The Francis Richard Family: From French Nobility to Florida Pioneers

Book excerpt: After killing a man in a duel, Louis Fran ois was forced to flee Florence and his privileged life of a nobleman. He started over in the French colony of St. Domingue (Haiti). He married, took on the Richard surname of his extended family, started his own family and a successful plantation. The Slave Revolt of 1791 forced them to flee. They made their way to Florida, a Spanish colony. Despite enduring the privations of pioneer life and Indian attacks, the Richards survived and even prospered. During the Patriot War of 1812, Georgian rebels devastated the area and forced the Richards to abandon their plantations. Francis Jr. returned and operated a sawmill plantation. He fathered 11 children with his slaves; educated, and provided for them all. Raising 15 children on his plantation during the "Seminole Wars," brother John Charles became the progenitor of a long line Florida Richards. While most members of the "Richard Clan" were prominent citizens, quite a few were of dubious character, and met violent deaths.