Richard Darby

     (For a brief history and context on the Darby family see this page)

NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


Richard Darby was likely born circa 1731 at Roydon, Essex.^3,2 He was the son of Richard Darby.² Historically, Roydon was a parish of scattered farms and cottages, with open fields and common meadows. There were 105 ratepayers named in 1734, and the population was 667 in 1801. On the north and west, rivers form the parish and county boundaries.⁴

Richard Darby was baptised at St. Peter's on Tuesday, 4 December 1731 at Roydon, Essex.² The church has walls of flint and rubble, and probably dates back to at least 1260.⁴

As of 1749, Richard Darby was also known as Richard Derby.⁵ Richard lived in October 1749 at Roydon Hamlet, Essex.⁵

Richard Darby married Sarah Peachy, daughter of John Peachy and Jane Peachy, at St. Peter's on Sunday, 26 October 1749 at Roydon, Essex. They went on to have some 12 children together.^5,2

Richard and Sarah Peachy became the parents of Richard Darby circa 1752.⁶

Richard, as the father of the bride, attended the wedding of Sarah and John Underwood in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Monday, 12 October 1772 at Roydon, Essex.. .⁷

Richard, as the father of the groom, may have attended the wedding of Richard and Anne Brett in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Thursday, 8 June 1775 at Roydon, Essex. Both Richard and Anne signed the wedding certificate. Others who may have attended include . They went on to have four children together.^8,6

Richard, as the father of the bride, along with Sarah may have attended the wedding of Elizabeth and Thomas Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Monday, 14 September 1778 at Roydon, Essex.. Others who may have attended include . Elizabeth and Thomas went on to have 11 children together over 17 years.^9,6

Richard, as the father of the bride, may have attended the wedding of Susannah and Matthew Bush in a Church of England ceremony at St. Dunstan's on Monday, 9 August 1790 at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire. Matthew was 20 years older than Susannah.. . They went on to have eleven children over the next 20 years.^9,10

Richard paid £14.8s in land tax for Olives Farm, Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, in 1792. He purchased it some time after 1785 when it had been owned by William Lawrence. Olives Farm was described in 1859 as having “3 sitting rooms, kitchen, dairy, pantry, store rooms, 2 cellars, a counting house, 7 bedrooms, outside privy and woodshed”. Adjoining the house were “brick buildings, granary, boiling house, slaughter house, chaise house, store room and malt dust pits”. Also “Blacksmith’s shop with cottage adjoining and a new brick house not yet finished intended for a Bailiff”. There were “3 yards surrounded by sheds, a bullock yard and a cow yard. Along the top of the cow yard a barn, weather-boarded and thatched, with oak floors”.¹¹

Richard, as the father of the groom, may have attended the wedding of Benjamin and Elizabeth Huggins in a Church of England ceremony at St. Andrew on Thursday, 11 April 1793 at Enfield, Middlesex..¹²

In Benjamin Darby's will Richard Darby and Thomas Darby were named joint executors by Benjamin to handle his estate on 3 April 1798. Benjamin stated he was "weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding (praised be God)". The majority of his will was left to his wife, his father and to his son.. Richard Darby the father was to be recipient of the remainder of Benjamin's 'Goods, Effects and Personal Estates' as well as provide for his grandson Richard through a hundred pound bequest..¹³

Benjamin Darby's will was probated on 16 February 1799.¹³ Richard lived circa 1820 at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire.¹ He came to be known as the patriarch of the Darby family of at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire.¹⁴ "About two miles north-east from Stanstead, in the same hundred (Braughin), stands the pleasant village of Hunsdon, in the parish of its name. From the church, and other positions in the neighbourhood, some beautiful views may be obtained, including the course of the Stort to join the Lea ... The parish [1839] contains about 600 inhabitants."¹⁵



He made a will on 27 January 1821. George Darby, Thomas Darby and Joseph Munns were named as executors. (an unknown value.)^1,14

Richard died on 7 February 1821 at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, at the reported age of 90.^14,3,16 He was buried on 14 February 1821 at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire.^17,18

Richard's will was probated on 20 March 1821. At the Consistorial and Episcopal Court, London, Further to his will, the beqests were all granted along with a further £800 in consolidated stock which was granted to the executors George Darby, Thomas Darby and Joseph Munns. This £800 was redeemed shortly afterwards but it isn't known what was done with it.¹