Savill Family

“Sacred to the memory of Richard Savill who departed this life Sep 18^th 1829 aged 45 years also Mary wife of the above who departed this life Dec (1847?) aged 69 years she died in peace”

“The Butcher and his long suffering wife”

Richard was the son of John Savill, a butcher and Ann who lived on Goodramgate. He married Mary Nicholson at St Cuthbert’s, York, 22 Dec 1801 and set up home in Heslington.  Like his father, Richard also became a butcher.  Their first daughter Ann, born in 1802, was baptised at St Lawrence’s. Second daughter Mary was baptised in 1804 at St Maurice’s - possibly indicating that the family had moved closer to the City, eventually living and working on Goodramgate.

Three sons followed, all baptised at Holy Trinity.  John in 1806, Robert 1808 and James 1812. Mary died after John was born, in February 1807, aged 2 ½, and was buried at Holy Trinity. Like many infants in this area, the Robert and James died of smallpox, three days apart in October 1812. They are also buried at Holy Trinity.

On Monday 1 June 1818, Richard Savill and William Kendall broke into Matthew Hick’s watchmakers shop on Petergate and stole gold rings, gold chains and other articles.  Two days later, they were arrested and were sent to the gaol at York Castle on 13 August. The following March, they were tried at the Lent Assizes. Kendall was found guilty and sentenced to “be transported beyond the seas” for 7 years. Savill was discharged.

Richard died aged 45 and was buried here on 18 Sept 1829. 

Mary, widow of Richard was still living on Goodramgate according to the 1841 Census in a property with Grace Stanton (age 78), William Butler (recorded as age 1 – possibly an enumerators error?) and Ann Shaw (age 72).  After the trauma of losing three young children and her husband being tried at the Assizes, it seems fitting that “she died in peace” in 1847.