The Richmonds of Hanibal, Missouri

The family of Capt. Ezra Richmond lived in Hannibal, Missouri, in 1850 as did Samuel L. Clemens (AKA Mark Twain). Clemens had a Sunday school teacher named Mr. Richmond who was a stone mason in Hannibal. That teacher married Artimisia Briggs according to Mark Twain's autobiography (a bricklayer named William Marsh actually married Artimisia Briggs). So who was Mr. Richmond the Sunday school teacher?


1137. (CAPT.) EZRA RICHMOND 6 (John 5, Sylvester 4, Silvester 3, Edward 2, John 1) was born in Swanzea, Mass., September 10, 1779, and died November 9, 1846. He married, March 8, 1806, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Drusilla (Evans) Carstarphen. She was born in Halifax County, N. C., December 12, 1787.

They had eleven children. He was a rope-manufacturer. After serving his apprenticeship, he went to sea and had remarkable adventures with pirates and privateers, showing great bravery and decision of character. He removed to Kentucky in 1802, arriving there with only fifty cents in his purse. In 1806, he owned a farm near Frankfort, and established a rope manufactory, in which he was very successful. He was generous and charitable, very energetic, and "a man in the full sense of the word."

CHILDREN:
2950. Mary Rutenbur 7, born May 20, 1808; married Rev. Nathan Ayers
2951. Richard Fell 7, born May 23, 1810; married 1st. Mrs. Edmonia Barton; 2nd Mary H. Richardson [Mary Hopkins Breckinridge Richardson daughter of Samuel Q. & Mary Hopkins (Harrison) Richardson]
2952. Eliza 7, born Jan. 30, 1812; died July 28, 1814
2953. John Lee 7, born Oct. 1, 1814.
2954. Erza Lee 7, born July 14, 1816; died Nov. 13, 1817
2955. Joel Carstarphen 7, born Aug. 30, 1818
2956. Matilda Price 7, born Feb. 9, 1821; married [15 Mar 1854] Rev. Daniel L. Russell
2957. Robert Carstarphen 7, born March 25, 1823; died May 25, 1852
2958. William P. 7, born April 15, 1825; died July 19, 1829
2959. James C. 7, born Jan. 27, 1827; died June 4, 1830
2960. George A. 7, born Jan. 4, 1830; died June 22, 1833


According to this source, Capt. Ezra Richmond died at his home near Hannibal, Missouri.

From the Niles' weekly register, published in 1828:


Mr. Johnson, of Ky., presented a memorial from Ezra Richmond, of Franklin county, Kentucky, praying that the commissioners of the navy may be directed to contract for a quantity of cordage, manufactured from American hemp, to be used in the navy with a view of ascertain its quality in comparison with that manufactured of Russian hemp. Ordered to be referred to the committee on naval affairs, and to be printed.

Ezra Richmond can be found here on this database of the Myles Standish Society
and are Mayflower Descendants through Silvester Richmond's wife, Elizabeth Rogers.

From "The Bench and bar of St. Louis....is a bio of Ezra Richmond's son,
Richard Fell Richmond:

THIRTY years ago one of the leading lawyers in Marion county was Richard
Fell Richmond, a native of Franklin county, Kentucky, born February 22,
1810. His father, Ezra Richmond, was a rope maker, and the son learned the
same trade. He studied law at the Lexington University, Kentucky; came to
Saint Louis in 1841, and in the same year settled at Hannibal, where he rose to
distinction as an advocate. He had a tine address, was courteous in manners,
and a belles lettres scholar.

Mr. Richmond was a member of the legislature one term, being elected in
1844, and was afterward (1846) beaten for the same office by Colonel T. L. Ander-
son, the Whig candidate, though Mr. Richmond ran far ahead of his (the demo-
cratic) ticket.

Colonel Richmond was a Mason and Odd-Fellow, and well known over most
of the state. He was a man of great amiability, and had many warm personal
friends, who speak of him with tears in their eyes. He died in 1856, leaving a
wife and two sons, two other sons having died before he did. William T., the
eldest son, was a lawyer in Saint Louis, and died in 1866; Bainbridge, a printer,
is living at Hannibal.

This source stated that Mary Hopkins Harrison Richardson, the mother
of Richard Fell Richmond's second wife, Mary, was a descendant of
Lady Joan Beaufort. 

Elizabeth (Carstarphen) Richmond is found here in the 1860
MO Census.  Living with Elizabeth are Joel C. Richmond, her son;
Matilda Russell, her daughter, and William Russell, her grandson.
Next door is Mary Richmond, Richard Fell Richmond's widow, and
Bainbridge and William Richmond.

1880 MO Census Marion Co., Hannibal

W. H. RUSSELL Self S MaleW23 MO Editor NH KY
Matilda R. RUSSELL MotherW W59 KY Keeps House VT NC
B. H. RICHMOND Cousin S MaleW 32 MO Printer KY KY


William Hepburn Russell's bio here: