As the years passed, William’s interests drifted from fox hunts to young ladies he met in church and at the market place. By the time he was nineteen his interests centered on a young lady named Charlotte Ann Guy. She was the daughter of William Guy and Charlotte Cooke. She was born on November 30, 1806 and was christened on Christmas Day, 1806. Charlotte was the youngest of the family, with four older siblings. Ann was the oldest child and she married Charles Birt. Elizabeth was next; she died as a young girl. Charlotte’s oldest brother, John, married Ann Jones and her other brother married Maria Burton. Charlotte’s father passed away when she was only seven years old.

Because William and Charlotte were both under age to get married, they had to first get consent from their parents [2] before their marriage could be solemnized. Since they were married, we can assume the parents did grant their consent for the wedding. The banns [3] were announced for several weeks before their marriage at the Painswick Church on January 29, 1826. The ceremony was performed by Reverend Robert Strong and witnessed by William sister, Miriam and her future husband, John Dickinson. William and Charlotte could not write, so they placed the usual X by their names. The witnesses, Miriam and John also sighed with an X.

William was able to rent a house, some land and pasture rights from Ebworth Park where he worked as a farm laborer. William and Charlotte began their life together with a great deal of determination and hard work that enabled them to raise a family of choice children. Their first child was named Joseph. He was born August 16, 1826 and was christened September 10, 1826. About two and one-half years later Leonard joined the family. He was born on his parents’ third wedding anniversary, January 29, 1829 and was christened February 22, 1829. A third son followed on February 12, 1832. He was christened May 21, 1832 and was given the name of Absalom. Enoch completed the male quartet when he was born on May 16, 1835. He was christened on June 7, 1835.

After four lively boys, Charlotte must have been pleased with her Christmas Eve gift of a baby daughter in 1837. Miriam (named for William’s sister) was christened January 28, 1838. There may have been too many Charlottes in the family to name her after her mother: William’s wife, his mother-in-law, his brother Richard’s wife (Charlotte Priscilla Richins) and her mother, Charlotte Wager.

Miriam was two and one-half years old when Peter was born June 9, 1840. He was christened July 9, 1840. Five years later Emma joined the family on April 30, 1845. She was christened June 1, 1845. The family had only a short time to enjoy their new sister before succumbed to dreaded and often fatal disease of consumption.[4]

When the census was take on July 7, 1841 Georginia Welch was listed as Ebworth Park. She was living there with her servants in a large gabled house. She held about 300 acres and employed ten agricultural laborers, most of whom were of the Richins family. Adjacent to the Ebworth home lived a farmer (Mr. Lediard) that held 15 acres. He was probably a freeholder or a tenant farmer. House #5 at Ebworth was occupied by William and Charlotte Richins, both age 30.

William was listed as a laborer in the 1841 census. Like many women of the time, Charlotte had to work to help support her family. She worked on the farm in addition to her domestic chores and raising her children. Joseph was 14, Leonard was 12 and both were listed as laborers. Enoch was listed as 5 years old, Miriam as 3 and Peter as a 1-year old toddler.

Absalom Richins is missing from William’s family in the 1841 census, but a closer look reveals that he was staying with his grandmother, Charlotte Guy, age 65. Charlotte had apparently sent her son, age 8, to stay with his grandmother to keep her company. In another Ebworth Park house the census lists the family of Richard and Charlotte Priscilla Richins, with children Thomas, Charles, John, Edward, and baby William. Richard’s oldest son, George, was living next door in the home of Jeremiah and Hester Wager with their children, Jeremiah and Mary. Jeremiah Wager, his son Jeremiah and George Richins were all listed as laborers.

William’s mother-in-law, Charlotte Wager, also lived nearby at Ebworth. House #196 was occupied by Henry and Sarah Richins, our common ancestors. Sarah’s unmarried sister, Hannah Haines, age 60, was living with the. Henry was working as a laborer. In another Ebworth house lived Henry’s son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Ann Richins and their children. Another of Henry’s sons, Henry lived at the Lodge Farm with his wife Rachel.

At the time of the 1851 census, the Ebworth estate was still in the hands of Georginia Welch, farmer Lediard still farmed his 15 acres and William and Charlotte Richins still lived in house #5. However, only Leonard (22), Enoch (16) and Peter (11), all listed as laborers, were living with them. Miriam was living away from home and working as a domestic servant. Joseph had married Jane Morse and had two children, making William and Charlotte grandparents.

Death had taken William’s father, Henry Richins in 1843 at the age of 74. He died from gangrene of the leg. His wife, Sarah lived to witness the death of her daughter-in-law, Charlotte Priscilla Richins, and tried to help and comfort her son Richard. She was also present when Richard passed away in 1848. Sarah died in 1849 at the age of 79.

Richard and Charlotte’s son George had married and emigrated to Canada. Absalom was working as a miner in Wales. John and Edward were living at the Jeremiah Wager home with Hester (then a widow) and her son Jeremiah. All were identified as laborers. Thomas was visiting with William ad Charlotte Richins the night the census was taken and Charles was visiting with Joseph and Jane Richins. The youngest son of Richard and Priscilla Richins died of consumption in 1849.

The homes Richard and Priscilla Richins and her mother Charlotte Wager had occupied remained uninhabited after their deaths. Henry and Rachel Richins were still living on the Lodge farm, with Henry working as a laborer and Rachel as lodge keeper.