General Notes

The following is copied from the book "Richard Church of Plymouth" by John A. Church, New York, - published in 1913:

Richard Church was the founder of one of the large families of that name in America.  Probably came April 8, 1630 in the fleet with John Winthrope, later Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Freeman in Plymouth 1632.

Following is a letter from Gov. Bradford of Plymouth to General Winthrope of Mass. Bay Colony:
"Richard Church came likewise as a soujournour to work for ye present: Though he is still here resident longer than he purposed: and what hee will doe, neither wee, not I think hymselfe knows; but if hee resolve to settle here we shall require of him to procure a dismission but he did affirm to us at ye first that he was one of Mr. Webb's men and freed to go from England or whither he would.  Ye which wee rather believe because he came to us from Wessagasscusseet (Weymouth) upon the falling out with his partner."

Mayflower descendent IX I Later he bought land in Seconet now Little Compton, RI, which remain in the Church family to this day.  His great grandson asserted that: "he with two of his brethren came early into New England, as refugees from the religious oppression of the parent State."

Garrett Church of Watertown is supposed to have been one of the brothers, the third may have been a Joseph who did not become established in the new country.  He served in the Pequot War of 1643 as a Voluntary with the rank of Sergeant, apparently without pay.  His name is among the first names of soldiers that willingly offered themselves.

DEPOSITION OF RICHARD CHURCH aged ABOUT 56 yr (1664):
"This deponent saith that he being at worke about ye mill ye 19th day of August, hearing that a man was killed hastened presently and helped to remove the earth from Thomas Fish who being much bruised thereby was got to bed and in four days dyed."

His marriage into the Warren family confirmed the belief that he was a man of superior standing in the colony, besides being the second wealthiest.  He died in Dedham in 1668 while on a visit and is buried in Hingham, at a sopt which is now covered by a highway leading to the old steamboat wharf, near the water.  In his will he left a "dubble portion" to his son Joseph because of a lameness in his hand.

(all of above from family notes obtained from Shirley Simkin)
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Richard was hired along with John Thompson to build the first Meeting House.  He also built the first gun carriage in Plymouth in 1637.  He served as a sergeant in the Pequot War. (fr Sherrie Eden's data at Ancestry.com)