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 1816 - 1857
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| Born |
26 Apr 1816 |
, , Laurens County, Georgia, USA  [6] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Census: Federal |
1820 |
, , Laurens County, Georgia, USA [7] |
- male 26-45: Elijah Fann [at abt 32]
female 16-26 [Martha at abt 25]
female <10 [Eliza at abt abt 9]
female <10 [Sarah Ann at abt 7]
male <10 [William at abt 6]
female <10 [Letty at abt 4]
female <10 [Lucile at abt 1]
female >45
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| Move |
Abt 1824 |
, , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
| Census: Federal |
1830 |
, Boykin, Miller County, Georgia, USA [8] |
- male 40-50: Elijah Fenn [at abt 42]
female 30-40 [Martha at abt 35]
female 15-20 [Eliza at abt 19]
female 10-15 [Sarah Ann at abt 17?]
male 15-20 [William at abt 16]
female 10-15 [Letty at abt 14]
female 10-15 [Lucile at abt 11]
female 10-15 [Mary Polly at abt 9?]
female 5-10 [Melvena at abt 8]
female 5-10 [Catherine at abt 6]
female <5 [Carolyn at abt 3]
male <5 [John at abt 1]
male 70-80
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| Move |
Aft Jun 1836 |
, , Randolph County, Georgia, USA [1] |
| Census: Federal |
1840 |
, Militia District 718, Randolph County, Georgia, USA [9] |
- male 20-30 yrs [Thomas J. Rich at 25]
female 20-30 yrs [Letty at 24]
female under 5 yrs [Sarah Ann at 3]
female under 5 yrs [Martha Jane at 2]
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| Move |
1841 |
, , Decatur County, Georgia, USA [1] |
| a tract of timbered land ten miles north of Bainbridge on the Bainbridge & Blakely Road |
| Census: Federal |
15 Aug 1850 |
, District 22, Decatur County, Georgia, USA [10] |
- 1) Thomas Rich, male age 33, farmer, $600 real estate, born in GA
2) Letty Rich, female age 33, born in GA, cannot read or write
3) Jane Rich, female age 13, born in GA, attended school
4) Sarah Rich, female age 12, born in GA, attended school
5) Elijah Rich, male age 9, born in GA, attended school
6) Susan Rich, female age 8, born in GA, attended school
7) Augustus Rich, male age 7, born in GA
8) Washington Rich, male age 6, born in GA
9) Thomas Rich, male age 5, born in GA
10) Charles Rich, male age 2, born in GA
11) Susan Rich, female age 21, born in GA, cannot read or write
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| Religion |
a member of Pilgrim's Baptist Church [6, 11] |
| Died |
15 Feb 1857 |
, , Decatur County, Georgia, USA [6] |
| Cause: measles |
| Buried |
Mothers Home Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery, Boykin, Miller County, Georgia, USA [6] |
| Person ID |
I420 |
Nestor Rich Tree |
| Last Modified |
13 Feb 2011 |
| Father |
Elijah Fenn, b. 17 Jul 1788, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 6 Jan 1844, , , Early (now Miller) County, Georgia, USA |
| Relationship |
Natural |
| Mother |
Martha Rich, b. 3 Sep 1795, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 10 May 1859, , , Miller County, Georgia, USA |
| Relationship |
Natural |
| Married |
Abt 1807 |
, , Burke County, Georgia, USA |
| Family ID |
F185 |
Group Sheet |
| Family |
Thomas Joseph Rich, b. 30 Apr 1815, , , Emanuel County, Georgia, USA , d. 31 Dec 1864, Ocmulgee Hospital, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, USA |
| Married |
2 Jun 1836 |
, , Decatur County, Georgia, USA [12] |
| Reunion |
26 Jun 1966 |
, , Seminole County, Georgia, USA [13] |
- Thomas E. Rich family reunion held at Nocatee, Lake Seminole Sunday
Between 150 and 200 descendants of Thomas E. Rich were present last Sunday for a reunion held at Nocatee near Johnson's Landing. Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Rich, Jr., of Moultrie, own Nocatee, and were hosts on the occasion for members of the Rich family who came in great numbers from this section of Georgia. However, some came from as far away as South Florida and Pennsylvania. E. G. "Rusty" Rich was master of ceremonies. He and his family came from Orlando, Florida.
All of those present were lineal descendants of Elijah Arthur Johnson Rich and his brother, Augustus Miles Rich, who lived in Decatur County on a farm located about 16 miles northwest of Bainbridge prior to the War Between the States. Those present numbered in age from babies several months old to octogenarians, and all enjoyed the dinner on the grounds, and the opportunity to reminisce with relatives they had not seen for many years.
Also present at the reunion was former Governor Marvin Griffin, a lifelong friend of the Rich family, who made a short talk on the occasion. The former Governor's remarks were as follows:
"FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, DISTINGUISHED VISITORS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND MEMBERS OF THE RICH FAMILY: "It is a genuine pleasure and high priviledge for me to be invited to enjoy this fellowship and association with you on this delightful occasion. I can remember that my late father, E. H. "Pat" Griffin, appeared on a Rich family reunion program at the home of E. A. J. Rich, one of the patriarchs of the family we honor today, more than 50 years ago. A warm bond of friendship has always existed between the Richs and Griffins. In fact, we both sharre some of the same traits of character. I don't believe I have ever seen a male member of either family that was not "butt-headed."
"I can remember, however, when my father took me as a small boy in short pants to the E. A. J. Rich home, and introduced me to this venerable citizen of our county. As I remember Mr. Elijah, he was a very small in stature, quiet and soft-spoken man. He was kind, and tried to make me feel at home. As we left the Rich farm my father said to me...'Son, I want you to know something about that man, He is a man of great character and integrity. His word is his bond. He fought valiantly in the Confederate Army, and was severely wounded. He did not own any slaves, and his family did not own slaves, but he felt it was his duty. He is not like so many of these so-called aristocrats. He made his way in adversity, while some who were born in wealth sat around and complained, and talked about how great their families were. They reminded me of a potato vine...the best part of them is under the gound.'"
"You have a wonderful heritage, and I want to talk to you briefly about several phases of it. Thomas E. Rich, the earliest patriarch of the Rich family that I could find out about, and certainly the oldest one to be known by hundreds of his descendants gathered here today, or who live in this section of our nation, was born in Early County prior to the time Decatur County was created by the Legislature in 1823. He was an overseer for a man that owned a plantation in Early County. He later moved to Randolph County. He had married the daughter of a man who owned slaves, and he and his father-in-law did not get along very well. He moved to Decatur County with his family when this County was only several years old, and settled on a farm about 16 miles Northwest of Bainbridge.
"This pioneer citizen had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters.. He was a Master Mason, and even though he was the father of a big family, he fought in the Confederate Army, and died from wounds he received in action near Atlanta. He is buried in Mother's Home Cemetery near Boykin. Four of the Rich sons went into the Confederate Army, and two were killed on Virginia battlefields. Along with a brother-in-law, the youngest, Brad Rich, who was too young to go to the war, stayed at home to help his mother and sisters run the farm. During Reconstruction he ran afoul of some Civil Rights laws, and had to flee to the Big bend country of Northwest Florida. I understand he reared a large family in that section of Florida.
"The two remaining brothers, Elijah Arthur Johnson Rich, and Augustus Miles Rich, who survived the war, but with crippling wounds, returned to their home in Decatur County. I shall not attempt to go into all the Rich family connections. If I tried to tell you who married into what family I would still be here at dark calling out names. I shall briefly discuss the forebears of most of you present here today, Elijah Arthur John Rich and Augustus Miles Rich.
"Sometimes when I think of the privation practiced of necessity by these patriarchs of the Rich family and pioneers of this County, I am downright ashamed of my own generation. When I think of the courage these old men possessed in the face of adversity and disaster, I have an abnormal propensity of loathing for those who preach the present day gospel that we cannot live in America today except by the handouts of a paternalistic government in Washington.
"I call to your attention, my friends, that while Elijah Arthur Johnson Rich and Augustus Miles Rich were fighting for a cause which concerned the Southern aristocracy more than it did those who owned no slaves, the old men, women and children back home on the land had to eke out an existence in the face of "bushwhackers." These "bushwhackers" were draft dodgers from the Confederate Army, and had to hide out in the woods and swamps. They had to either starve, or rob the cribs and smoke houses of the women and children, and they chose to do the latter. My late father told me of an incident which occurred on Confederate Memorial Day in the early days of this century in Bainbridge. He said one of those "bushwackers" was carrying the Confederate flag in the parade when an old gray-bearded Confederate veteran ran out into the street and took the flag away from the man. He said the man was not fit to tote the sacred Stars and bars.
"Despite the fact that the war was "A rich man's war, and a poor man's fight" as the late Perry D. Rich wrote in his book "Bud", the Rich family gave a full measure of devotion to the cause. The courage of your forebears was magnificent. When the ragged and men in Gray reached home they found an impoverished land. The fields were laid waste, the stock had been taken or stolen, the money was no good, and there was no credit. There was no "Marshall Plan" of aid to the conquered and destitute people of the South. When E. A. J. and Augustus Rich got back home they found squalid poverty. There was little to eat, little to wear and nothing with which to make a crop, but these intrepid characters did make a crop. They fed their families, and picked themselves up by their own bootstraps.
"I am happy to see so many of you present, and I am delighted that you included me in the reunion. I hope to see all of you the next time the Rich family hold a reunion."
Those present voted to hold the next reunion at the home of Alee "Pete" Rich at Tallahassee on the last Sunday in June 1968.
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| News Article |
4 Jul 1968 |
, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, USA [14] |
| The Post-Searchlight |
- Rich Reunion at Tallahassee attended by 200 last Sunday
Approximately 200 descendants of the Thomas J. Rich family met at a reunion last Sunday morning at Richwood, the farm home of A. F. "Pete" Rich, which is located seven miles east of Tallahassee on U. S. 90 Highway.
The setting for the reunion was the swimming pool which was patronized by the youngsters who attended the reunion. Adjacent to the pool the host for the reunion had erected a large striped tent which was used for assembly and the reunion dinner.
E. G. "Rusty" Rich of Orlando, Florida, acted as Chairman. The devotional was given by the Rev. Everett Rich of Pelham. E. G. Rich is a descendant of Elijah Andred[sic] Jackson Rich and Everett Rich, a descendant of Augustus Miles Rich. Grady Rich, a descendant of Brad Rich, represented the descendants of the youngest son of Thomas J. Rich.
Lloyd Rich, Jr., of Bainbridge, was appointed Chairman of a committee to select the time and place for the next reunion. Mrs. Pauline Rich Cooper was asked to serve with him on the committee.
Of special interest was the preparation of a Rich family tree by Mrs. A. F. Rich and Mrs. Jack Rich.
During the reunion the matter of helping with the purchase of a piano for Old Bethel Church was discussed, and an offering was taken for this purpose.
Former Governor S. Marvin Griffin, who addressed the last reunion in 1966, delivered a short address on the Rich genealogy.
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| Children |
| | 1. Martha "Jane" Rich, b. 20 Mar 1837, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 2 Feb 1918, , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
| | 2. Sarah Ann Rich, b. 3 May 1838, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 10 Oct 1913, , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
| | 3. Elijah Andrew Jackson Rich, b. 16 Nov 1840, , , Randolph County, Georgia, USA , d. 4 Jul 1925, , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
| | 4. Susan L. Rich, b. 12 Apr 1842, , , , Georgia, USA , d. Between 1900 and 1911 |
| | 5. Augustus Miles Rich, b. 17 Sep 1843, , , Early (now Miller) County, Georgia, USA , d. 13 Aug 1911, , Lynn, Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
| | 6. George "Washington" Rich, b. 21 Jan 1845, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 10 Jul 1863, , Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USA |
| | 7. John Thomas Rich, b. 28 Feb 1846, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 1 May 1864, , Charlottesville, Charlotte County, Virginia, USA |
| | 8. Charles F. Rich, b. 16 Oct 1847, , , , Georgia, USA , d. 1866, , , Miller County, Georgia, USA |
| | 9. Riley Bradberry Rich, b. 16 Oct 1850, , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA , d. 14 Jan 1924, , Bonifay, Holmes County, Florida, USA |
| | 10. Mary "Caroline" Rich, b. 16 Apr 1852, , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA , d. 4 Mar 1918, , Umatilla, Lake County, Florida, USA |
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| Last Modified |
13 Feb 2011 |
| Family ID |
F114 |
Group Sheet |
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| Event Map |
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 | Born - 26 Apr 1816 - , , Laurens County, Georgia, USA |
 |
 | Census: Federal - 1820 - , , Laurens County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Move - Abt 1824 - , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Census: Federal - 1830 - , Boykin, Miller County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Married - 2 Jun 1836 - , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Move - Aft Jun 1836 - , , Randolph County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Census: Federal - 1840 - , Militia District 718, Randolph County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Move - a tract of timbered land ten miles north of Bainbridge on the Bainbridge & Blakely Road - 1841 - , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Census: Federal - 15 Aug 1850 - , District 22, Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Died - Cause: measles - 15 Feb 1857 - , , Decatur County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Buried - - Mothers Home Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery, Boykin, Miller County, Georgia, USA |
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 | Reunion - 26 Jun 1966 - , , Seminole County, Georgia, USA |
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 | News Article - The Post-Searchlight - 4 Jul 1968 - , Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, USA |
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| Pin Legend |
 : Address
 : Location
 : City/Town
 : County/Shire
 : State/Province
 : Country
 : Not Set |
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| Sources |
- [S51] A History of Savannah and South Georgia, 2 volumes, William Harden, (Chicago and New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1913), 2:1007-8.
- [S25] Decatur County, Georgia - Past and Present 1823-1991, Decatur County Historical Society, compiler, (Roswell, Georgia: WH Wolfe Associates, Historical Publications Division, 1991), 354.
- [S7] Bud, P. D. Rich, (New York, New York: The Pyramid Press Publishers, 1939).
- [S764] History of Miller County, Georgia 1856-1980, Nellie Cook Davis, (Colquitt, Georgia: Citizens Bank, 1980), G975.8964 DAV GA., 15.
- [S19] Personal Correspondence, multiple e-mails from Beth Hammer Molina of Merritt Island, Florida [rmolina2@cfl.rr.com], a descendant of Letty Fenn Rich, to Gail Rich Nestor starting in July 2003, 5 Jan 2008.
- [S50] Mothers Home Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery, near Colquitt, Miller County, Georgia, grave marker for Lettie Fann Rich, photographed by Gail Rich Nestor, 7 Mar 2005.
- [S506] 1820 U.S. census, Laurens County, Georgia, population schedule, digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com), Elijah Fann household, page 15; citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M33, roll 9.
- [S1718] 1830 U.S. census, Ancestry.com, Digital images, Georgia, Early County, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2004), M19, p. 12, Elija Fenn household, accessed 11 Jan 2011, 11 Jan 2011.
- [S1576] 1840 U.S. census, Ancestry.com, Georgia, Randolph County, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2004), M704, roll 49, Militia District 718, p. 239, Thos. J. Rich household, accessed 30 Jul 2008., 30 Jul 2008.
- [S1255] 1850 U.S. census, Ancestry.com, Georgia, Decatur County, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2005), M432, roll 67, District 22, p. 46, dwelling 264, family 264, Thomas Rich household, accessed 5 Jul 2008, 5 Jul 2008.
- [S7] Bud, P. D. Rich, (New York, New York: The Pyramid Press Publishers, 1939), 19-20.
- [S793] Decatur County, Georgia, Marriage Record Books, Clerk of Court, (Probate Court, Bainbridge, Georgia), marriage of Thomas Rich & Letta Fenn, A: 16.
- [S1049] The Post-Search Light, Bainbridge, Georgia, (Bainbridge, Georgia: Probate Court; original newspaper copies bound into books), Rich family reunion article, Thursday, 30 June 1966, page 22, 28 Apr 2007.
- [S52] The Post-Search Light, Bainbridge, Georgia, on microfilm, (Bainbridge, Georgia: Gilbert H. Gragg Library), news article regarding the 1966 Rich Family Reunion, box 195, Thursday, 4 Jul 1968, page 3.
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