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Richardson Family 

supplied by D. Chater, an ABL member

My grandfather Arthur Sage Richardson (1873-1965) in his interview with Langham-Carter definitely stated that his grandfather Dr. David Richardson (1796-1846) married a Sawbwa’s daughter.

Edward Richardson (1838- 1922) was the son of Dr. David Richardson and his wife Mahon and would be of the first generation of Anglo-Burmese under British rule. He commenced his services in the province under the Honourable East India Company in the pre-mutiny days in January 1857 and after that for 37 years rendered continuous service up to his retirement from the office of Chief Judge (Additional District Judge, Judge of Small Causes Court and Additional Sessions Judge) at Mandalay and was the Extra Assistant Commissioner to the Federal Shan States at Maymyo. He married Mary Phayre the daughter of Sir Arthur Phayre. They had nine children.

Their first son Arthur Purves Richardson was born in Rangoon 1863 and died at a young age of 7 years in 1870. He was buried in the Cantonment Cemetery in Rangoon.

Their second son, David Lester Richardson, born 1864 in Rangoon reached the highest position he could attain under the circumstances. He died while serving the country as the Assistant Commissioner of Mergui.

Their third child Alice Lucy Richardson, born in Rangoon 1865, married Count Ignazio Calderari in Mandalay, received the title of Countess of Calderari. She died at Maganta, Milan, Italy in 1940.

Their fourth child Edward James Richardson born 1867 in Thayetmyo and died the very next year 1868. He was buried in the Main Protestant cemetery in Moulmein.

Their fifth child Jean Jeanna Richardson, was born in Prome 1869. She never married she lived with her father. She was interned in Maymyo during the Japanese occupation after, which she lived with her younger brother in Moulmein. She died in 1958.

The sixth child Purves Martyr Richardson retained the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Federation of Shan States from his father. He married an actress, Grace D’Santos, alias Grace Ma Sein Yu, a well known lead theatrical performer in the famous theatrical group known as Sein Gadong. Purves Martyr died in Maymyo 1957.

The seventh child Arthur Sage Richardson (1873-1965) retired as Superintendent of Police. He was an active member of the Freemasons in Southern Burma.

The eight child, Frances Mary Richardson born 1875 married Donald Andrew Allan in Mandalay 1902.

The youngest child Mary Phayre Richardson born 1877 married William Law ( father William Oligive Law) in Mandalay 1907.

There have been some misinterpretations and assumptions as to who Dr. David Richardson married, which should to be addressed.

As children, the Richardson's did not quite understand the phrase “Sawbwa’s daughter” whenever their grandfather, Arthur Sage Richardson, showed them the photograph of his grandmother. So he explained it as, ‘she was a Tai princess.’

However, in the book ‘Old Moulmein’ the author, Robert Langham-Carter, writes Dr. Richardson married a Siamese Princess. Langham-Carter had actually been told by Arthur Sage Richardson that his grandmother was a Sawbwa’s daughter.[i]

Today Siamese princess, Sawbwa’s daughter and Tai princess are rather varied descriptions to one person, which can be confusing and cause assumptions if not looked through the lenses of history.

The word Shan is unknown to the Tai people. It is a Chinese word probably used to describe a hill or mountain people. However, the Tais were once a very powerful people belonging to the Pong dynasty. At its peak covered a vast area stretching from Assam north-east of India, across Burma, the Shan States, Laos, North Vietnam, Northern Thailand, and Yunnan south-west China.

According to Burmese history, in the 16th century, Bayinnaung of Toungoo dismembered their kingdom when he conquered the Tai kingdoms of Chiengmai and Ayuthia. Warring between the Shans and the Burmans rose periodically throughout its history. It was only in the 18th century under the rule of Alaungpya he managed to get nine Sawbwas — hereditary princes, to acknowledged tributary relationship to the Burmese court in return for non-interference in Shan affairs. The Sawbwas were given the right to use the symbols of kingship: white umbrella, royal headdress, royal slippers and royal daggers.

When the British annexed lower Burma in 1826, Dr. David Richardson in his journeys, to develop trade and diplomatic relationships with Siam and the Shan States, met Siamese Tais and the Shan Tais. The British sometimes referred to both groups as being the same. They were acknowledged by the British as princes and the daughters as princesses, but not of Royal status. This is not a unique situation. If you look at the Anglo-Burmese history prior to 1937 all Anglo-Burmese were classified as Anglo-Indians, until the separation of Burma from India took place.

Today the understanding of a Siam princess means a person related to the Royal family of Siam. This was not what Langham-Carter would have meant. If the British referred to Shan Tais and Siam Tais as being the same then it is most likely that his reference to Siam Princess was a Tai princess―a Sawbwa's daughter from the Shan States.

During the Second World War, Siam was temporary known as Thailand, after the war it reverted back to its official name Siam. After 11 May 1949 it was renamed Thailand. Thai did not originate from the word Tai, which means a free people. Thai simply means ‘people’ or ‘human being,’ and Arthur Sage Richardson’s Tai princess was mistakenly interpreted to be a Thai/Siamese princess, which led to an assumption that she was a Princess with connections to the royal court of Siam.

 [i]  R.R Langham-Carter, David Lester Richardson-Diplomat and Explorer,
​Army Quarterly, London, in July 1966. p. 218