Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by William Halsall
Nineteen years after the Mayflower’s 1620 arrival in America, Samuel Rider, and his family sailed from England to join the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony. By the time Samuel arrived in New England, Plymouth’s population was nearing 600 families. Over the next few decades, Rider would become a prominent name throughout the colony, with several of Samuel’s children and grandchildren marrying the descendants of Mayflower passengers.
The early years of samuel rider
Samuel Rider (also spelled Ryder or Rydar) was born on June 19, 1601 in the village of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England to John Rydar and Helen Smyth (Smith). Members of this Rydar family were known to have lived in this region of England all the way back to 1433. On October 16th, 1628, Samuel married Anne Gamlett in All Saints Parish of Northampton, about 12 miles from where he was born.
leaving for Plymouth colony
English life under the tyrannical Catholic King Charles I was difficult for reformed groups such as the English Puritans and Scottish Covenanters. Samuel Rider and his family likely decided to emigrate in order to seek religious freedom as well as greater economic opportunity in New England.
In 1639 Samuel sailed for Plymouth Colony, which is located in current day Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The trip was likely funded by mortgaging a property willed to him by John Smyth (Smith), Samuel’s godfather (and likely a relative of his mother), in 1638.
life in new england
New arrivals to Plymouth Colony were considered “common” and did not have the right to own land or vote. In order to become a “freeman” and gain these rights, pilgrims had to endure a probationary period and be elected freeman by the General Court. On January 7, 1639, Samuel’s name appears on a list of persons “proposed to take up their freedom at Yarmouth”. During the probationary period, Samuel would have been watched carefully to ensure that his family did not veer from the Puritan ideals. Had the family failed in maintaining the Puritan way of life, they would have been asked to leave Plymouth Colony.
Once settled in Yarmouth, Samuel quickly became a respected member of the community, serving as a lieutenant in the Yarmouth Military Company. In 1654 he was charged with the offense of “showing sympathy to Quakers” and ordered to appear before the court at Yarmouth. He was subsequently demoted from his office as a lieutenant for the offense of “protecting a Quaker” and then restored as a lieutenant on June 1, 1658. In 1657 Samuel was listed as taking the Oath of Fidelity (below) and served in several public offices which included terms as a Grand Juryman, Constable, and Tax Collecter.
The Plymouth Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity
You shall sweare by the name of the great God…& earth & in his holy fear, & presence that you shall not speake, or doe, devise, or advise, anything or things, acte or acts, directly, or indirectly, By land, or water, that doth, shall, or may, tend to the destruction or overthrowe of this present plantation, Colonie, or Corporation of this towne Plimouth in New England.
Neither shall you suffer the same to be spoken, or done, but shall hinder & opposse the same, by all due means you can. You shall not enter into any league, treaty, Confederace or combination, with any, within the said Colonie or without the same that shall plote, or contrive any thing to the hurte & ruine of the growth, and good of the said plantation.
You shall not consente to any such confederation, nor conceale any known unto you certainly, or by conje but shall forthwith manifest & make knowne by same, to the Governours of this said towne for the time being. And this you promise & swear, simply & truly, & faithfully to performe as a true Christian [you hope for help from God, the God of truth & punisher of falshoode].
The rider family line
Samuel and Anne had at least 10 children (5 born in England and 5 in Plymouth Colony). Their son Benjamin, who married Mary Gray, is believed to be the line that our Rider family descends from. Samuel died in Yarmouth on December 2, 1679, leaving the majority of his estate to his son, Benjamin. His wife Anne died in 1695.
Tracking our Rider family has proven difficult and the following ancestry lineage should be considered speculative, although DNA confirms the family’s relation to Samuel Rider’s descendants. The name Benjamin Rider was a favorite among Samuel’s descendants, with at least 40 Benjamin Riders born in Massachusetts by the late 1700’s. In addition, some of the Plymouth colony records have been damaged or lost. Our Rider line can be confirmed through vital records back to the Benjamin Rider (below) born in Massachusetts in 1793. Although there is some evidence to support the rest of the line, ancestry from Daniel Rider (1758-1845) through Samuel should be considered speculative.
Sources
The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database.AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 – .) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB283/i/11857/123/0
Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010)https://www.americanancestors.org/DB407/i/12336/49/24154413
Preliminary materials for a genealogy of the Rider (Ryder) families in the United States: arranged according to the “Rider trace” system of presentation. Rider, Fremont, 1885-1962. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005692559
Lisabeth Ryder
April 6, 2020I have a booklet with pages and pages of descendants of Samuel A Ryder. Email me if you are interested.
Michelle
April 7, 2020Thank you, Lisabeth. I will be in touch.
Kathy Rider
September 22, 2020We are descendant of Samuel Rider Please send. Thank you
Michelle
September 25, 2020Hi Kathy,
Please check your email and I will send you what I have.
Best,
Michelle
Janelle Rider
October 10, 2020we are desscendants of Samuel Rider. Could you please send this info to us as well? Thanks much!
Michelle
October 13, 2020Hello Janelle,
Thank you for saying hello. Sorry for the delayed response. I have been out of town and will send you what I have tomorrow.
Michelle
Lisabeth Ryder
October 13, 2020Thank you, looking forward to iy
Pam Brancati
November 27, 2020I have 5 Samuel Ryders documented in my family tree… 1 Benjamin (born 1630, son of Samuel, of course). Would love any info you are willing to share.
I am currently trying to trace down Mayflower ancestors. Samuel Ryder (born 1632) married Sarah Bartlett, granddaughter of Richard Warren. I also have notes of a Samuel Ryder (born ~1765, married to Lydia Atkins) that was a descendant of William Brewster, but am having trouble confirming the link to my line. I have a Samuel Ryder, born 1765, but he was married to Naomi Hurlburt. Would you have any info on this?
Michelle
December 4, 2020Thank you for commenting, Pam. Pulling apart the many same name Rider/Ryders was definitely a challenge in our family tree, especially Benjamin Riders. The Samuel Ryder that married Sarah Bartlett, Mayflower descendant, is not part of my husband’s Ryder line, but there are some great online resources that will help you look for that connection. I would suggest checking out the American Ancestors website which is run by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. I will also send you an email this weekend to share my Ryder resources.
Mary Lohrstorfer
June 27, 2020Have you ever come across a “Samuel Black Rider”?
Born about 1774 in Plymouth County.
Died in 1852 in Braintree, VT
A descendant of Samuel Rider and Sarah Bartlett
Michelle
June 27, 2020Hi Mary, It has been some time since I have looked at the Rider line. I will take a look at my records this weekend and send you an email.
Michael Ryder
April 22, 2021Hi Michelle,
My name is Michael Ryder. Born in Hyannis, MA, but raised in Yarmouth, MA. I just came across your information pertaining towards Samuel Rider, my great…… grandfather, and I’d love to share info and stories.
All the 3best,
Michael
Michelle
April 25, 2021Hi Michael,
Thank you for saying hello. I would love to share information. I will email you.
Patricia Fiust
July 20, 2021Just came across your site. Samuel Ryder was my 9th grandfather. His son John had a son Ebenezer who had a son Ebenezer who had a daughter Abigail who married Stephen Carlow. They were among the first settlers of Albany. Pat Fiust
Michelle
August 9, 2021Hi Patricia,
Thank you for saying hello. Have you found many records for them in Albany? It seems like the New York Rider/Ryder families are often difficult to distinguish when researching.
Clarissa Davis
November 27, 2020I am related to Samuel ryder.would like to know more about my family history.
Michelle
December 4, 2020Hi Clarissa,
Thank you for commenting. If you let me know what information you need I will try to help.
Patricia Fiust
July 20, 2021My 9th great grandfather was Samuel Ryder. I come down the line from his son John.
Michelle Swann
August 19, 2022i have just discovered that Samuel Rider is one of my ancestors on my mothers side, he is my 9th great grandfather, i didnt have a clue as i live in the Uk, but found out some of my ancestors did leave for USA on the Mayflower and also after up to around the early 1900’s where my great grandmother passed in Canada.