William Richards
William was born in Somerton in 1816, the son of Samuel Richards and Martha Cannon. Like his father, William was also a stone mason. William maried Sarah Barber in Somerton on 18 Mar 1844 and together they had at least four children. Sarah was the daughter of Stephen Barber and Eleanor Cannon, both from the parish of Babcary. Their youngest child, Samuel John Cannon Richards died as an infant in the autumn or winter of 1849. Sarah died soon after aged 37, as did William's mother Martha, aged 68.
By 1851 William had moved to New Street, Somerton where he lived with his father and three young daughters, Sophia, Mary Ann and Ellen. The widowers employed Jane Melmoth as a house servant to help look after the children. In 1855, the year his father died, William married Sarah Reed. They had one child, a daughter, Martha Francis Cannon Richards, born in Somerton in 1860. William died in 1880 at the age of 64. Sarah, his wife continued to live at Hill Head, looking after her daughter, step daughters and grandchild until her death in 1896, aged 79.
References
Census - Returns: 1841 — 1851 — 1861 — 1871GRO References: Birth — Marriage — Children — Death
Alternative spellings: Richards, Richard
Parents
Samuel Richards, stone mason was born about 1784, probably in Somerton, Somerset.Martha Cannon, was born about 1786, probably in Babcary, Somerset.
Samuel and Martha were married in Somerton, Somerset on 31 March 1808
Top
Birth:
From Church records: William was born in Somerton and baptised 12 August 1816, the son of Samuel Richards (mason) and Martha.
Top
Marriages:
18 March 1844 RICHARDS William, BARBER Sarah, Langport, 10 657
8 Jan 1855
RICHARDS William, REED Sarah, Bedminster, 5c 991
Top
Children:
Name: RICHARDS, SOPHIA Mother's Maiden Surname: BARBER GRO Reference: 1844 S Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 403
RICHARDS, MARY ANN Mother's Maiden Surname: BABER
GRO Reference: 1845 S Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 390
Name: RICHARDS, ELLEN Mother's Maiden Surname: BARBER
GRO Reference: 1847 J Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 411
Name: RICHARDS, SAMUEL JOHN CANNON Mother's Maiden Surname: BARBER
GRO Reference: 1849 S Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 388
RICHARDS, MARTHA FRANCES CANNON Mother's Maiden Surname:REED
GRO Reference: 1860 M Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 05C Page 513
Top
Deaths:
RICHARDS, WILLIAM aged 64 1880 D Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 05C Page 273
RICHARDS, SAMUEL JOHN CANNON aged 0
1849 D Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 337
RICHARDS, MARTHA aged 68
1849 D Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 339
RICHARDS, SARAH aged 37
1849 D Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 10 Page 339
RICHARDS, SAMUEL aged 72
1855 M Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 05C Page 405
RICHARDS, WILLIAM aged 64
1880 D Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 05C Page 273
RICHARDS, SARAH aged 79
1896 D Quarter in LANGPORT Volume 05C Page 250
1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
New Hill, Somerton, Langport, Somerset, EnglandHousehold Members
First name(s) Last name Gender Age Birth year Birth place
Samuel Richards Male 50 1791 Somerset, England
Martha Richards Female 55 1786 Somerset, England
William Richards Male 20 1821 Somerset, England
Top
1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
New Street, Somerton, Langport, Somerset, EnglandHousehold Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Samuel Richards Head Widower Male 67 1784 Mason Somerton, Somerset, England
William Richards Son Widower Male 33 1818 Mason Somerton, Somerset, England
Sophia Richards Daughter - Female 7 1844 Scholar Somerton, Somerset, England
Mary Ann Richards Daughter - Female 5 1846 Scholar Somerton, Somerset, England
Ellen Richards Daughter - Female 4 1847 Scholar Somerton, Somerset, England
Jane Melmoth Servant Widow Female 62 1789 House Servant Compton, Somerset, England
Top
1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
New Hill, Somerton, Langport, Somerset, EnglandHousehold Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William Richard Head Married Male 43 1818 Stone Mason Somerset, England
Sarah Richard Wife - Female 38 1823 - Minehead, Somerset, England
Sophia Richard Daughter Unmarried Female 17 1844 - Somerton, Somerset, England
Mary A Richard Daughter Unmarried Female 15 1846 Scholar Somerton, Somerset, England
Ellen Richard Daughter Unmarried Female 13 1848 Scholar Somerton, Somerset, England
Frances Richard Daughter Unmarried Female 1 1860 - Somerton, Somerset, England
Top
1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
New Hill, Somerton, Langport, Somerset, EnglandHousehold Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William Richards Head - Male 53 1818 - Somerset, England
Sarah Richards Wife - Female 49 1822 - Somerset, England
Martha F Richards Daughter - Female 12 1859 - Somerset, England
William Read Nephew - Male 12 1859 - Somerset, England
Margaret Blake Boarder - Female 8 1863 - Somerset, England