Shortly before the Mayflower reached Cape Cod in November of 1620, Richard More turned 6 years old. In early December, his older brother by one year Jasper More aged 7 succumbed to illness and died onboard. He was buried in the dunes nearby, one of the many early, unmarked graves.
Samuel More paid a hefty £100 (over double the cost for each child) to place all four children; Elinor, Jasper, Richard and Mary “such a spurious broode” (as he referred to them); onboard the Mayflower as indentured servants in the hands of “honest & religious people”.
In 1616 Samuel More confronted Katherine More with an accusation of adultery. None of their children looked anything like him, instead they particularly resembled Jacob Blakeway, ‘a fellow of meane parentage and condicon’ from a common Yeoman farming family that for years had leased land from Katherine’s Father.
In 1607 Jasper More’s only living son Richard was killed in a duel fought over a woman with Francis Sheppard from Baucott estate in Corvedale. This left the family with no surviving male heir to take over Larden Hall after Jasper. His only remaining child was his unmarried youngest daughter Katherine More.
I do not want or need anything more than what I have already been given with my life. Because I believe that the blessing I have is something which has been here long before I existed and will continue for generations of my extended family after I am forgotten.
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