Richard FRYER - (Abt. 1792 - 1862)

There was a baptism for Richard FRYER in Arlingham Parish Church on 21st August 1792, "the son of John FRYER and Phoebe, his wife, daughter of John and Lydia TAYSOM". An additional note in the parish register quotes, "this child was privately baptized 27 Jany".

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Richard married Ann JONES in St Mary the Virgin's Church, Arlingham, in 1813 and the details in the parish register are as follows...

Date: 30th December 1813
Groom: Richard Fryer - Bachelor
Bride: Ann Jones - Spinster
Both of the Parish of Arlingham
Married in the Parish Church of Arlingham by Licence with consent of Parents
Curate: W Morgan
Rich'd Fryer and Ann Jones both signed
Witnesses: Christopher Hillman & Mary Hillman both marked

Photographs of the church can be seen in the Gallery.

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Six months before the marriage took place, Richard applied for a Marriage Licence. He was living in Eastington, Gloucestershire, at the time. The Marriage Allegation states the following...

23rd Day of June 1813

On which Day appeared personally Richard Fryer of the Parish of Eastington in the County and Diocese of Glocester, Farmer and, being sworn on the Holy Evangelists, alledged and made Oath, That he is of the Age of twenty one Years and upwards and a Bachelor and that he intends to marry with Ann Jones of the Parish of Arlingham in the County and Diocese of Glocester, Spinster aged twenty one Years and upwards; and that he knoweth of no lawful Lett, or Impediment, by reason of any Pre-contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other Cause whatsoever, to hinder the said intended Marriage; and that he prayed a Licence to solemnize the said Marriage in the Parish Church of Arlingham aforesaid; in which said Parish of Arlingham the said Richard Fryer further made Oath, That Ann Jones hath had her usual Abode for the Space of Four Weeks last past.

(Signed by) Richd Fryer

Let Licence pass as prayed.
(Signed by) Chas. Palmer Sur.

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The couple’s three children were baptized between 1815 and 1819, Mary Ann, John and Henry Richard. According to these records, Richard was a farmer. Mary Ann was baptized in 1815 and there is no mention of Overton in the parish register. However, John and Henry's baptism record shows that Richard lived at Overton, Arlingham, at that stage, probably as a result of the death of Richard's father, John, in 1816. The extension on the house at Meadowland in Overton, bears a carving in the bricks, ‘18. RF. 20.’. Meadowland appears to have been a FRYER homestead for at least three generations (Richard's father John, Richard himself, and Richard's daughter, Mary Ann) and who knows how many before them and to the land itself, even perhaps before the house was built?

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Ann FRYER (nee JONES) died in 1822 at the age of 29 and was buried in Arlingham on 23rd October. According to the document, 'Arlingham: Memorial Inscriptions' by MLK Curtis (1993), she is buried in the same tomb as that of her husband, Richard's, great-grandparents, John FRYER (abt. 1695-1757) and Mary (nee KING). 

"…In memory of / ...., wife of RI.... / ..... , of Overton, who died .....r 20th 18.., / ... years…"

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Richard's father, John, died intestate in 1816 and the following year, Richard applied to administer his father's estate...

8th November 1817

On which day appeared personally Richard Fryer and alleged that John Fryer late of the Parish of Arlingham in the County and Diocese of Gloucester Yeoman lately died Intestate and that he was and is the natural and lawful Son and one of the next of kin of the said deceased.

Wherefore he prayed that Administration of all and Singular the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits of the said deceased might be granted and commuted to him upon giving such good and sufficient Security as in this behalf is required and to forth-

Let Admon pass as above prayed
Under £800

Chas. Palmer Sur.

The administration documententation continued...

Know all Men by these presents that We Richard Fryer of Overton in the Parish of Arlingham in the County of Gloucester Yeoman Thomas Jones of Arlingham aforesaid Butcher? And John Chesterton of the City of Gloucester [occupation illegible] are held and firmly bound unto the Honble Right Revd Henry Lord Bishop of Gloucester in Sixteen hundred Pounds of good and lawful Money…etc.

...On these documents, Richard's father was noted as 'John FRYER of Overton in the Parish of Arlingham'.

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On 15th January 1828, Richard married Ann Bailey PITCHER, sister of his daughter, Mary Ann's, eventual husband, Daniel. The marriage took place in Uley, Gloucestershire, a short distance from Hodgecombe Farm where Ann grew up...

Date: 15th January 1828
Groom: Richard Fryer of the Parish of Arlingham
Bride: Ann Pitcher of the Parish of Uley
Married in the Parish Church of Uley by Licence
Officiating Minister: J Hardings
Rich'd Fryer and Ann Pitcher both signed
Witnesses: George Leonard & Elizabeth Pitcher both signed

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The Marriage Allegation for the Licence was signed more than a year before the marriage...

5th January 1827

On which day appeared personally Richard Fryer of the Parish of Arlingham in the County and Diocese of Gloucester, Widower Farmer of the age of Thirty Four years and upwards, and prayed a Licence for the Solemnization of Matrimony in the Parish Church of Uley in the County and Diocese of Gloucester between him and Ann Pitcher of the said Parish of Uley of the age of Twenty years and upwards, but under the age of Twenty one years and made Oath that he believeth that there is no Impediment of Kindred or Alliance, or of any other lawful Cause, nor any Suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court, to bar or hinder the Proceeding of the said Matrimony, according to the Tenor of such Licence. And he further made Oath that she the said Ann Pitcher hath had her usual abode within the said Parish of Uley for the space of Fifteen Days last past.

(Signed by) Richd Fryer

Sworn before me,
Edwd Jones, Surrogate

On the same day appeared personally John Pitcher the Aptinal? and lawful brother of the said Ann Pitcher and make Oath that he herewas present and did have? the Consent given to the said Richard Fryer by the father of the said Ann Pitcher to the said intended marriage between him and the said Ann Pitcher

(Signed by) John Pitcher

Sworn before me Edwd Jones, Surrogate

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Richard and Ann's first child, Thomas, was baptized in June 1828 so there is a likelihood that Ann was pregnant when they married. Sadly, the child died when he was less than a year old.

Richard and Ann together had six children in Overton, Arlingham, between 1828 and 1835, and then a daughter, Phoebe, in Dursley, a nearby town to Uley. Perhaps the couple had moved from Arlingham when Richard’s eldest daughter married.

Their daughter, Hannah, later married a Robert Jones in 1848 and one of Robert and Hannah's sons, also named Robert, won the Victoria Cross for his part in the battle at Rorke’s Drift in 1879.

Richard and Ann then had another daughter, Caroline, in about 1839. She may well have been named after Richard’s step-mother who died only a few days after the child’s baptism, which took place in Arlingham. Perhaps the family had travelled ‘home’ to visit the dying Caroline.

The family then moved to Badham's Court, Sedbury, Tidenham, in the registration district of Chepstow, where the 1841 census reveals that Richard continued as a farmer...

Name: Richard Fryer 
Age: 45 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1796 
Gender: Male 
Where born: Gloucestershire, England 
Civil Parish: Tidenham 
Hundred: Westbury 
County/Island: Gloucestershire 
Country: England 
Street address: Badham's Court
Occupation: Farmer 
Registration district: Chepstow 
Sub registration district: Chepstow 

Household Members: Name Age 
Richard Fryer 45 
Ann Fryer 35 
Sarah Fryer 11 
Richard Fryer 10 
Hanah Fryer 8 
Ann Fryer 6 
Phoebe Fryer 4 
Caroline Fryer 2 
Mary Fryer 3 Months
Amelia Andrews 15 (Servant)
Thomas Jones 20 (Servant)

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Two more daughters were born in Tidenham and then a son, Timothy, in Llantilio Crossenny in Monmouthshire in about 1846 in the sub-registration district of Coleford. Timothy's baptism record states that Richard and Ann lived in Upper Cwm, Llantilio Crossenny.

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Richard and Ann's last child, Benjamin, was born at Penylan Farm, Llangattock Vibon Avel, Monmouthshire, in 1851. The census for that year shows Richard was still a farmer with 90 acres. It also states his birthplace as Westbury, but this is most probably a reference to the registration district, rather than the parish...

Name: Richard Fryer 
Age: 59 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1792 
Relation: Head 
Spouse's Name: Ann 
Gender: Male 
Where born: Westbury, Gloucestershire, England 
Civil Parish or Township: Llangattock Vibon Avel 
County/Island: Monmouthshire 
Country: Wales 
Address: Penylan Farm 
Occupation: Farmer 90 Acres
Registration district: Monmouth 
Sub registration district: Coleford 
ED, institution, or vessel: 9b 
Household schedule number: 16 

Household Members: Name Age 
Richard Fryer 59 
Ann Fryer 43 
Sarah Fryer 21 
Ann Fryer 16 
Pheby Fryer 14 
Caroline Fryer 11 
Sophia Fryer 7 
Timothy Fryer 4 
John Watkins 31 (Servant - Farm Labourer)

A video clip of the sun rising over the Black Mountains as viewed from the converted barn at Penylan Farm can be found in the videos section of this site.

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Ann FRYER (nee PITCHER) died in 1856 in Etloe, Awre, Gloucestershire, and Richard was described as a farming bailiff on her death certificate. He administered Ann's estate in 1862...

FRYER Ann
Effects under £50.
3 April Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Ann Fryer (Wife of Richard Fryer) late of Etloe in the Parish of Awre in the County of Gloucester deceased who died 13 September 1856 at Etloe aforesaid were granted at Gloucester to the said Richard Fryer of Quedgley in the said County Laborer he having been first sworn.

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In 1861, Richard was to be found lodging with a couple by the name of Thomas and Hannah HARRIS at Green Cottages, Bristol Road, Quedgeley. He was described as an agricultural labourer and was 69 years old...

Name: Richard Fryer 
Age: 69 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1792 
Relation: Lodger 
Gender: Male 
Where born: Arlingham, Gloucestershire, England 
Civil Parish: Quedgeley 
County/Island: Gloucestershire 
Country: England 
Street address: Green Cottages, Bristol Road
Occupation: Ag Lab
Registration district: Gloucester 
Sub registration district: South 
ED, institution, or vessel: 2 
Household schedule number: 122 

Household Members: Name Age 
Thomas Harris 71 
Hannah Harris 70 
Richard Fryer 69

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Richard died in the City of Gloucester in October 1862. The death certificate and burial register state his age as 72 but he was more than likely nearer aged 70 when he died. It may have been the same person who gave the information to both the registrar and to the vicar as the registration and burial took place on the same day. It is entirely possible that the person was not certain of Richard's age.

The death certificate shows the following information...

Name: Richard Fryer
Died: 21st October 1862 at Island St Nicholas, City of Gloucester.
Age: 72 years
Occupation: Farmer and Cattledealer
Cause of Death: Typhoid Fever ...? Bronchitis 14 Days Certified
Informant: X The mark of Elizabeth Wathen, Present at the Death, Island Gloucester
Registered: 25th October 1862
Registrar: William Whitehead

Richard was buried in his home village of Arlingham four days after his death. The burial register states the following...

Name: Richard Fryer
Date: 25th October 1862
Abode: Parish of St Nicholas, Gloucester
Age: 72
Vicar: Thos H Ravenhill

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Photographs of Arlingham can be seen in the Gallery and a video clip of the view overlooking Arlingham can be viewed in the Gallery also.

Richard FRYER's story is included in the document, The Fryer Family of Overton Arlingham, Gloucestershire, available for download in the Shop.

Copies of Richard's signature can be found in the 'Resources > Fryer Miscellany' section.

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