Agnes Richards

Biography and image contributed by Margaret Campion (Wanganui) and Kirsty Hosie (Wellington). Agnes Richards was the great grandmother of Margaret and great great grandmother of Kirsty.

Agnes Richards was born in Taita in 1857 to Scottish born parents, Elizabeth and William Tannahill, who sailed on the Bengal Merchant. Her mother, Elizabeth Dugald was 19, with free passage as a servant to cabin passengers, Dr F Logan and family, her father William Tannahill was 20. Their marriage, conducted by Rev. J. MacFarlane on Petone Beach, after arriving at Port Nicholson in February 1840, was the third recorded marriage in Wellington. They settled at Taita, Hutt Valley, raising their family while living through the War in Wellington and experiencing many hardships including fire, floods and loss of personal possessions.

Agnes Tannahill was 29 when she married photographer, Harry Richards, on the Terrace, Wellington  in 1886. His studio at one time was in Majoribanks Street.  Harry died of throat cancer in 1889, leaving Agnes with five very young children. She worked for many years as a nurse and took in boarders. She continued nursing in Whanganui after moving to be near her married daughters. Her granddaughter, Mollie Richards lived with Agnes throughout her childhood until her eventual marriage in 1936. Agnes faced great sadness in 1918,  losing three family members: eldest daughter Alice died during the flu epidemic,  son-in-law John was killed during WW1 and youngest son, Dudley, was killed in action at Le Quesnoy in the last days of the War.

Agnes died in Whanganui in 1940, aged 78 and is buried at Aramoho cemetery  She was musical, loved her garden, was warm hearted, caring, hardworking and brave. Her children meant everything to her. They returned her love, supported her in many ways and were always a very close family.

Agnes was 36 when she signed sheet number 337 of the Suffrage Petition in Majoriebanks Street, Wellington in 1893.