1 _FA3
2 DATE 16 JUL 1676
2 PLAC Will
1 _FA4
2 DATE 28 NOV 1677
2 PLAC Will proved
1 _FA5
2 DATE 25 SEP 1677
2 PLAC Inventory of estate, Salem, Mass.
BIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD WATERS OF SALEM
Richard, son of James & Phoebe, was christened at St. Botolph Aldgate Church, London, on March 3, 1604. His mother's maiden name was Manning. His father James must have been an ironmonger, because on April 26, 1626, Richard was admitted to the freedom of the company of ironmongers by patrimony, and took his oath. James died when Richard was fairly young, and Phoebe, widow of James Waters, married William Plasse, a widower and gunsmith, on February 23, 1618/9. Apparently, Richard married his step-sister, Joyce (Rejoice) Plasse around 1629, because a daughter, Sara, was born to them and christened at St. Botolph in 1630.
The whole extended family must have moved to New England and settled in Salem, Massachusetts sometime about 1637, when Richard was granted ten acres of land and William Plasse was granted a house and half acre of land in Salem. Richard was made a freeman in 1639, his house stood close to Cat Cove in Salem Neck. Because several of his children built homes around Cat Cove, the area was known as Watertown. Plasse died in 1646 and his gunsmith's tools were found to be in the possession of Richard Waters, who described himself as Plasse's son-in-law, which in those days could have also meant step-son. It is believed that Richard followed the gunsmith profession in New England.
Richard's will, a beautiful specimen of penmanship written in his own hand, was dated July 16, 1676 and proved August 28, 1677 in Salem. He names his wife Joyce, his sons William, James, John & Ezekiel, and his daughters Martha, Abigail Punchard, Mary English, Susana Pulsiuer and Hanna Striker.
Most information for this biography was taken from the New England Genealogical Record, Vol. 51, page 406f; the vital records of Salem and Ipswich, Mass.; Colonial Families of America, p 135; Pioneers of Massachusetts and "Waters-Law and Allied Families"