The bio of Joseph L. Richards in The History of Columbia county, Wisconsin, (which is also
available on
archive.org), is helpful in terms of the key events in his life.
1) Came to US in 1869,, worked in Milwaukee until 1874, married Ann Jane, daughter of
William R. And Ann Roberts of Portage Prairie, Columbia Co. Wisconsin. Purchased farm in
1874, and went (to live) on it in 1876.
2) Before 1869; early life on a farm, worked the last six years before leaving Wales at a
slate quarry. This might place him in the 1861 census.
3) The 1861 census indicates a Joseph Richards, age 16, living at Cefn Ucha, Ismynydd.
Bala (Llanycil), District 13, with siblings who are “Under Trustees (Orphans): Farmer of
48 acres employing 1 labourer.
The “labourer” is presumably Joseph Edwards, 55, Uncle, Farm Steward, born Trawsfynydd.
The siblings are Laura,17, Robert 14, Margaret 12, Edmund 9 and Gwen 5.
Nearby farm at Ceunant Uchaf - Ellis Roberts, 56. Farmer of 32 acres, born Trawsfynydd,
Merioneth
4) From the 1851 Census:
Edmunt Richard, Cefn Ucha, Ismynydd, Llanycil, born Trawsfynydd (Merionethshire).
5) Back to The History of Columbia County:
Page 1046. Take a look at the bio of William R. Roberts, farmer, born Merionethshire,
1811, son of Robert Richards, whose children all took their father’s given name for their
surname, and go by the name of Roberts. Daughter “ Ann Jane (now Mrs Joseph Richards, of
Courtland).
6) Note the association of the name Richards with Trawsfynydd as place of birth .
7) Off topic , but a source of background information about another Richards family from
Merionethshire who settled in Wisconsin:
The bio of Griffith Richards on the same page as Joseph Richards in History of Columbia
County.
Griffith Richards, Farmer and stockbreeder, son of Richard Richards listed as “one of the
oldest stock raisers in the State; native of Merionethshire (Dyffryn Ardudwy).”
There is a long bio of Richard Richards in the March 17, 1887 edition of Y Drych (Welsh
newspapers Online) under the title: “Y Diweddar Richard Richards, Racine, Wisconsin/The
Late Richard Richards, Racine, Wisconsin. Essentially the story of a successful farmer in
Wisconsin.
(Y Drych was a Welsh language newspaper published in the United States, and a mine of
information about families who emigrated from Wales from the late 1860’s until 1919. Most
editions of Y Drych are available online from the National Library of Wales at the website
Welsh Newspapers Online.)
8) Last, but certainly not least, take a look at the following site (Hanes Dolgellau),
which incudes the Bishop’s Transcripts for Trawsfynydd:
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alwyn/M/BT/Traws/index.htm
9) Further reference:
“Hanes Cymru America” by the Rev Richard Thomas, published in 1872, available online at
Google Books. Specifically, the chapter regarding the Weslh settlement of Wisconsin, and
Columbia County as a favourable place to settle.
Ken Richards
On Oct 31, 2017, at 5:00 AM, Beryl Griffiths
<berylh.griffiths(a)btinternet.com> wrote:
Hello Kay, I don't know if you have access to Ancestry at all? There is a family tree
there for this family, it seems to have been compiled by one of John, Joseph's eldest
brother's family. I can supply you with some of the information if you wish.
Regards
Beryl
-----Original Message-----
From: WLS-MERIONETHSHIRE
[mailto:wls-merionethshire-bounces+berylh.griffiths=btinternet.com@rootsweb.com] On Behalf
Of Kay Gavin
Sent: 30 October 2017 22:23
To: wls-merionethshire(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [MER] Richards family of Llanycil
Since I sent this message, I found a bio of Joseph L. Richards on Google Books in The
History of Columbia County, Wisconsin. It states Joseph was born 04 Feb 1845 in
Merionethshire, Wales, and immigrated to America in 1869. It also states his parents were
Edmund Richards and Ellen Lloyd. He married Ann Jane Roberts on 9 Jan 1874 in Columbia Co.
WI. Ann Jane’s parents were William R and Ann Roberts who were born in the same place as
Joseph Richards.
This was a lot of good information and I feel fairly confident now that I have the right
family in Llanycil, Merionethshire. I have requested Joseph’s probate from the Wisconsin
Historical Society.
I see on the Gwynedd Society’s website that there are 7 cemetery inscriptions for
Llanycil. Have sent a message and asked for help in figuring out which cemetery Edmund
Richards and his wife, Ellinor Lloyd, would likely be buried in. They belonged to the
Welsh Methodist Church when they were in Wisconsin.
Hoping that someone may be connected to this family.
Kay Gavin
Sent from my iPad
On Oct 30, 2017, at 4:24 PM, I Thompson
<joscyn@hotmail.com<mailto:joscyn@hotmail.com>> wrote:
It certainly looks right but you would need one or two bits of supporting information to
be sure.
You might find a local history as exists for Remsen/Oneida, a tombstone with a place of
origin, or a will mentioning a relative or place in Wales...
Sent from my iPhone
On 30 Oct 2017, at 18:09, Kay Gavin
<kaywgavin@hotmail.com<mailto:kaywgavin@hotmail.com><mailto:kaywgavin@hotmail.com>>
wrote:
Hello List,
Helping a friend try to find their Richards family in Wales. Is anyone familiar with this
family?
Joseph L. Richards married Ann Jane Roberts 09 Jan 1874 in Randolph, Columbia Co,
Wisconsin.
Marriage certificate states Joseph’s parents are Edmond and Ellen Richards.
Joseph was born 04 Feb 1845 in Wales according to death information and died 29 Nov 1884
in Columbia Co, WI.
1841 Census: Edmund Richards 31, Ellinor 23, Dorothi Lloyd 69, William Jones 10, Dorothy
Jones 8; Llanycil, Merionethshire, Bala Reg. Dist. (Dorothi mother-in-law?).
1851 Census: Edmunt Richard, 42, Elinor 33, John 10, Laura 9, Joseph 7. Robert 5,
Margaret 3, Dorothy 1, David Roberts 16 laborer; Cefin Ucha (sp?), Llanycil, Ismynydd,
Merionethshire.
1861 Census: Louisa, Joseph, Robert, Margaret. Edward, Gwen are all orphans living with
Joseph Edwards, uncle, at Cefn Uchaf, Llanycil, Merionethshire.
1857 (Apr-May-Jun) found death of Ellinor Richards, Bala.
12 Jun 1858 Edmund Richards dies at Cefn Ucha; probate names uncles and guardians Robert
Lloyd of Ty Nant and Humphrey Williams of Cefn Bodig in same parish.
1840 (Oct-Nov-Dec) found marriage of Elinor Lloyd, Bala, and Edmund Richards on the same
page.
Hoping my research is correct and I have the right family back in Wales.
Thanks for any information anyone can provide.
Kay Gavin
Sent from my iPad
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