In yesterday's post I said that Robert Richart's first wife Catherine Smith died in 1786. I need to correct her death year. As far as I know, her actual death date is not known. However, I believe she had a daughter Anna c. 1782 (I have nothing further on Anna). Catherine was definitely deceased by July 1786 (deed date, dower's release by Elizabeth dated in Oct 1786).

At this time, I am thinking that Catherine died 1782-1784 and that Robert married Elizabeth Robbins probably late 1784 and before March 1785. Here's why: Robert's son Joseph was born Dec 25, 1785 (per the Richart Bible in the possession of George Moon). Joseph would have been conceived in March 1785 which means Robert Richart and Elizabeth Robbins were probably married by March 1785. As far as I know, no one has found their marriage record.

My husband descends from Joseph. It was important for me to figure out who his mother was. Not easy without Catherine's death date and the marriage date to Elizabeth.

I believe that Joseph's mother was Elizabeth Robbins. The wording in two wills point to this.

1. Catherine's father Henry Smith wrote his will in Nov. 1786. In his will he mentions Catherine's two sons (his grandsons) Henry and William. There is no mention of a grandson Joseph.

2. Robert Richart's 1808 will and how he leaves legacies seems to define his children. He begins with giving son William, daughter Margaret, daughter Mary, and son Henry 5 shillings each (they were Catherine's children). Then he says, "and now I give unto the rest of my children to be divided by my executors (here he appoints his wife Elizabeth and son Joseph as executors)in the middle of his will. He then names 3 youngest sons Vincent, John, and Ebenezer to learn trades, etc.

Perhaps I am reading too much into how Robert worded his will and seemed to break it up into two parts, but it does make me think that his son Joseph was Elizabeth's son and their first born which would be why Joseph was named an executor. Seems plausible that Joseph, the oldest Elizabeth son, should be an executor watching out for his younger siblings.

Until Catherine's death date and Robert/Elizabeth's marriage date are found, I am listing Joseph born Dec 1785 as Elizabeth's son.

Helen Graves