Notes for Rachael Rice

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Rachael Rice

Note: 1. Reported in Tyrell County, North Carolina per 1790 Census.
2. A Rachel Gerking (Ghirkin) is enumerated in the 1820 Federal Census of Washington County, Indiana with the family's composition as 1-2-0-1-0-0 and 0-1-0-0-1; one male under 10, two males 10 but under 16, and one male 16 under 26 . Under 10 = Jonathan 10 to 16 = Samuel and Joseph 16 to 26 = David
3. Rachel, a widow, lives next door to son John A ndrew Gerking, Jr., in 1850 Orange County, Indiana at which time she reports her place of birth as Pennsylvania and age as 76.

Transcribed from the MILLER-MOOK FAMILY HISTORY written by Larry & Judy Miller - 2005:
"Rachael Rice was born February 26, 1774 to William Rice and (unknown) in Pennsylvania. Her first marriage to John Gerking, Sr. ended with John's death sometime between 1815 - 1817. After John died she married her second husband, Benjamin Pulliam, on January 23, 1821 in Washington County, Indiana. He is believed to have been several years older than Rachael. In 1824 Rachael and Benjamin Pulliam moved to Orange County, Indiana where Rachael's son, John Gerking, Jr., and his family were living.
In the 1850 census for Orange County, Indiana, Rachael, aged 76, is found as a widow, once again, living next door to her son, John Gerking, Jr. It should be noted that the name Gerking was spelled as Gerkins in the census. Quite often the enumerators wrote what they heard or thought would be the spelling of the family name. Having been raised on the frontier, Rachael probably didn't have the opportunity for a formal education as she has indicated on the census that she could neither read nor write.
Since Rachael is not found in any further census records it can be assumed that she died sometime between 1850 and 1860. She is believed to be buried in an unmarked grave in Orange County, Indiana."