George Richards & Elizabeth Hartop

[johnP-bedford]

more marriage licence info ....

17 Sep 1759 George Richards of Cople, widower, tailor to marry Sarah Saville of Cople aged 28; surety by Edmund Morgan, Blacksmith of Cople

6 Mar 1748/9 George Richards of Cople Cardington, widower, tailor to marry Mary Seaby of Elstow aged 26; surety by Robert Jones victualler of Elstow.
Note . from Elstow PR marriages they've transcribed her name as SEELY

However ... under that SEABY name on licence dated 1 Oct 1771 for Thomas Hartop farmer of Keysoe aged 36 to marry Sarah Seaby of Bolnhurst aged 24; surety given by Dan Worship of Eynesbury, Hunts

more later ...

 

[johnP-bedford]

+ + marriage licence dated 7 June 1783; Sarah Hartop, widow of Keysoe to marry Abraham Fisher, farmer of Keysoe; surety by James Duncombe, farmer of Gt Barford.

Sarah being wife of Thomas Hartop who died 1780. Abraham Fisher was buried 2 Apr 1789 & left will ref 1790/5, Widow Sarah Fisher was buried 20 July 1806 & left will 1806/25 & inventory ref 4/203; wonder if it mentions her Hartop children.
 

[Helen Bedford]

Hi Guys
My interest in the Richards family is that on 10 Feb 1757 George Richards married Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of Samuel Palmer & Elizabeth Purser (both family names of mine), but the marriage did not last long as she seems to have died in childbirth as there was a daughter baptised 16 Nov 1757 and Elizabeth was buried 17 Nov 1757.
What seems curious to me about George Richards is that when he married Mary in 1749 he was aged 32, a tailor, a widower and married by licence. in 1757 he is a widower again, but this time he victualler and married by banns. Finally when he married Sarah Seville in 1759 he was a widower but back to being a tailor and being married by licence!
John, you seem very knowledgeable about Bedfordshire records, do you have a special site or sites where you find the info?
Helen

[johnP-bedford]

John, you seem very knowledgeable about Bedfordshire records, do you have a special site or sites where you find the info?

Yes it's the Bedford reference library - not everything is online don't you know.

[johnP-bedford]

Re the Purser name connection - another marriage licence I noted yesterday dated 4 Apr 1788 of Mary Hartop of Cardington aged 21+ to marry at St Paul's Bedford a William Purser, tailor of St Paul's aged 21+; surety given by Joseph Barker, cabinet maker of Bedford.

[Helen Bedford]

Hi John
Thanks but not one of mine, unfortunately.
I know not everything is online, but it's nice to dream! 
Helen

[bedfordshire boy]

So George Richards had four wives;

1. Before 1749. The only possibility seems to be at Wilstead on 17 Jul 1740 to Elizabeth Lamont. Two sons were subsequently baptised in Cardington, and an Elizabeth Richards, wife of George was buried at Cardington on 14 Nov 1747. The only Richards entry in Wilstead PR is this marriage.
2. 1749 George Richards of Cardington, widower, 32, tailor to marry Mary Seaby of Elstow aged 26. Mary Richards wife of George Richards was buried at Cople on 14 Aug 1755
3. Elizabeth Palmer at Willington on 10 Feb 1757 to George Richards widower victualler. She was buried on 18 Nov 1757 at Cople, wife of George, after childbirth.
4. Sarah Saville at Cople on 9 Oct 1759. George Richards, widower, tailor

George appears to have been baptised at Cople on 20 Oct 1717, son of Joseph and Mary. BLARS holds a will of George Richards of Cople victualler, proved in 1778 ref 1778/25

David

[johnP-bedford]

The Mary Hartop of Cardington who married William Purser in 1788 could be the daughter of Essex & Elizabeth Hartop who baptised her there on 20 July 1765.  The William Purser could be the son of Francis & Mary Purser baptised at St Pauls on 26 Jan 1766. If you search back a generation or two it would not surprise me that there was a family connection to Elizabeth Purser who married at Renhold in 1723.

[bedfordshire boy]

Good moaning John. A bright and sunny bank holiday Monday here in France

The Mary Hartop of Cardington who married William Purser in 1788 could be the daughter of Essex & Elizabeth Hartop who baptised her there on 20 July 1765. 

This is the conclusion reached by the editor of The Inhabitants of Cardington in 1782