Matthias Richards
Encyclopedia
Matthias Richards was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from 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.
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.
and held this office for forty years. He was appointed a judge of Berks County Courts (1791-1797) by Governor Shulze
, a nephew.
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.
in 1868.
Richards was interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading, Pennsylvania
, where he spent most of his life.
and Eleventh
Congresses. He did not stand for renomination in 1810
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early life and education
Matthias Richards was born near Pottstown, PennsylvaniaPottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
. He had many siblings, including an older brother John Richards
John Richards (Pennsylvania)
John Richards was a United States Representative from Pennsylvania.-Early life and education:Born in New Hanover, he was educated under private tutors.-Career:...
. His schooling was with a private tutoring, as was typical of many families then.
Revolutionary War
He enlisted and served during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
as a private in Col. Daniel Udree
Daniel Udree
Daniel Udree was a Democratic-Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania....
’s second battalion, Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
Militia, from August 5, 1777, until January 5, 1778. He was commissioned a major of the Fourth Battalion, Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...
Militia in 1780.
Career
In 1788 Richards was appointed a justice of the peaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and held this office for forty years. He was appointed a judge of Berks County Courts (1791-1797) by Governor Shulze
John Andrew Shulze
John Andrew Shulze was a Pennsylvania political leader and the sixth Governor of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty....
, a nephew.
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
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, 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. Among their children was John William Richards, who became a minister. His son Matthias Henry Richards became a professor of English at Muhlenberg CollegeMuhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.- History...
in 1868.
Richards was interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, where he spent most of his life.
Congress
Richards was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Tenth10th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :- Senate :*President: George Clinton *President pro tempore: Samuel Smith , elected April 16, 1808** Stephen R. Bradley , elected December 28, 1808** John Milledge , elected January 30, 1809...
and Eleventh
11th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: George Clinton * President pro tempore:** John Milledge ** Andrew Gregg , elected June 26, 1809** John Gaillard , elected February 28, 1810...
Congresses. He did not stand for renomination in 1810
United States House election, 1810
The U.S. House election, 1810 was an election for the United States House of Representatives to the Twelfth United States Congress. Voting in the various states took place between April 1810 and August 1811 . Louisiana elected its first representative in September 1812...
.