Richard Dillon was born 7 October 1745 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the son of James Theopolious Dillon and Mary Dillon. Richard married Anne Lawrence, daughter of Humphrey Lawrence & Ann Ashley. He died 7 October 1833 in Mississippi.
According to Luke Ward Connerly:
“Richard Dillon, according to his Revolutionary War Pension file, was born on October 7, 1745, in Norfolk Virginia. Family tradition claims that he was a native of Ireland. However, since Norfolk was a well established port town in the colonial era, it is possible that his family had just migrated there from the old country.(Ireland).” “As a young child, Richard was taken by his parents James Theopilous and Mary Dillon to Bertie County, N.C. James Theopilious must have died prior to 1759 as on January 23 of that year Richard Dillon was ordered ‘bound as an apprentice to Christopher Harrison untill about the age of twenty-one years…to be taught the business of a Cooper…'” 1776-He married Ann or Annys Morris. Revolutionary War-enlisted in the patriot militia near Edenton, N.C., under Captain Faulk.
1781-Richard “again saw service as an enlistee on the vessel ‘Greyhound,’ a privateersman commanded by Samuel Butler. With the capture of that vessel, he was made a prisoner on the English frigate ‘Baloosa’ which carried 36 guns and was commanded by a Captain Kennedy, a Scotsman. After a nine-month imprisonment, he again returned to Bertie County.” About 1810-He move to Pike County. He lived there till his death “which supposedly occured on his 89th birthdate in 1833.” Eight known children are listed.
Three of Richard’s sons and his son in law served in the War of 1812. They all served in the 13th Regiment/Nixon’s, Volunteers from the Territory of Mississippi. Willis, Clarkson/Clarkston & Theophilous all enlisted on 3 January 1815 at the Marion Co. Court House and served three months. Willis was a trumpeter. Willis & Clarkson were Privates. Son in law, Jeremiah Smith served 15 October 1813 – 14 April 1814. He was a Sergeant.
1 Richard Dillon b: 07 Oct 1745 in Norfolk, VA, d: 07 Oct 1833 in MS
…… + Anne Lawrence b: Abt. 1762 Bertie, NC, m: Abt. 1776, d: Abt. 1830 MS
…………2 Lawrence Dillon b: Unknown in NC
…………2 Joanna Dillon b: 22 Aug 1778 Bertie, NC, d: Aft. 30 April 1821 Pike,MS
………… + Jeremiah Smith b: 23 Dec 1773 SC, m: 16 Dec 1798 SC, d: 1843 MS
………………3 Hollander Smith b: 08 July 1800 in Pike, MS
……………… + Benjamin Morris Jr. b: Abt. 1792 in SC, d: Aft. 1870
………………3 Martha P. Smith b: 25 March 1802 SC, d: 08 Aug 1861 Pike, MS
……………… + Edwin Barksdale Alford b: 25 Nov 1792 in NC, m: 20 Dec 1818 in Pike, MS, d: 10 March 1878 in Pike, MS
………………3 Eli Smith b: 21 Jan 1804 in SC, d: 02 Aug 1838 in Pike, MS
……………… + Orpha Roberts
……………..3 Jane Smith b: 09 Oct 1805, d: 1846
……………… + Thomas Coulter Warner m: 25 Dec 1825
………………3 Edwin Smith b: 03 June 1807 in Pike, MS
………………3 Wyatt Smith b: 31 August 1809 in LA, d: 16 Feb 1894 in Pike, MS
……………… + Euseba Fortenberry b: 03 Dec 1809 in SC, d: 13 Oct 1878 in MS
………………3 Eliza Smith b: 14 Feb 1811 in Pike, MS, d: 06 April 1837
………………3 Calvin Smith b: 22 Sept 1812 Pike, MS, d: 22 Jan 1843 Pike, MS
……………… + Sarah Brumfield
……………… + Sarah Brumfield b: 09 April 1824 in Washington, LA, m: 1843
………………3 Lidda Smith b: 06 April 1816 in Pike, MS
……………… + Harris Harvey
………………3 Mehala Smith b: 15 July 1816 in Pike, MS
………………3 Milevey Smith b: 13 April 1818 in Pike, MS
……………… + Don Harvey
………………3 Joanna Smith b: 05 October 1819 in Pike, MS
………………3 Jeremiah Smith b: 30 April 1821 in Pike, MS, d: 13 May 1894
……………… + Pernecia Smith b: 26 Sept 1820, m: 15 July 1841, d: 04 April 1887
…………2 Nancy Ann Dillon b: 26 Oct 1779 in NC, d: 28 May 1869
………… + John Stallings d: 23 September 1851
…………2 Clarkston Dillon b: Abt. 1785 in NC
………… + Sarah Dillon b: SC
…………2 Willis D. Dillon b: 31 Dec 1787 in NC
………… + Mary Dillon b: 1783 in SC
…………2 Mary Dillon Morris b: 1793 in NC, d: 04 July 1876
………… + Salathial Morris
…………2 Theophilous Dillon b: 26 May 1796 in NC
………… + Peggy Pearson b: 1808, d: 05 Sept 1857
…………2 Clara Dillon b: 1799 in NC
………… + George Smith d: 1833
………………3 William Dorten Smith b: 1818 in Pike, MS, d: 1906
……………… + Lucretta Dykes
………………3 Nancy Smith b: 1829 in Pike, MS
……………… + Densmore Winston Smith
Burial:
- Memorial at Tylertown Cemetery, Walthal, Mississippi
Read more in my blog, Leaves & Branches:
Selected Sources:
- 1800 US Census, Barnwell, South Carolina. Richard Dillon
- 1820 US Census, Pike County, Mississippi. Richard Dillon
- Almasy, Sandra L. Bertie County, North Carolina Wills 1761 – 1780. Joliet, Illinois: Kensington Glen Publishing, 1990, page 124. From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who Served During the War of 1812 in Organizations from the Territory of Mississippi, NARA M678. fold3
- Conerly, Luke Ward, SOURCE RECORDS FROM PIKE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI 1798-1910; 1798-1910; South Carolina, Southern Historical Press, 1989.
- Creel, Bevin J. A Patriot’s Legacy: The Family of Richard Dillon and Ann Lawrence From Bertie County, North Carolina To Southern Mississippi and Louisiana. Franklinton, Louisiana: Privately Printed, 2002.
- Daughters of American Revolution: Richard Dillon, Ancestor #: A036157; Service: North Carolina; Rank(s): private; Birth: 10-7-1745; Norfolk, Virginia; Death: 10-7-1833, Pike Co., Mississippi; Pension Number: R2959
- Haun, Weynette Parks. Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1740 thru 1743; 1758 thru 1762. Book II. North Carolina: 1977. From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC.
- Pension Application #2959; State of Mississippi, Pike County
Copy from National Archives Record Group #15A, R. 2959; Richard Dillon.