Born near Barnstaple, England. Richard's wife was Mary Wellington Hobbs. Richard and Mary were married at St. Peter's Church in Barnstaple, England on Dec. 24, 1809. Richard's occupations were a builder, contractor and farmer.
Richard migrated to Prince Edward Island, Canada with his family, circa 1843, at the age of 52. Richard rented land listed in the 1880 Atlas as lot 29, p76 (50a).
Richard was buried in Hampton cemetary, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Hampton cemetary is sometimes called Crapaud Cemetary. Richard and Mary are buried in the same lot as Henry Cutcliffe. Richard's family was born in and around Barnstaple, England.
In a letter from Donald Hendon to Tom Cutcliffe dated March 15, 2000, Mr. Hendon assumes that Richard was actually the son of John Cutcliffe and Mary Pollard. Mr. Hendon found in the census of 1841 that Richard resided at 2 nd. Back Lane in Barnstaple at the age of 50. Also recorded living at the residence was Mary age 50, and children Susan 30, Jane 20, Henry 15, Amelia 12, Francis 8, and Elizabeth 5. The father, (Richard) was a carpenter born in Devon. Mr. Hendon also found a record of marriage for Richard and Mary. The wedding was conducted by Henry Nicholls, signed R. Cutliffe, (Note the spelling of the last name) and M. Hobbs and witnessed by William Rew and John Withecombe.
A copy of the will of Richard Cutcliffe, (spelled Cutliff), is on file at the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island. A copy of that will is in the posession of Byron Cutcliffe of PEI and Tom Cutcliffe. In that will Richard left the vast majority of his belongings to Francis Webster Cutcliffe. Richard's belongings included three houses in Barnstaple, England.
The assumption that Richard is the son of John Cutcliffe and Mary Pollard is supported by the families oral history. In that oral history Richard Cutcliffe and Mary Hobbs lived with Charles Cutcliffe of Barnstaple (1778 - 1843) while they were waiting for the construction of thier new house to be completed. Charles Cutcliffe was refered to by the decendents of Richard and Mary as "Uncle Charles". It can therefore be assumed that Charles was Richard's older brother.
There may be some truth in the family oral history that Richard had a falling out with his family. Mary and Richard were married on December 24, 1809 and their first child was born on May 12, 1810. This circumstance may have caused friction between Richard and his family. Family oral history states that the conflict between Richard and his family resulted from Mary Hobbs Catholic religion. This may not be true since Richard and Mary were married in a Presbyterian church and attended a Presbyterian church when they lived on Prince Edward Island, Canada.
The real reasons Richard and Mary uprooted their family and moved to Canada in 1843 are not clear. It is obvious that Richard, although not a wealthy man, was financially secure enough to own three houses in Barnstaple. He was 52 years of age when he left England and, prior to his leaveing Barnstaple, Richard was probably secure in his carpentry and consturction business. Although the families oral history stated that the move was the result of the families dispute over Mary's religion, certain events in England that occured just prior to the departure of Richard and Mary, may have made a larger contribution to their migration to Canada. Although it cannot be proven, it is believed that Charles, Richard's brother, died in January of 1843. In addition Richard and Mary lost one child in 1836 and three other children in 1841. Richard and Mary's oldest male child, William Henry moved to Prince Edward Island around 1830. William's reports home about life on Prince Edward Island, coupled with the deaths of Richard's children, may have motivated Richard and Mary's move to America.
ÓRichard was the son of George Cutcliffe of Ashburton. (There is no evidence to justify this conclusion. In fact George was 13 years old when Richard was born). Richard was born near Barnstaple, England in 1791. He married Mary Hobbs in Barnstaple, England in the Barnstaple Parish Church (St. Peters) on December 25, 1809. When George Cutcliffe, Richard's father, left Barnstaple for Ashburton, a town in co. Devon, Richard had just married. Richard and Mary stayed in Barnstaple with his uncle, (it is now believed that this Charles was in fact RichardÕs older brother), Charles Cutcliffe, untill he built his own home. A Tax receipt for his home from the city of Barnstaple is still in the possission of the family.
When Charles Cutcliffe died in 1843 Richard Cutcliffe and his family left England to start the great adventure of his life in America. William Henery Cutcliffe, (RichardÕs oldest son), had migrated to Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1830, therefore the family had a place to get started in the new country.
Richard was a house builder, cabinet maker, contractor and farmer. Mary Hobbs, Richard's wife, was of the Catholic religion which caused a stir in the Cutcliffe family. Most of the Cutcliffe family were Church of England members. Richard Cutcliffe was more or less ostracized from the family because of this marriage. (It is now believed that, while Mary may have been Catholic, there is no evidence of a problem in the family as Mary and Richard were married in ST Peters, Presbyterian Church and belonged to a Presbyterian church in P.E.I.A) . He, (Richard) finally left England in 1843 to get away from religious persecution. He settled in Prince Edward Island, which was part of Nova Scotia at that time.
Although Prince Edward Island was discovered in 1534, it was during the1800's that settlers were going to Nova Scotia from Irland, Scotland, and England. P.E.I. was part of Nove Scotia until the mid 1800's. It was called the Garden of the Gulf, therefore Richard and his family saw a great potential in the new land.
Richard Cutcliffe and his family were the first Cutcliffes to live in America. " (Since the writing of this document it has been found that two other Cutlciffe families migrated to the United States prior to Richard's arrival.) "There were several items of great interest and of historical value that were brought with him to America. To name a few; there was a silver Tanker of 1840, a silver Tureen dated 1824, a cane with a bone carved head given to him by his cousin Col. John Mervin Cutlciffe of Alverdiscott, England, dated 1801. The cane was brought beck from the Egyptian campaign (1799-1803)."
ÓIn the name of God, Amen.
Being weak in body but of a good and perfect memory. I hereby make ordain and declare this to be my last Will and Testimony hereby revoking and ammulling all wills made heretofore by me. i ordain that after my decease my body be decently interred where my friends may see mete. I give and bequeath my property in msemmer following. I give to my Son Francis, (Francis Webster Cutcliffe), the household of fifty acres of land with the Stock implements and household utensils, furniture, carpentry tools and every thing I possess. Also three homes in Barnstable Devonshire England. I order that he the said Francis to whom i have bequethed my property shall maintain my wife mary in comfortable manner as usual. I give and bequeeth fifty acres of land, to my daughter Fanny Dunsford and William Dunsford on conditions that William Dundford shall give my son Henry the fifty acres he the said Henry is now living on. I give my daughter Susan one English shilling. I give my Son William one English shilling. I give my daughther Jane one English shilling. I give my daughter Amelia one English shilling.
This will made and signed Melville Road in the year of Our Lord Jan. 8th, 1862
Signed by me Rd. Cutliff
Witness: Allan Steward and Allan McSwainÓ