Hi, Have been searching for parents of my g gf for many years. Do not know their given names. Here is what I know. Any real help will get you lunch at the Colonial Inn. The real answer will get a month of lunches. John RICHARDSON, was b. 27May1819, " near Hillsboro, NC ", per his obituary. The Richardsons were said to be in the stage line business and maybe in Elizabeth City area. Also reputedly related to Patrick HENRY. Henry used by different generations. 5Dec1842, John joined the Eagle Masonic Lodge in Hillsboro. 10Dec1842 he was elevated to master mason. I have read the minutes of the lodge so know this is factual. John did not attend any other meetings until 10April1843 when, " brother John Richardson then stated he was going to the Western County and wished to get a certificate showing he was an honurable member ". The certificate was given. It is signed by John BERRY, James M. PALMER, Pride JONES and W.W. BROWN. ( A cousin has the original and I soon hope to give it to the Hillsboro museum. ) Other members of the Lodge that attended all the meetings John attended are: Charles COOLEY, Wm NELSON, Allen PARK (PARKS ), James PARKS, R. F. PLEASANT, Samuel D. PHILLIPS, S. JOHNSON, R. H. LEE, John JONES, John COOLY ( COOLEY ) Wm BROWN, H. BOSHAMER, H. BRETHEN Don PHILLIPS, T. ADAMS (visitor ) Leroy JOHNSON, C. S. WARREN, T. ADAMS I have always believed that John Richardson had to be related to one or some to these other lodge members. He became a master mason in only two meetings which indicates he had some coaching and influence. I know this is long but some others might be interested in the names. John went to Washington County TN. I am sure he went to TN and returned to NC and joined the lodge and returned. He went to work for the John H. Blair Stage Lines in Jonesboro, TN. He married, Elizabeth S. ELLIS, of Hawkins County 14July1846. He was living in Russellville, TN ( then Jefferson County ) in 1846 and became postmaster 27May1847 and served until 28Apr1849. He and Elizabeth are in Jefferson Co. with son John Henry in 1850 census. Elizabeth's father, John E. ELLIS 1772-1844, owned a stage stopover in Church Hill, TN. Mr. Ellis was large land owner and left Elizabeth a farm. John and Elizabeth bought out other sibblings and moved to Church Hill about 1851. They had eight children and raised four to adults. ( Two sons had the HENRY name ) John and Elizabeth both were well educated for the times. Gave land and supported a school in Church Hill but no where can I find a record of his parents. The four children were educated and successful but not genealogists. Per the 1880 census John's f. b. NC and mother b. NC. Per the 1900 cenus John's f. b. MD and m. b. NC. John remained a mason all his life and was the oldest mason in TN when he died 22Mar1909. Do you know any Richardsons in stage line business ? Do any with a connection to the Henry name ? Sorry for the long post. I have all information on John and Elizabeth's descendants. Information on CHARLES and ELLIS family of Hawkins County, TN but no information on any other NC RICHARDSONS. ( except me) Charles R. Richardson Raleigh, NC ChasRichar@aol.com ==== NCORANGE Mailing List ==== Larry Noah - lrnoah@bigfoot.com - Listowner - NCORANGE mailing list Orange Co, NC USGenWeb site is at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncorange GENDEX at http://www.gendex.com/gendex/ has over 1400 databases on line