RHEA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Book p. 324
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 14:42:00 -0400 (EDT)

The Rhea, Reah, Reagh, Reaugh, Reaoh, Reach Family
by Robert Perry Rhea

When Robert, Archibald, and William settled in Augusta County, Virginia in
the mid- 1700's, the name was spelled Reah, Reagh, or Reach. Among these and
other spellings, even within a single document, Rhea first appeared about
1780, and was preferred after 1800. "Ray" was, and still is, the correct
pronunciation, but seldom the spelling.

they were probably brothers. They served together in the Augusta County
Colonial Militia in September, 1758.(1) All purchased adjoining land in
Borden's grant on Hays or Walkers Creek, approximately sixteen miles north of
Lexington in what is now Rockbridge County, William in 1750,(2) Archibald in
1753(3) and Robert in 1754.(4) In 1758, Robert and his wife, Sarah, sold
their land to Archibald Jr., (5) The deed was witnessed by William.
William's son, Archibald, named his "Uncle Archibald" an executor of his
estate.(6)

To date, little is known about their parents and place of origin. The father
may have been named Archibald, for Archibald was called "Junior" in the deed
of 1758. However, that designation was often used to differentiate between
nephew and uncle, and even between unrelated persons with the same name. The
earliest known reference to a Rhea in Augusta County is found in the Draper
Manuscripts. At a court martial on September 3, 1746, Archibald Roaugh of
Captain Joseph Culton's Company was exempted from mustering, but not from
paying the wolf levy.(7) Captains wer ordered to excuse "all such old or
infirm persons . . . .unfit for mustering." (8) This occurred seven years
befiore Archibald purchased land, thus he was more than likely the son or
nephew of the exempted Archibald. It is conceivable thathe Rheas came to
Virginia with members of the Providence Presbyterian congregation that was
located near Norristown, pennsylvania.(9) Robert was one of six trustees
who, in 1754, signed the deed for the property of New Providence,(10)
organized in 1748(11) by members of the Pennsylvania congregation.(9) A
granddaughter of Elizabeth Rhea, a daughter of Robert, stated that
Elizabeth's parents came from Ireland.(12) The author's grandfather, Alfred
Perry Rhea, who descended form William, insisted that his ancestors sailed to
the Colonies from Bordeaux, France. The Rheas of Augusta County were
undoubtedly of Scotch-Irish stock, considering their names and their
presbyterianism. If from France, it was but a stepping stone between Ireland
and the Colonies.

Discussion anyone?

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