His mother was Catherine Fry who came from a family of corn merchants, and his father was David Richardson who came from a family of tanners, and he had gone himself into the family business. David and Catherine Richardson had seven children, and Lewis was the youngest of this large family.
Tema ema oli Catherine Fry, kes tulid pere maisi kaupmehed ja tema isa oli David Richardson, kes tulid pere tanners, ja ta läks ise perre äri. David ja Catherine Richardson oli seitse last ja Lewis oli noorim selle suure pere.