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This is an attempt to collect and clarify the records of the Richardson family of Harrison County, Kentucky. The named is spell various ways, Richardson, Ritcherson, Richeson, etc. The pronunciation is most akin to Ritcherson, and the more formal spelling is Richardson. That is our preferred spelling.

The earliest Richardsons found thus far, in this line of the family, were Jonathan and Mary Richardson. The best information about them comes from Mary’s application for a Revolutionary War Widow’s Pension, #R8772, found in the National Archives. This writer has added punctuation and corrected spelling to make it more readable:

In order to obtain the benefit of third section of the act of Congress, July 4, 1836, State of Kentucky, County of Harrison.

Be it known that on this seventh day of June Eighteen Hundred and Forty-Three personally appeared before me the undersign, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, Mary Richerson a resident of the County of Harrison State of Kentucky age eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836, that she is the widow of Jonathan Richison who was a regular Soldier on the Virginia or Maryland line during the war of the Revolution and was in the Service at least two years and six months or three years. In consequence of her great age and loss of memory she is unable to state time he entered and left the Services, but she is of the impression that he served Colonel Jacob Harland and Captain Harmon Arance and was stationed at a Fort call Little York. She is unable to state the counties and country through which he marched. She well recollects of hearing him speak of being in several battles, one Little York and Brandywine and several of others in which she cannot recollect from loss of memory. She is at this time unable to state all the particulars. She states that she lived in the state of Maryland in county of Bohemia then called near the river of Elk about eight miles below the head. The time they were married she states that they (were) married by the Reverend Hawkins. Her house with all papers was burnt up about thirty years ago. She states that her mind and memory has almost extremely failed. She is unable to state the years in which she was married to the said Johnathan Richeson, though before the commencement of the revolution. Her husband, the aforesaid Johnathan Richison, died in Montgomery County, State of Kentucky. He died about the year seventeen hundred and ninety seven and that she had remained a widow ever since that period. (Last line unreadable)

Signed Mary (X) Richeson

The pension request was denied on the basis of insufficient information. later, on January 18, 1853, E. Mason, a granddaughter of Mary Richardson, deceased, wrote the government. She was aware of the application for the pension, and that it had been denied, but wondered if as an heir she were entitiled to any money. No reply is recorded.

The above application provides some useful information. Mary was apparently born in 1759. She married by the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1776, which would mean that she was about 17 years old at the time. They were from Bohemia Hundred, a section of Cecil County, Maryland.

Henry C. Peden, Jr., in his Revolutionary Patriots of Cecil County, Maryland, notes that Jonathan Richardson was a Private in Capt. Walter Alexander’s Company, 30 Battalion. Other officers were 1st Lt. Andrew Porter and 2nd Lt. Harman Arrants. Harman Arrants was mentioned in Mary’s application. Muster Rolls of Maryland Troops, Vol. 18, p. 63, notes that Jonathan Richardson enrolled under Harman Arrants. He and others listed were “reviewed and passed” by Charles Rumsey, August 3rd, 1776. If Mary had known what we now know, she probably would have been accepted as a pensioner!

Jonathan Richardson swore his oath of allegience to Justice Stephen Hyland on March 2, 1778. (Oaths taken by Justice Stephen Hyland) Jonathan Richardson appears in the tax list for Cecil County in 1783. There were three whites in the family, and he is listed as a “pauper.”

Jonathan Richardson was related to the other Richardsons in Cecil County, but thus far we cannot find conclusive proof. Joseph Richardson wrote his will on April 24, 1773, and named his son Josiah, Executor. He also mentioned his youngest daughter, Mary; a son, Richard; a housekeeper, Christian Davis; and 5 unnamed childen. This will was proved on July 5, 1775. (Wills 40, folio 436) The estate was inventoried on July 19, 1775, and Joseph and Jonathan Richardson, “kindred,” were mentioned. (Inv. 124, f. 249) This writer suspects that Joseph and Jonathan were sons of Joseph, Sr. Both Jonathan and Josiah were listed in the same district 4 in the 1783 tax assessment. In the Inventory and Account, Vol. 16, p. 359, another daughter of Joseph is named, Sarah Richardson.

Jonathan Richardson and his family had settled in Montgomery County, Kentucky, by 1797, according to the death record of a daughter Nancy. Also, Jonathan was in the tax list for that year. He was above 21 years of age and had 2 horses. He was listed for the last time in 1799.

Mary admitted in the pension application that her memory had failed. She said that her husband, Jonathan, died in Montgomery County, Kentucky, about 1797. However, his name appears in the 1800 census of that county, dated August 22. Also, their son, John, was born in 1801, according to a later census. We believe Jonathan died in January 1802, for the Montgomery County Will Book A, page 96, contains the inventory of his estate, dated February 6, 1802.

Mary Richardson and the family probably continued to live in Montgomery County for a few more years. In 1805 William Richardson is in the tax list, as being over 16 but not yet 21. We suspect he was a son. Mary was listed the following two years, 1806 and 1807, and she claimed 6 to 8 horses. Other Richardsons appear in the Montgomery County records later on, and their relationship is unknown.

Quite likely Mary and her family moved to Harrison County by sometime in 1807, for a daughter, Rebecca, married Jacob Mason there on August 19. Mary is on the tax list for Harrison County in 1810, with 50 acres.

On September 14, 1813, Mary Richardson paid $22 for some land, probably the 11 acres on Twin Creek later on the tax list. (Deed Book 6, p. 171)

In May 1814, Daniel Richardson, infant orphan of Jonathan Richardson, deceased, chose David Richardson as his guardian. John Miller posted the surety. This is recorded in the Harrison County Court Order Book A, page 371.

The further tax records of Harrison County are worth noting:
1815 Mary Richison, 11 acres on Twin Creek
1815 David Richerson, 100 acres on 2nd Licking
1816 Mary Richison, 11 acres on Twin Creek
1816 David Richison, 100 acres on 2nd Licking
1818 William Richardson, 50 acres on Raven Creek
1819 Mary Richardson, 11 acres on Twin Creek
1819 William Richardson, 50 acres on Raven Creek
1822 William Richardson, 50 acres on Raven Creek (Record also shows William had 4 children between ages 4 and 14)
1824 Mary Richardson, 12 acres on Twin Creek
1825 John Richardson, 11 acres on Twin Creek
1825 Daniel Richardson on Twin Creek
1826 Mary Richardson, 11 acres on Twin Creek
1826 John Richardson

What is of interest in the above is that in 1825 John Richardson paid the taxes on the 11 acres on Twin Creek. Since ordinarily Mary paid that tax, this is fairly strong support for the idea that this John was John Jr., son of Mary and Jonathan Sr. There is still a Richardson Lane in Harrison County, and this is possibly where they lived.

In 1819 Mary Ritcherson brought suit against David Chadd in the Circuit Court. She claimed that she had bought land from him on April 21,1814, and David Richardson had signed as witness. Mary found that she was short three acres, and sued for her money back. Perhaps this was the 11 acres she bought for $22.00 on14 September 1813. (DB 6, p. 171)

Deed Book 7, page 220, indicates that William Richison bought 50 acres on Raven Creek from the C.L. Clark Estate. Page 231 shows that he signed a mortgage with the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky on 13 June 1821.

Another Circuit Court case is of interest, regarding Hiram Richardson in 1820. This is found in bundle #3361. The writing is hard to read, but this is what can be made out. Hiram Richardson, alias Hiram Smothers, an infant under the age of twenty-one years, comes with his friend, Jacob Mason, to make a complaint that Robert Hogg, now in custody, did beat the said Hiram with sticks, fists and feet. The wounds and abuse were so severe that Hiram’s life was “despaired.” Robert Hogg was fined $500 for damages.

Earlier, we believed that this Hiram, apparently and “orphan,” was also a son of Jonathan and Mary. As we shall see, Hiram was a name passed on in the family. And the “friend,” Jacob Mason, was the husband of Rebecca Richardson, daughter of Jonathan and Mary. However, he later appears in the Grant County 1850 Census as being 45 years old. Therefore, he could not have been the son of Jonathan. More likely he was a grandson.

The early census records give meager information:
1820 Mary Richardson p. 140
1 male 10-16, 1 female 16-26, 1 male 18-26,  1 female 45 or over

William Richardson p. 148
2 male 0-10, 3 female 0-10, 3 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45

1830 Mary Richeson, p. 136 (W. side Licking River)
1 male 20-30, 1 female 70-80

John Richeson
1 male 20-30 ,1 female 20-30, 2 female 0-5

1840 No Richardsons listed.

1850 Mary Richeson, 90, born in Maryland (p.125)
John Richeson, 49, blacksmith, born in Kentuckystaying with John Renaker family (p. 150)
Julia Richeson, 38, born in Maryland , Nancy 20, Mary J. 20, James 18, John W. 17, Samuel 14, Susan 11, William 9, Sarah 6 (p. 122)

Who then were the children of Jonathan and Mary Richardson? It was probably a large family. If they got married around 1776, they probably had children over a long period. Here is our best guess:

1. William Richardson was between 16 and 21 in 1805. Quite possibly he is the same William who appears in the Jefferson County Census of 1850. Then he was 63 years old, born in Maryland, and a street inspector. His wife, Mary, was 53, also from Maryland. Children listed were George 21, Catharine 17, Matilda 14, and Virginia 10.

2. David Richardson witnessed the above land purchase in 1814.

3. Rebecca Richardson was born in 1783. She married Jacob Mason. They signed their bond on August 19, 1807, but did not return it. (Bond 521) The 1850 census indicates they were living in Owen County: (p.229)

Jacob Mason 74 N.J., Rebecca " PA, Jackson “ 21 KY, Levi “ 18 KY

The suggestion that Rebecca was born in Pennsylvania may mean that the family had moved there for a while. Another explanation is that Cecil County, Maryland, was a border county, and disputed for a while between Pennsylvania and Maryland.

4. Malinda Richardson married Levi Davis on March 24, 1809, in Harrison County. Marriage by Charles Webb, M.G. (Bond 613)

5. Lavina Richardson married Aaron Holland on April 3, 1813, in Harrison County. Mary Richardson signed permission. (Bond 854) In February 1860 “Levina Holland” died in Metcalfe County, according to the Vital Records. It notes she was born in Maryland, 70 years old, and died of “old age.” This suggests she was born about 1790.

6. Nancy Ann Richardson, age 58, died of “intermittent fever” in Franklin County on September 16, 1855. The vital records show that her husband, Shepherd, was a miller, that she was born in Montgomery County, and that her parents were Mary and Jonathan Richardson. She married Thomas W. Shepherd March 20, 1834, in Harrison County. Elijah Mason was bondsman.

7. Mary Richerson married Thomas J. Weathers on November 13, 1819. (Bond 1385, no signers)

8. Daniel Richardson was an infant when the father died. He married Margaret Cullison on October 31, 1835. John Richeson gave oath of her age above 21.

9. John Richardson was born in 1801, was connected to Mary as indicated on the above tax records. More below.

John Richardson, Jr., son of Jonathan and Mary, was born in 1801. In 1821 he was sued by Sally and Nancy Stewart, neighbors. They claimed that he had knowingly cut some trees off their property, and sold them. (Bundle 3600)

John married Juliann Eckler on June 9, 1828. She was the daughter of Samuel A. Eckler, of Swiss descent, who came to Harrison County by way of Maryland. Samuel died in 1816. On June 2, 1832, Julia received the $50.36 which was her share of her father’s estate. “July Ritcheson” and “John Ritcheson” signed their “X”.

John and Julia had eight known children. There is strong evidence of marital problems, however, beginning on December 6, 1836, when Juliann bought 4 acres of land from Robert Clifford, and Nancy, his wife, for $60. The deed, found in Deed Book 15, pages 420-421, notes that this is land that Julian Ritcherson and her children “now live on.” Possibly because of the marital tension, John went to the courthouse and deeded his land and personal property to his children in 1838:

Know all men by these presents that I John Richardson of Harrison County Kentucky hath this day given to my children Nancy Ann Richardson, Mary J. Richardson, James E. Richardson, John N. Richardson and Samuel E. Richardson in their own right to have and to hold forever as their own property not to be under my control or jurisdiction to sell trade off or in any manner dispose of during my lifetime any part of said property to wit one brown mare, one white cow and calf, ten head of hogs, four feather beds, two bureaus, one cupboard and furniture, two tables, one little table, one clock, one set of chairs, and one set of blacksmith’s tools, all my kitchen furniture. To have and to hold forever. Also one rifle gun and also my lifetime right in the land I now live on as said land is divided to them at my death said property is to remain in the hands of my wife Julia Richardson but not to be sold or made way with by her and further now said property is to be the property of my children and not mine and do hereby relinquish all title or claim that I have to said property to said children forever and give it out of my hands for their benefit and their support. In testimony whereof I the said John Richardson hath hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of April 1838.
In the presence of John (X) Richardson

Covington Coleman (D.B. 16, p. 280-281)

Late in 1849 Julia went to the Circuit Court and petitioned for a divorce. Her lawyer made this statement on her behalf:
To the Honorable the Judge of the Harrison Circuit Court in Chancery sitting sheweth unto your honor your Orator Julia Ann Richardson that heretofore she intermarried with a certain John Richardson; that recently said John Richardson has abandoned her and been guilty of acts of adultery with another woman; that he has also behaved habitually towards your oratrix in so cruel and inhuman a manner as to destroy her peace and happiness. Wherefore your oratrix prays that said John Richardson may be made a defendant hereto; that he may answer the allegations hereof; that by a Decree of this Court your oratrix may be divorced and restored to all the rights of a married woman. Finally that your oratrix may have such other & further relief in the premises as to Equity belongs. May it please your honor to grant to your Oratrix the Commonwealth’s (decree of divorce).
W. Trimble

Depositions were then gathered and presented to the court as follows:
The deposition of Leander Harrison taken at the law office of Jno Trimble in Cynthiana Ky on the 9th of March 1850 to be read as evidence in a suit in chancery depending in the Harrison Circuit Court wherein Julia Richardson is complaintant and John Richardson is defendant. This deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn doth depose and say that about the 1st day of Februry 1850 Jno Richardson hired this deponent to move him & a miss Varner down as far as Moons store in Pendleton. They went off together & when this deponent last saw them they were still living together. Miss Varner is a right down good looking girl. She had two children before Richardson took up with her & was known in the neighborhood as a woman of a very bad character. And further this deponent saith not.
Leander Harrison

The deposition of William Hutcherson was taken at the house of Mrs. Julia Richardson in Harrison County on the 3rd day of March 1850 to be read as evidence for the complaintant in a suit in chancery depending in the Harrison Circuit Court wherein Julia Richardson is complaintant and John Richardson is defendant. This deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn doth depose and say that he was recently in Boone County Ky where he saw the defendant John Richardson, that said Richardson subscribed & acknowledged the acceptance of the service of the notice hereto annexexed; that he was living with a woman by the name of Varner as this deponent has been told and the understanding of this deponent was that Richardson was passing her for his wife & living with her as such. Richardson & the woman both said they had just moved to a room & were living together & she directed her child to call Richardson father. And further this deponent saith not.
Wm. (X) Hutcherson

Also the deposition of Thomas Walden who being first duly sworn doth depose and say that a short time before Jno Richardson went off with Miss Varner he was at the house of this deponent when he borrowed one dollar from this deponent as he said to buy a dress for her. He said he intended to take her off with him & in a day or so afterwards I heard they had gone. And further saith not.
Thomas Walden

Also the deposition of Nancy A. Richardson who being duly sworn doth depose and say she is a daughter of the defendant Jno Richardson and will be of full age in a few months, Mary J. is another daughter & of the same age. James E. is a son & is about 18 years old. There are five other children all younger & the youngest is quite small. This deponent says her father frequently has been guilty of such brutal conduct & violent conduct towards his family as to ruin their peace and happiness by threatening to take the lives of his wife & children. He frequently would charge my mother with criminal conduct and threaten to kill her & many time has driven us from home & kept a dirk for the purpose he said of killing my mother. My little brother afterwards stole the dirk from him. And further saith not.
Nancy Ann Richeson

Following the depositions, John responded as follows:
The answer of John Richardson to a bill in chancery exhibited in the Harrison Circuit Court against him by Julia Ann Richardson. This defendant for answer to said bill says he admits he abandoned the said Julia Ann & does not intend again to live with her and as to the other allegations of said bill he neither admits or denys them. And having answered prays to be hence dismissed with his costs.

Julia A. Richardson vs. John Richardson. This cause coming on to be heard upon bill answer and depositions and the court being sufficiently advised of and concerning the premises. It is decreed and ordered that the said Julia A. Richardson be and she is hereby divorced from said John Richardson and that she be restored to all the rights of an unmarried woman; and that said defendant John Richardson be perpetually enjoined & restrained from taking any of the property in complaintants bill mentioned from her possession and that the same be vested in her for the use of her and her infant children.

The 1850 census, as seen above, shows Julia and her eight children living separate from John. The 1860 census, page 461, gives this data: Julia Richardson 48, Nancy 30, Newton 25, Susan 21, Samuel 23, Sarah 18, William 16.

We have no further records on John Richardson. Julia, who was born in 1812, died on March 13, 1875. Her estate settlement is recorded in Will Book J., page 619. Thomas Hinkson was the administrator of the meager estate, some $46.00 and some household goods were left to Mrs. Adams “for services rendered to her mother during her sickness....” Other heirs were Nancy Clifford, Mary Thompson, Susy Hinkson, the heirs of Samuel Richison deceased, John N. Richison, and James Richison. The property was appraised on December 7, 1875, and entered in the record on March 27, 1876.

Here, then, are the children of John and Julia Richardson, with birth dates from an old family Bible:
1. Nancy Ann Richardson was born April 9, 1829. She was a twin. She married Alex D. Clifford on November 2, 1860.
2. Mary J. Richardson was born on April 9, 1829, also a twin. She married A.J. Thompson on October 8, 1860. Two known children are Martha and Samuel R. Thompson.
3. James E. Richardson was born on September 2, 1831. He married Susan Menefee on October 31, 1855. More later.
4. John Newton Richardson was born on January 31, 1834. He married Annie Maria Sayers on October 8, 1861; and they had four children: Alliwillie Frances “Fannie”, James Preston, Samuel Newton, and Marietta. Fannie married John Sipples on September 2, 1880. Samuel married Ollie Hutchinson. Marietta married Lewis T. Day on October 8, 1891. The 1880 Harrison County Census lists this family, and notes that John’s father came from Maryland and the mother was from Kentucky. John died on July 10, 1909 and is buried in Breckenridge. The census noted that Annie had “consumption,” and she died soon later, on August 12, 1880.
5. Samuel E. Richardson was born on July 9, 1836. He married Zerelda Humphrey on November 7, 1860; and they had two known children, Jennie and Samuel. Samuel Sr. died on May 18, 1863.
6. Rebeckel Susan Richardson was born on August 4, 1838. She married Thomas Hinkson on August 16, 1860. Their children were John, William, Sterling, Wyatt, Bennie, and Oteria. They are mentioned in Perrin’s history.
7. William Hiram Richardson was born on December 19, 1840. He never married and died on March 12, 1863.
8. Sarah F. Richardson was born on August 26, 1843. She married Francis M. Adams on May 6, 1866.

James E. Richardson, son of John and Juliann Eckler Richardson, was born on September 2, 1831. He married Susan Menefee, daughter of Joseph and Lucinda Edwards Menefee, on October 30, 1855. They were members of the Methodist Church. They farmed, and had nine known children. As early as Janaury 22, 1853, James bought 74 acres from the Bledsoe heirs, and thereafter several land transactions are recorded in the deed books. The 1860 census, page 588, gives this brief data:
James Richardson 27, farm hand
Susan Richardson, 22
Cordelia Richardson,  3
Lucinda Richardson, 1

The 1870 census, page 16, shows the family living in the Berry District of Harrison County:
James Richerson, 37
Susan Richardson, 30
Cordelia Richardson, 14
Ann E. Richardson, 10
William Richardson, 6
Newton A. Richardson, 4
Mary F. Richardson, 2

The 1880 census gives this information:
James Richardson, 49
Susan  Richardson,
Audaline Richardson, 18 (Ann Eliza?)
William Richardson, 16
Arthur Richardson, 14
Mary F. Richardson, 12
(Joanna ?) Richardson, 10
Lewis Richardson
Callie Richardson, 3
Susan Richardson, 10 mo.

The 1900 census notes the following:
James Richardson, born Sept. 1831, 68 years old
Susan Richardson, born Jan. 1839, 44 years old
Lewis A. Richardson, born May 1868, 32 years old
Susan Richardson,  Dec. 1874

Susan died on June 25, 1908, and on July 27 of that year her estate was settled. James was administrator and William M. Ritcherson signed the surety bond. James died a few months later, on January 16, 1909. His will reads as follows:

Cynthiana, Kentucky, June 19, 1908. It is my will and desire after my death to dispose of my property by will as follows: 1st all my debts be paid. 2nd all my property both personal and real estate be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, except about 6 acres of land, more or less, adjoining the lands of Lewis Richardson and Robt. Switzer and bounded as follows. Commencing at 3 sassafrases in the Switzer line to the center of the ridge then south down center of ridge to Jas. Richardson’s first fence thence west out said fence to Lewis Richardson line and thence north west on the line of Lewis Richardson and James Richardson to the beginning. I will this boundary of land to Lewis Richardson his heirs and assigns forever. The balance of my estate after public sale be disposed of as follows: I give to my daughter Susie Richardson $500 to have and to use as she likes. To my daughter Anna Liza Hedge I give $50. To my daughter Cordelia Pratt I give $50. To my grandson Jimmie Faulkner I give $50.00. After these special bequests are paid I will the balance of my estate to my following named children, each to share alike: Wm. Richardson, Arthor Richardson, Fannie Eaton, Joe Ann Faulkner, Lewis Richardson, Callie Richardson and Susie Richardson. I hereby appoint my oldest son Wm. Richardson my Executor to give bond according to law.

Witness:
John A. Renaker
James Richardson
James M. Terry

The above will was proved in court on February 6, 1909.

Here, then, are the known children of James E. and Susan Menefee Richardson:
1. Cordelia Richardson was born in 1857. She married John W. Eckler on June 6, 1876. She later married a Pratt.
2. Lucinda Richardson was mentioned only in the 1860 census, age 1. Apparently she died.
3. Ann Eliza Richardson was born in 1862. She married a Hedger and settled in Urbana, Illinois.
4. James William Richardson was born in 1864. He married Frances Clifford on December 13, 1888. He married Haley Clifford on October 29, 1891, and they lived in Harrison County.
5. Newton Arthur Richardson was born in 1866.
6. Mary Frances Richardson was born in 1868. She married J.H. Eaton, and settled in Hartwell, Ohio.
7. Joanna D. Richardson was born on December 9, 1872. She married Russell Newman Faulconer on December 24, 1890. She died on May 9, 1921. They are grandparents of this writer.
8. Lewis Richardson was born about 1874. He married Hattie May Terry on November 12, 1903. He married Ida Rankin on February 23, 1933.
9. Callie Richardson was born about 1877. He lived in Michigan.
10. Susan Richardson was born on October 29,1881. She married Silas B. Hamilton on May 6, 1909. She died on May 13, 1933, in Cynthiana. He died on March 18, 1961, age 89.

Source:
Information previously posted by: Jo Thiessen

This is to thank Mrs. Louis S. Sipple of New Richmond, Ohio; and John B. Conrad of Lexington, Kentucky, for their contribution of material on the Richardsons of Harrison County, Kentucky.

Compiled by James G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrooke Drive, Kettering, OH 45440. February 17, 2000

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