Richard Hough I (1654-1705)

Richard Hough, one of maternal great grandfathers was christened on November 12, 1654, I have not found his exact date of birth. He was christened at St Michaels Church in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. In 1654, Macclesfield was a small market town with a developing silk industry. Not much else is known about Richard’s life in England.

The name "Hough" is indigenous to Cheshire and in the 17th century, several families bearing the name "Hough" were living in "Macclesfield Hundred Church. It is said that several previous generations of Richard's family lie in "All Hallows Church" (now St Michael's Church)-the only relative of the name of whom anything is known is Richard's brother "John" of Macclesfield.

According to the book “Early Hough Families” Creator: Hough, Wallace Irwin, it is stated that when Richard was in his twenties, in Macclesfield, his occupation was a “Chapman”, also known as a hawker, tinker, costermonger,  or peddler who travelled either on foot with a basket or barrow, or using a horse and cart or wagon, and supplied their customers with various wares and services.

On July 30, 1683, Richard purchased two tracts of land on the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. On the Delaware River by warrant over 600 acres. After his death, this property was Willed to son John, it was called "Houghton Farm. Richard came to America on September 29, 1683, on the Ship named “Endeavor” leaving from London. Four Servants or dependents came on the Ship to Pennsylvania with Richard: Francis Hough was to serve 2 years & to have 50 acres of land upon completion of the 2 years. Thomas Wood or Woodhouse & wife Mary to serve 4 years respectively & each to have 50 acres each.  James Sutton to serve 4 years and to have 3 pounds & 5 schilling per annum and 50 acres when his time was complete.

When Richard arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683, he was a Quaker. He met with other Quakers in the Falls Friends Meeting House in Fallsington, Bucks, Pennsylvania. By October of 1683, Richard made his home in Makefield, Bucks, Pennsylvania. The only relative of the name of whom anything is known is Richard's brother "John" of Macclesfield.

On January 5,1684, Richard filed his intent to marry Margery Clowes in the Quaker Church. On May 16, 1784, Richard and Margery married in the Quaker Falls Meeting House. Before this meeting house was built, Richard & Margery held the Quaker meetings in their home. Richard and Margery had two daughters and three sons born between 1685 and 1695.

In 1684, Richard was a Provincial Counselor and served as a Member of the Provincial Council Assembly 1684, 1688, 1690. 1697, 1700, 1703, & 1704. Around the same time,  Richard was one of the Justices of Bucks County.

In 1689, Richard served on the New Meeting House Committee along with Thomas Janney, William Biles, John Rowland, Edmund Lovett and Phineas Pemberton, they were appointed to "look out a convenient place of land” to build a new meeting house.

In 1691 John purchased from William Penn 375 acres of land in Pennsylvania toward the Susquehanna River. In 1694, John conveyed 3/5 of the land to Richard.

On November 30, 1699, Richard was named in his cousin Richard Nixon’s Will. Richard Nixon was still living in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. On  June 11, 1704, Richard Hough wrote his Will. Richard willed many acres to people near his including John Clows, who had one thousand acres Willed to him.

Before 25 Mar 1705, Richard was a Justice of Bucks County Court. On March 25, 1705, Richard Drowned in the Delaware River traveling between home and Philadelphia. Seems as though the boat overturned. He was only 50 years of age, his youngest child at the time of his death was age nine, Richard was buried in Falls Friends Meeting Cemetery located in Fallsington, Bucks, Pennsylvania. The probate of his Will was after 25, Mar 1705.

 

 

 

 

 

A Genealogical and Personal History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. By William Watts Hart Davis

Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs. Editor: John W. Jordan

The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography  https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=OMcbAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA20

FamilySearch.Org.

Richard Hough, Provincial Councilor  https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20083574.pdf