General Notes

Richard was a resident of Salem before 1641, and must have been a member of the church for he was admitted to the freemanship of the colony June 2, 1641; a dignity to which none attained at that date except members of the church, recommended by the minister of that place.  He had a grant of land — 10 acres — at Enon (afterward called Wenham) in 1642, and removed to that section, where he resided several years.  He was received to the church there by letter from that of Salem, April 6, 1646.  He witnessed the will of Samuel Smith at Enon, November 5, 1642.

Richard Pettengell was a man of weight and character, as the following shows:  From the Salem Town Records:  At a general town meeting held the seventh day of the fifth month, 1644, ordered — that two be appointed every Lord's day to walk forth in the time of God's worship to take notice of such as either lye at home, or in the fields, without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons, to present them to the magistrate, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against, the names of those ordered to this service (... here follows a list) on the seventh day Richard Pettengill and John Ingersoll.

In April 1651, he had sold his houses and lands in Wenham and bought at Newbury.  Part of his house was still standing in 1900.

(Our Colonial Lines, p. 77)


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Some years after 1644 litigation arose over the farm Ann Langley Ingersoll's husband had willed her, and in the trial her son-in-law gave the following testimony:

"I Richard Pettingell, aged about 45 years doe testify that this farm of land that now in contriversy was Reserved by the widow Inkersoll to her self before her marriage to John Knight, Senior and shee verbally gave this land to John Inkersoll her son.  I Richard Pettingell doe farder testify that about the year 52 the said John Knight cam hom too Newbury and tould his wif that hee had promised Mr, Pain sum timber at the lot at frost fish river:  she was then troubled at it and said what have you doc to sell my timber wher upon the said John Knight promised her twenty shillings: and the said John Knight Senior did then own that he had no right in that land."  Essex Court Files, XIV28-32.  Mr. Knight then joined with his wife in conveying the farm to her sons John and Nathanier "Ingerson" as the deed was written by the scrivener.    (Our Colonial Lines, p. 86)

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  Recorded Events in His Life

• He was Member of church of Salem, later (in April 1646) of the church at Wenham.

• He emigrated to America before 1641 from England.

• Fact: Admitted to the freemanship of the colony of Salem, Massachusetts, on 2 June 1641.