The Founders of Hartford
Thomas Richards, Hartford, 1639, a proprietor “by the town's courtesie” ; his lot in 1639 was west
of the present Lafayette St. He d. before Feb. 163940 ; when the distribution was made to lye widow Richards, ye late
wife of Thomas Richards, deceased." She d. in 1671 ; inv. June 12. -Ch. : i. John, b. 1631 ; m. Lydia, dau. of
George Stocking; freeman, 1669 ; chimneylooker, 1657 ; living in 1712. ii. Mary, m. Peck, of Milford;-Savage says
that Joseph Peck, of Milford, m. Mary, dau. of a widow Richards, in 1669. iii.. Thomas was one of a company from Conn.,
who purchased, July 11, 1667, a tract on the Passaic River, in New Jersey, including the present site of Newark. He was
a deacon in the church, and a prominent citizen ; will dated Oct. 2, 1708, proved Apr. 20, 1715 ; names wife,
Hannah; leaves most of his property to his nephew John, son of his brother John. iv. Obadiah, an early settler
of Farmington ; freeman, May, 1669 ; signed the agreement for planting Mattatuck, 1674, and joined the settlement early;
m. (1) Hannah, dau. of John Andrews, of Farmington; (2) Esther; he d. Nov. 11, 1702. v. Samuel; freeman, May, 1658;
settled in New Haven as a cordwainer, where be d. 1662, unm.
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