Notes on the Richardson Canadian Ancestry

Prepared by: T. Lowell Butters

Born in Lincolnshire. Served in the West Indies under Lord Rodney during the American Revolution, in HMS Ruby. Present at the Battle of the Saints off Dominica, April 12^th, 1782 when the French Fleet under De Grasse was destroyed. While in HMS Ramillies (sp) escorting French prizes to England was taken prisoner by an American frigate and was imprisoned in France until 1785 when he was commissioned by King George III as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Marine with duties on the Great Lakes.

Although somewhat advanced in years, he served throughout the War of 1812 on Lake Ontario. The Sloop Simcoe, while under his command, was sunk by the American Fleet under Commodore Chancey near Seven Acre Shoal, outside Kingston Harbour, November 10, 1812.

Born at Kingston, Upper Canada, in 1791. Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Marine at the outbreak of the War of 1812. Served against the American Fleet on Lake Ontario throughout the was. Present at the unsuccessful attack on Sacketts Harbour by Sir George Prevost in May 1813. Lost his left arm May 6^th 1814 at the taking of Oswego while serving in the frigate "Montreal" under Sir James Yeo. At the close of the war served in HMS St Lawrence, built in Kingston, of 110 guns, the relics of which are now lying in Kingston Harbour, at the site of the old Morton Distillery. At the close of the war he entered the service of the Methodist Episcopal Church and became its Bishop in Upper Canada.

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Name: Rev James Richardson

Event: Living

Year: 1871

Place: Toronto, York Township

Province of record source: Ontario

County of record source: York

Comments: Bishop Episcopal Methodist.

Source: Lovell's Canadian Dominion Directory for 1871, John Lovell, Montreal, 1871. Volume/Page(s): 829

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Born at Presque Isle, Bay of Quinte, in 1823. Educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto and Kings College, Toronto. Studied medicine under Dr Rolph at Rochester, New York; at Guy's Hospital, London and in Paris. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Appointed Professor of Anatomy at Toronto University in 1850, retiring in 1902. Served as Surgeon Major in the Field Artillery, Toronto and in the 10^th Royal Grenadiers. Was engaged in the repulse of the Fenian Raids 1866-1870. (Fenian Raid medal, Militia Long Service medal)

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Name: James Henry Richardson

Event: Living

Year: 1851

Place: York County

Province of record source: Ontario

Comments: Professor.

Source: Ontario Directory for 1851, The Genealogical Research Library, Toronto, 1984. Volume/Page(s): 161

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From: Torontonensia University Monthly, Page 303

The Late Dr. Richardson

Last June, while the Regius Professor of Medicine of Oxford was addressing the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Richardson entered the room. As one man, the whole assembly rose to their feet to do him honour. They seemed to feel that this was the last opportunity that they would have of showing their love and veneration for one who was the friend of all and the teacher of so many of them. And they were right. A picturesque and lovable figure has gone from among us, and we are the poorer for his loss.

James Henry Richardson was born at Presque Isle on the 16th of October, 1823. He came of an old naval family. His father was Lieutenant in the Provincial Marine (there is nothing new under the sun !) during the war of 1812. Transferred to the Royal Navy under Sir James Yeo, he lost an arm while piloting the fleet in the successful attack on Oswego in 1814. Soon after the war he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which be was for many years bishop.

Lieutenant Richardson married the daughter of John Dennis, a U. E. Loyalist who had a house and orchard at the north-east corner of King and Yonge Streets. Their son, James, was a pupil of Upper Canada College under Dr McCaul. In 1843, young Richardson matriculated in King's College and attended the first course of lectures given there in medicine. The lectures were given in the old parliament buildings and Richardson constituted the first year in medicine. After two years in London at Guy's Hospital and eight months in Paris, he passed the examination of the Royal College of Surgeons and returned to Canada where he took the degree of M.B. of King's College in 1848. In 1850, on the death of Dr Sullivan, he was appointed Professor of Anatomy in the newly constituted University of Toronto. Three years later the Faculties of law and Medicine were abolished by parliament and Richardson began his life over again. This was a deep disappointment to the young anatomist, who had given up practice and intended to devote his life to teaching and research, and one which he never quite got over. But he was not the man to give way to despondency. He soon re-established a practice and accepted the chair of Anatomy in the Toronto School of Medicine, a position which he held till he became once more Professor of Anatomy in the restored Medical Faculty of the University.

During the fifty years that he taught Anatomy in Toronto, a very large number of the members of the medical profession of this province came under his influence and few men hare been more generally loved and respected. This feeling is expressed in an address presented to him at a banquet given in his honour in his eightieth year, on the occasion of the presentation to the University by his old students of the fine portrait of him by A. D. Patterson, which now hangs in the council room of the Medical Faculty:

But Dr. Richardson's energies were not confined within the walls of' the University. A profound anatomist, he was also a skilful surgeon and a successful, conscientious, sympathetic medical practitioner. His very presence in the sick room was a restorative, and he brought to the bedside the tenderness of a woman and the strength of a man. As became his parentage, he was keenly alive to tire duty that he owed to his country and his sovereign, and he served long and faithfully in the Canadian Militia as Surgeon, first in the Field Artillery, then in the Merchant's Volunteer Rifle Corps and afterwards in the Royal Grenadiers.

He was a first-rate rifle shot and was proficient at various sports, such as curling and bowling, but his favourite recreation was angling and few men could tie a better fly and none throw it more successfully than he. He was wonderfully clever with his fingers and there are interesting stories of surgical apparatus extemporized by him in emergencies, out of most unlikely materials, such an goose-quills and sealing wax. As an amateur rod maker, he had few equals, and he was delighted to place his skill at the service of his friends.

Born at Toronto, 1868. Educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto, and Toronto University. Degree of M.B. 1886. Served in the North West Rebellion with the Queens Own Rifles 1885. Present at the Battle of Bateche. Commissioned as a Captain in the Canadian A.M.C. November 1915. Served as Medical Officer to the 1^st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column and as O.C. 2^nd Canadian Division Sanitary Section. Promoted Major January 1918. Mentioned in dispatches June 1918 and July 1918. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire June 1919. (North West Rebellion medal, Great War Medal, Victory medal, O.B.E.) Practiced medicine at Campbell River, BC, following the war.

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Soldiers of the First World War — Canadian Expeditionary Force

Names: RICHARDSON , WILLIAM AUGUSTUS

Rank: CPT; Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8255 - 27

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Local History on Tape by Helen Mitchell - Interview with Helen Butters:

"The Richardsons were United Empire Loyalists," Mrs Butters said, "they gave up all their property around Alexandria, Virginia, and moved to 'Muddy York' as Toronto was called in those days. They lived right down at the waterfront. The Toronto General Trust Building is now on the Bay Street property where their house was built. My father was born in that house." … "Mrs Butters' mother was born Caroline Watson, in England. The family moved to Florida where they lived until Caroline's father died, whereupon her mother brought the family to Kingston, Ontario, where her sister lived. Caroline was one of the first nurses to graduate from Toronto General Hospital, in 1888, then soon after that she married William Augustus who, by this time, was serving as medical officer with the CPR when that company was laying the railway to the west coast. Donald, BC, was the divisional point then and it was to this community that he brought his bride." … "Dr Richardson went to the Yukon in 1897 and was the first doctor to practice in Dawson City. He remained there several years then returned to Victoria where he took up private practice."

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Name: William A. Richardson

Event: Living

Year: 1901

Place: Dawson City, Yukon

Province of record source: Yukon Territory

Comments: Physician.

Source: Dawson City, Yukon Territory and Alaska Directory and Gazetteer, 1901, M L Ferguson, 1901. Volume/Page(s): 359

Born at Victoria, BC. Educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto and Toronto University. Degree of B.A.Sc 1912. Served with Queens own rifles and went to England with that unit in 1910 to participate in the Grand Manoeuvres. Enlisted in the 9^th Battery, 3^rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, 1^st Canadian Division. Commissioned as a Lieutenant in France in that Brigade December 1915. Appointed Bde Orderly Officer May 1917 and Bde Adjutant August 1917. Promoted Captain and awarded the Military Cross January 1917. (1914-15 Star, Great War medal, Victory medal, M.C.)

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Soldiers of the First World War — Canadian Expeditionary Force

Names: RICHARDSON , WILLIAM AUGUSTUS JR

Regimental number: 42015; Rank: CPT

Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8255 - 28