Draft:Samuel Richards (Ironmaster)
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Samuel Richards | |
|---|---|
 Thomas Sully portrait (1827) | |
| Born | Samuel Patrick Richards March 8, 1769 Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | January 4, 1842 (aged 72) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Resting place | Laurel Hill Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Ironmaster |
| Years active | 1808-1842 |
| Known for | Owner of Atsion, Weymouth, and Martha Furnace (New Jersey) |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Smith Morgan (m. 1797; died 1820) Anna Maria Witherspoon (m. 1822) |
| Children | 11 |
| Relatives | Benjamin Wood Richards (half brother) |
Samuel Richards (March 8, 1769 – January 4, 1842) was an American businessman and Ironmaster who is most notably known for his business ventures in the New Jersey iron industry. He was involved with the family business at Batsto Village, New Jersey and apprenticed there under his father, William Richards. Richards would eventually come into ownership of Weymouth Furnace and Martha Furnace (New Jersey) in 1808, in addition to the Atsion Iron Works in 1822. He is the half brother of former Philadelphia mayor, Benjamin Wood Richards.
Early Life[edit]
Samuel Richards was born in the Richards family home in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Samuel was the third child of eleven born to William and Mary Richards of Batsto, New Jersey. Richards would begin his career in the New Jersey iron industry when his father obtained management of the Batsto Iron Works in 1784. By 1789, Samuel was managing the Richards family store in Philadelphia.[1]
Richards would marry his first wife, Mary Smith Morgan, on November 18, 1797 in Philadelphia. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Ashbel Green, a chaplain of the United States Congress.[2]
Mary Richards passed away in 1820 after giving birth to eight children, three living to adulthood. Richards would remarry in 1822 to Anna Maria Witherspoon of New York, who would have three children with Richards, two living to adulthood.[3]
In 1827, Thomas Sully would be commissioned for a portrait of Samuel Richards.[4]
Career[edit]
Weymouth Iron Works[edit]
In 1808, Richards, along with his business partner Joseph Ball, each purchased a 3/8th share of Weymouth Iron Works in Atlantic County, New Jersey. By April of 1808, Ball & Richards owned a 3/4 share of the Weymouth property, being valued at $34,500.[5]
Atsion Iron Works[edit]
In 1822, Samuel Richards acquired the Atsion Iron Works in Shamong Township, New Jersey. By the time Richards took over ownership, Atsion had been seen as a ghost town for close to a decade. By 1824, Richards had rebuilt the old iron furnace on the site, bringing employment back to the dilapidated town. In 1826, Richards built his summer estate in the village, a mansion built in Greek Revival architecture. The Richards family would spend their summers at this home, which overlooked the village and Atsion Lake.
Martha Furnace[edit]
Main Article: Martha Furnace (New Jersey)
Mays Landing[edit]
In addition to the iron furnace properties, Richards also held property in Mays Landing, New Jersey. In 1837, Richards would construct a three-story hotel known as the Samuel Richards Hotel, later known as the American Hotel.
Later Years and Death[edit]
By 1840, Richards was confined to his Philadelphia home due to declining health. By the late 1830s, Richards began passing more of his business assets over to his son-in-law, Samuel Colwell.
Richards died on January 4, 1842 at his Philadelphia home. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Pierce, Arthur (1964). Family Empire in Jersey Iron: The Richards Enterprises in the Pine Barrens. Rutgers University. p. 28.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Pierce, Arthur (1964). Family Empire in Jersey Iron: The Richards Enterprises in the Pine Barrens. Rutgers University. p. 32.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b DuPuy, Charles Meredith (1910). A Genealogical History of the Dupuy Family. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. p. 80. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Samuel Richards portrait, Thomas Sully (1827)". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Pierce, Arthur (1964). Family Empire in Jersey Iron: The Richards Enterprises in the Pine Barrens. Rutgers University. p. 96.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b "Samuel Richards". Remember My Journey. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ DuPuy, Charles Meredith. "A Genealogical History of the Dupuy Family". Retrieved 20 April 2024.