The following is from "Memories of Florida , Vol. 1" p.662-663
"Don Louis Joseph Francis Richard, of Florence , when a high-spirited and ambitious youth, became involved in a difficulty with another young Italian, and a duel with swords was the consequence. His adversary was killed and as a result, Don Louis had to leave his native country hurriedly to avoid prosecution. He joined a party of Italians who were bound for Bordeaux, France, and residing there for some time, married, and afterward went to the island of San Domingo (later became Haiti). Just before the insurrection of the negroes (the revolution), which caused such havoc in the island, he had determined to leave for America . He owned numerous slaves and a coffee plantation and managed to make his way to Charleston , S.C. with the slaves by exercising some strategy. A number of years afterward he and his wife removed to St. Johns County Fla. , where they raised four children, three sons and a daughter. The sons were John C., Francis and William, the latter dying young, and the daughter was Honorine, who married Wm. Ross. Francis settled in Duval County , Fla. , and John C. in Glynn County , Ga.
The following is from "The Italians in Colonial Florida " by Bruno Roselli
RICHARD, of Florence , See RICCIARDI
RICCIARDI, Luis Jospeh Francisco, "natural de Florencia en Italia", during the first decade of the 19th century residing by the St. Johns River , in Florida . (1802, 1803, 1805). He had previously resided in Saint Marc, Santo Domingo (now Republic of Haiti ), where he had married Genoveva Biana, "natural de San Marcos ", who apparently never joined him in Florida . In 1802 he was at St. Augustine , where he signed as witness for the marriage of Antonia Leonardi to Guillermo Holsendorf of South Carolina . The children of Louis Joseph Francisco, who followed their father to Florida , were:
-Juan Bautista, born at Saint Marc, who in 1802, at St. Augustine , married Isabel Rebeca Hart, of Savannah , daughter of William and Isabel (Stritman) Hart of New Jersey. In 1805 they had a daughter, Clara, who was baptized in St. Augustine , her godfather being Don Juan McQueen, "Captain Comandante de la Rivera de Santa Maria ".
-Josef Luis, also born in Saint Marc, who in 1803, at St. Augstine, married Maria del Rosario Ferreira, of Charleston , daughter of Don Juan Bautist Ferreira of Portugal and Isabel Bentley (Nixon) Ferreira of Charleston.
The following is from “ Jacksonville 's Architectural Heritage”
Luigi Giuseppi Francois Richard, a native of Florence , Italy came to East Florida in 1797 with three sons, on daughter, and twenty-seven slaves. He became on of Duval County 's largest property owners, receiving a 16,000-acre grant from the Spanish government in 1817. This vast tract extended from the mouth of the Arligton River all the way to Baymeadows. It was nearly nine miles in length and four and a half miles wide. Richard died in 1826 and willed this property to his son Francis Richard II. The grandson, Francis Richard III, inherited a thousand acres of the original grant in 1839 upon his father's death. By 1848 he moved from his home at Floral Bluff (near the foot of the Mathews Bridge ) to this house on Pottsburg Creek. His family occupied it until 1875, when his widow, Mary Ann Richard sold the house the Charles G. Hulbert. It was then purchased in 1908 by John and Lillie Campbell Holden, whose family has owned it ever since.
The Richard residence is the oldest continuously occupied house in Duval Countyp243
Settlement in this area ( Clifton ) began in 1817 when the Spanish government granted Francis Richard a large tract of land along Pottsburg Creek, where he established one of the first water-powered sawmills in Duval County. Known as Strawberry Mills, Richard's operation there included a lumber mill, cotton gin, and a grist mill (for grinding corn). By 1837 his son turned over the management of Strawberry Mills to John Sammis, a New York ship builder. Francis Richard II died two years later, and Sammis bought 6,000 acres from Richard's estate, including the mill and Arlington Bluff.
Sammis married Zephaniah Kingsley's younger daughter, Mary, in about 1830 and became the owner of numerous plantation properties in northeast Florida . ..p246
From “ Jacksonville 's Architectural Heritage”
During the late 1700's Francis Richard settled on the land south of McCoy's Creek (then called Richard's Creek) in what would later become Brooklyn and Riverside . But he soon abandoned this property and established his permanent residence down the river at Pottsburg Creek. The first recorded development in this area was a plantation built by Philip Dell, who received 800 acres from the Spanish government in 1801. Stretching nearly two miles southwest from McCoy's Creek, the shoreline of this tract formed a bluff as high as sixten feet overlooking the river. The area became known as “Dell's Bluff.” In 1805 Dell sold the property to John H. McIntosh, who owned other large plantations at Fort George Island and Ortega. P105
American adventurers, Creek Indians, bands of criminals, and French Republicans all sought to invade the newly re-established Spanish province of EF . In 1793 a number of Floridians rebelled against Spanish rule, declared thir loyalty to the United States , and fled to Georgia. Among them was Richard Lang, for the previous five years the magistrate for the St. Johns region. Don Juan McQueen, who replaced Lang as magistrate, directed a strengthening of the fortifications at San Nicolas in 1794, anticipating an attack by the French. The following year, a band of rebels led by ex-magistrate Richard Lang attacked Fort San Nicolas and occupied it for several days before fleeing back to Georgia. P229
East of Miller's Creek, Reuben Hogans' grant extended all the way to the Arlington River (called Pottsburg Creek before the Civil War). Hogans' land along the St. Johns River formed a high ridge known as Hazzard's Bluff. Francis Richard, who acquired vast holdings on the south side of the river, bought this property in the late 1820's. After his death it was purchased by John Sammis, who also became a prominent land owner in this area. …The peninsula bounded by Big Pottsburg and Little Pottsburg Creeks was settled by heirs of Francis Richard. By the 1880's it was known as South Arlington and was populated by Northerners who had their winter homes there. Today this section is known as Oak Haven. P230
Louis Joseph Francis (Francis I) RICHARD
Here is a copy of one of the original Spanish Land Grant applications. This one was filed in 1797.
Below is a translation of the Spanish document placed in the archives and certified to by Thomas de Aquilar, Sublieutenant of Infantry and Scretary of Government, of the place of St. Augustine and Province of East Florida , for his Majesty - St. Augustine , Florida , June 14, 1817 .
NOTE: The Cedar Swamp where the cedar trees in the water and the pines along the water were licensed to be cut, was three of four mile south of St. John's Buff, and was part of the 16,000 acres granted by the Spanish Crown.
PETITION, HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR:
Don Francis Richard, an inhabitant of the River St. Johns, with due respect, represents to your Excellency that, wishing to employ his means in a manner beneficial to the Province and to himself, and observing the great scarcity existing in this Province of planks and other lumber fit for building, both in reference to the home consumption and to purposes of trade, he intends to erect a water saw mill for this effect, and as for that purpose a fit situation is necessary such as is afforded on Pottsburgh Creek, bounded by the lands of Strwberry Hill, and the mentioned tract not being sufficient for the indicated object, he requests that the quantity equivalent to the object of his petition be granted him adjoining his Cedar Swamp about one mile distant East of MacQueen's Mill, in order to get cypress for lumber. Therefore he supplicates your Excellency submissively to grant him your Superior license and the expressed tract of five miles of land for the purposes he proposes to himself, in order that what he solicits being granted he may, with all possible brevity commence this advantageous work, and in order that he may have in the said tract the necessary timber which favor he hopes to receive from the justice of your Excellency.
St. Isabel Plantation, St. Johns River , on the 17th day of May 1817
Francis Richard
DECREE:
St. Augustine fourth of June, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. Considering the benefits and utility which will accrue in favor of the Province if Don Francis Richard carries into effect what he proposes, I grant to him License to construct without prejudice to a third party, a water saw mill on the Creek known under the name o fPottsburgh Creek, bounded by the lands of Strawberry Hill, and this tract not being sufficient, I grant him the equivalent quantity in his Cedar Swamp about a mile east of MacQueen's Mill, but with the precise condition that as long as he does not erect said machinery this grant will be considered null and without valuenor effect until that event takes place, and then in order that he may not receive any prejudice from the extensive expenditures which he is preparing, he will have the faculty of using the pines and other trees comprehended in the square of five miles or the equivalent thereof which five miles are granted to him in the mentioned place the avails of which he will enjoy without and defalcation whatever. And foe his security lot a certified copy be issued to him of this expedient which will be deposited in the archive of the Secretary's office as testimony in all events.
COPPINGER
Around the early part of 1819, Don Francis Joseph Louis Richard, died, and the operation of the mill was taken over by his son, the second Francis.
In 1821 Dona Honorine Genevieve Bianne Richard died. A copy of the will is included in her notes.
The following letter is from University of Florida Smathers Library / The East Florida Papers / Papers relating to the Royal Exchequer 1793-1821
St. Augustine 3rd January, 1801
Mr. Jack Kennard
Sir
Mr. Francis Richard an Inhabitant of this Province, has requested of me to write to you regarding two of his Negroes who were carried off from him the 28th last June from St. Johns River who are now in the possession of Mishologie, and for whom he offers sixty hard dollars in cash or goods.
Dominique of the Arada Nation, marked on his forehead and cheeks, a bit wanting of the upper part of an ear, 5 feet 5 inches high, age 20 years
Laurent marked on his right breast F. RICHARD ST. Mc. of the Nina(?) Nation, age about 30 years, ...5 feet 3 inches.
And as we are now of a good understanding with the Indians, I expect you will do what lies in your power to have them returned to their owners by which you will oblige your friend... (illegible)
(signed) White, Governor of St. Augustine
(The slaves must have been returned, because Honorine Genevieve gives them to her children and grandchildren in her will)
Baptismal Entry for Genevieve BIANNE RICHARD
Saint Marc Parish, Saint Domingue (Hait)
12 February1754
The Will of Genevieve Bianne Richard
In the name of God, Amen. I, Genevive B. Richard (widow) of the County of Camden in the State of Georgia being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, God be praised, for the same do make this my last will and testament following hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me made.
1st. I devise that all my just debts be paid as soon after my decease as may be convenient.
2nd. I give and bequeath to my daughter-Clementine Gautier (Gantier?) a woman named Michel and also Clary, Sophia, Teresa, Lucy, Patty, and Jim, slaves belonging to me.
3rd. I give and bequeath to Clarissa, Betsy Ann, and John W. Richard, the minor children of my late son William B. Richard, the following Negro slaves to wit:
To Clarissa: Charles and Harriet; To Besty Ann: Dominic and Maurice; and
To John W. Richard: Louis and Sonnit(?) with their future issue and increase,and it is my wish and desire that after my death the aforesaid described slaves be placed in the hands of my son, John Richard, to be by him delivered over to each of my said named grandchildren on their severally arriving to the age of twenty- one years.
4th. I give and bequeath to my son, Francis Richard, a mulatto boy named Tony, with the following other slaves: Azar, Laurence, Nanny, Affy, and Louisa.
5th. I give and bequeath to my son, John C. Richard, a negro man named Gil and the following other slaves: Frances, William, Ellich, Mary, Mariah, Nancy, Jack, James, also my household furniture, a large canoe boat, one ladies (sic) gold watch and chain, horse or horses, if any, and plantation tools and utensils.
6th. I give, devise, and bequeath al the rest of my Estate real and personal to my children and grandchildren herein before named to be divided as follows: one fourth to my daughter Clementine, one fourth to my grandchildren Clarissa, Betsy Ann, and John W. Richard, one fourth to Francis Richard, and the remaining fourth to my son John C. Richard. And I hereby nominate and appoint my son, John C. Richard, Executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this twenty first day of December, 1820.
Signed, sealed, delivered, and published...
(Signed with an "X")
Brent H. Holcomb, compiler, South Carolina Marriages 1688-1799 (:,). "Francis Joseph Richard, a citizen of South Carolina, but late of St. Domingo, West Indies, & wife Genevieve, 28 July 1796; Jacob Deveaux, Jr. & Peter Reigne, trustees; Barnwell Deveaux, Israel D. Deveaux, wit. Mar Set 2:523-526".
(Honorine) Genevieve Bianne /Richard/ will (1820), Wills and Appraisements, Book A, 1795-1829, County Clerk 's Office, Camden County , Georgia .
