The Richard Family
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15336.43 Robert 7 BIGELOW, son
of Benjamin 6 (
Paul 5 , Cornelius 4, Samuel 3, Samuel 2, John 1) and Eunice (AIKEN)
BIGELOW, had a plantation near Jacksonville. Robert married Elizabeth
Richard, dau of Jean Baptiste (John William) RICHARD and Rebecah
E. (Rebeca Isabella) HART.
GENEALOGY OF DON FRANCIS JOSEPH LOUIS RICHARD,
PIONEER SETTLER OF SPANISH FLORIDA 1780, NORTHEAST FLORIDA AREA
FIRST GENERATION
DON FRANCIS JOSEPH LOUIS RICHARD, settled on the East Bank or the
St. Johns River, now the Arlington Area, in 1780. He received some 36,000
acres of land from the Spanish Crown, these land grants being shown on the
original land maps of N.E. Florida which were not destroyed in the Jacksonville,
Florida, fire of 190 I. The grant on which be lived was on tbe St. Johns
Bluff, and was known as St. Isabel Plantation, which consisted of 16,000 acres.
(There is made a part hereof the original map of this 16,000 acre grant,
and its confirmation by the Supreme Court of the United States, by Mr. Justice
John Marshall, after Florida became a State).
DON FRANCIS JOSEPH LOUIS RICHARD was the son or Don John and Dona
Maria Ferry. He was born in Florence, Italy, where his Father was Consul
there. He married Dona Honorine Genevieve Bianne, a native of San Marc, San
Domingo, daughter or Don Anthony and Dona Johanna LeMoine. The Ferry family
came from Spain, and the LeMoine family from Bordeaux, France. Don Francis
Richard owned sugar plantations in San Domingo. He owned numerous slaves and
was warned by them that there was to be a native insurrection. He and his
wife and a number or his people escaped in his ship, and came to America.
There were four children born of this marriage:
1. WILLIAM B. RICHARD, (appearing in some records as John William Bianne
Richard)
2. CLEMENTINE H0NORINE RICHARD (married Gantier)
3. FRANCIS RICHARD
4. JOHN CHARLES RICHARD
William B. Richard, died young, around 1810, leaving surviving three children,
Clarilsa, Betsy (Elizabeth) Ann, and John W. Richard.
John Charles Richard, the youngest child of this marriage, was baptised
and his baptismal record appears in the Catholic Cathedral, St. Augustine,
Florida, as follows:
"I, Don John Nipomucene Gomez, Beneficed Curate Vicar
and Judge Auxiliary of this Parish Church, in the Province called St. Augustine,
of Florida, certify that in the second book of the Registry of Baptisms,
page 257, part second, number 540, the following is found, viz; "On the Twenty
third of June 1799, I Miguel O'Reilly, Beneficed Curate, Auxiliary of this
Parrish baptized and christened a boy of about two years of age, legitimate
son of Don Louis Joseph Francis Richard, a native of Florence, in
Italy, son of Don John and Dona Maria Ferry, and of his wife, Dona Honorine
Genevieve Bianne, native of San Marc, in the island of San Domingo, daughter
of Don Anthony and Dona Johanna Le Moine, having made use of all the ceremonies
and prayers which are customary in our Holy Mother Church; and I gave the
aforesaid boy the name of JOHN CHARLES. His sponsors were: Don John
MacQueen and Dona Clementine Richard, neighbors on the banks of the River
St. Johns, and I gave them instructions as to the spiritual relationship
they thereby contracted, and all the other obligations and inscribed the
same on the above day, month and year." .
Don Francis Joseph Louis Richard, and his family,
lived for many years on the bluff overlooking the St. Johns River, on his
plantation, St. Isabel, Strawberry Hill, the original 16,000 acre grant
from the Spanish Crown. In 1817 he decided to erect a watermill on Pottsburg
Creek adjoining his grant. It was necessary under Spanish Law, to receive
permission to use tbe waterway for this purpose. The following Spanish Document
was placed in the Archives and certified to by Thomas de Aquilar. Sublieutenant
of Infantry and Secretary of Government of the place of St. Augustine. and
the Province of East Florida, for His Majesty, St. Augustine, Florida. June
4. 1817, to-wit:
PETITION, HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR:
Don Francis Richard, an inhabitant of the River
St. Johns, with due respect. represents to your Excellency that, wishing
to employ his means in a manner beneficial to the Province and to himself,
and observing the great scarcity existing in this Province of planks and
other lumber fit for building, both in reference to the home consumption
and to purposes of trade, he intends to erect a water saw mill for this effect,
and as for that purpose a fit situation is necessary such as is afforded
on Pottsburgh Creek, bounded by the lands of Strawberry Hill, and the mentioned
tract not being sufficient for the indicated object, he requests that the
quantity equivalent to the object of his petition be granted him adjoining
his Cedar Swamp about one mile distant East of MacQueen's Mill, in order
to get cypress for lumber. Therefore he supplicates your Excellency submissively
to grant him your Superior license and the expressed tract of five miles
of land for the purposes he proposes to himself, in order that what he solicits
being granted he may, with all possible brevity commence this advantageous
work, and in order that he may have in the said tract the necessary timber
which favor he hopes to receive from the justice of your Excellency.
St. Isabel Plantation, River St. Johns, on the seventeenth
day of May one thouand eight hundred and seventeen.
DECREE:
St. Augustine fourth of June, one thousand eight hundred
and seventeen. Considering the benefits and utility which will accrue in
favor of the Province if Don Francis Richard carries into effect what he
proposes, I grant to him License to construct without prejudice to a third
party, a water saw mill on the Creek known under the name of Pottsburgh Creek,
bounded by the lands of Strawberry Hill, and this tract not being sufficient,
I grant him the equivalent quantity in his Cedar Swamp about a mile East
of McQueen's Mill, but with the precise condition that as long as he does
not erect said machinery this grant will be considered null and without value
nor effect until that event takes place, and then in order that he may not
receive any prejudice from the extensive expenditures which he is preparing,
he will have the faculty of using the pines and other trees comprehended
in the square of five miles or the equivalent thereof which five miles are
granted to him in the mentioned place the avails of which he will enjoy without
any defalcation whatever. And for his security let a certified copy be issued
to him of this expedient which will be deposited in the Archives of the Secretary's
office as testimony in all events.
COPPINGER
Above is a translation of the Spanish Document placed
in the Archives and certified to by Thomas de Aquilar, Sublieutenant of
Infantry and Secretary of Government, of the place of St. Augustine and
of the Province of East Florida, for his Majesty- St. Augustine, Florida,
June 4, 1817.
Note: The Cedar Swamp where the cedar trees in the water and the pines
along the water were licensed to be cut, was three or four miles South of
St. Johns Bluff, and was part of the 16,000 acres granted by the Spanish
Crown, shown on the Grant Map herein.
Around the early part of 1819, Don Francis Joseph Louis Richard, died,
and the operation of the Mill was taken over by his son, the second Francis.
In 1821, Dona Honorine Genevieve Bianne Richard died. The copy of her Last
Will and Testament follows:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN: 1, Genevive B. Richard, (widow), of the County
of Camden, in the State of Georgia. being sick and weak in body but of sound
mind and memory, God be praised for the same, do make this my Last Will
and Testament following, hereby revoking and making void all other wills
by me made.
1. I devise that all of my just debts be paid as soon
after my decease as may be convenient.
2. I give and bequeath to my daughter - Clementine Gantler, a. woman named
Mechel, and also, Clary, Sophia, Teresa, Lucy, Patty and Jim slaves belonging
to me.
3. I give and bequeath to Clarilsa, Betsy Ann and John W. Richard the minor
children of my late son, William B. Richard, the following negro slaves
to-wit: To Clarilsa, Charles and Harriet; to Betsy Ann, Dominie and Maurice,
and to John W. Richard, Louis and Sonnit, with their future issue and increase,
and it is my wish and desire that after my death the aforesaid described
slaves be placed in the hands of my son, John Richard, to be by him delivered
over to each of my said named grandchildren on their severally arriving to
the age of twenty one years.
4. I give and bequeath to my son. Francis Richard, a mulatto boy named
Tong with the following other slaves Azor, Lawrence. Nanny, Affy and Louisa.
.
5. I give and bequeath to my son John C. Richard a negro man named Git,
and the following other slaves: Frances, William, Ellich, Mary, Mariah, Nancey,
Jack, James. Also my house hold furniture, a large canoe boat, one ladies
gold watch and chain, horse or horses if any, and plantation tools and utensils.
6. Left out by order of Court.
7. I give, devise and bequeath all the rest of my estate real and personal
to my children and grandchildren herein before named to be divided as follows:
one-fourth to my daughter, Clementine, one fourth to my grand children,
Clarilsa, Betsy Ann and John W. Richard, one fourth to my son John C. Richard
and I hereby nominate and appoint my son (illegible) C. Richard Executor
of this my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have set my hand
and seal this twenty first day of December one thousand eight hundred and
twenty.
Signed sealed delivered and published by the above name Genevive Richard
as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her
request and in her presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Lewis Bachlott
M.W. Besent
Isaac Crews
SIGNED G. B. Richard .
Appeared Isaac Crews and Lewis Bachlott subscribing witnesses to the within
will and testament of G. B. Richard who being duly sworn deposeth and saith
that they were present, and did see the testatrix sign, seal and as and
for her act deliver the within instrument of writing for the purposes therein
expressed and they believe that she was of sane mind memory and understanding
and further they in the presence of the testatrix subscribed their names
with Mathew W. Besent as witnesses to the due execution of the same. Sworn
to in open Court this 2nd day of July 1821 before us.
Will M. Gibson I I C C C Isaac Crews
(Illegible) II CCC
Lewis Bachlott
(Illegible) II C
On February 22n, 1821, the President of the United States
ratified the Treaty of Amity Settlement between the United States and the
King of Spain. The Treaty of Amity, when Florida became part of the United
States contained the proviso that land grants made by the King of Spain to
certain of his subjects were to be honored by the United States. if such lands
were being used by the grantees.
For reasons not recorded, Francis II, was forced into Court
Proceedings to establish the Spanish Land Grant of 16,000 acres. The following
is a copy of such proceedings:
DECREE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
May 26th. 1832
FRANCIS RICHARD
VS.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Land Claim 16.000 acres
This day came as well the counsel for the said claimant
as the Attorney of the United States for this District and the Court now
being sufficiently advised of and concerning the claim of said petitioner
and maturely considered the same together with the evidence and arguments
of counsel on both sides, DOTH order, adjudge and decree that the claim is
valid and that in accordance with the laws and customs of Spain and under
and by virtue of the late Treaty of Amity Settlement and limits between the
United States of America and the King of Spain ratified by the President
of the United States on the 22nd day of February 1821 and under and by virtue
of the Laws of Nations and of the United States.
It is hereby confirmed, adjudged and decreed unto the
said claimant to the extent and agreeably to the boundaries as in the Grant
for the said land and as in the survey thereof made by Andreu Burgeviu,
provided said surveys do not include a greater quantity than Sixteen Thousand
acres, and dated the first survey of Fourteen Thousand and Four hundred
acres on the first day of November 1824, and the second survey of Sixteen
Hundred acres the 26th of November 1824, and filed herein set forth towit:
said tract of Fourteen thousand four hundred acres is situated on Pottsburg
Creek, the first line of the survey thereof runs from a branch of said creek
South eighty-four degrees West Eighty four chains to a pine marked X, the
second line runs from said pine South five degrees West eighty four chains.
Third line runs South thirty degrees one hundred and five chains. The Fourth
line runs South sixty five degrees East ninety one chains. The Fifth line
runs South twenty-five degrees East one hundred and sixty five chains to
a pine marked X. The sixth line runs North eighty degrees East Eighty five
chains to a pine marked X. The Seventh line runs from said North three degrees
East one hundred and Ninety five chains to a pine marked X. The Eighth line
runs from said pine North sixty five degrees East twelve chains to a pine
marked X. The Ninth line runs from said pine North one hundred and sixteen
chains, to a pine marked X. The tenth line runs North sixty five degrees
West ten chains to a pine X. The eleventh line runs North ten degrees West
three hundred and eighteen chains to a pine marked X. The Twelfth line runs
North forty degrees West one hundred and ten chains to a pine marked X. The
thirteenth line runs South fifty degrees West eighty chains to a pine marked
X and the Fourteenth line runs West one hundred chains to a live Oak on the
Bank of the River St. Johns marked X. The second survey is of sixteen hundred
acres situated in a place called Cedar Swamp three or four miles South of
St. Johns
Bluff, and has the following lines to-wit:
The first line runs from a pine marked X North two
hundred chains to another pine marked X. The second line runs from said
pine West eighty chains to a black Oak marked X. The third line runs from
said black oak South two hundred chains to a cypress marked X and the fourth
line runs from said cypress East eighty chains to the pine at the beginning
of the first line. As by the inspection of the transcript of record of the
said Superior Court which was brought into the Supreme Court of the United
States by virtue of an appeal agreeably to the Act of Congress in such case
made and provided fully and at large appears.
AND whereas at the present Term of January in the Year
of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and thirty-four, the said cause came
on to be heard before the Supreme Court on the said transcript of the record
and was argued by counsel. In consideration whereof this Court is of the
opinion that there is no error in so much of the Decree of the Superior Court
for the District of East Florida made in this cause as declares the claim
to be valid and as confirms the
title of the petitioner to the land described in the second survey
mentioned in the said decree containing sixteen hundred acres, made the
26th of November 1824 and doth affirm so much thereof. But this Court is
of the opinion that there is error in so much of the said decree as confirms
the title of the petitioner to the land described in the first survey made
on the 1st day of November 1824 because the said survey is admitted by the
petitioner to contain more than fourteen thousand and four hundred acres
of land not previously granted. This Court doth therefore reverse so much
of the said decree as confirms the title of the petitioner to the land contained
in the said survey according to the exterior boundaries in the said decree
described and doth remand the cause to the said Superior Court with directions
to confirm its decree to the decree of this Court by ordering the said tract
to be so surveyed as to contain Fourteen Thousand Four Hundred acres of
land previously granted and no more.
YOU THEREFORE are hereby commanded that such further proceedings be had
in said cause as according to right and justice and in conformity to the opinion
and decree of this Court and the laws of the United States ought to be had
the said appeal notwithstanding.
WITNESS the Honorable John Marshall Chief .Justice of said Supreme Court
the second Monday of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight
hundred and thirty-four.
WM. THOS. CARROL
Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE SUPERIOR COURT MANDATE, this cause was brought
before the District Court of the United States Northern District of Florida,
April Term 1852, and certified copy of the location and survey of said grant
having "this day been filed" by and under the direction of the Surveyor
General of Florida, and presented to the Court, and "this Court this day
be and the same is hereby confirmed and that the lands mentioned and set
forth and described in the said plat and survey with the metes and bounds
therein mentioned and set forth and in the places described are the lands
granted and intended to be granted to the claimants
G. L. Bassett, Esquire, I have retained as my attorney at law, to act upon
all occasions in which his advice and assistance may be required in my absence.
You can caU upon him then whenever you may think necessary for his professional
services. You will please remind Mr. Bassett to 'purchase for me two gins
of Judge Randall for 51200, twelve hundred doUars. Therefore, don't you
stand on the price for tbe money is no object. I want them - and as to the
price, I don't bind you. Should you want any assistance in money matters,
call upon Mr. Alvarez, If in his power he will assist you for me.
I have intormed Mr. Bigelow in my letter of Instructions that you and Mr.
Taylor have my permission to cut light wood on both sides of Little Pottsburgh
Creek. In my settlement with Mr. Acker I have paid him to fix my three big
wheels which are hi the blacksmith's shop, and also to assist to make the
shaft of the platter wheel' for the saw on the East side of the Mill.
I 'leave you eighty bushels of com and will thank you to give my son, Francis,
twenty bushels of it, at any time when he has house room to receive it.
The remaining sixty bushels you can take and make use of, and whenever I
retake possession of the premises you can return me the like quantity again,
and should anything prevent my receiving it, you can pay the value of it
to my representatives at 51.00 per bushel.
It is my wish that you will not allow my people to go too often to Jacksonville,
neither the men nor the women, as they learn ' vices and probably no good.
Please notify Mr. John Hogan and his people not to allow them the use of
their boats without your permission in writing.
}' Your affirmed Trully
F. RICHARD
In the presence of:
ROBERT BIGELOW
SECOND GENERATION CONTINUED: William - died young, leaving three children
Clementine, married Mr. Gantier.
JOHN CHARLES RICHARD, the youngest child of Don Francis Joseph Louis Richard
and Dona Honorine Genevieve Bianne, was born April 5th, 1797, and died July
10th, 1859. John Charles Richard married Miss Melinda Sherrod Sheffiel'd
Tison, on March 23, 1821, in a candlight serviCe. at the home of her Father
Judge Jobe Tison. on the postroad, at Brunswi~k. Glynn ~ounty, Georgia. tho
Reverand
Charles McClellan, officiating. Judge Jobe Tison was Judge in Glynn County,
Georgia, for about 35 years. Miss Melinda Tison, was the daughter of Judge
Tison and Sidney Rebecca Sherrod Sheffield. Jobe Tison was born in 1770
and died in 1824. Sidney Rebecca Sherrod Sheffield Tison was born Nov. 22,
1776, and died February 8, 185S. They married in 1790. Sidney Sheffield
was the daughter of West Sheffield, born Dec. 13, 1747, and his wife, S~sanna
Sherrod, born 1754. West Sheffield was granted lands in Wayne County, Georgia,
for Revolutionary War services, in 1829. Records in office of Secretary
. of State, Atlanta, Georgia, and Fifth Smithsonian Report, 1901, page
326.
The Will of West Sheffield is appended bereto as part of this record. ~e
was the son of John Sheffield and Miss Elizabeth Grady. Old family records
show that John Sheffield, was in fact, Edmund, Lord Sheffield, son of John
Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire, and his wife, Catberine, daughter of
James II and bis wife, Catherine. He was supposed to have died in Rome but
was sent to this country by his parents when his Fatber, the Duke of Buckingham,
was in disgrace for attempting to restore the Stuarts to the Throne of England.
The
. Duke of Buckingham, who was one of the most outstanding statesmen of
his time, is buried in Westminster Abbey, Henry VII Chapel. He was also
Earl of Mulgrave and Marquess of Normsby and bunt
Buckingham House on the present palace site. .
John Charles Richard, bom April 5, 1797, died July 10, 1859, and his wife,
Melinda Tison Richard, born September 15th, 1808, died May 24th, 1889, returned
to Florida to live. Many interesting accounts were contained in the diary
of John Charles Richard when he went to Middleburg, by boat, and then on
Horseback through the County before moving to Alachua County. He said that
North Florida was beautiful, with tropical foliage and trees, and that vanilla
grew wild
everywhere, and that if rare tobacco, like that which was found in . Jamaica,
were planted, with wild vanilla between the rows, North Florida would grow
the finest tobacco in the world.
Jobn Charles Richard was Judge of Alacbua County, and its Clerk. Alachua
County consisted of what are now the counties of: Columbia, Baker, Suwannee,
Union, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and parts of Clay and Putnam. The County
site was Newnansville, and the Richard bome, Sugar Grove, (a section), was
beret The oldest road in Florida was from Newnansville to Middlebury, to
St. Augustine, many years before there was a Jacksonville. More
Richard Family info on Page 3 ................ROD
2009
Rod Bigelow
Box 13 Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
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