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PLYMOUTH PROMINENT CITIZENS

J L RICKARD

John Liscombe* Rickard was born in 1793, apparently the eldest son of Mr George Rickard and Miss Betty Liscombe, who were married at Stoke Damerel Parish Church on August 28th 1792.  [1]

He married Miss Mary Treliving at Stoke Damerel Parish Church on February 8th 1815.  [1]

Mr Rickard was one of the Commissioners for Devonport and was well respected by all in the Town as an architect and builder.  He built the Town Hall, the Devonport Column, the Devonport Public Library and Eldad Chapel along with innumerable private houses all over the Three Towns and neighbourhood.  He was responsible for erecting Chacewater Church and several chapels in Cornwall.  At the time of his death he was engaged in constructing a chapel at Totnes.  [2]

As a government contractor, he was responsible for supplying paving stones to all the Royal Dockyards in Great Britain.  [2]

Mr John Luscombe* Rickard died at around 4pm on Sunday August 7th 1831 as the result of apparently falling from his horse whilst riding back to Devonport from Liskeard.  He had been inspecting a property that he was in the process of building for Mr W Glencross when he was found by a Mrs Webb about three miles east of Liskeard, lying in the road in a state of insensibility.   Mr Rickard, surgeon, attended him at Liskeard and Doctor Magrath and Mr Baldy, surgeon, from Devonport also attended him.  He left a widow and seven children, of whom the eldest, Eliza, died on December 16th 1884.  He was only 38 years of age and was buried at Stoke Damerel Parish Church on August 12th 1831.  [2]

It was said at the time that his death resulted in two hundred workmen being thrown out of employment, which must have been a devastating blow to Devonport in the 1830s.  [3]

* His middle name appears as Luscombe at the time of his death.


Sources:

[1]  "The Deanery of the Three Towns", CD, Devon Family History Society and Plymouth & West Devon Record Office, Exeter and Plymouth, 2004.

[2]  Untitled obituary, Royal Devonport Telegraph and Plymouth Chronicle, Devonport, August 13th 1831.

 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

Page updated:  25 April 2010

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