| Notes |
- RICHARD MONTGOMERY SAILED TO AMERICA ON 10 MAY 1811.
Richard Montgomery II, born July 14, 1778, Paisley, Scotland (some family records show born 1778) married 12/2/1808 to Annabelle Clarkson (born May 16, 1789 in Glasgow). They met while students at Glasgow University. They sailed to America on May 10, 1811 and arrived in Philadelphia, PA.
Annabelle Clarkson Montgomery had three sisters, named Ellen, Jeanette and Jane. Ellen married a Mr. McLeod and resided in Glasgow, Scotland. Jeanette came to Philadelphia with Richard and Annabelle and married Thomas Ewan, who died and it is believed that she returned with her children to Scotland. Jane was still single when last heard from by the family in this country.
Richard Montgomery II was a student and had some mercantile experience prior to his removal to America. He brought with him from Scotland a threat machine and during the War of 1812 engaged in the manufacture of threat with profit, but thereafter went out of this business.
He made several trips from America to Glasgow and one trip with a ship load of cotton. The ship and cargo were lost but fortunately his wife paid insurance when the ship sailed, saving him from loss on the cargo.
About the year 1817 or 1818, Richard II with his family (wife, Annabelle; daughter, Annabelle; and sons, Richard III, John Clarkson and William) crossed the mountains of Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh by means of the old time stage. They took with them their furniture they had brought from Scotland which included beautiful chairs with carved thistle backs, which are still in the family. He procured a boat at Pittsburgh, loaded it with merchandise and traded at a profit as he made his way down the Ohio River, stopping for a brief period at Cincinnati, Ohio.
He landed at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remainded probably one year, and then crossed to New Albany, Indiana and thence removed to Jeffersonville, Indiana. He conducted a store while about the Fall Cities. Theophilus Wylie was born at Jeffersonville, May 15, 1819.
While residing at Jeffersonville, Richard made the acquaintance of John Fischli, who made large purchases of lands in Jackson County, Indiana, and laid out the town of Rockford. Fischli induced him to remove to this new region and on September 20th, or 27th, 1820, Richard purchased of the Government of the West Half of the North East Quarter of Section 33 in Township 7 North, Range 6 East in Jackson County, and soon thereafter took his family and stock of goods valued at perhaps $800.00 and removed to his new purchase.
This stock of goods was destroyed by the burning of the log house in which they were stored on the farm.
During the early years he made trips to mill at Jeffersonville, a distance of 50+ iles -- loading several sacks of corn on a mule and returning with meal and merchandise. There was no school available for his children. He arranged a school at his home where he and his wife did the teaching. All area children were invited and most of them attended this school in the early years.
There was no church near and this home was the regular stopping place for the Circuit Rider. The minister stayed here on each visit. At that time services for the area were held in his home.
Baptism of babies and others, wedding and funeral services were performed on these visits which were every three months.
The family records were burned in the before mentioned fire and the exact dates of the birth of Johm, William and Theophilus were lost and those given are from memory. Richard was from this time forward engaged in clearing and tilling his farm.
Richard II had poetical ability, and wrote a quantity of verses. He had placed a voume of manuscripts with a publishing house in Louisville for publication but unfortunately this house with its contents were destroyed by fire, and no portion of his works is so far as known to be in existence.
Richard Montgomery II died February 12, 1849 at his farm "Spring Glen" in Jackson County, Indiana. (The home was a large two story colonial and was demolished in 1948, the early home hving burned in the late summer of 1833.) His wife, Annabelle, died at "Spring Glen" on October 5, 1846. Richard II and Annabelle had 10 children. Annabelle, Richard II, John Clarkson, William, Theophilus Wylie, Thomas Kell, Henry, Mary Jane, James Renwich, and Robert Hugh.
He landed at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained probably.
|
1778 - 1849 (70 years)
