RICHARDS, Joseph, of Newgate, in the parish of Whitney, and county of Oxon, mason, with his wife, Jane, came to Pennsylvania as early as 1685.  He died in Chichester township about 1710.  His children were Joseph, Nathaniel, Ann (m. to Anthony Weaver and Humphrey Scarlet), and Susanna (m. to James Lownes, of Springfield).

Nathaniel, a blacksmith, married Mary, daughter of Richard Mason, and died in Aston in 1700, leaving children,-William, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, and Mary.  Some time after this the widow married Thomas Rowland and removed to the Toughkenamon Valley, in New Garden, where they settled on a large tract (700 acres) of land, called Marberry.  Thomas died in 1708, and the deed for the land was made to the widow October 2d in that year.  She was married a third time 8,30,1713, to Evan Powell of Nottingham, who came to live on her property.  Her children:  William and Mary Richards probably died young, Elizabeth married Roger Kirk, and Nathaniel married Margaret, daughter of Allen Wiley.  To him Evan Powell and wife conveyed 300 acres of the land in 1717, and 110 more in 1718.  He died in 1730 leaving three sons,-William, Nathaniel, and Isaac.  Margaret, his widow, married William Carpenter prior to 1735, and in 1748 was again left a widow.  She died in West Bradford, 12,5,1796, aged ninety years, and leaving 113 descendants. The land of Nathaniel Richards was divided among his sons, William, the eldest, receiving 215 acres, Nathaniel 128, and Isaac 114 acres.  William married 4,13,1751, Joanna Jenkins, and 5,10,1759, Jane Miller.   Isaac Richards married 1,17,1753, Mary Gregg, of Kennett, and had children,-Thomas, Nathaniel, Isaac, William, Mary, and Lydia.  Of these, Isaac, b. 4,18,1759, d. 6,22,1854, married 12,21,1785, Ann Pusey, and, as second wife, Tamzen Hoopes.  By the first wife he had children,-Joshua, Samuel E., and William; and by the second, Ann, John and Phebe.  John was born 4,8,1804 and owns and occupies a part of the original homestead in New Garden.  
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RICHARDS, Rowland was an early settler in Tredyffrin.  His children were Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ruth, Samuel, and perhaps others.  Margaret married John Longworthy in 1711, Elizabeth married Jacob Thomas, 1717, Sarah married Cadwalader Evans, 1722, and Ruth married Robert Evans, 1729.   Rowland Richards, son of Samuel of Tredyffrin, married, 5,22,1750, Mary Miles, daughter of Richard Miles, of Radnor.
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from CHESTER AND ITS VICINITY DELAWARE CO IN PA, by Martin

The family of Richards appear in the records of St Martin's Church, as vestrymen and pewholders from a remote period, but for some reason they bury their dead in the old graveyard of St Paul's Church, Chester.  I found the following inscriptions there; Edward Richards, esq, d April 13, 1794, aged 33 years 5 mo, 3 days.  Susanna wife of Jacob Richards esq d Aug 10, 1794, aged 58 years 1 mo.  Elizabeth Richards wife of Jacob Richards esq d July 15, 1807, aged 34 years, 3 mo, 15 days.  Jacob Richards d July 20, 1816, aged 43.

Jacob Richards, the elder, and Susanna His wife, had 2 sons and 5 daughters.  The sons were Col Jacob Richards, M.C., above mentioned, and Edward, who died unmarried.  The daughters were Ann, who married first, Samuel Price and 2, "Squire Marshall."  2.  Betsy (Elizabeth) who married Charles Grantham   4.  Kitty (Christiana) who married Pierce Crosby.  4. Sarah who married Dr Samuel Anderson   5. Susan who married Dr Caleb Smith Sayres.

Among the arrivals in the VINE, on 17th 7th mo 1684, is John Richards and Susan his wife, and daughters Hannah and Bridget, and one servant, Susan Griffeth, for 8 years.

Joseph Richards, with his  wife Jane, and family, settled in Chichester as early as 1685.  He was a Friend.  His daughter Ann m Humphrey Scarlet, and Susanna m. James Lownes, of Springfield.  His sons, Joseph and Nathaniel, lived in the lower part of Aston.  They were from Oxfordshire.  Joseph Richards died in 1710.  His son Nathaniel died in 1700, leaving William, Nathaniel, Elizabeth and Mary.

I think it probable that Matthias and John Richards were cousins of the children of Col Jacob.  Dr Sayres named one of his boys Matthias Richards Sayres.  Matthias Richards, was born 1757; Judge of Bucks Co, Pa 1788-1797; Representative in Congress 1807-1811; died in 1830.  John Richards was a Rep. in Congress 1785-1797  whether he represented Del and Chester, I cannot determine authoritatively.  He may have represented Bucks.  Lauman's Congressional Directory says Richard Thomas, an Old Rev. soldier, was in Congress from 1795-1801, and Dr Darlington says he represented the district composed of Delaware and Chester Counties.