Benjamin Richardson....he chose for his new home in Texas a location well down the country from Sandy Creek and Walnut Run. Originally from Georgia he had lived in St. Tammany Perish, Louisiana, for about twenty years when he decided to take advantage of the very liberal land grants in Zavala's Colony.

His league is on the east bank of the Naches River where Evadale now stands. The bluff where he lived, now called Ford's, was known at first as Richardson's Bluff, and here he and three of his sons operated a ferry. He died about 1849 and in 1851 his widow moved the family to Tyler County where she had bought a new home a mile east of the present town of Hillister.

This is part of Benjamin's Last Will that we have received from the Jasper County Clerk's office dated and filed in 1849; the final settlement was made and recorded November 22, 1881.

"Exhibit M" "The following named persons are entitled to receive portions of said Estate. Heirs of John Richardson, Dec'd, Son of Decedent, Elly Richardson, Adult, Jasper Co TX; Larkin A. Richardson, Adult, Jasper Co TX; Children of Betsie and Joseph Bunn, Bpsibun Bunn, Orange Co TX; Vestile Bunn, Oxley Bunn, Pearly Bunn, Martha Jane Bunn, Dicey Bunn, all of Orange Co TX; Children of Margaret, Thomas Chesser, Adult, Jasper Co TX; John Frazer, Adult, Jasper Co TX; Larkin Frazer, residence unknown; Sarah Bristow, Adult, Robertson Co TX; Andrew Richardson, Adult, Robertson Co TX; Jacob Richardson, Adult, Palo Pinto Co TX; Abel Richardson and Amos Richardson, both Adults, Jasper Co TX; Heirs of Kinsey Richardson, Dec'd, names, residences and ages unknown; Mary Ann Thompson, Adult, Robertson Co TX; Andrew Richardson, Adult, Limestone Co TX; Clarissa Taylor, Adult, Smith Co TX; Lettie Thompson, Adult, residence unknown; Heirs of Robert Richardson, Dec'd, son of Decedent, Gen. Lafayette Richardson, Adult, Jasper Co TX; Allen Richardson, Adult, Jasper Co TX; Heirs of Andrew J Richardson, Dec'd, son of Decedent, Amazon Richardson, Adult, Jasper Co TX; Edmund Richardson, Stephen F. Austin Richardson, James Richardson, Mary J. Richardson, all Adults, all in Hardin Co TX; Heirs of Benjamin Richardson, Dec'd, son of Decedent, William Richardson, Adult, Hardin Co TX; Wash Richardson, Adult, Calcasieu Parish LA; Some daughters of Benjamin Richardson, Jr., Dec'd, names unknown; Daughter of Decedent, Sarah Williford, Adult, Hardin Co TX; Son of Decedent, George W Richardson, Adult, Hardin Co TX; Daughter of Decedent, Lettie Holmes, Adult, Hardin Co TX; Heir of Rebecca Williams, Dec'd, daughter of Decedent, Sarah J. Williams, Adult, Hardin Co TX; Heirs of Patsy Isaacks, Dec'd, daughter of Decedent, names and ages unknown, residence in Galveston Co TX; Heirs of Mary Little, Dec'd, daughter of Decedent, Martha Stacey, Adult, Liberty Co TX; Elizabeth Thurmond, Adult, Liberty Co TX; Heirs of Gincey Johnson, names, ages and residence unknown. (Never came to Texas); Heirs of Ripley Richardson, dec'd, son of Decedent, Frances Richardson, Adult, Hardin Co TX."

November 22, 1881

"In the Estate of Benjamin Richardson, Dec'd. The Account of John A Richardson, Administrator of said estate for final settlement thereof having been presented and filed in the Court for final settlement thereof having been presented and field in the Court by said Admr on the 25th day of July A.D. 1881, and citation having been issued and returned served in the manner required by law, and the court having carefully examined and said account and the vouchers accompanying the same and heard the evidence in support thereof and there being no objections or exceptions filed thereto and the Court having audited and settle the same as is ordered by the Court that the said account be and the same is hereby approved, and that the same be recorded upon the Minutes of the Court."