RICHARDS, William - Cornwall

[tina09]

I am looking for any info on William Richards, born 1796 Penzance, Cornwall married esther or mary Watts 1821. Moved to Australia in 1840

[osprey]

A warm welcome to Rootschat 

there's an IGI extracted marriage in batch M001691 for Madron of William Richards to Esther Watts 10/3/1821.

As they left before the 1841 census, we have no clues from that. Richards is a common name and there's more than one William Richards baptised in Penzance in 1796, and there will be more in surrounding parishes. Can you let us know the names of any children born in Cornwall to help trace them in the parish registers?

[tina09]

Thanks for reply, Edward Watts b 6 April 1822 - d 13 June, William Ferderick b 18 Jan and Mary Louisa b 29 Aug 1826.
1 child a daughter died on the ship coming to Australia.

[osprey]

only I can see a baptism for so far is Edward

Edward Watts Richards born 6/4/1823, bp 4/5/1823 son of William & Hester
IGI extracted batch C065281 covering East St Lower Meeting, Octagon Chapel and Tabernacle Independent.

Also a baptism the following year for in Penzance St Mary for Edward Watts Richards 3/6/1824 son of William & Esther

The opc search site doesn't cover Penzance for that period
http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/
and the main opc site appears to be offline at the moment, so no way of checking occupation. I'll try again later.

 

[krisesjoint]

Hi Tina,

Edward Watts RICHARDS was born 6 Apr 1823 at Penzance and baptised 4 May 1823 Penzance Independant by John Foxall - Son of William RICHARDS a Tailor and Hester his wife who was the daughter of Mr WATTS formerly of this town

Cheers Kris 

[osprey]

not finding anything to indicate one baptism rather than another for William.
The 2 baptisms in 1796 in extracted batch P002611 for Penzance
William Richards bp 10/7/1796 son of William
William Richards bp 20/11/1796 son of James

Several possible marriages and without the name of the mother on the baptism, it's just guesswork.

Kris, do you think the 'formerly of' in the baptism means Mr Watts has moved away? Or has he died?

[tina09]

Thank you for all your help. I did come across a story that said he was born in Cornwall on 19 March 1796 and that he left via Plymouth Oct 28 1839 to come to Australia on the Java with his wife and 5 children.

[krisesjoint]

Hi Osprey,

I presume it means he no longer lives in Penzance but guess it could mean he is deceased. 

I have had no luck at all with Esther.

You may have seen this article Tina - what a wonderful insight

http://www.tenbratpress.org/

and the passenger list listing 5 children (unnamed)

http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/passengerlists/1840Java-PassengerLists.htm

Unfortunately these early passenger lists have not survived - all we have are the article in the newspaper when a ship arrives and the information on the passengers. - nothing terribly helpful. I can check the application for free travel but probably not much in it.

The only baptism I have located is Edward but the burials do seem to confirm the deaths in Cornwall

Edwards Watts RICHARDS was buried Penzance St Mary 16 Jun 1824 aged 1+
Mary Louisa RICHARDS was buried 7 Dec 1827 aged 1 +
Alfred RICHARDS was buried 28 Apr 1829 aged 14 months

In the 1841 census W RICHARDS is in Hindley Street

1 male under 7, 1 male under 14, 1 male under 21, 1 male under 50, 1 female under 14, 1 female under 50

so this does fit with 5 children at immigration and one perishing at sea.

Looks like they moved to Angaston soon after

RICHARDS Francis Watts 16 Jun 1842 Angaston Dist Ang 9 253 Parents William RICHARDS and Esther WATTS
RICHARDS Henry Mitchell 1 Jun 1844 Angaston Dist Ang 9 253 Parents William RICHARDS and Esther WATTS

dates also agrees with the diary.

Cheers Kris 

[osprey]

that's a wonderful article, Kris. Could be worth Tina trying to contact Glenda Richards, I would have thought.