A Guide to the Ritchie Family Correspondence, 1795-1871 Ritchie Family Correspondence, 1795-1871 22120d

A Guide to the Ritchie Family Correspondence, 1795-1871

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 22120d


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© 2006 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
22120d
Title
Ritchie Family Correspondence, 1795-1871
Physical Description
89 pages
Creator
Ritchie Family
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Ritchie Family Correspondence, 1795-1871. Accession 22120d. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from C. J. Carrier, Bridgewater, Virginia, 28 April 1943.

Biographical Information

Born 23 November 1797, John Ritchie lived in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He married Emily V. Hartsook (b. ca. 1821) of Orange County, Virginia, 15 March 1842. John Ritchie died 10 April 1861 and was buried at Timber Ridge Presbyterian cemetery. His brother James M. Ritchie (1803-1856) lived in Tennessee along with his wife Lucy and their children. John Ritchie's sisters Sarah Ritchie and Ann Fulton lived in Ohio with Ann's husband John Fulton (d. ca. 1849).

Scope and Content

Correspondence, 1795-1871, of the Ritchie family of Rockbridge County, Virginia, Ohio, and Tennessee, consisting mainly of letters to John Ritchie (1797-1861) from his brother James M. Ritchie (1803-1856) in Tennessee and from his brother-in-law John Fulton (d. ca. 1849) in Ohio. The letters include descriptions of travel and life in developing frontier areas. There is one letter from Claybourn Boyd, serving in the Union army as it passes through Rockbridge County.

Contents List

Letter, 3 September 1795, from Nathaniel Evans and Margit [Margaret] Evans to James Richay [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, Virginia, stating that they and their family are in good health and sending greetings to friends.
Letter, 16 October 1818, from James McKnight, Franklin County, Indiana, to James Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, describing his journey to Indiana, his difficulties with James Wilson on the way, and other matters.
Letter, 15 December 1827, from James. M. Ritchey [Ritchie], [Lebanon, Tennessee?], to his brother John Ritchey [Ritchie, Rockbridge County, concerning his move to Tennessee, the land and business in the area, discussing other family and friends, encouraging John to move there, and sending the birthdates of himself and his family.
Letter, 27 April 1828, from John Ross, Fulton County, Ohio, to his brother-in-law John Richey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, describing his family's journey to Ohio and sending news.
Letter, 12 July 1830, from John Fulton, Ross County, to John Richey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, stating that he will be in Rockbridge soon and will collect money for his wife who is buying land, and adding that Ritchie should return to Ohio with him.
Letter, 10 December 1830, from James Richie [Ritchie] to John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, asking him to bring money from Mr. Griffin when he comes at Christmas.
Letter, 24 October 1832, from James Richie [Ritchie] to John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, hoping that John is well and asking him to come over before the election. James hopes John has his wagon done.
Letter, 28 September 1833, from James Ritchie, Buffalo Springs, [?], to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, stating that he will probably buy some land and asking for his wagon.
Letter, 15 October 1835, from James Richie [Ritchie] to John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning business matters, including the selling of a slave.
Letter, 30 May 1836, from James Richie [Ritchie], Wilson County, Tennessee, to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, sending news of his family, commenting on his efforts to raise money and asking for help, and commenting on the weather and agriculture in Wilson County.
Letter, 10 January 1837, from James and Lucy Richie [Ritchie], Wilson County, to John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning his family, John's last letter, his tobacco in Wilson County and difficult economic times, and other matters.
Letter, 10 January 1839, from James M. Richie [Ritchie] and family, Wilson County, to John Richie [Ritchie] Rockbridge County, concerning his farming and land in Wilson County, stating he would not live in Virginia again, commenting that he is sending his children to school, and other matters.
Letter, 22 June 1839, John Fulton, [Ohio], to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending news of his family and commenting on his crops, including wheat, and their market.
Letter, 1 September 1839, from James M. Richie [Ritchie] and family, Wilson County, to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, commenting on family, stating that he might move to Alabama, commenting on politics in Tennessee, and on agriculture and the economy.
Letter, 20 January 1840, from James M. Richie [Ritchie], Sumner County, Tennessee, to John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, stating that he has moved to Sumner County, describing the agriculture in the area, and commenting on Tennessee politics.
Letter, 13 May 1841, from James M. Richie [Ritchie], Sumner County, to John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, describing a trip he took through Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, commenting on his health, encouraging his brother to come to Tennessee, and sending other family news. He asks John to send a copy of a deed recorded in Amherst County, Virginia.
Letter, 8 December 1841, from John Fulton, Madazon [Madison] County, Ohio, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending family news and commenting on the agriculture and economy.
Letter, 6 February 1842, from Isabelah Richie [Ritchie], [Sumner County], to her uncle John Richie [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending greetings and family news.
Letter, March 1842, from Ann Hartsook, Orange County, Virginia, to Emily V. Hartsook [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending family news and briefly commenting on Emily's marriage.
Letter, 9 May 184[2?], from Thomas Wright, Lynchburg, Virginia, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, congratulating him on his marriage and commenting on the price of oats.
Letter, 10 July 1842, from Sally C. Ritchey, Madason [Madison] County, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending family news and congratulating John on his marriage.
Letter, 23 July 1843, from John Fulton, Madason [Madison] County, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending news and commenting on the poor crops this season.
Letter, 15 March 1845, from James M. Ritchie, Sumner County, to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, sending family news, commenting on agricultural prices, remarking on politics, and adding that his daughter is married. He adds he might move to Texas.
Letter, 1 September 1845, from James M. Ritchie, Sumner County, to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, commenting on his family's health, agriculutural prices, and politics. He adds that John should move to Tennessee.
Letter, 20 September 1846, from John Fulton, Madason [Madison] County, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending family news and commenting on agricultural prices.
Letter, 16 January 1847, from Elizabeth Parrott and Martha Parrott, Orange County, to Emily V. Ritchie, Rockbridge County, sending family and social news.
Letter, 19 July 1847, from J. C. L. Atkins, Lewis County, (West) Virginia, to Emily V. Ritchey [Ritchie] sending family news, describing the county, and commenting on agricultural prices.
Letter, 11 August 1847, from John H. Gregory, Amherst County, Virginia, to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, stating that Ritchie's slave was troublesome.
Letter, 8 October 1847, from John Fulton, Madison County, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning the death of his wife and other family news.
Letter, 14 December 1847, from Philip M. Siler to John Richey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning an accident to him and "Jorge."
Letter, 9 April 1848, from Robert Rea to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning difficulty over a note between Ritchie and Andrew McLaughlin.
Letter, 11 December 1848, from J. C. L. Atkins, Lewis County, to Emily V. Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning family and personal news, including commenting on buying a slave.
Letter, 16 April 1849, from R. M. Atkins, Lewis County, to Emily V. Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning the death of Jane Atkins and the care of her children.
Letter, 1 April 1850, from Sarah Ritchey [Ritchie], Jefferson, [Ohio?], to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, sending family news, including the births of her children.
Letter, 7 June 1850, from James M. Ritchie, Weakley County, Tennessee, to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, sending family news, including the births and deaths of his children.
Letter, 25 January 1851, from James A. F. Randolph, Rockbridge County, to John Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning the building of a chimney.
Letter, 10 November 1853, from Claybourn Boyd, Jefferson, Ohio, to his uncle John Richey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, introducing himself, sending family news, and stating that Ritchie's sister would like him to write.
Letter, 23 April 1854, from Sarah C. Richey [Richey], [Ohio], to John Richey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, providing news on the Fulton and Ritchie families in Ohio, and adding that she will come to visit John if he sends money for her to do so. Includes a note from his nephey John Ritchey [Ritchie].
Letter, 9 August 1854, from Sarah C. Richey [Ritchie] to John Richey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, again asking for money so she can visit, and sending general news. Included are two poems, one titled "Maud Muller."
Letter, 1 November 1858, from Robert M. Ritchie, [Weakley County, Tennessee], to John Ritchie, Rockbridge County, informing him of the death of James M. Ritchie, sending family news, and describing the poor conditions of their part of Tennessee.
Letter, 5 March 1871, from Isabella C. Carter [nee Ritchie], Mifflin, Tennessee, to an unknown recipient sending family news and asking for news. Possibly she wrote this to John Ritchie, not knowing he was deceased.
Letter, 27 July no year, from James Richey [Ritchie] to John Richey [Ritchie] concerning financial matters.
Letter, 18 September no year, from Robert Campbell Ritchey and Anny Ritchey [Ritchie] to James Ritchey [Ritchie], Rockbridge County, concerning their move to Kentucky.
Letter, 12 July 1864, from Clayborn Boyd, Company C, 23rd Ohio Infantry, Crook's command, Lexington, Virginia, to his Aunt Jane [Ritchie?] commenting that he has passed near her residence, but cannot visit. He states he is fighting to preserve the Union and hopes the war will end soon.