From Ireland to British Columbia, always working in a supporting capacity for the courts and government, Richard WOODS was a well-respect citizen wherever he lived.
Richard WOODS was born in October 1813[1] in Birr, Offaly, Ireland as the second son and second child of Richard WOODS and ANNE WHITFIELD, joining his older brother William Whitfield WOODS (abt 1812). Richard WOODS was baptized on 24 Oct 18131 in Birr, Offaly, Ireland.
On the 1821 census,[2] Richard was living with his mom and dad and the family had added another three children. Two sisters: Alicia Bidelia (1816) and Ellen (abt 1817); and another brother Isaac Tindall (1821). They lived in Birr, Offaly, Ireland on Duke Street. His father was listed as a shopkeeper.
The family added another five children after that census: Charles Thomas (1825) (more on him later), Edward S (abt 1826/7), George Thomas (1827), Debbie Elizabeth (abt 1829), and Maria Catherine (1836).
Richard did not go to Trinity College like his older brother,[3] but rather began work in the clerical profession. From my research when sorting out the Richard Woods, we know that Richard worked as a Master Extraordinary in Chancery, Commissioner Kings/Queens Bench and for the Court of Common Pleas and the Exchequer Court as early as 1834.[4]
That same year Richard was also called to court to speak in his capacity as a master extraordinary of the court of chancery. In reflecting on the evidence at the end of the case, the judge remarked on the fact that “the gentleman gave his evidence with great caution and propriety, with much candour and an evident desire to tell the truth.”[17] A master extraordinary is tasked with taking the acknowledgement of any matter in or about the Court of Chancery.[18] The Court of Chancery was specific to equity rather than common law and focused on civil cases presided over by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. So, one would expect to find disputes over inheritance, land, marriage settlements and apprenticeships in the records of the court.[19]
He was also a registrar for marriages from 1846.[5] [6] As civil marriage registration for non-Catholics only began in Ireland in 1845 (and for all in 1864); for him to be published in a directory in 1846 Richard must have been one of the first registrars of marriage in Ireland.
In 1845, he responded to a request from the office of public works writing and discussing the potato crops in County Offaly and the labouring classes at that time.[7] His letter was positive – that was not to last. The potato famine severely affected the County as it had in many other places in Ireland. By November 1845 there were 212 inmates in the workhouse and by February 1846 there were another 50. The first meeting of the Birr Relief Society to aid those affected by the failure of the crops was held 18 March 1846. That year crime levels increased, sheep were being killed for food, and hungry people had to be forced away by bayonets when they tried to take flour being delivered. The effects of this famine started to abate in the County in 1848.[8]
On 09 February 1847 in Parsonstown (Birr), at the age of 33, Richard married Anne WOODS.[9] [10] [11] They were married by the Reverend Marcus McCausland by license. I believe he and Anne were most likely either second or third cousins, but that is another research project and blog post for another day. Richard and Anne Woods both had parents named Richard and Anne (see this page for sorting out the Richard Woods). Their witnesses were Richard Woods (likely Anne’s father) and Michael Woods (another of the Woods I have yet to sort).
Richard and Anne soon started adding to their family. Their first daughter, Dorcas (named after Anne’s grandmother) was born 01 December 1847,[45] but sadly died 10 months later in October 1848.[12] [13] In June 1849 they were pleased to welcome Elizabeth Anne, [14] and in March 1851 they added another daughter Alice Mary.[15]
The Kings County Chronicle in 1851 records a story of Richard being called for coroner jury duty and being impatient with the delay when the family of the deceased had not yet shown up to confirm the identity of the remains. The coroner claimed it was no fault of his as he could no more run a death inquiry without the requisite people than Richard could perform a marriage without the couple present.[16]
Two more girls were quickly added to the family Emily Henrietta in September 1852[20] and Helen Katherine (Kate) in January 1854.[21] Finally, a son, Richard Edward (Ned), arrived in August 1855.[22]
They lived in Birr until 1861. In June of that year, they decided to leave Ireland. We are not sure why they decided to leave Ireland. At 48 Richard could not be considered a young man going to earn his fortune. We do know that his brother Charles Thomas had recently taken up a post in Victoria, British Columbia. Charles was later to become the Archdeacon of Columbia for the Anglican Church.[44] Family lore has it that they were deciding between British Columbia and Australia.[23] The newspaper remarks on their leaving to become settlers indicating that Richard is a member of the most respectable families and Anne was beloved for her active energetic charity.[24]
Richard and Anne took with them the two oldest daughters, Elizabeth and Alice and Ned, leaving the two middle girls (Emily and Kate) with the family in Ireland. Apparently, the aunts had talked them into it insisting that the girls would be better off with them until the family was settled.[21]
Leaving Kings County on 12 June, they arrived in Victoria on the Sierra Nevada from San Francisco on 27 August 1861.[25] [26]
They lost no time in purchasing property and building Garbally House in the Victoria District. You can read a post on how I determined where exactly Garbally was located here. [A history of Garbally House being written – watch for it soon.]
After arriving in Victoria, he started working for the government of the Colony of Vancouver Island as a Clerk of the Writs and Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court of Vancouver Island at a wage of £200 per year.[27] He also was the superintendent of th St. Johns’ Church Sunday School.[46]
By July of 1863 he was also the Acting Registrar and Administrator-General of the Supreme Court of Civil Justice for Vancouver Island.[28] In 1864, an article in the British Colonist posited that he should be given the post of registrar and paid accordingly, although the post was normally held by a lawyer.[29] The article stated that his salary “would not retain a clerk or a bookkeeper in any of our mercantile houses for a month”. It called him a gentleman of “undoubted probity, and of the highest reputation for honor in all his dealings”. However, in 1865[30] and 1866[31] in government documents he was still listed as “acting” registrar. In March of 1866 the newspaper announced that he was made registrar[47] and in July of that year he posted to the newspaper as Chief Registrar.[48] Still in 1867,[32] 1868,[33] and 1869[34] in postings to the newspaper we find him again as “acting” registrar.
He was finally recognized, however. In 1870, when the Supreme Court of British Columbia merged with the Supreme Court of Vancouver Island, Richard was appointed as the Registrar of the merged Supreme Court of British Columbia at a wage of £400 per year.[35] This makes him the first registrar of the current BC Supreme Court (though there was a registrar of the Supreme Court of Mainland British Columbia prior to that time).
Richard would go on to serve his government in other various capacities.
In 1873, he was appointed as Sheriff of Vancouver Island.[36] A post he would hold until his death. Alongside that role, he also became the Assessor and collection Land Tax – Victoria, Esquimalt, Metchosin, Lake and Saanich Districts and the Registrar of Victoria City and District and the Esquimalt Electoral District.[37] In 1875, he became the collector of votes for the Esquimalt District.[38] At the same time, he also became the registrar of marriages for that district, bringing that work back into his sphere after leaving it in Ireland.
Sadly, at the age of only 62, after living in Canada only 15 years, Richard died at Garbally from Cardiac Dropsy. Dropsy is an old name for edema (swelling of the soft tissues due to excess water). Basically, it means that he likely had underlying heart failure.[39]
The Daily Colonist reported his death and in keeping with the respect that Richard has always seemed to have garnered, stated that “by his courteous bearing and integrity of character gained the esteem of an extensive circle of friends.”[40]
His estate was probated on 03 Aug 187626 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.[41] The records indicate that he had written his will 07 February 1870, that he had left everything to his wife Anne and that his estate was worth less than $500. His estate was probated on 27 Sep 1876 in England noting that the effects were under £600. [42]
He is buried in the Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria.[43]
Link to Richard Woods genealogy page here.
[1] Baptisms (PR) Ireland, Birr, Offaly. 24 October 1813. WOODS, Richard.
[2] Census Records, 1821. Ireland. Birr, Offaly. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G94X-YHGX?i=1&cc=2345228 : accessed 16 February 2018.
[3] Trinity College, Alumni Dublinenses – 1924 Edition. WOODS, William Whitfield. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 11 January 2020.
[4] Directories. Ireland. 1834. Pettigrew & Oulton’s Dublin Almanc & General Register of Ireland. P. 184. http://findmypast.co.uk: accessed 3 September 2018.
[5] Directories. Ireland. 1846. Thom’s Irish Almanac 1846. P. 235. http://findmypast.co.uk: accessed 3 September 2018.
[6] Directories, Ireland. 1846. National Commercial Directory of Ireland, Slater, Isaac. P. 17. http://findmypast.co.uk: accessed 31 August 2018.
[7] Woods, Richard, (1845). Letter to Office of Public Works, 4 December.
[8] Firceall Heritage Group and Contributors. (2003) Eglish and Drumcullen : a parish in Firceall. Birr, Ireland: The Print Factory.
[9] Marriages (PR) Ireland, Birr, Kings. 9 February 1847. WOODS, Richard and WOODS, Anne. #21.
[10] Marriage Announcements, 1847. Freemans Journal. 18 February. WOODS, Richard and WOODS, Anne. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 16 September 2018.
[11] Marriage Announcements, 1847. Kings County Chronicle. 10 February. WOODS, Richard junior and WOODS, Anne. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 10 September 2018.
[12] Burials (PR) Ireland, Birr, Offaly. 10 October 1848. WOODS, Dorcas Amy.
[13] Death Announcements, (1848). King’s County Chronicle and General Provincial Intelligencer. 11 October. Infant daughter of Richard Woods. p 3g. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 11 March 2023.
[14] Baptisms (PR) Ireland, Birr, Offaly. 29 July 1849. WOODS, Elizabeth Anne.
[15] Baptisms (PR) Ireland, Birr, Offaly. 27 April 1851. WOODS, Alice Mary.
[16] Kings County Chronicle, 1851. The Inquest. Kings County Chronicle. 12 March. p 2g http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 September 2018.
[17] Kings County Chronicle, 1851. Record Court – Tuesday Jeremiah Maher v Sharpe. Kings County Chronicle. 23 July. p 3 a-d. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 September 2018.
[18] Gibson, Amber (2020). Master in chancery. https://lawi.org.uk/master-in-chancery/ : accessed 20 February 2023.
[19] GenGuide (2020) Court of Chancery (Courts) https://www.genguide.co.uk/source/court-of-chancery-courts/ : accessed 20 February 2023.
[20] Baptisms (PR) Ireland, Birr, Offaly. 31 October 1852. WOODS, Emily Henrietta.
[21] Birth Announcements, 1854. Kings County Chronicles. 18 January. WOODS, daughter. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 11 September 2018.
[22] Baptisms (PR) Ireland, Birr, Offaly. 10 October 1855. WOODS, Richard Edward.
[23] Kirkpatrick-Crocket, Winnifred Anne. Sound recording. Imbert Orchard finds. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Accession number T1307, Royal BC Museum and Archives.
[24] Kings County Chronicle, 1861. Departure of Mr. Richard Woods for British Columbia. Kings County Chronicle.12 June. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 23 November 2020.
[25] The British Colonist, (1861) Passengers. The Daily British Colonist. 27 August. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18610827uvic/page/n3/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 10 January 2023.
[26] Daily Press, 1861. Passengers. The Daily Press. 27 August. p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 03 February 2023.
[27] Directories, 1863. The British Columbian and Victoria guide and directory for 1863, under the patronage of His Excellency Governor Douglas, CB and the Executie of both Colonies: Compiled and published by Frederick P Howard and George Barnett. 1st Edition. p 86. https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1863/British_Columbia_Guide_and_Directory.html : accessed 13 March 2023.
[28] The British Colonist, (1863) To be sold. The British Daily Colonist. 29 September 1863. p 1c. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18630929uvic/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 09 January 2023.
[29] The British Colonist, (1864) The registrarship of the Supreme Court. The Daily British Colonist. 19 March 1864. p 2a. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18640319uvic/page/n1/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 09 January 2023.
[30] The Government Gazette, Vancouver Island, (1865) Supreme court of civil justice of Vancouver Island. 24 October. p 1a. https://archive.org/details/v2n48_24OCT1865/mode/2up : accessed 09 January 2023.
[31] The Government Gazette, Vancouver Island, (1866) Supreme court of civil justice of Vancouver Island. 15 May. p 1b. https://archive.org/details/v3n21_15MAY1866 : accessed 13 March 2023.
[32] Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle, 1867. In the Supreme Court of Civil Justice of Vancouver Island, B.C. 11 July. p 3g. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18670711uvic/page/n2/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 13 March 2023.
[33] Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle, 1868. In the Supreme Court of Civil Justice of Vancouver Island, B.C. 09 June. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18680609uvic/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 13 March 2023.
[34] Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle, 1869. In the Supreme Court of Civil Justice of Vancouver Island, B.C. 19 July. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18690719uvic/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 13 March 2023.
[35] Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle, 1870. Registrar of the Supreme Court. The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle. 5 May. p 3c. https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist18700505uvic/18700505#page/n2/mode/1up : accessed 14 January 2021.
[36] The British Colonist, (1873) Government Gazette Extraordinary. The Daily British Colonist. 05 March. p 3c. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18730305uvic/page/n2/mode/1up?view=theater&q=Woods : accessed 10 January 2023.
[37] British Columbia Gazette, (1873) Appointments. The British Columbia Gazette. Vol XIII No 18. p1 b. https://archive.org/details/governmentgazettv12ngove_n7s5 : accessed 10 January 2023.
[38] The British Colonist, (1875) Appointment. The Daily British Colonist. 08 January. p. 3a. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18750108uvic/page/n2/mode/1up?view=theater : accessed 10 January 2023.
[39] Deaths (CR) Canada, Victoria, British Columbia. 29 July 1876. WOODS, Richard.
[40] Death Announcements, 1876. Daily Colonist. 30 July. WOODS, Richard. p 3, c 2. https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist18760730uvic/18760730#page/n2/mode/1up : accessed 19 November 2020.
[41] Testamentary records, Canada. 03 August 1876. WOODS, Richard. Probate. British Columbia Museum and Archives. GR-1304.14880. Reel B08885, File 13, Folio 0789/1876.
[42] Testamentary records, England. 27 September 1876. WOODS, Richard. Will and Probate.
[43] Monumental Inscriptions, Canada. WOODS, Richard. Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, British Columbia.
[44] Charles T. Woods – Record Detail. http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/98725/ : accessed 13 March 2013.
[45] Birth Announcements, (1847). The Warder. 11 December. WOODS, daughter of Richard Woods, junior. p 3f. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 13 March 2023.
[46] Victoria Daily Chronicle. (1865). St. Johns’ Church Sunday School Festival. Victoria Daily Chronicle 19 February. https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 April 2023.
[47] Victoria Daily Chronicle, (1866) Appointment. 26 March. Victoria Daily Chronicle. p 3b. https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 01 May 2023.
[48] Evening Telegraph, (1866) In the Supreme Court of Civil Justice Vancouver Island. Evening Telegraph. p 2b. https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 01 May 2023.
