I kept going over this court record concerning Sterling Hood and Susan Richards, but I had a difficult time transcribing it! My mother was able to figure out what it said, so she ended up doing the transcription.
A little background on Susan and Sterling:
Here is a snippet from The Richards Epic Part One:
Susan Richards was born about 1813 in Jones County, North Carolina. Susan, or Suki as she was known, had suffered an illness and her mind had never matured (according, again, to Earle Epic). She lived with her mother in 1850, where she is listed as “idiotic”. In 1860, after Rhoda had passed (I suppose?) Susan was living with her sister Rhoda and family, again listed as “idiotic”. I am unable to find Susan on a census record after 1860, so I can only assume that she died sometime prior to 1870.
Also from The Richards Epic Part One:
Rhoda Richards was born August 15, 1829 in Jones County, North Carolina. Though the exact date of marriage isn’t known (from what I understand the marriage records are missing), Rhoda married Sterling Hood about 1849, most likely in Crittenden County, Arkansas. Rhoda died on March 11, 1911. The children of Rhoda and Sterling are:
Nancy J Hood was born about 1850. I have no further information.
James W Hood was born in August of 1853. He married Ester S (surname unknown). James and Ester had the following children: Sterling Hood, Parker E Hood, Rosa Lee Hood, Julia F Hood and James W Hood, Jr.
Hillary or Hillowry E Hood was born about 1855. I have no further information.
Robert S Hood was born in 1858. He married Minnie M Newton on July 24, 1890. Robert and Minnie had the following children: Olive W Hood, Bluford K Hood, Nancy Rhoda Gertrude Hood, Ida Bell or Isabell Hood, Jessie Caroline Hood and Rachel Hood.
Laura Hood was born about 1865. She married WT Wilkins on December 19, 1886. I believe I found her on a 1940 census living in Houston, Harris County, Texas with her granddaughter, but I can’t be certain. I have no further information.
Edmund P Hood was born about 1871. Edmund married Dora Jane Place on October 8, 1893. Edmund and Dora Jane had the following children: Jerome R Hood, Clarence R Hood and Everett P Hood.
Ok, so while slogging through the court records of Crittenden County, Arkansas I came across this little mention concerning Susan Richards’ guardianship. So I now at least know she was still living in the Autumn of 1860. I hope I can eventually find the death dates of everyone.
Susan Richards Guardianship
Now on this day the account of Sterling Hood Guardian of Susan Richards filed Oct 16th 1860, is laid before the court examination to, and it appearing to the court that said account has been duly advertised and no exception, and the court having carefully examined the same doth approve and confirm the same. It is further ordered that the said Guardian be and he is hereby allowed to sell a sufficient amount of the personal property of his ward to pay off her indebtedness.
One of the great things about finding something like this is that it reminds me to research people I may have forgotten about. And I do not want anyone to ever be forgotten. And although neither Susan or Sterling are in my absolute direct lines, it is still important to research them. Valerie of Begin With ‘Craft’ wrote a fantastic post about the importance of researching ancestors that are not in your direct lines that everyone should read!
