Alexander Richey (abt. 1690 - bef. 1749)

Born about 1690 in County Londonderry, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Jeanne (Caldwell) Ritchie — married 1718 in Belfast, Ireland

Descendants

Died before 18 Aug 1749 before about age 59 in Amelia County, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jim Sneed [send private message], Lisa Ankrum [send private message], Kathleen Holmes [send private message], Kenalea Johnson [send private message], and Kim Richey [send private message]

Biography

Alexander Richey and family with several brothers came to Colonial America in 1727 to Pennsylvania Colony and later went to Virginia. Alexander had four brothers who located in Pennsylvania and some of their descendants likely also came to South Carolina. The family surname is also spelled Richie, Ritchey and Ritchie and sometimes two or three different spellings are found in the same record. Alexander Richey died while in Prince Edward County, Virginia, in 1749. His wife was Jeanne Caldwell, a sister of Captain John Caldwell who led a group from Ireland to the British America colonies. [4] "In the colonial records we find Alexander Richey & brothers, and sons, who were kinsmen & friends of the Caldwell Family. A Scots-Irish group led by Captain John Caldwell, who came to America in 1727, landing in New Castle, Delaware in December, and going to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and from there to Virginia about 1730-1745 where they assisted in organizing the government of the new county of LUNENBURG under the authorization of Governor Gooch of Virginia." THREADS OF ANCESTORS by Leila Ritchie Mize & Jessie Julia Mize, Pub. 1956-University of Georgia Printing Dept., Athens, Georgia, Page 103-106, ^[1] John Caldwell and Alexander Richey were among the signers of a petition for encouragement to come to America addressed to the Governor of New England in 1718 A.D. This petition was in the form of a letter written by a group of Scotch citizens living in the north of Ireland and signed by 309 persons. The following is a full text of the petition:

To His Excellency, the Right Honorable Colonel Samuel Shute, Governor of New England: We, whose names are underwritten, Inhabitants of ye north of Ireland, doe in our own names, and in the names of many others our neighbors, Gentlemen, Ministers, Farmers, Tradesmen, Commissionate and Appoint our trusty and well beloved Friend, the Reverend Mr. William Boyd, of McCasky, to his Excellency the Right Honorable Colonel Samuel Shute, Governor of New England, and to assure His Excellency of our sincere and hearty inclination to transport orselves to that very excellent and renowned plantation upon our obtaining from His excellency suitable encouragement; and further, to act and doe in our names as his Prudnece shall direct. Given under our hands this 26 day of March Anno Dom. 1718. Signed: John Caldwell, Alexander Richey, Francis Richey, William Park (Parque) James Stewart, Jacob Clark, John Craig, Agnew, Wilson, Moore, Fleming, Higginbothan, Porter, Lord, Gunion, and many other familiar Scotch-Irish names. "It is said that of the 309 petitioners there were only thirteen who did not write their signatures, the greatest percent (96%) of literacy known of any large group of that day and which compares favorably with our educational status of today (1986)." ^[1]

Research

• THE AMERICAN WAY WEST, Trade and Travel Routes, by Irene Franck and David M Brownstone, published 1990, Internet Archive, ^[2] shows a "connecting path or road" running from Baltimore area, south to southwest to Culpepper area to the Danville area and then southwest to join up with the great wagon road heading south. Also, the Great Wagon Road split just below Charlotte, North Carolina with one branch going to Camden and then on to Augusta. The other branch going through or near Rock Hill, Chester, Newberry South Carolina and then to Augusta Georgia. It was from Newberry that the travelers then followed an Indian path to Ninety Six Area.
• Some researchers have shown this individual as 'Samuel' Alexander Richey. (This is a conflation (merging) of information on the two brothers Samuel and Alexander.
• Alexander Richey's date of death is sometimes given as 3 May 1749. (This is the date his last Will was signed (May 3, 1747) or the date of death is given as August 18, 1749 which is the date his last Will was proven. His actual date of death is most likely between those two dates and probably closer to the latter 1749 date.
• Alexander had a military record in the Colonial Wars.
• Alexander was probably a Presbyterian.
• Alexander may have had other children who had died by the time he made his last Will in 1747.
• Alexander came to Colonia America in 1727 in a group of Scotch-Irish settlers. They came to Lancaster and Chester County, Pennsylvania circa 1737 by way of Delaware. The date of arrival was 10 December 1727 at New Castle, Delaware.
• Alexander first settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania at Chestnut Level and later moved to Amelia County, Virginia and settled in what is now Prince Edward County, Virginia. Ancestor information sheets on the Richeys'; PREPARED BY CLYDE HOMER DOYAL

Spouse

Married about 1720 in Ireland to Jane Caldwell who was born about 1688 in Ireland. Jane and Alexander emigrated to America, where Jane died on 16 August 1785 in Prince Edward County, Virginia.

Children

1. James Richey, b. 25 July 1724, m. Margaret Caldwell
2. John Richey, b. 1725, m. Jane Davis
3. Agnes Richey, b. 1726, m. William Crockett
4. Samuel Richey, b. 1728
5. Mary Richey, b. abt 1735
6. Alexander Richey, b. 20 August 1739 m. Mary Wilson
7. Catrin (Catherine) Richey, b. 1741
8. Susanna Richey, b. 1745

Residence

In the book Chronicles of the SCOTCH -IRISH IN VIRGINIA, Vol. 3; Chronicles of the Scots-Irish Settlement in Virginia, page 284 and available to search at Google books,^[3]shows: "3rd May, 1751. Andrew McClure, planter, and Eleanor, to ALEXANDER RICHEY, BLACKSMITH, 300 acres in Beverley Manor tract surveyed for Samuel Templeton; Wm. McClintock's line', Adam Thompson's line. Teste: Michael Realy, Robert Gray. (Mary Jane Collins)"See Carolina Herald, Vol. XIV, 1 and 2 for more information on this family. ^[3]

Last Will and Testament

Amelia Co., Virginia; BK "1" Pages 57-57a; 3 May 1749 Alexander's last Will was recorded at Amelia Co., Virginia on 3 May 1749. It mentions James, Sr. and other children. The Will was proved on 18 August 1749. Alexander had a granddaughter named Mary Crockett.

• The Will of Alexander Richey of the County of Amelia, being very sick and weak in body, dated 3 May 1749.
• To Jean my dearly beloved wife the place I now live on during her life, as allso her third part of all the moveables and hould goods.
• To my well beloved son John 235 acres joyning George Davises place, also the bay mear's colt now of on year ode and my gun.
• To my well beloved son Alexander 235 acres joyning Bib's place.
• To my well beloved son James 200 acres, the place I now live on, and that at the decease of his mother.
• To my well beloved son Samuel £45 when Samuel coms of age; my son John is to pay £15 as also Alexander and James each to pay £15 apise.
• To my well beloved daughters Agnis, Catrin, Mary and Susanna the other two thirds of my moveables and housold goods equaley to be divided.

My well beloved wife Jeane exequetrixe. Signed: Allexr. (C) Richey Wit: Jno. Caldwell, Hugh Riche, Charles Riche. 18 Aug 1749 : Presented by Jane Richey the executrix. Proved by John Caldwell, Hugh Riche and Charles Riche. Inventory. Total valuation £79.9. Joseph Morton Jur. Richard Woodson Saml. Ewing Signed by Jane (W) Richey, executrix. 17 November 1749. Returned by Jane Riche ^[4]

Research Notes

Name on profile changed from Samuel Alexander to Alexander, since there is no sourcing for the Samuel name

FindAGrave

From Find A Grave: Memorial #60226718: ^[5]

Alexander left Ireland in 1727 with his brother-in-law John Caldwell. He first landed in Delaware but moved on to Pennsylvania where he settled for awhile. His brother-in-law, John Caldwell, petitioned the Governor of Virginia for land for those Scots-Irish families that wanted to move to Virginia.

Alexander's Last Will And Testament was written May 3, 1749 and proved at Amelia County Virginia Court 18 Aug 1749. In it, he listed his children: John, Alexander, James & Samuel; Agnes, Catherine, Mary, & Susanna.

"Came to America with his brother-in-law, John Caldwell, settler of Cub Creek. First settled at Chestnut Level in Lancaster County, PA, then moved to Amelia (later Prince Edward) County".

In 1754, Prince Edward County, was formed from parts of Amelia County.
∼
Samuel immigration to Pennsylvainia with a large group of Scotch Presbyterians on Dec 10, 1727.

Parents -

Samuel Alexander Ritchey 1660–1739

Lydia Moore Ritchie 1660–1736

Spouse -

Jeanne Caldwell Richey 1689–1785 (m. 1720)

Children -

James Richey 1724–1808

John Richey 1725–1770

Agnes Ritchie Crockett 1726–1767

John Richey 1739–1770

BURIAL - Unknown

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} THREADS OF ANCESTORS by Leila Ritchie Mize & Jessie Julia Mize, Pub. 1956-University of Georgia Printing Dept., Athens, Georgia, Page 103-106, [1]
2. ↑ THE AMERICAN WAY WEST, Trade and Travel Routes, by Irene Franck and David M Brownstone, published 1990, Internet Archive [2]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Chronicles of the SCOTCH -IRISH IN VIRGINIA, Vol. 3; Chronicles of the Scots-Irish Settlement in Virginia, page 284 and available to search at Google books [3]
4. ↑ Amelia Co., Will Book "1", Page 57, Alexander Richey Ancestry sharing link
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60226718/samuel-alexander-richie: accessed 05 October 2022), memorial page for Samuel Alexander Richie Jr. (1690–18 Aug 1749), Find A Grave: Memorial #60226718, ; Maintained by Sue McDuffe:) (contributor 47122067) Burial Details Unknown. This memorial does not name a cemetery or indicate where he is buried. It also suffers from the same conflation this profile had, namely the first name of "Samuel." It is not clear where the information came from and whether or not the dates are accurate.

• See also: https://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/countries/topics/scotland/22732/