Notes for Richard Rixey

Notes for Richard Rixey

The first 4 children all died of typhoid fever about the same time. Resident of Fauquier County and a Senior Magistrate (based upon a certificate dated 25 Feb. 1839 that suthorizing the Reverend Traverse D. Herndon to perform marriage ceremonies in the State of Virginia) His home was a farm near The Plains, and was called "Rock Spring" but was called "Belvoir" by it next owner Fairfax Harrison, President of the Southern Railway System. The home was built in 1812, brick and had a frontage of about 36 feet and a depth of about 20 feet. It was a shingle roof and was 2 stories. The entrance was a large hall with a winding stairway with 2 large rooms on the right, and two equally large rooms upstairs. The current house is about twice as long as the original and is about 6 times larger. The original burying ground is now a rose garden.

!Will date 13 April 1842: States that his grandsons, Richard and William Lewis had already received their share of his estate through a deed of gift to their mother - Frances Ann Rixey, the only child of his first marriage. The records of Fauquier Co. show that he gave her five slaves and 150 acres of land, reserving the use of same until she either married or became of age. (Deed gift was dated 1 June 1814, and recorded 24 Oct. 1814 - Deed Book 19, page 284) His widow was left the use of the entire estate to raise and educate the children and as they married, or established their own homes, each was to be allotted the same amount as had already been given to his daughter Eliza, who married Armstead H. Morehead in 1840. (Will Book 17, page 510 Fauquier Co. Records) !Will Book 33 & 34, pages 305 & 112, Fauquier Co. Records: Appraisement of the estate of his widow, Penelope Gibbs Rixey, was made 27 May 1872, with Daniel Cloud Hall, her son-in-law as administrator. There were 5 heirs - Eliza T. Rixey Morehead, Louisa Herndon Love Rixey Hall, Samuel Gibbs Rixey, Judith Rixey Leigh and Virginia Caroline Rixey Hall.