Rachael Maddox
1806 ~ 1868

  The family Bible gives Rachael's birth date as January 22, 1806.  Her tombstone has this date also.  She was seventeen years old when she married "Agzekiah Griffeth" April 9, 1824, in Lewis Co., KY.  Her father signed permission for her to marry.  [Source:  Lewis Co., KY, Mar. Bk. A, pg. 66] 

     The Griffiths had been friends of the Maddoxes back in Fauquier Co., VA.  Hezekiah's grandfather had immigrated there from Wales.  In fact, beginning 1788, many Griffiths bought and sold land on the North Fork of the Licking River in Mason Co., KY, out of which Fleming and Lewis Co. were formed.

     Rachael was eighteen years old when her father died in late 1825 Lewis Co., KY.  Husband Hesekiah Griffith and mother Elizabeth Maddox were granted administration of the estate of John Maddox, who had died suddenly without a will.  James Silvey, William Heath, James Hughbanks, and Humphrey Beckett were appointed appraisers.  The appraisal was completed and turned in to the court on December 19.  [Source:  Lewis Co., KY, Order Book, October Term, and Will Book B, pg. 198]  In 1826, the estate of her father was sold.  Hezekiah purchased some of it.  [Source:  Lewis Co., KY, Order Book]

     That same year on Feb. 7, son Willliam R. was born.

     On November 11, 1829, Hezekiah purchased from Thoams Davis 95 acres on the waters of Quicks Run in Lewis Co.  This is a run-off creek from the Ohio River on the west end of the county.  [Source:  Lewis Co., KY, Deed Bk. F, pg. 118-119].

     Also that year, husband Hezekiah was appointed Overseer of the Kinney Road from the mouth of Holly to Bear Branch of the Kinneyconnick Creek in the place of William Heath.  This means that Rachael and Hezekiah lived in the middle of the county even though they owned land at the west end.  Rachael's father John, and brother Ben had worked on this road too.  Some time this year, son John Lacy was born.

     In the 1830 census of Lewis Co., pg. 301, Rachael and husband, age 30-40, and their children were living near John Griffith.  Hezekiah and Rachael were in two censuses that year.  The other was in Clermont Co., OH.   Rachael and husband in Williamsburg Twp.  were living near sister Elizabeth who had married Nathaniel Sweet.  Over in Batavia Township was Rachael's mother, Betsey, and brothers Lewis, Thomas and William.

     Just before 1840, her brother Lewis moved to Clark Co., IL, and just after 1840, Rachael and husband moved there too.  Sister Elizabeth moved to Vermillion Co., and then to Clark.  Brother William moved back to KY ~ Bracken Co. ~ but later moved to Illinois.  Brother Thomas moved to Crawford Co.  And mother Elizabeth moved to Clinton Co.  All but William were in Illinois in 1840.

     The obituary for Hezekiah says they arrived in Illinois in 1830.  He was the preacher for the M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church in Illinois for 46 years.  Actually, he moved to Ohio in 1830, and Illinois in 1840.

     In 1841, son David was born in Clark Co., IL.

     Rachael and family were in the 1850 census of Clark Co., IL.  Their eldest son, William R, was living near them.

     On April 27, 1868, Rachael Maddsox Griffith died in Melrose Twp, Clark Co., IL.  Her husband died nine years later.

RACHAEL'S CHILDREN

William R.
John Lacy
Charles
Adaline
James Nelson
David