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At each baptism the father's occupation is given as a gardener.  The boy Alfred (Cooper) has to be a grandson. A careful study of the Census Returns for the years 1841, 1851 and 1861 reveals more evidence. 1841.  Census.  Ilkeston Road, Radford.  Nottingham

This data reveals several new pieces of evidence : Edward Richards, Junior has followed in his fathers footsteps and has become a Gardener.  Subsequently according to the 1851 Census Returns his brother Samuel also became a Gardener.  It was no doubt preferable to working down the pits. Charlotte Cooper arrives on the scene.  She may be an unmarried daughter from a previous marriage of Mary Richards nee Cooper.  The young boy Alfred Cooper is most probably her child, hence the need to look in the registers again for his baptism.  He is a Cooper not a Richards, as the 1851 Census portrays!  Mary Cooper was a Widow when she married Edward. Ages on the 1841 Census have either been rounded up or down to the nearest five years. Children's ages are mostly given correctly.  Matilda Richards should be fourteen years old.  The letter "Y" denotes everyone born in Notts., whilst the letter "N" denotes born outside the county. On the 1841 Census no mention is made of the relationship to the Head of the Household, hence I have granted myself jounalistic licence and have recorded these details from information obtained from elsewhere. 1851.  Census.  Ilkeston Road, Radford.  Nottingham

These two Census Returns for 1841 and 1851 have confirmed positively that I now have four additional surviving ancestors for the family tree, namely Edward Jnr., Samuel, Isabella and Louisa Richards 1851.  Census. Edward Richards Jnr. appears in his own right as opposed to being with his parents. Unfortunately three children have died namely Mary Ann, William and George, a fact corroborated by their absence from these two Census Returns and their respective burial records in the St. Peters Parish Church registers. There is another child namely Caroline Richards baptised on the 6 December 1835 who was buried on the 12 April 1836 aged 9 months, both events being at St. Peters Parish Church, Radford.  The parents of this baby are recorded as being Edward Richards, a Gardener and his wife Mary.  Consequently baby Caroline becomes yet another member of the family. 1851/52.  Radford.  Nottingham At the end of December and early in the new year, Edward Richards clearly caused a stir when he purchased The White Horse Inn and adjoining properties.  The following few paragraphs relate to these events. 1851.  19 December.  Nottingham Review, page 5. Well accustomed Public House and Four Dwelling Houses at Radford.  To be Sold by Auction by Messrs Peet & Sons on the premises on Tuesday, 23 December inst. at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for three premises (subject to conditions of sale to be then declared and in such lot or lots as may the be determined upon). All that Public House situate at Radford in the County of Nottingham called The White Horse Inn with the Stables, Brewhouse, Outbuildings, Yard and Small Garden thereto belonging now in tenure to William Smith and as the same are now fenced off and separated from land at the back, belonging to the Nottingham Gas Light and Coke Company not intended to be sold. Also all those Four Dwelling Houses adjoining the above as the same are respectively occupied by William Stones, Robert Holdgate, James Jamson and Thos. Machin. For further particulars, applications may be made to Mr. Hawkesley, Civil Engineer, Nottm., to the Auctioneers; to Mr.Johnson at the Radford Gas Works or at the offices of the Gas Light and Coke Company Nottingham. There is some correspondence relating to this sale of The White Horse Inn at the County Record Office, Nottingham : Nottm. R.O. Ref. DDWR 20 / 110.  The following is a selection Sent by J.P.Sanders dated 24 January 1852 to a Mr Whitty. Dear Sir, Mr Wilson directed me to thank you for your note of the 19th in reply to his to Mr Miller. ...  last paragraph page 2.  Mr W. will also be glad to hear what steps have been taken or progress has been made with Mr Dickens and Mr Richards for their giving up the part of the C gardens. Your early attention to these points is desirable.  Yours truly  J.P.Sanders. Nottm. R.O. Ref. DDWR 20 / 111. Radford 20 (?) January 1852. Mr Miller Esq.  In reply to yours of the 24th. we do ......  Last paragraph page 2. .... Nothing further has been done with Mr Dickens about the C garden.  Mr Miller offered him £30 for his bargain, but the garden was his great inducement and which he was so anxious to get possession of that.  Mr Miller has no idea that he will give it up and thinks there would be no advantage in saying anything more about it at present.  Yours sincerely,  Thomas Whitty. Nottm. R.O. Ref. DDWR 20 / 134.  Dated 8 April 1851. To Wm. Wilson Esq. from W. Booker.  Your obedient servant, ....  Paragraph 2. I am aware you do not want the Houses, especially the Public House, but from the conversation I have already had with MR H. I know he will resist any treaty that does not involve your taking the whole; this he has declared positively - and it is also equally positive as to requiring the whole of your field, as necessary for the Gas Co. expected wants, should they alienate the garden. I am sir,  Your obedient servant,  W.Booker. Nottm. R.O. Ref. DDWR 20 / 137.  Letter page 3. The Public House is let for £30 p.a. which I think too much (built 1661) it is as you well know all much dilapidated - it may be worth £300 ....... etc.  W. Booker. What is suprising is that Edward Richards at the age of sixty one years with an Army Pension of ninepence per week was able to afford to buy The White Horse Inn and Four Cottages for £905.  Where did he get his money from?  Did he have a windfall?  There is evidence that he was a gardener and most likely he was a self employed market gardener so he would be self sufficient one would assume.  There is evidence in the Rate Books over several years that he owned his property so perhaps he was able to raise the money by selling property that he owned in Hollands Close in 1851.  One wonders how much he got for that sale? 1851 to 1856.  Radford. Nottingham. The Electoral Rolls reveal Edward Richards at the White Horse Inn.  This Inn has a long history having been built in 1661.  Obviously it had been a coaching inn. The present building has the date inscribed 1812.  It is doubtful if the building is the original but perhaps the core of it dates back to the days of Edward Richards.  At the present time there are four houses adjoining the White Horse Inn. Perhaps they were the ones that Edward Richards bought.  On the left hand side of the first house there is a name plate which says "White Horse Yard". Please refer to the rough sketch in the document file. Why did he pay £200 more than the property was worth?  Obviously he was very keen to get it for some reason.  Could it have been the Garden that was attractive to him?  One can imagine Christmas Day drinks at the bar of the White Horse Inn!  Did he get drunk in celebration? The new Squire of Radford - Sir Edward !  (my imagination!).  Soon to become a Chelsea Pensioner!  One can see him now in his Red Coat with his Peninsular Medal shining, having a drink at the bar - what a colourful character he is turning out to be! 1851.  23 December. Edward Richards purchased the White Horse Inn and Four Teneements and Garden Ground at an auction.  He paid £904 for the lot which was £200 more than it was valued.  Clearly it appears that he wanted this sale strongly enough to pay over the odds to posess it. 1851.  Hyson Green.  Nottingham. The Electoral Roll reveals that Edward Richards no longer owned the property in Hyson Green but is now the proud owner of the White Horse Inn and lived in Ilkeston Road.. The occupants of the Four tenements at the time of purchase by Edward Richards were Wm. Stones, Robert Oldgate, John Jamson and Thomas Machin.  The man Stones may have been the same man who in 1825/26 was using the Cottage Land in Scrap Hill, that Edward Richards purchased in 1825/26. 1851.  The White Horse Inn was managed by William Smith the Licensee. 1856.  12 August.  Royal Artillery Pensions 1814 to 1857 (1 to 6 Battn.).  Kew Ref.  WO.120 / 67 Edward Richards.  Rate 9d.  Date of Admission 12 August 1856.  Pension no. 8639.  6 Battn. Discharged 15 October 1814.  Wounded at Vittoria.  Regimental Registers on microfilm. This is proof that Edward Richards was admitted to an Army pension and that his date of discharge date from the army is confirmed.  The additional piece of evidence is that he was wounded at the Battle of Vittoria. 1859.  5 November.  Radford. Mary Richards formerly Cooper, wife of Edward Richards died and was buried in the Churchyard at St. Peter's Parish Church on this date, aged 67 years. 1861.  Census.  Ilkeston Road, Radford.  Nottingham

Edward Richards is still living at Ilkeston Road, Radford but is now a widower.  His unmarried son Samuel is living with him and they both seem to be working together as gardeners. However this 1861 Census gives us a bonus piece of evidence in so far as it reveals that Edward Richards is a Chelsea Pensioner. Obviously he has been a soldier and has been awarded a pension, which must be an "Out Pension" because he was living in Radford and had done so all his life except for the time when he was away in the army and a short time after his birth in Greasley. 1864.  Ilkeston Road. Radford. There is evidence that Edward Richards had moved from Ilkeston Road in 1864 and that he ends his life in William Street, which is in an area known as Kensington in Radford, almost opposite The White Horse Inn just off Ilkeston Road. 1865.  3 May. Edward Richards decided to make his "Will" and thanks to this documentary evidence we have another survivor of the Richards of Radford. Extract of Edward Richards "Will". Proved:Nottingham 12.09.1866. Date of Death: 28th. August 1866. Edward Richards of Radford in the County of Nottingham, Gardener... "I appoint my son in law, Samuel Malbon Hopkin of Nottingham, Book-Keeper, sole executor.....  I bequeath unto my daughter Isabella, wife of Samuel Malbon Hopkin, all my real and personal estate.......  Legacies to my brother, Samuel of Ripley in the County of Derby the sum of £10......  To my son Samuel £20. both legacies to be paid six months after my decease.  To my daughter Matilda, wife of Mathew Heath of Radford £50. to be paid as follows:  part thereof within six months after my decease and residue at the end of twelve calendar months after my decease......." Witnesses:  F.I.Burton, Solicitor.  E.G.Eking, his Clerk. Effects Under £100. Consequently the "Will" of Edward Richards has proved to be a good discovery containing some valuable evidence.  He died in Radford on the 28 August 1866 and his burial was at Christchurch, New Radford on the 30 August 1866, aged 77 years.  This confirms his year of birth as 1789. His burial service was conducted by W. Milton.  At the time of his burial he lived at Ilkeston Road, New Radford.  The area where he resided was called Bloomsgrove, a little hamlet between New and Old Radford. (REF:  Page 753.  Grave No. 59.  CS Christchurch Parish Church, New Radford.  Burial Register). His two daughters were both married and it looks as if his son Samuel Richards was still unmarried. The vital piece of information is, of course, that he leaves £10. to his brother Samuel of Ripley, who is without any doubts Samuel Merriman Richards, of whom there is other evidence available to prove that he was in fact residing at Ripley and was still alive. This "Will" of Edward Richards the Chelsea Pensioner has joined the Greasley and Radford connection together yet again.  Edward Richards was born in Greasley whilst his brother Samuel Merriman Richards was born in Radford. Edward Richards makes no mention of his wife in his "Will" which surely confirms that he was a widower, albeit no status is recorded in the said document.  However there is documentary evidence from the Radford Parish registers to prove that his wife was in fact dead. His wife Mary Richards died in 1859 and was buried in the Churchyard at St. Peter's Parish Church on the 5 November 1859 aged 67 years. No mention is made in the said "Will" of his son Edward Richards, so presumably he had either died or they have had a fall out. In the 1844 Trade Directory for Nuthall, there is documentary evidence of an Edward Richards a self employed Gardener.  Most certainly this is the son of the Chelsea Pensioner.  Edward Junior was a Gardener living with his father in Radford in 1841 but is not at home on the 1851 Census and in fact is not on the Census anywhere in Notts.  This factor coupled with him not being mentioned in his father's "Will" leads to the conclusion that he is dead.  To date his death has not been noted. Edward Richards......  a Chelsea Pensioner, which is a superb clue found on the 1861 Census for Radford.  This clue takes us back on the line to around 1808. This is the year (1808) when William Richards, the father of Edward Richards died.  (buried 27 May 1808).  Also it is the year Edward Richards became Eighteen years of age.  There is evidence in the Army Records that at this time Edward Richards was a soldier in the Royal Regiment of Artillery and has been so serving his country for about five years. 1865.  Ilkeston Road. Radford. What is puzzling is that in his "Will" dated 1865, there is no mention of the White Horse Inn and the amount he bequeathes is very small.  Perhaps he had an arrangement with his son in law, his Executor, he was a Book-Keeper! 1866 / 1867.  Radford. Nottingham. The Electoral Rolls reveal Samuel Paling appears to have taken over as the Licensee at the White Horse Inn.  This fits in with the death of Edward Richards on the 28 August 1866. 1866.  Kelly's Trade Directory. The Trade Directory 1866 has listed Samuel Paling as the Licensee of The White Horse Inn 1866.  28 August. Edward Richards died on this date and was buried 2 days later at Christchurch, New Radford on the 30 August 1866, aged 77 years. Thank Goodness ........ for the Boys of the old Brigade. Edward Richards - Chelsea Pensioner - We Salute You.!

Edward Richards (1790 to 1866)
part two

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Created 2 December 2003
Last updated: 18 March 2012