Charity (Ritch) Keziah (1799 - 1873)

Born 1799 in North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Alexander Keziah — married 13 Dec 1827 (to 11 Aug 1848) in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

Died 1873 at about age 74 in Cabarrus, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Charity Ritch was born 1799/1800 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She is mentioned by name in the will of her father John Ritch, written on the 14th of September 1837. Her mother was Susannah Helms, daughter of Tilman Helms and Rachel Craig.

^[1][2] Charity Ritch (b 1799) and William Alexander Keziah (b 1811) were married on the 13th of December 1827 in Mecklenburg County North Carolina. We have a copy of William's bond. As of yet we don't know who his parents are, we're working on three possible candidates.

Charity was 12 years older than William. In the 1830 census the age difference makes them stand out because Charity was 31 that year and William 19 - 20. They've been married two and a half years and already have two children, a boy and a girl, obviously both under 5. Ah, young love. :)

^[3] HOME IN 1830: Mecklenburg, North Carolina
NAME: William Keziah
FWM - UNDER 5: 1
FWM - 20 THRU 29: 1
FWF - UNDER 5: - 1
FWF - 30 THRU 39: - 1

This is probably them on the 1840 Census. There are three William Keziahs in the Mecklenburg Census that year and two are definitely not them. This family matches them except that there is an extra adult male in the household, a 5 - 9 year-old boy, and a little girl under 5, both who would have been born since the 1830 census and did not survive until the 1850 census. We've already seen that their first two children, a boy and a girl born 1829-1830 did not survive.

^[4]In 1840 the child mortality rate in the United States, for children under the age of five, was 430.12 deaths per thousand births. This means that for every thousand babies born, over 43 percent - close to half - did not make it to their fifth birthday. Below, I've tried to name the individuals based on age and gender, the names are not part of the census itself.

^[5] 1840; Census Mecklenburg, North Carolina
HOH Name: William Keziah
FWM - Under 5 - 1- James b 1838
FWM - 5 thru 9 - 1 - Boy not seen again born 1831-1835
FWM - 20 thru 29 - 1 - William b 1811
FWM - 30 thru 39 - 1 - Unidentified man
FWF - Under 5 - 2 - Mary b 1836 and unidentified girl bn 1835-1840
FWF - 5 thru 9 - 2 - Margaret b 1834 and unidentified girl 1831-1835
FWF - 30 thru 39 - 1 - Charity b 1799

It appears that by 1840 William and Charity had lost five children, but things were about to get a lot worse.

^[6] On May 13, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, and recruitment began for men to fight in the war against Mexico.On the 6th of April 1847 William A Keziah enlisted in Monroe, Union County NC . He was assigned to the the 5th Dragoons Company A. He is described as 36 years old, with blue eyes, light hair, a ruddy complexion, 5 foot 9.5” inches tall, born in Kershaw County, South Carolina and by occupation a miner. He died on 11 August 1848, near "Camp Meir, Mexico".

There is a small town called "Campo Meir" only three miles south of the Rio Grande River which now serves as the border between Texas and Mexico. Campo Meir was a hotspot of action all through the Mexican War, and I believe the "Camp Meir" is the government clerk's rendering of "Campo Meir". William is probably buried in a soldier's cemetery near Campo Meir. His death left Charity a widow and his children fatherless.

In the 1850 census their daughter Rachel is 18, born 1832. Either the two older children (b 1829-30) are on their own by 1850, or they did not survive. Charity is a widow and head of the household because William Alexander died on the 11th of August 1848.

^[7] 1850 Census; Union, North Carolina;
Charity Keziah 51 bn NC 1799 cannot read/write
Rachael Keziah 18
Margaret S Keziah 16
Mary Keziah 14
James H Keziah 12

Charity drew a widow's pension beginning on the 11th of Jan 1858, a measly $2.00 or $3.00 dollars a month, until the Civil War intervened and her pension was interrupted. After the Civil War ended she applied for her pension to be reinstated and it was, in February of 1867. She was first paid $15.50 in arrears and then she received a monthly stipend paid semi-annually until the last half of 1873, when she died. .

^[8] 1870 Census: Township 12, Post Office, Concord, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Household Members
Dwelling Number 33
Name Age
Charity Kaziah 70 Keeping House b NC cannot read/write
Mary Kaziah 33 works in a cotton mill b NC
William Kaziah 7 at home b NC

Her next door neighbor in 1870 was her son James Hutchinson Kaziah.
^[9] 1870 Census Township 12, Post Office, Concord, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Household Members
Dwelling Number 32
Name Age
James H Kaziah 30 works in cotton mill bn NC
Susan 30 Keeping house bn NC
John Hatley 8 At home bn NC
Simon Hatley 7 At home bn NC
Mary F Kaziah 3 At home bn NC

When Charity died she was likely still living in Cabarrus County next door to her son James. She is believed to be buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Cabarrus County where many of her family members are buried, including James and others of her children and grandchildren.

^[10] Her will is dated 17 Apr 1872 and was probated 26 Apr 1882. Her house and lot were bequeathed to daughter Mary. In the 1870 Federal Census Mary and her son William were living with Charity. In the 1880 Federal Census for Cabarrus County Mary is the Head of Household.

Sources

1. ↑ North Carolina, Marriage Index, 1741-2004: Data Source: County Court Records - FHL # 0546461-0546466
2. ↑ North Carolina, Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868: Bond #000080749
3. ↑ 1830; Census Place: Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 122; Page: 340; FHL Film#0018088
4. ↑ World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition
5. ↑ 1840; Census Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Roll: 365; Page: 302; FHL Film# 0018095
6. ↑ US, Registers of Enlistments in the United States Army, 1798-1914: Roll MIUSA1798_102882; Page 139; Mexican War enlistments.
7. ↑ 1850 Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Union, North Carolina; Roll: 647; Page: 35b
8. ↑ 1870; Census: Township 12, Cabarrus, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1126; Page: 461A
9. ↑ 1870; Census: Township 12, Cabarrus, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1126; Page: 461A
10. ↑ North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998: Records of Wills, 1794-1966; Index to Will Books, 1843-1964; Superior Court (Cabarrus County); Probate Place: Cabarrus, North Carolina.