Capt Richard SEYMOUR

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Name:
He was Freeman at Farmington, 1669; one of the 84 proprietors of Farmington in 1672; Selectman of the Great Swamp at Christian Lane; he made there about 1686, a fort of palisades or logs sixteen feet long, sharp at the top and closely and firmly set in the ground. Within it were cabins where the settlers took refuge at night for safety against the Indians; "at the center was a well which still exists and furnishes the best water." (Andrews' New Britain.) He was killed by the fall of a tree in 1710 and administration upon his estate was granted Dec. 4, of that year. He was one of the wealthiest men in the settlement, the inventory of his estate being L426, 13s. 3d.

Andrew says: "the prudent liberality of the old town of Farmington was shown in voting to Captain Richard Seymour, in full town meeting, L1 as compensation or gratuity for planting this colony."

He gave the plot for the old cemetery at Christian Lane and was the first person interred there.

Richard married Hannah WOODRUFF about 1674. Hannah (daughter of Matthew WOODRUFF and Hannah ?) was born in Oct 1648; died on 16 Sep 1713 in Farmington, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sergt Samuel SEYMOUR was born about 1678; died on Prob. Apr. 1749.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Richard Seamer

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Name:
He died bet. July 29, when his will was made and Oct. 10, 1655, when the inventory of his estate was taken --L255, 9s.

He came to Hartford in 1639 from Chelmsford, co. Essex ? (North's Hist. of Berlin, p. 19) when his name appears on the list of those who "were Granted lotts. to haue onely at The Townes Courtesie with liery to fetch wood & keepe swine or cowes By proportion on the common." His lot was on the east side of the road to the Cow Pasture and was bounded on the north by the Cow Pasture itself; his house stood on what is now North Main Street near the Ely Place. In 1647, he was elected one of the two Chimney viewers "for the North side." He, with Roger Ludlow and others, was among those who in June, 1650 entered into an agreement "for the settlinge and plantinge of Noralke", and his name also appears in the indenture dated Feb. 15, 1651, between the planters and the Indians. Before the end of 1651, he had removed to Norwalk and in March, 1655, was elected Townsman or Selectman, but did not live to hold the office long. In his will, dated July 29, 1655, he is described as "very weak & sike," His loving wife Mercy and his faythfull friend Richard Olmsteaqd:, were designated by him as his executors. Various attempts have been made to prove him a son of Sir Edward Seymour of Berry Pomeroy, co. Devon, Eng.

Richard married Mercy RUSCOE on 18 Apr 1631 in Sawbridgeworth, co. Hertford, England. Mercy (daughter of Roger RUSCOE and Sarah ?) was born about 1610. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]