Richard SPARROW

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 19 Nov 1660

Notes:

Excerpt from "Genealogical Records: Pilgrim Genealogies and Histories": Certain members of the Sparrow family of England owned shares in the Virginia Company, and were probably among the early planters of Jamestown, but had become discouraged about conditins in that settlement previous to 1630, therefore, it is not surprising to find Richard Sparrow, his wife and son Jonathan residents of Plymouth as early as 1632.

Excerpt from "Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines":
Richard Sparrow, with his wife Pandora (?) and son Jonathan, emigrated from England and became a resident of Plymouth, Massachusetts, as early as 1632. In 1633 he became a freeman; in that year, as well as in the following one, he paid a tax of nine shillings; in 1640 he appointed to view the meadows; and from 1640 to 1653 he was a surveyor of highways at least seven times. He must have displayed either a special fitness or an especial likeing for jury service for he is found to have assisted in the deliberations of twenty-eight diferent juries between 1640 and 1658; he was also on five grand juries and on two coroners' juries. He held the position of constable in 1640 and 1641, was one of the receivers of "Exsise" in 1650, and was the recipient of seven or more tracts of land between 1636 and 1642.

Name:
Richard Sparrow was in Plymouth as early as 1633. In 1638, he had forty acres of land granted him on the north end of Fresh lake. The same year he was one of those who investigated the cause of the death of John England, whose body had been found upon the flats about Plymouth. In 1639 he was one of the grand jurors for Plymouth; and is mentioned as having taken a fatherless girl as an "apprentice" for nine years, her former friend and stepfather consenting. The same year, he is reported as having had four steers sold him, by John Barnes, which were being wintered at Yarmouth, where they were to be delivered. In 1640, he was a constable and surveyor at Plymouth, and had meadow granted him at that place. In 1643, he was a grand juror, and in 1647 a surveyor at Plymouth, In 1650 he was a resident in that town, and had a cow stolen by one called in the record Thomas Sherne. He was in Eastham in 1655, and a surveyor. In 1656 he represented Eastham in the colony court, showing that after so short a residence the good people of Nausett had full confidence in his abilities, and that they were willing to entrust him with official honors. In 1657, with John Doane, Josiah cooke, Richard Higgins, and John Smalley, he had land granted him between Bridgewater and Weymouth. The same year, with Thomas Clark, the accommodation of Mr. Prence, who had been chosen governor, and from court, while he had his home in Nausett. He was a surveyor in 1658, and a grand juror in 1659. He died at Eastham, "the 8th of Jan. in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty" say the Eastham records. His will was made Nov. 9, 1660, and presented at Plymouth march 5, 1660/1. It was witnessed by Samuel Freeman and Josiah Cooke. He mentions wife Pandora, son Jonathan, granddaughters Priscilla and Rebecca, and a grandson, John Sparrow. He gave to the church at Eastham, "one ewe sheep," which his executors were to dispose of to the best advantage. He gave his place, etc., to his wife during her life, and at her decease, to his son Jonathan. this place was situated in the present town of Eastham, near the old burying-ground of the first settlers. A Short time after his death, the mother and son sold out to Mr. Thomas Crosby, the religious teacher, and removed to the highlands of Porchet, within what is now called East Orleans, where the son Jonathan had made several purchases. Here the widow, it is supposed, lived until her death. He had a son but not daughters to survive him. the son, Captain Jonathan Sparrow, was a prominent man in Eastham.

Family/Spouse: Pandora ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Capt. Jonathan SPARROW was born about 1633/4 in England; died on 21 Mar 1706/7 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA.