The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-08


The name of Richards was firmly
established in the Norman ducaI
genealogy long before William came
over the water; but 1t was reserved for
tie Angevin monarch, as no had made
it q terror Of the Paynin. 80 to make
II the pride OF the English heart.
Richard I. was tho first to give IL
the name by all classes In England.
Tho first Richards of Virginia were
Undoubtedly descended from those OF
Massachusetts, though the arms OF both
are different in some respects, yet
We're OF the same English stock. The
Gore Roll OF Arms gives to the wife
of John Richards one OF His Majesty's
councillors in the Province OF Massa-l
chusetts, the arms which he wore upon
his SEAL and SO did his father, Thomas
Richards. before him. who lived at
Dorchester. These same arms are also
found on the tombstone OF James
Richards. OF Hartford. Conn. 1880. and
are the same as for the Richards of
East Bagborough county Somerset,
England.
The arms for these New England
Richards are described, as given In
Vermonts America Heraldica. as fol-
lows: Arms: Argent TESS fusilly,
gules, between two barru1ets sable.
Crest: A paschal lamb, PEASANT argent,
staff and banner ppr."
Now. turning to the Virginia Rich
ards. the arms as given to the Rev.
John Richards. of Ware Parrish. Glou-
cester county. Va. supposed to be one
of the first in the colony, and des-
cendant of the family In Massachusetts,
are given as "arms-Sable, chevron.
between three fleurs de lis, or" No
crest or motto. We here pro-
duce. and are presumed to be the
original arms of the family in France
before coming to England. as Is signi-
fed in the fleurs de lis. This Rev. John
is mentioned by Bishop Meade as from
county Kent, England. being rector of
Netherstead. and coming to Virginia
took charge OF Ware Parrish, Glouces-
ter. about 1925. where he died, 1875,
and was buried at the old Ware
Churchyard, where his tombstone Is
still to be seen. also that of his wife,
Amy, who died 1928. and near them
the grave Of their faithful colored SER,
want. who died two days after her mis-
tress. 1t would seem, from this, that
the Rev. John Richards was OF dis
tinct family, and yet, from q frag-
ment of tombstone still to be seen
in old ST. Johns Churchyard we have
the inscriptions: "Joana Richards. died
tho third dav of February, 1919, in
the thirty ninlh year of his age; born
in Ipswich. Mass" Which would indi-
este that soue of the Massachusetts
family We're then living In Virginia.
The various names of Gabriel, Jacob,
John, Mourning, Richard, William and
William Byrd Richards. as found in
the several volumes of Hening's
Statutes, would show that the family
was largely settled at quite an early
period in the colony. He gives John
Richards as being in King and Queen
county in 1851. and signed the resolu-
tions OF the Northern Neck patriots OF
1875. James Richards, he gives as be-,
ing in the Colonial service, 1850. at
tached to tho First Virginia Regiment.
William Richards was In Westmore-
land county 1852. But the chief records
of the family are to be found In Spott-
splvania county, where are found Ben
iamin Richards and his sons, Ben1a-
min. Jr., Philemon and William Rich
ards as prominent citizens of the
| county from ITO to 1890. James Rich
| ards moved from King and Queen
county into Spotsylyania about 1928.
John Richards with Robert and VIII
| liam Richards bought land In 1872
from Alexander Spottswood. John
Richards was OF Prince William coun-
| ty, 1897, and was the one who figured
so in the Revolution. Winifred Rich
ards also lived in Spotsylvanla, 177l;
| he had a son William and daushter
Sarah Richards. William Richards, the
elder, was first of orange county and
besides buying lands in 1879 OF Cover
nor Spotswood, he also bought land
| at "simpson's Ordinary" In Spotsyl-
yania, 1910. He and his wife, Elizabeth
| then moved to Culpeper county, having
sold some of his lands In Spotsyl-
vania in 1886; but in 1883 he again
bought lands in Spotsylvanla, and sold
lots in Fredericksburg. and other
| tracts OF land. thus having a mania for
| land speculation.
Richard Richards. and his wife, Har-
riet, and son, Heaekiah Richards llVed
In Caroline, 1770. Gabriel Richards,
whom Henlng mentions In his thlr-
tecnth volume was horn IN Franco IN
| 1867; he was a Jealous missionary; ne
stopped first in Virginia and then
went to Maryland, where he became
professor In st. Mary's College. and
] then roamed over the whole West.
preaching In Illinois and Michigan,
where no died at Detroit, 1892, 1t Is
thought he brought tho original coat
OF arms of the family. which We're 80
different from those of New England.
QUERIES AND I.EITERs.
&
Balm, q
Editor Gencalogy Column:
sir,-Will you please publish the
records OF the Baln family OF virginia.
. ~, -, 49,. Il, clnaed memorandum.