Killed Instantly

Richard Richards Death Certificate links family to Wexford, Ireland.

Farmer Robert Powell reported the tragedy of Richard Richards being struck down by a team of runaway horses on January 29th 1874. The 40 year old Richards, who had lost both his wife Eliza (nee Hinton) and daughter Etta in 1872, was killed instantly.

Powell reported that Richards had been born in County Wexford in Ireland. Although, we know that Richard was actually born in Canada, the report suggests that Richard’s parents Edward and Mary Richards immigrated from Wexford.

The 1842 Ontario census* includes a note that the immigration event occured in 1826, while another document** states: 1838 – Widow Richards (Mary Richards the Widow of Edward Richards) settled in Kitley in 1838 on the rear of Lot 10 in the 10th Concession.

Sources: Archives of Ontario;
*1842 – Census, Kitley Twp., County of Leeds, page 19.
**Papers on Early Settlers to Kitley Township

Here is a photographic copy of the Death Record: