Delbert Connell & wife Ethel May (Richards) with daughter Della Jean Connell (my mother age 14) in front of the Richards House. Family photo taken on Sept 1, 1930.

The gravestone at Bell’s Cemetery is situated almost directly across from the family’s home at Lot 15 Con 10 in Elizabethtown Township.

This is just a stones throw west of the Peer Homestead we visited recently at Bells Crossing, where Lucy Adeline Peer  (Ethel May Richard’s mother) grew up. Lucy married William Henry Richards, the Richards’ eldest son who inherited the property twenty years after his father’s death.

Land Record (Lot 15 Con 10 Elizabethtown)
Thanks to the land records for Lot 15 Con 10, we now know quite a few details of this inheritance. Because the children were all so young when their father died, William had to wait until he was of age before he could legally inherit the property on behalf of his younger siblings. This was complicated by the fact that the children’s mother Eliza had died, perhaps in childbirth to youngest son Edward in 1872 and that Richard had died intestate (without a will).

What surprised me was that the land transaction took place with the help of Richard’s brother John and with Richard’s “second wife” Caroline who I knew nothing about prior to examining this record as the grantor.

Instrument 23-2346 (B&S) dated Feb 13, 1874 and registered Dec 24, 1874 lists grantors “Caroline Richards (widow of Richard Richards) (William H. Richards, Margaret E. Richards, & Edward Richards infant children heirs & heiress at law of Richard Richards) (Names ruled thru in red are grantees only W.J.E.) to grantees William H. Richards, Margaret E. Richards & Edward Richards, infant children, heirs to Richard Richards”. The transaction was subject to the “condition for payment of $400 by one John Richards”.

As far as I know, John was Richard’s brother (a Pump Maker, age 51 in the 1881 Canada census living with the Widow Mary Richards and Edward Richards age 9) who I take it paid Caroline the $400 on behalf of the children.

A second instrument, 25-4686 (Grant) dated and registered Feb 10, 1894 exists between grantors “Margaret E. Garvin & husband & Edward Richards (unmarried) two of the three only lawful children & heirs of Richard Richards (an intestate) to grantee William H. Richards (the other of such children & heirs) for $800. Could this be William taking full ownership of the land and re-paying his uncle John for his part in the transaction? It seems likely.

But who was Caroline Richards, I wondered? I had never heard her mentioned by the family before, but then this generation was a little beyond the living memory of my immediate family growing up and the story has so many tragic elements to it that it is not surprising that it was forgotten in the mists of time.

Richards – Gorland Marriage – 1873
Ruth and I searched on Ancestry for a marriage between Caroline and Richard and found it with no trouble. They were married at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Smith Falls on August 6th, 1873 (co-incidentally today’s date) . Her name is listed as Caroline Gorland age 32, spinster of Wolford. Her parents were Thomas Gorland and Eliza Impey. He is listed as Richard Richards age 35, widower and yeoman of Elizabethtown. His parents are listed as Edward Richards and Mary Tackaberry. This is the first piece of paper that I personally have found that identifies Richard’s mother Mary (aka The Widow Richards) as being a Tackaberry, and confirms everything we had heard from other Tackaberry researchers.

Garvin – Richards Marriage – 1892
The other genealogical gem that comes out of this land record is the inferred marriage of Margaret E to someone named Garvin. Sure enough, we find the marriage and discover James Garvin, a 27 year old Spinner from Almonte, Born North Elmsley of parents George Garvin and Catherine McKay has married Margaret Eliza Richards, a 22 years old spinster from Rockspring, Born Elizabethtown of parents Richard Richards and Eliza Hinton. Witnesses were Addie Reynolds and George Reynolds. May 24, 1892 in Merrickville by Licence.

So far so good. Time for so more searching:

Death Certificate for Etta
It occurred to me that there might also be a death certificate for Etta, the child listed on the gravestone above. Sure enough, it too was easy to find. Contrary to the headstone which says she died in 1874, Etta’s death certificate says she died at 6 1/2 years of age on April 23, 1873, less than 4 months before Richard’s marriage to Caroline. Her full name was Charetta Jane Richards. Cause of death was listed as consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis) after 18 days of illness. It is likely that Etta was named after her maternal grandmother Charetta Shaw (aka Charity Hinton) and Aunt Jane Hinton. Perhaps this also references another Jane back in Ireland.

The gravestone above is also from Bells Cemetery across the road from the Richards House and next door to the old school house where my Grandfather Delbert Connell told me he went to school. Him, and many other relatives I would imagine.

Edward Richards Family – 1911
Edward Richards, the youngest child of Richard and Eliza can be found on the 1911 Canada Census at Lot 19 Con 11, Elizabethtown as the owner of a cheese factory born in 1872, the year his mother Eliza died. While I could not find a death record for Eliza, it seems plausible that she died in childbirth or from complications related to the birth of Edward. In 1911, Edward age 39 is living with his wife Mary A. age 26, daughters Stella age 14, Eva S. age 3, and nephew Howard Richards, also age 26 and a cheese maker in Edward’s factory.

The House Today

Taken during our recent field trip to Bells Crossing. I tried to shoot this from the same angle as the photo above with just my memory to go on. Click on this to enlarge and then click on photo again (left hand side only) to move back to the old shot.

From Left to right - Clifford Roy, William Henry, Ethel May, Harold Edison (in front), Lucy Adeline and Howard Victor.

Items On This Page
1871 Census
1881 Census
1891 Census
1901 Census
1902 Photo (above)
More Photos

1901 Census:

• William H Richards, male, white, head, married, born Ontario – Mar 24, 1864, age 37, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist, occupation Farmer
• Lucy A Richards, female, white, wife, married, born Ontario – Nov 7, 1866, age 34, origin French, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist, speaks English, doesn’t speak French
• Ethel M Richards, female, white, daughter, born Ontario – Jan 13, 1887, age 14, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist
• Clifford R Richards, male, white, son, born Ontario – May 18, 1889, age 11, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist
• Howard V Richards, male, white, son, born Ontario – Oct 14, 1891, age 9, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist
• Harold E Richards, male, white, son, born Ontario – Mar 11, 1897, age 4, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist

More Photos

William Henry and Lucy Adeline Richards

At Rest William H. Richards 1864- 1923 and His Beloved Wife Lucy Adeline Peer 1865 - 1956 Location: Fernbank Cemetary, Elizabethtown Township (1811-1971)

According to census data, May Richards was born in Ireland anywhere between 1801 and 1811. Most likely she was born around 1806 which would make her about twenty years old when she moved with her husband Edward Richards to Canada. Edward died sometime before 1838 leaving her the matriarch of the Richards Clan, a position she would hold for the next half century. The family took up residence in a log shanty at the rear of lot 10 in Kitley Township near the border with Elizabethtown Township north of Brockville, Ontario.

1826 – Mary Richards immigrated 1826
Source: Note on 1842 Census (see below)

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. Source: Archives of Ontario; Papers on Early Settlers to Kitley Township

1842 – Census, Kitley Twp., County of Leeds, page 19, Widow Richards, Farmer, Non-proprietor
1 Native of Ireland (16 years in Canada)
5 Natives of Canada
1 male (6-13)
3 single male (14-17)
1 single male (18-20)
1 single male (30-60)
4 single female (14-45)
Source: Archives of Ontario.

1848 – Census, Kitley Twp., County of Leeds,
Mary Richards (Widow) , Lot 10, Con 10
7 members present
2 members absent
9 Church of England
1 Native of Ireland
6 Natives of Canada
1 Male (6-13)
2 Female (6-13)
2 Single Males (21-29)
1 Single Female (45 or more)
1 Single Female (14-44)
Archives of Ontario #M5909

1852 – Census, Kitley Township, County of Leeds, Pt. 2, Pg 149,150,
Mary Richards, Farmer, Birthplace: Ireland, Religion: WM, Age: 45, Widow
John Richards, Labourer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: WM, Age: 25, Single
Francis Richards, Labourer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: WM, Age: 24
Eliza Richards, Labourer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: WM, Age: 21, Single
Richard Richards, Labourer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: WM, Age: 20, Single
Sarah Richards, Labourer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: WM, Age: 17, Single
Mary Ann Richards, Labourer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: WM, Age: 13, Single
House type: Shanty, 1 Story, 1 Family
Source: Archives of Ontario #C965

1861 – Census, Kitley Twp., County of Leeds,
Mary Richards, Farmer, Birthplace: Ireland, Religion: CE, Age: 50, M.S.: W
Mary A. Richards, Farmer, Birthplace: Canada, Religion: CE, Age: 20, M.S.: S
House Type/Comments: Log, 1 Story, 1 Family
Source: Archives of Ontario, #C1044

1881 – Census, Kitley Twp., County of Leeds, A-2, page 42, family # 205
Hinton, Mary Anne, 40, Born: Can. Religion: C. Meth. Origin: Irish, Widow
Hinton, Mary Jane, 15, Can., C. Meth., Irish
Hinton, William, 16, Can., C. Meth., Irish
Hinton, Richard, 11, Can., C. Meth., Irish
Richards, Edward. 9, Can., C. Meth., Irish
Richards, Mary, 80, Ire., C. Meth., Irish, Widow
Richards, John, 51, Can., C. Meth., Irish, Pump Maker
Source: Archives of Ontario #C13230
Editors Notes: Could not find Charity Hinton nor William Henry Richards on the 1881 Census.

Peer Family 1880 Carte-de-Visite

Back Row – William James, Hannah Jane, Lucy Adeline, Margaret Anne
Middle Row – Reuben Sr., Margaret, Reuben Jr., Mary Lilly
Front Row – Katherine Matilda, Clarissa
Photo courtesy: Julie Hinton

1901 Census:

• William H Richards, male, white, head, married, born Ontario – Mar 24, 1864, age 37, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist, occupation Farmer
• Lucy A Richards, female, white, wife, married, born Ontario – Nov 7, 1866, age 34, origin French, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist, speaks English, doesn’t speak French
• Ethel M Richards, female, white, daughter, born Ontario – Jan 13, 1887, age 14, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist
• Clifford R Richards, male, white, son, born Ontario – May 18, 1889, age 11, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist
• Howard V Richards, male, white, son, born Ontario – Oct 14, 1891, age 9, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist
• Harold E Richards, male, white, son, born Ontario – Mar 11, 1897, age 4, origin Irish, nationality Canadian, religion Methodist

The Richards Family in 1902

(left to right) – Clifford Roy, William Henry, Ethel May, Harold Edison (in front),
Lucy Adeline and Howard Victor.

More photos:

William Henry and Lucy Adeline Richards

Gravestone
Richard Richards 1840 – 1874
His Wife Eliza 1845 – 1872
Their Daur. Etta 1866 – 1874

Note: The birth dates on this stone are clearly wrong. Richard Richards was born in 1833 and Eliza was born in 1839. The stone which is located near Bell’s Crossing is quite modern, being far removed in time from the ancestors it represents. One can only suppose that it is a replacement memorial for an earlier marker.

Found amongst the private papers of his grandson, Gerald Connell

View a photo of William & Lucy.