Samuel Richardson and Sarah Hatcher were married in the Plomesgate district of Suffolk in 1868. By 1871, they had set up home in Melton, living on the Wilford Bridge Road at Willford Cottages. Their first child, Alice Ann, died when she was only two years old and, shortly after, their eldest son, Frederick William, was born. Four more sons, Charles Samuel, Arthur George, Alfred Ernest and William Thomas, soon followed. In 1878, their father, Samuel, died, leaving Sarah to bring up her sons on her own.
In 1881, the family had moved to Waterhead Lane in Melton and, by 1886, Sarah had married William Murphy. They then moved to 13 Prospect Place, Melton, where Sarah and William had two daughters, Kate and Nellie. In 1899, William died and Sarah was a widow again. By 1911, she was living in Waterhead Lane once more. Two of Sarah’s sons served in the war, Frederick William and Charles Samuel – only Frederick returned.