John Richardson died Hightae 1747

[margt]

Does anyone connect to John Richardson, sometime merchant in Reading thereafter kindly tenant or portioner of Hightae, otherwise known as a merchant. His widow was Mary Kennedy and they had six daughters, one being unborn at the time of his death. He died intestate and therefore his oldest daughter was entitled to inherit his estate. Her name was Katharine Richardson (known in the family as Katie) and she married James Richardson, merchant in Lochmaben. Mary Kennedy was able to go to court to obtain support for herself and a share for the other daughters. This is pretty ambitions but I would like to know more about all of these people. John Richardson and Mary Kennedy would be my g g g g g grandparents. Not bad eh?

[Br1gau]

Hi Margt,

Have you looked at the Wills on Scotlandspeople? http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/search/testament/index.aspx

If you haven't used it before, you will find that searching is free but the Testaments cost 10 credits.  It's best to click on 'sort by year' at the bottom of the page otherwise they come up all over the place!  There are a few that may or not be relevant to your family but nevertheless tie in with what you have said so far about John & James Richardson.

RICHARDSON   JOHN   11/02/1747   MERCHANT IN HIGHTAE, PARISH OF LOCHMABEN   TESTAMENT DATIVE AND INVENTORY   DUMFRIES COMMISSARY COURT   CC5/6/13 (3 pages)

RICHARDSON   JOHN   14/10/1747   MERCHANT IN HIGHTAE, PARISH OF LOCHMABEN   EIK   DUMFRIES COMMISSARY COURT   CC5/6/13 (3pages)

RICHARDSON   JAMES   24/05/1779   MERCHANT IN HIGHTAE   TESTAMENT DATIVE AND INVENTORY   DUMFRIES COMMISSARY COURT   CC5/6/16 (2 pages)

RICHARDSON   JOHN   18/10/1809   PORTIONER, RESIDING IN HITAE    DUMFRIES SHERIFF COURT   SC15/41/1 (3pages)

Regards,
brigau

[margt]

Hi brigau. Thanks for your reply and suggestions. I have seen the first two wills and believe they both relate to the John Richardson I am seeking. It was from this information that I got his wife's name. John Richardson seems to have been a very popular name in Hightae! I wonder if or how James Richardson might be related.  Since our John Richardson had only daughters, I do not believe John Richardson 1809 to be a direct descendant. Hopefully someone out there might know more.

[MonicaL]

There is a mention here of a James Richardson, merchant in Reading - do you think it should have read John from the description (link shrunk from google books) www.rootschat.com/links/0sdu/ It could also be a family member to John?

If Katie/Katherine also married a Richardson, then perhaps some of the later entries (such as those indicated by brigau) could be connected quite closely to your line? Have you followed the family of Katie and husband James Richardson?

Monica

[Br1gau]

Hi Margt,

When looking at the Wills, and not knowing if you had been down that path or not, I just picked up on the words Portioner, Merchant, Reading Hightae etc.  My initial thinking was that the 1779 Will might relate to James Richardson who married Katie/Katherine and the 1809 one possibly a descendant of theirs.

If, in 1747 Katherine was the eldest of six children she must have been born ~1730 - 1738?  Do you have a date for her marriage?  A search for births (SP & IGI) in Dumfries with parents James Richardson/Katherine Richardson brings up the following, all born in Lochmaben, but no records for a James, John or Mary as you would expect if the Scottish naming pattern were followed:

Katherine 1769
Margaret 1771
William 1773
Charles 1775
Charles 1776

The book reference Monica found shows that a James Richardson, merchant in Reading made a bequest around 1726, could this be the same man (Riddan = Reading.) It sits well with your John being a 'sometime merchant in Reading':

RICHARDSON   JAMES   17/11/1732   LATE MERCHANT IN RIDDAN   TESTAMENT DATIVE AND INVENTORY   DUMFRIES COMMISSARY COURT   CC5/6/9 (2 pages)

RICHARDSON   JAMES   02/11/1733   LATE MERCHANT IN RIDDAN   EIK   DUMFRIES COMMISSARY COURT   CC5/6/10

There were indeed a great many Richardsons in Dumfries, but very few Kennedys.  A John and a George, both in Halleaths died around 1739, also a William Kennedy died in 1760 in Hightae (SP Wills).  He may be worth considering as one of Mary’s near relatives.

It’s all ifs and buts isn’t it!

Another one:
RICHARDSON   JOHN   18/03/1758   MERCHANT IN HIGHTAE, PARISH OF LOCHMABEN   EIK   DUMFRIES COMMISSARY COURT   CC5/6/14

[Br1gau]

This Mrs Catherine Richardson died December 28th 1819 (born 1732-3):
The Edinburgh Magazine and Literary Miscellany, Volume 85, 1820 http://tinyurl.com/chzm8gw

For a discussion of Richardsons in Hightae you might like to look at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,376946.0.html

[margt]

Hello again! I think this is the correct Catherine. Apart from this report, I haven't been able to find her death record or MI. We don't appear to relate to the discussion on Richardsons so far.

[MonicaL]

We don't appear to relate to the discussion on Richardsons so far.

  I think we are trying to keep on subject for your line. Where do you think the conversation has gone off topic?

Monica

[Br1gau]

Sometimes it's a process of eliminating those who aren't related in order to narrow the search to those who are.  The posters I linked to have evidently done a lot of work sifting through the Hightae Richardsons, and also made kind offers of MI look-ups.  It's possible that some have previously come across your line and put them aside as not being relevant, but they still have the knowledge.  Regarding the snip - the death notices in the Edinburgh Magazine generally list widows under their maiden name so Catherine does look like a possibility.  Following on from that the NAS catalogue http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ (searching for Richardson Lochmaben) has a record of James Richardson, Provost of Lochmaben & daughter, Jean, both deceased by 1795.  Jean Richardson was married to John Wilson, late of Hazelbrae and they had the following seven children: John, Mary, Catharine, Margaret, George, Robert and James.   After Jean's death Robert Richardson, merchant, Lochmaben, (likely a brother or uncle) was appointed factor loco tutoris.  Realistically, Jean must have been born before 1760.

Do you have any other names and dates for James and Katherine's family?

brigau