Simon Richards (1833 - 1928)

Born 12 Jan 1833 in Truro, Cornwall, England

Husband of Janet (Russell) Richards — married 8 Aug 1855 in Maitland , N.S.W. Australia

Descendants

Died 16 Nov 1928 at age 95 in Singleton, N.S.W. Australia

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Biography

Simon Richards was born in Cornwall, not long after the great Reform Bill , on January 12th.1833. It was also the year of the Anti - Slavery Acts, and the Acts, to restrict the hours children might be asked to work in factories. His mother died when he was two, and his father when he was five. After his fathers death a twenty two year old sister cared for him. But Simon and the sisters husband did not agree, so he ran away. He was found on a farm sleeping in haystack , and was befriended and educated by the strongly religious family named Swan , who took pity on him. To this family he was always grateful, for his upbringing and moral values. He was trained as a shoemaker,and emigrated to Australia on the "Lady Anne" in 1855. Simon first worked for Mr.Cyrus McDougall, at Maitland , having mixed duties(milking ,pig feeding ,picking and taking fruit-veg's to market.) His payment for 6 Months work was 22 Pound, with 12 pound retained for his passage out. With ten pound in hand , he tried shoe-making briefly , but then bought a horse and cart ,and traded in fruit and vegetables around the Maitland area. He was doing well enough at this ,to marry in August 1855, one Janet Russell whom he met when they both worked for McDugall. The young couple moved to "Glendon" near Singleton, owned by Janets half-brother David shearer, where Simon and David worked on a shares bases . From there he rented a farm at Mitchell's Flat , and after the Lands Act of 1861 the Richards sought land of their own. Janet's sister Mary (Russell)and Andrew Hamilton, were share farming at the time, in the Singleton district of the Hunter Valley . They lent the Richards family , a cart to help them move to " Greenmount", where they made their selection, and over time increased their holding to 7000 acres . Later Simon with his youngest son and daughter moved to "Springwood and built up another property of 7000 acres near the nine mile lagoon. Simon died age 95 in 1928 at Singleton,at the home of his daughter Mary and John Hamilton ,"Woonona".(At present The Singleton Ladies Tennis Club )

Simon and his wife Janet (nee.Russell) married in Maitland ,N.S.W. in 1855. They are buried in the Methodist Cemetery, Queen St. ,Singleton N.S.W. The children born to Simon And Janet ,were ; William 1856 - 1934 Gavin (Guy) 1858 - 1910 Janet 1860 - 1863 Elizabeth (Lizzie) 1862 - 1941 Simon (twin to Lizzie) 1862 - 1902 Janet 1863 - 1953 Mary 1865 - 1947 (Ewen's Grandmother) Martha 1868 - 1944 Robina (Beenie) 1869 - 1936 David 1873 - 1966

Sources

• Family History held by Ewen MacLeod