When
Mom came to the US in 1945, she brought a letter from her grandfather. It was written in Welsh. Her grandfather asked her to take the letter to Newton, Kansas, to Rowland and Mary
Richards. They are relatives of our
Richards line, but I haven't yet figured out how. My great-grandfather kept in touch with many
members of his family, the records and responses of which were lost (discarded)
when the house was sold in the 1970s.
I'm still working on finding the connection, but it is slow progress
from my location. In the meantime, here
is what I have found about Rowland Parry Richards and his family.
Since Rowland is 8 years old on the first census on which he appears and the next child, sister Elizabeth is only 11 months old, is Rowland a child of Eleanor Davies and not of Thomas Richards? Eleanor was born in Llanrhystyd; Rowland's death record shows his birth as the same.
MARRIAGE:
Why did
Rowland and William come to the US?
✥
Rowland's
father was Thomas Richards, born about 1849 in Goginan, Cardiganshire Wales,
according to the 1891 and 1901 census records.
Thomas died in 1908. His death
was registered in the June quarter, so it was in April, May, or June of that
year, in the town of Treorchy, Glamorganshire, Wales.
FreeBMD Death Index for Wales:
Thomas Richards, 59, Merthyr T, Vol 11a, page 416
These
census records show Thomas and his family:
1881
Wales, Merionethshire, Festiniog, Dist 5a / 393 Uncorn Terrace
Thomas
Richards, head, 31, slate miner, b Cardigan, Aberystwyth / Ellen, wife, 31,
slate miner's wife, b Cardigan, Llanrhystyd // Rowland, son, 8, scholar, b
Cardigan, Llanrhystyd; Elizabeth, daur, 11 mo, b Merioneth, Festiniog /// David
Richards, boarder, marr, 54, stone mason, b Cardigan, Llanrhystyd
1891
Wales, Glamorganshire, Ystradyfodwg / 8 Hermon Street
Thomas
Richards, head, 42, coal miner, language Welsh, b Cardigan, Goginan / Ellen,
wife, 42, lang Welsh, b Cardigan, Llanrhystyd // Rowland, son, 18, coal miner,
lang Welsh, b Cardigan, Llanrhystyd; Elizabeth, dau, 10, scholar, lang Welsh, b
Merioneth, Ffestiniog; Ellenor, dau, 8, scholar, lang Welsh, b Glamorgan,
Ystradyfodwg; William, son, 7, scholar, lang Welsh, b Glamorgan, Ystradyfodwg;
Evan J, son, 3, lang Welsh, b Glamorgan, Ystradyfodwg
1901
Wales, Glamorgan, Ystradyfodwg CP / 6 Abersystwyth Coffee Tavern
Thomas
Richards, head, 51, coal hewer, worker, b Cardigan, Goginan / Ellen, wife, 51,
b Cardigan, Llanrhystd // Elizabeth Jane, daur, 20, b Merioneth, Festiniog;
William, son, 18, coal hewer, worker, b Glamorgan, Ystradyfodwg; Eleanor, daur,
15, b Glamorgan, Ystradyfodwg; Evan John, son, 13, b Glamorgan, Ystradyfodwg
This
is the coffee tavern noted in the 1901 census. Thomas and Eleanor Richards owned and operated it. The photo was sent to me by a correspondent
from Wales.
✥
Thomas
married Eleanor DAVIES, daughter
of Rowland DAVIES and Eleanor JONES.
Free BMD Marriage Index
record: Wales, Cardiganshire, Marriages, September quarter 1869, Newcastle in
Emlyn, Vol 11b, page 27 - Eleanor Davies and Thomas Richards
``````````
Eleanor
Davies was born 1848 April 18 in Llanrhystyd, Cardiganshire, Wales, her birth
registered June quarter 1848: Davies, Eleanor, Aberystwyth, Vol 27, page 28
Ellen
is on these census records with her family.
I have not yet located the 1871 record for Eleanor and Thomas.
1851
Wales, Cardiganshire, Mefenydd Dist, Llanrhystid
74
Troedrhiw
Rowland
Davies, head, marr, 35, shoemaker, b Llanrhystid Cardiganshire / Eleanor, wife,
marr, 38, shoemaker's wife, b Llanfihangel Croyddin Cardiganshire // Mary,
daur, 9, shoemaker's daur, b Llanrhystid Cardiganshire / Anne, daur, 7,
shoemaker's daur, b Llanrhystid Cardiganshire / Cathrine, daur, 5, shoemaker's
daur, b Llanrhystid Cardiganshire / Eleanor, daur, 3, shoemaker's daur, b
Llanrhystid Cardiganshire / William, son, 5 mo, shoemaker's son, b
Llanrhystid Cardiganshire
1861
Wales, Cardiganshire, Llanrhystyd Mefenydd
36
Troedyrhiw
Rowland
Davies, head, marr, 45, shoemaker, b Cardiganshire, Aberystwyth / Elenor, wife,
marr, 47, shoemaker wife, b Cardiganshire Llanfihangel Croyddin // Elinor,
daur, 12, scholar, b Cardiganshire Llanrhystyd / William, son, 10,
scholar, b Cardiganshire Llanrhystyd / Margaret, daur, 8, scholar, b
Cardiganshire Llanrhystyd / Jane, daur, 5, b Cardiganshire Llanrhystyd
✥
Thomas
died in 1908. Immigration records show
that William and Rowland had been in the US for three years before then. When their father died in 1908, William
returned to Wales and brought his mother, two sisters, and younger brother to
Kansas. Ellen and children arrived at
the end of April 1910, so they don't appear on that Kansas census.
Both
the 1915 and 1925 Kansas state census records show Eleanor living with her
daughter Eleanor's family:
1915
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
90/96 F R Kiddoo, 37, b Missouri, to Kansas from
California, millwright / Elinor, 29, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales /// Elinor
Richards, 64, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales // Margaret Kiddoo, 2, b
Kansas
1925
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton, Reno Ave
132/132 Kiddoo, Eleanor, head, 39, widow, b Wales, to
Kansas from Wales, emig 1910, na 1912 // Margaret, dau, 12, b Kansas, school
/// Richards,
Eleanor, mother, 77, widow, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales, emig 1910, alien
Then,
in 1930 Ellen is listed with daughter Elizabeth's family:
1930
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton Twp, 8 May
91/91 Rowlands, Daniel, head, 61, first marr at 43,
owner, radio, lang Welsh, immig 1872, farmer - general farm 90, b Wales Wales
Wales / Elizabeth J, wife, 50, first marr at 31, lang Welsh, immig 1910, b
Wales Wales Wales /// Richards, Eleanor, mother-in-law, 82, wd,
lang Welsh, immig 1910, naturalized, b Wales Wales Wales
Eleanor
died in 1932 at Burrton, Kansas, and is buried in the Burrton Cemetery.
Obituary:
-Mrs Eleanor Davies Richards was born
near Aberystwith, Cardigan Shire Wales, on April 18, 1848. She departed this live July 10, 1932 at the
home of Mr and Mrs Dan Rowlands, having reached the ripe age of 84 years. Mrs Richards spent 60 years of her life in
Wales among the slate quarries of the north and the coal fields of the south. She was the mother of five children, three
sons and two daughters, who were all at her bedside when she departed this
life.
-In
1908 her husband, Thomas Richards, preceded her in death. Two years later, she, with her family came to
America and located at Burrton, Kansas, where she has resided since.
-Early
in life she accepted Christ as her Savior and Lord, and has lived a
conscientious, consecrated Christian life both in word and deed. She was a seeker after Spiritual truth which
she found in the Word of God. She
memorized large portions of scripture and was a lover of music, especially the
songs of the sanctuary, from the reading and singing of which she received
great pleasure during her declining years.
She believed the Bible to be the infallible word of God, and that His
promises will be fulfilled in due time.
-She
leaves to mourn her loss, one sister, Mrs Jane Edwards, who lives near London,
England. Three sons, Rowland and Evan J
of Burrton and William of Mulvane, Kansas.
Two daughters, Mrs Dan Rowlands and Mrs Nellie Kiddoo of Burrton. Six grandchildren and one great-grand
daughter. A host of relatives and
friends.
-
"The
World recedes; it disappears,
Heaven
opens on my eyes; my ears
With
sound seraphic ring;
Lend,
lend your wings; I mount, I fly!
O
grave; where is thy victory?
O
death; where is thy sting?"
"In
our eyes and thoughts no other
Has
so kind and saintly face,
And
of all we fondly cherish,
None
can ever fill her place."
IMMIGRATION:
---EllisIsland.org;
from manifest:
Date
of arrival 30 April 1910, departure Southampton, ship SS Philadelphia
-Richards,
Eleanor, 62, female, widow, nationality British - Welsh; relative in
home place - Sister, Mrs Davies, Dumfries St, Treorchy; destination - Kansas,
Burrton; by whom was passage paid - self; going to join relative - Son, Rowland
Richards, married and 16 yrs in the US, Burrton, Harvey Co, Kansas; health
good, no disabilities; description: 5' 5", light complexion, grey hair,
blue eyes; b Wales, Treorchy
-Elizabeth,
29, single, housemaid, going to join relative - brother; 5' 5",
light complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes; b Wales, Treorchy
-William,
27, single, miner, ever before is US - yes, Burrton 1905/1908; going to
join relative - brother; 5' 6 1/2", light complexion, dark brown hair,
blue eyes; b Wales, Treorchy
-Evan
John, 24, single, miner; going to join relative - brother; 5' 6 1/2
", light complexion, light hair, blue eyes; b Wales, Treorchy
-Eleanor,
21, single, dressmaker; going to join relative - brother; 5' 2",
light complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes; b Wales, Treorchy
Children of Thomas and Eleanor are:
Rowland Parry RICHARDS
Elizabeth Jane "Lizzie"
RICHARDS
William RICHARDS
Evan John RICHARDS
Eleanor "Nellie" RICHARDS
✥
Rowland Parry RICHARDS was born 1872 December 10 in
Llanrhystyd, Cardiganshire, Wales, died 1956 August 21 in Newton, Harvey Co,
Kansas, and was buried 1956 August 23 in Burrton Cemetery, Harvey Co, Kansas.
1900
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton Twp, 15 June
212/212 Rowlands, John M, head, b Dec 1842, 57, marr
32 yrs, immig 1872, in US 28 yrs, naturalized, owner free, farmer - farm 67, b
Wales Wales Wales / Mary, wife, b April 1844, 56, marr 32 yrs, 5 ch 5 liv,
immig 1872, in US 28 yrs, naturalized, b Wales Wales Wales // Isaac, son, b
June 1868, 32, single, immig 1872, in US 28 yrs, naturalized, b Wales Wales
Wales; Daniel, son, b Jan 1870, 30, single, immig 1872, in US 28 yrs,
naturalized, owner free, farm 68, b Wales Wales Wales; John R, son, b April
1871, 29, single, immig 1872, in US 28 yrs, naturalized, owner free, farm 69, b
Wales Wales Wales; Mary E, dau, b Dec 1876, 28, single, b Kansas Wales Wales;
Sophia, dau, b Nov 1879, 20, single, b Kansas Wales Wales /// Rowland
Richards, nephew, b Dec 1872, 27,
single, immig 1894, in US 6yrs, owner free, farmer - farm 70, b Wales Wales
Wales
1905
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
84/84 Rowland Richards, 32, b South Wales, to
Kansas from Wales, farmer / Mary E, 28, b Harvey Co, Kansas, housekeeper //
Eleanor M, 2, b Harvey Co, Kansas
1910
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton Twp, 30 April
232/257 Richards, Rowland, head, 37, marr 1, m 9 yrs,
lang Welsh, immig 1894, naturalized, farmer - home farm 66, b Wales Wales Wales
/ Mary E, wife, 33, marr 1, m 9 yrs, 2 ch 1 liv, b Kansas Wales Wales // Elinor
Mary, dau, 7, b Kansas Wales Kansas
1915
Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
40/41 Rowland Richards, 42, b Wales, to Kansas from
Wales, farmer / Mary E, 38, b Kansas, housekeeper // Eleanor, 12, b Kansas;
Lillian S, 4, b Kansas; Louise E, 1, b Kansas
1919 Kansas, Harvey Co, county
census, Burrton, line 13
Roland Richards, Burrton, Route 2,
55 acres winter wheat in 1918; 60 acres corn
1919 Kansas, Harvey Co, county
census, Burrton, heads of family
line 17, Roland Richards, 5 in
family
1920 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, 7-8-9 January
30/30 Richards, Rowland, head, 47, immig 1894,
naturalized 1901, lang Welsh, farmer - general farm 30, b Wales Wales Wales /
Mary E, wife, 43, b Kansas Wales Wales // Eleanor M, dau, 17, school, b Kansas
Wales Wales; Lillian S, dau, 8, school, b Kansas Wales Wales; Louise E, dau, 6,
school, b Kansas Wales Wales
1925 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton, Rt
2 - 67
37/37 Richards, R, head, owner free, 52, b Wales, to Kansas from
Wales, emig 1894, na 1899, farmer / Mary, wife, 48, b Kansas // Eleanor, dau,
22, single, teacher - city g[rade] school, b Kansas; Lillian, 14, school, b
Kansas; Louise, 11, school, b Kansas
1925 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, Agricultural Schedule
line 4 R Richards, Burrton
*acres in farm - 125
* acres of winter wheat sown in
fall of 1925 - 68, sown in sring of 1925 - corn - 20; oats - 5, Irish potatoes
- 1/4; acres sown or to be sown in 1925: kafir for forage and grain - 5, kafir
for forage only - 4; acres of native prairie grass pasture - 12
*production 1924: bushels wheat
raised - 950, bushels corn - 125
*pounds of butter made in family -
75; value of milk and cream sold - 50
*hens on hand - 125, value of
poultry and eggs sold - 225; value of animals slaughtered - 85
*Livestock: horses - 4, milk cows -
3, other cattle -3
*cream separator - 1
1930 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, 5 May
73/73 Richards, Rowland, head, owner, 57, first
marr at 28, farmer - general farm 72, emig 1894, naturalized, language Welsh, b
Wales Wales Wales / Mary E, wife, 53, first marr at 24, b Kansas Wales Wales //
Louise E, dau, 16, school, b Kansas Wales Kansas
1940 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, 12 April
48
Rowlands, Dan, head, 71, b Wales, in 1935 same house, farmer own account
- farm 51 / Edna, wife, 52, b Illinois, in 1935 same house
- - -
52
Richards, Rowland, head, 67, b Wales, in 1935 same house, farmer own
account - farm 55 / Mary E, wife, 63, b
Kansas, in 1935 same house
1948 Kansas, Harvey Co, Newton city
directory
Richards, Rowland (Mary) h 813 N
High
1955 Kansas, Harvey Co, Newton city
directory
Richards Rowland (Mary E) retired
813 N High
BIRTH:
---FreeBMD This is interesting. Rowland doesn't show up on the birth records
by the name Rowland Parry Richards.
Instead it shows Rowland Parry DAVIES - his mother's maiden name.
The record is this:
Registered Dec 1872: Davies,
Rowland Parry, Aberystwith, Vol 11b, page 51
Since Rowland is 8 years old on the first census on which he appears and the next child, sister Elizabeth is only 11 months old, is Rowland a child of Eleanor Davies and not of Thomas Richards? Eleanor was born in Llanrhystyd; Rowland's death record shows his birth as the same.
MARRIAGE:
---Kansas, County Marriages, Harvey
Co, 1901
License 453, Rowland Richards & Mary
E Rowlands, filed Jan 7th 1901, J W Johnson, Probate Judge. Recorded in Marriage Record D, No 2, page 227
Certificate of Marriage, State of
Kansas
I, the undersigned, a Clergyman, of
Burrton in said County, do hereby certify that in accordance with the
authorization of the within License, I did, on the 31st day of December AD
1900, at Burrton in said County, join and unite in Marriage the within named
Rowland Richards and Mary E Rowlands.
Witness my hand, the day and year above written. C C Bradford, Presbyterian Minister
[Date filed is Jan 7 1901, not date
of marriage as listed in some indexes.]
Mary and Rowland April 20, 1944
DEATH:
---Obituary: Newton Kansan, Newton,
Harvey Co, Kansas, Tuesday, August 21, 1956
Rowland Richards
-Rowland Richards,
83-year-old retired farmer of 813 High St, died early today at Bethel Deaconess
Hospital. He had been hospitalized since
Aug 9.
-Mr Richards, a resident of Newton
for 13 years, was born Dec 10, 1872 at Llanrhystid, Cardigan Shire, Wales and
came to the United States at 21. He
lived in Burrton from 1894 to 1943.
-He was married at Burrton, Dec 31,
1900 to Mary Ellen Rowlands.
-He was a member of the First
Presbyterian Church.
-In addition to his widow,
survivors include three daughters, Mrs Henry J (Eleanor) Penner of Newton, Mrs
David T (Lillian) LeFever of Phoenix, Ariz, and Mrs Eugene W (Louise) Medlock
of Wichita; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
-Funeral services will be conducted
Thursday at 2 p.m. at Moody's Funeral Chapel.
The Rev Floyd E Kaiser will officiate and burial will be in the Burrton
Cemetery.
-Dr [sic] Richards' body will lie
in state Wednesday at Moody's Chapel.
---Funeral card: Services for /
Rowland Richards / born / Dec 10, 1872 / Llanrhystid, Cardiganshire, Wales /
passed away / August 21, 1956 / Newton, Kansas / Services from / Moody's Funeral
Chapel / Newton, Kansas / 2:00 p.m. August 23, 1956 / Clergyman / Rev Floyd E
Kaiser / Interment in / Burrton Cemetery, Burrton, Kansas / Casket Bearers /
John Koehn, Cornie Koehn, James Rutter, Ted Jones, Edward Nicholson, John Meek.
IMMIGRATION:
---EllisIsland.org
from manifest: ship Chester from
Southampton, line 229, arrival 22 May 1894
Rowland Richards, miner, age 21,
native country Wales, to Burton, Kansas, protracted sojourn, steerage, 1 piece
of baggage
NATURALIZATION:
---First Naturalization Record: State of Kansas, Harvey County, Before the
clerk of the district court of the ninth judicial district of said state,
personally appeared Rowland Richards, a native of Wales, aged about 23 years .
. . Signed Rowland Richards, 4 November 1895.
---Harvey Co Naturalization
Records, 1872 - 1928 index at Harvey Co Historical Museum, Newton, Kansas,
shows that Rowland became a citizen 16 Nov 1905, Vol C, p 15, p 39, p 286.
MILITARY:
---World War I Draft Registration
cards
Rowland Richards, Rte 2, Burrton,
Harvey Co, Kansas, 45 yrs, born 10 Dec 1872; naturalized citizen; farmer for
self; nearest relative: Mary E Richards; description: medium height, medium
build, light blue eyes, dark hair; registered 12 Sept 1918, Harvey Co, Kansas
FAMILY:
---Passenger list of SS
Philadelphia, 1910:
Evan John Richards, destination
Burrton, Kansas, where brother Rowland Richards is living. . . . Traveling with
mother, two sisters, brother.
✥
Rowland married Mary Ellen
ROWLANDS, daughter of John M ROWLANDS and Mary JONES, 1900
December 31 in Harvey Co, Kansas. Mary was born 1876 December 26 in Kansas,
died 1957 March 2 in Newton, Harvey Co, Kansas, and was buried in Burrton
Cemetery, Harvey Co, Kansas.
1880 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, 19 June
100/100 Rowlands, John M, 35, farmer, b Wales Wales
Wales / Mary, 35, wife, housekeeper, b Wales Wales Wales // Isaac, 13, son,
school, b Wales Wales Wales; Daniel, 11, son, school, b Wales Wales Wales; John
R, 9, son, school, b Wales Wales Wales; Mary E, 3, dau, b Kansas Wales
Wales; Sophia, 7/12, dau, b Kansas Wales Wales
1885 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, Burrton
39/39 J M Rowland, 41, farmer, b Wales, to Kansas
from Wales / Mary Rowland, 40, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales // Isac, 17, male,
b Wales, to Kansas from Wales; D, 16, male, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales; J R,
13, male, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales; Mary E, 8, female, b Kansas; Sophia,
5, female, b Kansas
[John listed as Rowland, rest of
family as Rowlands]
1895 Kansas, Harvey Co, Burrton
Twp, page 2
John M Rowlands, 50, b Wales, to
Kansas from Wales, farmer / Mary, 50, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales // Dan, 26,
b Wales, to Kansas from Wales; Isaac, 27, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales; John
R, 23, b Wales, to Kansas from Wales; Mary, 17, b Kansas; Sophia, 15, b
Kansas
unidentified newspaper
-Mrs Richards Taken by Death
Mrs Rowlands Richards, 80, of
Newton died Saturday morning at Bethel hospital, Newton.
---Obituary, unidentified newspaper
-Mrs Mary Ellen (Rowland) Richards
was born at Burrton, Kansas, on Dec 26, 1876, and departed this life on March
2, 1957, at Newton, Kas, at the age of 80 years, following an illness of two
months.
-Mrs Richards was a daughter of the
late John and Mary Rowland, pioneer Welsh settlers of the Burrton community. On
Dec 31, 1900, she was united in marriage to Rowland Richards of Burrton, and
they lived on a farm near there until October, 1943, when they moved to Newton.
Their marriage was terminated after 55 years by the death of Mr Richards six
months ago.
-To this union four children were
born, a son dying in infancy. She is survived by three daughters: Mrs H J
(Eleanor) Penner of Newton; Mrs D T (Lillian) Le Fever of Phoenix, Ariz, and
Mrs E W (Louise) Medlock, of Wichita, with whom she had made her home since her
husband's death.
-Mrs Richards was a member of the
Presbyterian church at Burrton until it was dissolved. She joined the First
Presbyterian church of Newton in 1944 and remained a faithful member until her
death.
-Mrs Richards was preceded in death
by two brothers, Isaac and Daniel. One sister, Mrs Rees Thomas of Newton and
one brother, John Rowlands of Burrton, remain to mourn her departure. She also
leaves five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
-Funeral services were held Monday
afternoon, March 4, at the Moody Funeral Chapel in Newton, with the Rev. Floyd
Kaiser of the First Presbyterian church officiating. Burial was in the Burrton
cemetery.
Children from this marriage were: Louise Elizabeth, Lillian Sophia, and Eleanor
Mary
---------------
Why did
Rowland and William come to the US?
Why
Kansas? Welsh communities were all along
the eastern US, especially in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Rowland's immigration record says he was a
miner. Did he come away from that for a
different life? William and Evan were
also listed as miners. They all became
farmers in central Kansas, a world as different from Wales as the moon is
different from the sun.
One thing about all these records and trying to track the RICHARDS connection, is that Eleanor, mother of Rowland Parry Richards, was a DAVIES, which is a surname that appears in our family records for that line. My great grandfather, John Richards, was the son of Mary Davies. It's not only possible, but probable, that the connection lies in the Davies line, instead of - or in addition to - the Richards line.
July 12, 1946, Rowland and Mary, Peg and Ray
John Richards, Llanafan, Cardiganshire, Wales, 1933.
My great grandfather who wrote to Rowland and sent the letter with Mom.
John Richards on the right with his parents David Richards and Mary Davies.
In 1951, my grandmother came from Wales to the US for several months and made several trips to Kansas to visit Rowland and Mary and families.
One of these days I will find the connection . . .
✥
