My Paternal Line – Page 3 – Tracy and Family

Mary Trueblood

Mary Trueblood was born in 1684 in Albemarle County, Pasquotank, North Carolina. This is where she lived her entire life, got married, had children and eventually died.

No this isn’t the same Mary Trueblood from the James Bond movie or any other made up Hollywood show. This Mary Trueblood was a real-life person who just so happened to be my 8th great-grandmother.

Mary Trueblood was a quaker. We know this because on March 21, 1770, she attended the Symons Creek Quaker Monthly Meeting and there is a record of that. This took place in Pasquotank, North Carolina. The physical location of this meeting was ….

Elizabeth City 27909, Nixonton, Symonds Creek Rd

What’s nice about finding this record is that it pinpoints not only an exact date in history but also a place and a religious affiliation. So now we can later go back and use that information to do further research. It’s my understanding that the Quaker’s in that area kept records from 1677 (their first meeting) to June 17, 1854 (date of their last meeting).

Mary’s father was John Trueblood who was born in Shoreditch (London), England. Her mother was Agnus Fisher who was born in Ulverstone, Lancashire (Cumberland), England. Mary was their eldest child and was named after her grandmother Mary Baker (Agnus Fisher’s mother). The Trueblood’s were Quakers.

Mary’s father died when he was 37 in July of 1692 and her mother died just a few months later in September of 1692 when she was 36.

On August 19, 1699 (or thereabouts) Mary Trueblood married Stephen Richardson.

Please note there is another Mary Trueblood out there, but she was married in 1770. So that is not the same as our Mary Trueblood.

We see by both her mother and father’s will, Mary is one of 4 children – Mary, Elizabeth, John, and Amos. Their parents were John Trueblood and Agnes Fisher.

__________________

Will of Agnes Trueblood – Will dated 15 September 1692.

Know all men by these presents that I Agnes Trublood of Pasquotank River and of the County aforesaid widdow; through the naturall affections that I bare unto my dear Children & for other good reasons and ___ ___ ____: doe To my voluntary good will and naturall respects to my fore children that is to say Mary Trublood Elizibeth Trublood John Trublood & Amos Trubloo.

I doo freely give unto my fore Children the one halfe of all the negro Children that shall be begotten or born of the body of my negro woman called Diana;

And if it should happen that she should have but one that then the young negro to be valued and my Children to have their choyce either the young negro or of halfe worth of ____negro & if the negro woman should have two Children that they shall have theire first choyce; And I doo freely give unto my Children aforesaid the mantainance of those young negros untill my Children comes to age to receive them;

That is my daughter Mary to have the first negro child if it Lives my daughter Elizibeth the next as they fall in ___ as above mentioned _____ To my Children partcularly as they come to age likewise I do give unto my four Children above said theire mantained untill they come To Lawful Age for the use of theire Estate; and to pay them theire portions as they come to Age according to the Appraisment of their fathers Estate as wittness my hand this fifteenth day of September/ 1692

__________________

Will of John Trueblood

In the name of God Amen I John Trublood being sick & weak do make this my Last will & testament as follow with Firstly I give unto my Loving wife Agnes Trueblood the _______ or one half part of my moveable goods & estate and one halfe my Land during her natural life and after her death to be Equally divided between my two sons, John Trublood and Amos Trublood to them and their heirs forever. Secondly I give and bequeath the other _______ or half part of my moveable goods to be Equally divided between my four children that is to say Mary Trublood Elizibeth Trublood John Trublood and Amos Trublood Thirdly I ordain and appoint my Loving wife Agnes Trublood to be my true & Lawfull Executrix of this last will and testament and to bring up my children according to her discretion, and to pay them their portions as they come to Lawfull age.

Fourthly And lastly I do ordain and Appoint in case that my wife should dye without making of any will, that then my Love- ing friends Thomas Symons & Jeremiah Symons shall take my Estate into theire possesion and care for the good of my children, and to bring them up according to their discreation; as wittnes my hand & seal, this seventh day of May 1692 Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us John (his mark) Trublood Joseph Sparnon Proven in Court this 4th day of July 1692 Griffin (his mark) Gray by the oath of Joseph Sparnon Alice Sparnon Alice (her mark) Sparnon Griffin: Gray as attist Paul Lathum C per C

Here is the marriage agreement between her parents John Trueblood and Agnes Fisher. Look how they describe her — a Spinster! LOL

Anno 1679 John Trublood of Shoreditch in ye County of Middlesex, Laborer, and Agnes Fisher of Shoreditch aforesaid Spinster, appeared in a Solemne and Publike assembly of ye people of God called Quakers in their meeting place at Devonshire house London, the 31th day of ye 5th Month 1679 where ye said John Trublood taking Agnes Fisher by ye hand did openly declare as followeth viz: Friends in ye feare of ye Lord and in the presence of you his people I John Trublood doe take Agnes Fisher to be my wife and doe promise to be unto her a lovinge and faithfull husband till Death Shall us Separate. And ye said Agnes Fisher did declare as followeth viz: I Friends in ye feare of ye Lord and in the presence of you his people I Agnes Fisher doe take John Trueblood to be my husband and Doe promise to be unto him a loveing and faithfull wife till death separate us and as a further confirmation they sette their hands to a certificate in Ye presence of Thomas Kitchen, Lawrence Fuller, Sarah Hikier(?), James Parke, John Lonte, Anne Trueblood …”

Stephen Richardson

Stephen Richardson is the son of Stephen Richardson and Bridget. He was born on June 12, 1696, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. He died on July 16, 1723 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

In 1713 Stephen was granted 381 acres by Lords proprietors in Pasquotank, Co, North Carolina on the Southwest side of the Pasquotank River. Stephen Richardson was a farmer. He called his plantation Poplers Haven. This area seems to be around present-day Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Some people use this land grant information to say he didn’t come to Pasquotank until that time. However if you refer back to his wife, you’ll note that she was born and died in Pasquotank. She also married her husband there (most likely) in 1699. So logic dictates that for her to have met and married Stephen Richardson, he would have had to have been in Pasquotank prior to being granted land there, or at least somewhere close.

Stephen Richardson was very sick and son on February 7, 1722 he wrote out his will, during which he named off all of his living children. He died about a year later. We know this because His will went into probate on July 16, 1723.

Together Stephen and Mary had at least 7 children.

Stephen Richardson 1708 – 1762
Richard Richardson 1712 – 1780
Labboos (Lebbeus?) Richardson (1714)
Benjamin Richardson (1720)
John David Richardson (1720)
Elizabeth Richardson (1722)
Joseph Richardson (1723)

Stephen Richardson is my 8th great grandfather

Land Transaction Witness

Witness to Patrick Henley’s Will in Albemerle County, Pasquotank Precinct 24 Jul 1697;

// Stephen Richardson of Pasquotank & province of NC planter … whereas the true and absolute Lds proprietors of Carolina did by their Deed or Patent bearing date ye 14th day of Jany. 1713/14 give and grant unto Stephen Richardson a Tract of Land ct. 381 Acres lying on ye So. west side of the Pasquotank River … for a valuable Consideration to me in had paid by Jerr. Everton of the same place … sold … (for 8 pounds) … 40 acres of the Afsd tract of land … 1717. Stephen Richardson, Mary M. Richardson (her mark) Ack 15th 8ber 1717 Regt 17 8ber 1717;

// 615 pg 214 Stephen Richardson 14 January 1713/14 395 acres on ye fork of Pasquotank River, joining ye Creek of ye sd. fork, William RELFE sd, /rucgardsibm te /swano if te /ruverm abd te /ruver /s/ T. Pollock, T. Boyd, N. Chevin, C. Gale, T. Knight.

18 July 1704 – Edward Jones proved three rights and assigned them to Stephen Richardson – Himself, Eleanor-his wife, and Thomas Steward. – These land rights would indicate that Stephen Richardson came to NC (along with Thomas Steward and Eleanor, and settled in NC in 1704.

A rough translation of the Last Will and Testament of Stephen Richardson

In the name of God, Amen – The Seven Day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty two

-I Stephen Richardson of the County of Albemarle in the provence of North Carolina in the precinct of Pasqutank ___ being very Sick and weak in body but of perfict Sense and memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and know in that it is appointed for all men once to die

– now make and ordains this my last will and testament that is to say ___ first of all I Grant and Recommend my Soul to __ to the hands of God that Gave it and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be buried in decent and Cristen manner at the discretion of my Executrix not doubin but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the all mighty power of God and as ___ sutch worldly estate whereas with it hath pleased God to bless me for this Life I Grant and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and format

– Imprimis: I Give and bequeath unto my son John Richardson my now ___ plantation whereon I live called the Poplers Havin __ the benefit of the said

– Plantation and orchard During the days of hir natural life the wife of Stephen Richarson Mary Richardson and after the Desese of my wife Mary Richardson then to possess the same for ever

– Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Stephen Richardson a Neck of land called White Oaks Neck and ___ if my Lawful wife Mary Richardson be not with Child then the same neck of Land shall be evenly divided between my son John Richardson and my son Stephen Richardson with my now ___ plantation to be equally divided between them both but if my Lawful wife Mary Richardson now be with Child then the said neck of Land called White Oaks Neck to be equally divided between my son Stephen Richardson and the child which we suppose whe may fo with but if my wife be not with child then my ___ in plantation and the said Neck of Land called white Oaks Nect to be equally divided between my son John Richardson and my son Stephen Richardson. Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Richard Richardson my Lower Neck of Land Joynon one Jerimiah Everton Line called Blewbootens Neck and the said Richard Richardson not to ___ of

– Of the said Neck of Land Thomas Bettys and his wife ___ the natural days of theyre life and this provision that the said Thomas Bettyes shall proform the promises made that is to build a framed house twenty five foot long and fiftene foot wid one good __ and to plant ought a orchard of a hundred apells trees thirtey foot Destent for the Great Stones Sort and Twenty five foot aney other Sort and to keep it under close form from the distruction of ___ but if the said Thomas Bettys shall not ___ the said Richard Richardson when he shall come of age so live upon part of the said Neck of Land called Blewbootens and to have leave to ___ hogs or cattle or any other __ with the benefit of the orchard for ___.

Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Labboos Richardson and Joseph Richardson and Benjamin Richardson and Elizabeth Richardson one tract of land formerly called (Anavenolls?) containing three hundred nintey five akors and to be equally divided my three sons a hundred dkors for each of them and nintey five akers for my Daughter Now as consernin these tracts of land which I do leave to my ___ if any of them shall die before they com of age then there part to be equally divided amongst the rest of my leggatees or theyre part to be __ appraised and the vallue share of equally divided among my issue and he that buys the said part of land to pay so the rest theyr equal share of eatch tract. Item: I give and bequeth the stock of cattle __ to me befor I was maried to my Lawful wife Mary Richardson __ to be equally divided among all my Children. Item: I Grant and Bequeath to my lovin and lawful wife Mary Richardson all the rest of my personable estate leaving hir my whole and sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament and I leave my true and trusted friend John Trueblood and James Trueblood as trustees to be a guide to theyre sister in __ as may be required to act and do for the good of hir and hir children to the best of youre power. Wined Seled published and Delivered in presents of us the subscibers: Stephen Richardson

— James Greves, Katherine Greves (her mark), Hannah Everton (her mark)

— Pasquotank Court the 16th day of July 1723 Synopsis: Sons: John (“plantation whereon I live called the Poplars Havin”), Steven (land called the White Oak Neck), Richard (land called Blewbootens Neck, the said Richard to allow Thomas Bettys to live on said land if he, the said Berrys shall build a house “twenty five foot long and fifteen foot wide and plant ought a orchard of apells trees thirtey foot Destent for the Great Stones Sort and Twenty five foot aney other Sort &c.”), Lebbeos and Joseph. Daughter: Elizabeth. Wife and Executrix: Mary. Trustees: John and James Trewblood. Witnesses: James Greves, Katherine Greves and Hannah Everton. Clerk of the Court: W. Norris

Rubin Nemon Richardson

Rubin Nemon Richardson was my great-grandfather. I was never lucky enough to meet him, but I have enjoyed trying to piece together his life.

He was born on June 10, 1898, in Texas. We know when he was born thanks to his draft registration card which he filled out when he was 20 years old.

This document also revealed that he had blue eyes, brown hair and his closing living relative was Vivian Richardson – his wife (Mary Vivian Phillips), who he had recently married.

Rubin Nemon Richardson should not be confused with R A “rube” Richardson (aka R A “rube” Richardson) who was born on April 11, 1903 on Montague County, Texas. They are not the same. Rube died on December 19, 1966 in Texas. Rubin Nemon died 6 years prior on May 6, 1960 in Colville, Washington.

At the age of 18 (maybe 19?), Rubin Nemon Richardson married his beloved Mary Vivian Phillips. The marriage took place on July 10, 1917, in Decatur which is in Wise County, Texas.

Within a year (August 31, 1918) they had their first child. She was born in Paradise, which is in Wise County, Texas. Paradise, Texas is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes, NW of Dallas.

By 1930 he moved from Paradise to what is today Waurika, Oklahoma (according to the 1930 census).

Here is a copy of the 1930 US Census where he was living with his wife, 7 of his children, his brother George and his sister in law Admy. It would be easy to assume this is George’s wife but if that was the case the “Admy” has to be her nickname. George’s wife was Francis Mozelle or possibly Mozelle Francis.

At the age of 41, Rubin Nemon Richardson was married and living in Hood, Texas which is just southwest of Fort Worth – less than a 1-hour drive.

The 1940 US Census tells us that in 1934 he lived in a rural area on a farm, where he rented his home for the insane amount of $2 a month.

At that time he was employed as a salesman. He completed one year of college. Now the odd thing about that was that the previous line said he did not attend school or college. Considering the low amount of money he made per year, I would say he probably did not actually attend college.

In the 1930 census, he said he could read and write but that he had no attended school.

At the time of the 1940 census, he was working 60 hours a week and earned $600, which he used to support his nine children, one of which was my grandfather, RN Richardson.

I did some research into this, and it said that the average male in 1940 earned $956 a year, which meant that RN earned well below average. But he also paid significantly less for rent than the average family did back then.

In 1940 the average monthly rent in a rural area was $18, and Rubin reported only paying $2 a month. That gives him an extra $192 a year, but that still puts him well below others in terms of earnings, especially if you consider the fact that he worked all year long (52 weeks) and put in an average of 60 hours a week. Now throw in the fact that he supported 12 kids and a wife on this income. How crazy is that?

Prior to getting a job as a salesman, he was employed as a Tennant farmer. Farming is something he had done his whole life. Heck, he was even working the fields as farm labor even when he was just 12 years old.

The hard part about researching Rubin is that his name is spelled in so many ways. Here are just some of the variations I have found …

Rubin Nemon Richardson
Rubin Neamon Richardson
Reuben Namon Richardson
Rubin Richardson
Namon Richardson
Nemon Richardson
RN Richardson
R.N. Richardson
Reuben Neiman
Rubin
Ruby Richardson

It’s oftentimes hard to find proof of people’s birth and who is related to who when you start going back further in time, but as luck would have it, Neamon was living with his mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather during the 12th census of the United States of America in 1900.

If you click the image to expand it, you can see that at the time he was listed simply as Namon and he was 1.

His father and grandfather both listed their employment as farmers. If you look closely at the entries relating to Mary (his grandmother) and Ada (his mother) it says that Mary is the mother of 6 children, 6 of which are living at this time while Ada is the mother of 3 children, only 2 of which are living at this time.

They had Namon in 1899, and we know he was living, and we know their other son at that time was Roy Lee (Namon’s brother) who was born in 1900, and he didn’t die until 1977. So that means they had a child prior to Namon, sometime between their marriage in 1897 and Namon in 1889, who died.

John Richardson	53
Mary Richardson	59
Alexander Richardson	26
Ada Richardson	20
Neamon Richardson	1

Rubin Nemon Richardson was born in 1898 in Texas
Death 6 May 1960 in Colville, Stevens, Washington, United States of America
Father – William Alexander Richardson (1874 – 1971)
Mother – Ada Mae Sheppard Richardson (1879 – 1965)

Married: Mary Vivian Phillips

Date of Marriage: July 10, 1917 (in Decatur, Texas).
Mary Vivian died at the age of 92 on October 6, 1991.
This marriage produced at least 14 children.

Neamon with his daughters Betty Jean and Bobbye Sue

Ruby Lucille Richardson (1918 – 2001)
Birdie Lorene Richardson (1919 – 1975)
Dorthy Louise Richardson (1921-1928)
Kitty Levita Richardson (1923 – 2016)
Joy Charlene Richardson (1925 – 2005)
Dollie Inez Richardson (1926 – 2004)
Billie Jo Richardson (1928 – 1995)
Reuben Namon Richardson (1929 – 2002)
Margie Nell Richardson (1932 – 1934)
Bobbye Sue Richardson (December 15, 1934 – February 01, 2008)
Alex Jessy “Jake” Richardson (July 05, 1935 – November 07, 2007)
Betty Jean Richardson (1936 – )
Pasty Ann Richardson (1939 – 2014)
Hazel Irene Richardson (1941 – 1943)

Please note that Joy Charlene Richardson was born Leota Joy Richardson, at least according to the Texas Birth Index and her actual birth certificate which was filed with the state of Texas, shortly after her birth (11/3/1925).

So I’m not sure why her name was changed, but somehow between the time of her birth in 1925 and then the 1930 US census she became Joy Charlene instead of Leota Joy, and I have yet to find out why. But don’t worry, I’m working on it!

Variations in how to spell a name aren’t restricted to just males. Here is the legal death certificate of Rubin’s daughter Birdie Lorene who died in 1975. You’ll notice they spell her name “Berdie Lorene”. In the 1920 census, she was listed as “Lorene Richardson” and in the 1930 census she was “Lorine” and on the Texas county marriage records she was listed as “Bertie Lorene”.

Rubin Nemon Richardson is my great grandfather

I always wondered why Rubin was in Washington of all places when he died. Recently, however, I found that his daughter Bobbye Sue (aka Bobbie Heberling aka Bobbye Sue Heberling) was living there. Maybe he was there visiting her.

Bobbye Sue married a man named Lawrence J. Heberling Jr. who was born (and lived his whole life) in Colville, Washington. That was the very place that Rubin Nemon died.

He was buried at the Highland Cemetery in Colville, Washington (find a grave). Why not in Oklahoma or Texas where he apparently lived almost all of his life? This I don’t know.

His beloved wife would go on to live until October 6, 1991. She would be buried in Parker County, Texas (find a grave). This means she was alive when Rubin Nemon died in 1960. That’s always the part that confused me. There is no record of a divorce. So if his wife was alive and living in Texas when he died, why was he not buried where she was living?

Reuben Namon Richardson

Reuben Namon Richardson is my grandfather. He’s a man I never got to meet but so wanted to. I know he wasn’t a perfect man, by all accounts he was a horrible husband and deadbeat dad. But still he was my grandfather and I wished I would have gotten the chance to meet him at least once before he died.

He was known to most of his friends as RN but was also known as Reuben Namon Richardson Jr, RN Richardson, R.N. Richardson, Reuben Neiman, or Rubin. Like his father before him, there are so many variations of his name, it really does make it hard to find documents regarding his life.

Born on 23 Mar 1929 in Waurika, Oklahoma
Died on 28 Sep 2002 in Bowie, Texas

* Please note that some sources say RN’s birthday is March 23, 1929 but as you can see by his gravestone, it clearly says March 21, 1929. However later evidence has come up to show his actual birthday was March 23, despite what the Navy may say.

His father is Rubin Nemon Richardson and and his mother is Mary Vivian Phillips.

On March 12, 1946 he enlisted in the United States Navy. This was just after the end of World War II – well sort of. The actual peace treaty between Japan and most of the Allies (the Treaty of San Francisco) was not signed until 1951 and did not take effect until 1952. However if you want to get technical, for the purposes of computing veterans’ benefits, the US Government views World War II as having ended on December 31, 1946.

In 1947 he served on the USS Southerland. The ship number or designation was DD-743 or 0441-0743. His last listing on a WW II Navy Muster Roll for the USS Southerland was on Feb 17, 1947.

By April 25, 1948 he was serving on the USS Piedmont. The ship number or designation was AD-17.

Recently I happened upon his record of Naval Discharge. It shows he was a World War II Victory Medal and a China Service Medal. It was filed on March 29, 1950.

This document shows us again that his birthday is March 23, 1929 in Waurika, OK and he entered the service on March 12, 1946. His service # which is 986 8226.

While in the Navy he served on the …

USS Penner
USS Southerland
USS Piedmont
USS Rupertus

After faithfully serving our country and fighting for our freedom he was honorably discharged in San Deigo, California on December 27, 1949. His service number was 986 82 26.

Some other sources list his release date as December 27, 1953 however as you can see by the official document below the real date is December 27, 1949 and not December 27, 1953.

You will notice on the certificate below he was a Fireman, which according to the Navy’s official website is a part of the Engineering and Hull specialties.

Married: Alice Joann Price

Date of Marriage: August 26, 1950 in Henrietta, Texas
Date of Divorce: December, 1957 in Oklahoma City, OK

This marriage produced 3 children.

Benjamin Wayne Richardson (July 19, 1951)
Joanna Richardson (February 19, 1954)
Frankie Richardson (November 22, 1955)

After leaving my grandmother he married a lady named Nancy Lee Stewart and together they had three children. They later divorced but I’m not sure when that was.

Reuben N Richardson III (August 11, 1960-2005)
Alex Stuart Richardson (June 26, 1961 -)
Vivian Gail Richardson (June 26, 1961 -)

Despite what his gravestone may say, RN was born on March 23, 1929.

RN was buried at the Granbury Cemetery in Hood County, Texas which is about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Forth Worth, Texas. Turns out he lived his final years only a few hours away from the grandchildren that wanted to find him for most all of their lives.

Reuben Namon Richardson is my paternal grandfather

Alice Joann Price

Alice Joann Price has also been known as Alice Price, Joann Price, Alice Richardson, Joann Richardson, Alice Smith, Alice Cash, and Joann Cash. She is my grandmother.

This photo is from 2011 (from left to right) her daughter Joanna Wright, Alice Joann Smith, Kelley DeVoe, eldest daughter of Daniel Wright, Tabitha Wright, and Daniel Wright.

Born: June 30, 1935 in Waurika, Jefferson, Oklahoma

Father: Benjamin Franklin Price
Mother: Ethel Ann Hopson

Married : Reuben Namon Richarsdon Jr.

Date of Marriage : August 26, 1950 in Henrietta, Texas
Date of Divorce : December, 1957 in Oklahoma City, OK

Children produced from this marriage : 3

Benjamin Wayne Richardson (July 19, 1951)
Joanna Sue Richardson (February 19, 1954)
Frankie Richardson (November 22, 1955)

On November 14, 1961 she had a daughter by the name of Kelley Lynn McDaniel. (Father unknown)

Aunt Kelley was put up for adoption but we would later be re-united with her after she turned 18.

I don’t know the date she married her next husband which was Jean Noel Cash. She had 3 kids, he had 3 kids – it was like a real life Brady bunch. They would stay married until he died on July 14, 1996.

They had no children of their own, but again with 6 kids between the two of them, they more than had their hands full.

Married: Fredrick Milton Smith

Date of Marriage: November 12, 2005 – Conroe, Montgomery, Texas
Marital Status: Still Married (He died on August 31, 2016).
Children produced from this marriage: 0

Alice Joann Price currently lives with her husband Fred Smith in Conroe, Texas. Alice moved to Houston, Texas from Oklahoma to live with her granddaughter Tracy Joann Richardson (me) after the death of her husband Jean Noel Cash. It was at that time she was introduced to Fred Smith. Our housekeeper had family who lived in Conroe near Fred who was widowed. They knew he was seeing a friend and/or travel companion of or near his own age so Debbie introduced the two and they were inseparable ever since.

I think this picture was from Thanksgiving 2012. Pictured from left to right ….

Eddie Wright, Frankie Richardson, Benny Richardson, Joanna Wright, Fred Smith, Alice Joann Price (Richardson, Cash, Smith), Malcolm DeVoe, Kelley Devoe.

Here is an updated picture of the family taken on November 25, 2017. From left to right – Joanna, Alice Joann, Benny, Kelly, and Frankie.