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Archiver > RHEA > 1998-10 > 0907765637


From: Dennis Rea <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] John W Rea
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 09:07:17 -0400


Any knowledge of John W. Rea, born 1809 in South Carolina (not certain where
but believe in the 96th district or Greenville County....there are several
Rea's in 1820 Greenville County census but can't verify if these are his
family) . Moved to Mississippi and married Rachael McWilliams and had six
children, Andrew, Louisa, Thomas, Emily, Samuel, Charlie. John died in Jackson
Miss in 1854. He was a carpenter. I am most interested in knowing his
parentage. Family stories seemed to point to his father as being of French
decent, a bit of a puzzlement in view of the Rea name mostly being associated
with Irish and English. If you have any information on John W. Rea's parentage
and family origin I would be most appreciative. PS: Story goes that his
father was a ship stowaway, most likely traveling from France (but we don't
have any verification of this). Email me at if you can help.

Dennis Rea
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