Ransom4 Ricks (John3, Edward2, Jonas1) was born in North Carolina between 18 July–23 October 1820. James Monroe was President of the United States. Ransom married Nancy Gilaland [Gilliland] 7 August 1838 in DeKalb County, Alabama. However, they lived in Blount County during the 1840 census, probably in the vicinity of the common Blount–DeKalb County line.
A ledger of the business accounts of Allen Avery, for the years 1836–1838, included entries for Ransom, his uncle Seth Ricks, Jacob Robbins Sr., and several Gillilands. Most customers in the ledger lived in the area that later became Etowah County.
Ransom could not read or write, so the census taker probably spelled the surname as it sounded: "Rix." The surname appeared most commonly as "Ricks." In 1840, he was the only family head of that surname in Blount County, and he lived near his Robbins relatives—some were brothers of Massey (Robbins) Ricks (1840 census)
R. RIX (this is Ransom Ricks)
• 1 male 0–5 (Andrew Mattison Ricks, born 1839)
• 1 male 15–19 (Ransom Ricks, born 1820)
• 1 female 15–19 (Nancy Gilliland, born 1823)
Name: Page:
• Ransom Robbins 84
• William Robbins 93 (father was Levi Robbins)
• J(acob) Robbins 96
• A(nnis) Robbins 96 (wife of Daniel Robbins, deceased 1834)
At an estimated age of twenty-five, Ransom Ricks purchased Public Domain land in DeKalb County 1 June 1845. Etowah County's oldest plat book shows the land in his name as of 20 February 1843. Ransom's per-emption claim for the public land contained a statement by John M. Roden and Asa Smith that Ransom had settled his land since 1 January 1842. The land he owned is just east of Line Creek. The only close neighbor at that time, Leroy Burns, lived to the east of Ransom's property. Later, property owners to the west were Isham Sheffield and the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad. On a modern-day county map, the land is approximately five miles northwest of Attalla, Alabama, west of U.S. Highway 431, and two miles northwest of Ridgeville, Alabama.
Leroy Burns received his land by pre-emption claim 2 September 1842. William Griffin and Jesse Smith swore that Leroy lived on and cultivated about twenty-five of his eighty acres settled since 1 June 1840.
Five of Ransom's children were born in Alabama between 1839–1846, most likely in Blount or DeKalb Counties. His father-in-law John Gilliland was an early Blount County resident and a member of the Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church. Reverend Gilliland's estate records reveal that in 1839 Nancy N. Ricks received a pre-inheritance gift of $112.25. Perhaps this gift was to help the young couple settle their land. They also had expenses when their first child was born in 1839.
About a decade later, Ransom sold his property to John Gilliland for $108. Nancy Nesbit Ricks relinquished her right of dower 24 June 1848, and Ransom acknowledged the title transfer 6 July 1848. Witnesses to the deed were Reuben Ricks and James A. Gilliland. This last date probably marks Ransom's departure from Alabama and their approximate arrival in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, during the latter part of 1848.
Four children were born in Mississippi, between 1850–56. John W. Ricks was the first, during late January or early February 1850, most likely in Pontotoc County.
Dwelling/Name Age Sex/Occupation Born
1334 Ransom Ricks 30 M /Farmer AL [1860 census showed b. N. C.]
Nancy 27 F AL
Mattison 11 M AL
Ann 9 F AL
Lucinda 7 F AL
Martha 5 F AL
Sarah 4 F AL
John 8/12. M MS
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History reported that they did not find Ransom's name on indexed land and tax records for Pontotoc and Tishomingo Counties. Ransom had the proceeds ($108) from the sale of his Alabama land, and his demonstrated propensity for owning land would have created the urge to own some Mississippi turf. Tishomingo is a burned county with limited early records, but the 1860 census shows that Ransom owned land valued at $800.
Upon close, personal review of the 1861 land tax rolls for Tishomingo County, the mystery of Ransom's land ownership became clear. Again, there was a variation in the spelling of his surname. Ranson Riggs paid taxes on sixty acres identified as "part of southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." The total value reported was $750. Enumerated next to Ransom was James Junkins with twenty acres. Unfortunately, the actual deed does not survive, but the tax roll land description matches that sold by Nancy Ricks in 1868 (discussed later). In 1870, J. O. Sikes owned seventy-three acres of land identified as the "part of the southwest [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." James Junkins owned twenty acres of the "southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]."
Ransom Ricks died nine days after being released from the infamous Civil War prison at Fort Delaware, Delaware, in 1865. He is buried at Old Carrollville Cemetery, Frankstown, Prentiss County, Mississippi. Nancy and her family returned to Etowah County and was in Gadsden in 1870. During the 1880 census she was enumerated with her son Harvey's family in Armory, Monroe County, Mississippi.
As we all know, the census for 1880 and most other records that help us track family members were destroyed by fire or by poor records keeping.. After twenty years of the "gray period" between census data, 1880-1900, there was no further information available for Nancy N. Ricks. Her son Harvey and his family lived in Monroe County until just before 1910 and moved to Arkansas, where he died on 18 February 1939 (aged 79), at Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. His mother (and my great-great-great grandmother) was apparently deceased by that event.
After over twenty years of searching diligently for a clue as to where Nancy Gilliland was buried, I decided to bring her "home" to Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery to rest while we all await God's call. If and when someone actually discovers her precise resting place, this will be her familiar surroundings memorial.
Donald Milton Ricks, The Descendants of Jonas Ricks and Other Ricks Families in America (Dexter, Mich.: Thomas-Shore, Inc., 1998)
A copy of this genealogy is available at the Blount County, Alabama, Museum. Included within Appendix A is an abstract of the estate records for Reverend John and Sarah Gilliland.
A ledger of the business accounts of Allen Avery, for the years 1836–1838, included entries for Ransom, his uncle Seth Ricks, Jacob Robbins Sr., and several Gillilands. Most customers in the ledger lived in the area that later became Etowah County.
Ransom could not read or write, so the census taker probably spelled the surname as it sounded: "Rix." The surname appeared most commonly as "Ricks." In 1840, he was the only family head of that surname in Blount County, and he lived near his Robbins relatives—some were brothers of Massey (Robbins) Ricks (1840 census)
R. RIX (this is Ransom Ricks)
• 1 male 0–5 (Andrew Mattison Ricks, born 1839)
• 1 male 15–19 (Ransom Ricks, born 1820)
• 1 female 15–19 (Nancy Gilliland, born 1823)
Name: Page:
• Ransom Robbins 84
• William Robbins 93 (father was Levi Robbins)
• J(acob) Robbins 96
• A(nnis) Robbins 96 (wife of Daniel Robbins, deceased 1834)
At an estimated age of twenty-five, Ransom Ricks purchased Public Domain land in DeKalb County 1 June 1845. Etowah County's oldest plat book shows the land in his name as of 20 February 1843. Ransom's per-emption claim for the public land contained a statement by John M. Roden and Asa Smith that Ransom had settled his land since 1 January 1842. The land he owned is just east of Line Creek. The only close neighbor at that time, Leroy Burns, lived to the east of Ransom's property. Later, property owners to the west were Isham Sheffield and the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad. On a modern-day county map, the land is approximately five miles northwest of Attalla, Alabama, west of U.S. Highway 431, and two miles northwest of Ridgeville, Alabama.
Leroy Burns received his land by pre-emption claim 2 September 1842. William Griffin and Jesse Smith swore that Leroy lived on and cultivated about twenty-five of his eighty acres settled since 1 June 1840.
Five of Ransom's children were born in Alabama between 1839–1846, most likely in Blount or DeKalb Counties. His father-in-law John Gilliland was an early Blount County resident and a member of the Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church. Reverend Gilliland's estate records reveal that in 1839 Nancy N. Ricks received a pre-inheritance gift of $112.25. Perhaps this gift was to help the young couple settle their land. They also had expenses when their first child was born in 1839.
About a decade later, Ransom sold his property to John Gilliland for $108. Nancy Nesbit Ricks relinquished her right of dower 24 June 1848, and Ransom acknowledged the title transfer 6 July 1848. Witnesses to the deed were Reuben Ricks and James A. Gilliland. This last date probably marks Ransom's departure from Alabama and their approximate arrival in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, during the latter part of 1848.
Four children were born in Mississippi, between 1850–56. John W. Ricks was the first, during late January or early February 1850, most likely in Pontotoc County.
Dwelling/Name Age Sex/Occupation Born
1334 Ransom Ricks 30 M /Farmer AL [1860 census showed b. N. C.]
Nancy 27 F AL
Mattison 11 M AL
Ann 9 F AL
Lucinda 7 F AL
Martha 5 F AL
Sarah 4 F AL
John 8/12. M MS
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History reported that they did not find Ransom's name on indexed land and tax records for Pontotoc and Tishomingo Counties. Ransom had the proceeds ($108) from the sale of his Alabama land, and his demonstrated propensity for owning land would have created the urge to own some Mississippi turf. Tishomingo is a burned county with limited early records, but the 1860 census shows that Ransom owned land valued at $800.
Upon close, personal review of the 1861 land tax rolls for Tishomingo County, the mystery of Ransom's land ownership became clear. Again, there was a variation in the spelling of his surname. Ranson Riggs paid taxes on sixty acres identified as "part of southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." The total value reported was $750. Enumerated next to Ransom was James Junkins with twenty acres. Unfortunately, the actual deed does not survive, but the tax roll land description matches that sold by Nancy Ricks in 1868 (discussed later). In 1870, J. O. Sikes owned seventy-three acres of land identified as the "part of the southwest [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." James Junkins owned twenty acres of the "southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]."
Ransom Ricks died nine days after being released from the infamous Civil War prison at Fort Delaware, Delaware, in 1865. He is buried at Old Carrollville Cemetery, Frankstown, Prentiss County, Mississippi. Nancy and her family returned to Etowah County and was in Gadsden in 1870. During the 1880 census she was enumerated with her son Harvey's family in Armory, Monroe County, Mississippi.
As we all know, the census for 1880 and most other records that help us track family members were destroyed by fire or by poor records keeping.. After twenty years of the "gray period" between census data, 1880-1900, there was no further information available for Nancy N. Ricks. Her son Harvey and his family lived in Monroe County until just before 1910 and moved to Arkansas, where he died on 18 February 1939 (aged 79), at Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. His mother (and my great-great-great grandmother) was apparently deceased by that event.
After over twenty years of searching diligently for a clue as to where Nancy Gilliland was buried, I decided to bring her "home" to Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery to rest while we all await God's call. If and when someone actually discovers her precise resting place, this will be her familiar surroundings memorial.
Donald Milton Ricks, The Descendants of Jonas Ricks and Other Ricks Families in America (Dexter, Mich.: Thomas-Shore, Inc., 1998)
A copy of this genealogy is available at the Blount County, Alabama, Museum. Included within Appendix A is an abstract of the estate records for Reverend John and Sarah Gilliland.
Ransom4 Ricks (John3, Edward2, Jonas1) was born in North Carolina between 18 July–23 October 1820. James Monroe was President of the United States. Ransom married Nancy Gilaland [Gilliland] 7 August 1838 in DeKalb County, Alabama. However, they lived in Blount County during the 1840 census, probably in the vicinity of the common Blount–DeKalb County line.
A ledger of the business accounts of Allen Avery, for the years 1836–1838, included entries for Ransom, his uncle Seth Ricks, Jacob Robbins Sr., and several Gillilands. Most customers in the ledger lived in the area that later became Etowah County.
Ransom could not read or write, so the census taker probably spelled the surname as it sounded: "Rix." The surname appeared most commonly as "Ricks." In 1840, he was the only family head of that surname in Blount County, and he lived near his Robbins relatives—some were brothers of Massey (Robbins) Ricks (1840 census)
R. RIX (this is Ransom Ricks)
• 1 male 0–5 (Andrew Mattison Ricks, born 1839)
• 1 male 15–19 (Ransom Ricks, born 1820)
• 1 female 15–19 (Nancy Gilliland, born 1823)
Name: Page:
• Ransom Robbins 84
• William Robbins 93 (father was Levi Robbins)
• J(acob) Robbins 96
• A(nnis) Robbins 96 (wife of Daniel Robbins, deceased 1834)
At an estimated age of twenty-five, Ransom Ricks purchased Public Domain land in DeKalb County 1 June 1845. Etowah County's oldest plat book shows the land in his name as of 20 February 1843. Ransom's per-emption claim for the public land contained a statement by John M. Roden and Asa Smith that Ransom had settled his land since 1 January 1842. The land he owned is just east of Line Creek. The only close neighbor at that time, Leroy Burns, lived to the east of Ransom's property. Later, property owners to the west were Isham Sheffield and the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad. On a modern-day county map, the land is approximately five miles northwest of Attalla, Alabama, west of U.S. Highway 431, and two miles northwest of Ridgeville, Alabama.
Leroy Burns received his land by pre-emption claim 2 September 1842. William Griffin and Jesse Smith swore that Leroy lived on and cultivated about twenty-five of his eighty acres settled since 1 June 1840.
Five of Ransom's children were born in Alabama between 1839–1846, most likely in Blount or DeKalb Counties. His father-in-law John Gilliland was an early Blount County resident and a member of the Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church. Reverend Gilliland's estate records reveal that in 1839 Nancy N. Ricks received a pre-inheritance gift of $112.25. Perhaps this gift was to help the young couple settle their land. They also had expenses when their first child was born in 1839.
About a decade later, Ransom sold his property to John Gilliland for $108. Nancy Nesbit Ricks relinquished her right of dower 24 June 1848, and Ransom acknowledged the title transfer 6 July 1848. Witnesses to the deed were Reuben Ricks and James A. Gilliland. This last date probably marks Ransom's departure from Alabama and their approximate arrival in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, during the latter part of 1848.
Four children were born in Mississippi, between 1850–56. John W. Ricks was the first, during late January or early February 1850, most likely in Pontotoc County.
Dwelling/Name Age Sex/Occupation Born
1334 Ransom Ricks 30 M /Farmer AL [1860 census showed b. N. C.]
Nancy 27 F AL
Mattison 11 M AL
Ann 9 F AL
Lucinda 7 F AL
Martha 5 F AL
Sarah 4 F AL
John 8/12. M MS
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History reported that they did not find Ransom's name on indexed land and tax records for Pontotoc and Tishomingo Counties. Ransom had the proceeds ($108) from the sale of his Alabama land, and his demonstrated propensity for owning land would have created the urge to own some Mississippi turf. Tishomingo is a burned county with limited early records, but the 1860 census shows that Ransom owned land valued at $800.
Upon close, personal review of the 1861 land tax rolls for Tishomingo County, the mystery of Ransom's land ownership became clear. Again, there was a variation in the spelling of his surname. Ranson Riggs paid taxes on sixty acres identified as "part of southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." The total value reported was $750. Enumerated next to Ransom was James Junkins with twenty acres. Unfortunately, the actual deed does not survive, but the tax roll land description matches that sold by Nancy Ricks in 1868 (discussed later). In 1870, J. O. Sikes owned seventy-three acres of land identified as the "part of the southwest [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." James Junkins owned twenty acres of the "southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]."
Ransom Ricks died nine days after being released from the infamous Civil War prison at Fort Delaware, Delaware, in 1865. He is buried at Old Carrollville Cemetery, Frankstown, Prentiss County, Mississippi. Nancy and her family returned to Etowah County and was in Gadsden in 1870. During the 1880 census she was enumerated with her son Harvey's family in Armory, Monroe County, Mississippi.
As we all know, the census for 1880 and most other records that help us track family members were destroyed by fire or by poor records keeping.. After twenty years of the "gray period" between census data, 1880-1900, there was no further information available for Nancy N. Ricks. Her son Harvey and his family lived in Monroe County until just before 1910 and moved to Arkansas, where he died on 18 February 1939 (aged 79), at Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. His mother (and my great-great-great grandmother) was apparently deceased by that event.
After over twenty years of searching diligently for a clue as to where Nancy Gilliland was buried, I decided to bring her "home" to Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery to rest while we all await God's call. If and when someone actually discovers her precise resting place, this will be her familiar surroundings memorial.
Donald Milton Ricks, The Descendants of Jonas Ricks and Other Ricks Families in America (Dexter, Mich.: Thomas-Shore, Inc., 1998)
A copy of this genealogy is available at the Blount County, Alabama, Museum. Included within Appendix A is an abstract of the estate records for Reverend John and Sarah Gilliland.
A ledger of the business accounts of Allen Avery, for the years 1836–1838, included entries for Ransom, his uncle Seth Ricks, Jacob Robbins Sr., and several Gillilands. Most customers in the ledger lived in the area that later became Etowah County.
Ransom could not read or write, so the census taker probably spelled the surname as it sounded: "Rix." The surname appeared most commonly as "Ricks." In 1840, he was the only family head of that surname in Blount County, and he lived near his Robbins relatives—some were brothers of Massey (Robbins) Ricks (1840 census)
R. RIX (this is Ransom Ricks)
• 1 male 0–5 (Andrew Mattison Ricks, born 1839)
• 1 male 15–19 (Ransom Ricks, born 1820)
• 1 female 15–19 (Nancy Gilliland, born 1823)
Name: Page:
• Ransom Robbins 84
• William Robbins 93 (father was Levi Robbins)
• J(acob) Robbins 96
• A(nnis) Robbins 96 (wife of Daniel Robbins, deceased 1834)
At an estimated age of twenty-five, Ransom Ricks purchased Public Domain land in DeKalb County 1 June 1845. Etowah County's oldest plat book shows the land in his name as of 20 February 1843. Ransom's per-emption claim for the public land contained a statement by John M. Roden and Asa Smith that Ransom had settled his land since 1 January 1842. The land he owned is just east of Line Creek. The only close neighbor at that time, Leroy Burns, lived to the east of Ransom's property. Later, property owners to the west were Isham Sheffield and the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad. On a modern-day county map, the land is approximately five miles northwest of Attalla, Alabama, west of U.S. Highway 431, and two miles northwest of Ridgeville, Alabama.
Leroy Burns received his land by pre-emption claim 2 September 1842. William Griffin and Jesse Smith swore that Leroy lived on and cultivated about twenty-five of his eighty acres settled since 1 June 1840.
Five of Ransom's children were born in Alabama between 1839–1846, most likely in Blount or DeKalb Counties. His father-in-law John Gilliland was an early Blount County resident and a member of the Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church. Reverend Gilliland's estate records reveal that in 1839 Nancy N. Ricks received a pre-inheritance gift of $112.25. Perhaps this gift was to help the young couple settle their land. They also had expenses when their first child was born in 1839.
About a decade later, Ransom sold his property to John Gilliland for $108. Nancy Nesbit Ricks relinquished her right of dower 24 June 1848, and Ransom acknowledged the title transfer 6 July 1848. Witnesses to the deed were Reuben Ricks and James A. Gilliland. This last date probably marks Ransom's departure from Alabama and their approximate arrival in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, during the latter part of 1848.
Four children were born in Mississippi, between 1850–56. John W. Ricks was the first, during late January or early February 1850, most likely in Pontotoc County.
Dwelling/Name Age Sex/Occupation Born
1334 Ransom Ricks 30 M /Farmer AL [1860 census showed b. N. C.]
Nancy 27 F AL
Mattison 11 M AL
Ann 9 F AL
Lucinda 7 F AL
Martha 5 F AL
Sarah 4 F AL
John 8/12. M MS
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History reported that they did not find Ransom's name on indexed land and tax records for Pontotoc and Tishomingo Counties. Ransom had the proceeds ($108) from the sale of his Alabama land, and his demonstrated propensity for owning land would have created the urge to own some Mississippi turf. Tishomingo is a burned county with limited early records, but the 1860 census shows that Ransom owned land valued at $800.
Upon close, personal review of the 1861 land tax rolls for Tishomingo County, the mystery of Ransom's land ownership became clear. Again, there was a variation in the spelling of his surname. Ranson Riggs paid taxes on sixty acres identified as "part of southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." The total value reported was $750. Enumerated next to Ransom was James Junkins with twenty acres. Unfortunately, the actual deed does not survive, but the tax roll land description matches that sold by Nancy Ricks in 1868 (discussed later). In 1870, J. O. Sikes owned seventy-three acres of land identified as the "part of the southwest [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]." James Junkins owned twenty acres of the "southeast [¼] Section 23, Township 6 [South], Range 6 [East]."
Ransom Ricks died nine days after being released from the infamous Civil War prison at Fort Delaware, Delaware, in 1865. He is buried at Old Carrollville Cemetery, Frankstown, Prentiss County, Mississippi. Nancy and her family returned to Etowah County and was in Gadsden in 1870. During the 1880 census she was enumerated with her son Harvey's family in Armory, Monroe County, Mississippi.
As we all know, the census for 1880 and most other records that help us track family members were destroyed by fire or by poor records keeping.. After twenty years of the "gray period" between census data, 1880-1900, there was no further information available for Nancy N. Ricks. Her son Harvey and his family lived in Monroe County until just before 1910 and moved to Arkansas, where he died on 18 February 1939 (aged 79), at Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. His mother (and my great-great-great grandmother) was apparently deceased by that event.
After over twenty years of searching diligently for a clue as to where Nancy Gilliland was buried, I decided to bring her "home" to Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery to rest while we all await God's call. If and when someone actually discovers her precise resting place, this will be her familiar surroundings memorial.
Donald Milton Ricks, The Descendants of Jonas Ricks and Other Ricks Families in America (Dexter, Mich.: Thomas-Shore, Inc., 1998)
A copy of this genealogy is available at the Blount County, Alabama, Museum. Included within Appendix A is an abstract of the estate records for Reverend John and Sarah Gilliland.
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