Richard Dennis Norris (abt. 1775 - abt. 1835)

Born about 1775 in St. Mary's, Maryland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 20 Oct 1835 at about age 60 in Daviess, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Richard Dennis Norris (1775 - 1837 ) Richard Dennis Norris, son of Rodolphus Norris and Dorothy Peake, was born about 1775 in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. He married Mary Mills August 6, 1798 in Washington County, Kentucky. He died October 20, 1835 in Daviess County, Indiana. Children of Richard Dennis Norris and Mary Mills A) Dorothy Norris b 1801 in Nelson Co, KY m 22 Jun 1822 to Joseph Durbin. B) Elizabeth Norris b 1802 m 21 Jan 1822 to Callistus Melton in Hardin Co, KY. St. Mary’s Cemetery, Loogootee, IN: Gravestone: Callistus Melton. C) John Dennis Norris b 1804 in KY d 1880 m 1st 6 Apr 1825 in St. Mary’s Parish, Daviess Co, IN (by J. L. Champounier, Priest) to Elizabeth Gootee b 1809 d 1829. He m 2nd 15 Oct 1830 in Daviess Co, IN to Elizabeth Hays b 1811 in MD d 30 Apr 1854 daughter of George C. Hays. From History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana: GEORGE E. NORRIS, one of the prominent farmers of Daviess County, IN, is a native of the county where he now resides, born in 1831. His parents, John D. and Elizabeth (Hays) Norris, were natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively, both born about 1808. They were married about 1829 in Daviess County, where they followed the lives of farmers. The mother died in 1854, and the father in 1880. Our subject ' s boyhood days were spent on the farm and in attending the district schools. At the age of twenty-one, he began farming for himself on a rented place, continuing about fifteen years. He then purchased seventy-eight acres of land, and since that time he and his two boys have increased their farm to 340 acres. Besides this he owns a sawmill and some very valuable machinery . In 1851 he was married to Julia A. Kidwell, born in Kentucky in 1836, daughter of Thomas and Theresa (Arvin) Kidwell. They became the parents of these children: John, James, Martha, Sarah, Theresa, Francis, Susan, Louis, George, Thomas, Mary, and an infant. The family are Catholic and Mr. Norris is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Buchanan. D) Charles A. Norris b 29 Jan 1806 in Nelson Co, KY d 9 Mar 1897 in Daviess Co, IN m 1st 13 Jan 1827 in St. Mary’s Parish, Daviess Co, IN (by J. L. Champounier, Priest) Sarah Jarir Gootee b 1807 in OH, d about 1855. He m 2nd Lucy Ann Bramble Compton b 1820 in KY d 12 Dec 1891: gravestone in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Montgomery, IN. E) Bernard Norris b 1809 d 1854 m Ann Hager. F) Mary Ann Norris b 1810 in Nelson Co, KY m John Summers. They moved in 1851 to Mt. Pleasant, IN. G) Ann Norris b 1812 Nelson Co, KY. H) Susan Norris b 1814 in Nelson Co, KY m William Walker. I) George Washington Norris b 1817 in Nelson Co, KY m 12 Feb 1838 in Daviess Co, IN Elizabeth Bowling b 1822. J) Sebastian Norris b 1818 in Nelson Co, KY d 1858, m 23 Oct 1849 in Daviess Co, IN Mary Ann Brewer b 1832 IN, d after 1880 in Loogootee, IN, daughter of Mark Brewer and Treacy Knott. K) Mary Norris m John Summers.

Richard Dennis Norris Records The date of birth of Richard Dennis Norris was from Ancestry.com: Richard Norris was born about 1775 in SMC MD. The parents of Richard Dennis Norris were from the Will of Rudolphus Norris 9 Apr 1812; 21 Feb 1814 Nelson Co. KY Will Bk B, p 177: Wife, Doratha: to receive most of property. Daughter Susannah: household furniture. Mentions his 9 children: Mary, Bibianna, Ann, Jane, Susannah, Wilfred, Richard, Enoch and William. Witnesses: Ignatius Medcalfe, Felix Wimsett & Ignatius French. The marriage of Richard Dennis Norris and Mary Mills was from their Marriage Record in Washington Co, KY: 6 Aug 1798: Richard Norrice married Mary Mills, by Father Theodore Badin. The marriage of Richard Dennis Norris and Mary Mills was from their Marriage Record: from Linda Reno Online: Richard Norris left SMC by 1792 for Nelson Co, KY m Mary Mills. The date of death of Richard Norris was from Ancestry.com: Richard Dennis Norris died 20 Oct 1835 in Daviess Co, IN. From Find A Grave: Richard Dennis Norris. Birth: 1775 in SMC MD. Death: 20 Oct 1835 in Daviess Co, IN. Mary Mills was born 7 Oct 1764 in SMC MD. She died about 1848 in Daviess Co, IN. From Ancestry.com. She was the daughter of John Francis Mills and _____. The parents of Mary Mills were from the record of Rebekah Norris b 1770 m 25 May 1789 in Washington Co, KY to John Mills. Surety: Charles Pane, John Mills. Consent signed by Rodolph Norris, ____ Norris and Elizabeth Mills, father and mothers of both parties. Witness: Jacob Doom. 1800 Washington Co, KY: taxpayer: Richard L.(?) Norris. 1809 Hardin Co, KY: Know all men by these presents, that we, Elias French and Richard Norris are held and firmly bound unto Charles Scott, Governor of KY… in the sum of 50 pounds current money, to be paid to our said Governor and his successors, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this 22nd day of September, 1809. The condition of the above obligation is that if there be no legal cause to obstruct a marriage intended shortly to be solemnized between Elias French and Jean Norris, both above the age of 21 years, then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force. Witnesses: Elias (X) French, Richard (X) Norris, Peter W. Grayson. 1810 US Census of Elizabethtown, Hardin Co, KY: Richard Norris 4m to 10, 1m 26-44, 3f to 10, 1f 26-44. 1815 from “Hardin Settlers, 1755 to the Present” 16 May 1815: Robert Hardin and others sold land to William Farling. Witnesses: Richard Norris, R. G. Ward, William Brooke, Thomas Lightfoot. 1820 US Census of Little York Township, Hardin Co, KY: Richard Norris: p 27: 2m to 10, 1m 10-15, 1m 16- 18, 1m 16-25, 1m 26-44, 2f to 10, 1f 10-15, 2f 16-25, 1f 26-44. 1822, Jan 21: Hardin Co, KY: Elizabeth Norris, daughter of Richard Norris, married Calistus Melton. 1830 US Census of Barr Township, Daviess Co, IN: Richard D. Norris 1m 10-14, 1m 20-29, 1m 50-59, 1f 10-14, 1f 15-19, 1f 20-29, 1f 50-59. 1830, Aug 24: Land Records for IN: Richard Norris bought 80 acres in Daviess Co, IN: W-NW-S11 of T3N, R5W. Part of this land was the 1st site of St. Mary’s Church. 1837 Will of Richard Dennis Norris Nov 1837 Daviess Co IN (B-77): Richard Norris is listed in Will Book B of Daviess Co, IN, pages 152,153, 262 and 274. Located also in Box 47. Executors were John and Barney Norris. I was unable to find this will. Daviess Co, In Deed Book C, pages 617, 618 (parts burned) …enture made the 18th day of August in the year… John D. Norris and Elizabeth Norris his wife, Charles Norris ...fe, Calistus Melton and Elizabeth his wife, formerly Elizabeth Norris… his wife formerly Ann Norris and John Summers and Mary his wife for… of the first part and Bernard Norris, party of the 2nd part, Witn… of the first in consideration of the sum of seventy-five dollars to …receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged – have granted bargained sold …sents do bargain, sell and convey to the said party of the second part his heirs and … undivided half of seventy-seven acres of land situate in the County of Daviess and ….being a part of the west half of the north west quarter of section eleven township … -ange five west and being held by the said parties of the first part as five… of Richard Norris late of said county deceased… time for the benefit of the Catholic Church… land with all the appurtenances.. seals… J...El...Charles..., Sarah…, Calistus M… Elizabeth (X) M… Joseph W…, Ann (X)..., John… Mary… for s… Witnesses: ...el McAtee…Mattingly. Daviess Co IN: Deed Book D: (This first deed book was damaged in the courthouse fire). It reads in part: ...heirs and since ...it or parcel of land contain…ty, Indian, viz of the West…n Eleven in township three…mencing at a post or sta…corner…ing Norris and others and running from thence 111 rods thence North 21 9/10 rods then West 21 9/10 Rods to the place of beginning, containing three ac… less… and we do covenant with the above said B… that we are lawfully seized and possessed in fee simp…acres of land that we have a good right to convey the ….fee simple and that the same is free from all incumbrance, … said Bishop of Vincennes his heirs and assigns fore … the same and that we will forever warrant … and the title to the same against allllll claims whatever…or equity. Witness our hands and seals this 5th day of Au…gned in the presence of ...erastus Fagains..., Daniel McAtee…, li T. Browning. Signed Barnard (X) Norris, John D. Norris, Mary (X) Norris. State of Indiana, County of Daviess: SS. Before me the undersigned Derostus…at my Office therein personally a ... Bernard Norris, John Norris and Mary Norris, the wife of Rich...Norris, decd and acknowledged… Mary Norris did decla… she did voluntarily and of her own free will and accord as… her act and deed seal and deliver the said Indenture… rtion or compulsion. Given under my hand and seal... day of August 1840. D. Fagains. J.P. Daviess Co IN: Deed Book E, pages 74-75 (Parts burned): This indenture made the 23rd day of Dece…eighteen hundred and forty between George No…and William Walker and Susan his wife, parties of the first part and Bernard Norris, party…witnesseth that the said parties of the first …the sum of thirty dollars to them in hand …is hereby acknowledged, have bargained, sold and…presents do bargain, sell and convey to said party, … his heirs and assigns forever…ounty of Daviess and State of Indiana being …the North West quarter of section eleven in….North of Range five West and being held by the said…first part as two out of the the ten heirs at law of Richard Norris…of said county deceased, and the said seventy seven acres, one fifth of which is hereby conveyed being the whole of the said half quarter section, except three acres heretofore bargained and sold by said deceased in his lifetime for the benefit of the Catholic Church, to have and to hold the said undivided half of said seventy seven acres of land with all the appurtenances thereto belonging in any wise appertaining, to the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever, and the said parties of the first part for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators, the above bargained premises against all persons claiming the same to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, will forever warrant and defend. In testimony whereof the parties of the first part have hereunto on the day and year aforesaid, set their hands and seals. George (X) Norris, Elizabeth (X) Norris, William (X) Walker, Susan (X) Walker. Attest…Derostes Fegans. Thomas Spalding. 1854 Will of Barney Norris: Apr 1854, witnesses: Calistus Melton and George Norris. Calistus Melton is important because he married 1822 in Hardin Co, KY to Elizabeth Norris, daughter of Richard Norris. This ties the two families and Counties together. Souvenir Book of the History of St. Mary’s Parish, Barr Township, RR 3, Loogootee, IN, 1984: from Shirley Platt: Norris, Richard D. descends from families who settled in Lord Baltimore's palatinate in St. Mary's Co, MD. His parents were Rodolphus and Dorothy Norris who were early settlers of KY. Richard married Mary Mills in Washington Co, KY 6 Aug 1798, by Rev. Father Stephen Theodore Badin. On August 24, 1830, he purchased 80 acres of land in Daviess Co., IN from the US Government, it being the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 11, township 3 north, range 5 west, a part of which was the site of the St. Mary's Church. Richard D. Norris died in 1835 and deeds indicated that he left ten heirs, namely, Elizabeth, who m Calistus Melton in Hardin Co, KY; Ann, who m ___; John Dennis, whose first wife was Elizabeth Gootee and his second, Elizabeth Hays; Charles A. whose first wife was Sarah J. Gootee, and his second, Lucy A. Bramble Compton; Mary Ann who m John Summers and moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1851; Susan who was the wife of William Walker; George who married Elizabeth Bowling; Barnard m to Ann Hager; Sebastian m to Mary Ann Brewer, and there was a child whose name is unknown. Richard and Mary Mills Norris are thought to be buried in the first St. Mary's church cemetery on the land where the church hall now stands. From Leona Hilsabeck, 1606 Elmhurst Drive, Austin, Texas 78741: Norris researcher who sent me the ancestry of Richard Norris back to England and many facts about the Norris heritage.

Sources

“Richard D. Norris - Biographies and Obituaries,” n.d. http://ingenweb.org/indaviess/bios/norrisRichard.html. Find a Grave, database and images https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128689506/richard-dennis-norris : accessed 14 February 2022), memorial page for Richard Dennis Norris (1775–25 Oct 1835), Find a Grave Memorial ID 128689506, citing Saint Marys Cemetery, Cannelburg, Daviess County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by John Mudd (contributor 48022704) .