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Facts and Events
References
- Notes, Bruce Allen Family History
Rev. Chancellor John RICHARDS
John was the fifth child of Richard RICHARDS and Jane RICHARDS nee JAMES
John was an Anglican Minister in Wales.
In 1871 John was living at 92 Millbank, Almwch, where he was registered as a vicar. At that time gave his age as 49 and said he was unmarried. In 1881 he was in Aberffraw, where he lived in the Rectory, he gave his age as 58, and said he was married. In 1891 ditto but house name Cardigaes, in Llanilar, at that time he had his nephew living with him, William Thomas Richards.
John went to the Church of England at Holyhead before going to study in Cambridge gaining his Degree in 1858 at Queens College
RICHARDS, JOHN. Adm. sizar at Queens., June 24, 1853. Matric. Michs. 1853 (as Richard); B.A. 1858. Ord. deacon (Llandaff) 1858; priest, 1859; C. of Tredegar, Mon., 1858-61. C. of Castle, near Welshpool, 1861-4. Master of Dolgelly Grammar School, and C. of Dolgelly, 1864-8. Chaplain at Caerleon, Mon., 1868-74. R. of Aberffraw, Anglesey, 1874-1907. Disappears from Crockford, 1908. (Matric. Degrees, 1851-1900, calls him Richard.) Holyhead (Anglesey) Almwch (Anglesey) 1872 went to Aberffraw (Rector) (until he died) then additionally Rector & Chancellor of Bangor & J.P. & D.L. (Deputy Lieutenant) for Anglesey (thus his title was Rev. Chancellor John Richards)
At one stage, he was accused of grave-robbing and the following is a transcript of the charge:
Archifdy Llangefni, Gwynedd WPE/49117
To David Williams of Dinorben Square in the Parish of Aberffraw in the County of Anglesey:
{County of ANGLESEY To Wit.} Whereas Information was laid before one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Anglesey, for that John Richards of The Rectory in the Parish of Aberffraw in the said County Clerk in holy orders on the 23rd day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty two
the churchyard of and belonging to the Parish Church of the Parish of Aberfftaw, in the said County, unlawfully and wilfully did enter, and the grave there in which the body of a man unknown, had lately before then been interred, and then was, unlawfully wilfully and indecently did dig open, and the body of him the said man unknown out of the grave aforesaid unlawfully wilfully and indecently did then take and carry away- in contempt of Our Lady the Queen and her laws to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, and against the grace of Our Lady the Queen her Crown and dignity
and it hath been made to appear to me upon oath, that you are likely to give material evidence (for the prosecution).
These are therefore to require you to be and appear on Tuesday, the fourth day of July 1882 at Ten o'clock in the fore noon, at the Magistrates Room, Valley, in the said County, before such Justices of the Peace for the said County as may then be there, to testify what you shall know concerning (the said charge so made against the said John Richards as aforesaid. Herein fail not.
Given under my Hand and Seal this twenty seventh day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty two at Trifrelin(?) in the County aforesaid.
Griffith Williams
Anecdotes: In the county & parish records it becomes apparent that a lot of 'Unknown' bodies were buried by John- these being washed up on the shore.
Some time before his death, Chancellor Richards invested 2000 pounds, the interest of which is to be paid to augment poor living in the diocese of Bangor. Should the church of Wales be disestablished and disendowed, the chancellor provided that the money should be diverted to another channel - towards paying the stipend of a clergyman at Aberffraw, the parish where he ministered for so many years
RICHARDS the reverend John of the Rectory Aberffraw Anglesea died 18 January 1908 Administration Bangor 10 February to Esther Richards widow. Effects £2416 13s. 6d.
Buried 22nd January in AberiTour churchyard. Inscription on gravestone: John Benedictus deus qui non amovit orationem meam et misericordiam suam a me - present at burial were Archdeacons of Bangor & Merioneth (Canons Jones & Davis), 3 Rectors - of Llangadwaladr, Llanymawddwry, Llarfaebth
His obituary in The Chronicle (Friday 31 st January 1908) said:
The late Chancellor Richards of Aberffraw
Presiding at Bangor Cathedral on Sunday morning, the bishop referred to the death of chancellor Richards of Aberffraw - clergyman, he said, who was respected by all who knew him, and his venerable figure would be greatly missed in the diocese.
He was a loyal churchman, and as to his liberality, he had often spoken to him (the bishop) as to how he could employ his wealth usefully in the service of his church. He was also loyal towards those who could call him a friend, and never on one single occasion could he recollect him having said an unkind word about anybody - he always wished to promote the interests of everyone.
Courteous and kind, he entered upon his duties even in his old days with the enthusiasm of a young man.
Source: Research by Maurine CREAGH; Research by Andrew RICHARDS; 1881 British Census; Rev. John RICHARDS b.26th October 1821 at Llanilar, Wales - d.18th January 1908 at Aberffraw, Anglesea. - Notes, Bruce Allen Family History
RICHARDS, JOHN. C. of Tredegar, Mon., 1858-61. C. of Castle, near Welshpool, 1861-4. Master of Dolgelly Grammar School, and C. of Dolgelly, 1864-8. Chaplain at Caerleon, Mon., 1868-74. (Source: Research by Maurine CREAGH; Research by Andrew RICHARDS; Esther HORSFALL, on the ? at ? she married the Rev. John RICHARDS b.26th October 1821 at Llanilar, Wales - d.18th January 1908 at Aberffraw, Anglesea).
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