Pilgrim Village Families Sketch: Richard More/Moore/Moor

Birth:  Richard More was baptized November 13, 1614, in Shipton, Shropshire, the reputed son of Samuel & Katherine (More) More.

Death:  Richard died in Salem between March 19, 1693/4, and April 20, 1696. He was buried in the Charter Street Cemetery in Salem, and has the only known gravestone of a Mayflower passenger.

Ship: Mayflower, 1620

Life in England:  Richard was one of four children, two sons and two daughters, born to Katherine More. In 1616, Samuel accused his wife of long-term adultery with Jacob Blakeway, maintaining that some if not all of the children, were actually Blakeway’s. After a separation and lengthy divorce proceedings, the four children were brought to London. There they were placed under the care of John Carver and Robert Cushman, who transported them to what would become Plymouth Colony.

Life in New England:  Richard’s siblings died the first winter in Plymouth. He remained under the care of William Brewster. Richard apparently sailed to England after 1627, but returned aboard the Blessing in 1635. He moved from Duxbury to Salem, where he became a mariner, making trips to Virginia, Maryland and Nova Scotia.

Family:  Richard married (1) Christian Hunter in Plymouth on October 20, 1636. They had seven children and she died in Salem on March 18, 1676. He married (2) Jane, widow of Samuel Crumpton by 1678. She died in October 1686. Note: Richard More of Salem in New England married Elizabeth Woolnough in Stepney October 23, 1645. If this refers to the Mayflower passenger, then he was a bigamist.

• Samuel was baptized on March 6, 1641/2. He was living in 1651 but there is no further record.
• Thomas was baptized on March 6, 1641/2. He was living in 1651 but there is no further record.
• Caleb was baptized on March 31, 1644. He died in Salem on January 4, 1678/9, unmarried.
• Joshua was baptized on May 3, 1646. He was living in 1651 but there is no further record.
• Richard was baptized on January 2, 1647/8. He married by 1673 Sarah _____ and had six children. He died sometime after May 1, 1696.
• Susanna was baptized on May 12, 1650. She married (1) Samuel Dutch by 1675, (2) Richard Hutton by 1696 and (3) John Knowlton on April 11, 1714. By her first husband, she had four children. She died sometime after October 30, 1728.
• Christian was baptized on September 5, 1652. She married Joshua Conant in Salem on August 31, 1676, and had one son. She died in Salem May 30, 1680.