WILLIAM S. RICHARDS, REMSEN, NEW YORK.
WILLIAM S. RICHARDS (Penrhiwder) came from Llangian, near Pwllheli, North Wales, in 1828.He settled first about two miles south of Remsen village, on the road leading to the Prospect station of the railroad, a short distance from the turnpike.
He later moved to the vicinity of the Wetmore lot, near the Higby tavern. He married Mary Williams, in Wales, and their children were Richard; William; Jane, who married Josiah Davis; Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-six years; Elizabeth, second wife of Charles 0. Charles; Sarah, who married Richard Williams; Robert; and Thomas.
The last named married Jeanette, daughter of John 0. Roberts, by whom he had two children, Howard and Jeanette. William married Sarah, daughter of Richard M. Jones, removed to Millen's Bay, on the St. Lawrence, and their children were Ella, Frank, George, Jeanette and Cora.
History of Remsen.
WILLIAM S. RICHARDS, REMSEN, NEW YORK.
Ganwyd gwrthddrych ein cofiant mewn tyddyn bach yn Llangian, Lleyn, Gogledd Cymru, o'r enw Penrhiwdar.Bu farw ei fam pan oedd ef yn bum' mlwydd oed, a'i dad pan oedd yn dair-ar-ddeg oed. Ymfudodd mewn priodas gyda Mary Williams, merch William Roberts, Tŷ Mawr.
Ymfudodd i America gyda phedwar o blant yn y flwyddyn 1828, a ganwyd iddo bump o blant yn y wlad hon. Ymsefydlodd yn agos i ardal Penygraig, Sir Oneida, ac yr oedd yn y seiat gyntaf a gynaliwyd yno. A hyd y gellid olrhain, clyma y personau oeddynt yn gwneyd i fyny yr eglwys gyntaf yn Pen-y-graig: William S. Richards, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Jones, John Davies, Mrs. Davies, John Jones, Mrs. Jones, Robert Davies, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Ann James, Mrs. Jane Thomas, Mrs. Mary Evans, a Mrs. Mary Roberts, ac Eclesal Pritchard.
Bu y trancedig yn ddiacon hynod o ffyddlon yn Penygraig am flynyddoedd, hyd nes y symudodd yn ei ddyddiau olaf i Remsen. Yr oedd yn ddiacon gofalus a thyner. Byddai difrifwch ei ysbryd yn wastad yn cael dylanwad mawr. Yr oedd yn nodedig o heddychol, ac yn gallu cydfyw yn dda â'i gyd-swyddogion. Byddai yn llawn awydd am weled pechaduriaid yn cael eu hachub, ac yn teimlo dyddordeb mawr yn enwad y T. C. y perthynai iddo. Ac ar yr un pryd, nid oedd yn meddu zel ddallbleidiol; credai mewn eglwys i Grist tu allan i gylch ei enwad.
Ni chlywsom ef erioed yn gweddio na byddai yn erfyn yn daer am i'r Arglwydd "gofio Seion." Yr oedd yn hawdd canfod yn ei ddyddiau olaf ei fod yn addfedu i'r nef, addfedu mewn llawn gweithgarwch, nid darfod â phobpeth. Yr oedd fel yn myned yn ieuangach ei ysbryd fel yr oedd yn heneiddio o ran ei gorff. Pwysai yr achos mawr yn drwm ar ei feddwl hyd ei farwolaeth. Ddiwrnod cyn ei ymddatodiad gofynasom iddo, "Wel, Mr. Richards, sut yr ydych yn teimlo heddyw ?" A dywedai, "Wel, Jones bach, nid oes yma ddim ond pechadur a Christ heddyw."
Bu farw yn bwyllog, ac arwyddion amlwg mai gwas iddo oedd angeu. Pregethwyd yn ei angladd gan y Parchn. Thomas Thomas a D. M Jones. Claddwyd ei ranau marwol yn mynwent Penygraig, Chwefror 9fed. Da genym roddi ar ddeall ei fod wedi magu ei blant oll yn grefyddol. Yr Arglwydd a gyfodo lawer o'r un ysbryd ag ef. "Meddyliwch am eich blaenoriaid, y rhai a draethasant i chwi Air Duw, ffydd y rhai dilynwch, gan ystyried diwedd eu hymarweddiad hwy."
D. M. JONES.
Y Cyfaill o'r Hen Wlad ~ Tachwedd 1875
WILLIAM S. RICHARDS, REMSEN, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
I William S. Richards of the village and town of Remsen in the County of Oneida and State of New York of the age of eighty two years and being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my Will and Testament in manner following that is to say.First. I desire and order that all my just debts, funeral expenses of placing a suitable tomb stone making my final resting place, be paid by the Executor hereinafter named.
Second. I hereby authorise and empower the said Executor to sell dispose of and convey all the real estate I may die possessed of.
Third. I desire and order that all the proceeds od said real estate together with all my personal property of every name and nature including the sum of a note of six hundred and fifty dollars ($650.) and interest I hold against my son in law John O. Hughes and his step son Thomas Davis shall be divided into even (7) equal shares and that my son Richard shall have one share, that is one seventh part of the whole estate. Also my son William shall have the like sum of one seventh part. Also my son Thomas shall have the like sum of one seventh part. Also my daughter Elizabeth shall have the like sum od one seventh part. Also the like sum of one seventh part of my whole estate to my grandchildren Thomas Davis and Mary Ellen Davis, the children of my daughter Jane, share and share alike after deducting therefrom the aforementioned note of six hundred and fifty dollars and the interest thereon signed by said Thomas Davis and his step father John O. Hughes as before stated.
The balance of this one seventh part over and above said note and interest (should then by way of balance) shall be loaned on good security both principle and the ? interest accruing on the same until said Thomas Davis and Mary Ellin Davis shall become of age when the whole principle and interest shall be paid over to them by the Executors, with this proviso, notwithstanding the above, my desire and wish is, and I hereby order that should my daughter Jane, the mother of said Thomas and Mary Ellin davis desire it then in that case the Executors of this my last Will and Testament shall pay yearly over to her (Jane) and for her benefit the interest annually accruing on the said sum loaned belonging to her children during the term of the life of my said daughter Jane the wife of John O. Hughes and at her decease the whole shall be paid over to said Thomas Davis and Mary Ellin Davis.
Out of the remaining one seventh part of my said estate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.) shall be loaned out on good security for the benefit of my grand daughter, Mary Williams, the daughter of my daughter Sarah, until she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years at which time the said $200 together with the accrued interest shall be paid over to said Mary Williams.
The remaining part of said one seventh part of my said estate after the said deduction of $200 shall likewise be loaned out on good security and the interest paid over yearly to and for the benefit of my daughter Sarah and should the annual interest not amount to $60, then in that case I desire that enough of the principal shall be added to the interest yearly or as to amount to the sum of $60 and paid to her during the term of her natural life or as long as any part of said legacy shall last, and should there br any portion of this legacy left at her decease, then I give and bequeath the same to all her children equally share and share alike.
Lastly. I hereby appoint my sons Richard, Robert and Thomas to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking any and all Wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24th day of December 1873.
The foregoing instrument written on this sheet of paper on the day of the date thereof was subscribed by William S. Richards therein named in the presence of the undersigned, the said W. S. Richards at the same time he so subscribed the said instrument, declared the same to be his last Will and Testament and requested us to sign our names as attesting witnesses thereto, we accordingly sign our names as such witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other.
John J. Owens Remsen Oneida County.
Didymus Thomas Remsen Oneida County.