John Gaulden Richardson and the Migration of the Richardson Family
- Catherine Gauldin
- May 22
- 14 min read
In 1833, John Gaulden—son of James Gaulden (1761–1827) and Frances Johnson (1779–1879)—set out on a horseback journey to visit his Gaulden relatives living in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Along the way he passed through territory inhabited by the Choctaw people, noting their presence as he traveled west. While in Alabama, he witnessed the famous “falling of the stars”—the spectacular 1833 Leonid meteor storm—which caused widespread fear as many believed the Day of Judgment had arrived. Continuing on to Mississippi, he visited the Richardson family, whom he described as being very wealthy. (1)
The 1833 Leonid meteor storm was one of the most spectacular astronomical events ever recorded, remembered across the United States as the night “the stars fell.” It occurred in the early morning hours of November 12–13, 1833, when an estimated 50,000 to 150,000 meteors per hour streaked across the sky, illuminating the landscape so brightly that people awoke thinking it was daylight. Witnesses described the sky as “ablaze,” with meteors falling in such rapid succession that counting them was impossible. Newspapers from Boston to New Orleans reported that the heavens appeared to be “raining fire.” The meteors radiated from the constellation Leo, giving the shower its name.
The event occurred during the era of the Second Great Awakening, a period of intense religious revival in the American South. Many people believed the meteor storm fulfilled the biblical prophecy that “the stars of heaven shall fall,” and some wept or prayed, convinced that Judgment Day had arrived. (2) The 1833 storm became part of American folklore when it inspired the phrase “Stars Fell on Alabama,” later used in a jazz standard and on Alabama license plates. Abraham Lincoln reportedly witnessed it as a young man and later referenced it during the Civil War.
In 1833 the Richardson plantation was owned by John Gaulden Richardson, the son of Francis Richardson Francis Richardson (1760–1820) and Martha Gaulden, the daughter of John Gaulden and Susannah Brumfield. His great-aunt Martha Gaulden Richardson had died the previous year on 12 July 1832 in Woodville, Wilkinson, Mississippi, but her husband was still alive. This is where the connection between the Gaulden and the Richardson family comes from.
Martha “Patsy” Gaulden
Martha "Patsy" Gaulden was born on 26 November 1765 in Virginia. In 1784 she married Francis "Frank" Richardson, Sr. Laura Gaulden Bailey briefly mentions her on page 2 of her History of the Gaulden Family: "Patsy Gaulden was born in Virginia. She married Mr. Frank Richardson in Sumter County and emigrated to Wilkinson County, Mississippi in 1810. In 1833-1838 the family consisted of Mrs. Frank Richardson and six children, viz: John, James, Jared, Wade, Rivers and Louisa." (1)
Francis DuBose Richardson, Martha Gaulden’s grandson wrote an autobiography called The Memoirs of Francis DuBose Richardson (3), and this excerpt is what he wrote about his grandmother:
“THE RICHARDSON FAMILY Second Chapter Martha Gaulden Richardson Before we leave this ancestor we will follow his wife to the close of her earthly pilgrimage, which occurred sixteen years afterward, and they were years of great usefulness to herself, her family and the world. Of a tall slender, wiry mold, self-reliant, of great decision of character, its impress was felt whenever she moved, whether in the Church of which she was a beautiful pillar, or in the management of her domestic affairs, or in the various charities of the day, all felt the magic touch of her influence. Her great physical activity has been before alluded to. In all newly settled countries, the travel is mainly on horse and the most vivid reminiscence of the writer is riding behind her on a fine swift pacer, during one of her weekly visits to the Indian Camp about two miles north of her residence on the hills of Buffalo. It was evening in the Fall. After crossing the main country road leading from Woodville to Liberty we turned North into an Indian trail, straight and good enough to follow, except where wild cane grew too low down when we had to stoop to conquer our way through. Sometimes was a log or fallen tree across the path. But this was a trifle, for that horse Dick could have cleared a five barred fence and no harm to him or his rider. The way to me was getting to fell a little long, when dogs commenced barking and all at once there was the Indian Camp in full view, perhaps fifty or sixty huts of different sizes and shapes, wigwams, some covered with bear skins, some with wild cane, and some with straw. The men were all off to their hunting grounds on the headwaters of the Homochitto and in a few moments our horse was surrounded by squaws, children, picaninies, the little naked fellows all holding up their hands imploring with a wild, beseeching jargon, reminding me now of so many pelicans imploring food from their mother. Grandmother dismounted leaving me on the saddle scared nearly to death at the terrible looking old squaws. After what seemed an age, she returned from visiting the sick in their tents, followed by a few old women who spoke some English and to whom she gave some medicine and directions. Then taking a handled basket from the horn of her saddle, she proceeded to distribute a quantity of cakes and nick-nacks among the children who yelled out their gibberish thanks as we rode away, with me rejoicing at my escape. A volume full of interest, to her numerous descendants might be written of this Mother in Israel, who so nobly and so well filled out her three score years and ten. But a more extended notice would not be in accordance with our plans, which are mainly to point out the landmarks which have stood in the family pathway. But if we do stop here and there to admire the giant oak with its beautiful clinging joy or drop a tear where fell the lightning shiver, those who come after me will not complain. Again the homestead now growing venerable in the hearts of the family is draped in mourning. A long procession slowly moved from the Chambers of Death, as silent as the shades around them, broken only by the sad forest requiem. Dust to dust again is heard from the tremulous lips of her venerable Pastor and friend, Dr. Winans, and thus after sixteen years of lonely, lovely widowhood, again sleep, side by side, Francis and Martha Richardson. Source: Memoirs of Francis DuBose Richardson.
The Memoirs of Francis DuBose Richardson
Francis DuBose Richardson—author of the Memoirs—was the son of John Gaulden Richardson, who left South Carolina between 1808 and 1810 with his brother and approximately 100 enslaved people to establish new plantations in southwest Mississippi. The family settled near Woodville in Wilkinson County, where Francis was born in 1812. He later died in New Iberia, Louisiana, in 1901. His memoirs focus almost entirely on the life, character, and frontier experiences of his father, John G. Richardson. This document can be read at the “Memoirs of Francis DuBose Richardson.” Transcribed and posted at Schlatter.org (3). The following information is taken from the Memoirs.
Francis’s grandfather, Captain Arthur Richardson, was born in North Carolina in 1730 and served with Marion’s Men during the Revolutionary War. Arthur married a woman named Hannah, and five of their children are identified: Francis, Henry, Stephen, a daughter who married a Cordell, and a daughter who married a Jackson. After the war, Arthur Richardson was killed “by a Tory” during a dispute over property—possibly involving a horse. Family tradition holds that the Tory responsible had terrorized local families during the Revolution. Living in the Darlington area after the war, he encountered Arthur when the latter went to his place of business to settle the dispute. A fight broke out, and the Tory fatally stabbed Arthur with a chisel.
Arthur Richardson was a real Revolutionary War soldier. He is consistently described as serving with Marion’s Men, and this aligns with his residence in the Sumter–Darlington region and the known recruitment patterns of Francis Marion’s brigade, so the person is real and historically placed. Although there is no documentary evidence to prove he was "killed by a Tory", the story is plausible because the same narrative appears in Francis DuBose Richardson's memoir and in Laura Gaulden's History. Consistency across branches suggests the story was widely believed within the family.
An intriguing story is related on a website called Revolutionary War Journal: Non-Profit Dedicated to Historical Education of the American Revolution and the Colonial Period. (4)
"Though Marion was among the most cautious of the rebellion’s leaders, the ruse had worked. He had heard the rumors. He saw the glow in the night sky of reflected campfires. And moved his men closer to investigate. But as described in legend, intrigue and with an ‘on the edge of your seat’ moment; however, without primary proof, the wily rebel commander was saved from destruction.
As the popular story goes, propagated by later historical texts that added their own speculations and myths, Richard Richardson Jr., the deceased General Richardson’s first born, was a captain of militia and recent escapee. He was hiding out in the swamps and received word from Dorothy Richardson, the general’s second wife and widow, as to Tarleton’s intent. Richard came upon Marion two miles from the farm. He told the rebels that just ahead were 400 soldiers laying on arms. They were alert and well prepared for an attack. Marion was quick to respond. He and his men turned their mounts and galloped away, not stopping until six miles from the plantation.
With the patience of a spider expecting its victim to wonder into his web, Tarleton remained vigilant through the night. Just before dawn, a Tory prisoner who had escaped from Marion’s band told Tarleton that a “treacherous woman,” had warned his prey. Like Marion, Tarleton’s actions were swift. In the early morning light of November 8th, Tarleton ordered his troops to mount up and the chase was one... Tarleton was eight miles from reaching his prey, staring into the dark and foreboding Ox Swamp, where his scouts reported the rebel menace had gone. Tarleton had pushed his men beyond tolerance in the seven-hour pursuit that covered twenty-seven miles. It must have sunk in that he had reached the limit of his command’s endurance. But before the flamboyant leader of British Legion gave up the chase and turned back toward Richardson’s Plantation, he scorned Marion. Parson Weems and other nineteenth century romantic writers’ recorded Tarleton’s frustration with a serpentine dialogue, lavishly decorated that was customary to sell books. Leaving the padded fluff aside, accounts generally agreed that Tarleton stared into the murky gloom and called out, “…as for this damned old fox, the devil himself could not catch him!” And with that phrase was born “The Swamp Fox.”
As I am not directly related to the Richardson Family of Mississippi, I leave it to others to flesh out and render this story but it is an interesting one and it reinforces the story about members of the Gaulden, Richardson and Brumfield families being connected to General Marion. The swamp fight in the High Hills of the Santee was the place where Marion got his name.
Richardson Line Summary Chart
1. Captain Arthur Richardson (1730–post‑1783) Born: 1730, North Carolina Military Service: Served with Marion’s Men during the Revolutionary War Spouse: Hannah (surname unknown) Children Identified: Francis Richardson Henry Richardson Stephen Richardson Daughter m. Cordell Daughter m. Jackson Death: Killed after the Revolutionary War “by a Tory” during a dispute over property (possibly a horse). Family tradition: the Tory was notorious for terrorizing families during the war. Arthur confronted him in Darlington; a fight ensued; Arthur was stabbed with a chisel. | 2. John Gaulden Richardson (dates unknown; active 1808–1840s) Parentage: Son of Captain Arthur Richardson and Hannah Migration: Left South Carolina 1808–1810 Traveled with his brother and approximately 100 enslaved people Settled near Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi Role in Family History: Central figure of the Memoirs written by his son Plantation founder and early Mississippi settler Known for frontier leadership and regional prominence | 3. Francis DuBose Richardson (1812–1901) Born: 1812, Wilkinson County, Mississippi Died: 1901, New Iberia, Louisiana Parentage: Son of John Gaulden Richardson Notable Work: Author of Memoirs, a detailed narrative of his father’s life and the Richardson migration Provides key historical and genealogical information about the family Historical Significance: His writings preserve the oral traditions of the Richardson and Gaulden-connected families Offers firsthand descriptions of early Mississippi settlement and family movements |
Francis Richardson (1760–1820), son of Arthur Richardson, was born in 1760 near Statesburg in the Sumter District of South Carolina. In 1784, at age twenty‑four, he married Martha Gaulden, daughter of John Gaulden and Susannah Brumfield. In 1790, while in Charleston, he purchased “30 Negroes for about $150 a head.” One of the last surviving members of this group was an enslaved woman named Leah, who later came into the possession of the memoir’s author and died in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, in 1877 at approximately 107 years of age.
Around 1800, Francis began hearing reports about opportunities in the Mississippi Territory. After his two sons—John Gaulden Richardson and James B. Richardson—moved west, he followed them and settled near Woodville in Wilkinson County. Francis Richardson died there on 13 December 1820.
Francis Richardson and Martha Gaulden were the parents of the following children:
1. John Gaulden Richardson - He was selected to lead the Richardson family’s first exploratory journey to the Mississippi Territory
2. James B. Richardson
3. Susan Richardson — married Hiram Singleton
4. Jarred Richardson — married a woman named Harbor
5. Arthur Richardson — did not marry
6. Wade Hampton Richardson — married a woman named Harbour
7. Francis Rivers Richardson — married a sister of Governor Beriah Magoffin of Kentucky and later moved there.
John Gaulden Richardson
John Gaulden Richardson, son of Francis Richardson, was born 28 February 1785 in Sumter District, South Carolina. He was selected to lead the Richardson family’s first exploratory journey to the Mississippi Territory.
Below is a timeline of events.
The Richardson Migration
A Journey of John Gaulden Richardson · 1808–1810
1808
First Monday · December 1808
Departure from South Carolina
John Gaulden Richardson sets out from South Carolina, accompanied by Caesar and Pina — two enslaved individuals — traveling by two-horse wagon toward the Mississippi Territory.
1808
December 1808
Through Georgia
Traveling westward through Georgia, Richardson hires Choctaw guides to lead the party through the wilderness and unfamiliar territory ahead.
1809
January 1809
Arrival Near Woodville
After weeks of difficult travel, the party arrives near Woodville, Mississippi, in Wilkinson County — the destination of their new life.
1809
Early 1809
Purchase of Clarkesfield
Richardson purchases a quarter-section of land from Clarke, establishing what becomes known as Clarkesfield — the foundation of the family's Mississippi holdings.
1809
April 1809
Clearing Land & Planting Cotton
With spring underway, Richardson and his companions clear the land and plant the first cotton crop on Clarkesfield.
1809
October 1809
First Harvest
The cotton harvest is completed. Having established his land and proven its productivity, Richardson prepares for the journey back to South Carolina.
1809
November 1809
Return to South Carolina
Richardson arrives home in South Carolina after the long return journey, reconnecting with family and planning the full migration of his household.
1809
16 November 1809
Marriage to Margaret DuBose
John Gaulden Richardson marries Margaret DuBose, uniting their families and setting the stage for the permanent move to Mississippi.
1809
Last Monday · November 1809
Departure with Family
Richardson departs South Carolina for the final time, leading his new wife Margaret, his extended family, and approximately 100 enslaved people in a great wagon train westward.
1810
January 1810
Permanent Settlement in Wilkinson County
The Richardson party arrives in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. The family establishes their permanent home at Clarkesfield, beginning a new chapter in the Deep South.
Sources: Richardson Family Records · GauldingOrigins.com
Military Service Under General Andrew Jackson
When the War of 1812 broke out, John Gaulden Richardson answered the call to arms. He was commissioned a Captain in the Mississippi troops — likely the state militia — and marched with his company to Pensacola, Florida, where they were placed under the command of General Andrew Jackson. Richardson and his men remained at Pensacola through the conclusion of what was known as the Florida War. He then joined Jackson's forces at New Orleans, where on 8 January 1815 he fought in the celebrated Battle of New Orleans. His service and leadership were recognized in the years that followed, and he eventually attained the rank of Colonel.
Family Life at Clarkesfield
John G. Richardson and his wife, Margaret DuBose Richardson, built their family at Clarkesfield in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Together they had nine children:
Child Born Died
Martha Louise Richardson 22 Aug 1810 After 1880
Francis DuBose Richardson 20 Aug 1812 1901
Mary Elizabeth Richardson 20 Aug 1813 6 Dec 1854
A daughter — Died in infancy
John Wesley Richardson 27 Sep 1814 17 May 1891
Margaret Richardson 27 Feb 1817 2 Nov 1852
Edward Moore Richardson 17 Sep 1818 12 Apr 1855
Daniel DuBose Richardson 7 Sep 1820 29 Sep 1855
Robert Riley Richardson 1823 Unknown
In 1826, Richardson built a new house on the Woodville–Liberty Road, situated about one mile from the original family home. That same year, however, he suffered a profound loss: Margaret DuBose Richardson died, leaving him a widower with eight surviving children. He subsequently married a widow known as Mrs. Winningham, but she too died, only four months after their marriage.
Later Years and Final Migration
In October 1829, Richardson made another significant move, relocating to a point roughly eight miles below New Iberia, Louisiana, on Bayou Teche, where he purchased a sugar plantation. In 1831 he married for the third time, wedding a Miss Lemon of Adams County, Mississippi, who would outlive him by four to five years. By 1840, Richardson transferred the sugar plantation to two of his sons, Edward and Daniel, signaling a gradual step back from active management of his holdings. John Gaulden Richardson died near New Iberia, Louisiana, on 19 January 1856.
Bayside Plantation, the home of Francis DuBose Richardson
Bayside Plantation became the Louisiana home of the Richardson family after Francis DuBose Richardson established it in the mid‑19th century. Richardson first moved to St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, in 1832, when his father sold the family’s Mississippi cotton plantation and purchased a sugar plantation in Louisiana. During this period, Francis clerked for Judges Caffery and Moore and later served in the Louisiana State Legislature from 1850 to 1854. He was also a strong advocate for education for the disabled, helping to found the State Institutions for the Deaf and the Blind in 1850. (5)
Richardson eventually purchased six acres on Bayou Teche in Jeanerette, where he developed a sugar plantation that became known as Bayside Plantation. (7) The two‑story brick Greek Revival house he built there is considered one of the finest examples of the style in Iberia Parish. On January 29, 1987, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places, preserving its architectural and historical significance. It became one of the most prominent sugar plantations on Bayou Teche and remains historically significant today. (5)
Archival plantation records (1846–1866) show that Bayside was a large, active sugar operation, with extensive sugarcane cultivation and corn and cotton grown in smaller quantities. A large enslaved workforce is documented in plantation journals with detailed lists of slaves including names and work assignments. The plantation journals record daily operations, the labor distribution and payments made to enslaved people for their extra work. (5)
Bayside continued operating until December 1862, when Union forces approached the area. The Richardson family evacuated to a plantation on Bayou Mallet in St. Landry Parish and the slaves sought refuge in New Iberia during the conflict. After the war, the Richardsons attempted to contract freedmen and other laborers to resume plantation operations, with mixed success. (6)
The official National Register of Historic Places record for Bayside Plantation is hosted in the National Park Service’s NPGallery database. (8)
Bayside Plantation. National Register of Historic Places Inventory–Nomination Form. (8)
Prepared 1986; listed January 29, 1987.
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
NRHP Reference Number: 86003747.
Accessed via NPGallery Digital Asset Search.
Works Cited
1. Bailey, Laura Gaulden. History of the Gaulden Family. s.l. : Privately printed manuscript, 1929.
2. How Newspapers Helped Crowdsource a Scientific Discovery: The 1833 Leonid Meteor Storm. Library of Congress Blogs. [Online] Author: Malea Walker. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2020/09/how-newspapers-helped-crowdsource-a-scientific-discovery-the-1833-leonid-meteor-storm/.
3. Richardson, Francis DuBose. Memoirs of Francis DuBose Richardson. Schlatter.org. [Online] http://www.schlatter.org/Genealogy/memoirs_of_francis_dubose_richar.htm.
4. Schenawolf, Harry. Bloody Ben Tarleton Chases the Swamp Fox. An interesting and intriguing story is related on a website called Revolutionary War Journal: Non-Profit Dedicated to Historical Education of the American Revolution and the Colonial Period. . [Online] https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/bloody-ben-tarleton-chases-the-swamp-fox/.
5. Richardson, Francis D. (1812-1901). Family Papers, 1849-2019, n.d. Archives Louisiana. [Online] https://archives.louisiana.edu/repositories/2/resources/157.
6. Francis Dubose Richardson (1812 - 1901). WikiTree. [Online] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Richardson-7015.
7. Bayside Plantation. Wikipedia. [Online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayside_(Jeanerette,_Louisiana).
8. NRHP Nomination Form. [Online] https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/86003747_text.
9. National Register of Historic Places. NRHP Nomination Form Bayside Plantation. [Online] https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/b24da233-c218-4feb-996a-52e4526cc694/.
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