Riches of Thurton, Norfolk

[bdmayes]

My 4x great grandfather William Riches (born about 1776 in Norwich from 1851 census) was buried in Thurton in 1858 aged 82 and has a headstone in the churchyard, but left no will. He was the son (from his 3rd marriage cert) of a Samuel Riches . A few yards away is the headstone of Samuel Riches who died in 1855 aged 74 and which has the inscription "of Kentish Town, London, brother of William Riches of this parish".  I initially was unable to find his burial in the register, but eventually realised that he had been entered as Samuel Blake, despite the headstone showing Samuel Riches.

This led me to the 1855 will of Samuel Blake of Kentish Town, publican, in which he refers to his brother William Riches of Thurton, Norfolk and several nephews and nieces, children of his brother William, and all of whom I know about. He also asks to be buried in Thurton. The 1851 census shows him as Blake and that he  was born in Thurton about 1781.  London street directories show him as Blake. The Thurton parish register has no baptisms around 1781 for a Samuel Riches or Blake and no other Blakes  or Samuels. He does not appear to have married.

I have now run out of ideas as to how he acquired the surname Blake and would be pleased to receive any suggestions.

Brian

[mirl]

One problem I had with a great grandfather was that he kept referring to female relatives as his sisters but were in fact what we would call sisters-in-law. It turned out they were nearly all his brothers wives or his wifes sisters.

Maybe you have a similar case with brothers-in-law.

Or Samauel Riches had more than one wife and Samuel Blake is a step-brother.

[Yorkslass]

Hello Brian,

This doesn't take you much further, but I wonder if you have seen this from the Norfolk Record Office website - http://nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=NCC3CL01&dsqIni=dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=2&dsqSearch=%28%28text%29%3D%27Samuel%20Riches%27%29

It would be interesting to see what the declaration by Samuel Riches/Blake said!

Yorkslass

[trish1120]

Just bookmarking this as I am interested in outcome but must sign out now.

[bdmayes]

Thank you for your posts.

Samuel being a half brother of William is something that I have considered, but not being able to find any marriage for the father Samuel has not helped.

Thanks for the Norfolk Record Office item - I had missed that. The Sarah Minns mentioned is Samuel's niece, a daughter of his brother William Riches. It is now on my list for my next (not very soon) visit to Norwich. Presumably the 1873 declaration about Samuel's name would have been made by Sarah Minns, Samuel having died in 1855.

Samuel's will is below in case it helps:


Will of Samuel BLAKE of the Tally Ho Public House, Kentish Town, St Pancras, dated 8 Apr 1855

to my nephew Samuel RICHES £1000; to Ellen HYDE my housekeeper £100 and bed and bed articles? in her bedroom; residue to be equally divided between my brother William RICHES of Thurton, Norfolk and my nephews William RICHES, Jeremiah RICHES,  and my nieces Sarah MINNS and Hepzibah OXBOROUGH; I wish to be buried in Thurton, Norfolk and I wish my nephew Samuel RICHES and Vincent HOWARD to be executors;

Signed Samuel BLAKE his mark


Witnesses: Vincent HOWARD, Samuel RICHES, William RICHES, Ellen HYDE;


Appeared personally Vincent HOWARD of  40 ....? Street, Marylebone, Middlesex, Gentleman, who made oath that he is one of the witnesses to the will of Samuel BLAKE late of the Tally Ho, Winchester Place, Kentish Town, Middlesex, licensed victualler, that the said Samuel BLAKE made his mark on the will and that the above witnesses were present      Dated 11 Apr 1855

Proved 26 April 1855 to executors Samuel RICHES the nephew and Vincent HOWARD     PCC

[clairelouise]

Hi I have just seen this, does your william riches have relatives in pentney norfolk. I noticed you
william had a nephew called jeremiah riches, I have a jeremiah riches in my family tree, him and his family
all came from pentney in norfolk,

[bdmayes]

I was aware of the Jeremiah Riches of Pentney, but have not found any connection to my Riches of Thurton. If you are not aware, Jeremiah Riches, miller of Pentney, left a will dated 1847, a copy of which is available online.

[clairelouise]

Yes I did know this info..
jeremiah riches of pentney is my gt grandmothers uncle .

[annriches]

Is related to samuel riches born 1822 died 1880 and have his will and all his descendants. I live in NZ and can let you know more about them .Ann in Auckland