Key Facts

Snapshot:	lived in colonial North Carolina; owned slaves; co-owned an important mill site
Parents:	3304Isaac Ricks 3305Sarah ___
Born:	27 December 1702 near Chuckatuck, Virginia
Died:	between 15 April 1760 and December 1760 probably Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Buried:	unknown

1652Isaac Ricks, son of 3304Isaac Ricks and his wife 3305Sarah, was born 27 December 1702 around Chuckatuck, Virginia. His birth is documented in the local Quakers' meeting minutes.1

1652Isaac's birth documented in a Quaker meeting minutes book. Full page.1

As explained below, he married Eleanor Johnson, daughter of James Johnson and widow of John Bunn.

Problem: Resolved Who was 1652Isaac's wife? The will of John Bunn, dated 17 May 1760, describes 826James and John Ricks (i.e., 1652Isaac's sons) as "brothers in law." (In modern English, he would've used the term "step-brothers.") 2 John Bunn's father was also named John Bunn. (To avoid confusion, I'll refer to them as "Father John" and "Son John" going forward.) Father John's will, dated 27 January 1727, names several heirs, including Son John and wife Eleanor.3 Therefore, 1652Isaac must have been married to Eleanor. Eleanor's maiden name is known from the will of James Johnson, dated 30 January 1745/6, which mentions daughter Eleanor Ricks.4

Problem: Unresolved What land did 1652Isaac sell/buy? Donald M. Ricks' book The Descendants of Jonas Ricks and Other Ricks Families in America on pages 69-70 provides a somewhat lengthy summary of 1652Isaac's numerous land sales/purchases. Unfortunately, however, in some cases Mr. Ricks cites deeds that I've been unable to find in an original county deed book. For example, on page 70 he writes, "Chowan County deed book A records his first land acquisition from William and Esther Ricks. William patented that land 6 April 1722. First, Isaac lived near his older brother William, and later he moved to the Tar River area of Edgecombe County: William RICKS and wife Ester to Isaac RICKS—10 November 1724—30 pounds for 240 acres on south side Kirby's Creek and Reedy Branch, patent dated 6 April 1722--witness: James BRYANT, William WILSON, Mathew SELLERS, November Court 1724. [Deed Book A: 326.] However, Chowan County deed book A, page 326 actually shows a different deed altogether. Due to the overall quality of Mr. Ricks' book, I suspect there are simply errors or misunderstandings about the citations, and that these transactions did in fact occur. Further investigation would be worthwhile.

1652Isaac's will leaves his plantation to his son 826James. It also gives 826James "the land I purchased of Georg Goodson containing by Estimation 200 acres with one half of the grist mill" and indicates that he co-owned the mill with Joseph Henderson:

This excerpt from 826James' will indicates that he co-owned a grist mill. Full page.5

Another deed made a couple of years after 1652Isaac's death shows that 826James bought out Henderson's share in the mill, and clarifies that the mill is at Great Falls.6

This deed clarifies the mill's location, and suggests that 826James became the sole owner. Full page.6

There is still a mill structure at the Great Falls today, although it's no longer operational. The building (which was built decades after 826James' death) has been maintained and repurposed. The location is marked on the master map.

1652Isaac's will also proves that he owned slaves. The will is dated 15 April 1760 and was proved at Edgecombe County's December 1760 court.5

Sources Cited:

1: A Quaker monthly meeting minutes book for the area of Nansemond and Isle of Wight counties, Virginia for the years 1684-1709 (The front page is labeled "Lower Va, Nansemond + Isle of Wight Cos. 1684-1709, Births, Deaths + Marriages."), page 108. Ancestry.com ("U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935" / Virginia / Suffolk City / Chuckatuck, Nansemond, Western Branch, Somerton / Minutes, 1684-1717 / image 59 of 65), accessed 26 June 2020. You can see a copy of the full page here. This page is transcribed in: Douglas Summers Brown, The Lower Virginia Monthly Meeting Minutes and Register (Commonly Called 'The Chuckatuck Record' - Quaker), 1673-1756, page 53; FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B8-594B-L?i=886&cat=396005>. After a short list of births, the next record in the book is a religious text (It seems to be the text of a sermon.) dated 23 December 1707. Therefore, the births were probably recorded within a few years after they had occurred.

2: Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Wills book A (1760-1778), pages 3-4, the will of John Bunn, dated 17 May 1760 and proved June court 1760. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JKP4-T?i=13&cc=1867501&cat=299030> et seq., accessed 24 June 2020.

3: North Carolina Secretary of State Wills. The will of John Bun, Bertie County, dated 27 January 1727. MARS ID 12.96.4.35. North Carolina Digital Collections, <https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p16062coll41/id/2014/rec/1>, accessed 25 June 2020.

4: Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Wills & Accounts, volume 5 (1745-1752), pages 68-70, the will of James Johnson, dated 30 January 1745/6 and probated 11 June 1747. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-9VCB?i=357&cat=416816> et seq., accessed 24 June 2020. You can read a transcription here.

5: Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Wills for the years 1758-1830, volume 8 (Phi-Sch), sheet 46, the will of Isaac Ricks, dated 15 April 1760. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-V49M-5R?i=133&cc=1867501>, accessed 6 June 2020.

6: Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Deeds book 1, page 131. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L983-FWFN?i=155&cat=306915>, accessed 25 June 2020.