I'm researching my family tree and I can't help but notice similarities in John Milton Rich and Mary Ann McQueen's story and my own family line.
https://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/the-one-drop-rule-revisited-mary-ann-mcqueen-of-montgomery-county-morth-carolina/
My great grandmother, Martha Ellen Rich Lofton is the daughter of a John Rich who was born on May 7, 1877 per his military record. I've seen census records note his year of birth anywhere from 1874 (find a grave shows May 10, 1874) to May of 1878. John's death certificate shows that he was born in Montgomery County, North Carolina and lists his mother as Martha.
Despite my efforts I can't find any records that show a woman named Martha Rich with a son named John or even a husband with the last name Rich. The closest I can find is a Martha A Rich listed living with her stepfather Riley Lea (Lee) and her mother (assuming her mother, could be her mother in law) Susan Lea in an 1880 census for Troy, Montgomery County, North Carolina.
I can't help but notice that John Milton Rich's mother is named Susan Rich. Another fascinating find is the name John M. Rich living a few houses down on the same census. He is listed as a widower.
I did see that John Milton Rich and Mary Ann McQueen did have a son named John who was born very near the time that my John was born in Montgomery County, NC, but, unfortunately, they are not the same person. I've verified this through death records and each's marriage records.
I did find out that my John Rich moved to Marlboro County, South Carolina and married Fannie Polston Rich. I read a post made some 17 years ago on genealogy.com that he had three sisters named Dely, Jube and Tabe and a brother who died young. No name was listed for the brother.
I'm pulling my hair out over this one.
If anyone has any info that could help me in my search, I would greatly appreciate a message from you.
