Hi Roger,
New day, new theory. I wonder if we can completely discard the David Richards family of Ffosybleiddiaid, past and present, and simplify our data.
John (1760) and James Richards (1763) were born at Bryn Isaf, (Bryn Merllyd). Going backwards, we see the negotiations regarding Bryn Isaf dated 1757. Looking at the details we see that the £100 is repaid, after 7 years, by Thomas Richards. ( We haven't come across a Thomas in David Ffos's family. I thought that the Edward Richards mentioned was the one from the school but the 1727 will of David Richard, (Yeoman) of Ynys y Perfedd shows a wife named Magdalen and sons named David and EDWARD.
Having regard to the lack of useful results from the pursuit of David of Ffos and his family, (although they must have been involved with the Richard family of Ystradmeurig) I'm leaning in the direction of the forebears of John and James to be from the David Richard (Gent) line. Because there is an Edward involved in the negotiations for Bryn Isaf, ( and, I presume, Thomas was his son), this increases the probability of Thomas being John and James' father.
Your observation that the David Richards (Gent) that Married a Letitia in 1737 is not the same person as David Richards who later, (1757) became a "Gent", seems correct.
We see that the David Richards of Strygosfawr, Lledrod, son and heir of Thomas, Yeoman, and Magdalen Richards, the owner of Lledrod Mill and various properties in the area left to David in his will, would be a "gent" in his own right. None of the properties mentioned in the will can be linked to David of Ffos ... nor Strygosfawr, the residence of David "Gent". We now can concentrate on details for Edward, son of Thomas, brother of David of Strygosfawr.
(Another observation is that David of Strygos married in 1737 ... Edward would have married around the same date and had a son, who in 1760, (DoB of John Richards), would have been in his early 20's.
Have a good think about this post and check my dates etc. thinking outside the box may work this time. Regards, Peter
[quote author Despair.
Again, you have probably seen it, but amongst many references to David Richards of Lledrod at NLW there is one dated 1757,an indenture of £100-David Richards of Foesybleidded(sic) and Letitia his wife to Edward Richards of Spytty Ystrad Meyrick(sic) re a property called Bryn Merllyd and a note of 1764 acknowledging repayment of capital and interest by Thomas Richards.]