Richard was born at "Paradise", in Northumberland County, Virginia, the estate he inherited from his father when his father died in 1664. This estate consisted of , and was later part of Gloucester County. He was educated at Oxford in England and may have studied law at the London Inns of Court. He seemed destined for a career in the church, but he elected rather to return to the life of a Virginia gentleman, residing at "Paradise". In 1673, when his older brother John died unmarried, Richard inherited the estate, "Machodoc". Richard left "Paradise" to overseers and removed to his new estate.