RHEA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: Rhea and variant spellings
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 20:40:12 -0400 (EDT)

Some of us Rhea's, name was spelled differently in Scotland. It was
Campbell. And what I understand is that the name came from a man whose
nickname was Ruadh, (red-haired or ruddy skin). Mathew Campbell. It was
pronounced ROOah Soft ah.

Mathew Campbell changed his name to Reaugh? in 1698 in Ireland. He had three
sons that we know of , William, b. 1687; Mathew b. 1688; Archibald b.
1690/92, and possibly a daughter.

I do not know anything of
William Rhea I, whether he came to the colonies, or if any of his children
did.
Mathew Rhea II was the father of Rev. Joseph Rhea
Archibald though not totally proven, is believed to be the son of Mathew
Campbell Rhea. Archibald was the father of William, Robert and Archibald
Rhea who settled in Augusta co. Va.
****
This is from a letter written by Frank H. Rhea, to my g.g.uncle in 1913.
They were cousins. I have the original.
He said I have gathered from many different sources records of the Rheas of
the United States. there seem to be four distinct branches which came either
directly from Scotland or from Scotland through Ireland. They were all
Presbyterians of the coventer type.

One branch settled in New Jersey before 1680. The ancestoral farm of this
family is at Freehold, New Jersey.This farm is the old battleground of the
Battle of Monmouth and contains the graves of many of these early new Jersey
Rheas. Colonel David Rhea of this branch was a participant in the Battle of
Monmouth. Another member of the family was also in the Revolutionary War
and also in the War of 1812. Before his death, he was commissioned General.
He was a distinguished lawyer of Trenton N. J., on of the founders of Jersey
City, N. J., and was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetary at Trenton. His name
was John Rhea.

Another branch, the Tennessee Rheas, are descended from Rev. Joseph Rhea a
graduate of the University of Edinburg who came to this country in 1770. The
annals of the Presbyterian Church South, contain many glowing sketches of his
life and character.

A third branch of the family located in Pennsylvania.

The fourth branch, the Virginia-Kentucky-Illinois branch. So far as I can
ascertain, the first Rhea in this country of our line were Wiliam, Robert and
Archibald Rhea, who came either directly from Scotland or through Ireland
before 1750 to this country. They were Presbyterians. William and Robert
settled in what is now called Augusta Co., Va., and were members of the New
Providence church, near Brownsburg. Archibald lived in what is now
Rockbridge County, Virginia, and was a member of Timber Ridge Church.

The spelling of the name has been changed on some of these branches, many
times. The Rhea's of Tenn. and Va. name went through many changes until it
finally became Rhea in the early 1800's. prounouced Ray. The name has been
spelled Ray in census records, etc.Important records, such as wills, marrige
records, death records, etc, the name was spelled Rhea.

That is the main reason I started this list, to unite all Rhea's, and varient
spellings. I do believe there were 4 distinctive branches, and I believe that
many changed their names when they came to America. What the reason was we
don't know. (Might make a great study)

I believe that the Rhea Research page will be an aid, and a compliment to the
Rhea Discussion List. Whether we agree or not, we all are interested in the
same thing, to find our ROOTS.

Pat

This thread:

• Rhea and variant spellings by Cara Franklin <>

  • Re: Rhea and variant spellings by <>

  • Re: Rhea and variant spellings by Honi Jo <>