Popplewell family researchers have recorded
Richard Popplewell as one of seven children
born to Sovereign Popplewell and Nancy Denton.
Various researchers have recorded Richard's
birth date as simply 1810. Studies of several
census sources, however, suggest this relationship
may not have been possible. Richard is recorded
as having been born between 1790 and 1793 in
Kentucky.  Sovereign was born
April 5, 1787 and it would have been
physically impossible for him to have fathered a
son when he was only 3 to 6 years of age at the
time. It is my opinion that Richard is most likely
another son of Isaac Popplewell and
Elizabeth Flint and brother to Sovereign.
 
Future research may resolve these questions.

 

Richard married Mary Wilson, daughter of
Gholson Wilson and  Jane Woolridge, on
October 20, 1830
in Russell County, Kentucky.
The couple had two known children.

A son, Gholson, born June 20, 1832 and
a daughter, Anne born about 1845 although,
I tend to believe she was older than that because she
is not shown in the household census of 1850.
If 1845 was a correct birth year, she would have been about five
years old and should have been in the house at the time.

 

1850 Census Miller Co., MO

Popplewell Richard   M   60  KY

                   Mary       F    39  KY

                   Gholson  M   18  KY

 

Richard moved his family to Miller County,
Missouri
prior to 1838.
The name Richard Poplar is signed to an 1838 petition to the
Miller County Court praying
for organization of Glaize Township
...a petition was granted
May 7,1838.

 

He is found in the Federal Census for 1840 in
Miller County
. Early land records show
he bought 70.66 acres in 1845 and 80.2 acres in 1846
and another 40 acres in 1849. Shortly after this, he
bought 80 acres near Toronto,
Camden County, Missouri
in 1852. he is still living there
during the 1860 Federal Census:

 

1860 Camden Co Census

Jackson Township

P.O.- Toronto

26-26

Richard Popplewell  67 m  farmer 
1200  13,230   Kentucky

Mary    49 f 

 

1- 7yr old female black

1- 4yr old female  black

1- 2yr old male  black
'continue'