Richard Luke Fallin

Richard's name first appears in the 1850 census. His age is given as 13. His father works as a carpenter and owns real estate valued at $250. His mother his marked as being born in Northumberland. Neither of his parents are able to read or write. Their family lives in the Farnham Parish area of Richmond County.

I have not found Richard or his parents on the 1860 census. Jeremiah Fallin died about that time and soon after Richard enlisted in the Confederate Army. Peter T. Baron, Jr writes about Richard in For Love of Family:

Richard served in Company C of the 41st Virginia Militia, "Richmond County Militia", enlisting on 23 Sept 1861. He transferred to Cooke's Special Company on 1 November 1861. On 13 April 1862 he joined Company G, 15th Virginia Cavalry. He served for the duration of the war with numerous entries for being AWOL, (Absent Without Leave) and others for being "without a horse". On 13 Feb 1864 Richard reenlisted at Orange County Courthouse for the Duration of the War. His final entry in the National Archives is a transfer to Company B, 40th Virginia Infantry in exchange for Thomas Luttrell.

The 1870 census shows Richard as a farmer in the Washington township of Richmond County nearest the Warsaw post office. His farm was valued at $300 and personal property at $100. He and Martha were listed along with children; Arsena, 4, and Mary E., 1. His mother Ann also lived with them.

The 1880 census still shows Richard's family in the Washington township of Richmond County. Richard is again listed as a farmer. He and Martha are both listed as able to read but not write. Eight children are listed with them.

The 1900 census shows the family in the same area. Richard is still working as a farmer at age 63. His is marked as owning his own home mortgage free. He and Martha are both marked as able to read and write this time. Eight children are still living with them. Martha is marked as having given birth to 13 children with 10 still alive.

In 1910 the family still lived in the same place, the census tells that they lived on the road from Haynesville to Middleton's Mill. According to Fallin descendants he lived off of Route 618 (present day Fallin Town Road) just west of Marshy Swamp in a small green and white house that stood for many years after his death and was eventually made into a chicken house. On the census Richard's age was given as 73. He still worked as a farmer. Five of his children still lived at home, the four sons are listed as laborers on the farm. Richard is noted as a Confederate Army Veteran.

Richard died on the 26th of July, 1915 and was buried at Gibeon Baptist Church. His cause of death appears to have been given as "paralysis" on Martha's application for a Confederate widow's pension.