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Richard Booth

Male Abt 1608 - Aft 1688  (~ 81 years)


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  • Name Richard Booth  [1, 2
    Birth Abt 1608  England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    Gender Male 
    Baptism Aug 1608  [3
    Death Aft 1688  Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Notes 
    • The Booth chart compiled by George Munson Booth of Chicago, Ill., states that Richard was baptized at Great Budworth, co. Cheshire, Eng., Aug. 1608, a son of Edward , who was a son of William of Twemlow, co. Cheshire , who was a son of Edward of Twenlow, who was a son of Sir William Booth of Dunham Massie, co. Cheshire . The earlier generations of this pedigree are authentic, but I know not the authority for the connection of this line with Richard of Stratford. He was one of the founders of Stratford, and in Mar 1687/8 gave his age in an affidavit as about 81. From the terms of the will of his son Ephraim, it is likely that his wife Elizabeth was sister of Mr. Joseph Hawley. No probate found.

      Richard Booth and his brother-in-law Joseph Hawley were certainly living in Stratford before 1650, and the probability is that they came to Stratford nearer to 1640 than 1650. Judging by the births of his children, Hawley may not have married earlier than 1646-7, while Booth must have married about 1640, so Hawley may have come to Stratford as a bachelor with Mrs. Booth and her husband. All the Booth children are recorded in Stratford, beginning with 1641, but the earlier children are entered together in a group, and since the entry of births does not seem to have started until 1649, the recording of the earlier Booth children in Stratford does not absolutely prove that they were all born in that town. However, it is our opinion that the Booth family came to Stratford by 1641 or shortly thereafter.
      In a list without date, but certainly before 1651, of every man's fence in the old field, Richard Booth is set down for eight rods. His home lot, numbered 29, was on the present Main Street, between those of Joshua Judson and Adam Hurd and directly across the street from that of Isaac Nichols, Sr. In 1662 he signed a document as Townsman, or as later called, Selectman. His name is in the list of inhabitants drawn up for Connecticut Colony, dated 28 Mar. 1668.
      He was one of those who received land by 1670 in the section known as Nichols' Farms, where one branch of his descendants lived for several generations. In an affidavit made 15 March 1687/8, he described himself as aged about eighty-one. He did not long survive that date. It is most unfortunate that no recorded will is found, which would have given us interesting information about his children and would have mentioned his wife if she was then living.

      Richard Boothe was born in England, in 1607, but in what year he emigrated to this country is not known. In an affidavit signed by him, dated March 15, 1687/8, he describes himself as being then 81 years of age. This is the latest mention of him now extant. Both he and his wife were then living, and nothing is known as to the death of either, of them. He left no will.
      His son Ephraim Booth in a joint statement with Ambrose Thompson, made many years after his father's death, leaves the impression that Richard Boothe should be accounted as among the very first settlers of Stratford, for they say :—"Our parents, we suppose, were either actually or virtually among some of the first settlers in the town of Stratford." That his wife Elizabeth was the sister of Joseph Hawley seems certain, for his son Ephraim Boothe in his will, calls Samuel Hawley, son of Joseph, "cousin".
      He was a proprietor in the township and received divisions of land for many years as did others ; and was a prominent citizen, one of the most reliable of the town. His name appears often in the town records of his day as "Townsmen" or Selectman, and in other commissions of office and trust. The prefix "Mr." before his name in the colonial records, indicates in the rigid adjustment of the social rank then observed, a position decidedly influential and respectable.
      The following, taken from the town records of Stratford, shows his position as first selectman or "townsman" as then called, and also the deed of humanity he was engaged in, that of finding a good home for a motherless little girl, "Modlin."
      "This indenture made this 24th. of June 1662, witnesseth that we the townsmen of Stratford upon good and serious considerations moving us thereunto, doe bind out one Modlin a little girl about six years of age, that formerly did belong to a Frenchman that was of necessity upon the town of Stratford; we say, to John Minor of Stratford, to him, his heirs and assigns, till the aforesaid girl shall attayne the age of twenty-one years; we say we bind her with her father's consent; also a lawful apprentice to the aforesaid John Minor till the aforesaid term of tyme shall be fully and completely ended.
      "The aforesaid John Minor engages to provide her with apparel and diet and bedding as may be suitable for such an apprentice.
      "That this is our act and deed, and witnessed by subscribing the day and date above written.
      Richard Boothe
      William Curtis
      Jeremiah Judson Townsmen"
      John Brinsmade
      Caleb Nichols

      Richard Boothe, by his wife Elizabeth, had eight children and his large landed property he divided, during his lifetime, among them. The family name which can still be traced back 600 years, first occurs in the county of Palatine, Lancaster, England, where a son of Adam de Boothe was living in 1275. All the other families of this name in various parts of England are believed to be derived from this parent stock through its younger branches. Richard Boothe ancestor of all of the name in Stratford, was the son of Sir William Boothe by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Warburton.

      Ancestor of Ulysses Grant [5, 6, 7, 8]
    Person ID I38543  Mindrum
    Last Modified 31 Oct 2016 

    Family Elizabeth Hawley   d. Dec 
    Marriage Abt 1640  [9
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth Booth,   b. 10 Sep 1641, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Oct 1732, Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 91 years)
     2. Anna Booth,   b. 14 Feb 1643/4, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Ephraim Booth,   b. 1 Aug 1648, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 9 Mar 1682/3, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 34 years)
     4. Ebenezer Booth,   b. 18/19 Nov 1651, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1732, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
     5. John Booth,   b. 5 Nov 1653, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1717, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 65 years)
     6. Joseph Booth,   b. 8 Mar 1656, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Aug 1703, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 47 years)
     7. Bethia Booth,   b. 18 Aug 1658, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location
     8. Johanna Booth,   b. 21 Mar 1661, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F26285  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 15 May 2015 

  • Sources 
    1. [S1701] Donald L. Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, (Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., New Haven, CT, 1930), p. I:87.

    2. [S2763] Donald J. Jacobus, Genealogy of the Booth Family, (E. C. Booth, 1952), p. 1.

    3. [S1701] Donald L. Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, (Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., New Haven, CT, 1930), p. I:87, Great Budnarth, Cheshire, England.

    4. [S2763] Donald J. Jacobus, Genealogy of the Booth Family, (E. C. Booth, 1952), p. 1, about 1607-8.

    5. [S1701] Donald L. Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, (Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., New Haven, CT, 1930), pp. I:87-88.

    6. [S2763] Donald J. Jacobus, Genealogy of the Booth Family, (E. C. Booth, 1952), pp. 1-2.

    7. [S204] Wm. H. Wilcoxson, History of Stratford Connecticut, 1639-1969, (Stratford Tercentenary Commission, 1969), pp. 110-112.

    8. [S8550] The American Genealogist, Vol. 51, p. 237.

    9. [S2763] Donald J. Jacobus, Genealogy of the Booth Family, (E. C. Booth, 1952), p. 2.