General Notes

Richard Ingersoll came from Bedfordshire, England, to Salem, Massachusetts in 1629, on the ship Mayflower (the second), under contract with the Massachusetts Bay Company to take a place in the force of planters they were gathering.  He wife and children were with him.  He maintained a ferry at Salem in 1636, and had a large amount of land.   He died in 1644.    (Our Colonial Lines, p. 86)

His will: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July the 21:  1644

I Richard Ingerson of Salem in the County of Essex in New England, being weake in body but through Gods mercy in pfect memorye, doe make this my last will and testament as followeth, Viz:

I give to Ann my wife all my estate of lands, goods and chattels, whatsoever, except as followeth

viz:

I give to George Ingerson my son six acres of meddow lying in the great meadow..

It.  I give to Nathaniel my youngest son a percell of gorund with a little frame thereupon, which I bought from John Pe... but if said Nathaniel dy, without issue of his body lawfully begotten, then the land abovesaid to be equally shared between John Ingerson my son and Richard Pettingall and William Haines my sons-in-law.

It.  I give to Bathsheba my youngest daughter two cows.

It.  I give to my daughter Alce Walcott, my house at Tow... with ten Acres of upland and the meadow after my wife's decease.

Richard v Ingerson
his mark.

Witness
Townsend Bishop

I read this will to Richard Ingerson and he acknowledge it to be his will.

Jo:  Endicott

Presented in Court upon oath: 2:11 mon. 1644 p.. me.  Ralp ffogg. and Ann Intersoll made executrix:
This is a true copy complied with the original on file in Salem Court Recrods atestes Hillyard Berin.

(Our Colonial Lines, p. 86)

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Some years later litigation arose over the farm her 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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Richard Ingersoll was well spoken of by the Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Company in a letter to Governor John Endicott.  (See Suffolk Deeds, 1.)  (Our Colonial Lines, p. 86)


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It has been asserted that a certain house at Salem was built by Richard Ingersoll and was the original of the romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne "The House of Seven Gables."    (Our Colonial Lines, p. 86)

  Recorded Events in His Life

• Alternate spellings: name variously spelled Ingersoll, Ingersole, Inkersoll, Ingersale, and sometimes Ingerson or Inkerson.

• He emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts on the Mayflower II in 1629 from Bedfordshire, England.