The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: NC
Qualifying Service: Patriotic Service / Wagoneer
Edward Richardson was born in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1751 and moved to North Carolina around 1772 settling on the headwaters of a creek that would later be named after him and known as Richardson’s Creek. He was married to Polly Belk Mason in 1773 and upon her death, he married Catherine Basinger.
Edward Richardson served throughout the war, mostly as a wagoneer in Smallwood’s Brigade. He served under the command of Colonel Hambright and Captain Brinkley in the Battle of Waxhaw, Drakes' Thicket and numerous other battles. Besides his personal service in the brigade, he also furnished supplies and horses for the Army.
Tradition has it that while home on furlough he was captured by a band of Tories, but before he was carried off, he directed his wife to go to the home of his Captain, William Brinkley, who was also home on furlough and inform him of what had happened. After the Tories departed, Mrs. Richardson immediately carried out her husband’s instructions where upon Captain Brinkley and his company pursued the Tories. Captain Brinkley caught up with them at an area known as Roughedge, about 10 miles from present-day Monroe, where they were in the act of hanging Mr. Richardson from an Oak tree. The band of Tories was subsequently captured and was executed one by one next morning. They were buried in a mass grave . From that night on, the Oak tree that Mr. Richardson was to be hung from was known as the Richardson’s Oak. Unfortunately, that famous tree no longer exists.
For his service, he received a grant of land in 1790 for 300 acres lying in what was then Mecklenburg County, now Union County, N .C.
Edward Richardson left a will in Mecklenburg County dated July 24, 1797 that was entered into the court records during the October term of 1797 thus placing his death date between July and October 1797. In his will, he names his children: sons George, Edward, Mason, Brinkley, and Thomas and daughters Betsy and Sally.
He is buried in Bethlehem Church Cemetery, ten miles south of Monroe in Union County, N.C.
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