Family and Education

b. c.1664, 3rd but prob. 1st surv. s. of John Richardson of St. Bartholomew Exchange, London and Little Grove, East Barnet, Herts. by his w. Elizabeth.  educ. M. Temple 1679, called 1686.  m. lic. 14 July 1691, he aged 27, Sarah, prob. da. of George Solme of Gillingham, Dorset, 1s. 1da.1

Offices Held

Serjeant-at-law 1705; common pleader, London prob. by 1697–bef. 1707; judge of Sheriffs’ Courts, London by 1707–?d.2

Freeman, Dunwich 1710, ?Orford 1711.3

Biography

A Tory lawyer with some business interests, Richardson was defeated by (Sir) Peter King* in the contest for the recordership of London in 1708. He was returned for Dunwich in 1710, and was classed as a Tory in the ‘Hanover list’ and as one of the ‘worthy patriots’ who exposed the mismanagements of the previous ministry. He reported the petition of the Londonderry and Enniskillen officers on 5 May 1711. On 25 Feb. 1712 he was nominated to the drafting committee for a bill to repeal the Bankruptcy Act. In March and April he assisted in the management of three private bills. He stood for Ipswich at the next election and was seated on petition on 1 Apr. 1714. His opinion was sought that year by the Treasury on a proposal for a tax on soap.4

Richardson died on 31 Dec. 1714.5

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

• 1. F. C. Cass, East Barnet, 105–6; Mar. Lic. Vicar-Gen. (Harl. Soc. xxxi), 186.
• 2. Luttrell, Brief Relation, v. 561; HMC Lords, n.s. ii. 515; Boyer, Pol. State, iv. 63;
• 3. Suff. RO (Ipswich), Dunwich bor. recs. EE6/1144/24; Add. 19185, f. 18.
• 4. HMC Portland, viii. 365; Luttrell, vi. 332; Cal. Treas. Pprs. 1708–14, p. 616.
• 5. Boyer, viii. 560.