Biography
Richard Currier was born 3 March 1616 in St Thomas Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England to Thomas James Currier (1590-1650) and Martha Osburne (1593-1640) and died 22 February 1686 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Ann Goodale (1617-1675) 1643 in Massachusetts. He married Joanna Pinder (1621-1690) 26 October 1676 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Rich. Currier, aged about forty-seven years deposed that he was servant to Mr. Fran. Dove when the division of the land in controversy was made, and he and another servant, Thomas Macy, the latter agent for his master, mowed it, said Macy saying that the bounds were marked by a pine tree on the beach, and he mowed at the head of the dead creek. Goodman French's sons mowed land of his master Dove's and they told deponent that said French had bought it of Mr. Hauls, etc."(1)
Richard probably came to New England to look after the property of Francis Dove who was a friend of one of the first Commoners, Christopher Batt. In exchange Dove probably paid for Richard's passage.
Salisbury Town Clerk
In 1656 Richard and Thomas Macy were authorized to build a saw-mill on the west side of the Powow River at the falls, with the privilege of using all the timber on the common not included in the grant to the former mill, "excepting the oak and the right of people to make canoes". For this privilege they were to pay the town £6 per year for ten years, in boards at current prices. No logs were to be carried to the east side of the river to be sawed or to pay a penalty of 10/. "So the said Thomas Macy and Richard Currier do engage to saw what logs the townsmen bring to the mill for their own use, to saw them to the halves within a month after they are brought to the mill if there be water, the first logs that come to be sawne and so the rest in order as they are brought". Thomas Macy sold his interest in the mill in 1658 and moved out of town in 1659.
Richard was acting clerk of Salisbury New Town in 1660-1 and at the March meeting in 1662 he was chosen: "to keep the book of records and to record all meetings and to be allowed twelve pence for each meeting." He held this office until 14 Dec. 1674 when his son Thomas took over the job.(11)
Amesbury Founders Memorial

Amesbury Founders Memorial at Golgotha Park, Amesbury, Massachusetts.
In 1640, the first Puritan settlers arrived to Amesbury, Massachusetts; their first burying ground was on a hill overlooking the Powow River, now referred to as Golgotha. The grave stones or markers in this first burying ground have long since disappeared, along with the identity of the people buried here. In 1903, the Amesbury Founders Memorial was erected by the Amesbury Improvement Association, to mark the site of Amesbury's first burying ground. This person is listed there (along with his son John.)
King Philips War
Richard was a soldier in the Narragansett war and his descendants drew land in Narragansett township No. 1 (Buxton, ME) due to his service. In Feb. 1675 the constables of Marlboro, Sudbury, etc., were to care for billeting the Plymouth forces passing through the towns; and the constables of Lynn, etc., were to care for billeting the three Norfolk County soldiers, John Dickison, Richard Currier and Thomas Mudgett, for Abram Morrill until they came to Salisbury their home.(12)
Children
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Samuel Currier (1636-1713) | |||
Sarah Mary Currier (1637-1683) | |||
Hannah Currier (1643-1708) | |||
Thomas Currier (1646-1712) | 8 March 1646 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 27 September 1712 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | Mary Osgood (1650-1705) |
Richard Currier (1648-) |
Siblings
Residences
See Also
- Richard Currier
- Currier in Wiltshire
- Currier in Essex County, Massachusetts