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Corp. Richard Coy, Sr.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Male Abt 1625 - 1675  (~ 50 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Richard Coy 
    Prefix Corp. 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Birth Abt 1625  Boston, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 7] 
    Gender Male 
    Migration Abt 24 Jun 1638  From London, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 9, 10] 
    To New England
    aboard unknown vessel 
    • The ship arrived at Boston in late August or early September.
    • Role: Passenger
    Event 2 Aug 1675  Brookfield, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12, 13] 
    a company of soldiers set out to meet with the leaders of the Quabogs
    at the siege of Brookfield
    during King Philip's War 
    • No Indians where there to meet them. Instead they marched further onward until they were met in an ambush. This became known as the Wenimisset fight. Eight men were killed and five badly wounded. The rest made it back to Brookfield.
    • Role: Soldier
    Death 2 Aug 1675  Wenimisset Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 7, 8, 14] 
    Cause: killed by Indians
    at the siege of Brookfield
    Person ID I8126  Duane's Ancestors
    Last Modified 17 Mar 2020 

    Father Richard Coy,   b. Abt 1590, Boston, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Lucy Ann Lenten,   b. Abt 1604, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 10 Apr 1679 (Age ~ 75 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1620  [15] 
    Family ID F3236  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Martha Hayfield,   b. Abt 1627, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage Abt 1651  [1, 4, 6, 10] 
    Children 
     1. Haffield Coy,   b. Aft 1651
     2. Richard Coy, Jr.,   b. 1652
     3. John Coy,   b. Abt 1655, Salisbury, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Mar 1737/8, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 83 years)
     4. Jabez Coy,   b. 16 Jun 1660, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Caleb Coy,   b. 16 Aug 1666, Salisbury, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F4674  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 10 Apr 2020 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Abt 1625 - Boston, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMigration - To New England,aboard unknown vessel  - Abt 24 Jun 1638 - London, Middlesex, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent - a company of soldiers set out to meet with the leaders of the Quabogs,at the siege of Brookfield
    during King Philip's War  - 2 Aug 1675 - Brookfield, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay, British America    		 Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Cause: killed by Indians
    at the siege of Brookfield - 2 Aug 1675 - Wenimisset    		 Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • Richard Coy was brought to Boston from Lincolnshire, England as a servant without an indenture, around 1638, by a Mr. Whittingham. Coy, who was then 13 years old, emigrated with his brother Matthew, age 15, and a sister Mary. A short time later, Whittingham apparently sold his interests in Coy to William Hubbard, Sr. of Ipswich, whom Coy was to serve for 10 years, according to his agreement with Whittingham. Hubbard's claim to Coy's services was maintained by the court in 1645, at which time Hubbard brought suit against Coy because of Coy's reluctance to serve him.

      In all probability Hubbard found Coy difficult to manage. In 1649, for example. Coy was presented at court for vain mirth, excessive drinking and singing with frequent oaths; but he was subsequently discharged. In that same year, Coy brought suit against one Edward Bishop on the charge that Bishop had slandered him.

      In December of 1650, Coy was numbered among the original settlers of Salisbury; but he apparently was not seated as a townsman and commoner at that time. In 1651, in a case involving William Hubbard, Richard Coy and his wife both testified. Coy's wife was a Hayfield (Haffield), and after the death of Richard Hayfielkd of Ipswich in 1652, Hayfield's children chose Coy to be their guardian. He received 60 pounds due the children, in lands, house, cattle and other goods, and aquitted the mother of the children, Martha Hayfield. Ruth Hayfield, who was a daughter of Martha Hayfield, was presented to court in 1653 for excess in apparel, but Richard Coy affirmed that Ruth's mother was worth at least 200 pounds, and she was discharged. In a later action in 1653 Richard Coy's wife was also involved with the law. Her husband answered her presentment, however, and she was discharged.

      Richard Coy brought suit against Willialm Hubbard, Sr. in 1655, apparently to obtain redress of alleged wrongs done him by his master. At that time it was sworn that Coy had served only eight and one half years of his obligated time, and that Hubbard had agreed to pay Cioy if he would work on. Matthew Coy, Richard's brother, testified to the effect that Coy's mother had wanted her son to serve only Whittingham or to return home. It was also said that when Coy had been sent away from Hubbard, it had been with insufficient, poor clothing.

      Coy had apparently made good his obligation to William Hubbard by 1658. In that year he was licensed to keep an ordinary and to draw wine and "strong waters" in Wenham, to whence he had moved. His license was renewed in 1659 and again in 1660.

      In 1659 Richard Coy was seated on the jury of trials at Salem, and alter that same year he was summoned once more as a trial juror. He was also chosen, in 1659, to assist in taking a census of those living in Wenham in order that the rate for the minister might be determined. He was also to see to the allotment of a parcel of land to Mr. Newman, the minister, to see that Mr. Newman got his proper fee, and to act with the selectmen in levying and collecting a rate for the new meeting house. Richard Coy, apparently an important figure in the church himself by that time, contributed 2 pounds 10 shillings toward the minister's rate, and 10 shillings for the new meeting house.

      In 1660 Richard Coy served as an attorney in a legal action. He lost the case, which was appealed at the next Court of Assistants. John Leigh and Joseph Armitage were bound for Coy's appearance. During the course of the case it was mentioned that Coy had smoething to do with the local schoolhouse, or the establishment of it. The case itself involved the ownership of a house which had been converted into a schoolhouse. The house had formerly been part of the Hayfield estate, and was sold by Coy as part of that estate.

      The following year, 1661, Coy was involved in a property suit in which Walter Fairfield brought legal action against Richard Hutten. It was deposed that the house then in possession of Richard Coy was formerly John Fairfield's, as was the land upon which it sat. John Fairfield's son was the plaintiff in the case. Coy, then aged 35, deposed that the land was owned by one Samuel Smith, who sold it to the late John Fairfield, and that it was part of the farm given by the town of Salem to Smith in Wenham. He also testified that Hutten opposed giving Walter Fairfield the property unless he could recover it by law.

      Richard Coy was a witness in a case involving a Wenham man, in 1661, who was presented on a complaint of his entertaining too manypeople in his house contrary to law. That year he was also seated once more on the jury of trials at Ipswich court. His name was also returned again later for jury duty.

      Between 1662 and 1664, Richard Coy was mentioned in connection with no less than five separate, minor cases. The most interesting of those cases concerned a 13 year old apprenticed servant, Hope Tyler, who had left his master's service without his master's consent and had found refuge in Coy's home.

      In 1664, Walter and John Fairfield, the heirs of John Fairfield, brought suit against Richard Coy for withholding possession of a house and lands which had been their late father's. Coy won the suit after producing a lease which stated that he was entitled to keep the house and farm for eight years, until July 21, 1666, at which time the heirs of John Fairfield were to take possession of both the house and lands. According to the lease, Coy had to pay 50 shillings rent the first year and 5 pounds each year after that, half in wheat and half in Indian corn. He was also to be allowed the cose of whatever fences or buildings he had put up on the land during his tenure. Richard Hutten also testified that Walter Fairfield had rented 1/3 of the farm from Coy some time earlier for 10 pounds.

      The following year, 1665, Walter Fairfield was fined upon the complaint of Richard Coy that Fairfield and his wife had abused Coy's wife and children. Coy and his wife Martha had several small children under eight years of age at that time (including John and Jebuz), as well as a son Richard who was about 15 and a daughter Martha who was about 14. (The Coy's had a son Caleb in 1666). Coy, his wife, and his son all testified that Fairfield threatened to beat Goodwife Coy and that he had also abused the children.

      Francis Wainwright sued Richard Coy in 1665 for a debt. Wainwright won the suit, and the court ordered the attachment of oats, wheat, and corn belonging to Coy. Coy's barn was subsequently attached, too. Wainwright sued Edmund Batter and Walter Fairfield in 1666 because part of Coy's wheat, oats and Indian corn had been delivered to Batter, and because Coy had sold his barn to Walter Fairfield, who delivered 6 pounds for it to the man who had attached it. The plaintiff won the suits.

      In 1666 Richard Coy contributed a horse to a fund for a friend who had to put up security for his wife's appearance at the Court of Assistants so that she would not have to go to prison. Coy was also named in connection with a petition of Rachael Clinton, who had been deprived of a legacy of 30 pounds for 13 years, first by her brother, Richard Coy, and then by her husband, Thomas White. Exactly what her relation was to Coy is not clear at this point, but she must have been his sister-in-law and former ward. Coy was apparently living in Salisbury in 1666, at least for some time.

      In 1667, in answer to a petition of the residents of Quabaug, Coy and several other men were apopointed to serve on a commission with the power to admit residents, grant lands, and order all prudential affairs of the place in all matters. Coy and the other commissioners were to continue in their authority until Quabaug was so well settled that it might be created a township, according to law. Coy was then a militia coporal and a leading man of the town. "Coy's Hill" and "Coy's Brook" were named for him. Later, in 1673, Coy's name and that of his son Richard appeared on a petition requesting that Quabaug be renamed Brookfield.

      The widow Martha Hayfield of Ipswich died in 1668. An inventory of her estate was taken by her sons-in-law Richard Coy and Thomas White. Coy's wife, Martha Hayfield Coy, was mentioned as an heiress in her mother's estate. Richard Coy was also mentioned in a minor legal case in 1669.

      Richard Coy was killed in battle in 1675 when Brookfield was destroyed by Indians. He was a Brookfield militia corporal at the time. His widow fled to Boston with their children. Later, in 1699, John Coy of Wenham and his wife Elizabeth sold their farm in Brookfield and the property rights inherited from his father, to one Thomas Barns. One of Coy's grandsons was apparently living in Beverly in 1723. In fact, he was more than likely a prominent man there and was perhaps even a proprietor. He drowned, somewhere in Virginia, in 1737.

      Richard Coy of Essex County, 1625-1675: A Biographical Sketch by Richard A. Rutyna

  • Sources 
    1.  1.  [S18] Salisbury and Amesbury, 118, 00466.

    2.  2.  [S18] Salisbury and Amesbury, 897, 00466.

    3.  3.  [S259] NEHGS Register, 6:249, 00390.

    4.  4.  [S482] Torrey 1st, 188, 00395.

    5.  5.  [S259] NEHGS Register, 35:337, 00390.

    6.  6.  [S576] TGMSP, Richard Haffield, 00516.

    7.  7.  [S1122] Find A Grave, Memorial# 131203285, 00974.

    8.  8.  [S1412] Soldiers in King Philip's War, 108, 01146.

    9.  9.  [S576] TGMSP, Newsletter:21-25:29, 00516.

    10.  10.  [S259] NEHGS Register, 30:111, 00390.

    11.  11.  [S1412] Soldiers in King Philip's War, 29, 01146.

    12.  12.  [S939] First Settlers of New England, Vol. 1, 467, 00190.

    13.  13.  [S1413] King Philip's War, 89, 00413.

    14.  14.  [S259] NEHGS Register, 35:338, 00390.

    15.  15.  [S259] NEHGS Register, 113:236, 00390.