Ralph RICHARDS first wife

[cornishpasty]

I am looking for the first and maiden name of the (1st) wife of Ralph RICHARDS baptised 7 Nov 1802 Penzance, Cornwall. His Parents: Charles RICHARDS and Jennifer COLENSOE.

A possible christian name could be: Jane, Mary or Grace.

Ralph and first wife's children: Jane Richards (b. 1825) and Charles (b.1826).

Ralph remarried to Mary HONEYCHURCH, widow of Gregory HONEYCHURCH and daugther of Joseph HAWES (b. abt. 1761). She was 17 years his senior, being born 1785. On their marriage licence he is shown as bachelor and she as widow. They had a son, Ralph Richards (b. 1833) who married Christiana Grenfell.

I would appreciate any help in trying to find out the names of Ralph RICHARDS' (b. 1802) first wife.

Thanks
CP

[trencrom]

If Ralph is shown as a bachelor in his marriage to Mary Honeychurch then could we be talking about two different Ralph Richards here?

[cornishpasty]

G'day Trencrom,

I'm beginning to wonder about that myself. I have only found 2 births for a Ralph RICHARDS - one b. 7 Nov 1802 Penzance and the other is his son Ralph b. abt. 1833.

1841 Census shows:

Charles RICHARDS - 55
Jane RICHARDS - 16 - (b. 1825)
Mary RICHARDS - 50
Ralph RICHARDS - 37
Ralph RICHARDS - 8
Joseph HAWES - 80

1851 Census shows:

Ralph RICHARDS - 52
Mary RICHARDS (wife) - no age ( I forgot to note it)
Ralph RICHARDS (son) - 18

Checking World Connect (Rootsweb) I came across this information:

Jane RICHARDS b. 1813 Cornwall d. May 1888 Port Fairy, Australia
Father: Ralph RICHARDS
Marriage 1. Mark COOK
Marriage 2. John PERRY b. 1824 Cornwall married Madron, 25 Jul 1847. No mention of where in Cornwall Jane was born. I will go through the Penzance and Madron births again.

Anywhere else I should look? I'm not very good at researching, still a novice, so bear with me. ;D

CP

[Cornish Terrier]

CP - I think you mean born 1823 for Jane Richards.

Death record in the Pioneer Index:-

PERRY Jane d Richards, Ralph Jane UNKNOWN 63 PORT FAIRY 1888 7095

This, of course, depends on the knowledge of the informant when it comes to the mother's name and also her age.

It would appear that Jane was the first of Ralph's children which gives us two potential clues.

1. She was named after her grandmother (Jennifer often called Jane).
2. She was named after her mother which means that the name of Jane as given in the Pioneer Death Index would be correct.

As for the second marriage - I was tempted to agree with Trencrom (in fact I had already considered it) that there may have been another Ralph given that Ralph was named as 'bachelor' when he married Mary.

But the 1841 Census seems to 'kill' that idea.

A couple of things I need to query.

When and where did the marriage to Gregory Honeychurch happen?

How did you arrive at a birth year of 1785 for Mary?

The only Mary d/o Joseph Hawes I can find in the IGI was baptised at Paul 29th October 1797 d/o Joseph and Mary.

And 1785 does not really work with her age as given in 1841. (Nor does 1797 really.)

Her age would have been given as 55 or 45 I would have thought.

And if she was actually born in 1785 then she would have been 47 or 48 when young Ralph was born.

The 1851 Census gives us a little more:-

1851 Madron
North Street

Ralph Richards, head, mar, 52, mason (journeyman), Penzance
Mary do., wife, mar, 66, Penzance
Ralph do., unm, 18, mason journeyman, Penzance

Seems to get more confusing.

Will check out a couple of other things and, should I find anything, post another note.

[Cornish Terrier]

Ref Jane PERRY

1851 Census Camborne
Vyvyan Street

John Perry, head, mar, 26, copper miner, Crowan
Elizabeth JANE do., wife, mar, 28, wife, Penzance
Catherine Ann do., daur, 3, Camborne

Cannot find a marriage for Mary Hawes at Madron (Penzance) or Paul up until 1812.

In 1861 Ralph Richards age 61 is at Redruth as a boarder to Robert Sharp and family.
His status is given as 'married' and he is a Stone Mason, born Penzance.

His wife Mary is on her own at Penwith Street, Madron, head, married, age 75, born Penzance.
She states her husband is 'at Redruth'.

So we are certainly looking at about 1786 as being correct for her year of birth.

Best I can do for now.

[cornishpasty]

CT,

Thanks for your replies. The birth of 1813 for Jane RICHARDS is what was typed in the World Connect information. I, too, thought it was a typo but that's what it said and that's what I typed. I will contact the person concerned and see if they have any further information.

I will try to answer your other questions when I am feeling better. I'm full of flu right now so it might be a few days before I get back to you.

Thanks for all your help. You are a darling !

CP

[Cornish Terrier]

Not a problem CP - just get yourself well enough to re-enter the fray.