Massachusetts Colony Records. Vol. 1 p370

4 MAR 1634/5. Richard Kent was admitted as a freeman

History of Newbury, Massachusetts, 1635-1902. John James Currier.

14 FEB 1633/4. The Mary & John is stopped in the Thames River by the privy council 

History of Newbury, Massachusetts, 1635-1902. John James Currier.

 24 and 25 MAR 1633/4. Richard Kent and other men took an oath of supremacy and allegiance to the king before being allowed to sail away.

History of Newbury, Massachusetts, 1635-1902. John James Currier.

Richard is elected to manage the affairs of the town. He is mentioned as weighing in on land grants and those I don’t include. Too many and not related to his property. Also, he approves the ordering of regular public meeting times. In some mentions, he is released from managing affairs of the town. Sets up a mill in a new location when the town is moved from the Parker to the Merrimack

 8 OCT 1637 It was likewise desired by the generall consent that the same persons, to witt, Edward Woodman, Jo. Woodbridge, Henry Short, Christopher Hussey, Richard Kent, Richard Browne, & Richard Knight, who were chosen by papers to perform the same service for one quarter longer & to labor in the case according to what the Lord shall direct, to do according to what is prescribed.

21 DEC 1637. For the better ordering of all towne affaires it is thought that certain times & places of meeting should be appoynted which may be publickly knowne to the end that not only those to whom the charge of towne affairs is committed may make their constant & careful attend ance but likewise that any other that hath any occasion of business with the towne may know where & when to make their desires knowne. And for the present it is agreed that there shall be a constant meeting kept (till further order be taken) every second Thursday at Henry Short’s house, beginning at 8 of the clock in the morning & so to be continued as the times & seasons shall require. And for the more orderly & con siderate proceeding it was likewise ordered that what things are pro posed any one meeting day shall not ordinarily be answered till the next meeting unless in cases of some moment or in cases that require speedy answer

5 JAN 1638. Edward Woodman, Jo : Woodbridge, Hen : Short, Rich. Kent, Rich. Browne, William Moody & Jo: Pike, Jun. were chosen by papers & de sired to manage the towne affairs for one whole quarter & till new be chosen, & to do their endeavors according to what is prescribed.

23 JUL 1638. Henry Short & Rich. Kent were released from being lott layers.

8 SEP 1638. . . .that a rate of twenty-eight pounds shall be made speedily and gathered within one fourteenight for the finishing of the meeting house. The towne appoynted Mr Woodman & Ed: Rawson to make this rate. The towne appoynted the Constables to gather this rate. The towne hath appoynted Henry Short & Richard Kent to receive thii rate & survey the worke.

12 MAR 1641/2. We whose names are here underwritten being appointed by the free men to proportion to every man his several and particular right in all the Town’s commons according to the full power and authority committed to us in the behalf do order & determine as followeth :

• That the several numbers of pastures hereafter expressed shall lie and be perpetually to the said persons to whom they are allowed as their own property & due right and that it shall not be in the liberty or power of the freemen to alter or take away any man’s right in the commons according to the stint hereunder because it is his propriety & inheritance.
• That no person or persons whatsoever not expressed in there stint hath or shall have any propriety in the Commons in present or hereafter but what he shall get by purchase or some other way legally obtain.
• That all the commons within the limits of the Town shall be equally divided into three several parts and that the same number of cattle that are allowed in the stint of the cows & oxen shall be allowed in the heifer common & a third like quantity of young cattle in the coinon above Mr Rawson’s farm.

THE STINT OF THE OX & COW COMMON.
[etc…]
Henry Rolfe 8 3/4
Richard Kent 3 1/2
[etc…]
[Signed by] John Woodbridge, Thomas Hale, Henry Short

Memorandum that March 12, 1641 the orders above written and the proportion of pasturing allowed to every one as is above expressed were publiquely & distinctly read to the General Body of the freemen who generally by their vote did confirm the same and further with the consent of said persons deputed did order as followeth:

• That whosoever shall at any time transgress this order by putting any of his cattle in any or either of those commons more than is here mentioned as due to him or that he shall make sufficiently evident to have lawfully purchased or otherwise legally obtained from any which hath due right according as is expressed shall forfeit twenty shillings for every beast that by the Hay ward of the Towne shall be found going in any of those commons and by him to be levied on the goods of every such offender by the Constable for the use of the Towne.

• The execution of this stint is stayed till the major part of the freemen shall see cause to put it in use.

• That no man shall under any pretense or colour whatsoever receive any cattle into the Towne or keep any man’s in the Town that hath no right in the common, to stock the common so much as that the Towne should be forced to make use of the stint provided this relate not to cattle which any one shall Buy or Hire out of the Towne for his own necessary use & employment.

23 MAY 1650. Upon the request of the town of New berry, Edward Woodman, William Gerrish & Richard Kent are appoynted to end small causes there according to law. [essentially small claims court]

18 DEC 1645. Whereas the Inhabitants of ye Towne of Newbury at a publique meeting have chosen William (ierrish, John Lowle, Richard Knight, Henry Short, Richard Kent, Jnr, John Pike, Jnr, and William Titcomb for to procure a water mill for to be built and set up in sd Towne to grind they corne the sd men have accordingly covenanted & agreed with John Emery & Samuel Scullard to effect & perfect the same on these terms following : 1. That the sd John Emery & Samuel Scullard Do Covenant & promise that the sd Mill shall be sufficiently built & made ready for the Townes use to grind the Townes grists at or before the twenty ninth of September following. 2. They likewise promise that the sd mill shall be sett up between Nicholas Holts poynt & Edward Woodmans Bridge, or near there abouts, this they promise to perform & make good & do hereby firmly bind ymselves & theyr heyrs under the penalty of forty pounds forfeiture if not done.*

First Book of Newbury Records. “Copied from the first book written by Woodbridge, Rawson and Somerby.
What’s left commences 10 5th month 1637. “

5 NOV 1637 We whose names are underwritten have received the accounts of Richard Kent. Constables upon all accounts find he stands indebted to the towne the full sum of ten pounds one shilling + nine pence.

First Book of Newbury Records. Copied from the first book written by Woodbridge, Rawson and Somerby.

11 DEC 1637
21 DEC 1637
22 DEC 1637

Richard Kent is present at a town council meeting.

First Book of Newbury Records. Copied from the first book written by Woodbridge, Rawson and Somerby.
24 FEB 1638

He is fined for not showing up at town meeting.

At a general town meeting 24 12th month 1637 =FEB 24 1638 It was nioted that Thomas Cromwell, Samual Scullard, Richard Kent, John Pike, Robert Pike & Nicholas Holt are fined 2pounds 6 pence a piece for being absent from towne meeting at 8 o’clock in the morning having dur & fit warning.

Having taken in serious consideration the weight og managing all publick affairs & being desirous that those whom God hath fitted & who necessarily are called forth unto such publick services may not be overburdened with expense of time & other charges which necessarily attend such publick businesses, but rather should be encouraged to that end that they may bear that burden & faithfully discharge that service which they are called unto & considering likewise the practice of other towns & places in this government in putting their shoulders to help bear up and sustain this common work either in person or estate or both…

First Book of Newbury Records. Copied from the first book written by Woodbridge, Rawson and Somerby.
1 JUN 1638

Richard kent bringing in his account to the towne the account was accepted and Richard Kent fully discharged.

First Book of Newbury Records. Copied from the first book written by Woodbridge, Rawson and Somerby.
19 JUN 1838

Next to Thomas Colmans 7 acre lott there is granted to Jos. Remington four acres, to Henry Lunt 4 acres next to him, to Richard Kent Sr. four acres next to him. There is granted to John Bishop a lott of four acres on the west side of the Merrimack way and two acres at Merrimack river.