Captain Addison Richardson was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, on July 3, 1739, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Richardson. After the death of his parents, he lived for a few years in Cambridge. A veteran of the French and Indian War, he participated in the expedition to conquer French Canada in 1758.

In 1761 he married Mary Greenleaf (1734-1799) of Medford. Sometime after his marriage he moved to Salem. During the Revolutionary War, he received a commission as captain. He fought in the battle of Fort Washington, near New York, and was one of approximately 203 continental officers captured in the loss of the fort on November 16, 1776. He remained a prisoner at Gravesend, Long Island, until exchanged on May 9, 1778. He later served as administrator for a number of people's estates in Salem.

He married Mary Greenleaf on December 24, 1761. The couple had five children: Addison, Isaac, William, Mary, and Stephen. Mary died in February 1799. He then married Anstiss Blanchard of Salem on January 1, 1800. She died on December 8, 1807. Later he married Lucy Holden, of Princeton. She died in Princeton on November 26, 1848. Addison Richardson died in Salem on July 31, 1811.

William Richardson was born in Salem on April 8, 1769, the third son of Captain Richard and Mary Addison. He lived in Salem and was a ship's captain. William married Elizabeth Townsend (born 1771) on March 17, 1788 and the couple had ten children: Elizabeth, Mary White, Mary Greenleaf, Hannah, William, Isaac, Lydia Lambert, Stephen, Olivia, Addison, and Penn Townsend. William Richardson died in Salem on December 8, 1807. Moses Townsend was the administrator of his estate.

Addison Richardson is William Richardson's fourth son and the namesake of his grandfather, Captain Addison Richardson. Addison was born in Salem on June 6, 1804. He, along with his brothers William and Isaac, were ship captains. Addison was issued a Seaman's Protection Certificate on February 24, 1817; he was 12 years old. Addison was commander and part owner of the ships Charlemagne, Gallia, Duchesse d'Orleans, and F. A. Palmer, among others. Addison married Eleanor Waters (born 1809) of Salem on October 13. 1833. The couple had five children: William, Edward Waters, a son who died at birth, Henry Robinson, and Ella. Addison died in New York after 1880.