Richards, William, 1763 -

William Richards was born at Mashpee the son of Samuel and Hannah Richards.  William may have been the son born to the couple on February 18, 1763. William Richards was a signatory, along with 31 others, on a July 30, 1788 Mashpee petition complaining of deficiencies in the recently passed Act limiting their autonomy.  William also voiced his displeasure later in May of 1795, this time pointedly calling into question not only the Acts of the Massachusetts General Court of 1788 and 1789 but also the role of Rev. Gideon Hawley in the administrative and religious affairs of the tribe. 

Hawley, Gideon. Missionary journals, 1753-1806, Vol.4, Congregational Library & Archives, http://www.congregationallibrary.org ; Hawley Compilation, Vital Records, Richard Andrew Pierce; Petition of the Mashpee Indians to the Massachusetts General Court, 1788.07.30.00; Petition and Remonstrance of Ebenezer Queppish and Other Mashpee Indians to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1795.05.20.00.