Richard Jordan Wortham

  General Notes:

Richard, Ann, and family are living in Granville Co., N.C. in 1850 and are them listed in Sandy Creek, Warren Co., N.C. in 1860, 1870, and 1880.

The 1850 Federal Census for Henderson District, Granville Co., NC, page 64B, dated July 16, 1850 records Richard J. (32) and Ann R. (29) Wortham with children Oscar M. (3) and Adolphus R. (4/12). Next door is Richard's brother, Edward Wortham and family.

The 1860 Federal Census for Warren Co., N.C., Warrenton P. O., page 262A, dated June 26, 1860 records E. [Elizabeth Wortham] Wartham (sic) (78 - NC) with real estate valued at $3,000 and a personal estate valued at $9,905 including 14 slaves. Next door is R. J. Wartham (sic) [Richard Jordan Wortham] (39 - NC) with his children A. R. [Aldophus Richard Wortham] (10), S. G. B. [Sally Green Wortham] (9), P. M. [Powell Mortimer Wortham] (5), B. B. [Benjamin Britt Wortham] (4), and C. P. [Otho Perry Wortham] (7/12). Also in the household are S. [Sue ? Wortham] Wartham (sic) (45) and A. R. [Richard Jordan Wortham's wife, Ann Rebecca Britt Wortham] Wartham (sic) (39). R. J. reports real estate valued at $2,800 and a personal estate valued at $11,530 including 12 slaves.

The 1870 Federal Census for Sandy Creek, Warren Co., N.C., Warren P. O., page 586A/B, dated June 30, 1870 records Richard Wortham (53) with his wife Ann Wortham (48 - VA) and sons Benjamin Wortham (14) and Otho Wortham (9). Also in the household is Richard's sister, Susan Wortham (56). Richard has real estate valued at $5,604 and a personal estate valued at $1,775.

The 1880 Federal Census for Sandy Creek, Warren Co., N.C., District 285, page 121B, dated June 21, 1880 records Richd J. Wortham (62) with his wife Ann R. Wortham (57) and sons Ben Wortham (24) and Otho P. Wortham (17).

The Bondsman at the wedding of Richard and Ann was Mordecai Huff. Ann's father, Isaac, married Molly Munk Huff before he married Ann's mother, Nancy Vaughn. Mordecai was either a step-uncle or a cousin from that marriage.

Richard's farm in Warren County was near the town of Brookston. In the 1850 census he was listed in Henderson District, Granville County (now Vance Co.). He was 32, living with wife Ann B., age 29, and children Oscar, age 3, and Adolphus, four months old.

The following was taken from an extensive newspaper piece found in the Blackwell Bible, owned by A. Earl Garrett of Danville, Virginia. (As of Nov 2008, the Garrett Bible and the original obituary is in the possession of Clara Garrett Fountain of Danville, Va.):
In Memoriam
Richard Jordan Wortham
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth
And though after my skin, worms destroy this body,
Yet in my flesh I shall see God;
Whom I shall see for myself, and
Mine eyes shall behold, and not another.

On May the 7th, 1889, Vance County lost one of her best and most respected citizens in the death of Richard Jordan Wortham. He was born on the 17th October, 1817 and was consequently at the time of his death, more than 71 years of age.

He left four children to mourn his loss--three sons and one daughter, A.R. Wortham, our esteemed and worthy fellow townsman, Benjamin and Perry, and Mrs. Sallie G. Blackwell of Townesville, together with many warm friends, some of whom have loved and respected him for a half and others for nearly three quarters of a century.

It is natural that those who loved him should lament his loss, but has not the cloud a silver lining? It is not a grand and beautiful sight, to see the aged patriarch, crowned with the jewels of a well spent life, having served his day and generation, having lived out his three score years and ten, retiring from the affairs of this transitory life, in Peace and Hope of a glorious reunion with those whom he has marshaled in the way of Eternal life by precept and example?

He had been a great sufferer for a long time prior to his death, but had borne all his sufferings with patience and resignation. When asked if he were not afraid to die, he replied: "I do not think there lives any sane man or woman who does not dread the narrow grave, the weight of earth pressing upon the poor body, dissolution with its awful accompaniments, annihilation of this earthly tabernacle, the rolling on of the ceaseless centuries and never again to see the bright sun, the sparkling waters, the green grass, the many-hued flowers, God's smiles on earth which seem too sweet and beautiful for this cold, cruel, cunning world, never again to see the face of loved ones here, or to hear their sweet and happy voices; but as to fearing the Beyond, the other side of the Tomb, I answer, No. I believe the grand words of promise--

'Death is the crown of Life,

Were death denied, poor man would live in vain;

Were death denied, to live would not be life;

Were death denied, even fools would wish to die;

Death wounds to cure, we fall, we rise, we reign,

Spring from our fetters, fasten in the skies

Where blooming Eden withers in our sight;

Death gives us more than was in Eden lost,

The King of Terrors is the King of Peace.'"

For many years he was a gentleman of ample means and whilst Hospitality always sat at his board, Charity, sweet Charity, ever showed her devine face at his door.

He was a gentleman of the "Old School" and never forgot the refinements and courtesies of life, nor the injunctions of the "Sermon on the Mount," in the modern mad chase after the Yellow God -- Gold.

During his life he occupied many positions of honor and trust and discharged them all with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public.

By his request, W.R. Tunstall and Capt. A.L. Steed performed the duties of clergymen at his funeral, both being his schoolmates and in whose purity as Christians he had utmost confidence. Mr. Tunstall in tones of deepest feeling referred to the high character of the deceased and said he had never known him to utter a word that could not have been used in the presence of the purest woman in the land.

He was not a member of any church, but was nevertheless a Christian. He was one of those who believes that a good, pure, honest, chartitable man, though outside the church, will not be condemned by a Just God and a Loving Savior, to suffer an Eternal Agony in an Eternal Hell.

He now sleeps in a beautiful grove, whose giant forms have stood as silent sentinels over the graves of his ancestors for more than a hundred years.
O God we thank thee for this calm
That cometh to us all;
The long sweet silence and the sleep,
That on the weary fall -
That cometh when the toiling hands
Lie folded on the breast,
When griefs depart, and this is said
A tired heart, "at rest."
The author of this memoriam was A.R.W. (son Adolphus).
[The actual memoriam has H. R. W. as the author]


Another such Obituary:
DEATH OF Mr. Richard J. Wortham - Mr. Richard J. Wortham, an aged and estimable gentleman, died at his home in this county on the 7th inst., after a long sickness, in the 72nd year of his age. He was a good citizen, an honest man, and a warm and honest friend. In another column a more capable writer has paid a fitting tribute to the worth and character of the deceased. Mr. Wortham was the father of our townsman Mr. A. R. Wortham [son, Adolphus Richard Wortham], and a strong filial [noting or having the relation of a child to a parent] affection always existed between them. He leaves three other children, two sons and a daughter, besides a large circle of acquaintances to cherish the memory of his lofty character and many charitable deeds. The remains were interred at the old family burying place near by his late residence.

Richard married Anne Rebecca Britt, daughter of Isaac Britt and Molly Munk Huff, on 5 Apr 1844 in Brunswick Co., VA. (Anne Rebecca Britt was born about 1821 in Brunswick Co., VA. and died on 29 Jan 1881 in Vance Co., N.C. ¹.)