Richardson Family of Western New York

This family began with at least three brothers, perhaps four, sons of Jonathan Richardson, who was from Massachusetts and served in the Revolutionary War from that state. This family moved from Massachusetts to western New York through the area of Vermont claimed by New York, roughly around the area of Fort Edward, New York, just across the border from Vermont, though they may also have lived in New Hampshire.

A great deal of new research has been conducted since this page was last updated. My goal is to follow all the descendants of Jonathan Richardson, the progenitor. I believe that I may have a lead on the location the family lived in Massachusetts - Leyden, Hampshire County (now part of Franklin County).

Check out my blog for current Richardson research!

Recent contact from cousins includes individuals from all four known "branches" of the Jonathan Richardson family: descendants of son Jonathan, son Joseph, son Daniel, and son John.

Any documents or information on this family will be a help to try and uncover more about this family; based on advertisements and letters, research trying to discover the origins of Jonathan (I) Richardson, the progenitor, has been going on since the 1950s.

A Jonathan Richardson is enumerated there in 1790 and 1800; a Jonathan Richardson also appears there on the 1798 Direct Tax in Massachusetts. Joseph Richardson (a son of Jonathan the progenitor) and Abigail Fisk were married in Leyden in February, 1796, according to her bounty land application in 1851; Jonathan Richardson (a son of the progentior and brother to Joseph) was a witness to this marriage (Compiled Military Service records of Joseph Richardson and Joseph Richardson Jr).

Jonathan Richardson, the progenitor
born circa 1743 (date from Veterans Buried in Livonia, Livingston Co, New York)
died bef 1829 (also from above, as well as deed records cited in letter from 1956)
buried: Annis-Powell Cemetery, Livonia, Livingston Co, New York, gravesite unknown - as per above

Deed Records state that he owned a lot in South Livonia, Livingston Co, New York (originally Ontario Co), totally 73 18/100 acres on Lot No. 70 dated 29 November 1814; on 2 February 1821 he deeded this land to his son Jonathan Richardson Jr. Jonathan Richardson Jr deeded this land to his son Jonathan (Jonathan III) on 14 October 1829.

No census records for any Richardson male in this family in western New York before 1810.
The name of his wife is unknown, though she is present in his household in 1810 in Livonia, Ontario Co, New York.
More census records for Jonathan Richardson.

Parents: He is not the son of Jonathan Richardson and Abigail Farmer, as it appears that Jonathan Richardson married Lydia Foster in 1772 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (see vital records of Chelmsford, MA) or Hannah Franklin, and died in Chelmsford, Massachusetts in 1813.

Known Sons (* indicates child with known issue)

Jonathan Richardson Jr
born 26 Nov 1762 (probably Massachusetts) - 1956 letter, Veterans Buried in Livonia, and Ancestral file
died 5 Apr 1850 (Independence, Allegany Co, New York) - 1956 letter, Veterans buried in Livonia, Ancestral File
buried Annis-Powell Cemetery, Livonia, Livingston Co, New York - Veterans and 1956 letter

military: He and two other Richardson men, Daniel and Joseph, all fought in the War of 1812 in the New York militia in Capt Gould Tyler's Company, Col. Blakesly's Militia.

wife: Rhoda Thompson (b. abt 1773, died 30 Sep 1840 (1956 letter), buried Annis-Powell Cemetery), married 1792 in Swanzey, Chester Co, New Hampshire (History of Swanzey, New Hampshire records their marriage, but not children (1956 letter)
children: Sarah*, Rhoda*, Clarissa*, daughter, Jonathan*, daughter (perhaps Laura), Anna*, son (perhaps Alpheus), Uriah*, Daniel*, Philander*, Philandra*, daughter (perhaps Harriet), daughter, son, Marinda*, and Louisa*.

Joseph Richardson
born between 1766 and 1784 from the 1810 census
died 29-31 December 1813, at the Battle of Black Rock, New York (shot near the heart and scalped, from bounty land application of wife Abigail Fisk)
buried Annis-Powell Cemetery, Livonia, Livingston Co, New York (body brought back after the battle and buried; there is also a stone in the Honeoye Falls Cemetery, Honeoye Falls, Monroe Co, New York).

military: He and two other Richardson men, Daniel and Jonathan, all fought in the War of 1812 in the New York militia in Capt Gould Tyler's Company, Col. Blakesly's Militia. Joseph enlisted in the middle of December, 1813 and died at the end of that month. His wife applied for bounty land under his service in 1850.

wife: Abigail Fisk (born 1774-1775, census and bounty land application; died 15 November 1851 in Mendon, Monroe Co, New York, living with son Rufus), married in Leyden, Mass (then in Hampshire Co, now Franklin Co) Feb 1796 by a Baptist minister.
children: Joseph Jr*, Chester*, Rufus*, Lydia*, Daniel, Philinda*, Elsie*, and William Harrison (born after the death of his father).

Daniel Richardson
born between 1775 and 1784 (1810 and 1820 census records); 1781 according to Veterans buried in Livonia
died 1820 (Veterans Buried in Livonia and FindaGrave)
buried Oakridge Cemetery, Livonia, Livingston Co, New York (Veterans buried in Livonia)

military: He and two other Richardson men, Joseph and Jonathan, all fought in the War of 1812 in the New York militia in Capt Gould Tyler's Company, Col. Blakesly's Militia.

wife: Philena Stebbins (born 1780 - 1784 (census records), 1783 (1850 census household of John Baccus); died after 1850). Married second, as his third wife, John Baccus, b. 1772, d. 1862.
children: Philinda*, Daniel J.*, Lydia (never married), Washington E.*, Didamia or Diadamia*, Joseph B.*, and William Waring*.

John Richardson
born
died possibly between 1830 and 1840
buried

wife: Elizabeth (Betsey) Phillips (no dates known). She "was learned in medicine and rode about the country on horseback with her saddlebags like any other doctor."
children: At least three: John, who died after being pushed against a stump on the schoolground and died from injuries received; Elizabeth* ("who married her first cousin Rufus Richardson", son of Joseph Richardson); and William*