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King Richard Sellers (1830 - 1864)

King Richard Sellers
Born in Covington, Mississippi, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 34 in Salem, New Jersey, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 9 Feb 2011
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Contents

Biography

Richard "King Richard" Sellers was born in 1830 in Covington, Mississippi, USA as the fifth child of John J. Sellers and Sarah McLemore.

He had thirteen siblings, namely: James W., Elizabeth Ann, Nancy, Irvin, John Andrew Sr, Sarah Ann, Noel, Hardy, Mary, Christopher Columbus, Francis Marion Sr, Susan Acquilla, and Rosannah.

He died on Jun 16, 1864 in Delaware, USA (Fort Delaware Civil War Prison).

When he was 26, he married Martha Ann Easterling, daughter of John W Easterling and Mary Elizabeth Dossett, in 1856. Richard's wife died before him on Feb 2, 1863 at the age of 28, while giving birth to their son Richard Monroe Sellers.

Richard "King Richard " Sellers was buried in Pennsville, Salem, New Jersey, USA (Finns Point National Cemetery; Section CM Site1987). He lived in Jones, Mississippi, USA in 1850. He lived in Jones, Mississippi, USA in 1860. He served in the military between 1863–1864 (PVT Company A, 48th Mississippi Infantry).

Richard "King Richard" Sellers and Martha Ann Easterling had the following children:

  1. S A Sellers was born in 1855 in Mississippi, USA.
  2. Elizabeth Sellers was born on Dec 23, 1855 in Mississippi, USA. She died on Dec 25, 1915 (Age: 60). She married John H Williams in 1880.
  3. Ancie Belle Sellers was born about Abt. 1858 in Mississippi, USA. She died on Nov 05, 1932 (Age: 74).
  4. Oliver C Sellers was born on May 04, 1859 in Jones County, Mississippi, USA. He died on Jan 13, 1941 (Age: 81). He married Lula May Mitchell on Feb 12, 1886 in Perry County, Mississippi, USA.
  5. John H Sellers was born on Jun 24, 1860 in Jones County, Mississippi, USA. He died on Apr 28, 1926 in Jones County, Mississippi, USA (Age: 65). He married Delphia Head in 1885.
  6. Richard Monroe Sellers was born on Feb 04, 1863 in Jones County, Mississippi, USA. He died on Nov 10, 1937 (Age: 74). He married Charity Sophronia Fairchild on Dec 30, 1886 in Moselle, Jones, Mississippi, USA.

Burial

Burial: Finns Point National Cemetery
Place: Pennsville, Salem County, New Jersey, USA[1]
Inscription:
Sellers, Richard A 48 MISS.

Military

From the official service record on file with the Mississippi Dept of Archives and History located in Jackson, Mississippi:

Richard Sellers enlisted as a private in Company A, 48th Mississippi Infantry on Oct 13, 1863. He was captured by Union forces on May 8, 1864 near Spotsylvania, Virginia and was sent to Fort Delaware as a prisoner of war on May 20, 1864.

He died of typhoid fever on Jun 16, 1864 and was buried in an unmarked grave on the Jersey shore in what is now the Finn's Point National Cemetery near Salem, New Jersey.

Approximately 2700 Confederate soldiers died while being held captive at Fort Delaware. About 2400 Confederates are interred at Finn's Point National Cemetery located across the Delaware River near Fort Mott State Park.

Family history records the last time his brother, John A. Sellers saw him he was charging to the front in the battle.

Letter Home

Letter written home to his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Easterling:

The State of Virginia
Rapidan River
Northern Virginia
January the 4th, 1864
Dear Mother,

I now take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present, hoping these few lines may find you enjoying the same good blessing of God. The health in camp is very good. I will try to give you a little history of this country. It is a hilly, mountainous, cold, muddy red clay and rocky. I have seen rock fences for miles. I can see snow on the Blue Ridge Mountains 25 miles off. We have seen bad cold weather in our country. It is nothing to compare to this. The fare of the soldiers is bad. We get one pint of flour, one quarter pound of pickle of beef or bacon per day, and with that scant allowance we have to undergo the (illegible) and hardships of this ungodly war. I was on my way to own company and was taken up and sent here, after sharing my furlough, by a passel of rascals, and am afraid I lost my horse. Left him tied at Shoals. Lieutenant Buts said he would send him to E.M. Devall. I would like to (---) the best Captain in the Confederate Army. Cofey is his name. He has taken a liking to me and had me assigned to a Pioneer Corps. It excuses me from all other duty. I have wrote six letters since I left home and haven't received no answer. It is a little disheartening to think of. It is generally thought that this ware will come to a close by next July. I would be thankful of a letter from you all and would like to hear from my children. I haven't heard a word since I left. I would be glad to hear from John Sellars and Hardy Sellars and your boys in general. Tell Uncle Mose to write to me and to remember me in his prayers, as I believe him to be a praying man, and my children, also. Tell them that I am coming home and (---) for me. I would be glad to know that their people would look upon them in their childish ways as being destitute of parents. You need not to tell them where I am or how far from home. There is no use in saying what I would give to be at home that I might know how they are getting along. They felt near to me after their mother died. It makes my heart throb to think of them. I don't believe there has been six hours night or day that I have not thought of them. We have been at one time eight days in line of battle. There was no general engagement. They shelled from each party. The shells passed near us. I will come to a close by signing my name, Richard Sellars, to his mother (mother in law) Elizabeth Easterling. Write soon and don't neglect it. It is snowing at the rate of one hundred percent on weather. Give inquiring friends my best respects.

Sources

  1. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 02 January 2021), memorial page for Richard “King Richard” Sellers (1830–16 Jun 1864), Find A Grave: Memorial #2537720, citing Finn's Point National Cemetery, Pennsville, Salem County, New Jersey, USA ; Maintained by MyrtisJane (contributor 47090616) .
  • "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6GN-LXG : 14 December 2017), Martha Sellars in entry for Richard Sellars, 1860.
  • "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4L8-SMG : 12 April 2016), Richard Sellers in household of John Fellers, Jones county, Jones, Mississippi, United States; citing family 47, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

See also:

  • "Dewitt Roots & Shoots" by Avis W. Dewitt,




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with King Richard by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with King Richard:

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Was imprisoned and died in a Union POW Camp.
posted by Susan (Mocsny) Thomas

S  >  Sellers  >  King Richard Sellers

Categories: Finn's Point National Cemetery, Pennsville, New Jersey