RHEA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: Dill
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 23:38:28 -0400 (EDT)

Had a question about the wife of John RHEA, son of William. Actually I have
alot of questions. If anyone related to this man in particular?

Question on his second wife's name. It is reported in Robert Perry Rhea's
Bath Co. Bicentennial article, that her name was
Magdalane/Magdaline/Magdalene Dill, but in the marriage records it is spelled
STILL, October 18, 1800. Could be some of that old english.

But in the documentation that Robert Perry Rhea collected, Ref. #188
Botetourt Co., VA Will Book C, 122. Will of Henry Dill, dated March 3, 1818,
proved June, 1818. Named his wife Mary, son, Andrew, daughters, Anne
Brubaker, Susanna, and Esther, sons-in-law, Michael Rule, Abraham Brubaker,
Daniel Dilman, "my five grandchildren of John Rhea decd...my granddaughter
Rebecca Rhea (and daughter of Nicholas Young's wife Catherine), and Nicholas
Young. He named his son Jacob, and brother-in-law, Jacob Agist(?), executors.
The names of the five grandchildren, children of John and Magdalene (Dill)
Rhea, are determined by comparing the names found in Thomas Turk's deed of
gift (Ref.40) with John's heirs as listed in the Madison County, Alabama
Chancery Court Records (Ref. 184).

Who was Rebecca Rhea? She was, by admission, his granddaughter, and the
daughter of Nicholas Young's wife, Catharine. It appears that Catherine was
his daughter who either had a child by a Rhea, perhaps John, or "Rhea" was
Rebecca's middle name. Although possible but unlikely, "Rhea" may have been
her married name. Catherine did not receive part of the estate. She may have
died before the will was written, although "deceased" did not follow her
name. Nor was Nicholas young referred to as a son-in-law.
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Ref. 184: Gandrud, Pauline Jones, Huntsville, Alabama, Vol. No. 138, Madison
County, Alabama, Chancery Court Records, (Southern Historical Press, Pub.),
80-82.
"Page 323. Bill filed Oct. 1832. William Thrasher and wife Polly E. to
Hopkins Lacy (et al.)...In the year 1814, in Madison Co., John Rhea made
proposals of marriage to oratrix, then Polly E. Nesmith, which she accepted,
and on the 13th of August said John Rhea conveyed to her 100 acres of land
and two slaves, recorded in Madison Co. On the 14th of Aug. 1814
Oratrix...then being nearly 17 years of age was legally married to said John
Rhea; in Sept. 1814 he had the said 100 acres surveyed, and the october
following he died...Hopkins Lacy and William simpson were his
administrators... On the 15th of July, 1819, oratrix was married to
orator...At his death said John Rhea left your oratrix his widow, and the
folchildren: Mary G. Rhea since married to Thomas H. Nesmith, Sarah L. Rhea
since married to Robert L. Brashers, Ester J. Rhea, Henry D. Rhea, Nancy P.
Rhea, John Rhea, Thomas Rhea, Hiram Rhea, William Rhea(since deceased) beside
the heirs of John Rhea, Elizabeth Wright dec'd who was the wife of Tolliver
Wright, and Margaret who was the wife of William Wright, who died before him
the said John Rhea. Oratrix was 21 years of age on the 10th day of Oct. 1818.
Answer of Hopkins Lacy. 'Said Rhea was quite an old man, about eighty years
of age at the time of the marriage and the said Polly E. about seventeen.
Shortly after the death of the said Rhea his son John on behalf of himself
and the other heirs objected to the validity of the said deed, on the ground
first that it was in fact executed after the marriage and secondly that the
said John Rhea Senr. was not in the proper state of mind at the time of the
execution.'

Hopkins Lacy's estimate of John Rhea's age when married to Polly Nesmith was
considerably off. John testified in his suit against William Rhea's heirs
that he was grown in 1777, not married, but soon was to marry a daughter of
Thomas Turk (Ref. 62) If grown in 1777, that is, at least twenty-one yars
old, he was born about 1756, and when married for the third time in 1814, his
age was about fifty-eight. The name of Hopkins Lacy, an administrator of
John's estate, appears a number of times in historical accounts of Eastern
Tennessee (REf.46).
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Ref. 40 Bath Co., VA Will Book 2, 48-49. Thomas Turk Sr., Deed of Gift, dated
May 25, 1802. His will was proved July 24, 1809, Augusta Co., VA Will Book
10, 306-307.
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