f
The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Richard Realf, son of Richard Relf, police constable and Martha Realf [Highlands]
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Richard Realf was born at Framfield on the 14th June 1832 and in 1852 he published his first book of poems entitled "Guesses at the Beautiful" before emigrating to the United States where he became very involved in the anti-slavery movement in Kansas. He started a newspaper and so came into contact with John Brown who was subsequently hanged for treason for his attack on Federal forces at Harper's Ferry on 16th October 1859. Julia Ward Howe composed the famous song in Brown's memory - "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, …" After Brown's execution, Realf was arrested but subsequently released and when the War of Secession broke out he joined the Federal army, served with the 88th Illinois Regiment and became commandant of a regiment of negroes. After the war he established a school for freed slaves and resumed his old life as journalist and lecturer. Domestic troubles drove him to suicide at Oakland California on 28th October 1878.


See also Richard Realf: Sussex Poet and Abolitionist by David McLean published in 1933 and Richard Realf, Poet, Orator, Journalist, Workman by Sheila Smith published in 2001.
Date
Type
Information
Source
 
14th June 1832
Born
In the Parish of Framfield, Sussex
Richard Realf by Sheila Smith
 
6th June 1841
Census
At Fir Cottage in the Parish of Uckfield, Sussex; Richard Relf, M, [Son], age 9, born Sussex
1841 Census
Uckfield, Sussex
 
10th June 1865
Married
Sophia Emily Graves at Furnisville, Porter County in the State of Indiana, USA
Richard Realf by Sheila Smith
 
26th October 1867
Married
Catherine Cassidy at Rochester in the State of New Jersey, USA
Richard Realf by Sheila Smith
Note: marriage was bigamous
 
1871 to 1875
Eliza Ann Whapham moves to the USA and sets up home with Richard Realf
Sheila Smith's records
 
24th April 1875
Birth of a son
Richard in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sheila Smith's records
 
1878
Birth of a daughter
Mabel in the State of New York, USA
Sheila Smith's records
 
1878
Birth of a daughter
Minnie in the State of New York, USA
Sheila Smith's records
 
1878
Birth of a daughter
Alice in the State of New York, USA
Sheila Smith's records
 
28th October 1878
Died
At Windsor Hotel, Oakland in the State of California, USA
Richard Realf by Sheila Smith
 
November 1878
Buried
At Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco in the State of California, USA
Sheila Smith's records

Ancestor's report
Descendent's report
Ralf, Ralff, Ralph, Ralphe, Ralfs, Realf, Realfe, Relf, Relfe, Rellf, Relff, Relfs, Relph, Relphe, Rolf, Rolfe, Rolff, Rolffe, Rolph, Rolphe family records
The ancestral pedigree of Richard Realf
   
 BristoNot marriedAnn 
 b: c 1730  b: 1728 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 25th May 1728 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
 
  
  
 John Elizabeth
 b: 1753 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 3rd Oct 1753 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
 b: 1760 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 14th Nov 1760 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
    
Great-Great-
Grandfather
record
   
   
   
 John Relf
m: 9th Apr 1776 St. Thomas à Becket's Church, Framfield, SussexAnne Woodgate 
 b: 1753 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 3rd Oct 1753 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
  b: 1751
d: Feb 1830 Buxted, Sussex
bur: 9th Feb 1830 St. Margaret's Church, Buxted, Sussex
 
  
    
 Mary John Thomas Henry
 b: Sep 1776 Buxted, Sussex
ch: 1st Sep 1776 St. Margaret's Church
 b: 1778 Buxted, Sussex
ch: 12th Oct 1778 St. Margaret's Church
 b: 1783 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 27th Mar 1783 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
d: Oct 1858 Uckfield, Sussex
bur: 1st Oct 1858 Holy Cross Church, Uckfield, Sussex
 b: 1786 Buxted, Sussex
ch: 11th Nov 1786 St. Margaret's Church
      
Great-
Grandfather
record
   
   
    
 Thomas Relf
yeoman
m: 5th Jul 1804 St. Thomas à Becket's Church, Framfield, SussexHannah Morris 
 b: 1783 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 27th Mar 1783 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
d: Oct 1858 Uckfield, Sussex
bur: 1st Oct 1858 Holy Cross Church, Uckfield, Sussex
  b: 1785 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 4th Sep 1785 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
 
  
  
 Richard Thomas
 b: 1805 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 10th Feb 1805 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
d: 6th May 1881 Buxted, Sussex
bur: 10th May 1881 St. Margaret's Church, Buxted, Sussex
 b: 1807 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 22nd Nov 1807 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
d: Jul 1808 Framfield, Sussex
bur: 13th Jul 1808 St. Thomas à Becket's Church, Framfield, Sussex
    
Grandfather
record
   
   
    
 Richard Relf
police constable
m: 3rd Sep 1826 St. Thomas à Becket's Church, Framfield, SussexMartha Highlands 
 b: 1805 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 10th Feb 1805 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
d: 6th May 1881 Buxted, Sussex
bur: 10th May 1881 St. Margaret's Church, Buxted, Sussex
  b: 27th Jan 1805 Framfield, Sussex
d: 19th Jan 1887 Buxted, Sussex
bur: 25th Jan 1887 St. Margaret's Church, Buxted, Sussex
 
  
          
Unnamed  Edward  Mary Ann Richard Joseph Martha Harriet Sarah
b: 1826 to 1842  b: Jan 1827 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 7th Feb 1827 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
d: Mar 1895 Uckfield, Sussex
bur: 2nd Apr 1895 St. Michael & All Angels Church, Little Horsted, Sussex
  b: 1830 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 4th Apr 1830 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
 b: 14th Jun 1832 Framfield, Sussex
d: 28th Oct 1878 Windsor Hotel, Oakland, California, USA
bur: Nov 1878 Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco, California, USA
 b: Aug 1834 Framfield, Sussex b: Jun 1838 b: Jun 1839 b: Oct 1841 Uckfield, Sussex
d: c 1914 Ohio, USA
 Unnamed  Ellen          
 b: 1826 to 1842  b: 1828 Framfield, Sussex
ch: 4th Sep 1828 St. Thomas à Becket's Church
          
                   
Parental
record
   
   
   
 Richard Realfm: 10th Jun 1865 Furnisville, Porter County, Indiana, USASophia Graves 
 b: 14th Jun 1832 Framfield, Sussex
d: 28th Oct 1878 Windsor Hotel, Oakland, California, USA
bur: Nov 1878 Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco, California, USA
  b: 25th Nov 1829 St. Georges, Knox, Nr Bangor, Maine, USA
d: Oct 1882 Merrivale, Indiana, USA
 
Family
record
   
Bigamous marriageRichard Realfm: 26th Oct 1867 Rochester, New Jersey, USACatherine Cassidy 
 b: 14th Jun 1832 Framfield, Sussex
d: 28th Oct 1878 Windsor Hotel, Oakland, California, USA
bur: Nov 1878 Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco, California, USA
  b: c 1835 
    
 Richard RealfNot marriedEliza Ann 
 b: 14th Jun 1832 Framfield, Sussex
d: 28th Oct 1878 Windsor Hotel, Oakland, California, USA
bur: Nov 1878 Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco, California, USA
  b: 1847 Uckfield, Sussex
d: 1926 USA
 
  
    
 Richard Mabel Minnie Alice
 b: 24th Apr 1875 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
d: 26th Aug 1950 Summit, New Jersey, USA
 b: 1878 New York, USA b: 1878 New York, USA
d: 25th Aug 1971 Atlantic Highland, Middletown, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA
bur: 27th Aug 1971 Presbyterian Cemetery, New Providence, New Jersey, USA
 b: 1878 New York, USA
      

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