Richard Edward Tapley

#14554, (2 December 1811-7 June 1891)
FatherThomas Tapley1 (22 Jun 1789-14 Jun 1856)
MotherMary Morford1 (1790-c 1867)
Last Edited18 Jan 2022
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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Richard Edward Tapley was likely born on 2 December 1811 at Dover, Kent.2,3,1 He was the son of Thomas Tapley and Mary Morford.1 Richard Edward Tapley was baptised on Friday, 27 December 1811 at Dover, Kent.4 He presumably moved with his parents to Vlissingen, Netherlands, circa 1820.4 He was a seaman circa 1830.1,5 He was a trader.4 He was a teacher.4 Richard and Arabella lived at Mauritius.1

He married Arabella McDonald, a product of a military family, daughter of John McDonald, on Thursday, 7 July 1836 at Port Louis, Mauritius. He was 24 and his wife Arabella was 28. Arabella was a widow when she married..6,7,1

In 1838 Arabella and Richard were missionaries for the Mico Charity, running a school in Mapou, Mauritius, for children of freed slaves.8 He was a farmer in 1844.4

On 8 May 1846 he established a mutual benefit society for protection against loss by fire. The South Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Company, was the first Mutual Insurance Company to be formed in the colonies. Before long, he added Marine Insurance to their services.9,5 He was the Secretary of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the firm he had founded on 8 May 1846.10,11 He was Relieving Officer to the South Australian Colonial Storekeeper circa 1848.9 He was listed as a contact for the sale of John and Thomas Darby's 850 sheep on 13 September 1848 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.12 Richard (and presumably his spouse Arabella) lived in October 1850 at Gilbert Street, in Adelaide.13 In June 1851, Richard resigned as Assistant Clerk of the Orphan Board, due to his demanding duties with the Destitute Board of which he was Secretary. He also had to move onto the premises to personally Superintend the operations of the new Asylum.9 He was the Secretary to the Board for the Relief of Destitute Persons in June 1851.10 He was a farmer in June 1853 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.14 Richard probably helped his family member Mary Darby take in horses to graze at Morphett Vale, South Australia.15

Richard attended the wedding of James Morford Tapley and Mary Sharpe on Thursday, 28 September 1854 at South Australia. They also signed the marriage certificate as witnesses.4

Richard attended the wedding of his brother John Tapley and Hannah Sharpe on Thursday, 28 September 1854 at South Australia. They also signed the marriage certificate as witnesses.4

On 29 December 1854 he applied for the position of Colonial Storekeeper.4

Richard, as the father of the groom, along with Arabella may have attended the wedding of John and Ellen Masters Baker They were married at her parent's residence in a Congregationalist ceremony conducted by Ellen's father at Hillside House on Friday, 25 December 1857 at Morphett Vale, South Australia. Others who may have attended include Ruth Wayte as mother of the bride. John and Ellen went on to have two children together.16,17,9 Thomas was a committee member and Richard was the chairman of the 'Farmers Mutual Insurance Association'.18 Richard (and presumably his spouse Arabella) lived on 19 June 1869 at the Adelaide suburb of Norwood.9 Richard Edward Tapley was the Secretary of the South Australian Insurance Company Limited in January 1873.19

It seems likely that Emma was engaged by Richard to care for his wife in her deteriorating health.20

Richard Edward Tapley married Emma Elizabeth Whitehorn at St. Pauls on Thursday, 8 July 1875 at Adelaide.20,1

He was honoured on 2 December 1881 on the occasion of his 70th birthday and presented with an oil painting of himself depicting him lecturing on Navigation, and a complimentary Address by the Directors and Shareholders of the South Australian Insurance Company of which he was still the Secretary.21,5 Richard (and presumably his spouse Emma) lived in 1883 at Saltram Road, in Glenelg, South Australia.20 Richard Edward Tapley was on 6 November 1883 Richard represented South Australian Fire Insurance Company, for which he was Secretary, in a court case. on 6 November 1883.22 He made a will.23 He was an accountant.23 Richard and Emma lived in 1891 at off King William Street South, in.24

Richard died at his residence on 7 June 1891 at at home, in Adelaide, at age 79 of acute cystitis and uraemia.24,20 His body was interred at West Terrace Cemetery on 9 June 1891 at Adelaide.25,26

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1811Birth-LikelyDover, Kent2,3,1
1
1811BaptismDover, Kent4
1830Occupation1,5
Occupation4
Occupation4
ResidenceMauritius1
1836MarriagePort Louis, Mauritius6,7,1
1838Note memo only CR CRMapou, Mauritius8
1844Occupation4
1846Note memo only CR CRAdelaide9,5
1846Occupation10,11
1848Occupation9
1850ResidenceGilbert Street, in Adelaide13
1851Note memo only9
1851Occupation10
1853OccupationMorphett Vale, South Australia14
1854Note memo only CR CR4
1858Note memo only18
1869Residencethe Adelaide suburb of Norwood9
1870Residence-hidethe Adelaide suburb of Norwood27
1873Occupation19
Note memo only CR CR20
1875MarriageSt. Pauls, in Adelaide20,1
1881Note memo only CR CR21,5
1883ResidenceSaltram Road, in Glenelg, South Australia20
1883Occupation22
Will23
Occupation23
1891Residenceoff King William Street South, in24
1891Deathat home, in Adelaide24,20
1891BurialWest Terrace Cemetery, in Adelaide25,26

Family 1

Arabella McDonald (13 Jun 1808-22 May 1875)
Child

Family 2

Emma Elizabeth Whitehorn (1859-)

Citations

  1. [S876] The Female Family Heritage - Annie Edith's Family (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/AnnieEdith'sFamily.html).
  2. [S1152] Lavender Blue - The Tapleys (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/Tapleys.html) Richard Edward Tapley 1811 to 1891 (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/…) (For exact date (from his first marraige certificate)).
  3. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1881 'PRESENTATION TO MR. R.E. TAPLEY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 3 December, p. 6, viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34273817 (for exact date).
  4. [S1174] E-mails from Mitchell Westra to Tim Hill, 2020- 9 May 2020, 21:26 - 'Re: Tapley / Clarton family' - attachment.
  5. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1881 'PRESENTATION TO MR. R.E. TAPLEY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 3 December, p. 6, viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34273817
  6. [S1152] Lavender Blue - The Tapleys (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/Tapleys.html) Richard Edward Tapley 1811 to 1891 (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/…) (for year).
  7. [S1174] E-mails from Mitchell Westra to Tim Hill, 2020- 9 May 2020, 21:26 - 'Re: Tapley / Clarton family' - attachment (for exact date).
  8. [S1301] E-mails from Trevor Wood to Tim Hill, 2021- 'John Edward Tapley / Howard Tapley Clarton on www.thosebefore.com' - 14 Nov 2021, 18:27.
  9. [S1152] Lavender Blue - The Tapleys (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/Tapleys.html) RichardEdward Tapley 1811 to 1891 (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/…).
  10. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1851 'LOCAL COURT, ADELAIDE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 4 June, p. 3, viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38448503
  11. [S1174] E-mails from Mitchell Westra to Tim Hill, 2020- 9 May 2020, 21:26 - 'Re: Tapley / Clarton family' - attachment (for founding date).
  12. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, "For sale or Exchange for Land" - 13 Sep 1848 p.1.
  13. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1850 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 16 October, p. 3, viewed 20 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38451302
  14. [S243] The Adelaide Observer (later The Observer), Adelaide, South Australia, 1853 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS. SUPREME COURT.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 4 June, p. 7, viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158093998
  15. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1853 'Advertising.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 20 June, p. 1, viewed 11 February, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38461957
  16. [S865] Gwyn Campbell David Griffiths and the Missionary “History of Madagascar” p.876 (the year stated is incorrect).
  17. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1857 'Family Notices.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 31 December, p. 2, viewed 15 March, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49210027
  18. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, "Farmers Mutual Insurance Association" 2 Jul 1858 p.1.
  19. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1873 'Advertising.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 20 January, p. 2 Supplement: SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGISTER., viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39298410
  20. [S1152] Lavender Blue - The Tapleys (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/Tapleys.html) Richard Edward Tapley 1811 to 1891 (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/…).
  21. [S1152] Lavender Blue - The Tapleys (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/Tapleys.html) Richard Edward Tapley 1811 to 1891 (http://www.louisenordestgaard.com/…) (for details of the painting).
  22. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1883 'CORONER'S INQUEST.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 November, p. 1 Supplement: SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGISTER, viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43605894
  23. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1891 'Advertising.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 25 June, p. 2, viewed 20 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48096729
  24. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1891 'Family Notices.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 8 June, p. 4, viewed 20 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48098508
  25. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1891 'Advertising.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 8 June, p. 2, viewed 20 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24794714
  26. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1891 'The Advertiser WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1891.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 10 June, p. 4, viewed 23 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24794899
  27. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1870 'INQUEST ON CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 22 March, p. 3, viewed 19 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73057122