Maud (Richards) Powell (abt. 1670 - 1708)

Born about 1670 in Llanllwch, Carmarthenshire, Wales

Wife of Rowland Powell — married 19 Mar 1695 in Haverford Township, Chester, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1708 at about age 38 in Haverford Township, Chester, Pennsylvania

Biography

Christening

Place: St. Peters Parish, Carmarthen, Wales

Parents

Father: John Richards

Mother: Catherine Thomas

Marriage

Spouse: Truman Powell

Date: 10 May 1695

Place: Radnor Monthly Meeting, Chester, Pennsylvania

Children

Name: Mary Powell (1692 - 1734)

Name: Rowland Powell III (1694 - 1753)

Name: Elizabeth Powell (1696 - ...)

Name: Gobitha Powell

Name: Elizabeth Powell (1696 - 1740)

Name: Alltid Powell

Name: John Powell

Name: Jemima Powell

Name: Dorothy Powell

Name: Trueman Powell

Name: Rowland Powell (1703 - ...)

Name: Abigail Powell

Name: Stephen Powell

Name: Mary Powell (1707 - ...)

Name: Joseph Powell

Research Notes

The date and place of death are not confirmed by any source.

When Maud Richard came to America from Carmarthen, Wales, in 1693, she brought a character reference with her:

Certificate of Mawd Richards: To all persons to whom these presents shall come, we whose names are hereunto written from ye town of Carmarthan & yePerish of St. Peters in ye County Burough of Carmathan doe hereby certifythat Mawd Richard late of Llanllough in ye said parrish of St. Peters hath civilly and honestly behaved herself ever since her childhood to that time she went for Pennsylvia that last ..., & was of good focus and reputation in this country, and she did not leave the country upon account of any ill behavior, or ill report, nor did we heer of any contract that was between her and any man, but we believe she was clear &free every one. And this we do certify that she was well known to some of us, & ... for the rest of us hath been credibly informed of her, and do verily believe the same to be true. And in testimony thereof we have hereunto put our hands the fourth day of July in the year of our Lord,1694.

signed by John Williams Gent; Rees Harris Gent; Griffith Harris Gent; Thomas Davies; Evan Thompson; Elnon John; William Jenkin; John Thos.; Thos. Dd. Morris; Moris Griffith; John ap John.

The witnesses at the wedding of Rowland Powell and Maud Richard included about 50% of the tax payers in Haverford Township, according to a list of taxables for Chester County in 1693. Among those tax payers not at the wedding was John Richard who was assessed 2 shillings, 6 pence, in 1693in Haverford Township. It seems likely that Maud Richard was a daughter of John Richard who, perhaps, died between 1693 and 1695. John Richard also was taxed 2 shillings, 7 pence, for land in Radnor Township in 1693. One of his neighbors in Radnor, John Jerman, attended the wedding.

There were two others on the 1693 tax list for Chester County that may have been related to Maud Richard Powell. Nathaniel Richards of Ashdowne Township paid 2 shillings, 6 pence, and Joseph Richards of Chester Township paid 2 shillings, 9 pence. Joseph Richards served on the Chester County jury from 14 February to 27 February 1682 for the first court held in Chester County after the arrival of William Penn. A list of landholders in Chester County in 1689 included:

Joseph Richards 500 acres

Tho Powell 170 acres

Phillip Richards 500 acres

Jos Powell 125 acres

Tho Powell 150 acres

Among the early settlers in Chester County, Pennsylvania, who arrived between 1682 and 1688, were John Richards, of Macchinleth, Montgomeryshire, Wales, his wife Susan and their daughters Hannah and Bridget. The town of Machynlleth in Montgomeryshire, now Powys, Wales, is near the Dovey Valley and the Dovey inlet of Cardigan Bay, north-northeast of Aberystwyth.

Carmarthen is in Dyfed in southwest Wales, on the River Afon Tywi, which empties into Carmarthen Bay

Compend. of American Genealogy, Vol.I, by Virkus Edward Richards ca. (1610-84) England oj Lions with Roger Williams. Daughter Maude m. to a Powell. Dedham, Ma., 1632; freeman d 1641; m. 1638 to Susan Hunting

Sources

• Arrival in America: Glenn, Thomas Allen. Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania. Baltimore: Clearfield Co., 2000. Volume I. 233p.

• Marriage: U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935. http://search.ancestry.com/collections/2189/records/1801695. Citation: Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Index, 1709-1749; Collection: Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: MR Ph:537. Image: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_284097-00026?pId=1793321

• Tax list: Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Original data:Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.North Carolina Yearly Meeting Minutes. Hege Friends Historical Library, Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina.Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania. Image: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_284097-00085?pId=1794205