VIRGINIA BORN
Charles was born the son of Waitman Richards and Sarah "Sally" Hodges. Waitman's family lived about 6 miles south east of Rocky Mount in Franklin County Virginia [between Sydnorsville and Sontag].

Charles' grandfather, Edward [1731], was a landowner, livestock breeder, and ran a mill. The family plantation was over 1,000 acres, and when Edward died, the estate enabled his sons Waitman and Shadrack to inherit land. It also provided his third son Edmund Hendley Richards Sr. with funds to migrate west into Robertson County Tennessee in 1814, then into Macoupin Co IL in 1830.

The 1840 Census of Franklin County Virginia shows Charles living there.

MOVE TO MISSOURI
"Charles Richards and Louisa Eddens came to Missouri from Landen county Va [this is not accurate. HGR] in the year 1838, locating at Flint Hill. After a few years residence there the family moved to a farm a few miles northwest, near Big Creek." Quoted from "The History of Lincoln County"

A chancery suit was filed in Franklin County in May 1842 whereby John and Gresham Choice say that he [Charles Richards] has absconded from the jurisdiction and seek to sell a small tract of land on Chestnut Mountain belonging to him.
[Note: Chestnut Mountain and Chestnut Creek was the area where Edward Richards' land holdings began in 1758.]

1843 Richards, Charles: Land purchase in town of Flint Hill - 2 lots [#14 & #15 on Main Street]

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Charles and Louisa were actually married on April 3 1844. Their three sons were:
1. John Edward Richards [1846]
2. Charles Thomas Richards [1847]
3. James Harvey Richards [1848]

HISTORICAL WITNESS
Charles was "..a farmer and tobacco manufacturer, and was a prosperous business man."
Quoted from "The History of Lincoln County"

LINEAGE:
Waitman RICHARDS [1765] Franklin Co VA
Edward RICHARDS [1731] MD/ Franklin Co VA
Benjamin RICHARDS [1710] MD/old Lunenburg & Franklin Co VA
Edward RICHARDS [1678] Manchester, Lancashire England/MD