WILLIAM BRANTLEY
RICHARDSON
WILLIAM BRANTLEY
RICHARDSON
William Brantley Richardson was born to Noah Richardson and Elizabeth Cheek. William married Margaret Anne Barrett and proceeded to have 7 daughters, 6 of whom only lived. After the death of Margaret, William has a liasion with Lexie Barber, where there were children born out of wedlock. They later married, before the birth of the last child Noah, according to the writings of Lucy Lee Eccleston Sears.
The COL was head of the Moore Co Militia prior to the War for Southern Independance. It has never been ascertained that he actually served. But he does have a headstone based upon his service, as a Methodist minister.
The COL served in the state Senate 1866-1868 . He was a farmer and revenue collector for Moore Co. He also make whiskey on his farm. In 1870, the COL was the 3rd richest man in the county.
A very interesting piece of family lore has been passed down through the years. With the assistance of my cousin Judy Puder, we have been drawing hypsosis' about the our story. The story is, The COL owned considerable land in Moore Co, it extended all the way to present day Pinehurst. There were 3 gentlemen who were very interested in obtaining the land located in present day Pinehurst. They tried purchasing it but the COL refused to sale.
In 1890 the courthouse was burned, claiming just about all the land deeds for the county. Just a footnote, if you inquire as to any records available you will be informed there are none because of this, however, just about all other records are still intact. Anyways, the county required that all deeds needed to be rerecorded. So the COL's son-in-law, Lewis Grimm, was dispatched to Carthage with the deeds in a satchel.
Arriving in Carthage, Lewis went to the local hotel (bar actually) to have a drink. While there he was offered a drink by one of the gentlemen who wanted the land. Lewis accepted and fell dead. In all the commotion to follow the satchel with the deeds disappeared. A few months later the land in question was recorded in the name of the three gentlemen. Shortly afterwards the COL died, leaving his eldest daughter, Elizabeth H Kelly to handle things.
The COL was married to Lexie Barber at his death. But an interesting fact is that he had no will. Now I find it strange that a man so well off and who seemed to have his ducks all in a row would not leave a will. Lexie posted bond to become executor of his estate. It seems that all of the remaining land was divided between her and her children.
Elizabeth Kelly proceeded to sue for the land back on behalf of her and her sisters. It was a long drawn out court proceeding. On John McLeod Kelly's, Elizabeth's husband, deathbed, he told Elizabeth he wanted her to take the children and leave the state, go to Texas, as he was fearful for their lives because of the lawsuit. That upon his death he would no longer be able to protect the family.
Elizabeth followed her husband's wishes, dropped the lawsuit, packed up all her children and left the state. Word came back that on the deathbed of the Richardson daughter's attorney, he confessed to have been paid off by the judge and two others to drag his feet and not represent the Richardson family to the best of his ability. It seems the judge was one of the three gentlemen.
About the time of Lewis Grimm's death, my gg grandfather, Norris Palmer Eccleston, disappeared. What is interesting is I found Norris living happily in Philadelphia until his death in 1897, with his first wife! Is there any connection to Norris and the three gentleman? Interesting question. And why was there no will and Lexie Barber and her children ended up with all the remaining land? A portion of the land appropriated is now the home of the Pinehurst Hotel.