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Historical records matching Matthias Richards
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About Matthias Richards
~• probably aka Squire Reichardt as in <journals> July 1, 1780
A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of Major. DAR Ancestor # A095253
Matthias Richards (February 26, 1758 – August 4, 1830) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
Early life and education
Matthias Richards was born near Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He had many siblings, including an older brother John Richards. His schooling was with a private tutoring, as was typical of many families then.
Revolutionary War
He enlisted and served during the American Revolutionary War as a private in Col. Daniel Udree's second battalion, Berks County Militia, from August 5, 1777, until January 5, 1778. He was commissioned a major of the Fourth Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia in 1780.
Career
In 1788 Richards was appointed a justice of the peace and held this office for forty years. He was appointed a judge of Berks County Courts (1791–1797) by Governor Shulze, a nephew through his wife Elizabeth née Mühlenberg. (Elizabeth's sister is Eve Elisabeth Schultz )
After being elected to Congress, Richards was appointed an inspector of customs (1801–1802). He was appointed collector of revenue for the ninth district of Pennsylvania in 1813, and clerk of the orphans' court for Berks County in 1823. He also worked at mercantile pursuits in Reading, Pennsylvania, until his death there on August 4, 1830.
Marriage and family
Having become an artisan and saddler, Richards married Maria Salome Muhlenberg ("Sally"), then age 15, on May 8, 1782. She was the youngest child of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg.[1] Among their children was John William Richards, who became a minister. His son Matthias Henry Richards became a professor of English at Muhlenberg College in 1868.[2]
Richards was laid to rest in the city where he spent most of his life — Reading, Pennsylvania, and was interred at that city's Charles Evans Cemetery.
Congress
Richards was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Tenth and Eleventh Congresses. He did not stand for renomination in 1810. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Richards
U.S. Congressman. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Berks County Militia (1777-78) and was a Major of the 4th Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia in 1780. After the war, he was the Philadelphia County Justice of the Peace, judge of the Berks County Courts (1791-97) and inspector of customs (1801-02). In 1807, he was elected as a Republican to the Tenth and Eleventh Congresses, serving until 1811. Not a candidate for re-nomination, he was appointed collector of revenue for the ninth district of Pennsylvania in 1813, clerk of the orphans' court for Berks County in 1823 and engaged in mercantile pursuits until his death.
- Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 28 2021, 4:52:25 UTC
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Matthias Richards's Timeline
| 1758 |
February 26, 1758
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Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
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| 1787 |
February 7, 1787
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| 1794 |
February 20, 1794
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| 1803 |
April 18, 1803
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Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA
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| 1830 |
August 4, 1830
Age 72
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Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
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Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA
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