GENEALOGY OF THE RICHARDS FAMILY - of South Jersey (NJ) ---------------------------- Information located at http://www.rootsweb.com/~njatlant/ On a USGenWeb/NJGenWeb Web site, July 2007 TRANSCRIBED BY GEORGE PRICE, a volunteer for NJGenWeb Please see the web site for email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber. ======================================================== Source: The Daily Union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and county, with maps and illustrations specially prepared, by John F. Hall; Atlantic City, N.J.: Daily Union, 1900 RICHARDS FAMILY Louis Richards of Reading, Pa., in 1882, prepared for Pennsylvania Magazine a sketch of the Richards family, from which most of the following was obtained of men, who for several generations contributed so much to the development and progress of South Jersey. 1. Owen Richards, according to tradition, his wife, and three sons, James, William and John, and daughter Elizabeth, sailed from the port of Chester, England, and landed at Philadelphia before 1718. The first positive trace of him is by his purchase, December 22, 1718, of 300 acres of land in Amity township, now part of Philadelphia, “from one Mouns Justice, a Swede.” Owen Richards is supposed to have resided on this land till his death, which occurred after 1734. He sold one-half of the tract to his son James for 7 pounds, and “natural love and affection.” Owen’s second wife was Elizabeth Baker, whom he married in 1727. She died in 1753, aged about eighty years. The children of Owen Richards were: 2. James, of whom little is known and who probably left no descendants. 3. William. 4. John, whose wife’s name was Sarah, and their children Edward and Susanna. He probably moved to Virginia and perpetuated the family name there. 3. William was born in Wales, had grown to manhood when he came with his father to this country, was atone time possessed of considerable property, but died in poverty. He was a peace officer of the king in the province for a time. He died in 1752. His will mentions all his children and disposes of property in the sum of 207 pounds, 7 shillings, 10 pence, and is on file in Philadelphia. His daughters, Ruth and Sarah, received 5 pounds each; his son Owen, and daughters Mary Bell and Margaret, five shillings each, and his son James 10 pounds and a mare, the rest going to William after his mother’s decease upon his coming of age. 5. Mary married John Ball, of Berks County. Their son Joseph Ball, became a wealthy merchant. In his early manhood he became manager for the owner, Col, John Cox of the Batsto Iron works, where shot and shell were cast for the Continental service. He was an ardent patriot and was a loser financially in aiding Robert Morris to restore the public credit. He died in 1820, aged 73, years, leaving a widow, Sarah, but no children. 6. Owen left little trace. His name appears as a soldier of the Revolution. 7. James. 8.Ruth, m. Daniel Kunsman. 9. William. 10. Margaret, m. Cornelius Dewees. 11. Sarah, m. James Hastings and lived in Virginia. 7. James, b. about 1722, was all his life a farmer. He served as sergeant in Capt. Tudors company, 4th Pennsylvania Continental line, enlisting May 10 1777. He was a man of immense frame and great physical strength and had many lively episodes of conflict and adventure. He died in 1804, aged eighty odd years. His wife’s name was Mary, and his children were William Frederick, Elizabeth, James Owen, Mary, Sarah, Hannah and John. William, the eldest, was born January 27, 1754. John Richards, the youngest, m., first, 1811, Rebecca Ludwig, who d. in 1840; second, Louisa Silvers, 1841, who d. January 26, 1880. There were seven children. He moved to Batsto, Burlington County, in 1808, and spent forty years of his life in iron manufacturing at Weymouth and Gloucester furnaces. He continued in the iron business at Mauch Chunk, Pa., 1848 to 1854, when he returned, dying November 29, 1871, aged 88 years. 9. William was b. September 12, 1738. He learned the occupation of a founder. He married Mary Patrick in 1764. About 1768 he came to Batsto, where he worked for a time. August 13, 1776, he joined the Revolutionary forces, his family living at Valley Forge, where he was in camp with the army that memorable winter of 1777-8. In 1781 he became resident manager for Col. Cox, of the Batsto iron works, succeeding his nephew, Joseph Ball. In 1784, he became sole owner of the works, purchased thousands of acres and acquired a princely home. He was of gigantic mould and great physical strength. By his first wife, Mary Patrick, he had eleven children, seven sons, and four daughters. By his second wife, Margaret Wood, whom he m. in 1796, he had eight children, seven sons and one daughter. In 1809 he relinquished his Batsto estate to his son, Jesse, and moved to Mt. Holly, where he passed the last years of his life. He died August 23, 1823. The children of William and Mary Patrick were: 12. Abigail, b. June 1, 1765; d. May 14, 1794 13. John, b. June 2, 1767; d. November 30, 1793 14. Samuel, b. at Valley Forge, May 8, 1769. Extensive iron manufacturer in New Jersey and merchant in Philadelphia. He m., first, Mary M. Smith, in 1797. She died in 1820, and he m. Anna Witherspoon, of New York, He was the father of eleven children. Two of these were Sarah Ball, widow of the late Steven Colwell, and Thomas S. , also an extensive iron manufacturer. He was the owner of the Atsion and Weymouth Iron Works, comprising about 75,000 acres each. He took great pride in the Atsion property, building there a large dwelling, where he spent the summer for many years. He had a large tract of land under cultivation and was a prominent business man in Philadelphia for a long time. 15. Elizabeth, b. August 26, 1771. She m. Rev. Thos. Haskins, of Maryland 16. Rebecca, b. August 7, 1773; m. John Sevier, of Tennessee. 17. William, b. July 1, 1775; d. December 21, 1796, 18. Joseph, b. October 6, 1777; d. March 26, 1797. 19. Thomas, b. February 10, 1780. He was a merchant in Philadelphia and iron manufacturer at Jackson, in Camden County. In 1810 he m. Ann Bartram, by whom he had nine children. He died October 17, 1860, the day fixed for his golden wedding and the marriage of his daughter. 20. Jesse. 21. Charles, b. August 9, 1785; d. May 11, 1788. 22. Anna M., b. February 8, 1789; m. John white, of Delaware; d. May 2, 1816. The children of William and Margaret Wood were: 23. Benjamin Wood, b. November 12, 1797; d. July 12, 1851 24. Charles Henry, b. April 9, 1799; d. April, 1802. 25. George Washington, b. May 6, 1891; d. June,1802. 26. Augustus Henry, b. May 5, 1803; m. Rebecca, daughter of Hon. John McLean, of Ohio; d. 1839 27. William, b. January 16, 1805; m. 1831, Constanta Marie Laman, and had five children; d. April 19, 1864. 28. George Washington, b. May 3, 1807. Merchant and manufacturer of Philadelphia; prominent in railroads and insurance. He m. Mary Lee Guen and had eight children; d. April 22, 1874. 29. Joseph Ball, b. November 9, 1811; d. January 30, 1812. 30. Mary Wood, b. March 6, 1815; d. September 19, 1860. 20. Jesse was b. at Valley Forge, December 2, 1782. He succeeded his father at Batsto. In 1829 he rebuilt the works and in 1816 the iron furnace having been abandoned he established extensive glass works. These he conducted successfully until his death, June 17, 1854. His estate then comprised sixty-five thousand acres. This estate is now owned by Joseph Wharton of Philadelphia. (Transcribers note: Now the Wharton State Forest ). Jesse Richards was a member of the New Jersey Assembly in 1837-8-9. He m. Sarah Ennals, daughter of Rev. Thomas Haskins by his first wife, Mr. Haskins having previously married Elizabeth, a sister of Jesse Richards. 23. Benjamin woods Richards was b. at Batsto, November 12, 1797. He graduated at Princeton in 1815, and studied for the ministry, but his delicate health compelled him to travel extensively. He later engaged in mercantile pursuits in Philadelphia, elected to Council and the Legislature, and was a great promoter of public schools. He succeeded George M. Dallas as Mayor of Philadelphia. (For further information see Magazine.) A son Benjamin Wood Richards, lives in Hammonton. 19. Thomas Richards, b. February 10, 1780; d. October 17, 1860; m. Anna Bartram, by whom he had nine children. 24. William B., who died about 1874 25. Elizabeth B., who died about 1865. 26. Samuel, b. August 15, 1818; m. Elizabeth M. Ellison; d. February 21, 1895. They had two children, Thos. J., b. April 25, 1853; m. Lydia F. S. Winn and have four children, and Samuel Bartram, who m. Mary Dorrence Evans and have two children. 27. Anna B., m. Benjamin J. Crew, deceased. 28. Rebecca B., m. Rev. Thos. E. Souper, deceased. 29. Thomas, Jr., m. Deborah M. Kimber. 30. Rebecca R. S., m. Walter Newbold and had two children, Anna Bartram, who m. J. Remson Bishop, and Elizabeth R., who m. Samuel Fox. 20. Jesse Richards, m. Sarah Ennals, daughter of Rev. Thos. Haskims and had six children, three sons and three daughters. The sons were: 32. Thos. H., oldest son of Jesse Richards, after graduating at Princeton, assisted his father in the extensive business of Batsto. He was one of the most upright and honorable men that ever lived and was universally loved and respected. Previous to his father’s death he had shown a fondness for public life, and served as a member of the assembly from Burlington County in 1841-43, and was a State Senator in 1847-49. He took an active interest in township and county affairs and seemed by nature well suited for public life. But in the last few years of his father’s life, and after his death, as one of the executors, he was obliged to devote his whole time and attention to the affairs of the estate. He was not what might be called a business man, never having received a strictly business training, which was needed at that time, in adjusting the varied and extensive affairs of the estate. Though advised by his counsel, to take the time, eighteen months, which the law allowed before making payments, he decided to pay all debts, promptly as they matured, and this eventually caused trouble and embarrassment. His agent in New York robbed him to the extent of many thousand dollars and caused him great disappointment. He died about 1870. 33. Jesse, Jr., never married, deceased. 34. Elizabeth, who m, Judge Bicknell, of Indiana. 35. Anna Maria, m. Lachlan McIntosh, a Confederate officer, who after the war lived for a time at Batsto. Deceased. 36. Sarah Ann, never married. Deceased. 14. Samuel Richards, b. May 8, 1769; d. January 4, 1842. For his second wife m. Anna M. Witherspoon and was the father of three children, Sarah Ball, who m. Steven Colwell; Elizabeth R., who m. W. Dwight Bell, and Thomas S. who m. Hannah daughter of Gen. James Nichols. Steven Colwell and Sarah Ball had three children, Richard, Edward and Charles R. Richard Colwell m. his cousin Annie, daughter of William Richards, of Atsion, and d. about 1873. He was a young man of extraordinary ability and was the manager of the Weymouth estate at the time of his death. Edward Colwell was an officer in the army and was thrown from his horse and killed in grand review of the troops at Washington at the close of the war, May , 1865. He never married. Charles R. Colwell, the only surviving grandchild of Samuel Richards, and the youngest of the three sons of Steven Colwell, m. Laura Retz and lives at the old homestead on Weymouth estate. (end)