Robert E RICHARDS was born in Abbeville Dist. SC and died 1859 in Abbeville Dist. He married Elizabeth RUSSELL, also born in Abbeville Dist and died 1864 *near Atlanta, GA*.
They had one child, a son, Robert Frank RUSSELL, born 5 April 1857 in Abbeville Dist. and died 4 Oct 1946 in Santa Ana, CA. He married first to Isabella E. LEGRAND. He was her second husband. They were married 4 Oct 1881.
The family lore is that Elizabeth's parents absolutely HATED Robert RICHARDS. So when Elizabeth was left a widow with a 2-year-old, she was told she could not return home unless she changed the child's surname to RUSSELL. Now whether this is true or just a story to cover and out-of-wedlock birth, I don't know. What I do know is that I cannot find anything on Robert E RICHARDS or his parents; also cannot find anything on Elizabeth RUSSELL's parents.
Robert RICHARD's grandson stated that the family was Irish but did not elaborate on whether that meant of Irish heritage, or Ireland born. At that point in history, anti-Irish sentiment was high. They were depicted in political cartoons as drunks and with tails like monkies. So the simple fact that he was Irish could have been why Elizabeth's parents hated him.
I can not find a Robert RICHARDS or R. RICHARDS or R.E. RICHARDS on the 1850 census index for South Carolina.
I have found naturalisation records for an Adam RICHARDS of County Antrim. At the time of the naturalisaation he was living in Pendleton Dist, SC, having arrived in Charleston about 31 May 1803. He was naturalised 27 Oct 1814. He died intestate in Abbeville Dist SC in 1848, leaving 7 children. His wife had predeceased him. There were very few with the surname RICHARDS in Abbevlle Dist at the time, so it is possible that Adam RICHARDS could have had a connection to my Robert E. RICHARDS.
I could not find a RUSSELLfamily in Abbeville on 1850 census with a female Elizabeth.
There were no possible matches on the 1860 in GA or SC for Elizabeth RUSSELL or RICHARDS. No matching Robert or Frank of either surname.
When Robert Frank RUSSELL married Isabella LEGRAND in 1881, the only location noted in the family bible was *Capt Richard's house*. This family bible was owned and originally filled out by Robert Frank RUSSELL and wife Isabella LEGRAND. *Capt Richard's house* could refer to someone related to the original Robert E RICHARDS in the family bible. The marriage may have taken place in Arkansas. They married in 1881 and in 1880 Isabella was living with cousins in Clark Co. AR. The couple's first child was born in Texarkana, Miller County, AR
There may have been another member, or members, of Elizabeth RUSSELL's family in the Atlanta GA area. She died there in 1864. Robert Frank and Isabella's 2nd and 3rd children were born in Atlanta GA. After that they moved to Texas. So there was something to pull them from Arkansas to Atlanta GA for at least 2 years. They had a child in AR in 1882, two in Atlanta in 1884 and 1886. Then a 4th in Texas in 1888. The rest of the children were born in Texas.
So here is my most perplexing bricke wall - one I have been working on for many years.
Anyone who can help me find the key to the door in the brick wall will be nominated for sainthood
