Samuel Richards (March 8, 1769 – January 4, 1842) was an American businessman and

ironmaster An ironmaster is the manager, and usually owner, of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain. The ironmaster was usually a larg ...

. He was heavily involved in the

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

iron industry during the early 19th century, starting with his family's iron business in

Batsto Village, New Jersey Batsto Village (or simply Batsto) is a historic Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities, unincorporated community located on County Route 542 (New Jersey), CR 542 within Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, Wa ...

, where he apprenticed under his father, William Richards. Richards would eventually come into ownership of Weymouth Furnace and Martha Furnace in 1808, in addition to the Atsion Iron Works in 1822. His half brother,

Benjamin Wood Richards Benjamin Wood Richards (November 12, 1797 – July 12, 1851) was an American politician who served as the 59th mayor of Philadelphia in 1829 and a second time from 1830 to 1832. Early life and education Richards was born in Batsto, New Je ...

, became mayor of

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Early life

Samuel Richards was born in the Richards family home in

Berks County, Pennsylvania Berks County (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Barricks Kaundi'') is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the coun ...

. Samuel was the third child of eleven born to William and Mary Richards of Batsto, New Jersey. Richards would begin his career in the New Jersey iron industry when his father obtained management of the Batsto Iron Works in 1784. By 1789, Samuel was managing the Richards family store in Philadelphia. Richards would marry his first wife, Mary Smith Morgan, on November 18, 1797, in

. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend

Ashbel Green Ashbel Green (July 6, 1762 – May 19, 1848) was an American Presbyterian minister and academic. Early life and education Green was born in Hanover Township, New Jersey. He served as a sergeant in the New Jersey militia during the American Revo ...

, a chaplain of the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

. Mary Richards died in 1820 after giving birth to eight children, three living to adulthood. Richards would remarry in 1822 to Anna Maria Witherspoon of New York, who would have three children with Richards, two living to adulthood. In 1827,

Thomas Sully Thomas Sully (June 19, 1783November 5, 1872) was an English-American portrait painter. He was born in England, became a naturalized American citizen in 1809, and lived most of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including in the Thomas Sull ...

would be commissioned for a portrait of Samuel Richards.

Career

Weymouth Iron Works

In 1808, Richards, along with his business partner Joseph Ball, each purchased a 3/8th share of Weymouth Iron Works in

Atlantic County, New Jersey Atlantic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's 15th-most-populous county,

Atsion Iron Works

In 1822, Samuel Richards acquired the Atsion Iron Works in

Shamong Township, New Jersey Shamong Township (pronounced "Shuh-MUNG") is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 6,460, a decrease of 30 (−0.5%) from the 2010 census count of ...

. By the time Richards took over ownership, Atsion had been seen as a ghost town for close to a decade. By 1824, Richards had rebuilt the old iron furnace on the site, bringing employment back to the dilapidated town. In 1826, Richards built his summer estate, Atsion Mansion, in the village. The Richards family would spend their summers at this home, which overlooked the village and Atsion Lake.

Martha Furnace

Mays Landing

In addition to the iron furnace properties, Richards also held property in

Mays Landing, New Jersey Mays Landing is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Hamilton Township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

. In 1837, Richards would construct a three-story hotel known as the Samuel Richards Hotel, later known as the American Hotel.

Politics

Richards was the half brother of

, the 59th mayor of

. Benjamin Richards was a strong supporter of President

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before Presidency of Andrew Jackson, his presidency, he rose to fame as a general in the U.S. Army and served in both houses ...

, and was a member of the Democratic Party. Samuel, on the other hand, was a supporter of

Henry Clay Henry Clay (April 12, 1777June 29, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate, U.S. Senate and United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives. He was the seventh Spea ...

and a member of the Whig Party. Richards was unanimously elected the vice president of the Friends of Henry Clay meeting in Philadelphia in 1831.

Later years and Death

By the late 1830s, Richards began passing more of his business assets over to his son-in-law, Stephen Colwell. Richards was confined to his Philadelphia home on Arch Street due to declining health by 1841. Richards died at his Philadelphia home on January 4, 1842, from "inflammation of the bowels." Richards was buried in

Laurel Hill Cemetery Laurel Hill Cemetery, also called Laurel Hill East to distinguish it from the affiliated West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, Bala Cynwyd, is a historic rural cemetery in the East Falls, Philadelphia, East Falls neighborhood ...

References

{{reflist 1769 births 1842 deaths 19th-century American businesspeople American ironmasters Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia)