James Richmond's Life in 1880 in
Putnam, Connecticut
A Respected Farmer at Fifty-Nine
In 1880, James Richmond was fifty-nine years old and had been
living in America for twenty-five years. He had successfully made the
transition from English laborer to Connecticut farmer, and by this
point in his life, he was well-established in the Putnam community.
The dairy farm he'd purchased from Nathaniel Battey nearly a decade
earlier was now firmly the "Richmond Home Place," known
throughout the area. At an age when many men were slowing down, James
was still actively farming his eighty acres, though he now had help
from his younger sons.
Family Life on the Farm
James's household in 1880 consisted of his wife Hannah (age 55),
and five of their children still living at home. The 1880 census
provides a detailed snapshot of the family:
His two unmarried daughters, Louisa (age 27) and Emma (age 24),
were both still living at home. Louisa was listed as being "at
home," suggesting she was helping with the household and farm
work rather than working in the mills as she had in her younger
years. Emma, however, was working in the woolen mill, contributing
wages to the household economy. Both young women had remained single
well past the typical marrying age of the era, and it's possible they
were staying home to help their aging parents manage the farm.
His younger sons, John (age 15) and Charles (age 13), were both
living at home, attending school, and undoubtedly helping with farm
chores before and after their studies. John was probably taking on
more substantial work responsibilities, learning the dairy farming
operation that he would eventually inherit and manage. Charles, at
thirteen, would have been doing lighter chores but still contributing
meaningfully to the daily work.
James's three older children had established their own households
by 1880. Thomas was working as a boss carder and had married Julia
White. James Jr. had remarried (his first wife Jane having died) and married Sarah Elizabeth Bigwood in 1878; he was working as
a boss designer in the woolen industry and would later gain fame for
his involvement in the remarkable feat of making a complete suit from
sheep's wool to finished garment in just over six hours. Elizabeth
Ann had married Abram Sykes around 1876 and was living in the Putnam
area.
James had also experienced the profound loss of two daughters by
this time. Little Ann had died in infancy back in England in 1853,
and more recently, his daughter Hannah Rebecca had married Frank
Nason Smith. Though she was still living, having a married daughter
meant another child had left the family fold.
Daily Work on the Dairy Farm
At fifty-nine, James was still vigorous and actively engaged in
farming, though the physical demands must have been considerable.
Running a dairy farm required relentless, year-round labor. The cows
needed milking twice daily, every single day -- Christmas, Sundays,
and holidays included. There was no sleeping in, no days off, no
vacations.
James's typical day would have started well before dawn. He and
John would head to the barn for the morning milking, working by
lantern light in winter. After milking, the cows needed to be fed and
watered, and the barn cleaned. The milk had to be strained and taken
to the house where Hannah and the daughters would process it into
butter, cheese, or prepare it for sale.
Between milkings, there was always work to be done. In spring and
summer, this meant plowing, planting, and tending crops -- hay for
the cattle, corn, oats, vegetables for the family. Fences needed
mending, equipment needed repair, and the farm's buildings required
constant maintenance. In fall, there was harvesting, and the endless
work of putting up hay for winter feed. Winter brought its own
challenges -- breaking ice on water troughs, hauling hay and feed to
the animals in the cold, keeping the barn and house supplied with
firewood.
By 1880, James had been farming for nearly a decade, and he had
clearly "achieved success," as his later biography noted.
This success came from applying the same determination and work ethic
that had characterized his entire life -- from teaching himself to
read as a child, to working in the mills, to mastering the complex
demands of dairy farming despite having grown up doing general farm
labor in England.
An Educated and Intelligent Man
Despite his limited formal schooling, James had become known in
the community as "an unusually well informed and intelligent
man." He had never stopped his self-education that began in
Sunday School when a friend made him a copy of the alphabet. By 1880,
with better financial security and more established in the community,
James likely had more time for reading and intellectual pursuits than
he'd had in his hardscrabble early years.
He would have read newspapers -- following local news in Putnam,
state affairs in Connecticut, and national politics. The 1880s were a
dynamic time in American history, with rapid industrialization, labor
movements, and political debates that would have interested a man of
James's background and experience. Having worked in woolen mills
himself and having daughters employed in them, he would have had
informed opinions on labor conditions and workers' rights.
James probably owned books and read them in the evenings by
lamplight -- perhaps the Bible, certainly, given his Methodist faith,
but also other works. His curiosity about the world and hunger for
knowledge meant he seized every opportunity to learn, whether from
reading, conversation, or observation. This intellectual curiosity
set him apart from many of his contemporaries and earned him respect
in the community.
Church and Community Life
James and Hannah were active members of the Methodist church in
Putnam, where James was known affectionately as "Father
Richmond" -- a title that suggests both his age (he was
certainly one of the older members by 1880) and the respect and
affection with which he was regarded. The Methodist church in the
19th century was known for its emphasis on personal piety, social
reform, and community involvement, all of which would have appealed
to James's values and character.
Sundays would have provided James's main regular break from farm
work, though even then the cows needed milking. The family would have
attended Sunday morning services, where James likely participated in
the life of the congregation -- perhaps serving as a trustee, helping
with church maintenance, or participating in men's Bible studies or
prayer meetings.
The Methodist church emphasized temperance, education, and moral
living, all values James clearly embraced. As "Father Richmond,"
he may have been looked to for counsel and guidance by younger
members of the congregation. His personal story -- immigrating to
America after being falsely accused of theft, working his way up from
mill laborer to farm owner -- would have been inspiring to others in
the working-class Methodist community.
The church also provided social opportunities. After Sunday
services, there would have been time to visit with neighbors,
exchange news about crops and weather, discuss community affairs, and
maintain the social connections that were vital to rural life. Church
suppers, revival meetings, and holiday celebrations would have
punctuated the year, giving James and his family rare opportunities
to socialize beyond the daily grind of farm work.
Leisure and Recreation
In 1880, the concept of "leisure" as we understand it
today barely existed for a working farmer like James. The farm
demanded attention every day, and there were no weekends or vacations
in the modern sense. However, James did have moments of rest and
activities that, while not exactly leisure, provided breaks from
physical labor.
His reading was probably his primary "leisure" activity
-- a way to rest his body while exercising his mind. Long winter
evenings, after the animals were bedded down and dinner finished,
would have provided time to sit by the fire with a newspaper or book.
This wasn't idle entertainment but a continuation of his lifelong
pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
James may have enjoyed conversation and storytelling. In an era
before radio or television, people entertained themselves and
connected through talk. James had remarkable stories to tell -- his
childhood in England, the false accusation that changed his life, the
month-long voyage across the Atlantic, establishing himself in a new
country. As he aged, he likely shared these stories with his children
and grandchildren, passing down family history and imparting lessons
learned from his experiences.
Community gatherings would have provided occasional social
recreation. Agricultural fairs were important events where farmers
displayed their livestock and produce, competed for prizes, and
socialized with their peers. James may have exhibited dairy cows or
farm produce at local fairs, taking pride in the quality of his
operation. These events combined business with pleasure --
opportunities to assess breeding stock, discuss farming techniques,
and enjoy a break from routine.
Town meetings and civic affairs may have interested James, though
there's no record of him holding public office. As a property owner
and taxpayer, he would have had a stake in local governance and might
have attended town meetings to vote on local matters. However, it's
notable that he remained an "alien" and never naturalized
as a U.S. citizen, despite living in America for twenty-five years by
1880. This suggests that while he'd built a life in Connecticut, part
of his identity remained rooted in England.
Visiting with neighbors and extended family would have been
another form of social recreation. Hannah's brother William Rich
lived in Putnam, and her brother Samuel Rich lived in nearby Pomfret,
the families probably visited when they could. As James's own
children married and established households, family visits would have
been frequent -- opportunities to see grandchildren and maintain
family bonds.
Physical Condition and Health
At fifty-nine, James was still healthy and vigorous enough to
actively farm, but the decades of hard physical labor would have
taken their toll. His body bore the marks of a lifetime of work --
first as a laborer in England, then in the mills, and now farming. He
would live another thirty-two years, dying at age ninety-one, which
suggests he had a strong constitution and generally good health.
The daily physical demands of dairy farming actually may have
contributed to his longevity. He was constantly active, engaged in
meaningful work, and had the satisfaction of seeing the tangible
results of his labor. The fresh air, physical activity, and
purposeful life may well have been better for his health than
sedentary alternatives.
Reflecting on Achievement
By 1880, James had much to be proud of. Twenty-five years earlier,
he'd arrived in New York with little money and a tarnished reputation
he was fleeing. Now he owned eighty acres of productive farmland, had
raised eight surviving children, and had established himself as a
respected member of the Putnam community. His children were finding
success -- working in skilled positions in the textile industry,
establishing their own families, making their way in America.
He and Hannah had been married for thirty-five years and had
weathered enormous challenges together -- false accusations,
immigration, poverty, the death of a child, the struggles of
establishing themselves in a new country. Their partnership and
mutual support had been the foundation of everything they'd achieved.
Yet James was still working hard at nearly sixty years old. The
farm mortgage needed to be paid, the family needed to be supported,
and the work simply never ended. There was satisfaction in this work
-- the independence of land ownership, the dignity of being his own
master, the connection to the land and animals -- but it was a life
of constant labor nonetheless.
Looking Forward
As 1880 turned into 1881, James could look forward to seeing his
younger children grow and establish themselves. Emma would marry
Arthur Fitts the following year. His sons John and Charles were
growing into young men who could take on more of the physical labor.
The farm was established and productive.
But he and Hannah were also entering the stage of life where they
would increasingly need help from their children rather than
providing it for them. The fact that Louisa remained at home,
unmarried, suggests that she may have already been seen as the
daughter who would stay to care for her aging parents -- a common
pattern in 19th-century families.
James Richmond's life in 1880 was one of hard-won respectability
and modest prosperity. He had overcome false accusations and poverty
to become a man known for his intelligence, integrity, and industry.
His leisure was limited, his work was endless, but he had built
something lasting -- a farm, a family, a reputation, and a legacy
that would endure long after he was gone. The foundation of his life
was his faith, his family, his work ethic, and his never-ending
curiosity about the world -- qualities that had served him well
through fifty-nine years of remarkable challenges and achievements.
