Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: User Home Page Book: Ricketson Family History: Register Report of William Ricketson

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Descendants of William Ricketson

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM¹ RICKETSON was born in England, and died March 01, 1691/92 in Dartsmouth, Bristol, Ma.. He married ELIZABETH MOTT May 14, 1679 in Portsmouth, R.I., daughter of ADAM MOTT and MARY LOTT. She was born August 06, 1659 in Portsmouth, R.I., and died Aft. 1723 in Dartmouth, Ma..

Notes for WILLIAM RICKETSON:
BIOGRAPHY

William Ricketson is believed to be the first, and probably the only, Ricketson to immigrate from England to America, arriving in Portsmouth, Rhode Island sometime prior to 1679 when he married Elizabeth. Unfortunately little is recorded about William except that he was a Quaker and a skilled carpenter. William and Elizabeth lived in Portsmouth, Rhode Island until 1683 or 1684 when the family moved to Dartmouth, Massachusetts where they lived until William died in 1692.

In the Dartmouth area William built a house that was elegant for its time. William built the house on a hill facing south with a view embracing Adamsville, South Westport, and Westport Point to the Elizabeth Islands. According to records of Old Dartmouth Historical Society, New Bedford, Mass. the house is referred to as the Ricketson/Sherman house and was located on the east side of the road leading from South Westport to Horse Neck, about two miles south of the South Westport corner, and 300 yards east of the road. William Ricketson owned nearly 500 acres bounded on the west by the Noquophoko River The land overlooked Buzzard's Bay. This area is now known as Ricketson Point. The land was originally owned by Hannaniah Gaunt, a relative of the Southworth family of Duxbury. In 1684 he conveyed the land to William Ricketson who was a resident of Portsmouth, R.I. prior to that time. Based on information I have read, I believe this land was first purchased from the Indians by William Bradford (a pilgrim on the Mayflower and subsequently Governor of the State of Massachusetts) in 1652, then sold and deeded to 56 named individuals.

The house had a stone chimney which extended nearly across the house, providing each of four rooms with a fireplace. The house was built of sawed pine timbers with heavy runners and bracketed corner posts. The house was still standing in 1903 but, due to damage by dust worms, it was not expected to remain standing for long. We do not believe that any portion of the house remains standing at this time. Copies of pictures of the Ricketson House can be obtained from the New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, Ma.07240, Negative #4353 Mantel Piece and Frame from Ricketson House, page 29 Old Dartmouth, and Negative #4350 Ricketson House, Main Road south of Central Village, Westport, Photographer Joseph G. Tirrell.

The farm remained in the Ricketson family until 1796. After the death of William, his widow, Elizabeth, continued to live in the house until the marriage of their son Jonathan, who inherited the house. Jonathan and his family lived there until his death. The portion of land containing the house was later sold to Thomas Sherman of Rhode Island, a descendant of Jonathan. In 1904 it was owned by Charles and Albert C. Sherman of New Bedford, descendants of William and Jonathan.

Genealogy researcher Grace Williamson Edes who was a descendant of William Ricketson Jr., did extensive research on the Ricketsons in the early 1900's. In her genealogy of William Ricketson and His Descendants she describes a trip she made to England in 1924 and while there she attempted to trace the Ricketson roots in England to no avail. She concluded that the name in England may have been Rickenson, however she was unable to develop any record of William Ricketson nor anyone that may have been related under any version of the name in England. Possibly William developed a new identity when he came to America. Research of William's descendants reflect various spellings of the name by his descendants to include Ricketson, Rickerson, Richitson, Rickenson, and Richason. All who are interested in the Ricketson Family History should locate or purchase copies of Grace Williamson Edes two genealogies of the Ricketson family. Volume I entitled William Ricketson, William Ricketson, Jr., and their Descendants, printed 1917, and Volume II entitled William Ricketson and His Descendants printed 1932. Grace Edes did an outstanding job in researching the Ricketson family and has written very interesting summaries on many of the Ricketson family members. These volumes can be purchased from Higginson Book Company, 148 Washington Street, P. O. Box 778, Salem, MA 01970, phone 978-745-7170 or at their internet address of www.higginsonbooks.com.

Notes for ELIZABETH MOTT:
BIOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Mott's father, Adam Mott, Jr., and his four other brothers and sisters came to America from England at the age of 12 with his parents Adam Mott, Sr. and Sarah Mott on the Defence in 1635. They came from Cambridge England, first settling in Roxbury, Ma., then later moving to Portsmouth, R.I. where Adam Mott and Mary Lott lived and raised their family. Elizabeth and William Ricketson had 4 sons and 2 daughters. At the time of the death of William Ricketson in 1692 the six children's ages ranged from two to eleven years old.

After the death of William Ricketson, Elizabeth was married again to Matthew Wing September 4, 1696 in Dartmouth, MA. Together they had three children, Joseph Wing, Benjamin Wing, and Abigail Wing. According to the Grace Edes genealogy, Elizabeth Ricketson and Matthew Wing continued to live in the old Ricketson House until the marriage of Elizabeth's son Jonathan Ricketson in 1710.

Children of WILLIAM RICKETSON and ELIZABETH MOTT are:

2.	i.	REBECKAH² RICKETSON, b. May 04, 1681, Portsmouth, R. I.; d. March 24, 1750/51.
	ii.	JOHN RICKETSON, b. February 11, 1682/83, Portsmouth, R.I; d. January 27, 1704/05, Dartmouth, Bristol, Ma..
3.	iii.	ELIZABETH RICKETSON, b. September 17, 1685, Dartmouth, Bristol, Ma.; d. February 11, 1731/32, Dartmouth, Bristol, Ma..
4.	iv.	WILLIAM RICKETSON, JR., b. February 26, 1685/86, Dartmouth, Bristol, Ma.; d. Unknown.
5.	v.	JONATHAN RICKETSON, b. April 07, 1688, Dartmouth, Bristol, Ma.; d. October 16, 1768, Dartmouth, Bristol, Ma..
	vi.	TIMOTHY RICKETSON, b. January 22, 1689/90, Dartmouth, MA.; d. 1711.

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