Richard Bishop of the Plymouth Colony

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28555724/richard-bishop

Richard Bishop

• Birth: c1612 - Unknown
• Death: 1671 - Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey
• Parents: Unknown [according to Anderson;s Great Migration Project his origins are unknown; No relationship to the other Bishops of New England]

Richard Bishop 1 Plymouth, in Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Directory. (Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jun 2015), 31. Bishop, Richard: [Origin] Unknown; [Arrival] 1638; [Residence Plymouth] [PCR 1:103, 2:6, 79, 132-33, 134, 137, 138, 4:18, 136, 5:30; [Anderson's record does not appear to imply that Richard's origins or parents are known; No relationship to the other Bishops of New England.]

Richard Bishop Was NOT a "Puritan"

Richard Bishop born in England ca 1612; died Piscataway Woodbridge NJ. When he was about 16 he signed on as a soldier with John Endicott who sailed on the "Abigail" from Weymouth, England to Salem Mass in 1628.

A first settler of Duxbury, he also lived in the Plymouth Colony with Love Brewster

In 1638; Md. Plymouth Colony On 5 Dec 1644 he married Alice Clark, widow of George Clark, she had two daughters, Martha and Abigail Clark.

On July 22, 1648 Alice murdered her four year old daughter Martha Clark, two months later October 4 1648 Alice Bishop was indicted for murder and pronounced guilty and to be hanged.”By Nathaniel Shurtleff, Boston, Mass 1855; Vol 1 of the Court Orders 1633-1640 and Vol II of the same 1641-1651,Vol I pp 108 and Vol II pp 132 and 134;

Richard had a propensity to steal other peoples possessions in the Plymouth Colony and later in Eastham. His wife's hanging gave Richard some notoriety, but he remained in Plymouth and on March 6, 1649 was presented at court for stealing a neighbors spade. He was judged guilty and sentenced to both sit in the stocks and replace the spade prior to the June court or be whipped. -C.W. Swift, "Cape Cod History and Genealogy", (Yarmouth MA: p. 15). He did not comply. He was in Eastham by 1654 and had tracts of land allowed him. In 1670 he entered George Crisps property and helped himself to the fleece taken from the sheep. He was arraigned and ordered to pay thirty shillings, which he did. Soon after this affair, he left the township with his family and removed to Piscataway, NJ. and lived with his son-in-law, William Sutton. -Winsor's "Duxbury", p. 228; and Monnette, "First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge", p. 792.

Richard married Alice Clark on December 5, 1644 [possibly as his second wife]. She was the widow of George Clark, and tragically ended her life by murdering her own child, and was subsequently hung therefor, in 1648. There is a mournful account of the murder by Alice Bishop of her daughter, Martha Clarke, 4 years old, July 22, 1648 (Savage, Vol. I, page 393). She also had another daughter, Abigail Clark.

There is also reference to "Damaris, (wife of the first William Sutton), daughter of Alice and Richard Bishop". When William Sutton removed to New Jersey, Bishop sold his property at Duxbury, and went to live with him. Richard Bishop was called "of Piscattaway in Artercull or New Jersey," when he sold to Capt. Benjamin Church his property in the Colony (Winsor's Duxbury, page 228.).

-The child was alice martin clarke bishop's daughter martha clark by alice's first husband george clark. On 1 august 1648 alice bishop confessed she had murdered her daughter and said she was sorry for it. And on 4 october 1648 she was sentenced to be hanged, which accordingly was executed." Plymouth Colony its History and People 1620-1691

"Some other interesting evidence I found was that at some point Alice stated she "had no recollection" of the event but pleaded "no contest"to the murder. These statements are from the jury records. Again I feel strongly that there is something missing. Perhaps she did do it,bbut something in the evidence and in my gut tells me there's more than is being told."

The LIbrary of Cape Cod History and Genealogy:

Richard Bishop was an early resident of Eastham. He came to Plymouth some time prior to 1654, but how long he resided in the latter place, records to not clearly show. He was there, however, in 1638, in the employ of Love Brewster, son of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower band of Pilgrims. Some time previous to the year 1648, he was married to a widow whose name was Alice, a very singular woman, it is evident. On the 7/22/1648, she took her 4 year old daughter, Martha Clarke, into the chamber of her house, cut her through, and left her dead upon the floor, in an almost nude state, admitting she did the cruel deed to some of the Grand Inquest, when an inquiry was being made to learn the particulars concerning her death. Her trial for murder was commenced 10/8/1648, at Plymout, and she was adjudged guilty and sentenced to be hanged. She was accordingly, hanged.

origins

Unknown according to the Great Migration Project. No relationship to the other Bishops of New England.