RHEA-L Archives

From: fwalker <>
Subject: John Rhea's will
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 11:20:26 -0500

Dear Ed,

I guess I am up to another will this A.M. So, here goes..........

28 Dec 1838 -----
I, John Rhea, of the county of Lincoln, state of Tennessee, do make, ordain
& publish the following, as my last will and testament.

It is my will and desire that my just debts (which I have taken special
care shall be few in number & small in amount) shall be _____ and paid out
of my personal estate as speedily as possible.

SECOND- I give and devise to my son William B. Rhea, all that part of my
parcel of land with it's appurtenances situated in said county of Lincoln,
lying on the waters of Norris Creek and bounded as follows: to wit,
Beginning in the east boundary of my said tract of land, seventy poles of a
dry branch, or creek, which runs through old Wm. Shaw's land, from thence
to run a direct line westward and down said branch, or creek and parallel
at with the given course thereof so far that by running northward and will
run with the direction of the east line of the fence of the large field
next to & adjoining Wm. Moffatt's farm, to where a crossfence joins the
same. Thence, westwardly to a cherry tree lately marked J.R., thence due
north to Wm. Moffatt's line, thence with his line east to my northeast
corner, thence south with my east boundary to the beginning. I, also, give
& bequeath to my son William B. Rhea, a negro boy now in his possession,
named Isaac.

THIRD- I give and devise to my beloved wife, Sally Rhea, the use of my
dwelling house & with all the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging
together with all that part of my tract of land lying east of Norris Creek.
not devised to my son William B. Rhea, which said tract of land embraces my
said dwelling house and out houses during her natural life. It is
furthermore my will and desire that the profits and benefits arising from
my farm be devised to my wife, Sally Rhea,to go to the support and
maintenance of her and my three children, namely, Mary B. Rhea, Susan M.
Rhea and Brice M.G. Rhea, so long as they shall remain with their mother in
the same manner as if I were living. It is also my will and desire that
after my said son, Brice M.G. Rhea shall arrive at the age of twenty-one
years, provided that he shall not marry before that period, that he shall
remain with his mother, if she should then be living and aid and assist her
in carrying on the farm, but if my said son should be desirous, he may, at
his option, have and occupy all my said farm, except a fifteen acre field
in the forks of the creek and a twenty acre field adjoining Wm. Solomon
(and called the cottonfield) which is set apart for my wife. Sally Rhea
____ her natural life, together with the orchard and orchard field with all
the ____ on the said farm. It is also my will and desire that my
grand-daughter Frances E. Smith, shall remain with her grandmother and be
supported and maintained from the proceeds of the farm. But, in case her
father shall take her away, then that support & maintenance to cease. I
also give and devise to my wife, Sally Rhea, during her natural life, or
until my son Brice M.G. Rhea shall arrive at age, the following negroes, to
wit: Harry, Lewis, Manuel, Grace & her child, Chaney & her increase, who
are to remain and be kept on the farm or hired out, as my said wife shall
think best, and the profits and benefits arising from said negroes are in
like manner to go to the maintenance of my said wife & Mary M.B. Rhea,
Susan M. Rhea, Brice M.G. Rhea and my grand-daughter Frances E. Smith. I
further give and bequeath to my wife, Sally Rhea, all my stock of every
description & my farming utensils, household & kitchen - furniture of every
description with full power and authority to give, devise & convey such
part thereof to each of my children as she may think proper or to sell &
dispose of the same or any part thereof for her or their benefit.

FOURTH- I give and devise to my son Brice M.G. Rhea all that part of my
tract of land, lying on the east side of main Norris Creek and nor devised
to Wm. M. Rhea, subject, nevertheless, to the life estate of my wife as
herein before stated.

FIFTH- It is my will and desire that all that part of my tract of land
lying on the west side of Norris Creek be sold upon a credit of one and two
years or rented out and the proceeds thereof to be equally divided between
my daughter, Altamira Isom, for her use and her children by James Isom,
Sally Ann Broyles, Mary B. Rhea & Susan M. Rhea.

SIXTH- I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary B. Rhea, my negro boys, Ned
and Tom.

SEVENTH- I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan M. Rhea, my negro boy
named Robert and negro girl named Nancy. It is my wish and desire that the
before named negroes Ned & Tom and Robert and Nancy remain with my wife,
Sally, and be under her control and management during her natural life or
until my said daughters Mary B. and Susan M. shall marry, and then said
negroes to be delivered over to them respectively. I also give to my
daughter Susan Rhea a young bay mare I got from Josiah Burrow.

EIGHTH- I give and bequeath to my son Pleasant V. Rhea a negro boy named
Peter.

NINTH- I give and bequeath to my daughter Altamira Isom and her children by
James Isom, a negro boy named Caswell.

TENTH- I give and bequeath to my son Brice M.G. Rhea my negro men named
Harry and Manuel, which negroes it is my will he shall have possession of
at the death of my wife, or at his arriving at the age of twenty-one years.

ELEVENTH- I give and bequeath to my daughter, Sally Ann Broyles a negro
woman, Harriet and her child named Walker, and her increase.

TWELFTH- I give and bequeath to my two grand children Rufus K. Smith and
Frances E. Smith, a negro girl named Mary and her child Dorcus and their
increase, to remain in the possession of my wife and be under her
management during her life or until they shall arrive at the age of twenty
one years, to be hired out or remain on the farm & be under her control &
management and at her death if they or either of them should be living, my
son William shall have and take charge and management of said negroes. I
give to my son William B. Rhea my blacksmith tools. I give and bequeath to
my grandchildren Rufus K. and Frances E. Smith one hundred dollars each to
be loaned out upon interest and the same applied to their schooling and
other necessary expenses and the principal paid over to them as they shall
severally arrive at the age of twenty-one years. I give and bequeath to my
daughter Mary B. Rhea my negro boy named Ransom. I also give her my blue
roan horse called Blue Skin. I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan M.
Rhea my negro boy named Isaac. I give and bequeath to ,y daughter Altamira
three hundred dollars to be held and paid over to my executor as she may
need it. It is my will that the grain and forage now on hand remain and be
for the use of the family. Upon the death of my wife it is my will that the
four following negroes be equally divided between my sons Pleasant V.,
William B., Brice M.G. and my daughters Mary B., Susan M.,Sally Ann,
Altamira and my grand children Rufus K. & Frances E. Smith. That portion of
said Altamira to USE & benefit and her children by James Isom, to wit,
Lewis, Gray & Chary and the increase, if any. I give to my son Brice M.G.
my three _____. I give to my son William one hundred and thirty seven
dollars and 50 cents due from Henderson Robertson. I give to my daughter
one hundred dollars due from Joseph Hinkle. I give to my daughter Sally Ann
Broyles one hundred dollars due from James McCollum. I give to my daughter
Susan one hundred dollars due from Joseph Miller. I give to my wife Sally
Rhea five hundred dollars. It is my will that the residue of my money,
notes and all property, or things not herein before specially disposed of
be converted into money & the same placed in ____ as my executor shall
think best & the proncipal & interest to be equally divided among all my
said children. I hereby nominate & appoint James Bright executor of this my
last will & testament reversing all former wills by me made. In witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 29th day of
December 1838.

Signed, sealed & published in our presence.
John Rhea (seal)
Andrew Buchanan
Hugh Shaw
Charles McKinney

This was proved at the March Term 1839 of County Court.
............................................................................
...............................................

From the wording of this will it appears that Sarah was his only wife, as
she is not refereed to as his "now" wife, and he mention "her" children.
The dates that have been given for Sarah Scales may well be the birth and
death dates of this Sally Rhea. It is possible that Sarah Scales married a
different John S. Rhea.

In LDS film # 850666 Tennessee Bible Records---Bible of Joseph Scales &
wife Martha "Patsy" Scales is the following:
Sally born 12 May 1811 md. John T. Rhea 18 Sep 1827

It seems that I have never found the name of Frances Rhea as the d/o John
and Sarah, but there must have been two daughters who married Smiths. There
was another marriage for a John Rhea to Sarah Harris in Grainger Co, TN
that I found several years ago and could well be th Sarah we are looking
for. Although any Harris info I have found so far gives no clue as to a
connection.

Sorry this is so long,but it may be useful to others.

Frann

This thread:

• John Rhea's will by fwalker <>