Richard Evans

AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Richard Evans   see FAMILY TREE
Born: Abt 1654

 

   
Married: Abt. 1677

 

   
Died: 08 Jan 1726/27 Providence, Rhode Island    

WIFE

Mary d. 29 Dec 1729

CHILDREN

1. Martha Evans b. 19 Jan 1678/79

2. Richard Evans b. 10 Aug 1681

3. David Evans b. 09 Mar 1683/84

4. Mary Evans b. 23 Apr 1686

5. Elizabeth Evans b. 23 Apr 1688

6. Mehetabell Evans b. 1 Jan 1692

Richard Evans
by Susan Brooke
Jan 2023

Richard Evans was probably born about 1654 and married by 1677 as his first child was born 19 Jan 1679.  His children were all born in Rehoboth, Bristol, Plymouth Colony.  In 1693 he became the first white settler of Killingly, Windham, CT. (1)  He paid £20 for 200 acres and was named as "late of Rehoboth." He acquired more land in 1707 and had two houses on his plantation.
Providence, Rhode Island was only 25 miles away and he wrote his will there on 6 Jan 1727.  His son Richard Evans, Jr, had just died a little over a month earlier in Providence on 28 Nov 1726. (2)  Richard Evens, Sr., joiner,  died on 8 Jan 1726. (3)
As stated, Richard Evans Sr. wrote his will on 6 Jan 1727 and he died two days later. The inventory was taken on 15 May 1727.  Mentioned in the will were his wife Mary, children, Richard and David Evans, Martha Aldrich, Mary Sayer, Elizabeth Church, Mehitibell Plumer and granddaughter Sarah Evans, daughter of son Richard (deceased.) (4)

Sources

(1) History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume I, 1600-1760, and Volume II, 1760-1880
Aspinock. Killingly.

In 1693, the future Killingly received its first known white settler-Richard Evans-who purchased, for twenty pounds, a two-hundred, acre grant of the Rev. James Pierpont, of New Haven, and is described in the deed as "late of Rehoboth, but now resident of the said granted premises." Little is known of this first settler of Killingly beyond the fact of his early settlement. The bounds of his farm cannot now be identified. It was laid out in the wilderness, about a mile east of the Quinebaug and three miles from Woodstock, just south of Woodward's and Saffery's line. It was in the northern extremity of the subsequent township of Killingly; was afterwards included in the "South Neighborhood" of Thompson, and now forms a part of the town of Putnam. Mr. Evans was accompanied by a grown son, Richard Evans, Jun., and in time built two homesteads and made various improvements. His establishment served as a landmark for all the surrounding region, many tracts of land being identified by distance or direction from Richard Evans.
 
History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume I, 1600-1760, and Volume II, 1760-1880
Aspinock. Killingly.
In 1694, the Rev. Noadiah Russel selected and secured two hundred acres, "five miles southeast from Woodstock, east of the Quinebaug; lands that bound it, not taken up." Seventeen hundred acres, scattered about "on Five-Mile River, southeast from Richard Evans," were confirmed to James Fitch, Moses Mansfield, Rev. Mr. Buckingham and Samuel Rogers, in 1695. This was "the wild land in Killingly" granted by Major Fitch to Yale College. The Indian troubles following after this date checked further land operations in the Whetstone Country. For several years no sales or surveys are reported, and Richard Evans remained apparently its sole white inhabitant till the close of the century.
History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume I, 1600-1760, and Volume II, 1760-1880
Aspinock. Killingly.
 
With the erection of a settlement, land traffic became more lively. Grants were laid out and quickly taken up by purchasers, at prices ranging from twenty pounds to "three hors and one kine." A thousand acres to the heirs of Governor Haynes, three hundred to the heirs of Joseph Haynes and three hundred to Robert Treat were "pitched upon" by Captain Chandler in 1707, and laid out by John Prents. Giles Hamlin's grant was sold to John Allen and laid out at Pottaquatic, on the then northern boundary of Connecticut. Rattlesnake Hill was also purchased by John Allen of Captain Chandler. James Leavens bought much land in various localities and set up a sawmill on the Assawaga, near the Rhode Island line. Richard Evans, the first settler, had now two houses on his plantation, with orchards, tannery pits and a fulling-mill. "Grinding" and other supplies needful for these "Borderers" were procured in Woodstock.

(2) Death of Richard Evans, Jr

(3) Death of Richard Evans, Sr

(4) Will of Richard Evens

 

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History  of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical

NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920
 


p. 236 - 237:

HENRY REMINGTON EVANS  --  The important business of Henry R. Evans & Company, Incorporated, contractors and builders, of Providence, R. I., was founded by Henry Remington Evans, about 1866, five men constituting the force employed.  It is now the oldest building contracting firm in the city, sixty men being employed in the various departments.  A modern mill is an adjunct to the business, the building now occupied by the company being originally erected by Henry R. Evans, about 1878.  He built up a high reputation and a good business, to which he admitted his son, Henry L., in 1889.  When the business was incorporated, April 25, 1907, Henry R. Evans was chosen its first president, and until his death, May 4, 1914, was its active, executive head of the company.  During the years which have intervened since his death no successor has been elected to succeed him, the presidents' office being held sacred to the memory of the founder of the business, he the only man legally entitled to bear the title, president.

This branch of the Evans family in New England traces descent from Richard Evans, an Englishman, who with his wife Mary settled at Dorchester, Mass., in 1635, and there died in 1661.  He was succeeded by a son, Richard (2) Evans, who became the first known white settler of Killingly county.  There he and a son, Richard (3) Evans, lived until 1710, when they sold out and moved to Rhode Island, settling in what has long been known as the 'Evans neighborhood', near the present town line of Smithfield and Gloucester.  By his wife, Rebecca, he had several children, this branch being traced through the son, David Evans, who married Esther Bishop, and they were the parents of David (2) Evans, who married Jemima Foster.  Their son, Elisha Evans, married Mary McDonald, they the parents of Jehu Evans, who married Amy Thornton, daughter of William and Betsey (Madison) Thornton.  Jehu Evans was a farmer of Smithfield and Johnston, R. I., a man of energy but little known in public life.  He was head of a family of eleven sons and daughters, one of these, a son, Henry Remington Evans, father of Henry Lester Evans, of Providence, head of the corporation, Henry R. Evans & Sons.

Other early settlers were David Church, John Winter and his son, Samuel Winter.

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