RHEA-L Archives

Archiver > RHEA > 1998-10 > 0907274046


From: <>
Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] Researchers of all Jesse Ray/Rheas
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 16:34:06 -0400


Hi Ricky, Don and other Jesse researchers,

I want to note this before I forget. In Ashe Co. area of NC, Col. Jesse's
daughter Mary/Polly never married. Col. Jesse Ray's first-born Elizabeth
married Thomas Calloway. You'll see the name Calloway later in regard to
Gen. James Ray's family of Harrodsburg, KY. Those familiar with the
history of Daniel Boone will recognize the Calloway name as one of the
families that settled with the Boones near Harrodsburg, in fact one of
Daniel's girls married a Calloway. You may even be familiar with the
story of the two girls that were kidnapped by Indians and retrieved by
Thomas (I think that was his first name but I'll look up if anyone's
interested) Calloway. I know Col. Jesse had grandkids that went to
Alabama, Louisiana, and then Texas (doesn't everyone have Texas cousins?)
In Worth Ray's book Tennessee Cousins, in the chapter about Knox County,
the marriage of John Rhea/Ray and Riley White, April 22, 1816 is listed.
I think this may be John, the son of Col. Jesse Ray who was born 17 July
1789 and Berilla (also called Riley) White since we know they were
married - the surprise is that it's recorded in Knox County, TN.

Also have a couple of Jesses in my family. The first one was born about
1838 in Hancock Co., TN and was the son of John Ray/Rhea, Jr. Jesse
married 1-Ann Lewis 2-unknown 3-Martha Green and had children George,
Belle, Nancy, Ike. Lewis and I think Lucy J. Everyone mentioned in this
family is descended from old John and Febra Ray/Rhea. We also have a
Larkin in my family as well as Col. Jesse Ray's son Larkin. When I first
found this Ashe Co. family I was so excited when I saw the Larkins and
thought I'd hit paydirt. Although I've never been able to connect them, I
still believe we're looking at cousins here.

Another Ray family with a Jesse is that of General James Ray of
Harrodsburg, Kentucky (mentioned above). "Briefly" this family was headed
by a male Ray and lived in the vicinity of the Valley of VA - wish I
could be more exact. The father died relatively young leaving wife
Catherine and two sons James and William. Catherine married Hugh McGary
and they moved over to Harrodsburg area where son William was killed by
Indians. James became a well-known Indian fighter and served in the Rev.
War as spy, etc. serving under Gen. George Robers Clark, among others. He
was promoted to rank of General after the war, married Elizabeth Talbott
in Mercer Co., KY in 1787 and had Catherine, b. 1796 (probably named for
her grandmother); William; Jesse, Polly (Mary); John; Jane Wilson; Martha
(Patsy); Jefferson; Harvy and Lucinda. (Lucinda is a name used by my
Ray/Rheas, too.) In a DAR file, James is said to have been born ca. 1760,
probably in VA. Other sources say definitely he was born in VA. This
family has been written about in Collins' History of Kentucky, vol. 2,
pgs. 426, 518 and 519.

There may even be more Jesse Ray/Rheas out there somewhere.

charla in nj

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

This thread: