Person:Mary Rittgers (6)

Family stories give us a "Molly" born abt. 1805/6, Shenandoah Co., Va., to John and Sarah ( Comer) Rittgers. In early family records it is reported that "Molly" died in infancy, as nothing more known about her. In the 1830 census, we find children of John Rittgers broken down by ages. There are nine children indicated (the 1850 census is the first where children were listed by name) which fits our family record. It lists THREE daughters after the last son, which is Daniel. It further breaks down their ages to "10-14, and 15-20" [reel 130, p 104A] Thus, based on ages of the other daughters as found on the 1850 census, we must place Mary here, and as the middle of these three girls. In the accounting of her father's estate, we see that the children all appear to be listed in birth order, with Mary next to last, which supports this assumption. In a petition to divide his father's property, John Rittgers asks the court to force the division of the estate property. In the listing of the heirs, listed 8th, is "Mary, wife of Eli DEEL." Most of the others have their resident county listed, so we may consider that she lived in Fairfield Co., at this time. This researcher has failed to find Eli and/or Mary Deel on the 1850 census. We may conjecture that either they moved out of state, or Mary died and Eli is one "Elias Deal" found in Fairfield Co. on 1850 census, age 40, carpenter, b. Va. The census lists in this order: Jacob Deal, 70, b. Pa., Wagon Maker; Mary M., 66, b. Va.; Sarah 29, b. Va.; Samuel Pugh, 18, laborer, b. Oh.; Israel Heller, 17, shoe maker, b. Oh; Sarah Deal, 13, b. Oh; George W., 3, b. Oh.; Elias, 40, Carpenter, b. Va. It is quite possible Mary died before the 1850 census.[p 364 fam # 59/59] One Elias Deal purchased 45.18 acres in Falls Twp., Hocking Co., Oh., range #17, Twp . #14, Sect. #1, on 12 Nov 1835. His residence at that time was listed as Fairfield Co., Oh . [Kocher, Survey Maps p. "Falls 01" ]We shall need a Rittgers Super Sleuth to "dig up" Mary's family.