and thus placed himself and his family ingrave danger when, in the frantic months of 1692, Parris practically heldpowers of life and death in his control. This does not mean thatHutchinson did not believe in the existence of witchcraft. He obviouslydid, as in an emotional reaction to the accusations of the "afflicted"children, he was one of the complainants who procured the warrantsagainst the first unfortunate women accused-- Tituba, Mr. Parris'sIndian slave, Sarah Good and Sara Osburn. As the hysterical proceedingsadvanced, however, he seems to have had strong doubts. He and his wifewere among the signers of the declaration as to the character of RebeccaNurse, and later the close questioning to which he subjected the childAbigail Williams upon a casual meeting with her indicates gravesuspicion. He emerged safely from the crisis and in later yearscontinued to lend support to Mr. Parris's opponents. Hutchinson did notleave a will nor is there any administration of his estate on file. Hehad given to his sons much of his real property during his lifetime.

In his father's Will, it is expressed that the care of Sarah, hismother-in-law, be devolved on him. But shortly after his decease, shedesired "to take her abode among her relations," which was just prior toher marriage with Mr. Roots. In doing this some difficulty occurred inthe settlement of her affairs, between herself and Joseph.

In 1658 he was chosen constable and tax gatherer, and his name appears onthe jury list for 1679; he was frequently chosen administrator andoverseer, and often was witness to wills, deeds and inventories. Thereis no will or administration of his estate on record, he having duringhis life time, distributed his large property among his children.

Joseph married Bethiah PRINCESalem, Essex, Massachusetts. Bethiah (daughter of James PRINCE and Mary UNKNOWN) was born about 1638 in Prob. Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; was christened on 26 Aug 1638 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; died before Feb 1678. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Benjamin HUTCHINSON was born before 26 Sep 1666 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; was christened on 26 Sep 1666 in First Church, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; died in 1733 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts.

Notes:

Richard Hutchinson, son of Thomas of Arnold, England, was born in 1602.The date of his birth is ascertained from a deposition on file in theoffice of the Essex County Court, Salem, Mass., where in a case ofCromwell vs. Ruck, 1660, he states his age as being 58 years.

He emigrated to America in 1634, with his wife Alice, and four children,and settled in Salem Village, now Danvers, in the vicinity of Whipple andHathorne's hill. Richard applied for admission as a freeman and was swornMarch 4, 1634/35. For the first few years after its arrival the familyseems to have lived in the thickly settled part of Salem, as it isrecorded that Philemon Dickerson was granted land for tanpits nearRichard Hutchinson/s house in 1639. Before this, however, he had begun toaccumulate the large acreage in the heavily forested section, later knownas Salem Village and Danvers, which became his homestead. In 1636 and1637 he was granted a total of one hundred acres, the last twenty beingon condition that he "shallo sett up plowing within 2 years." Clearingthe land was a lengthy process. Adjoining this land were two hundredacres granted to Mr. (Edmund) Freeman and one hundred acres granted toJohn Thorndike, both of which Hutchinson acquired, giving him a farm offour hundred acres. On June 6, 1648, he bought from Elias Stileman anadjoining farm of one hundred and fifty acres, now the center of Danvers,and on February 21, 1649, with his son-in-law Nathaniel Putnam he boughtfrom William Haynes one-half (one hundred and fifty acres) of the Peasefarm. His final important purchase was made in partnershhip with JohnPutnam, John Hathorn and Daniel Ray on October 31, 1662, when they boughtfrom "Worshipful Major Hathorn" and Capt. Richard Davenport two farms ofabout two hundred and eighty acres each, all of which made him one of thegreatest land owners of the place and time.

The first official notice made of him is in the town records, when it isstated that, in recognition of his public spirit, as being the possessorand introducer of the first plow brought into this country, he wasgranted one hundred and forty acres of land by the town authorities. Hewas a thorough agriculturist, and by assiduous devotion to his occupationand economy in living, he acquired a large landed estate, which on hisdeath was divided according to the terms of his will. He and his wife arerecorded as members of the first church in Salem.

Hutchinson's public services were slight. In 1636/7 with RichardBrackenbury and Thomas Lathrop he viewed "what Inlands their is betwixtJeffreys creeks and Mackerell Cove, 4 or ffyve miles," in what is nowManchester. He was admitted to Salem church in 1647. His appearances incourt, both as plaintiff and defendant, were in minor causes, but as awitness in Cromwell v. Rush in 1660 he gave the interesting informationthat his age was then about fifty-eight years. In 1661 Hutchinson and hisson-in-law Nathanial Putnam went to Ipswich to arrange a marriage betweenHannah Hutchinson and Daniel Boardman with Boardman's father. To furtherthe match Thomas Boardman agreed to give Daniel a deed for one-half ofhis dwelling, orchard and land, and if Daniel should die without issueHannah was to be paid a Ð100 jointure after which his whole estate was tobe at his father's disposal. After the marriage Boardman built a newhouse and offered Daniel his choice of that or the old one to live in,but he dalayed giving a legal conveyance and his son finally sued for it.

Hutchinson disposed of much of his property to his children in hislifetime. He and his wife Alice conveyed half of the Stileman farm toNathaniel Putnam in 1651. On May 16, 1666, he gave to his son Joseph onequarter of the Stileman farm "where are now his dwelling house, barn andland already broken up," the apple trees in the old orchard and threehundred other acres. On the same day he deeded to his son John the familyhomestead and all the meadow purchased of Capt. Davenport. In 1680 he mada gift to his son-in-law James Hadlock which was confirmed by JosephHutchinson in 1704.

He and Alice are first mentioned in the records of First Church, Salem in1636, in connection with the baptism of his daughter Abigail. Richard wasadmitted to the Church on April 4, 1647. His wife Alice had been a memberof the Church before him.

Richard was married three times. On 2, Oct. 1668, he married as hissecond wife, Susanna, widow of Samuel Archard. She died Nov. 26, 1674,and he married Sarah, widow of James Standish. On the decease of JamesStandish, Mr. Hutchinson had been appointed administrator. At his thirdmarriage he must have been at least 79 years of age, and certainly 66 onhis second.

His will was signed Jan. 19, 1679, and probated Sept. 26, 1682. Itmentions daughters Abigail Hannah, sons-in-law Anthony Ashby, DanielBoardman, Nathaniel Putnam, Thomas Hale and James Hadlock, grandchildrenBethia Hutchinson and Sarah Hadlock, servant, Black Peter, and his sonJoseph, executor. His widow survived him, and shortly after married forher third husband Thomas Roots, of Manchester, whose will was proved Nov.27, 1683. She was living as late as March 1683-4.

From "Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter GoodwinDavis (1885-1966)", by Walter Goodwin Davis with an Introduction by GaryBoyd Roberts, Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland,1996, pp. 2:320-21: He may very possibly be identical with that RichardHutchinson who married Alice Bosworth at Cotgrave, co. Nottingham, andwho was the father of three daughters baptized in neighboring parishesbetween 1628 and 1630, two of whom bore the names of Richard Hutchinson'stwo oldest daughters with him in Salem. The descent from an armorialfamily of Hutchinson of Arnold and Newark, co. Nottingham, provided forhim, is, however, insufficiently proven to be acceptable.

Richard married Alice BOSWORTH on 7 Dec 1627 in Corgrave, Nottinghamshire, England. Alice was born in 1605 in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 26 Nov 1694 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]