from GM:
ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1626
FIRST RESIDENCE: Salem
REMOVES: Marblehead
OCCUPATION: Fisherman or shipwright
EDUCATION: Signed deed of 1653 by mark [EQC 3:369].
OFFICES: Coroner's jury on body of William Bateman, 18 September 1630 [MBCR 1:78]. On 18 May 1631 "Rich[ard] Norman is fined 2s. 6d. for his negligence in watching" [MBCR 1:87].
ESTATE: In Salem land grant of 1636 received twenty acres [STR 1:19, 24]. In the 25 December 1637 division of marsh and meadow, granted three-quarters of an acre, with a household of four [STR 1:103].
Granted twenty acres "that was Mr. Thorndeck's," 29 January 1637/8 [STR 1:65]. A grant of 20 January 1640/1 to Allen Converse refers to "that lot which was Richard Norman's near the head of the river," and adjoining Mr. Endicott's farm [STR 1:109].
In his will, dated 14 October 1672, son-in-law Robert Morgan of Salem mentions the twelve acres of land in Manchester "which my wife's father Norman gave unto her in the great plain" [EPR 2:355].
On 22 April 1653 Richard Norman the elder deeded to his son Richard Norman his house and ten acre lot "in Marvellheade upon Darbe Fort side," along with cow commons [EQC 3:369].
BIRTH: By about 1587 based on estimated date of marriage.
DEATH: After 22 April 1653 [EQC 3:369], but before 27 June 1664 [EQC 3:369, when Thomas Millett Sr. acknowledged "old Richard Norman's act and deed"].
MARRIAGE: By about 1612 _____ _____; on 9 July 1645 the "wife of Richard Norman Sr." testified in court [EQC 1:82]; no further record. (Two women by the name of Arabella Norman were admitted to Salem church, one in May 1637 and the other on 25 February 1637/8 [SChR 6, 7]. One of these is certainly the wife of John Norman, son of Richard. The second is probably a clerical error, but just might be the wife of Richard Sr.)
CHILDREN:
i JOHN, b. say 1612; m. before May 1637 Arabella _____ [SChR 6; EQC 1:74 (when he certifies the births of children with wife Arabella)].
ii MARGARET, b. say 1613; m. (1) by about 1633 Robert Morgan (who mentions "my wife's father Norman" in his will [EPR 2:355]; their eldest child, Samuel, m. in 1658). (Margaret is said to have married second, after 1673, Samuel Fowler, but the evidence for this is not seen [Hoyt 162].)
iii SUSANNA, b. say 1615; m. by 1635 Robert Lockwood (who refused a Salem houselot grant "beyond his father Norman's" [STR 1:47]).
iv FLORENCE, b. say 1619; m. (1) by about 1639 John Hart (daughter Elizabeth m. in 1659; husband of daughter Florence called son-in-law of Thomas Whittridge in 1672 [Sarah Stone Anc 38]); m. (2) about 1657 Thomas Whittridge (who called Richard Norman his wife's brother and with whom she had three sons after 1657 [EPR 2:287; Sarah Stone Anc 46-47]).
v RICHARD, b. about 1623 (deposed aged about fifty 19 March 1673/4 [EQC 5:256], deposed aged about fifty-seven at June Term 1680 [EQC 7:386]); m. by about 1650 Margaret _____ (daughter Elizabeth "d. in 1732, aged eighty-two" [Sarah Stone Anc 52]).
COMMENTS: In his deposition of 20 January 1680/1 Richard Brackenbury included "old Goodman Norman and his son" among those who were already at Salem when Endicott arrived in 1628 [EIHC 13:138].
On 17 September 1640 "Erasmus James and Richard Norman, sr., [were] presented for defective fences on Darby fort side. Not proved" [EQC 1:194].
Richard Norman was evidently in a fishing or shipbuilding business with his son, since "Rich[ard] Norman, Jno. Norman and Company" were sued by John Devereux at July Term 1642 and again at December Term 1642 [EQC 1:42, 45]. The conflict grew heated and Devereux further sued Richard Norman for defamation at December Term 1642 [EQC 1:45].
At July Term 1642 Norman witnessed against Matthew Gillet who stole a piece of soap from John Norman "to wash his shirts with, as he said" [EQC 1:44]. When his son Richard, Jr., was fined for "slighting ordinances and carrying a burden on Lord's day," Richard Sr. answered for him in court, February 1642/3 [EQC 1:51]. It is likely, as Davis says, that "Norman was probably not of the Puritan persuasion" [Sarah Stone Anc 45].
Pope incorrectly applied the probate of the younger Richard to the elder. Savage thought that there were two John Normans, a brother of Richard the immigrant, and a son, but the records all apply to one man, son of Richard.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1930 Walter Goodwin Davis prepared one of his typical eloquent but sparsely referenced treatments of this family [Sarah Stone Anc 45-54].
===
from SAVAGE:
"RICHARD, Salem, perhaps br. of John the first, came in 1626, as Felt thinks, prob. from Dorchester in Eng. with s. Richard, to ea. of wh. he assigns that yr. but John, wh. was elder, may have been left in Eng. Farmer thinks he had also William, liv. at Marblehead 1648; and says the elder Richard d. 1683, tho. it may seem as prob. that it was the s. of that name, who he says was b. 1623, and liv. 1672 at Marblehead. It seems to me, that the elder d. prob. bef. this last date, and that sec.
===
from Steve Fry :
"Richard Norman settled in Cape Ann about 1623. He came to North America as an employee of the Dorchester Company, a group of capitalists and adventurers who established a small colony at Cape Ann. He and his family were among those who moved to Naumkeag in 1626 under the leadership of Richard Conant. They were established there when the migration led by Governor Endicott arrived in 1628. The name of Naumkeag was changed to Salem at that time. Richard was called "old Goodman Norman," and the pre-Endicott settlers were known as the "old planters". He was probably not a Puritan; in 1650 he was living on "Darby Fort side" (Marblehead), which put him beyond the immediate influence of the Salem church-state, although he was called to court due to his defective fences there."
===
from TORREY:
NORMAN, Richard1 & _____ _____ (-1645+); in Eng, by 1612; Salem/Marblehead
Richard Norman was originally Richard Frieth but changed his name when immigrating. He came to Cape Ann (near Gloucester, MA) for the Dorchester Company (or Dorchester Merchants).
Both the Dorchester Company and the Plymouth Pilgrims maintained fishing stages at Cape Ann.
When the Company failed, Richard Norman moved to Naumkeag (Salem) with his family. He was already at Naumkeag when the Endicott migration began in 1628.
"Puritans" wanted to "purify" the existing state religion, the Church of England, without overthrowing it, or separating from it, as did the "Pilgrims" at Plymouth. The latter were called "Separatists."
As he was living at Salem before the Endicott migration, he was known as one of the "old planters."
sea captain and shipwright