James Lafayette Ritchie1

b. 10 July 1841, d. 8 January 1907
James Lafayette Ritchie (cropped)
photo courtesy Gloria (Boggs) Holly
MotherElizabeth (?)2 b. abt 1822
Birth10 Jul 1841 James Lafayette Ritchie was born on 10 Jul 1841 in Washington County, Virginia.1,3 
Military15 Mar 1862  James enlisted as a private in (2nd) Company D of the 1st Virginia Cavalry (Washington Mounted Rifles) on March 15th, 1862 at Abingdon. He appeared regularily on the company muster rolls from 1862 through 1864, with occasional absences when he was detailed to go for fresh horses or was granted a furlough. A pay voucher dated 11 Jul 1864, and bearing James' signature, shows that he was paid $12.00 per month and included the notation "horse detail".

James' own horse, valued at $250, was killed "by the enemy" near the Rappahannock River in August 1862. James filed a claim to be reimbursed for the horse's value. Two years later he had still not been paid, and on Aug. 24, 1864 James wrote a letter from Abingdon stating that he was sick and needed the money verry [sic] badly. It is not clear that he ever received it.4  
Marriage17 Aug 1865 He married Rosanna Melissa Duff, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Duff and Elizabeth Spraker Ketron, on 17 Aug 1865 in Washington County, Virginia.5 
Cens-187029 Sep 1870 James and Rosanna were enumerated 5 years after their marriage living in Abingdon township. There were already 4 children in their home: James 4, Thomas 3, William 2, and a baby girl (F--?).6 
Cens-18802 Jun 1880  By 1880 the household had grown to include 10 children as well as James' mother. James was employed that year as a tax collector.7 
WidowedOct 1899 Rosanna died in late 1899. She had given birth to 4 additional children following the 1880 census. The couple's oldest son, James, died in 1897 and a daughter, Cassandra, died the month after Rosanna's death. 
Cens-19004 Jun 1900  At the turn of the century James, at 58, was enumerated in the Glade Spring District of the county with his 4 youngest children, recorded as Millie, Lucy, Jennie and John. It appears that he was employed as an agent for an art house.8 
Will7 Jan 1905 James wrote a detailed will in early 1905, replacing one he had written in 1901. He requested that a stone be placed on his grave in Old Baptist Cemetery, similar to that placed for his wife and daughter Cassie. He also asked that the same be done for his son J.H. In addition he requested that the body of his daughter Rhoda Ellen be moved from the old home place in Denton's Valley to the Baptist Cemetery. The will then went into some detail about which children were to share in his estate and which were to be disinherited due to lack of parental respect or other reasons. He also added a codicil in January 1905. At that time he clarified that he disinherted Ben C. Ritchie and Jennie Ritchie and also John C. Ritchie "unless he reforms". James named his son David as his executor and stipulated that he not be required to post security when the estate was probated.9 
Death8 Jan 1907 James died on 8 Jan 1907 at age 65.3,1 
Burial He was buried at Old Baptist Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Probate Recd27 Jan 1910 A settlement record of the estate, filed by D.G. Ritchie in 1910 listed 9 equal payments (each designated as a 1/10 share) to: W.C. Ritchie, Lucy Hagy, Florence Ryburn, Millie C. Davis, Maggie Yost, Minnie Carmack, D.G. Ritchie, John Ritchie and L.T. Costy as attorney for T.F. Ritchie. In addition, a 1/10 share was divided between Edgar Ritchie and his two siblings as the heirs of J.W. Ritchie. Other payments included $5 to the Ryburn Brothers Livery, $70 for tombstones, $3.50 for digging the grave, and an assortment of taxes and legal fees.10 

Related Links and Images:

James's will
James's headstone
Other interments in Old Baptist Cemetery

Family

Rosanna Melissa Duff b. 21 Feb 1843, d. 7 Oct 1899
Children
Last Edited21 Jun 2013

Citations

  1. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 170. Stone reported to read, "James Lafayette Ritchie, 10 Jul 1841-8 Jan. 1907."
  2. [S234] Elizabeth Ritchie household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 205 original script, dwelling 1523, family 1468, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2010. Household includes Elizabeth Ritchie, 38, housekeeper, owns property worth $50, b. TN; James, 19, D Laborer; Columbus, 12; Madison, 4; Mary 4/12; all b. VA.
  3. [S1237] James Lafayette Ritchie tombstone, Old Baptist Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia, viewed and photographed Jan. 2005 by Carolyn Ryburn.
  4. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed Jul 2011); James L. Ritchie, private, 2nd Co. D., 1st VA Cavalry.
  5. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 301. Record abstracted as "James L. Ritchie, 24 sgl, b. & resid Wash. Co., VA, teacher, s/o Elizabeth Ritchie AND Rosanna M. Duff, 21, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Thomas J. & Elizabeth Duff; marr 17 Aug. 1865.
  6. [S635] Jas L. Ritchie household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Abingdon township, p. 26 (stamped), dwelling 205, family 208, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 49 of 78. Enumeration includes: Jas L. Ritchie, 28, farmer, owns pers prop of $350; Rosanna, 28, keeping house; (cont. next page) Jas W. 4; Thos T. [or F], 3; Wm C. 2; F_ ce J.M. 1/12; all b. VA.
  7. [S162] James L. Ritchie household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 93, page 26D (stamped), dwelling 36, family 36, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 28 of 56. Enumeration includes: James L. Ritchie, 38, marr, tax collector; Rosanna, 36, wife, keeping house; James W., 14, son, farmer; Frank T. 13, son, farmer; Wm C. 11, son, farmer; Martha F.J., 10, dau; Margaret H., 9, dau; Armenia C., 8, dau; David G., 7, son; Mary __, 5, dau; Amelia C., 3, dau; Benj C., 2, son; Elizabeth, 59, mother, widowed ["single" marked first and then scratched] out; Madison M., 22, brother, farming; Lida L. Brooks, 22, hired/house work; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  8. [S634] James L. Ritchie household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 3B, dwelling 57, family 60, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2010. Household includes: James L. Ritchie, 58, wid, b. Jul 1841, b. VA, parents b. TN, agent for art house [?]; Millie, dau, 22, b. Jan. 1878; Lucy, dau, 17, b. Dec. 1882; Jennie, dau, 15, b. Jul 1884; John, son, 14, b. May 1886; all sgl; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  9. [S830] James L. Ritchie will (recorded 1907), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 29 (D): 231. The will was dated 7 Jan. 1905; codicil added 1 June 1905; recorded 14 Jan. 1907.
  10. [S818] J.L. Ritchie settlement (recorded 1910), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 30 (E): 231. D.G. Ritchie, executor; record reflects payments beginning in Feb. 1907 and includes a 1/10 share to the heirs of J.W. Ritchie.
  11. [S162] James L. Ritchie household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 93, page 26D (stamped), dwelling 36, family 36, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 28 of 56. Enumeration includes: James L. Ritchie, 38, marr, tax collector; Rosanna, 36, wife, keeping house; James W., 14, son, farmer; Frank T. 13, son, farmer; Wm C. 11, son, farmer; Martha F.J., 10, dau; Margaret H., 9, dau; Armenia C., 8, dau; David G., 7, son; Mary __, 5, dau; Amelia C., 3, dau; Benj C., 2, son; Elizabeth, 59, mother, widowed; Madison M., 22, brother, farming; Lida L. Brooks, 22, hired/house work; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S1238] Mary Hope Kelly, Betsy's Descendants, p. 87.
  13. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 170. Stone reported to read, "Rhoda Ellen Duff, d/o J.L. & P.M. Ritchie, 24 Apr 1881-20 Oct. 1886, age 5y 5m 26d"; photo of stone shows that mother's initials were R.M.
  14. [S1238] Mary Hope Kelly, Betsy's Descendants, p. 88.