Richard J. Eddins was born about 1833, a son of Richard Eddins and Elizabeth Wilson. He had four brothers and seven sisters. His parents, Richard and Elizabeth Wilson Eddins moved from Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Alabama before 1820. Based on the birth of their first 6 children all but Hosea was born in Alabama starting with William on 24 March 1816. Richard John T. Eddins, born about 1833, was the last child borne of this marriage.
In July 1820, Richard Eddins executed the following Deed of Gift to his 7 named children.
Know all men by these presents I Richard Eddings of the County of Walton and State of Alabama have this day given granted and delivered for the consideration of the Love and affection I bear to my beloved said children - Namely, Hosey, Harriet, Louisa, Jane, William, Leadia [Lydia] & Jackson all Eddings), the following property Two Negroes Namely Sophia a girl and Elias a boy - two head of horses and twenty head of cattle forty head of hogs One Barge with a riding chair and one horse cast with all the household and Kitchen furniture and all and every other article of property that I the said Richard Eddings am now in possession of to their own proper use and I do at this time relinquish all right title claim and interest of the above named property to the aforesaid named children and their heirs and Lawfull assigns forever - In witness I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this this 29th day of July 1820. Richard Eddins
Richard J. Eddins married Catherine Frances Wheeler about 1862 in Alabama. No marriage certificate or announcement has been found and the date is based on their known first-born child. The 1870 Census shows them with 2 daughters:
- Ellen R. EDDINGS, female, age 7, born in AL.
- Mary Jane EDDINGS, Female, age 3, born in AL.
Sometime between 1880-1885, Catherine Frances (Wheeler) Eddins passed away. Richard J. Eddins then married Emma Morris on 15 January 1885 in Crenshaw County, Alabama. Emma was the widow of George Morris. Through this union was borne 4 children: 3 daughters and a son.
Richard J. Eddins and Emma (Sullivan) Morris had the following children:
i. Millard T. Eddins, born 16 May 1886, Alabama; married Elizabeth D. Ward; died 18 Jan 1963, Santa Rosa County, Florida.
ii. Sarah Eddins was born in Feb 1890 in Alabama.
iii. Susie E. Eddins was born on 2 Apr 1892 in Alabama. She died on 8 Apr 1958 at the age of 66.
iv. Ida Eddins, born 29 Oct 1895, Alabama; married William Broxton Qualls, 18 Jul 1915, Walton, Florida; died 26 Jul 1985, Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Richard J. Eddins died on 2 January 1900.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5JC-9C83
Emma (Morris) Eddings died on 28 July 1934 in Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Richard J. Eddins is my 1st Cousin 4X Removed.
NOTE: Online genealogical trees list this individual as Richard John Thrashley Eddins. However, his Fold3 Civil War service record is the only document found that identifies him as Richard J. T. Eddins. It does not indicate what the initials J. and T. stand for.
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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed January 2023); Memorial page for Richard J. Eddins; (1833–1900); Find a Grave memorial # 12306158, Citing Jernigan Cemetery; Santa Rosa County, Florida, USA.
2. 1850 U. S. Census, Pike County, Alabama, population schedule, Pike, Alabama, Page: 262A (stamped); Line 16, Dwelling 1731, Family 1731, Household of Elizabeth EDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 13.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Pike County, Alabama, population schedule, Eastern Division, Pike, Alabama, Page: 287(stamped); Line 3, Dwelling 762, Family 770, Household of Richard EDDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 3 April 2018); citing National Archives Microfilm M653 Roll 21.
4. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/: accessed February 2023), entry for Richard J T Eddins, Pvt.; Co D 1st ALA Conscript C.S.A.; Confederate.
5. 1866 State Census, Pike County, Alabama, population schedule, Pike County, Richard Eddins; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online February 2023).
6. 1870 U. S. Census, Pike, County, Alabama, population schedule, Grimes, Pike, Alabama, Page: 366A(stamped), Line 27, Dwelling 56, Family 56, Household of Richard EDDINGS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 8 May 2019); citing NARA publication M593_37.
7. Land Deed - Richard J. Eddins and Wife Emma to Millard F. Eddins – Deed of Gift; 13 December 1886; Deed Book #K; Page(s) 509 and 510; The Chancery Clerk's Office; Troy, Pike County, Alabama; 16 December 2019.
8. Richard J Eddins, 4 October 1898; U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015; Dept. of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL 36130.
9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Richard J. Eddins (1833–1900), Memorial # 12306158.
10. 1870 U. S. Census, Pike, County, Alabama, population schedule, Grimes, Pike, Alabama, Page: 366A(stamped), Line 27, Dwelling 56, Family 56, Household of Richard EDDINGS.
11. "Alabama, County Marriage Records, 1805-1967," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: Online February 2023), Marriage: R. J. Eddins & Emma Morris, 001288731.
12. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5JC-9C83