April 1999: Converted to HTML by Matt Young from a WordPerfect document from Carol Williams.

Original transcriber unknown.  

(Makers of America, Gen. R. 075-M335, Vol. 3, p. 141, Los Angeles City Library)

The name RICKS is one of a large number of surnames which owe their existence to the Norman person name, RICHARD which at first gained great popularity in the time of RICHARD COCUR DE LION in whose honor the name was frequently bestowed. This personal name forms the foundation for many patronymics such as Richards, Richardson, of Rich and from it also has developed the name Ricks or Rix. Within a few generations after the advent in England of William the Conqueror, RICKS was used as a family name. It has been variously spelled RICKESIS, RICKES, RIXE, RICKS, and RIX. John Rickes, a Franciscan author of note was living in England in the year 1520. Records of heraldic visitations disclose that a Ricks family lived at Crayford in the county of Kent.

About 1645 two brother, Thomas and William Ricks, settled respectfully in Boston and Salem, Massachusetts. Tradition says they were of the same stock as Isaac Ricks, who was born in England in 1638 and came to Virginia in young manhood. He landed first at James town, but the date of his arrival is not exactly known. He settled in Warrsgyeake, one of the eight counties into which Virginia was then divided and which was later given the name of "Isle of Wight County." Then including the present counties of Nansemont and Southampton as the land court records began in 1663. Isaac Ricks was a member of the Quaker Church at Chuckatuck, situated on the western branch of the Nansemont River, and a constant attendant of the services. Here in 1702 his sons, Isaac and Abraham, erected a Quaker Church for which they were paid two thousand pounds of tobacco. Isaac Ricks' wife born the Christian name of Kathren, but her family name and place and date of marriage is not know. Probably they were married in England and some of their children may have been born there.

The family Bible in 1917 was in the possession of Richard A. Ricks of Richmond, VA.

Robert Ricks of Rocky Mount, North Carolina is also of this family who says three brothers, William, Benjamin and Isaac, same to Virginia from England about 1730. Isaac followed to North Carolina later, Williams's son Isaac from Virginia. Isaac Sr. died 1760 and left sons John and James Ricks. John reared a large family in North Carolina. Benjamin Ricks died 1773, leaving sons: Louis, Themad, Joel, Abram, Benjamin, Josiah, John and William. He was great-grandfather to Robert H. Ricks of Rocky Mount, N.C. The sons of Isaac Jr. who came from Virginia and died 1820 were John, Abram, Isaac, Benjamin, Robert, William and Richard. Of these, Benjamin, Isaac and Abram moved south about 1825. Robert P. Ricks of Spring Valley, Alabama, a grandson of Abram of Alabama, and Benjamin Sherrod Ricks of Edgecombe Co, VA, signed a petition in 1763 in behalf of free Negroes that they should not pay taxes on their wives and daughters. Benjamin Sherrod Ricks Testimony in 1776 again counter freighters.