Individual Details

Event

was a resident of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and was made a freeman there in 1653.

Freeman: "In Colonial days this term referred to any male over twenty-one years old who owned personal property or real estate valued at a prescribed amount. He also was obliged to be a peaceful man, endorsed by a majority of the town's Freemen. Only after this vote at a semi-annual meeting of the selectmen, could the man take the Freeman's Oath. His duties were to elect deputies to the General Assembly of the colony and to elect new Freemen. He was a member of a local church and had the right to vote and pay taxes."
Ref: A to ZAX, A comprehensive dictionary for Genealogists & Historians, Barbara Jean Evans, 1995, Hearthside Press, pg 121.

Event

6th day of 7th month: William Hall sold, to Richard Sisson of , 1/300th of Canonocut Island
and 1-300th of Dutch Island, Rhode Island.

Event

June tne 4th (1655) being the day for Election of toune officers: the inhabitants of the toune of Portsmouth being mett this present day aboue writt have Chosen mr Will Balston magistrate for this toune for this present yeare and ingaged

toun

mr John Sandford Chosen magistrat and Ingaged for this year

Philip Shearman Chosen Toune Clarke Ingaged

George Parker Chosen toune Sergant and and water Bayleife

for this year Jngaged

John Briggs and William ffrceborne and Philip Shearman ar

Chosen to make up the loune Councell

mr John Sanford is Chosen tresurer for thee towne

Edward ffisher is Chosen Constable for this yeare insuing and

Ingaged

Thomas Brownell is Chosen Constabl for this toune for this

year insuinge and Ingaged

Richard Sisson is Chosen Constabl for this yeare insuing and

Ingaged

Jeames Weeden is Chosen Jury man for the Generall Court of

tryals to bee houlden at Portsmouth the last tuesday of this

present month of June

Jeritt Borne is Chosen Jury man: for the Court

Joshewaye Coxall Chosen Jury man: abouesayd

The bill presented by George parker to the toune for seruis done for the toune of Portsmouth amounting to 2' — 13 shillings it is ordered that it shall bee putt in to thee rate to bee made for A generall use by the Generall Court order and payd to George parker after the rate is gathered upon demand bringing in his bill:

Mr John Sanford William Woodell & Philip Shearman are Chosen to take the accompts of such men as haue formerly been Chosen to gather rates and there acompts haue not bene receiued by the towne

Property

he purchased one three hundredth share in the **Conanicut and Dutch Islands, and subsequently purchased another like share, both of which he sold in 1660.

Conanicut Island is in southern Rhode Island, between Newport (Newport Island) and the mainland of Rhode Island.

Juror

he was a grand juror at Dartmouth

Occupation

1671 Richard Sisson settles at the Head – the first family in Westport.
the first man to locate at the head of the Noquochoke River was Richard Sisson, and he was bold and hardy enough to locate his home, as early as 1671, on the west side of the river, and on the south side of the main highway, for in that year he was elected surveyor of the town roads.

Event

1676
Sisson home burned by Indians; many houses leveled.

Event

The question arose as to the proper notice to be given to the inhabitants of the town meetings, and it was voted that a notice should be posted in three places, "at William Spooner's; at the mills and at Richard Sisson's." It is now known that William Spooner was located at the head of the Acushnet River. The second place, at a later date, was designated as Smith Mills, and the third must have been at the Head of Westport at Sisson's place, probably just west of the landing, and near both the road and river.

Death

"The will of Richard Sisson was dated October 18th, 1683, and was proved in Dartmouth February 26th 1684. The executor was his son James." The inventory was dated Nov. 15, 1683 (The will is listed under Richard Sison [sic] at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/users/deetz/Plymouth/willsindex00.html).
"To wife Mary, my dwelling house and movables during her life, and twelve pounds sterling yearly rent; with firewood, orchard fruit, land for garden, liberty to keep poultry for her use, and also a horse to be maintained and kept at her command to ride on, also 2 oxen and two cows that I bought with my money; all debts due me I give to my wife. She shall have a milch cow maintained for her use, with winter shelter and summer pasture during live and two parts of all my swine. Also she shall have her corn carried to the mill and the meal brought home again sufficient for use during life, and 10 bushels of Indian corn, 3 of Rye and half of my wheat and barley.
“To son James, all my housing and land in Dartmouth, excepting land near Pongansett Pond and reservations to wife as aforesaid.
“To daughter Ann Tripp and her husband Peleg, tract of land near Pongansett Pond, and to daughter Tripp and her husband Peleg Tripp's children, all those sheep he is keeping.
“To son John, all my house and land in Portsmouth.
“To son George, five pounds in money.
“To daughter Elizabeth Allen, wife of Caleb Allen, five pounds.
“To Indian servant Samuel, a two-year-old mare.
“To grandchild Mary Sisson, daughter of George, three cows and one bed, etc., on the day of her marriage, and one pewter flagon and brass kettle which were her Aunt Mary's."
"The inventory of the estate was Ð600/19s . viz:
House & lands in Dartmouth Ð40
[ditto] Rhode Island Ð60
Cattle and horse kind Ð113/15s
Swine Ð30
Sheep Ð14/10s
Beds, etc. Ð50
New cloth, wool yarn, hemp & flax Ð13
One Negro servant Ð28
One Indian [ditto] Ð10
Money Ð12"