PLEASE NOTE:
I can find no verified place of burial for Edward. He has children buried in this cemetery, so I have placed him here pending further information.

VIRGINIA
Edward Nathaniel was the first-born son of Edmund Hendley Richards Sr. [1783] and Sarah Ann Warren [1787] in Franklin County Virginia.

TENNESSEE
Edward emigrated with his parents and other relatives from their Virginia homeland into Robertson County Tennessee [just north of Nashville], probably near Springfield, in the year of 1814. They farmed the land there for 16 seasons.

While in Tennessee, Edward married Janie C. Stewart [1798], also a Virginia native.

ILLINOIS
Sometime between 1827 and 1830, Edward took his family north into Macoupin County Illinois, as did his parents and siblings. Most settled along the northern most portion of North Otter/North Palmyra Townships--near the "nine-mile road"--while Edward chose a location a few miles south east--near present day Girard in South Otter township. They were among the first settlers in the recently organized Macoupin County [1829].

Edward continued to farm and raise his family there until the end of his life. Janie passed on before Edward, and he was last recorded in the 1880 census living with his first-born son Peter. I do not have a death date.

Children:
1. Peter [1823] TN +Eliza R. Warren
2. Edmund [1829] TN +Mary M. Meriman
3. Mary "Polly" Ann [1832] IL +George W. Carter
4. Jeremiah M. [1833] IL +Maria Oller
5. Wina [1836] IL +Thomas H. Sprouse
6. John [1838] IL

1850 census Macoupin County IL
Edward Richards M 46 Virginia
Jane Richards F 52 Virginia
Peter Richards M 26 Tennessee
Edmund Richards M 21 Illinois
Polly A Richards F 18 Illinois
Jeremiah Richards M 16 Illinois
Winne Richards F 14 Illinois
John Richards M 12 Illinois
[sons of Peter above]
John W Richards M 5 Illinois
James E Richards M 2 Illinois
Peter W Richards M 0 Illinois

LINEAGE:
Edmund Hendley Richards Sr. [1783] Franklin Co VA/TN/IL
Edward Richards [1731] MD/old Lunenburg/Franklin Co VA
Benjamin Richards [1710] MD/old Lunenburg/Franklin Co VA
Edward Richards [1678] Manchester, Lancashire England/MD