David Richards

Attorney in Jamaica.

1. David Richards, born in the county of Glamorganshire, Wales, was the eldest son of David Richard, a farmer in Llanedeyrn, near Cardiff, and his wife Mary. He was baptised at Llanedeyrn Church, 22/02/1763. Llanedeyrn was a rural area but is now a suburb of Cardiff. He married Hannah Haworth (also known as Anne) in Trelawney 01/01/1803.

2. He died 25/02/1823 and was buried in St Mellons church. His memorial inscription reads: "Sacred to the memory of David Richards Esq late of Llanrumney Hall in this parish who departed this life on the 25th day of February 1823 aged 60 years. He left his native country early in life for the island of Jamaica where he resided nearly 40 years and by strict integrity and unremitted industry acquired a handsome fortune as well as the respect esteem and friendship of the community in which he lived. He returned to his home in the fond hope of spending the evening of his days in domestic quiet and social enjoyment but the great Disposer of events ordained otherwise as a disease brought on by long residence in a tropical climate shortly terminated his mortal existence. Beloved shade, farewell celestial spirits, guard thy peaceful shrine. Go reader go and make his virtue thine."

3. His will is silent on Jamaican connections. He left his considerable property in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire (Llanrumney Hall, its associated farm and a number of other farms) to his wife Ann for her natural life and thereafter to be divided between his brothers Thomas Richards and John Richards, his sisters Sarah Morgan and Mary Roberts, nephew David Richards (son of Thomas), nephew David Roberts (son of Philip Roberts and Mary) and cousin Ann Richards Evans.

4. Death "At Llanrumney Hall, Monmouthshire, Anne, wife of George Rollings Esq. and relict of the late David Richards, Esq., of Hyde Hall, Trelawney, Jamaica."

1. Findmypast.co.uk, Glamorganshire Baptisms [database online].

2. Email from Richard Clements 10/04/2019 sourced to memorial in St Mellons church from Monumental Inscriptions records prepared by Glamorgan Family History Society in Glamorgan Archives.

3. PROB 11/1672/243.

4. Bristol Mercury 23/03/1844.

We are grateful to Richard Clements for his assistance with compiling this entry.