Re: Malinda Helms
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In reply to:
Re: Malinda Helms
Tamara Raines 3/29/07
Can you tell me who the parents of Anna Ritch were? Some sources state she was a daughter of Edmond/Edmund Ritch (c.1775-1859) and his wife Rachel Cochran, but since Anna is said to have been born in 1797, and Edmund and Rachel weren't married until 1799, I think this might be wrong. I wonder if Anna might not have been a daughter of John Ritch (d.1837/8) and his wife Susannah, my 4th great grandparents. Edmond and John owned adjoining plantations, and I think they were probably brothers or cousins.
I am also researching the possibility that John Ritch's wife Susannah (1760s-1840s) may have been Susannah Helms, born c. 1767, a daughter of Tilman Helms and Rachel Craig. Some sources say Susannah Helms married Col. David Ritch, and went to Muscogee Co., Ga. However, census records suggest that Mrs. David Ritch was younger than Susannah Helms would have been. I think David was probably a brother of John, too.
John Ritch and his wife Susannah appear from the census records to have had as many as fourteen children, but he only mentioned seven of them in his will, six daughters and one son. He left his property to his wife and these daughters, and made the son the executor of the will. I presume he provided for the others earlier, or they had died. The known children of John Ritch, mentioned in his will, were: Katty (Katie? Katherine? no other information), Charity (c.1799, m. William Keziah in 1827), Mary "Polly" (c.1800, m. John M. Rea in 1821), Olivia "Livy" (c.1802-1869/70, m. Valentine A. Stearns/Starnes in 1824, my line), Elizabeth (d.1877, m. James Howard), Rachel (m. Daniel Walker in 1833) and Elijah (c.1813/4-1870s, m. Elizabeth Morris in 1834).
Other possible children of John and Susannah Ritch were: Thomas Ritch (c.1793-1867, went to Alabama), Anna, mentioned above, Tilman Ritch (c.1798, went to Indiana).
I'd appreciate any information you could give me.
Best Regards,
John Field Pankow
Asheville, NC