Summary of Contents

Chapter One (three major parts):

Richard¹ Ricks and his descendants lived in Charles City, Prince George, and Surry Counties, Virginia. Richard first appeared in 1638 and died about 1658. His children and their descendants either had family ties or associated closely with members of the following families: Barker, Blaton (Blayton), Blunt, Cargill, Chappell, Collier, Ellis, Flood, Ford, Hamlin, Harrison, Hunter, Jones, Jordan, Minge, Mosby, Niblett, Parish, Phillips, Shipdham, Sowerby, Stevens (Stephens), Talbott, Vinson, Washington, Wilkerson, Wyatt, and others. This family is traced through four generations, and there is discussion about members of generations five and six. There is a large Reekes family in Mecklenburg County and Lunenburg County, Virginia, that descends from Richard. Philip Ricks lived in this area, and Philip's brother, Thomas, lived in Granville County, North Carolina. See the summary page for an update on Philip Ricks and his descendants.

Included in chapter one is an eleven page genealogy of "Richard Rooks, of Perquimans Precinct, Albemarle County, North Carolina." This is a detailed investigation and report (many footnotes) of this man and his children and the people with whom he associated. Some of the surnames included in the discussion and records include Albertson, Jacocks, Parish, Hofton, Wyatt, Harrison, Bundy, Manners, Nicholson, Minge, Ricks, Scott, Commander, Cleare, Hosea, White, Anderson, Charles, Henley, Wilson, Lamb, and others visible in early county records.

Isaac¹ Ricks, of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, is a major subject of chapter one. He appeared in that county as early as 1679. This man and his descendants were researched to correct misinformation and mislinked families that resulted from a 1908 publication about this Ricks family. Several other authors and researchers have since continued to quote the unproved material found in that early book. This genealogy contains many sources for the corrected information and traces members of the family who went to North Carolina. Especially surveyed were the records of William and his son Benjamin; James and John Ricks, sons of Isaac. Discussion includes narrative and documents concerning the Belson, Bunn, Cogan, Denson, Exum, Johnson, Jordan, Kirby, McKinney, Ricks, Rogers, Ross, Sellaway, Scott, and others in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, and Northampton, North Carolina linked to these families. Only 365 copies are being printed at the first printing. Reserve your copy today!

Chapter Two:

Jonas Ricks lived in Rowan County in 1768, in the area that became Guilford County in 1770. He died there in 1821. This chapter includes the results of primary community research conducted in the areas where his descendants lived and traces most of his children and their descendants through generation two. Some went to Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee. The discussion includes collateral families.

Chapters Three-Seven:

As family members moved, it became increasingly difficult to locate them. Generation Three is a good example of the movement trend away from North Carolina. The subjects of these family entries are the descendants of Jonas Ricks. The discoveries are interesting and the reports revealing. The division of this genealogy by generations makes it easier to understand the lineage of any particular line.

Chapter Eight:

Francis¹ Rider married Mary Ricks (Ransom, John, Edward, Jonas) about 1870. Martha Ricks, sister of Mary, married William Francis² Rider (Francis). Rider was previously Reuter before immigrating from Germany. This genealogy includes the ancestors of Rider in Germany and traces his line through several generations.

Chapter Nine:

Isaac Ricks, of Hardeman County, Tennessee, first appeared there about 1824. He previously lived in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. This chapter ties together the information found in Edgecombe County and Hardeman County, Tennessee, to make the connection documented. This chapter is the results of community research conducted in Tennessee and Alabama to present a more complete genealogy of those descendants of Isaac Ricks (who died in Edgecombe Co. in 1820) who moved to Tennessee and Northern Alabama.

Chapter Ten:

Exum Ricks lived in Rutherford County, Tennessee, and descended from Abraham Ricks, of Nash County, North Carolina. This chapter confirms that relationship and traces Exum's descendants in Tennessee as they moved westward.

Chapter Eleven:

Several mini-genealogies are available in this chapter. The Mendenhalls of Guilford Co., North Carolina, Milton Ricks, of Guilford County, North Carolina, and John Ricks, of Autauga Co., Alabama, and others listed in the index are included.

Appendix A:

Abstracts or loose transcripts of deed, grant, and probate records make up the majority contents. These records were personally prepared from original records found in the locations indicated at the index.

Index:

Index entries are mostly whole name and presented in four columns.