James Burchill Richardson (1770 - abt. 1836)

Born 28 Oct 1770 in Camden District, South Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 28 Apr 1836 at about age 65 in Clarendon County, South Carolina

Preceded by 40th Governor John Drayton

James Burchill Richardson 41st Governor of South Carolina 1802—1804

Succeeded by 42nd Governor Paul Hamilton

Biography

James Richardson is Notable.

James Richardson was a South Carolina colonist.

Birth and Early Years

James Burchill Richardson was born on 28 Oct 1770 in Camden District, South Carolina (later to become Clarendon County), near the town of Rimini. He was a son of famed Revolutionary War Brigadier General Richard Richardson, Sr. and his second wife Dorothea Sinkler. ^[1][2]

James was still a child when his father was imprisoned by the Tories, became ill and was paroled to return to his home, Big Home Plantation, where he died. There are numerous folklore accounts claiming that British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton came to Big Home soon after Richardson's death, exhumed his body, and put it on display. Some say he did this to intimidate Richardson's widow; others say he believed the family silver was buried there. James Burchill Richardson was only eleven years old when this took place.^[3]

Young James was educated in the local schools of Clarendon County and afterwards engaged in planting at Big Home Plantation.^[4]

Marriage and Family

On 10 May 1791, he married Ann Cantey Sinkler, daughter of James Sinkler and Sarah Cantey.^[1][5] They had at least thirteen children:^[5]

1. Margaret Cantey (1794-)
2. James Sinkler (1796-1797)
3. Dorothea Sinkler (1793-)
4. Sarah Jane (1798-)
5. Hermione (1801-1840)
6. James Burchell (1802-1804)
7. William Henry Burchell (1804-1879)
8. Mary Matilda (1806-1854)
9. John Sinkler (1809-1812)
10. Floride Ann (1811-1821)
11. Julia Ann (1813-1849)
12. Richard Charles (1815-1877

Professional Achievements

In addition to his activities as a planter, James was a horse breeder. He became a trustee of the public schools of Clarendon Orphan Society in 1798, a trustee of South Carolina College from 1801 to 1804, and again from 1809 to 1813, and director of the Bank of the State of South Carolina in 1812.^[6][1]

Public Service

In 1792, he was first elected to represent Clarendon District in the House of Representatives of the:

• 10th General Assembly that met from 1792-1794
• 11th General Assembly that met from 1794-1795
• 12th General Assembly that met from 1796-1797
• 13th General Assembly that met from 1798-1799
• 14th General Assembly that met from 1800-1801
• 15th General Assembly that met from 1802-1804

During the 15th assembly, he was elected by the legislature as the 41st governor of South Carolina.^[6][1] Voting took place by secret ballot.^[7]As governor, he is said to have supported the policies of Thomas Jefferson.^[8]During his term of office, the legislature repealed laws against the traffic of slaves, but prohibited the importation of slaves under the age of fifteen from other states. Also, the cotton gin became available in South Carolina, enabling a notable increase in the cultivation and exportation of cotton. Vaccination was introduced to South Carolina. In 1803, the Charleston Courier newspaper was renamed to the Charleston Post & Courier.^[1]

In 1804, he was again elected to represent Clarendon District in the House of Representatives of the:

• 16th General Assembly that met from 1804-1805

In 1806, he was first elected to represent the Clarendon and Claremont District in the SC Senate of the:

• 17th General Assembly that met from 1806-1808
• 18th General Assembly that met from 1808-1809

In 1810, he was first elected to represent Clarendon District in the SC Senate of the:

• 19th General Assembly that met from 1810-1812
• 20th General Assembly that met from 1812-1813

In the last assembly above, he was elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate in a Special Session. He was then elected Director of the Bank of South Carolina (19 Dec 1812) and resigned from the Senate on 8 Dec 1813.^[1]

In 1816, he was again elected to represent Clarendon District in the House of Representatives of the:

• 22nd General Assembly that met from 1816-1817.^[1]

Death and Burial

On 28 Apr 1836, James Burchill Richardson passed away at the family home.^[1] He was buried in the Richardson Cemetery, Rimini, Clarendon County, South Carolina.^[9][3] His middle name is spelled Burchell on his tombstone.^[7]

Will

He wrote his will on 25 Aug 1826 and died in 1836, leaving five plantations, thousands of acres of land, and hundreds of slaves to be divided between his wife and children. The slaves are listed by name in the will.^[10][11][12]

Legacy

James Burchill Richardson was followed to the governor's office by five of his relatives: John Peter Richardson II (1801-1864), John Peter Richardson III (1831-1899), and nephews Richard I. Manning, John L. Manning, and Richard I. Manning III.^[13]

On 15 Oct 1942, the North Carolina Shipbuilding company launched its 34th Liberty Freighter at 3:30 in the afternoon. The vessel was named the James B. Richardson, a tribute to South Carolina's 41st governor.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} James Burchill Richardson on Carolana.com
2. ↑ Cantey Family Genealogy, Ames, Joseph S. Cantey Family, The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Oct., 1910), pp. 203-258; Published by: South Carolina Historical Society
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Richardson Cemetery
4. ↑ James Burchill Richardson on Wikipedia.org
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "International Genealogical Index (IGI)," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:9WNN-HP7 : accessed 19 September 2020), entry for James Burchell Richardson, batch A20833-6; citing FHL microfilm 457,076; submitter not specified.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Gov. James Burchill Richardson on NGA.org
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} James Burchill Richardson on Sciway.net
8. ↑ James Burchell Richardson on Geneanet.org
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #38631650 James Burchell Richardson
10. ↑ Will extracts
11. ↑ Ancestry Record 9080 #568483 Will Transcript. Ancestry.com. South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Author: Brimelow, Judith M.; Probate Place: Sumter, South Carolina. Original data: South Carolina County, District and Probate Courts.
12. ↑ Miscellaneous estate records, 1784-1960: "South Carolina Probate Re...d Loose Papers, 1732-1964"
    Catalog: Miscellaneous estate records, 1784-1960 Bundles 83-86
    Image path: South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 > Sumter > Probate Court, Estate records > 1784-1960 > Bundles 083-086 > image 292 of 432
    FamilySearch Image: 939L-F6ZJ-C (accessed 27 May 2023)
    • Sumter South Carolina, James B. Richardson probate bundle, will, probate inventory
13. ↑ Richardson Governors
14. ↑ 34th Liberty Freighter Newspapers.com, 16 Oct 1942, Fri • Page 30.

See also:

• Richardson Genealogy