Who is the real Father of James Isaac Richards

Question

 

Hello

 

            My name is Robert Richards, and I am researching my Fathers genealogy. I am looking for my Great, Great Grandfather. My Gre3at Grandfather’s name was James Isaac Richards. He was born in Indiana, in 1838.  The problem I am having is that everywhere I look, it shows Elisha F. Charles as his Father. In some of the research that I have looked at, he shows up with Elisha in North Carolina, at about age 10, then into Indiana. I am not sure of him being in North Carolina, as he was born in Indiana. Any help you may be able to give regarding James real parents would be helpful. He may have been an orphan, or separated from his parents for some unknown reason. I do notice that a lot of the trees of Elisha, do not show him.

Thank you

Robert Richards

Comments

Hi Robert, I would recommend that you remove your e-mail address from your post to reduce the risk of receiving spam. Anyone who wants to help you can answer you here on the forum or contact you through your Wikitree id.

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Hi Robert and welcome to G2G!  Please always include a profile link with your questions, to help us catch up.

James Isaac Richards

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Don't know how to put the link in there.

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There is a box for it when you write the question, which you can also populate afterwards by editing the question.  You enter the WikiID, in this case Richards-10509.

Answer 1

Here is the 1850 Census with James Richards living with Elisha F Charles. 

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVD-715 : 12 April 2016), James Richards in household of Elisha F Charles, Jackson, Washington, Indiana, United States; citing family 38, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

My first reaction is maybe Sarah was James's mother, and Elisha was his stepfather?  I will dig some more, but meanwhile:

 - What sources put James in NC around 1848?

 - The 1850 Census says he was born in Indiana.  Are there other sources to corroborate that?

 - What convinces you that this James Richards is your ancestor?

It's all about the sources.  More to come.

Forget the stepfather theory.  Sarah was only ten when James was born.  Here's a Washington County marriage license for Elisha F Charles 'of age' marrying Sarah E Payne with 'father's consent,' 23 Feb 1848.

"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV83-R7Z5 : 10 December 2017), Elisha F Charles and Sarah E Payne, 25 Feb 1848; citing Washington, Indiana, United States, various county clerk offices, Indiana; FHL microfilm 549,461.

Wilson County, Kansas, 1880.  James I and Elmira Richards, including son William I Richards born in Indiana 1867.  Bonus father-in-law George W Ream:

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF5R-QS1 : 12 August 2017), James I Richards, Fall River, Wilson, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 180, sheet 55A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0399; FHL microfilm 1,254,399.

He served in the 11th Indiana Infantry, and died in Kansas:

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 August 2018), memorial page for Pvt James I. Richards (unknown–Apr 1912), Find A Grave Memorial no. 14452590, citing Weakley Cemetery, New Albany, Wilson County, Kansas, USA ; Maintained by Judy Mayfield (contributor 46636512) .

Comments

I have discounted the relationship in North Carolina. I believe that it must be a different Elisha Charles, and James Richards. My oldest brother did research about 15 years ago. That is where I got the info up to my Great Grandfather James I Richards. All of the sources you show, are ones I have seen. I am convinced that there must be some kind of record out there for his real Father. If he was born out of wedlock by Sara then any info may be lost. I have no living relatives from my Fathers side, except for my siblings.

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OK, great.  It looks to me like the Oregon death location is incorrect, too.  Please add your sources to the WikiTree profiles, so that people can avoid rediscovering things you already have.