Alexander Richardson
& Martha Cheek

Alexander Richardson was born Feb. 1, 1805, in North Carolina, and died Feb. 1, 1889, in Alleghany Co., NC. He married Martha "Patsy" Cheek, daughter of Richard CHEEK & Jane "Jennie" ANDREWS, around 1834. She was born 1809 in Orange Co., NC, and died Sept. 10, 1887, in Alleghany Co., NC. Alexander and Martha (Cheek) Richardson are buried at the Garfield Truitt Cemetery, Road 1407 in Alleghany Co., NC.

Children of Alexander Richardson & Martha "Patsy" Cheek:

1. +Isom Richardson, b. Sept. 19, 1835, Ashe Co., NC; d. May 07, 1913, Low Gap, Surry Co., NC; m. Jane CROUSE, Aug. 5, 1857, Ashe Co., NC (b. July 27, 1836; d. Feb. 2, 1908); bur. Fishers Gap Church, Surry Co., NC.
2. +Eli C. Richardson, b. Feb. 13, 1837, Ashe Co., NC; d. Feb 02, 1896, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Mary "Polly" SPURLIN, Feb. 15, 1864, Alleghany Co., NC (b. June 13, 1843; d. June 19, 1922); bur. Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, Alleghany Co., NC.
3. +Meredith Richardson, b. Aug. 7, 1839, Ashe Co., NC; d. June 16, 1903, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Narcissa "Sessie" JOINES, daughter of Thomas JOINES, Jr., & Lydia HOPPERS, abt. 1861 (b. Mar. 3, 1837; d. Apr. 26, 1922); bur. Thomas Joines Cemetery, Rd. 1133, Alleghany Co., NC.
4. +Celia Jane Richardson, b. Mar. 29, 1841, Ashe Co., NC; d. Apr. 19, 1903, Steamboat Springs, Routt Co., CO; m. Calvin WILLEY, son of Samuel WILLEY & Sarah CROUSE, May 27, 1865, Alleghany Co., NC (b. July 22, 1841; d. Feb. 12, 1925).
5. +Isaac Richardson, b. Mar. 13, 1843, Ashe Co., NC; d. Oct. 21, 1911, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Martha EDWARDS, daughter of Starling EDWARDS & Amy WILES, Nov. 11, 1866, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Nov. 10, 1847; d. Oct. 16, 1912); bur. Arthur Jones Farm, Bledsoe Creek, Alleghany Co., NC.
6. +Calloway Richardson, b. Sep 20, 1845, Ashe Co., NC; d. Feb 22, 1908, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Cynthia EDWARDS, daughter of Starling EDWARDS & Amy WILES, Oct. 22, 1865, Alleghany Co., NC (b. July 19, 1846; d. Mar. 29, 1918); bur. Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, Alleghany Co., NC.
7. +Rosa Ann Richardson, b. Sept. 25, 1846, Ashe Co., NC; d. July 12, 1893, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Robert Lee TRUITT, son of Henry J. TRUITT and Hannah BROWNING, Sept. 12, 1878, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Nov. 2, 1848; d. May 12, 1928); bur. Garfield Truitt Cemetery, Road 1407, Alleghany Co., NC.
8. +Gilly Richardson, b. Feb. 27, 1849, in Ashe Co., NC; d. Aug. 11, 1932; m. James Calloway DICKENS, son of Hartwell DICKENS & Nancy RICHARDSON, Aug. 27, 1873, in Alleghany Co., NC (b. Nov. 29, 1841; d. Jan. 18, 1923); bur. Roaring Gap Cemetery, Low Gap, Surry Co., NC.
9. +John Richardson, b. abt. Jan. 17, 1851, Ashe Co., NC; d. July 24, 1930, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Margaret "Peggy" MOXLEY, daughter of David Lee MOXLEY & Susanna "Susan" FENDER, Oct. 15, 1871, Alleghany Co., NC (b. abt. Nov. 22, 1852, Grayson Co., VA; d. July 7, 1938); bur. Crab Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Ennice, Alleghany Co., NC.
10. +Henry R. Richardson, b. May 28, 1853, Ashe Co., NC; d. Feb. 16, 1920, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Nancy Cornelia "Nelia" CHOATE, daughter of Joshua Sabret CHOATE & Margaret "Peggy" FENDER, Sept. 19, 1871, in Alleghany Co., NC (b. Nov. 13, 1855, in Grayson Co., NC; d. Apr. 6, 1942); bur. Crab Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Ennice, Alleghany Co., NC.

Notes

lexander Richardson and Martha Cheek probably married around 1834, based on the ages of their children.  They lived near Martha's parents, Richard & Jennie Cheek, on the Little River and Crab Creek in the northeastern corner of the county.  This part of Ashe County became Alleghany County in 1859.

Alexander Richardson was born in 1805 in North Carolina, according to census records, but his parents have never been identified.  There are two Richardsons listed on the 1800 census of Ashe County, NC: Canada Richardson and James Richardson.  It is possible that Canada and James were brothers.  Canada Richardson (1768-1863) and his wife Jane COX (daughter of Capt. John COX) lived on the north side of the South Fork of the New River, which remained part of Ashe County after Alleghany County was formed in 1859.  James Richardson (c.1771-bef.1860) and his wife Ruth (last name unknown) lived on Kings Creek on the south side of the South Fork of the New River in what later became Alleghany County.  Canada Richardson's children seem to be fairly well documented and do not include a son named Alexander.  However, James Richardson had 12 children and only a few have been identified.  The 1830 census shows several children in James Richardson, Sr.'s household, including a son age 20-29 (so born between 1800-1810) who could be Alexander (at least he is the right age).

Unfortunately, many researchers have run into brick walls with Alexander.  There were several other Richardson families in Grayson, Wilkes and Surry Counties, and Alexander might be related to any of them.  Alexander did not live particularly close to James Richardson (in fact they were on opposite sides of Alleghany County).  Of course, Alexander might have moved to be nearer his wife's family, but this is somewhat speculative.  Further research into the Ashe County records, particularly land and estate records concerning the various Richardson families, might provide additional information.

Alexander and Martha Richardson are buried at the Garfield Truitt Cemetery, located on Road 1407, Alleghany Co., NC.  (Alleghany Cemeteries Through 1986, pub. by the Alleghany Co. Hist.-Gen. Society.)

Records

1840 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.10: ALEXANDER RICHERSON

3 w/m under 5	1 w/f under 5
1 w/m 30-39	2 w/f 20-29
	1 w/f 30-39
	1 w/f 60-69

1850 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.254:
ALEX RICHARDSON, age 45, farmer, $600, born in NC

-- Patsy, 41, NC
-- Isom, 14, NC
-- Eli, 12, NC
-- Meradith, 11, NC
-- Celia, 9, NC
-- Isiah, 7, NC
-- Callway, 5, NC
-- Rausy, 4, NC
-- Gilly, 2, NC
-- John, 7/12, NC

1855. The will of Elisha Richardson of Ashe Co., NC, mentions friends Alexander Richardson and Henry Richardson. (Ashe Will Book D, p.45.)

1860 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, p.417/209 (HH#530):
ALEX RICHARDSON, 55, farmer, $1,250, $870, NC

-- Martha, 51, NC
-- Eli, 22, NC
-- Maredeth, 21, NC
-- Celia Jane, 18, NC
-- Isaac, 17, NC
-- Callaway, 15, NC
-- Rosamond, 13, NC
-- Gilley, 11, NC
-- John, 10, NC
-- Henry, 8, NC

1860 Census, Agricultural Schedule, Alleghany Co., NC: ALEX RICHARDSON, 50 acres improved land, 240 acres unimproved land, cash value of farm $1,250, value of farm implements $40, 4 horses, 0 asses/mules, 3 milch cows, 0 working oxen, 9 other cattle, 15 sheep, 50 swine, value of livestock $670. (Source: New River Notes)

Dec. 27, 1864. Martha RICHARDSON is named in her father Richard Cheek's will (Alleghany WB 1, p.19).

1870 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp. (HH#24):
ALEXANDER RICHARDSON, age 55 [65?], NC

-- Martha, 32 (62?), NC
-- Rausy, 22, NC
-- Gilly, 21, NC
-- John, 19, NC
-- Henry, 16, NC

1880 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp. (HH#23):
RICHARDSON, Alexander, 75, farmer, NC NC NC

-- Martha, 70, wife, keeping house, " " "

TRUITT, Robert, 32, farmer, NC NC NC

-- Rosa A., 31, wife, keeping house, " " "

-- Reed, 8/12, b. Oct. 1879,

Mar. 16, 1889. Inventory of the estate of Alexander Richardson, who died intestate, was filed in the court of Alleghany County. (NC Archives No. CR.004.508.24.) The inventory shows that Alexander had lent quite a bit of money to his family in the years preceding his death, including various sums to his sons William, Eli, Henry, Isom, Isaac, Calloway, and John, and sons-in-law James C. Dickens and Robert Lee Truitt. Debts owed to his estate totalled more than $1,200, which is about $25,000 in 2006 dollars. Alexander Richardson seems to have been a properous farmer who had extra money available to assist his family. He was also frugal: the total claims against the estate came to only $87.33, which included the costs of probate.

Deed Abstracts