Richard Montague 1614 - 1681

Richard, son of Peter was born in Boveney, Parish of Burnham, Buckinghamshire , England .  He came to America about 1634, sailing on the “Speedwell”, locating first in the Boston , Massachusetts area.  He married Abigail Downing, daughter of Rev. Dr. Downing of Norwich , England and from this union our line of American heritage began.  The exact date of their marriage in America is unknown.  The young couple lived in several villages and then in 1651 they relocated to Wethersfield , Connecticut .  They resided there for eight years and then moved to Hadley , Mass. in 1659 with their family of six children.  Richard was quite prominent in this new village and was part of the town council.  His current tombstone was erected by George and Charles Montague in 1881, to replace the old weathered original one in the old Hadley Cemetery .  Richard and Abigail’s oldest son Peter’s stone is the smaller one on the right.

Their youngest son, John, continued to live on his father’s estate after Richard’s death, and my bloodline extends from him.