Biographical Sketch of the RICHARDS Family; Delaware County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@ntelos.net>.

Copyright 2004.  All Rights Reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
*********************************************************

from CHESTER AND ITS VICINITY DELAWARE CO IN PA, by Martin; 

The family of Richards appear in the records of St Martin's Church, as vestrymen 
and pewholders from a remote period, but for some reason they bury their dead in 
the old graveyard of St Paul's Church, Chester.  I found the following 
inscriptions there; Edward Richards, esq, d April 13, 1794, aged
33 years 5 mo, 3 days.  Susanna wife of Jacob Richards esq d Aug 10, 1794, aged 
58 years 1 mo.  Elizabeth Richards wife of Jacob Richards esq d July 15, 1807, 
aged 34 years, 3 mo, 15 days.  Jacob Richards d July 20, 1816, aged 43.
    Jacob Richards, the elder, and Susanna His wife, had 2 sons and 5 daughters.  
The sons were Col Jacob Richards, M.C., above mentioned, and Edward, who died 
unmarried.  The daughters were Ann, who married first, Samuel Price and 2, 
"Squire Marshall."  2.  Betsy (Elizabeth) who married
Charles Grantham   4.  Kitty (Christiana) who married Pierce Crosby.  4.
Sarah who married Dr Samuel Anderson   5. Susan who married Dr Caleb Smith
Sayres.
    Among the arrivals in the VINE, on 17th 7th mo 1684, is John Richards and 
Susan his wife, and daughters Hannah and Bridget, and one servant, Susan 
Griffeth, for 8 years.
   Joseph Richards, with his  wife Jane, and family, settled in Chichester as 
early as 1685.  He was a Friend.  His daughter Ann m Humphrey Scarlet, and 
Susanna m. James Lownes, of Springfield.  His sons, Joseph and Nathaniel, lived 
in the lower part of Aston.  They were from Oxfordshire.
Joseph Richards died in 1710.  His son Nathaniel died in 1700, leaving William, 
Nathaniel, Elizabeth and Mary.
    I think it probable that Matthias and John Richards were cousins of the 
children of Col Jacob.  Dr Sayres named one of his boys Matthias Richards 
Sayres.  Matthias Richards, was born 1757; Judge of Bucks Co, Pa 1788-1797; 
Representative in Congress 1807-1811; died in 1830.  John Richards was a Rep. in 
Congress 1785-1797  whether he represented Del and Chester, I cannot determine 
authoritatively.  He may have represented Bucks.  Lauman's Congressional 
Directory says Richard Thomas, an Old Rev. soldier, was in Congress from 1795-
1801, and Dr Darlington says he represented the district composed of Delaware 
and Chester Counties.