[Alces]

I’ve been reading this forum for a while now, and have decided to take the plunge, divulge info and ask for any insights and assistance. A couple of years ago I started looking for information about my great-grandfather, Nathan Julian Richardson, who was, as family lore had it, reputedly French Canadian. Two plus years later, and making a long story short, Nathan turned out to have been born in KY or OH to John Richardson and Elzira Hopkins. John was the son of Isaac Richardson and Milberry Lynch, of Halifax Co, NC. A marriage bond for Isaac (B: @ 1794-98) and Milberry (B: @1800) was taken out December 08, 1819 in Halifax Co. And then Isaac does not appear on the 1820 census but does on the 1830 Halifax census. He moves his family to Knox Co, KY about 1832 (w/kids Matthew, unnamed female, Henry, Silas, William, Mary Martha, John, and Edward), and there has Asa, Sarah, James, Hiram and Mary. Isaac died @ 1845, Milberry died @1855. Then the kids started moving off, all went to Ontario, Canada, except for Silas and John (for sure). Silas went to OH, and divorced. John (my gggrandfather) went to OH and then on to Franklin and Johnson Cos, KS.

On the censuses from 1820 to 1920, members of this family appear at times FPC, black, mulatto or white. It isn’t until 1920 that one of John’s offspring, a brother to my ggrandfather, is identified as Indian. In fact, one of his descendants reports that he attempted to get onto the Dawes roll but was denied. Long story short – many descendants from old Isaac’s line have grown up with the understanding they were of Native American background. In my direct line, however, any hint of ethnicity or race was suppressed, though I am quite certain my grandmother was aware of her racial background (she was quite virulently bigoted towards African Americans). It also turns out that both my brother and I, without ever talking to her about it, grew up wondering if our grandmother was passing for white. We always figured she was of African descent. We were surprised to learn she was of Native American ancestry.

So it is my guess, based on a bunch of things already documented (but too long to go into in this post), etc., that the family could be Saponi originally. Additionally, I know this is rather odd (not to mention possibly goofy), but based on photographs, the old chief, William Richardson and my grandmother could have been brother and sister (they are not. I’m merely mentioning a strong facial resemblance).

I am but one of three, and the latecomer to boot, researching the Isaac/Milberry (Lynch) Richardson line. So far, we’ve not been able to find Isaac’s or Milberry’s parents. We have some possibilities, but no real direction. I am wondering if anyone has anything on this family or on a line connected in some way to them. Could they have Saponi roots? Or other Native American roots?

I have a Hopkins connection as well, and know even less about them than I do about the Richardsons. Elzira Hopkins, m: to John Richardson, had a sister, Anna Hopkins, m: Silas Richardson. Reportedly was born in Tennessee, but was living in KY in 1850 with her mother Aggie (B: in NC?), and sisters Aggie Jane and Anna. If anyone has any info on these folks, I would also appreciate leads and direction.

Love this board. I learn so much every time I visit – a history I never knew existed.

Heidi

[Bill Childs]

Hi, Heidi, Welcome.

I’ll see if I can help.

Are Isaac and Milberry’s kids listed in birthorder in your post?

Bill

[Linda]

I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but Richardson and Lynch are the two most common names among the Haliwa Saponi in Halifax and Warren counties, NC. So . . . if you’re ancestors were named that, came from there, and looked Indian, then I guess we can conclude they’re Saponi.

[Alces]

Bill and Linda, thanks for the info and encouragement. In answer to your question, Bill, yes, I’ve listed them in birth order, but I’ll reiterate them below with “purty good” birth years for each of them. This info comes through the various census records throughout the years, as well as other sources – marriage records, tax records, deeds, and etc., garnered from a professional genealogist working on this line.

Matthew 1820 NC

a Female b. 1822? NC

Serenus/Sion/Silas? 1824 NC

Henry 1824 NC

William 1826 NC

Martha (probably abt 1828, as she married in 1849. Making her 21 at marriage) NC

John 1830 NC

Edward 1832 NC

Asa 1834 KY

Sarah 1836 KY

James 1838 KY

Hiram 1840 KY

Mary 1842 KY

The 1820 female is an extrapolation from a census record. We haven’t found a name later for this child. Moreover, Serenus and Sion/Silas could be two different boys. If so, we can trace Silas in later records, but not Serenus (which I believe is probably “Cyrenius” misspelled).

There are a number of possibilities for Old Isaac’s father of which I am vaguely aware, but no concrete leads. Further, there is another head of household Milberry Lynch in NC but she’s too old in the census records to be the Milberry who marries Isaac.

Linda, I’ve guessed that my family must have some link to the Haliwa, but I haven’t figured out how, why or where my branch fell off the tree and started moving west by degrees. Maybe getting a clue to Isaac and Milberry’s antecedents will illuminate that end of the question spectrum. Like I intimated in my first post, when I started researching, I was mainly looking to fill in gaps about my great grandfather, Nathan Richardson. Who knew it would lead to the Saponi or North Carolina or even to you fine folks? I’m reading each of the posts on various threads with great interest. Y’all’s research is both captivating and illuminating. I’m soaking it up and chasing the links because they’re just plain fascinating.

So, thanks both of you for your work and for your responses. I really appreciate all of you at Saponitown.

Heidi

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