General Notes

Oct. 2 1634.     Admitted to the church, along with wife, Rebecca. (See Descendants of Richard Maxson:) Ann Hutchinson and her party came to Boston on the ship "Griffin" in 1634 and there is a possibility that Richard and Rebecca were aboard the same ship.

Feb. 7, 1639.  "Richard Maxson, upon complaints made against him, was accordingly detected for his oppression in the way of his trade, who being convinced thereof, promised amendments and satisfaction." Note: According to Fischer in Albion's Seed, it was not unusual to be so charged even if all you did was try to recoup your losses after the sinking of your ship, the Puritan thinking being that it was God's will.

April 30,1639.  With 28 others signs compact founding Poasset (Portsmouth): " We whose names are underwritten, do acknowledge ourselves the legal subjects of his majesty King Charles, and in his name do hereby bind ourselves into a civil body politicke, unto his laws according to matters of justice." Of the 29 signers, only 13, including Richard, signed their own names.

May 16, 1639. Newport, Rhode Island laid out. Richard was invited to join then and his name appears in the list of Freeman of the town.

03-06-1640.    36 Acres Recorded. His land was located on the northwestern shore of the island, within the limits of what is now Lehigh Hill Park. Rebecca later deeded away the land. In 1644 Rebecca was paid by William Roulston for the property Richard sold him in 1642.

According to family tradition, he and his son Richard were killed by Indians at Throggs Neck, afterwards Maxson's Point. According to Web Site (http://webuser.anet-stl.com) Richard and Rebecca had followed Anne Hutchinson, whose husband had died, from Rhode Island  to what is now Pelham Bay, on Long Island in 1642, where all went well until the Pequot Wars. From "Descendants of Richard Maxson": "Around December, 1639 the Indians stopped trading with Richard Maxson but said that if he would tie up his dogs they would trade again. Richard did tie up his dogs, and the Indians raided the place. Richard escaped but returned the next day with a group of other men to get food and supplies for those who were marooned in a boat, and all were massacred by the Indians. Thus, our Richard and his son met a heroic death seeking food for his family and friends. His wife, Rebecca, together with those who remained in the boat, escaped. After many hardships and harrowing experiences they reached Newport, Rhode Island, where they found sanctuary and where John Maxson was born, the first white child born in the State of Rhode Island."  (Anne Hutchinson and all but one of her family were massacred during this uprising). See also Thomas Cornell during this same period of time.