| Molcie Anne Williamson Ritter | |
 Click on Photo for Larger Version |
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The Ritter Family News LetterPublished by Jerry Ritter McDonald10881 Johnstown Road New Albany, OH 43054 jrm2232@cs.com February 15, 1999 – First Quarter Letter 1999 |
| Apologies in
advance <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
To say that the interest in this newsletter has been overwhelming is somewhat short of an understatement. I am finding that my mind isn’t as organized as I once thought it was. My ability to take many pieces of unconnected information and keep them filed accurately has either failed me or never existed. At any rate, I am receiving quite a bit of information from many of you and having trouble keeping it separated and associated with your names. So if I slip up and print something that you submitted with someone else’s name on it, please accept my apology in advance. Just call my attention to it and I will get out a correction so that you can be credited with the information. It would be most helpful if in the future, if you would give your full name and city/state with your email, at least until I get to know you better.
I am will be printing each of your submissions along with your email address. Should that be a problem, you should let me know in advance. I can’t say if it is a “Ritter thing” or not, but when I was younger I was informed by family, in no uncertain terms, that one must be very careful about what they let others know about themselves. Can any of you identify with that? Perhaps it is more of a “mid-North Carolina thing”. That is not to say that being careful is a bad thing, but my group of Ritters honed it to a fine art.
| Ritters in Mississippi
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
After the November NewsLetter we received some interesting information from Margie Croney Norcross, Ga. mbcroney@bellsouth.net, who writes:
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“I must say I don't have documentation for lots of this. I have gathered it here and there and from various persons. There is a lady living in Monroe Co. Ms. who has a 90 yr. old Aunt (Ritter) and a lot of the info was from the 2 of them. The story handed down is that around the 1830's 4 sons of Everett Ritter Sr.(1759-69) left Moore Co. NC. and headed to Monroe Co. Ms. They settled there and adjoining county of Itawamba Co. Some of this info was from "Monroe Co. History Book" in the library in Aberdeen, Monroe Co. Ms. The 4 brothers were: William b. 1802 NC who married Mary Young; Anderson b. about 1792 NC. Who married Phebe Douglas Young, sister of Mary; Everett Jr. b. 1804 mar. Jane Hornback; John b. about. 1799 NC married a Mary. William Ritter (1802) had a son, John McBride (Mack) Ritter b. about 1825 who mar. Mary Ann Masengill (Polly) MCDONALD. I noticed these 4 brothers(John, William, Anderson, Everett Jr.) used mostly the same names for their children>>>>> Celia, Elizabeth, Everett, James, Jesse, Margaret, Martha, Nancy, Sarah, Thomas, William, John to name a few. I "know" what I have from William Ritter (1802 NC) forward is pretty accurate, but back of him, I don't have documentation. “ |
She also writes that she is researching the following names: BECK, BORDEN, DAY, DOWNS, EASTER, GUNTER, HOLLOWAY, JEFFREYS, NEAL, PIERCE, PUGH, RITTER, WHITE, WILLIAMS, YORK.
Editor’s Note: I have tracked all over Mississippi (my father’s birth place) looking for McDonalds only to find that Moore County had more McDonalds than any other surname at one point. (I was born in NC). Now I find that after looking all over Moore County NC for Ritters I find them in Mississippi. Who could have guessed that?| That story of Ritters migrating from Pennsylvania just
keeps popping
up <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Lottie Ritter of Raleigh, NC Lritter1@aol.com has been kind enough to send me copies of information she has collected from various sources over the years. These copies include two additional accounts of the Williamson that we reported about in the last Ritter Letter. You remember the story where Williamsons and other families fled one night from an Indian attack. Well I now have four accounts of that same story, each with the same tale to tell, but several details are different in each account. In one of the accounts the Ritters are mentioned as being in that wagon train that fled that night. Neither of these new tellings of that story mentions the John Ritter Family. I will transcribe some each of these new accounts for your information. The first is from a letter written by Edgar Williamson, of Orange NJ in 1938. It is titled History of The Williamson Family furnished by Rev. R.L. Williamson about twenty years prior. (that would have been around 1909) The original document is on file at the Malcom Blue Historical Soc. Aberdeen, N.C. 28315 and a copy is filed at the Moore County Library, Historical Room. The letter I have is handwritten and has been copied several times such that it is difficult to read. I have typed this transcript as best I can read it:
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The beginning: Martha (in England) no one seems to know who she was. Catholic’s burned a Williamson at the stake and his wife and two children stood by – The Priest said “Throw them on the fire too: - the woman caught up the two children and fled. One Williamson from both or Hull England came to the Valley of Virginia – Also one from Germany called Wilhelmson. Young Williamson in Va. was given a pot of gold by two thieves and was overtaken by officers and punished for the theft instead of the thieves – Williamson took up large tract of land in the Valley of VA. (Now West Va. – and known to this day as Williamson land) The City of Williamson West Virginia is on the land, and a Society known as the “Williamson Society” is now contact….. in the courts for the return of the land to the W – family. There was an uprising among the Indians and all white settlers were to be killed. An Indian woman, who had been befriended, came and warned the Williamson family – they in turn warned other settlers and all fled the same night, just before the Indians arrived. The white settlers separated and the Indians overtook and killed all those who had taken the west course – The Williamson family pressed on through the Cullpepper Valley and into North Carolina, went to Cross Creek (Fayetteville) and then to Bear or Grassy Creek, Moore County, and settled. |
The second document she sent was compiled by James Vann Comer of Sanford, N.C. and is titled Williamson Family of Upper Moore County, N.C. published by Lucy Kennedy Canter, Aaron Emsley Kennedy, Jr. and Jennafaye McConnehey Reynolds. (no attempt has been made to correct grammar or spelling errors)
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Jonathan Williamson, V.
was born Circa 1684 in the home of his parents, William Uilliamson. I. and
? located in Virginia (now S.W. Pennsylvania). According to the History of
the Williamson Family written (1940) by Isaac -- Walter Williamson -" The
French had armed the Indians in that locality, the then frontier, and as
they outnumbered the white settlers overwhelmingly, their lives from 1735
to the time they fled the country was almost a running fight. . . . John
the V and his son, William Johnathan figured in an Indian fight in 1737.
The Indians began the attack at night, but the fire from the dwellings was
so deadly that the Indians went to the barn and tried to fire it. It seems
that the Williamsons were prepared for this, having a tunnel from the
houses to the barn, - a trench covered with logs and smoothed over with
dirt, and John and his son, Johnathan, ran through this tunnel, armed with
hatchets, climbed into the barn mow, and leaped down on the Indians,
hacking four of them to death before they
fled. |
In the first account there is more than one mention that the Williamsons were located in western Virginia, now West Virginia. In the second account, it mentions that the Williamson settlement was in Virginia, now SW Pennsylvania. I located the current town of Williamson mentioned above. That town appears to be in Pike County and southwest of Charleston WV. According to my map it is approximately 168 miles to anywhere in the current State of Pennsylvania, and that is a straight-line measurement.
| Ritters in
Pennsylvania <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
This information supplied by Lottie Ritter of Raleigh, NC Lritter1@aol.com:
Here is a copy from a document in the Mormon Church, Family History Center. She did not supply the specific reference or author.
The pages she sent are titled Earliest Ritter arrivals in the Eastern Seaboard of America, it lists specific families and individuals who came to this country and where they settled. The document makes mention of Ritters settling in the following states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Editor’s note: I am more convinced that ever that the Ritters prior to the North Carolina i.e. Jesse Sr. were from Pennsylvania, I have retyped a section from the above mentioned for inclusion here.
PENNSYLVANIA
The first Ritters to arrive in Philadelphia were Christopher O. Ritter on the Ship Samuel Percy on October 27, 1727 with Hans Ritter who went South with his wife Mary to Luray, Virginia. With them were their children Craig Ritter, Moltey Ritter and the oldest child Elisabeth Ritter, aged 20.
On the Ship Samuel Percy on August 28, 1733 – Christopher Ritter son of the first Christopher O. Ritter evidently followed his kin to Luray, Virginia.
On the Ship Samuel Hugh Percy on August 23, 1731, Barbara Ritter arrived and evidently went to Bucks County where she may have married Christopher Haxler in 1791.
Also arrived, Anna Katherin Ritter (age 35) and Ann Klara Ritter (age30) whom I cannot locate. On the Ship Princess Augustus on September 16, 1763, my ancestor, Jurg (George) Ritter, age 17, with his mother, Maria Dorthy, whose husband, Johannes George Ritter died on the way to America. This Johannes George Ritter was married twice. His second wife died in America. One of his children by his first marriage was an Elisabeth Ritter, born 1710 who married Jurg Fedrick Baher, born 1717. He was a master silversmith. He died in Philadelphia on October 17, 1777. According to Church Records, he and his wife were sponsors to several of Jury (George) Ritter’s children. When Elisabeth Ritter died on September 11, 1788, left a will bequeathing money to sisters in Wirtemberg, Germany, also to her brother-in-law, Simon Fredrick Baher in Philadelphia. She left a legacy for a special niece and the residue to “The Poor of Philadelphia”. A half-brother to Jacob Ritter, the son of Jurg Ritter by his first wife, arrived in Philadelphia about the same time but evidently came from England. Heinrich was a baker. He was born in 1740 in Germany and died on August 30, 1793 (age52). He married Catherine Maria-------, who died August 31, 1780. He had a son Heinrich and a grandson William who were also bakers in Philadelphia. Heinrich’s father made a model of an automatic Man which is exhibited in the British Museum in London, England. Other children of Heinrich, the baker were daughters mentioned in The Reformed Church Records in Philadelphia. The earliest Ritter who settled in Montgomery County was the father of Jacob Ritter who married Ann Williams(1) on October 18, 1802. His father also married an Elisabeth------ who was a Quaker Preacher.
Editor’s note: could there be a connection between the children of Christopher O. Ritter, Craig or Moltey, or even Christopher himself to the Ritters that traveled to Moore County with the Williamson Family as mentioned in the one account of the Williamson history. I have seen mention of either a Christopher, Craig or Moltey in Moore County Records.
Editor’s note: The town of Luray is about 80 miles from the current Pennsylvania border for whatever that is worth.
| Ritters in
Australia <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Would you believe it, We had email from Shirley Burns asburns@one.net.au, who writes.
My g.grandmother was Willimena Freareka Agusta RITTER b.13 May 1866 Callington, South Australia, Australia to parents Adolph RITTER and Phillipa EDART. I know that they were from Germany but have not found when they came to Australia or from what part of Germany they came.
Willimena married William Henry HARGRAVE 7 Dec 1889 Kadina, South Australia, Australia and they had 6 children.
So as you can see, there's not much, but I am wanting to find out more about my RITTER ancestors. If anyone can help, I would love to hear from them.
Shirley
Burns
Coffs Harbour, NSW,
Australia
(formerly Alice Springs, NT)
Editor’s note: Our little newsletter has gone international….
| Questions about Benjamin Franklin Ritter and Everette
Ritter <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
We got a note from Donna Ritter Riley of Cary, NC, d_riley@bellsouth.net, who writes:
I am a descendant of Benjamin Franklin Ritter, b:1815, where is undecided!!!. This is as far back on my Ritter line as I have gotten however I believe that he probably is the son of an Everette Ritter who was the son of Jesse Ritter of Moore County, North Carolina, just cannot prove it. One question I would have for your Newsletter is if there is anybody out there who knows if Everette Ritter, son of Jesse Ritter, of Moore County was married twice and if son who the first wife might have been and do they know of any children. I have access to land records where Jesse Ritter deeded land to Everette Ritter about 1790 in Moore County, North Carolina.
Editor’s note: any information you are able to share with Donna or others regarding their questions should also be sent to us so that we can publish it. Others may have similar questions.
| Who was the father of Everett
Ritter? <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Cheryl Daubs CADaubs@aol.com, writes:
Ron Partin (he is on your list) and I are shirttail cousins. For years he and
I both have been looking for the father of Everett Ritter. There are a lot of
theories....but no proof! He married Anna Goodwin May 15, 1828 in Hardeman Co.,
TN. His pension records show he died Dec. 4, 1873 in Van Zandt Co., Texas. I
drove to the county seat of Van Zandt...Canton, Texas. They have no records on
him! We are VERY frustrated!
Cheryl writes in another email:
I just got my
January 12, 1999 issue of Country Weekly. On page 50 is a really sweet article
on Tex Ritter. It is a few pages and has some pictures of Tex and his wife, one
with his sons, Tommy and John, a some other pictures. The article is both
interesting and has some facts; one of which is that the Tex Ritter Fan Club is
still alive and well!
Cheryl Daubs
| Question regarding William Ritter b.1802
NC <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Here is a question from Margie Croney, Norcross, GA. mbcroney@bellsouth.net:
I am descended from William RITTER b. 1802 NC who was son of Everett RITTER SR.(1759-69 Moore co. NC). I have been unable to find record of William's marriage to Mary YOUNG, but have been told that was the wife's name and she was a sister to Phebe YOUNG, who mar. Anderson RITTER, brother of William. Does anyone have any info on the marriage of William? He and brothers Anderson, John and Everett Jr. were in Monroe Co. Ms. by 1830's. They settled there and neighbor co. of Itawamba Ms., and Marion AL. William's daughter, Martha C. RITTER b. 8-4-1837 mar. Thomas Issac JEFFREYS about 1857.
Anyone descended from this line, with any additional info? I have children of Martha C. RITTER JEFFREYS and grandchildren, etc forward.
| New web site for Ritter
History <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Mr. Larry W. Ritter of Fairfield, TX, Lwr@pflash.com, writes:
I've discovered a great new way for all of us in the family to keep in touch. It's a FREE family Web site at MyFamily.com where we can share news, photos, calendar events, family history information and more in a private, password-protected environment. Here's just a few of the things we can do on our new MyFamily Web site:
There's a lot more, but rather than me tell you about it, just go check it out for yourself. I've already set up a family site. It's completely secure so only those with a password can have access to it.
Hope to see you at the site soon!
To login to our MyFamily Web site, go to http://www.myfamily.com and enter
your temporary User Name and
Password:
User
Name: UN2B098
Password:
PW13311
After you log into your site, you can change your User Name and Password in the Family Info area.
If you need assistance, contact your site administrator(s): Larry W. Ritter (Lwr@pflash.com)
| New web site for Ritter
NewsLetter <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Mr. Antone Ritter of Fort Worth, TX. antone@flash.net writes: The URL of my genealogy page has changed to http://www.netxroad.com/antone/genealo.htm so be sure to stop by sometime.
Editor’s note: Past copies of the RitterLetter can be found at http://www.netxroad.com/antone/newsletters/index.htm. The copies posted there have pictures and formatted text.
| Names for this
letter <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Last time we asked for possible names for this letter. We received correspondence from only one person on that question. Mr. Glenn George Ritter of State College, PA, Knite102@aol.com, who wrote: “you know, Ritter means Knight in German, so how about “The Knight Light”?
Editor’s note: perhaps an alternate version of that name might be “The Knight Lite”. Well we are still open to suggestions, or perhaps we might just default to the Ritter NewsLetter. What do ya think?
| Picture of the Month – Molcie Anne Williamson
Ritter <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
Molcie Anne was born to Eli Williamson 1848 – 1915 and Elizabeth “Betsy” Needham b.04/04/1820 d.03/18/1905.
Siblings were:
George Emmitt b.1876 d.1947 never married
Lottie Jane
b.18?? d.?? M.Orlando Crisco
Martha Emily b.?? d.?? M.Yancy Bray
Ollie T.
b.1893 d.1926 never married
Flossie Elizabeth b.09/01/1890 d.09/15/1969
M.Willie Walter Ritter
Molcie Anne married Thomas Wesley Ritter Moore Co. b.07/21/1877 d.02/13/1956, on January 19 th , 1902. They lived most of their lives in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, just south of Greensboro and near the site of Ritters Lake.
There is some dispute about the spelling of her first name. My mother told me that Molcie was correct spelling rather than Molcy. Her death certificate and the stone at her grave spell it as I have above. I have two great pictures of Molcie which have probably never been seen by any people living at this time. I discovered the negatives in a box of my mother’s possessions and recently printed them. I will post them on Antone’s web site for all of you to admire and download. I am sure the pictures were taken by Thomas Wesley Ritter, probably not too long after they were married. Thomas took many pictures and printed them himself, probably prior to 1910.
| Molcie Anne Williamson Ritter | |
Click on Photo for Larger Version |
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| Milestones <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> |
T. Theodore Ritter b.12/30/1917 d.10/28/98 source: G. Williamson, Robbins, NC
Artance Britt Hussey of Eagle Springs, NC (Near Robbins) Great Great Granddaughter of Mary Maness Ritter, wife of John Spinks Ritter - died on Thursday January 28 th according to sources in Robbins, NC. She was 70 years old. I hope to have more details very shortly. I have been unable to verify details.
Editor’s Note: Please keep me informed of births and deaths of Ritter family members.
©1998 by Jerry R. McDonald
Email the author at: Jerry R. McDonald