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Wealthy Dewey Richards was born 6 September 1786 in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Samuel Dewey (1762-1829) and Mille McKee (1764-1842) and died 18 October 1853 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah of unspecified causes. She married Phinehas Richards (1788-1874) 24 February 1818 in Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Biography

Wealthy Dewey, the daughter of Samuel Dewey III and Milley McKee, was born in 1786. She was a devoted member of the Congregational Church. Phineas met and courted her in Richmond, MA. They were married in 1818. Wealthy was a young woman of culture and refinement, and was skilled in sewing, cooking, and other arts which enabled her to be a capable homemaker. She was called a “walking dictionary, ” and her love of learning was transmitted to her family. Her understanding and wisdom enabled her to assist her husband in the rearing of an outstanding family.

Phineas and Wealthy made their home in Richmond, MA. For nineteen years. They were blessed with nine children, three of which died in infancy. In order to help support the family, the older boys worked outside the home for relatives and friends. For several years after her husband, Phineas, joined the LDS church Wealthy was dubious about joining. She was finally baptized in 1843, 6 years after her husband.

Wdrichards02

Gravestone of Wealthy Dewey Richards at SLC Cemetery. Plot GRV226.

They lived in their wagons and tents during the first winter in Salt Lake. The winter of 1848-49 was extremely cold, and the pioneers suffered much sickness and hardship. Heavy snow in the canyons made it difficult to obtain firewood. The procurement of food was also a problem; they supplemented their meager food supply with sego lily roots. Crossing the plains was very hard on Wealthy, so when Phineas was called to go to Sanpete, she stayed in Salt Lake. She died in 1853, but her husband lived until 1874.

Marriage & Family

She was the first wife of Phinehas Richards (1788-1874), together they had several children, but the first three died in infancy in Berkshire Co, MA.


  1. Abraham Richards (1818-1818) - died young
  2. Moses Richards (1819-1819) - died young
  3. Betsey Richards (1820-1820) - died young
  4. Franklin Dewey Richards (1821-1899) - popular mormon missionary
  5. George Spencer Richards (1823-1838) - died in the Haun's Mill Massacre at age 15
  6. Samuel Whitney Richards (1824-1909)
  7. Wealthy Mariah Richards (1827-1909)
  8. Joseph William Richards (1829-1846)
  9. Henry Phinehas Richards (1831-1912)





Children


Offspring of Phinehas Richards (1788-1874) and Wealthy Dewey Richards
Name Birth Death Joined with
Abraham Richards (1818-1818) 9 December 1818 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States 9 December 1818 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Moses Richards (1819-1819) 7 September 1819 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 7 September 1819 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Betsey Richards (1820-1820) 13 June 1820 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 13 June 1820 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Franklin Dewey Richards (1821-1899) 2 April 1821 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 9 December 1899 Ogden, Weber County, Utah
George Spencer Richards (1823-1838) 8 January 1823 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 30 October 1838 Hauns Mill, Caldwell County, Missouri
Samuel Whitney Richards (1824-1909) 9 August 1824 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 26 November 1909 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Mary Haskin Parker (1823-1860)
Mary Ann Parker (1839-1914)
Helena Lydia Robinson (1836-1883)
Jane Elizabeth Mayer (1831-1867)
Ann Jones (1801-1877)
Elizabeth Whitaker (1828-1880)
Mary West (1796-1814)
Rose Mauss (1867-)
Wealthy Mariah Richards (1827-1909) 17 June 1827 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 13 January 1909 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Walter Eli Wilcox (1821-1919)
Joseph William Richards (1829-1846) 25 May 1829 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 19 November 1846 Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado Eliza Ann Peirson (1822-1846)
Henry Phinehas Richards (1831-1912) 30 November 1831 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts 29 October 1912 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Margaret Minerva Amanda Empey (1831-1909)



Siblings


References

Residences

Footnotes (including sources)

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