Jonas Rice
Encyclopedia
Jonas Rice was the first permanent settler of European descent in Worcester, Massachusetts
, and was a founder and prominent citizen of the town. He was elected as a judge to the Court of Common Pleas in Worcester County, Massachusetts
and he served until his death.
to Thomas Rice (1621-1681) and Mary (King) Rice (1630-1714). His parents had both immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony
from England, and his grandfather Edmund Rice
was a founder of both Sudbury
and Marlborough
.
Rice resided before 1702 at Worcester, Massachusetts
when it was known as Quinsigamond. Rice, along with most other residents, abandoned the town soon after the commencement of Queen Anne's War
. He returned at the end of hostilities on 14 Dec 1711, and he bought 60 acres of land in what is now in central Worcester. He was a signatory on petition dated 13 October 1713 presented to the Great and General Court
expressing desire to reestablish Worcester as a town. Rice served as a selectman in Worcester beginning in 1722 and as town clerk, and he served as the first schoolmaster in 1726, and as an officer in the militia, attaining the rank of major in 1734. Rice was selected as judge to the Court of Common Pleas
in Worcester County
on the establishment of the county.
Rice died on 22 September 1753 in Worcester, and was buried at at Old Common Cemetery. He left a will on 23 July 1753, proved 7 Nov. 1753. The will mentions wife Mary; daughter Silence, wife of John Bond; eldest son Jonas; and sons Absalom and Adonijah, and the inventory was £200. Absalom Rice was the executor.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, and was a founder and prominent citizen of the town. He was elected as a judge to the Court of Common Pleas in Worcester County, Massachusetts
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
and he served until his death.
Biography
Jonas Rice was born 6 March 1672 in Marlborough, MassachusettsMarlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
to Thomas Rice (1621-1681) and Mary (King) Rice (1630-1714). His parents had both immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
from England, and his grandfather Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice (1638)
Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
was a founder of both Sudbury
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
and Marlborough
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
.
Rice resided before 1702 at Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
when it was known as Quinsigamond. Rice, along with most other residents, abandoned the town soon after the commencement of Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War , as the North American theater of the War of the Spanish Succession was known in the British colonies, was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought between France and England, later Great Britain, in North America for control of the continent. The War of the...
. He returned at the end of hostilities on 14 Dec 1711, and he bought 60 acres of land in what is now in central Worcester. He was a signatory on petition dated 13 October 1713 presented to the Great and General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
expressing desire to reestablish Worcester as a town. Rice served as a selectman in Worcester beginning in 1722 and as town clerk, and he served as the first schoolmaster in 1726, and as an officer in the militia, attaining the rank of major in 1734. Rice was selected as judge to the Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas may refer to several different courts:England and Wales and Ireland:* Court of Common Pleas * Court of Common Pleas...
in Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
on the establishment of the county.
Rice died on 22 September 1753 in Worcester, and was buried at at Old Common Cemetery. He left a will on 23 July 1753, proved 7 Nov. 1753. The will mentions wife Mary; daughter Silence, wife of John Bond; eldest son Jonas; and sons Absalom and Adonijah, and the inventory was £200. Absalom Rice was the executor.