Col. John Richardson, Sr.
1721 - 1787
"The Founder"
John was born around 1721 and lived in Southwest Virginia in a number of different counties. John was married twice: His first wife was Agnes Crockett, a daughter of John and Jane Crockett. She was first married to James McGavock, III before her marriage to John Richardson, Sr. After Agnes' death, he married Lettice Morgan in Virginia. Lettice was the daughter of Thomas and Letitia (Evans) Morgan. John passed away in 1787. After John's death, Lettice married John Powell and they too moved to Pulaski County, Kentucky with the rest of the Richardson kinsmen.
Deed Book I Grayson County, VA. as follows:This Indenture made on the 9th of October 1800 between John and Letitia Powell, the sole executor of the John Richardson estate, and the heirs have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year above written to sell the homestead and 250 acres.
The signers, Elizabeth and her husband James Walters; Letitia and her husband Henry Edwards, Lewis Richardson, Josuha Richardson, Mary Richardson, Sarah Richardson, Milly Richardson, Thomas Richardson; Anne Richardson; Jonathan Richadrson; John and Littus Powell; William and Jane Richardson.
The information below about John Richardson, Sr., The Elder, comes from "Carroll County 1765-1815 The Settlements" by John Perry Alderman:Old John Richardson is probably the same man who settled in 1769 on the "Great Kennawa" opposite the mouth of "Great Reed Island" above the claim of Josiah Fugate (Kegley, Adventurers, II, p. 104); if so his land was on New River, opposite of the mouth of Big Reed Creek in the present Pulaski County. He apparently moved to little Reed in Carroll County a few years later for he is found in the 1771 and 1772 list of tithables of William Herbert (Kegley, The New River Tithables, 1770-1773), and there he remained until his death. John took the oath of allegiance to the revolutionary cause, but was not on the rolls of any surviving rosters of the Montgomery militia.
In 1782 he was taxed with two tithes, four horses and seventeen cattle which would indicate he was a man of considerable property. He entered his land claim in March and April 1783; one tract was four acres which he claimed by the right of settlement (Montgomery , Entry B-5) and the other on Bobbitts Creek tract was the other eventually granted to him and contained a mill (Montgomery, Entry A-219; Grayson, D.B. 2-379). He had 250 acres of the Bobbitt Creek tract surveyed and was granted to him in 1793. He let Stephen Clements have 180 acres of the Bobbitt Creek property( Montgomery, Survey B-244), but reacquired it and also received that grant in 1793 (Grants, 27-614; Grants 27-679).
The grants were likely issued after his death. His entries in 1783 are the last records known to have been made by him during his lifetime, unless the John Richardson taxed in 1787 with Thomas Richardson is him. He probably died in the middle of the 1780's, and Lettice Richardson was taxed in 1788 and 1789 is probably the widow.
There was administration of his estate and no will. There was a deed made in 1800 by his heirs, conveying the 250 acre tract to John Paxton , but his deed is confusing. The heirs named on the deed are Lettitia and John Powell, Thomas and Ann Richardson, William and Jane Richardson, Jonathan Richardson, James and Elizabeth Walters, Henry and Lettitia Edwards, Lewis Richardson, Josuha and Mary Richardson, Sarah Richardson and Mary Richardson,. In addition, Milley Richardson and another Mary Richardson signed the deed. It is known from the text of the deed and other sources, that old John Richardson's son John had died in 1797 and some of the grantors in the 1800 deed are young John's children.The correct list of heirs is found in the records of the Superior Court of Chancery of Wythe County in the suit filed in 1829 (at page 434). Following John, Sr's. death , for some reason his son Thomas sold 180 acre tract of land to Samuel Chew (Grayson , D.B. 1-223) in 1798. Thomas did not have title to it, but apprently thought that he had inherited it. So years later a suit was filed against the Richardson heirs in order to get a proper title to the land. The suit indicates that old John Richardson had six sons: Thomas, Jonathan, Lewis, Josuha, William and John, Jr. There was no mention in the 1829 suit of old John's widow, but it would seem that the Letitia who was taxed in 1798 was the widow and that by 1800 she had remarried John Powell; probably she was dead by 1829. The 1829 suit also list the children of John Jr. and William Richardson, both of whom were dead by that time.
Order book No. 1 1799-1804 April Term of Court 1803April Term of the Court 1803
On the motion of Thomas Richardson satisfactory proof was made to this court that the said Richardson is certified to 140 acres of land by virtue of having improved the same. Located as follows Thomas Richardson enters 180 acres of land lying on the flat lick. Beginning at a sugar tree and dogwood and a white oak thence northwardly to William's line, thence eastwardly thence around to the beginning for the quantity, which was order to be certified.
December term of Court 1801.
Thomas Richardson is entitled to 20 acres of land for improving it by virtue beginning at Sam Sanders lower corner thence with William Sanders line Flack Creek to a conditional line made between said Richardson and Samuel Sander's. thence to the beginning.
May Court order 1805
William Richardson is entitled to 300 acres by virtue of a Improvement on the waters of Bush Creek Round Hollow adjoining enter made in the names of John Eston where M.S. Whaiteheed lives on for sixty acres. Beginning on a Sugar Tree at the lower side of the plantation down the valley on both sides quantity which is ordered to be certified.
In the Washington County Virginia Surveyors book (1781-1797) it makes
reference that they made settlement as early as 1771. Note that William
Thompson married Nancy Jackson. John Jackson also has an entry with a
settlement date of 1771 indicating that the Thompsons & Jacksons may
have arrived together. Robert Vicars, who also married one of the
Jackson daughters, has an entry with a settlement date of 1775. He may
have arrived later than the others.Patrick Henry Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, to all to whom the presents shall
come, greeting: Know ye that by virtue of part of a certificate in right of settlement given by the
commissioners for adjusting the Titles to unpatented lands in the district of Washington and
Montgomery and in consideration of the ancient composition of one pound sterling paid by John
Jackson into the treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto the
said John Jackson Heir a certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and sixty five acres by
survey bearing date the twenty second day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty three
lying and being in the County of Washington on the head waters of three sinking branchs the waters of
Clinch River and bounded as followeth to wit, Beginning at a beech and two dogwoods on the north
side of a ridge running thence north sixty degrees west one hundred and five poles to a dogwood
white walnut and double citron saplings on a ridge, south fifty six degrees west one hundred and
ninety six poles to a spanish oak and double dogwood on the top of a rockey ridge, south eleven
degrees west forty poles to a large spanish oak in a hollow by a path, south sixty one degrees west
ninety five poles to a large black oak spanish oak and beach on the top of a cedar hill, south fifty six
degrees east sixty nine poles to two dogwood and ash saplings on the side of a large cedar ridge,
north fifty eight degrees east three hundred and forty three poles along said ridge to the Beginning
with its appurtenances to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its apputenances, to the
said John Jackson Heir and his Heirs forever. In witness whereof the said P. Henry Esquire
Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his hand, and caused the lesser seal of
the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, on the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty five and of the Commonwealth the ninth.P. Henry
HIS FATHER WILLIAM SHORT III WILLED LAND TO HIM IN CHESTERFIELD AND AMELIA CO. VA. A DEED DATED 1757 IN HALIFAX CO. VA. HE DEEDED LAND TO HIS SON WILLIAM. INVENTORY OF HIS BELONGINGS AFTER HIS DEATH WAS RECORDED IN HALIFAX CO.VA.
THIS RECORD WAS TAKEN IN PRINCE EDWARD CO. VA. IT SHOWS HE DIED IN PRINCE EDWARD CO.VA.