From an email sent to me from Andy Richardson, 4 November, 2019.

BENJAMIN RICHARDSON 1778-1850.

7th Generation of the Richardson Family.

SUMMARY OF BENJAMIN’S LIFE.

Benjamin Richardson was likely born during late-summer 1778 in/near the village of Brabourne (a few miles south-east of the town of Ashford in Kent). He was the fifth child of John Richardson (who was aged about 32 at the time of birth) and his wife Mary (nee Mummery, aged about 31). Benjamin was christened on the 1st November 1778 at the Church of St Peter & St Paul in the adjacent village of Smeeth.

It’s currently unclear where Benjamin & his siblings were raised however it appears that by his early twenties Benjamin was living in Canterbury, for it was here on the 4th Sept 1802 he married Ann Sayer at the Church of St Mary Bredin in Canterbury (one of the witnesses being Benjamin’s brother-in-law William Groombridge Gillman, husband of his sister Mary).

It’s likely that at the time of the marriage Benjamin & Ann already had a daughter as just over a month after their wedding they christened Mary Ann Richardson at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Canterbury. Over the next fourteen years the couple christened three further daughters.

At the christening of their youngest daughter Harriett in 1816, Benjamin was recorded as being a ‘Servant, residing in Turnagain Lane, Canterbury’. Within a couple of years however, he had become the landlord of the ‘Star Inn’, a tavern/coaching house located at No 1 St George’s Place (just outside the south-eastern city wall entrance). Benjamin was closely associated with the Star Inn during the next three decades, hosting numerous meetings & events. He presumably became a well known figure in Canterbury, to the extent that by 1830 he had been made a ‘Freeman of the City’.

Benjamin’s wife Ann died in 1833, aged 58 years. Benjamin continued at the Star until the late 1840’s, probably only giving up the tenancy due to ill heath.

Benjamin passed away on the 6th February 1850, aged 71 years.

WIFE & CHILDREN.

Benjamin’s wife was Ann Sayer, likely born around 1775 (place of birth currently unknown). They married on the 4th Sept 1802 at the Church of St Mary Bredin in Canterbury. The couple settled in Canterbury and had at four known children (the oldest probably being born prior to their marriage):

• Mary Ann Richardson, presumed born late-summer 1802 in Canterbury, Kent. Probably named after her paternal grandmother & mother, she was christened on the 8th Oct 1802 at the Church of St Mary Bredman in Canterbury. At the age of 24, Mary married Charles Johnson on the 3rd July 1827 in Canterbury. The couple settled in the city, where Charles ran a Perfumer & Hairdressing business. Over the next 18 years the couple had at least seven children. Charles died in 1867 whilst Mary lived on until January 1879, passing away in Canterbury at the age of 76 years.

• Charlotte Ann Richardson, presumed born summer 1809 in Canterbury. She was christened on the 22nd Aug 1809 at the Church of St Mary Bredman in Canterbury. Last identified in 1851, still unmarried, visiting her nephew George Johnson in Canterbury. Charlotte’s eventual fate is currently unknown.

• Eliza Richardson, presumed born early 1812 in Canterbury. She was christened on the 9th Feb 1812 at the Church of St Mary Bredman in Canterbury. After the death of her father, Eliza and her younger sister Harriett jointly ran a lodging house in Canterbury for around a decade. Never marrying, she retired by the age of 40 and continued living with her sister for the remainder of her life. Eliza died in 1880 in Canterbury, aged 67 years.

• Harriett Matilda Richardson, presumed born early 1816 in Canterbury. She was christened on the 26th Feb 1816 at the Church of St Mary Bredman in Canterbury. After the death of her father in 1850, Harriett and her sister ran a lodging house in Canterbury. Never marrying, she retired in her mid-thirties and lived with her sister until Eliza’s death in 1880. Harriett then probably lived for a period with her nephew George Johnson until his marriage in the summer of 1881. Ten years later Harriett, now 75, was living by herself in Canterbury, whilst by 1901 she was boarding with a family in the city. Harriett died in Canterbury in 1905, aged 90.

Benjamin’s wife Ann died in 1833, aged 58 years.